Well Check Ups

I took both boys today to the doctors for their well check ups. It went amazingly well considering we were there for about 1.5 hours. Owen did his tests, Aiden did his tests, they played together in the room, and then got shots. The shots did NOT go well for Owen and he milked for quite some time afterwards and still will tell you he does not like the doctor. Aiden of course screamed and then cuddled me and was over it.

Owen's eye sight (right now) is excellent, he did okay on the hearing test (selective hearing - seriously no worries, she says some kids at this age don't say it everytime), he exceeds most of the development marks, and most important is very healthy.

Aiden did great as always with his check up, still has the innocent heart murmur, exceeds every physical development mark and his on schedule for the more mental development. That week he added several words, I think he is up to close to 25-30 now. His little voice is so sweet.

Owen has grown a lot in one year
Weight - 36 lbs, 50% (3 yr: 31.8 lbs, 50%)
Height - 42 in, 90% (3 yr: 39 in, 82%)

Aiden has increased nicely but still not on the chart for weight, but it just right under 0%. Almost there.
Weight - 21 lbs 4 oz, >5% (16 mo: 18lbs 6 oz, >5%)
Height - 32.25 in, 50% (16 mo: 29.25 in, 50%)

Baltimore Science Center

On Wednesday night we had a great dinner out at Hard Rock Cafe and then some fun play in the hotel. I slept with Owen and Omer slept in the other room with Aiden, and we all got lots of sleep. I was so tired I went to bed at 10:00pm and didn't get woken by Owen until 8:00am. Wow what a wonderful treat. And Omer and Aiden didn't wake until 7:30, which is awesome for both of them.

The boys had so much fun playing the hotel room and Owen made an aquarium out of his toys which was so cute. Then we ran around the harbor a little before the Baltimore Science Center opened. Once inside, we had an amazing time. We can't believe we hadn't been there yet. There was so much to do and everything was interactive for the kids.

Owen and Omer ran right to the Follow the Blue Crab, while Aiden went right to the climb in dinosaur tracks. Owen joined the dinosaur area where they explored a lot together. I think the coolest area was the Newton part, where there where over a dozen different science experiments that the kids go to interact with. Then through space, for costumes and blocks. Then to another wacky experiment room, where they go to watch a potato fly through the air using air compression, play with air guns (so much fun), make something to fly on a fan, find balance on a see-saw, and more. After a quick lunch we went to the kids room. I think the boys could've stayed there all day. There was one of those pin walls, and the boys had the best time standing on each side knocking each other's hand prints. There were trains, reptiles, a boat and under the sea section, legos with an earthquake section, and a water area. So much fun! We ended our trip at the planetarium. They offer a child one with Big Bird and Elmo, and that's what was recommended. The boys enjoyed it but honestly I think Owen would have preferred the next level up.

Overall it was a wonderful two day trip and we definitely will visit the Science Center again, both boys and well Omer and I too had a fantastic time there.

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Baltimore Aquarium

After the lake beach we headed to Baltimore to visit the aquarium again. Owen was estactic to be at the aquarium again. And Aiden, not remembering his first visit, loved it as well. We didn't take a ton of pictures because they are about the same every time. Both boys loved watching the sting rays and sharks from every level. Aiden liked to "talk" to the fish while Owen of course tried to name every fish. Owen enjoyed search and find the frogs. Aiden enoyed sitting and watching the dolphins. The cutest part was watching the boys run and happily squel down the shark walk. Overall the whole aquarium trip was fantastic, and great in the afternoon because less crowded.

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Last "Beach" Trip

I was really hopeful that we'd be able to return to the beach before the summer ended but it just didn't work out. And Owen has asked to go back multiple times since our trip in June, so we decided we'd at least take them to another lake beach. We went to Greenbrier State Park, about an hour away in Maryland, and minus the high of 80 that day we all had a great time. The lake beach was pretty nice, clean, water clear, and lots of sand. But with the cooler temps, Omer and I only waded in, never got our suits wet. My only complaint would be the water is pretty shallow. The boys splashed, swam, made friends, dug in the sand, played buckets, etc. It was a good time.

Boys Getting Their Feet Wet

Into the Lake
Owen Trying to Swim in Shallow Water

Aiden Enjoyed Walking

And Kicking His Feet - SPLASH

And Splashing his Hands

He was Waving them back and forth

Owen Running

Serious Aiden

Searching Owen (he did make it pass the rope to the deeper water to actually swim)

Fill a Bucket, Dump a Bucket

Aiden on his Belly

Blowing Bubbles

Big Smiles

Adorable

Owen Playing with Friends

Playing "Catch Fish"

Trip to Greensboro

Grandma and Grandpa moved to Greensboro, NC so he could take the President's job at the college. The boys have missed them so I took the boys down for a 4 day visit. This was my first time taking both boys on a long trip, and the trip down started off good and then went way down hill, but the drive back went pretty smooth. The boys were so excited to see Grandma and Grandpa. We had a great time and Greensboro is an awesome little city.

We went to the Science Center that was amazing. We had a blast! There were dinosaurs, frogs, snakes, fish, play zone, and the coolest zoo area. You could get so close to the animals that looked happy and well taken care of (important to me). Owen talked about this museum the rest of the time. Owen and Aiden had a wonderful time exploring everything.

The next day we went to the Children's Museum in the morning and after the pool closed went back in the afternoon so we could finish exploring. This place too was spectacular and both boys had an amazing time. There were actually trucks and cars and plane to "drive", construction area, grocery store, dress up area, mail area, tot play area, camping zone, etc. Seriously the best time!!!

Other than that we went for ice cream and to the playground, the pool, and played at Grandma's. We also made a stop at Grandpa's work to see his new office and have lunch. The boys loved sitting in big chairs and tunneling through the table.

The trip was a lot of and Greensboro has amazing museums. The camera got messed up with the humidity and never could figure out how to "fix" it so some of the pictures are blurry.

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Airplane Museum

After a day of rain we decided to head over to Udvar-Hazy, aka the airplane museum. This was Aiden's first time here and he loved it. His eyes got huge and with a big smile he ran down the ramp to excitedly point at huge helicopters. Owen ran around looking at everything as with every trip. Glad to have had both parents there as they went in different directions often. Two excited kids with lots of huge planes to look at; it was a fun outing.

Looking over the Ledge

Pointing at Helicopter
Airplane Museum

Owen and Mommy Flying Like Airplanes

Aiden was most excited to see the space shuttle

Studying the Huge Space Shuttle

Aiden in Space

Crouching to Take a Look

Brothers Looking at Space Machines

Aiden and Owen....

HighFive

Aiden and Mommy Flying

Smiling Airplane

Happy Aiden

Always a favorite, running down the ramps

Owen took a break to see something

Day with Baby Kai

We took Kai for a day so that Alec and Ami could have some time alone. The boys were excited and Owen kept telling us that he was going to take good care of baby Kai. The boys had a wonderful time with Kai and played and shared very well. Kai was super easy and sweet, napped awesome and just was happy to hang out with us all.

Kai Sucking Thumb Aiden was excited to climb back in the exersaucer
Kai and Aiden played together

Kai Laughing

Aiden Bouncing Up and Down

Practicing Sitting

He loved this toy

Then Aiden started to tunnel as Kai played with it

Kai explored Chloe

Owen came back and played peek-a-boo with Kai

The Boys Playing

Owen Tickling Kai

Sandbox Time

Boys Play Happily

Baby Kai Sandy Toes
Teaching Kai to Drive Trucks

And Eat Trucks

Kai was very intrigues by Owen and Aiden

This is video of the boys when Kai first got there.