Devin -- April 2017

April is so much fun, especially now that the weather is getting better and summer is just around the corner. We also had the first time that both boys had spring break! It was a lot of fun to just get to hang out with kiddos and have time for Devin at home, but it is also great to see how much he has grown as well. We had a bit of a rough patch with sickness at the end of the month, but it is also a wonderful time to be outside and took full advantage of it too. Here are some of this months highlights.

• Loved going out to get the mail with me, even in his footie pjs
• Working on pulling up his own pants
• Devin loves donuts, just not the actual donut part (frosting only)
• For some reason Devin is terrified of the library doors and often has to be carried through them
• While on a walk, Kyler pushed him on his tricycle. When Kyler asked if he wanted to be pushed more Dev said "yeah, yeah"
• We put up a tent in the basement and he loved to just put lots of toys in it
• He brings me his PECTS cards for Apple all the time (picture card used for communication)
• He also bring me his PECTS card for outside, even if it is raining!
• When it was time to go back to school, Devin was SO excited to see one of his favorite aids, Miss Nicole
• Devin sat on the potty and had a few drops in! YEAH!
• When reading the Very Hungry Caterpillar he likes to do motions for Sun, Look and Big =)
• He will often use the board to communicate "I go home" at the end of the day
• Netflix has the Very Hungry Caterpillar and it soon became his favorite video to watch. 
• We went to the ECC to play and brought pizza. It was so cute to see you light up because you know this place and you loved looking into the windows too
• For Easter, we went to Grandpa and Grandma's house, and of course he loves to sit by the counter because that is where he gets treats
• Was given a wonderful Easter Bunny Cookie from Steenstra's Bakery from Aunt Lynsey and treated it a lot like he does donuts...frosting only
• Kyler was very thoughtful and found Color Crew one of Devin's favorite shows on his tablet 
• Poor kiddo had such a bad stomachache that he threw up every 15 minutes in the middle of the night
• We went to Frederick Meijer Gardens with Grandma and Devin loved to look around, but was a bit overwhelmed so wanted me to hold him the whole time
• When Kyler started to read to Devin, he soon became his favorite reading buddy and brings him books all the time saying "Kkkkk" to have him read to him
• At the end of the month had a terrible fever and had to be picked up from school. The temperature stayed for a couple of days. 
• Even with the fever he wanted to cuddle so he had his foot on my arm or leg to still have some contact
• As soon as he started to feel better Devin joined me for the Calvin 5K run! He loved riding in the Burley and fussed whenever I started to walk. What a great coach.
• When I was done running and it was time to go into the gym, he did not want to get out and every time I took him out of the Burley he would climb back into it. Silly kiddo! 
• Devin surprised us by loving the egg and cheese flatbread from Subway, so now we get to pick up food that does not just come with fries. Yeah! 

loving his bike and glasses...

...super cool dude!

Having fun showing us the playground at his school

He likes these bouncy toys

Going down the slide!

Where are my teachers? 

Watching his favorite shows

Boy time on the couch...with boots

Oh the fun in tub time

Best Buddy Brothers!

Someone is not feeling well

All smiles with his bubble mower

Exploring the playground at HCS after we drop off Kyler

Improvised headrest

This sweet and silly boy!

I must watch my brother! 

So strong!

Not sure what to do with this ice cream cone!

Taking mommy on in games

Kyler -- April 2017

This kiddo is super active and it is always fun to be around Kyler. We have had so many fun extra things this month with Spring Break. It is hard to believe that he is close to graduating from preschool and starting Kindergarten soon! Here are some of our fun adventures this spring.

• When Dev wants to walk, Ky often agrees but thankfully he was happy to take pictures of plants
• Popcorn is always more fun with you can add your own spices and Kyler went to town!
• After such a fun March and having the bracket on the wall for basketball, he was upset and crying when he saw that it was taken down
• Had a great visit to the dentist with no issues
• To keep the boys busy we put up a tent and Ky loves to put all kinds of toys into it
• Counted down to when Abby came to baby-sit!
• During church he just leaned over and kissed me on the cheek! I loved it!
• His Calvin volleyball friends came over for dinner and he loved the attention and getting to color with them
• It was fun to have Kyler request books from the library with me!
• At BSF, Kyler wanted to feed Lawson his bottle and finally got his turn this week.
• Daddy took him to a hockey game and he loved the music and all the extra things, like popcorn, shirts and even a foam hand (which he lost)
• Had fun looking for treasures when we garage saled
• We got a bigger bike for Kyler!
• Has been having a lot of fun dribbling and shooting a basketball
• Kyler loved getting to dye Easter eggs and going on an egg hunt too
• Found a new park and had a lot of fun on the new spinning toys! 
• Not sure why, but licked his hands when they were dirty at the playground, ewh!
• In the car loved talking about how Jesus makes diamonds out of us
• Had a great time at the airport with Grandpa for a field trip
• We started to watch Pokemon, see if this is the new obsession
• Ky loves to read Chicca Chicca Boom Boom to his brother and Dev always picks Kyler now to read to him
• Our neighbor told Kyler that he was her best friend =)
• With his new bike and training wheels we took a long bike ride to Grandma and Grandpa's house. When I asked if he wanted to, he said "I am up for the task!"
• He is big enough to ride in a Booster seat now!
• During his preschool concert he did great but had to be reminded to keep his fingers out of his nose
• Did so well running at the Calvin kids fun run! Maybe a runner like mom and dad!

