Corduroy Storytime & Dinner with Friends

I had to run an errand yesterday morning so I took the kids with me and then we dropped by Barnes and Noble for storytime (we used to go there for their Monday storytime).  Yesterday was a special storytime because after reading the book "Corduroy", the bear was going to visit the kids.

We have the book and have read it several times so the kids knew the story but were still engaged (even though the employee reading the story was really slow and kept the book faced toward her instead of outward most of the time - most kids quickly lost interest).

Then it was time for Corduroy to come out.

Both boys were a little nervous, but they both got on stage on got their picture taken.  Carter even had a few high fives.

Last night we had our friends Dana and Jason over for dinner and their little boy Silas (about 11 months).  Even though I don't think the boys remembered who they were, when they got up from nap their were insanely excited and hyper about our friends coming over.  They were doing this for at least a minute and I caught just the tail end on video.

Our boys got a little loud a few times but generally did good so we were able to catch up with our friends.  And it was great to see how much Silas has grown up - we don't get together enough and he changes so much each time we see him!

The Little Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings

The Nashville Library has a great set of people that do storytime and are also part of a puppet troupe called Wishing Chair Productions.  They do puppet shows at the library as well as with the traveling Puppet Truck.  They have an amazing collection of marionette puppets and have been using them for plays at the library since the 1930s.

Wishing Chair Productions does plays at the library on Fridays and Saturdays and have a new one every month or two.  In December we saw Cinderella and this month they are performing one of their classics, The Little Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings.

I took the kids to the play yesterday and we had fun listening to a new story.

After the play was over, the kids got to go up front to see the marionettes.

We often don't have a lot planned for Fridays so this is a great thing to do when it's still cold outside and have to find indoor things to keep us busy!

Target Toy Clearance

The big January toy markdown at Target was yesterday.  I always say that I bought too much, but I think I spent more this time than ever before.  But I feel like I did a good job not buying stuff that will sit in my toy stash for a year or two.  And I got lots of girl things for birthday parties this time (something I always regret not getting more of).  Everything was 70% off except for 3 Lego toys.  I spent $295 (plus tax) for $873.50 worth of toys.  Here's what I got:

6 Lego Duplo Read & Builds ($3.88 each)

Mega Bloks Spiderman Lizard Sewer Speeder ($3.58)
Mega Bloks Spiderman Oscorp Spider Lab ($4.48)

Squinkies Carousel Surprise Dispenser ($5.98)

2 Minnie Mouse Beach Cuties Squinkies ($2.96 each)
2 Barbie Squinkies ($2.96 each)

Zoobles! Princess Castle Playset ($5.98)

Polly Pocket Color Change Makeover ($7.48)

HexBug Nano Habitat Set ($8.98)
2 HexBugs ($3.88 each)

Matchbox Shark Escape! Play Set ($10.48)

Matchbox Police Station (4.78)

Matchbox Big Boots Blaze Brigade Set ($7.78)

Mega Bloks Hello Kitty Dream House ($10.48)

Imaginext Evil Dr. Porkchop's Spaceship ($5.38)

Fisher-Price Hero World Cyborg & ATV ($5.06)
Fisher-Price Hero World Hal E. Copter ($5.38)

Fisher-Price Hero World Roger Houston ($3.74)

Lego The Hulk ($7.48 - only 50% off)
Lego Naboo Starfigher & Naboo ($2.98)

Thomas Trackmaster Duck's Power Line Repair ($5.08)

2 - Spiderman Lizard Mask ($2.98 each)

Crayola Creations Fashion Portfolio ($2.68)

MobiGo Dora the Explorer Twins' Day ($4.52)
MobiGo Cars 2 ($5.98)

Leapfrog Tag - Toy Story 3 ($4.18)
Leapfrog Tag - Dora Goes to School ($4.18)
Leapfrog Tag - Chuggington - Wilson & the Paint Wagon ($4.18)
Leapfrog Tag - Pets Pals Sticker Story Time ($4.18)

Circo Number Puzzle ($2.08)

Pictionary Man ($9.88 - something for Brian and me!)

