Can we build it? Yes we can!

I took the boys to see the Bob the Builder exhibit at the Fresno Metropolitan Museum. I must say, it was a lot of fun, and I was impressed. It had tons of fun stuff to do for both boys at their respective age levels. It was a lucky day that it only cost $2.50 to get in, but it was an unlucky day that it only cost $2.50 to get in! It was super duper crowded. Still, I enjoyed the morning.


Hudson tries to put puzzles pieces in their spot. He found a golf ball and wouldn't let go of it for the duration of our visit. Also, he loves wearing this hat and rarely takes it off.


This thing was cool. It sucked the golf ball up 10 feet or so, and then dropped it into a peg maze. Evan liked it.


Oh dear I just love this face.


You put the ball in here, and it pops out down there!


This was a neat activity. You had to try to make the ball roll uphill. Evan didn't quite get it to roll, but liked dropping the ball into the holes below.


This was my favorite exhibit. There was a blast of air pushing the beach ball up high. It was fun to see.


Hudson liked it too!


Oh if he were only this helpful at home. Evan liked the overall exhibit, but Bob the Builder was never really "his" cartoon. Now if a Dora or Diego exhibit ever comes to the museum, I'm going to need to get an annual membership so we can be there every day!


Hudson says, "I can help too!" Evan sure loves it when Hudson "helps" with something he's doing. Hmmmm, kind of like when Evan wants to "help" me. I know, that's mean.


This is the only shot I got of these two monkeys standing together both sort of looking at the camera...or at least facing the camera. Right after I took the picture, Hudson started screaming for dear life because he realized there were other kids in the museum! He's got a general fear of strangers. There were at least 50-60 kids there the whole time, but apparently it took him a while to notice!

I love being able to do stuff like this with the kids during the summer. Makes me happy. Makes the kids happy.

San Franciso through Eric's lens

Here is a bit more to round up our San Francisco trip. These photos are all from Eric's camera. He got some pretty cool shots of the city.


Evan in front of a seal statue near the Wharf.


I could sit and watch the sea lions bark all day long at Pier 39.


I would love to be able to see views like this everyday. So pretty.


I find this photo fascinating. I think it is pretty, confusing, boggling. I would love to live there for a week and then go back home to my wide open spaces. It just always makes me stare and try to imagine what living in a "tall" city would be like.


Evan hanging out on one of the piers with the city in the background.


I was so irritated that this photo came out blurry and with a sullen looking child in it. I love the Ghirardelli sign in the background and all the pretty flowers. Now just try to imagine it clear and sharp and with a happy kid standing there!


I see this picture and the Wiggles' song "San Francisco Cable Car" pops into my head.

I loved seeing the Giants game, I loved going to the Wharf, but my favorite thing was riding a cable car for the first time. Loved it!

The SF vacation posting is now officially over. Unless I find some random picture that I absolutely have to post. But I doubt that will happen.

Cable Car Video

Here is a video of us riding on the cable car in San Francisco. As we zoomed by the houses and stores, I kept wondering how people fit their furniture inside the tiny doorways! It's a place I love to visit, but not a place I'd want to live. I prefer my empty cul de sac for everyday living.



The process of getting the cable cars turned around was really neat to watch. We got on the cable car at the Wharf and had to get off at the downtown "end of the line." That's where the cars all get switched and turned to face the right direction. We waited in line to get back on and go back to the Wharf.

It was a quick line with so much to watch. There was even a rowdy homeless man who poked me in the shoulder. He was yelling and screaming at the cable car employees who finally called the police. Eric didn't realize that the man had poked me, otherwise I'm not sure what he (Eric) might have done. Eric is a tall guy, but the homeless man was a little out of his mind. The police cuffed the guy and put him in their car. Little Man Forcey's eyes were about popped out of his head to watch a "live" COPS scene take place right in front of him! Better than TV!



There are also a bunch of pictures of San Francisco from Eric's camera, but I think I'll save those to share in tomorrow's post!

San Francisco

We went to San Francisco a few weeks ago, but I was never in the mood to post pictures or write about it until today. We thought it would be great for Evan to see a real Giants game after playing on the Giants T-ball team.


Evan always gets a little nutty when we go to a hotel. He was super excited to find out that his very own bed pulled out from the couch, and he could literally step from his bed to ours without touching the floor! So cool...according to him!


