Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to Daddy Barr!  We love you!

Swimming Party

 The Friday night before the boys' birthday, one of their kindergarten friends had a swimming party.  (The timing wasn't the best, since the party didn't start until almost their usual bedtime, but it all worked out!)  The pool was awesome -- it had a gradual entry, and then the "deep end" was only three feet deep, so the kids didn't need to be swimmers to be on their own.  Matthew even practiced going under water a few times and dog paddling.  James really liked the water basketball.  (The parties at this age are kind of funny, because the kids are all excited about seeing their friends, and then they all just kind of do their own thing -- or at least the boys do!  The girls travel a bit more in packs.)

James made a nice card for his friend that said, "I love you.  You are the best friend ever."  (This was very sweet, but also a little surprising, because I don't think that James and this boy are actually particularly close!)

Birthday Soccer

 The boys had soccer practice on their birthday.  Last week, they were on offense and did really well -- James was very excited that he scored two goals!  This week, they were on defense first, and did a great job, and then they were goalies (and had almost nothing to do, since their teammates were playing good defense).

James is crazy about soccer right now -- he really wants us to play with him in the back yard.  (We use the bounce-back net and Rojo as the goals.)  Unfortunately, Mattie is not so into it, so James doesn't usually have another playmate. (One of the boys in the house behind us likes soccer, too, so that's good when he's around!)

Little Gardeners

 The boys brought home seedlings from kindergarten and were excited to plant them. They each had a cup of grass (which was growing remarkably well).  Matthew had planted a watermelon seed and Jamesie picked a pumpkin.

I made a strategic error -- Mattie's cup had dirt (potting soil) in it, and I told him not to wash the dirt out in the sink.  I told him it was okay because plants liked water with dirt in it.  Well, the boys were very excited about that idea and then all they wanted to do was make dirty water for the plants!  So, the sink ended up much messier than if I'd just let him rinse the cup out in the first place.  Live and learn.  :)

Slippin and a-Slidin'

The boys got a slip & slide for their birthday, and Matthew wanted to try it out right away.  He was a little disappointed when we opened the box -- from the picture on the outside, he thought it was going to be an actual slide into a wading pool.  But once he actually started sliding on it, he thought it was pretty good!

Party Time

 The boys (and their friends) had a fantastic time at their Rolly Pollies party.  As usual, the foam pit was the main attraction!  The explosion of energy that happens when you get a group of kindergarteners together is amazing to behold. :)

Boys in Uniform

 T-ball is even more adorable when the kids have their uniforms.  :)  They've started playing actual games now.  They're at the instructional level, which means 1) there are no outs; they switch sides after every kid on the team has gotten to bat, and 2) they don't keep score.  After the last batter, any kid still on base runs home.

 Comment from one of the other parents: "You know it's t-ball when the coach has his Tim Horton's [coffee] out on the field."  :)

Now They Are Six

 Happy birthday to the boys!  I can't believe they're six!  :)

For their kindergarten celebration, we brought treats: Matthew specified "vanilla cupcakes with no icing" and James went with his usual strawberries.  :)