Spring 2018?

Still fun to build in the sand with friends. I liked that I could be warm in the house and watch.

My apologies that these pictures will be in a random order. Things here have been exciting. So much going on and each week seems to bring more adventure. Our seasons switched to Spring on the calendar but it brought the first snowstorm that you could really play in with it. Two days off of school led to all kinds of fun. Then it melted away to bring slightly warmer spring activities. 

New badminton net.

Saturday morning activity of dying Easter eggs. We tried some new techniques this year including food coloring in a bag of rice, drop the egg in and shake. Boyd takes this very seriously. 

The outcome. This was his favorite egg and shall be the last one eaten.

"Mom, we get more and more creative every year." Boyd's lot. The one on the left is an example of his earlier years of egg dying...craaaccccckkkk

The whole carton minus the one the cracked and smushed prior to coloring.

So grown up.

Going halves.

Another technique. Food coloring on finger and finger painting the egg. ..

or fingers

Mom, I had to draw a picture of my dream house. It is inspired by the house in Ferdinand. It is obviously on a mountain. Looks like room for me!

Trying on his Dr. Seuss day costume. Wish I had a picture from that day. Cute whiskers, and a tail too.

They called school off before the snow even started so I took these two swimming. Then we embarked on our first sleepover. Basically to Boyd that means getting to stay up and hour late and play video games with a friend in the night. They were exhausted from swimming so they both were zonked out by 11. They are being silly after a pancake breakfast the next morning. 

This photo is older but Team Thunder celebrating their undefeated season after a windstorm that knocked power out and wrecked havoc to signs and roofs all around us. 

The long overdue snow they could sled in!

The new sledding hill since they built houses on the old hill.

My heart was so full as I watched Boyd work so hard to build this snowman. He did all the rolling and had some help with finishing touches from a friend.

Coming inside from playing in the field. Love his style.

Fine Arts Festival for the schools. I should have taken a picture of how big this exhibit was but he found his feather right away. His is actually the brightly colored one to the right of the one he was pointing too. It's hard to pose and get everything right.

His Art teacher was so happy to see Boyd and came over right away to share how much she loved watching  him work and how he always too the projects in his own creative direction. Another owl on display! We are so proud of you Boyd!

When there is a will there's a way

 

Sure enough he tried jumping rope while pogoing. He will try again and get it I'm sure. I had him stop because he had some basketball tournament games to play.

Thunder!

This team and coach were incredible. Each one of them loved the game, contributed, and did their best. They were truly a special team. Boyd's first year of basketball is one to remember. Undefeated and won the tournament. It took all 8 of them! 

Cheering after the win!

Boyd always makes his teacher smile. This is one example.

February Happenings

February brought lots of school cancellation weather and then some beautiful weather. Therefore, we got creative and also played hard. February has also been a big basketball month with the championship tournament beginning tonight.

Extra practice at our gym!

Awards at school for working hard at everything he does and always inserting humor.

These kids love to play. His team took advantage of the gym and played for 2 hours. 

Candy bar Bingo. Boyd and I struck out but our kind friends shared their winnings.

Boyd learned to pogo. His record is 840 something. His friend across the street and him will bounce and practice for hours all while chatting away. He can pogo no hands and with one foot. He asked to try pogoing while jumping rope but decided to try jumping curbs instead (insert mom cringes)

A little Harry Potter magic. We just finished book 5.

No school = pi's and playing around with some Bucks clappers for baseball and sword fighting.

Play hard, sleep hard, all while a stuffed animal (Snowy) tickles your face with his whiskers. 

Using a dinosaur to clean up your laundry.

Treasure chest from GiGi's mystery series. 

This years Valentine's. Love the little faces and details like pirate eye patches and mustaches some included.  

Playing battle bots! Boyd is a much better driver than me. 

A little sledding and snow boarding on a blistery snow day. 

January 2018 has been a very cold month here in Virginia with a mix of snow and ice thrown in there. Needless to say Boyd had an extra long Christmas break and then a day of school and then another break. We kept busy and tried to fight off cabin fever, some days more successfully than others. Grandma and Grandpa Burla also came for a visit(how I have no pictures makes me want to cry. I must have been that sleep deprived after my trip to Houston). The last weekend however we received the most glorious gift of three days of 60 degree weather which mean WE GOT OUTSIDE!!!!! A little worn out from the fresh air I am catching up with the blog today. 

Thanks for the entertainment Uncle Matt and Aunt Jessica. The remote control tank is really cool.

A a belated birthday present from Boyd's nanny from 5 years ago. His comment upon receiving the box of chocolates was, "She knows me so well."

Another day off off school due to a little bit of ice. We turned it into fun.

A miracle has happened. Boyd is now wearing pants that fit. Until this day he refused to wear pants that covered his socks and touched his shoes (hence the flood pants in all previous pictures). Thank you Melissa Burla for finding pants he will wear and that actually fit.

The first nice day in months meant a trip to explore Alum Springs park with a friend. We got filthy, wet, laughed, explored and had an absolutely amazing day. Down the dirt chief shoot. Love this natural playground.

Throwing rocks to break the ice.

Rock climbing.

Daring each other to explore holes and the cave.

How they made it to the middle without a splash, I do not know.

My Wisconsin heart jumped for joy. I grew up on a pond and this was Boyd's first natural experience with ice on a water source. He didn't venture far but thought he was a real dare devil. 

Such a nice duo to spend the day with.

NYE 2018

New tricks to end the year.

Always up to something.

Budding artist

Preparing to see The Illusionists at the Kennedy Center in DC New Years Eve (this was Adam's birthday present from us). Boyd was insistent that we find his bow tie. The one he wore about 8 years ago from Great Grandpa Ramsey for his funeral. Found it and he sure looked good. Boyd said he needed his sunglasses because important people wear sunglasses. 

Waiting in the concert hall before the show. 

This hall had all the countries flags. 

We found a quieter place on the steps to wait and be silly before heading into the theater. 

We believe in magic. A good show and way to end the year. We all had different favorite parts and magicians.