Feeding the ducks after swim class

Jackson Left, Shane Right (notice Shane's hair is still sticking up a bit from all of that sun tan lotion!).

Mohauks

Shane decided yesterday that the sun tan lotion/spray would be good hair gel. So he and his brother sprayed their hair with suntan lotion and tried to put their short hair into Mohauks.

Are they going to take my eyes out?

The boys are going to the eye doctor today for an eye exam and Jackson was very nervous that they were going to take his eyes out! I assured him that this was not the case and all would be fine, let's see how the visit goes. 

This week is swimming lessons at the Boys and Girls Club and afterwards they have been swimming over at Barbara's pool. 

 Having lunch at the club. The boys have been in awe of the lake at the club b/c there is a "Mystery monster" that lives in the lake and sometimes can be seen on the island, S&J are determined to see that monster. They talk about it non stop at home!

 Playing with the tether ball- they love this game!

Hanging at Barbara's pool with Dahlia and Sabine. 

Summer camps coming to a close

Shane and Jackson just finished a GREAT camp at Einstein's Workshop - they were in a lego and robotics program- they built amazing structures and put motors on them so that they would move- it was well worth the investment! This week is their last program at the Boys and Girls Club- Swimming Lessons in the deep end, they have really come a long way with the swimming and hopefully by next year they are ready for a swim team? They will continue on with the lessons this year as they go into kindergarten and Mommy thinks it is a great sport for them so fingers crossed.

Kindergarten starts in just a few weeks and our lives will really change. Trish is leaving us and we will have a new child care provider for the mornings, new school, new teachers, new friends, new after care program, Mommy's new job- lots of newness! But it is all good, we will roll  with the punches and embrace all of the change. But one thing is for certain, we will miss Trish!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grocery Shopping with a 5 y.o.

Last night Shane and I went grocery shopping together- Jackson opted to stay home with Daddy. This was a new experience for mommy- shopping with just ONE five year old was actually fun and Shane was a GREAT help! He put everything in the cart and even helped bag the groceries:

Gone are the days of the crazy two year olds in the grocery store crying and running all over the place throwing fits. And to top it off, it was nice to just spend some one on one time with Shane.

Summer Sizzler Day at Shire

Friday was the last Summer Sizzler Day at Shire for Mommy (Shire is her new company, and she got a half day on Friday) so we went to Boston for the afternoon. We took a ride on the carousel and visited the frog pond and play ground there as well as ride the swan boats and get balloon batman figures made- it was a great afternoon, and let's not forget the giant lemonade the boys each got which resulted in them having to go to the bathroom in the middle of Boston Public Gardens!

 At one of the statues in the Boston Common on the top of the hill we were playing "The Big Bad Wolfe", Mommy was the wolfe and Shane and Jackson were the little pigs and I had to catch them.

 Feeding the ducks in the Public Gardens- not really but they were trying.

 Jackson and Nana having some refreshing lemonade on yet another statue. The boys made a game out of the ramp and turned it into a slide.

 Nana Shane and Jackson.

 We took a ride of the Merry Go Round in the Common- it is hard to see but there is Shane on the horse on the inside- he was fascinated by the fact that he could see himself in the mirror as the horse went up.

 Shane on the swan boats.

 Jackson getting his hair cut after his summer buzz cut.

 Jackson on the swan boats.

 This tile design was over in the frog pond park- mommy didn't notice it was  a frog until after I took the picture.

 Shane getting a hair cut.

 The weeping willow trees along the Swan Boats. Robin Williams recently passed away so the "Good Will Hunting" Bench was under this tree and covered with flowers and memorabilia.

 Shane at the frog pond park.

Pirates

Watch out for those pirates- Truman's Birthday party- Jackson is on the far left with an eye patch saying Argh!

Happy Summer

Happy Summer from the Bryant Family- New Hampshire 2014. Jackson left, Shane Right. 

Summer photo's from Trish

Shane and Jackson have had a great summer with Trish! Drumlin Farm camp was a big hit but since it was a little bit far away so they would often have a packed lunch at Drumlin. Here are the boys climbing on the owl tree at Drumlin Farm. 

 Eating ice cream. Jackson left, Shane Right.

 Wearing their great and soft Drumlin Farm Camp T-shirts with a little friend.

 Jackson wearing daddy's boots and playing a joke on us.

 Barbara has a great pool and she is so generous to let Shane and Jackson go swimming most days when Dalia and Sabine are there. Above - just hanging with the girls and below just chillin' in the chair. Shane Right, Jackson Left- both all smiles in the sun.

The kids festival at ABG Club- a walking bouncey house/ water slide- the boys loved it!

Summer Misc.

We are members at the Belmont Public Pool for the summer and the boys are great swimmers, but there is a big deep end at the pool. In order to swim in the deep end you have to pass a test. Jackson decided that he wanted to take the test which means swimming around the parameter of the deep end without touching the bottom- he gave it a great shot but didn't get too far. When they told him that he didn't pass he yelled- "Yes, back to the shallow end" with a big smile.

When we visited Charolette in Essex- one of the boys, I think it was Jackson asked her if She and Alex had kids? - it was cute at the time.

 One sunday after art classes we visited the Boston Public Gardens and went on the swan boats. The boys also got balloon characters- above Jackson is hugging his bat man balloon.

August 2014

We have had a busy summer and mommy is very behind on this blog! Here are some recent photos of the boys. Today Nana came over to watch the boys and of course they made pancakes- Nana let's them sit on the island to stir the mixture!

 I came home from work yesterday and Shane and Jackson had been at the Arlington Boys and Girls Club Camp and Kids Festival all day- they were tired and were watching the iPad. The above picture shows them holding hands while they watched the iPad.

 This summer we have taken full advantage of the Payson Park Music festival- a band comes to the park and everyone plays and has a grande time. This soccer net stays up for the summer at the park and above is Jackson and Truman keeping goal . The other day some big kids were at the park playing soccer and Jackson asked if he could play because he was great at keeping goal. So the older kids generously let him play and of course the balls continued to go right past him and into the net! Jackson didn't mind though he just went and played at the park.

 Jackson and Truman climbing the big tree at payson park. Jackson was going a little too high for my liking.

 At the Wed. night Concerts someone brings stuff to make amazingly HUGE and ornate bubbles and the kids love it!

 Waiting for the concert to begin with friends.

 Shane in the little tree at Beaver Brooke.

 More Bubbles.

 We tried our hand at minature golf this summer- Shane and Jackson were through the course in about 15 minutes- we went to good old Hago Harrington's in Stoneham. Jackson in the blue shirt and Shane in Red. We also saw lots of bunnies while we played mini-golf.

This summer we started back at Beaver Brooke for Sunday walks at the Dog Park. The boys have been great- playing on their own while I walk snowball. Here they are throwing rocks into the brook.

Mommy finally met up with her friend Erica from College. Erica's son Marcus is the exact same age as Shane and Jackson- here they are at Payson Park.