Sprinklers!

 We went today for the first time of the summer season to hang out with friends in the sprinklers. Najah's yard turned into a big mud pit!

Zev had a lot of fun going down the slide into the muddy puddle! 

He was the first kid to figure out how not to actually land on his rear in the mud. 

Feet first! 

Anthony wasn't so lucky.

He ended up with a face full of mud. 

Mikey was pretty muddy too. 

...so he got sprayed in the face....

Cheese! 

 Zev had so much fun with his friends. 

Kaya was sliding into the mud on purpose I believe.

Tahl loved running under the water and playing.  It has been a while since last summer, but I am happy to see that he still loves the water. 

My mom friends, Anna and Najah, relaxing in the shade. 

Tahl running from the water. 

When Najah put down the hose, Tahl took it over. 

He was helping fill up his friends' water guns. 

 Tahl decided to try the water slide. 

Hooray!

And right in the mud!

He had to lay there for a second and think about it. 

He got up to run around and play though. 

 Here he was just standing around yelling for no reason. 

Tahl was looking at these pictures when I was loading them onto the camera.  He pointed to this one, and he said, "I see Zevi."  Ari told him it was him, and Tahl kept telling him, "No! That's Zevi!"  I don't see the similarity as much as other people do, I guess because I know them too well, but I have been asked at least 3 times this week if they are twins.  I think the hair and dressing them alike (their idea) helps contribute to the illusion. 

Then back to splash in the mud. 

Even his diaper was muddy. 

Man this kid is cute! 

A whole muddy face was okay, but this one foot was not. 

Tahl is so big! 

And so handsome.  I love this kid. 

This one is pretty great too! 

I think it's going to be a fun summer! 

My big weekend!

This weekend was my 30th birthday and Mother's Day all in one!  I had a party with my friends Friday night at Pete's Piano Bar, and I had so much fun.  They paid to get me up on the piano embarrassed. 

Ari and the boys made me my favorite, cookie cake. 

Here they are decorating it.

The beautiful finished product. It was pretty good. 

I went out to lunch with my mom, and we had a great time.  I didn't get any pictures of us, only my present!  I love my new wallet. 

On Mother's Day, I woke up to breakfast in bed.  Looks how cute Ari is! 

Zev brought me presents that he made at school. 

He was very proud of this purse with our picture and a poem in it. 

He made "double E's". 

Always nice to wear your mom's gift. 

 Zev made me this at OT.

When I opened the bag, there was also a tattoo inside. I told him he forgot it in there, but he told me it was for me! He said it is a heart because he loves me.  I'll spare you the pictures of what it looks like on my belly. 

 We went to spend our morning at our favorite place, the zoo.  

The weather was fantastic, and the animals were really active. 

 My animals were really active too! 

 We tried to get a cute Mother's Day picture, but we were a little tired by the end. 

I am so lucky to spend Mother's Day (and every day) at home with my boys!  Thanks Ari! 

Ari took me out to Texas de Brazil that night, and we had a great time. I didn't get any pictures there either.  Apparently if Zev and Tahl aren't there, I don't remember to take a picture! We had a great time though, and we even got double dessert to go for free.  I love dessert, and Ari loves free, so it was a good time! 

Robots +

Last weekend Zev brought Ari an empty box and asked him to "snip" holes in it to make him a robot costume.  Ari did, and we didn't want Tahl to be jealous, so I made him one too.  I decided we had to paint it! Here is the box after 3 coats of paint. 

Zev was already having fun with it, but he thought it needed a belly screen. 

We painted some paper plate belly screens, and then the guys put stickers on the boxes.  This has been a whole week process. 

Look at those smiles! They were so excited with the final product. 

It's hard to give robot hugs... 

Zev was really excited to put the numbers and his name on his box. 

Tahl's decorating is a little more random. (I helped with the bottom.) 

Here are a few extra pictures. This was Tahl's last day of mommy and me before he starts in the 2's next fall.  He was excited to eat bagels. 

Here he is singing with friends. 

Yesterday, the boys went to Kade's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese.  Tahl did not make it long in this car ride. 

Zev really liked riding this horse.  He actually liked everything about Chuck E. Cheese. 

Tahl didn't make it long on this ride before he was finished either.  He kept telling us he was too scared.  My mom asked him if he was too scared to eat, and he said, "No! I HUNGRY!" 

Zev won 25 tickets, and he bought himself AND Tahl some candy.  

I actually overheard Zev telling Tahl earlier that he had to do something with him because that is what best friends do! I'm so glad Zev found his best friend right here at home!

Brotherly Love

These two guys have been having so much more fun together lately.  Sometimes Zev gets a little aggressive about Tahl playing with him the way he wants, RIGHT NOW!  Tahl can get that way too though, but with a little less pushing and pulling. 

Here is a picture of the guys at the park.  Zev was telling us that we were on a "deep dark train" that can fly to the the "tippy top of all the trees."  Tahl is happy to just ring the bell or sit down when Zev says we are about to move fast. 

Here they are having fun in the creek at the zoo.  

This was actually the first time I've ever let them get in. 

Zev ended up dipping his whole head in and having to get out. He just loves water... listening to my instructions, not so much. 

At least these days, he loves his brother too! 

Tahl got a new stroller for his birthday that he loves. 

We went for a walk right before bed yesterday, so please excuse the matching pajamas. 

Zev has been loving peddling, and then lifting his feet up to go down the hill. 

Zev can't wait to get his own big bike for his birthday and stop riding Tahl's new tricycle.  Tahl can't wait to figure out how to peddle.  He's trying, but he's not quite there yet. 

 Yesterday the two boys were walking around the house wearing the same necklace.  Zev was telling me that they were married now. 

They were so excited that I had to just grab my phone for a picture, so excuse the fuzziness. 

They did break the necklace not long after this picture. Oh well.  Tahl also tells me he is getting married any time he puts on a necklace now, so I'm not quite sure he understood. 

Today after we dropped Zev off at school, and Tahl and I were running errands, he said, "I miss Z Z really bad mommy. I want Zevi to play with me every day." Even with the fights that still happen, Ari and I are so glad it is now a love/hate relationship rather than the Zev ignores Tahl relationship of years past.  I hope these guys are best friends!