Bugfest 2012!

We went to a really fun event at the Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh (Manny's favorite local museum). It was Bugfest where you could learn about bugs, visit the new part of the museum that recently opened, try some new things, etc.

Here is Manny getting his face painted. He cried when it came off that night

What handsome guys

 

They had this cool section where you could try all these bugs cooked deliciously. They were surprisingly good. I'm not sure all the things we ate, but I definitely saw crickets and meal worms. They were in ice cream, on top of pizza, dipped in chocolate, and some tasted kind of like popcorn. I was a fan of the crunchy ones, not so much the chewy ones.

Manny surprised me and tried all of them. He even liked them. He told me he liked their crunchy legs and the ones he could dip in chocolate.

a salad if you're eating light

 

The new part of the museum. Isn't it cool looking?

 

And a family picture

 

A fun time was had by all. We will definitely by coming back next year.

Style, Cupboards, Walking

Manny has become quite interested in his looks recently. Some days he likes his hair to be "spikey" (curly) and sometimes he wants it straight. Here he is on a Sunday spending probably 5 minutes in front of the mirror until he gets it just right.

Apparently this is how he wants it today.

Don't worry-we're really going to cut it soon. I just keep forgetting to make time for it.

 

 

Whay is emptying out the cupboards and climbing in so fun for every baby? I'm not sure, but I take a picture every time because they're just so cute.

 

And we love to go walking in "our backyard." Especially now that the weather is a little cooler.

 

 

 

Luis' and Manny's Creativity Develops

Luis is still interviewing for jobs, and doing very well. So while he is doing that he has the great opportunity to watch the kids when I am working. Turns out they do pretty fun stuff. I had no idea he was so creative.

Can you guess who this is?

You're right! It's Wall-E

 

Now this next one is a little more tricky. I didn't guess who it was.

It's Battle Cat! (Heman's cat/tiger)

Here's a side view

What's even funnier is that Manny would take this stool and Battle Cat anywhere he could. While he was playing in the livingroom or his bedroom, while we were eating supper it would watch us, and definitely when he would go to bed it had to be next to him. He even would ride it. (I actually think Luis helped him make this because Manny would pretend he was Heman and his little brother was his battle cat. We had to have a talk about how we don't ride/sit on our baby brothers. Now we call Marcel Baby Battle Cat and this guy just Battle Cat to tell the difference.)

 

Manny also has been really into wrapping presents. He wraps everything. Probably 4 times a day he has been coming to me with a present to open (filled with his toys). What a sweet boy.

P.S. For those of you concerned about the environment-don't worry, I make him use the same paper for multiple presents. One piece per day.

Surprise Poop, Go Potty, and Home Security

More stories from my funny boys.
One day Marcel pooped. A lot. I had taken the dirty one off and cleaned him up (not an easy task because he is at the stage where laying still to get changed is torture). He had somehow wriggled out of my grasp so I just decided to throw the gross one away and he could be naked for a minute. Who hasn't done that? But Manny has been wanting to help so I tell him he should watch Marcel and tell me if he poops. Sounds like a pretty important job, right? Manny buys it. I throw it away and to my horror I hear "Poop!" I race over and am able to catch it with a wipe as it is falling. Disaster averted. I go to throw it away and I hear, "He's pooping again!" What?! This time a little got on the floor. This happens at least 2 more times. I know what you are thinking-why didn't you just put a diaper on him after the first "catch poop?" Well I thought he was done. Obviously. He pooped a lot and each subsequent time was a substantial amount as well. Who poops that much? Boys. Gross.

Next story. Manny has to decorate a "quilt square" (a big construction paper that they will piece together like a quilt) that is all about him. I print out a few pictures and he decides to draw Captain Raptor (a book we've been reading from the library), his spaceship, a Peruvian flag, etc. Then he gets silly/disgusting and says he is going to draw him eating a potty. I said-no way. He is always trying to be funny and for some reason potty talk is hilarious to 4 yr-olds. So when I am not looking he draws something that resembles a toilet. He thinks he's so funny. I label everything so we will remember what he has drawn, but I tell him I am not telling his teachers that he is eating a toilet. And he gets this really sad face and says he really wants the potty on the picture (not that I can take it off, he used marker). I say why-it's supposed to be about you and all the things you like, you really like going potty? (Which he really doesn't, he actually hates it and tells me so when I make him go before we leave somewhere) He says yes, he loves going potty. Okey dokey. He has a toilet on his "All about me" picture. Something to remember.

Last ridiculous story
We are eating supper and Manny tells me and Luis-"If you ever see a bad guy sneaking into your room all you have to do is yell MANNY really loud and I will come in. And I will get real web shooters and a real Spiderman costume and I will shoot him with a web until the police get here." Nice. And then he continues. "And if there is ever a nice sneaky guy sneaking into your room you just have to say manny really soft and I will come. And I will hug him." Hilarious. And so sweet.
So if you ever need any house watching/security or anything I am sure Manny would be up for any situation that might arise. Keep him in mind.

Manny Turns 4

Manny turned 4! Super crazy. I can't believe it. These first few pictures are from his actual birthDay. (We had a party on a different day)

Manny with some of his new toys. He sure loves him some superheroes.

For his birthday we all went to his favorite local museum-the Museum of Natural Sciences. His favorite room is the dinosaur room

Here is Manny pretending to sneak up on Papi. I can't tell you how many times I have had to re-enact this. Manny is the little dinosaur who bites the big dinosaur (Papi).

Marcel sharing his sock. Good news is he has transitioned to a blanket to shove in his face and smell, but socks are often great for travel/on the go.

I made Manny pancakes and sausage.

Papi playing with his boys

 

On the weekend we were able to have Manny's party. A pool party. Too bad it was pretty cold. But good thing is kids don't really care.

 

Here is Manny's cake. Funny story-we were running late that day. I had tried to order one from Costco, but turns out you have to actually go in to order it or fax the order in. And I had talked about the cake all week, but had forgotten to order it until the day before. No problem, right? Costco ALWAYS has a lot of birthday cakes that say Happy Birthday, with balloons, etc. Not today. All they had was the one with flowers and a sun. So we improvised and added some of Manny's figurines. I think it worked out well. He was happy

I also found out there is a helium crisis thanks to Party City. I went to pick out a balloon and they told me they were out of helium. What? Are you kidding me? You're Party City-what else do you do (besides pinatas)? He was serious. Google it-it's true. Helium Crisis.

And Spiderman (our great friend Brad) came to his party. Another funny story I need to remember. We sat next to Brad and Emily at church one Sunday. Manny wasn't being the most obedient/reverent so Brad had drawn him a picture to distract him-Spiderman saying "I am excited for your birthday." Manny brought it over to me so excited saying, "Spiderman is coming to my party!" I said no, it just says he's excited for your birthday, but Manny kept insisting that he was coming. I told Brad & Emily and we all laughed about it. But then Emily called and said she had a costume for Brad and that he was going to come! Manny was so excited when he saw him show up at present time. 

Also please notice the hilarious Michael Jackson t-shirt. Ha! Ha!

Spiderman shooting webs

 

Pinata

Pinata loot. We had candy sticks, bouncy balls, lizards, and kazoos

I made it in a picture!

Manny sharing one of his presents. How sweet.