Hockey time with Daddy!

What a handsome guy!

Getting his new bike!

American Ninja man!

Bebej basketball boys

Hanging out with his little bro

oh the silliness

My handsome Easter boys

More exploring and fresh air

Soccer time!

Why not play tablet in the closet right? 

Sunshine in the park! Yeah!

New bike, new adventures

Spring concert time 

Me and my boy!

Devin -- March 2016

We are starting to get back into the swing of things here. Spring is starting to arrive and with that means lots of adventures outside. Devin loves to be outside and loves to ride in his wagon but he has also started to show a bit more of that stubborn streak with more frequent temper tantrums and even hitting when very frustrated. We keep working on time outs and talking to him, but he just does not talk much right now and it is frustrating for both him and us when we cannot seem to communicate. We keep praying that something will click soon so we can hear what our darling boy has on his mind! Here are a few of our other adventures this month:

• This boy loves to help me clean and sweeping the floor is a new favorite
• When he wants to show me something, he loves to walk around holding onto my finger, often just taking me for laps around the kitchen island
• Devin has really wanted to be like the big guys and loves to sit and watch Kyler and Daddy playing Wii together
• Like most of us, Devin has discovered that eating the marshmallows out of cereal does not mean he gets more cereal. Poor kid, cereal goes WITH the marshmallows
• We love dance parties at this house, but Devin is not one to dance on his own, he loves to be held and slow dance with his mommy
• When his buddy from next door is over, he loves to sit by her and tries to play everything together. He also looks out the window as she goes home. 
• Kyler loves yoga and Devin has been trying to do it too!
• We have become very good at rolling balls back and forth
• One of Devin's temper tantrums was over putting shoes on, so we tried a bigger size and that seemed to be the problem! Size 8 shoes here we are!
• After BSF I gave Devin and Kyler granola bars, the chocolate was EVERYWHERE with Dev
• When Devin does not want to go to bed for his nap, all I have to do is give him a book and he is happy as a clam.
• Even though it is spring, Devin still feels the need to take his snow shovel out and clear the sidewalks
• Woke up with a very hot fever right before Ryan had to leave for research in DC. Woke up just super silly at 8:30 at night and giggled like crazy watching Pioneer Woman with me
• We have another ear infection, second one in two months
• Devin has not been wanting to use his highchair so we tried the booster but that did not seem to make him happy at all, we might just go to big boy chairs!
• Much to my dismay, Devin loves to take all the books off his shelves
• Will often take his blankets out of his crib by pulling them through the slats, then walks around looking so cute with his blanket dragged behind him
• Nothing makes Devin smile more than getting to push the garage door button!
• We have fun bouncing and rolling on the large workout ball
• Playing with cars in the sink, so fun but so wet afterwards!
• Loves to point at letters on my shirt over and over again
• When we drop off Kyler at school, he often tries to visit the 5th grade classrooms
• Had a great time exploring and walking around at Holland State Park. He loves the swings
• Just like boys, Devin was laughing and giggling at Kyler while he tooted and made bubbles in the tub
• On Easter he was pretty crabby but took a VERY long nap after not being interested in the egg hunt
• Loves to eat, and even enjoyed the sunflower seeds but will NOT eat bread!

My snuggly buddy

Working on our prayers

He loves to climb on the train table

Yoga time

Enjoying some kiwi

Lounging around

He loves his wagon

Watching out the window

Loving the donuts!

cookie time at the store

Playing in the sandbox!

Snuggle time with Grandpa

Rocks in a bucket, best game ever?

Brother time

Not feeling well

My happy buddy!

Showing off on the stairs

He shoots...

...he scores and giggles

Hanging out at the lighthouse

Walks on the beach with Mommy

playing in the sand

my super guy!