Hi Ho Cherry-O ($3.28)

Jake & the Neverland Pirates - Hook's Adventure Rock ($11.98)

Transformers Rescue Bots - Bots & Robbers Police Headquarters ($8.98)

Lego Cars 2 Oil Rig Escape ($24.98 - only 50% off)

Lego Duplo Deluxe Train Set ($49.98 - only 50% off - my big splurge but best find)

School Nap

When I picked up Carter today (at the normal time, about 2:25 pm, 5 minutes before we start getting fined), he and half his class was still passed out.  Sometimes one or maybe two are still asleep (with all the lights on and parents coming in and out), but they were all worn out today!

While Carter tried to wake up, I went to grab his bag and coat and they were missing.  Apparently Cooper's dad picked him up today and mistakenly grabbed Carter's stuff.  Cooper had been sound asleep too so apparently didn't complain about wearing the wrong coat or anything.  Luckily Ms. Anne got ahold of Cooper's dad and they were able to bring our stuff back!

Painting

Painting is sometimes a chore with making sure the wrong things don't get painted, so I don't get the stuff out too often, but yesterday we spent about an hour painting!

Carter is finally not just throwing paint up there any which way.  Though this isn't a specific thing (like trees and a house), it is "organized".

Yesterday was "black and white" day in Carter's class.  This Halloween shirt is the ONLY black or white shirt he has so he wore it in January :)

Rylan is still favoring his left hand.

He was VERY serious about his painting and got REALLY upset when the paper ripped a couple of times because he kept painting the same place and it got too wet.

Clothes got painted a little but all the furniture made it - success!

Predators Kickoff Celebration

Saturday was another rainy day (I think we are currently up to a week now of rainy days???), so we went downtown to Bridgestone Arena for the Predators Kickoff Celebration.

The main event was a two-hour captains' practice.  In addition to that, there were picture opportunities, face painting, cheap concessions, and more!

We first got the boys' picture with a couple of the cheerleaders/ice girls.  The boys didn't really want to do it so I went with them.  And this is the closest thing to a non-scowl that Rylan made.

We are starting to get a collection of pictures of the boys, me, and cheerleaders (all with Rylan being grumpy).  This one is from a 2011 Titans game.

After walking around the arena a little and getting some $0.50 concessions, we sat down by the ice to await the start of practice.  Carter was so excited he didn't even want to eat anything!

Rylan, on the other hand, had no problem shoveling in some popcorn!

Both boys were really excited when the players started coming out onto the ice.  They were slowly coming out of the locker room and everytime a player came out, Rylan would point and yell, "Another one!!!"

We sat in the third row (the closest we'll ever be!) to watch and the boys were mesmerized for about 20 minutes.

When the boys started getting out their seats and not paying as much attention, we decided to head out (since it was a free event, we didn't feel obligated to stay to get our money's worth).

Neither boy wanted to have their face painted but somehow Brian eventually convinced them to have their hands done.  Rylan got paw prints (which he refused to let me take a picture of) and Carter got Gnash, the mascot.

On our way out, we explored some of the upper seating areas (I think Carter liked the view from up here better - which is good, since that's where we can afford).

Visting the arena and watching practice was a great way to spend a few hours on a rainy Saturday!

Snowman Kit

The kids got lots of awesome gifts from our parents that they love and play with everyday.  They are so lucky to have such generous grandparents.  Thank you, everyone!!!

But the present that I like the best is this homemade snowman kit from Brian's Uncle Dale.  Dale recently moved to North Carolina and is staying with Brian's parents for a bit.  We got to spend Thanksgiving with him and the kids had a blast playing with him.

Dale filled a tub with everything you need to decorate several snowmen.  He even drew this cool guy on the top of the box.

Inside there are hats, scarves, buttons, eyes, noses, mouths, and so much more!

There are two whole boxes of eyes, mouths, buttons, etc.

Each piece is mounted to a golf tee that will be easy to insert into the snow.

Some of the coolest things are these carrots, pipes, and pieces of coal that Dale handmade.

Hats, eyepatches, and mittens:

Traditional hats, bowties, and scarves:

I really, really hope is snows this year!