While daddy is away....

Mom finally had time to bake... yummy rhubarb blueberry bars.... Ben approves:)

A pool dinner date with Wyatt and Baby G.... complete with pizza!

A full day at the MN Zoo with our ECFE Friends!  We did the Dino exhibit twice, the splash pad and the butterflies.... plus all the animals... by 5pm Mommy had 2 very tired boys!

Ben loved holding Darby's hand and helping her all day... he also loved riding in the stroller with her.  So cute to see him act like a big brother :)

Nathan trying to convince the butterfly to land on his hand

The 2nd trip through the dino exhibit!

When mommy has too much time on her hands she has to find something to do.... so mommy made us a new basket full of Big boy Toddler crafts and activities and lots of yummy dinners and breakfasts... Thanks Pinterest!

Baseball still is and always will be a HIT at the Utechs

They love to ride the sandbox as a boat!

The boys LOVE to watch the Olympics so we had Olympic races in the back yard and here they were trying to throw balls into the pool and "win points"..... maybe the Olympic committee will consider this new sport :)

We made photo frames for daddy.... we sure did miss him!

We always make the boys have "crazy hair" in the bath tub with shampoo.... Ben was playing with a colander and pipe cleaners and he kept putting it on his head like this and screaming "Mama, Crazy hair!"

Mommy made us these Popsicle stick blocks so that we could work on colors and shapes.... Nathan made a fishing pole.... Ben made circles, triangles and Diamonds.  They loved them... super glad I made them!

I have been working on cleaning and organizing the house over break.... I guess Nathan took it to heart!  He dipped his play scrub brush in the rain water on the deck and then "Cleaned" the patio door. What "helpers" I have!

Cooperation at its finest!

It was a good week home with mommy, only fun things and routine!  We missed daddy and welcomed him home with balloons, photo frames and peanut M & Ms... his favorite!  The boys love their daddy and missed him while he was gone!  The 1st night he was gone the boys went right to sleep.... but the 2nd night they were sad for daddy.  Ben kept crying "need a daddy hug".... Nathan would reassure him "it ok DEn!"  They finally settled on a daddy T-Shirt to snuggle with.... so each night they had one of Brent's T-Shirts .... one of the nights they even had to wear the "daddy shirts!"  It was the cutest thing!  These little men are so darn funny!

Love Always

The Utechs

A Wonderful Relaxing Family Weekend!

Hanging out with Berkeley... his favorite!

Nothing is cuter then Ben in his striped boxer briefs!

Washington County Fair!

This was the boys first trip to the fair and they loved it!  We headed out on Friday afternoon when Brent got home from work and spent all evening.  We decided to attempt the fair without the stroller and they did great.... what big boys! We also ran into our friends the Howe Family and Brent's Friend Josh from work.  What a fun way to kick of August!

Pony Rides!

Goats.... "MAA MAAA MAA"

Sheep "BAA, BAA" "lil lil lamb"

Prunto Pups

Tractor Rides!

Tractor Ride!

Helicptor Rides... mama had to go too because we were too short

Round and a round and a round... mama was ready to be done!

Trying to win a fish!

Just like daddy... loving the chacolate malt!

Sharing with his brother!

Helping Daddy fix the window

Measuring it up!

They really do love each other!

a construction tunnel

Ben "covered gramma and Naynay" up  so they could read stories!

The boys have decided that peeing over the edge of the toilet/potty chair is funny.... so we decided that they needed to help us scrub the potty chairs.... 

Back to drilling!

A trip to the Farmers Market in St. Paul

Ben's balloon didn't make it home!

1/2 of nathans made it home! So funny... they were so proud!

It was a wonderful weekend that we spent together... homework free!!!!

2 1/2 Years OLD!

Ok so this blog post got a little delayed by finals....
The boys are officially 2 1/2  seems like they are growing up so fast and I'm a little sad about it!
These poor little guys have had to withstand quite a crazy year.... They are handling quite well and surprise me all the time with what they know and what they have learned.

