Something Old, Something New

Mommy and Daddy like to take Ysabella and Anthony to the playground for exercise and fun.  The kids usually stick to the same old thing, ...until today.  We used our imagination and saw the usual equipment in a brand new way!  First Anthony had to drive us all to the playground for the fun to begin.

 

Ysabella ran straight to her favorite slide, and got a fresh new static hairdo.

 

Anthony managed to make it out of the stroller and climbed right up to the top of the mountain.

 

Ysabella found an alternate route to the top, climbing the rock wall for the first time all by herself!

 

"I did it, I did it!!"

 

After making it to the top, Ysabella showed Anthony the fastest and funnest way down.

 

Unlike Ysabella's first time on the slide, Anthony loved it and he didn't want it to end.

 The small slide, that Ysabella used to find boring, seemed brand new when you scale up it...

 

and lots of fun going down on your belly backwards! 

 

After letting our imaginations run wild, we had to come back to reality with a Father-Son huddle.

 

  

Always remember to take a break from "reality", little Nicastros...

And keep those imaginations rockin'!!

Teacher Knows Best

Ysabella has been a very influential big sister to Anthony Francis.  She has taught him all kinds of things and today is no different.  While she was coloring, Anthony showed interest in picking up a new skill and walked right over to the coloring table for a lesson. Ysabella was nice enough to share some paper and Anthony didn't even mind that it had been previously used. 

 

This was the time, Ysabella decided, to teach Anthony how to draw and to play "school".  Her first hurdle was teaching him how to sit properly at the table.

 

 

"No, no, Anthony...", Ysabella said.  Sit up straight like this.

 

Next, it was time to master holding the crayon.

 

Thankfully, he was a quick learner and soon enough they each had their very own piece of paper.

Anthony practiced the scribble

 

 

And Ysabella worked on tracing numbers and her name

 

 

Unfortunately, it didn't last long as Anthony found other things to do with his paper and crayon. 

 

Ysabella seemed to find it funny, particularly when the paper covered up his head. 

 

Who knows, Ysabella. You may have a class clown on your hands!

 

The Brave Bulldozer

We all know that Anthony is a little bulldozer and will plow through most things in his way.  While he may have taken his first steps a couple weeks ago, it wasn't until recently that he began forging out for his own purpose.  More importantly, we FINALLY got his two feet in action!

Be careful, Ysabella, it's only a matter of time before he catches up with you! 

One for One

Mommy has been wanting a pair of Toms shoes for quite some time.  So when she finally decided to get a pair, she had to share the fun.  Ysabella and Anthony were very excited to try out their new kicks indoors and out.

"Thank you Mommy for my new shoes!"

 

Anthony might already resemble a little old man when he walks (if only we could get it on video), and now his new Toms add to the look.

 

Luckily, the swings don't discriminate when it comes to attire.  

 

Best of all, each pair of shoes donates a pair to a child without shoes.

Always remember Nicastros, 

'It's far better to give than to receive'

(and sometimes it's awesome when you can do both!)

In and Out

Today's lesson is not brought to you by a furry blue monster named Grover, but by yours truly... Ysabella and Anthony.  We practiced opposites (no, not near and far) in and out! Ysbella has been enjoying building and crawling through "tunnels" and wants everyone to come along for the fun.  

IN the tunnel

 

OUT of the tunnel

  

Once that was mastered, and the "tunnel" was destroyed, we found entertainment in the blanket alone. 

IN the blanket

  

OUT of the blanket

 

 Thanks for joining us on Santander Drive, which has been brought to you by the letter N

Enjoy your Naptime little Nicastros, because we all need some Noiselessness!

Rainy Days Are Tea Days

What is a family to do when the weather is uncooperative?  Stay inside, use our imagination, and have a tea party!!  Ysabella and Anthony both got involved when our guests Ms. Jonna and Elmo (the big one) were invited in for tea. 

 Ysabella was an excellent hostess, serving her guests first and offering everyone a cookie.  Would you like one?

 

Anthony was the chef behind it all and I think we found out his secret... pre-made cookies!

Yup, he was caught "with his hand in the cookie jar" so to speak, or simply taking short cuts to please  his guests.  Either way he did it all with a smile and a twinkle in his eye.

 

The indoors can be fun too, Nicastros. And be careful, even fake tea can be hot!

xoxox