After spending a week at the beach in July, we came back home and I decided we'd spend the rest of the summer getting out of the house every afternoon to do something fun. It's a lot of work with these two young and active toddlers (made much easier with grandparents who live closeby!), but it has been so much fun. The month of August has flown by!
We've spent some days up at the lake - feeding the ducks and getting in the water. Ben has already started to show the first signs of learning how to swim!
We've gone to the park, where the boys love to explore this little area of redwood trees - collecting sticks and gather rocks. Ben has even found a little nook in the fence where he keeps all of his treasures, returning with each visit to check up on everything. I love having boys!
We've spent a lot of time at Grandma and Grandpa's, playing in their backyard. Ben loves playing in the water and Hugh loves finding rotten plums that have fallen off the plum tree. I just find them so adorable with their chunky little bare chests!
While visiting Grandma and Grandpa, Ben and Hugh also love a little time tinkling the ivory on my Mom's baby grand piano. They play quite the duet!
We've also stayed close to home, playing in the backyard with the sand and water table. Just the other day Ben figured out how to climb on top and get right into the water. And, while Ben can most likely be found dumping a bucket of water down his front side, Hugh is most likely to be found near the blackberry bushes, eating the berries right off the vine - literally - as in, not even bothering to pick them off with his fingers first. Silly boy!
With Ben and Hugh at their current stages, we have some struggles at times with teaching them how to play nicely together. But, I'm feeling more and more grateful for little moments when I find them playing and laughing, completely on their own, without a mediator standing guard. A week or so ago I was busy doing a few things and realized the boys had wandered back to their bedroom. I was just about to get up to check on them (hoping they weren't trying to injure each other), when I heard the happiest giggles coming from their room.
I love moments like this! It is such a joy to watch these two grow and learn and become little boys!