We are in the Giants stadium overlooking the bay. Goodness but I love it when I can see the ocean. Notice that Evan is bundled in a heavy coat while Eric is in a short sleeved shirt. The man rarely gets cold. You won't see many photos of me, but I was bundled in a winter coat as well. Evan is still in his baseball uniform from his game earlier in the day.


Coke slide in the background. I actually went down the slide with Evan. Evan got the little bear free as we walked into the stadium. It's a cute little teddy bear.


Such a Daddy's boy.


Okay, so one picture of me. See, I was cold. But I would rather be cold than hot.


Riding on a cable car. I had never done this before, so I was really excited to be on a real live cable car!


The cable car let us off just a few blocks from Ghirardelli Square. We had to go in for a hot fudge sundae!


Gotta get every last drop.


Evan has never seen a street performer. He had fun trying to give him a dollar as the robot man jerked around and teased him.

Our SF trip was great. Many memories were made. I can't wait to go back when both boys are older.

Happy Father's Day

There was not much rest and relaxation going on for Eric this Father's Day. He spent his day finishing the construction of the swing set, otherwise known as "The Park." Evan used that term for our old swing set when he was little.

Before anyone starts thinking what an awful wife I am, let me just say that finishing the park was Eric's idea. He was the one who said last night, "Let's get up early and finish the park." I agreed with his plan figuring we could at least go out for ice cream to officially celebrate FD.


The boys swinging on the glider.


Evan pretty much had to do all the work in making the glider swing. Hudson was just along for the fun ride.


Hudson can't reach to sit on the swing, so he improvises. I guess Evan thought it looked fun as well.


Still having fun.

These two monkeys better enjoy this playset FOREVER! It was a royal pain to construct. And I was just the construction assistant. The directions might as well have been written in Chinese for as much as I could figure out. Luckily Eric is fluent in Chinese swing set directions, but even he got frustrated with many parts of the process.

There are still a few more steps to go: ground stakes, awning, and slide, but at least it is at a point where the boys have access to the structure and can have fun. I intend to kick their little tushes outside for the rest of the summer!

As for the rest of Father's Day. Well, we never did go for ice cream. I went to the store and bought ice cream, and Eric bbq'ed steak for us for dinner. We spent the day outside as a family. In my opinion, it doesn't get much better.

Oh, and before anyone asks, yes, the boys are in their pajamas. These photos were taken at about 4 p.m. They never did get dressed today. It was just one of those kind of days!

Yuck!

We had KFC for dinner with our two sides of mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. For some reason Hudson decided to stop using his fork. This is what ensued. Pure grossness! (By the way, the nasty thing on the end of his nose is not a booger, it's mashed potato!)

Sneaky, Brave, and Baseball

Sneaky


I didn't get to the camera fast enough to catch what Hudson was doing moments before he climbed out of the corner he is NOT supposed to be near in the first place. I stack blankets in that corner, and Hudson was lying on his back against the stack of blankets drinking his milk. Little sneak. As soon as he heard me, he started to jump out of there. I caught him as he was trying to pretend he was doing nothing wrong!

Brave


Evan was a brave boy today. At least I thought what he did was pretty brave for a 4 1/2-year-old. We went to McDonald's for lunch. I forgot to order apple pie when I originally ordered our food, so I asked Evan if he would go back to the register and ask for two apple pies. I gave him a dollar and 10 cents. I thought he'd get shy on me, but he took the money, waited patiently in line, and ordered two pies. The best part to him was that he got a penny in change! He came running back to the play area proclaiming that he got a penny! I just don't remember being willing to go to a register or speak to adults at his age, so I was impressed.

By the way, I love McDonald's pies, and you can't beat the price at two for a dollar! My school has done two McTeacher nights now, and I usually end up selling pies and cookies. Good pie. Good deal.

Baseball
To finish up the happenings of today, Eric arranged something pretty special for Evan. We were supposed to go to Evan's team party the day my dad was in the hospital, but that didn't happen. Evan never received his special end of the year trophy which is in the shape of a small engraved bat. It's really cute. Eric's boss, Greg, is very into baseball, so he offered to present Evan with the bat at his team's practice this afternoon.


The kids on Greg's team are all gathered around to hear the presentation. Evan didn't know any of this was going to happen.


Greg shows Evan his bat engraved with his name and team name.


It's hard to believe the season is over. This little guy is such an athlete. Not only is he good, but he truly enjoys being out on the ball field playing his heart out. Not once did we have to tell him to hustle during practice. He always took great care of his equipment and was devastated if we threatened to take T-ball away for misbehavior. I am looking forward to many hours sitting on various athletic fields watching this child have fun.