SPD Winter Obstacle Course!

On cold wintry days, we are in true meltdown stage by dinner time if we don't find a way to move and release some energy! Enter in the basement playroom and the outdoor toys we have now moved in. Tonight Daddy and the kids set up an obstacle course and below is the fun that followed!

The slide...

The swing ...

The teeter-totter...

More swing time!

Through the tunnel...

Another swing...

Weighted medicine ball...

Some giggles!

And back through the tunnel!

And everyone calmed down for a holiday movie and bed...which is where we are headed right now!

Weekend Recap (Warning! Lots of Pictures!)

We had two (yes, two!) birthday parties on Saturday and lots of things going on at church on Sunday, as well as that random holiday...you know, Valentine's Day! It was a crazy-busy weekend!

We started off Saturday with a party at the local Audubon Society...and it was awesome! They did a great job and the educational center is amazing and age appropriate for my children. Here is a bit of the party:

They started out talking about tide pools.

And they made their own tide pool.

Tater decided to listen to the story from the cubbies at one end of the room.

Then they moved like the animals in the tide pool. Tater was a sea star...

Then we went into the exhibits to do a scavenger hunt.

This is the actual tide pool in the exhibit room.

Don't you love the clipboards?

This little cave has domes that allow the children to look outside.

The inside of a large whale sculpture.

And there is the whale!

Then they got to touch and hold some of the critters.

Tater was a bit hesitant!

A sea star.

Holding a snail.

Then, after a quick stop at home, we headed out to party #2 at the bowling alley. A different location but still a great party. Tater loves to bowl and had a blast!

Love the action shot!

Could care less where the ball ends up!

Then today we had a later church service and a congregational meeting. Since the time went so late into the afternoon, we headed out for lunch and to get Daddy's hair cut. When we got home the neighborhood kids were playing outside and Tater and Bruiser couldn't wait to join in! Bruiser especially liked running with the "big boys" and being included in their games!

He was out for as little as five minutes before his knees were muddy!

I can't wait for the spring thaw and the mess that will bring with my boy!

He tried to push the sled through the bit of snow we had!

After he gave up on the sled, he found a boogie board and ran after the "big boys"!

Resourceful...even if it was the wrong season!

I'm sure we will have more to share tomorrow! It's winter vacation week for me and the kids and Daddy has tomorrow off for Presidents' Day. Tater and I can't wait to take the others to the Audubon Society tomorrow! It's always exciting to find hidden treasures so close to home!

Wii Challenge!

With yucky and cold weather abounding, we are spending a great deal of time indoors! And we are desperately seeking activities to fill the hours! Last night, Daddy and I had a blast playing some Wii Fit Plus. Here are a few action shots and a few results to see if you can beat!

Sitting very still and not moving!

See the candle? Very still!

And see the score? That's right! 180 seconds!

This was Daddy walking the tightrope...he made the jump and made it to the end!

Any takers on a challenge?

Weekend Recap - Winter Weather Edition!

We had a busy weekend planned...some things went as we thought and many things didn't! Isn't that our life?!

Memaw and Pop-Pop were scheduled to arrive Friday night for a long weekend visit but we knew things weren't going to be as planned when their flight was cancelled Friday night due to the monster storm approaching the mid-Atlantic area. So we spent Thursday night and Friday comforting a few sad kiddos - especially since we weren't getting any snow and they couldn't understand why the grandparents weren't coming due to SNOW!

Then Saturday we bundled up against frigid temperatures and headed to Tumble Tots. Daddy even surprised us after with lunch at Friendly's! After a quick nap, we headed to church for a chilly family movie night. The kids really enjoyed watching "Evan Almighty"...in spite of the lack of heat in the building! We were home in time for bed and for Mommy to venture out to Whole Foods with a girlfriend for some shopping and some adult conversation over hot chocolate and a cookie!

Sunday morning, Tater and I headed out bright and early to meet Na-Na and her husband at the train station. They had flown into Boston the day before from Texas - over the massive snowstorm! We spent the morning at church and going out to lunch with them and then enjoyed a relaxing afternoon of naps and Wii.

Sunday night revolved around the Super Bowl...of course. Then we visited on Monday, until...the flu hit! That's right! But, luckily, it wasn't any of the Sprouts! Na-Na's husband, Nicholas, started feeling bad around dinnertime and was flat-out sick by 10pm. A visit to the walk-in clinic in the morning confirmed the flu! Oh, and it gets better! Their flight was cancelled due to the next approaching storm and they were forbidden to fly until Friday. So they packed up and headed to a hotel to spend a relaxing(?) week.

We never do anything easy here at the House of Sprout!

Playtime

"Hars!"

Someone wanted to wear her hat...inside!

Reading books!

Early birthday celebration with Na-Na and Nicholas

Na-Na!

Miss Wiggles standing on the ceiling!

Evidence of the sickness settling in!