A few new things....

* playing pretend:  they like to dress up in their construction hats and vests, fire man Sam apparel, we set up a city with all the "Little People" and they spent >1 hour playing.... I would say "the pirates need to get the airport"... then they would load them up in the bus and push them over to the airport...."Now where mama?"

*Chores/cleaning:  they want to help unload the dishwasher, wash dishes, vacuum.... if only they liked  picking up toys.... Ben likes to help.... Nathan would rather just play:)

* Singing, praying and the alphabet....numbers too:  So I'm usually pretty hard on them and I often don't give them enough credit for all they can do and all that they have learned.... so a couple of weeks ago they proved me wrong...again.  On a rare morning when I was home with them in July... I was laying in bed listening to them talk to each other and laugh and jump in their cribs.... then what did I hear....they were singing the ABC's together!  I couldn't believe it.... they never do it for me....They have also gotten to be quite the book worms... especially Ben.  They fill in the blank when I stop reading, they pretend to read and talk about the photos.... So for the millionth time in their short 2.5 years... they have again proven me wrong!

*Art Projects:  They seems to have a renewed interest in arts.... maybe it is the lack of ECFE in July:)  They always loved the ECFE painting most.  They love trains and animals so over the weekend while mommy was on a study break we colored some circus animals and made a Circus Train for the playroom.... they thought it was so cool!...Ben was very proud of the Choo choo Train!

Favorite Books
Little Critter (Just me and Dad, I was so Mad, Just a Little to Little)
Anything Mickey Mouse Club House or ELMO
Dig Dig Digging
Germs, Germs, Germs (they love germs... it cracks me up)
Olivia Books

Favorite Foods
Tacos
Cottage Cheese
Blizzards (Daddy has treated them to these a few times)
Blueberries
Yogurt and Cereal

Favorite things!
The Sprinkler, the swimming pool and the Big Colby Lake pool

Still love their bikes and scooters

Ben is still quite the little baseball player and recently Nathan has started hitting a pitched ball.... he gets so proud of himself.

Cute little things...
* They always want good night kisses through the bars of their crib
* They always want to be "covered up  mama/ daddy" at night
* The Olympics have been a big hit: Gymnastics and volleyball held their attention but by far their favorite was the Swimming.... they were enthralled with the "Big Pool," They clap and cheer, its so funny.... Brent thinks we should start training them for the Olympics 2028????  :)
* Every night when we put the boys to bed we say where do we love you to..... "the moon and back"... "bahbye mama/daddy"

Potty Training update
We maybe just maybe have figured out this Potty training thing.  The introduction of the Pez dispenser was the turning point. They love to use their step stool to get on the toilet "MYSELF!" They also are getting a lot better at pulling up/down their pants.  I will keep you posted though.... just when I think we have things under control... they usually change it up on me.

There also has been quite alot of PESTERING going on at our house.  Ben finds a toy.... Nathan takes it from him.... Ben retaliates.... Ben gets in trouble..... as you can see from the photo.... Nathan is holding Ben down at hose point:)

They absolutely LOVE this dog.  When we got back from the Dells they hadn't seen Berkeley in 4 days.... Nathan laid on our bed next to Berkeley stroking her ears and stating "miss you Berky, I love you Berky, I miss you Berky!"  It was so sweet!

Always the Monkey!  

And Mister Nathan.... he has been a little cranky this months.  We aren't exactly sure why, teeth, growth, summer, lack of sleep, missing mommy?  all I know is we have been seeing alot of this face!  So the other day Gramma gave Nathy lots of extra hugs and even made up a "Huggable Nathy" song.  If only these boys could know exactly how much they are loved!  

August is the MONTH O FUN at the Utechs!  Mamas off all month so we are doing all fun all the time, we are sleeping in, snuggling in bed, reading stories in the grass, swimming and hanging out.  I will try to get a few more blog posts up in august. 

Love always,

The Utechs