Saturday, June 30, 2012

art museum with aunt erin

When Aunt Erin was in town recently, we took advantage of the Free Evening at the Phoenix Art Museum.  
Good thing Aunt Erin is always up for an adventure because the first thing we came across was a T-Rex.  

I suppose it is not good to see the coolest thing first, but Jimmy did find some cool things inside as well.
We explored the kids area where Jimmy very patiently made some artwork with Aunt Erin while I chased Gus all over the place.
Then we checked out some of the cool sculptures.
Aunt Erin actually helped make this one made of colored paper stacked in rows:
Then we headed outside so I wouldn't get yelled at for giving Gus a cracker inside.
Then home because it is freakin hot here.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

swim lessons

Once again the boys enjoyed their two weeks of swim lessons with Phoenix Parks and Rec.  
Gus had no inhibitions, which is exciting and terrifying at the same time.  He can kick, paddle, blow bubbles, and monkey-monkey on the wall.  He loves jumping in and he even will let go of the wall and go under all by himself.  Sometime he can grab the wall again himself, but not always so I guess he is very trusting that I will eventutally pick him up.  He loved the kiddie pool and found it hilarious that he could walk by himself.  He asked for popsicles pretty much everyday, but didn't get them until the last day.  I had never mentioned that popsicles would be involved, but apparently he has come to believe that are always involved with swimming. 
Jimmy was in the Red Star Class for kids that are comfortable with the water, but still have some skills to master.  He was so excited about it every day and I think he did pretty well.  I couldn't always watch him since I was in the pool with Gus, but he has definitely made some progress.   Here he is jumping in with his clothes on to test his survival skills.

He learned to dive (he is second from the left) and is actually pretty good at it.
On the last day they let him do down the big slide (seen in the back). 
He was so proud since I had told him it was only for bigger kids who were really good at swimming.
And then, of course, what Gus had been waiting for: The Popsicles.
We enjoyed having the Kerstings with us in lessons and having little picnic lunches afterwords.
For a last day of class surprise I took the boys to a Dinosaur themed McDonalds.
Jimmy was in shock and awe.  Seriously, he thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Monday, June 25, 2012

fun with aunt angie

We always have so much fun with Aunt Angie when she comes to town. 
She is so helpful to me and I can't blame the boys for loving her.
Can't wait to see you again soon Angie!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

first instagrams

Thanks to the iPhone I got for Mother's Day I am now one of the cool kids with Instagram.
Just thought I would share some of my early attempts.
 
I'll get better at it,  but at least I have cute subjects.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

more forts

Don't expect me to ever stop posting pictures of our forts.
We had an extra couch and mattress in our living room for awhile so it become this:

Thursday, June 21, 2012

dot

We are so excited to welcome this cute little jerk of a cousin into the world:
Dorothy Cecelia Burch was born on June 1, 2012 at 8 lbs. 14 oz to the The Burch Jerks.
I was so excited to go to the hospital late that night to meet her just hours after she had been born.
They are calling her Dot so I found her the perfect gift:
In case you are not as pop culturally useless as me, that is Dot from the Animaniacs.
Only Aunt Mary could come up with that on the spur of the moment and I take great pride in that.