Children's Museum with Uncle Jim

On this particular Sunday Afternoon, the weather was cool and the winds quite chilly. I love to get the boys outside, but it seemed a good day to go to Denver's Children's Museum. It has been a couple of months since Blanden and Ellis have been back to one of their favorite hang-outs. In the case of Uncle Jim, it has a few years :) The weekends for Jeremy and Gretchen are now booked full of Taekwondo Practices and Diving Lessons.

I really like the Children's Museum. The building is always packed with excitment and youthful inquiry. The exhibits are very hands-on and interactive. Thankfully, the boys received an annual membership to this Museum from their Grandparents. It's nearly impossible to see all there is to see in a single outing.

Because there was going to be lots of running around (by everyone), Dad left his honk'n camera behind. These photos were taken by his Blackberry. They say, "A Craftsman Never Blames his Tools". Dad got the additional advantage of having two charming sons incapable of having a bad picture taken ;)

I remember when Blanden was Ellis's age. I was intriqued by the concept of  Parallel Play. It is a developmental milestone where children play together at the same activity, but not actually in collaboration with one another. It's probably because Ellis has an older brother, but it seems that Ellis is very comfortable with playing jointly with others.

Important Note: Just because Ellis is comfortable with playing with others doesn't mean that he always plays nicely. Like all kids, the boys have gotten into battles over toys. Nothing ever major, but Ellis is just as likely to be the aggressor as is Blanden. I find it strange saying, "Ellis, don't hit your Big Brother". If the boys are anything like their Dad and Uncle, this will likely continue until they are in their mid-20s ;)

My absolute favorite part of the day! The boys could not be any more happy. Once we approached this exhibit, both Blanden and Ellis ran quickly to their easels. Uncle Jim and Dad were barely able to put on their smocks before the paint brushes began to fly. I like this photo because it depicts Blanden being deliberate and pensive. Ellis looks calmer that this photo would otherwise suggest. Blanden was quite good at keeping the paint off of his clothes. Ellis...not so much.

Later when thumbing through these photos, at first glance I thought this was a photo of Blanden. I look at this picture and see that my youngest son is now a small boy. I realized then that the days of wondering when Ellis would first walk are now long gone. I don't need a winning lottery ticket. I'd likely create more problems than solutions. What I really need is the ability to pause time. I wish to savor every moment before the next stage of their lives begin. A friend of mine has a blog entitled, "Time Stands Still". She is a photography enthusiast like myself (though admittedly more creative). It's maybe through these photos and this blog that I'm partially granted my wish. Now, maybe I should give this lottery idea a second look!

It's funny what kids pick up. While in the grocery store exhibit, I noticed Blanden carefully looking over the vegetables and selecting just the right one. Blanden noticed that Ellis was indiscriminately selecting items from shelves. Blanden said, "No Ellis, those things are not on sale." Hopefully, Blanden doesn't inherit my bad habit of picking up items JUST BECAUSE they are on sale, and later never using them.

Chef B and his Pizza Creation! There is no question that Blanden has embraced a love of cooking from both of his parents. This pizza took Blanden about 5 minutes to create...this was about 5 times as long as his fellow Pizza-Makers. I think it may be the influence of homemade soups, cookies and cinnamon rolls made from scratch, and elaborate Holiday meals that likely served as his inspiration. As a side note: Blanden insisted that the picture be taken with the pizza being held high above his head. At first, I thought that B wanted to hold it up as a trophy, then soon realized that this is how "real pizza chefs" did it...duh!

What better way to celebrate a successful day at baking pizzas, than to have lunch at a new pizza joint? The Wensuc family all met and The Rock Wood Fired Pizza (a classic rock inspired pizza palour in Highlands Ranch). The pizza was quite good. B was even able to drop his signature restaurant question, "Do you have Cheese Pizza? Great! If you didn't, we would be outta here!" Believe me...it sounds more cute than rude. It gets a laugh from wait staff every time :)

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Fun Picture! Every person's expression told its own unique story. Thanks for the pizza Aunt Nancy and Jungle..oops Uncle Jim!

Easter 2012

Easter Sunday with the Wensuc's!

The combined effect of conflicting schedules, other family obligations, far too may responsibilities, and simply not enough time demanded in a lower maintenance, yet ultimately more enjoyable Easter Brunch. Saturday evening Aunt Nancy was busily trying to put together a wonderful feast for the family, until it was wisely determined that brunch out at NoNo's Cafe seemed like an altogether better idea.

This place is known for it's Strawberry Cake, Homemade Mac and Cheese, Po' Boys, and Blackened Cajun Pork Chops (I don't much care for their versions of Gumbo and Jambalaya). The boy's split an order of Mac and Cheese and tried some of Dad's Pork Chops (sans the Cajun Spice). Both boys loved the Pork Chops! Just as the case with Pot Stickers, I'm going to have to order their own entree next time ;)

 

Despite our rushed schedule, the family arrived with ample time to enjoy the beautiful Easter weather. The playground on this day was an under-utilized bike rack which sat just outside the restaurant. It's great to see imagination and spontaneity at work. Not everything has to be an actual toy to be used as a toy. Literally, the world is your playground.

By most approximations and methods of prediction, Ellis is likely to be 6"ft or taller. My totally unscientific estimate is that both boys will be in the 6"2' to 6"4' range. Next year, I fully expect that Ellis won't able to run through these racks standing upright.

After brunch, it was finally time for the boys to go on their Easter Egg Hunt! Jeremy and Gretchen helped the Easter Bunny ensure that the hunt was appropriately challenging. Since both cousins are experienced "hunters" on this particular parcel of land, they graciously availed their services by providing timely hints and suggestions whenever needed. It took about 10 minutes of managed chaos until all the eggs were eventually found! As a strange coincidence, both boys found approximately the same number of eggs (give or take an egg or two) ;)

Blanden was very proud of his new "Big Boy Belt". Throughout the day, I noticed Blanden checking to make sure that he hadn't lost his newest prize possession. Given his Dad's knack for losing things, it's probably a good habit for Blanden to learn. This will spare him thousands upon thousands of frantic moments hunting down lost wallets, keys, and sunglasses. My hope is that the scientists working on the Genome Project will eventually isolate the gene for "forgetfullness".

...this particular Easter Egg looks remarkably similar to a miniature basketball.

Every Easter Egg Hunt has to have a "Golden Egg". Blanden opened this special egg to find $3 dollars. Soon afterwards, Ellis found the "Silver Egg" which contained $1. Somehow throughout the course of the afternoon, I was informed that Blanden was able to relieve his younger brother with the burden of holding on to his money.  

I thought that I would take a series of scripted shots that might one-day be frame worthy. No such luck! I was fortunate to fire off this shot. Easter is a day for running around...not waiting for Dad as he fumbles with the controls of his camera. Gretchen as my Photo Assistant. She was up for the task, I knew I was beat in a matter of seconds.

Now Ellis...No time like the present to enjoys Easter Treats. Ellis grabbed jelly-beans handfuls at a time. Notice the random jelly bean lodged next to his shirt button. Ellis appears to be saying, "...and I leave that last one for an unexpected treat for myself later".

 

This just seems to be nice a Easter photo. Here, Blanden is carefully sorting through and counting his eggs. Very little of the candy was consumed, but I got the real sense that both boys knew that it was special.  

 

Great Day!