Boys being boys

The boys have been finding various ways to amuse themselves during the summer. 

Jaydon likes to clomp around in daddies shoes which is especially difficult when they are heavy steal toes shoes. 

Steve got inspired to use some leftover wood we had lying around to make an airplane for the wagon. 

He didn't realize that after spending the first half of his weekend making it that he'd have to spend the second half giving all the boys a ride in it.  He had great plans to paint it and make it look really nice but the next week the driver who brings Jaydon home from school ran into it so it didn't survive long. 

Tylor practiced hanging out with the guys and Jaydon and Jacob had lots of fun playing silly games together.

 

Summer School

During the summer here most everyone who can manage leaves. 

For those of us who work and don't have weeks and weeks of vacation we have to find other ways to entertain ourselves. 

Fortunately Jaydon's nursery is one of the few that offer summer school so he still gets to go have fun everyday playing in the great indoors. 

It's kind of like the equivalent of hibernating in the winter. 

You stay inside, minimize all outdoor activities and think cool thoughts. 

But I don't think Jaydon minds a bit.

 

Practice, practice

That's what Tylor does everyday, back and forth in the living room with his walker. 

He loves being able to get around but is still building up the strength before he feels comfortable venturing out on his own. 

With all the hard tile and concrete he has to walk on I don't blame him.  Not much room for error on those surfaces.

It's also become full on summer time. 

The best way to tell is how quickly until the boys are bright red from playing outside. 

Tylor has also discovered the joys of seeing the trash truck go by and the street cleaner and all the other neat machines on the road.  He's a big cutie (and I think he knows it too).

Tylor is 1!

Boy does time fly!  Tylor is already one year old.  And he loved everything about being 1.  He loves opening presents - most of the presents he doesn't care much for once they're opened (especially the clothes) but loves taking things out of the gift bags then putting it back in again. 

He did get a very special gift from his great Aunt Patricia which grandma was able to bring over for him in her suitcase. 

It's a cute little lamb and now he sleeps with it every night because it's so soft and cuddly. 

Tylor had lots of fun playing with his grandma even thought she did keep trying to put on all kinds of new clothes on him. 

We of course threw Tylor a big 1st birthday bash. 

When I was in the states last I splurged and bought a special cake pan that can make all the numbers.  I thought the 1 turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. 

We had lots of Tylor's (and Jaydon's) friends over for the big party. 

Tylor was very excited to see Clarissa - those 2 are very cute together and Tylor was so curious about her necklace. 

Grandma was also very happy to be able to plan her trip such that she could be there for the big day. 

After everyone had fun playing until it was time for the best part - the cake. 

Tylor was very patient while he got his picture taken.  Finally it was the fun part of being sung too, blowing out the candle and eating the cake. 

He dug right in. 

We saved the rest of the fun like opening up all the other presents until the next morning.  Tylor had become an expert present opener by then and knew just what to do.  The Fenn's also stopped to pick up the sunglasses they'd left behind but not before getting a picture with the coolest 1 year old birthday boy around.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLOR!

Weekend in Oman

With grandma in town we decided to use the opportunity to show her one of our favorite countries in the region, Oman. 

As always, the boys were excited to be getting on an airplane - Tylor loved the bus ride and sitting by himself like a big boy.  We stayed at the Shangri-la which is a great place for kids. 

They had ponies and camels to sit on.  Jaydon loved the pony and thought the camel was a little smelly. 

Tylor hated the camel and started crying whenever he saw it so I had to take him back to the top of the beach while Jaydon enjoyed the animals. 

We also spent a lot of time at the water park they have just for kiddos. 

Tylor loved scooting around all the water features, getting to splash around and get soaked. 

Jaydon still doesn't like getting his face wet so it took him awhile to warm up to it the fun but he definitely liked playing in water without a life jacket or floating ring. 

We also spent sometime at the beach. 

Tylor was fearless in the waves (luckily they were small) and Jaydon found all kinds of neat creatures to catch - mainly hermit crabs. 

At dinner Tylor enjoyed eating big people food and showed off his 4 teeth.  We rented a 4 wheel drive one day and ventured out into the country. 

Oman has some beautiful landscape, very rugged and dramatic. 

 

We stopped at an old fort and explored the local souqs. 

We have a similar picture of Jaydon ridding on a canon in Austria so couldn't resist getting this shot. 

It was very hot in Oman so we were happy to venture up into the mountains for the cooler temperatures.  Jabal Shams is one of the must sees of Oman and we had yet to make it there on our previous trips to Oman so wanted to be sure to see it this time.  It was a much longer drive then we expected, fortunately we planned ahead and packed a lunch. 

During our lunch break we met some of the local lizards and gave Tylor a chance to get used to the backpack. 

Jabal Shams is called the Grand Canyon of the middle east. 

It is a spectacular view and made me realize that I'm afraid of heights - especially when my boys are within steps of an amazing sheer drop onto rocks down below. 

The last stop on our adventure was to the grand mosque. 

Then we loaded back up on the plane to head home.