Solo Cups and Shakers

Just when Dad thought we may be getting in a bit of a rut, Pittsburgh picked us up and provided another fun filled week.  It was a little warmer  this week so the boys and I explored every square inch of the tiny apartment.  Its a good thing we all have such big imaginations.  First, we took a trip back to the spray park.  Brenden was a little more reluctant this time, but Jackson was the exact opposite.  He was right up there with the big kids, face first in the sprinklers.

We also had a few rainy days this week.  In fact, Dad got caught in a downpour on his morning run with Brenden and Jackson.  The radar looked clear when we left, but these storms just seem to pop up this time of year.  As a result, we enjoyed plenty of quality time in our humble abowed.  When regular old baby toys failed to do the job, we let our imaginations run wild.  While the average person may look at an empty paper towel roll and think, "What's the big deal," Brenden and Jackson pretend its a sword or a telescope or just use it to make awesome cow noises.  The same goes for red solo cups, water bottles, cereal boxes, and milk jugs.  We have been known to even pretend that a bookshelf is a jungle gym.

Red solo cup... I fill you up... with my pacifier

Lets have a party

Shake it

Showin off

Friday, Dad went out for a jog with the boys and noticed tents going up outside next to Pitt's campus.  After doing a little research, he found out there was a children's festival going on later that day.   That afternoon, the boys all headed up to Schenley Plaza for a little fun in the sun.  We spent most of our time at the music tent.  They had a spread of ukuleles and the boys made noisemakers.  We spent the rest of our time watching the fire dancers and doing a little dancing of our own to the anti-bully band.  It was a really fun afternoon!

Food over fire dancers any day of the week

We're with the band

Hangin' With the Boys

Pittsburgh has been treating the Esker boys very well this week.  Mom had a little more time off than expected at the beginning of the week, so we took the family for a few outings.  Our first trip was on Monday.  We packed a small lunch to enjoy at the park before we took on the jets at the spray park.  Don't worry, waiting 30 min after you eat doesn't apply if its just a little splashing.  We didn't really know what to expect and neither did the boys.  Our transition from picnic to spray park wasn't so easy. In an attempt to wrestle the boys into their swim diaper in the back of the suv, Brenden decided to make his very own spray park on the floorboard.  I guess he couldn't wait.  Lucky for us, it was only number one.  After Mom and Dad had enough of wrestlemania, we both tapped out and thought "this better be worth it"... and IT WAS!  All I have to say is look at the pictures.

Cinema in the Park night was on Wednesday.  We knew it was a long shot since the band went on at 7 and the movie was at sundown (9ish).  The expression "go big OR go home" does not apply here because we did both.  We packed our homemade pizza and high stepped to Flagstaff Hill.  Brenden and Jackson loved the pizza but didn't do so well with their balance on the hill, although, it was very entertaining to watch.  We didn't last long enough to see the movie, but enjoyed a family dinner without any cleanup.  It was a win, win.

With Mom's schedule starting to pick up, Dad's curiosity begins to wonder.  Which children activities are safe enough for Dad to manage on his own... All of them!  We continue to take advantage of the park circuit in Pittsburgh.  Schenley Park has a few playgrounds with stuff for the little guys.  Even though Brenden and Jackson are a little young, they love watching all the older kids.  I can just see them getting ideas.

We also made a stop at Carnegie Mellon's soccer field.  Brenden and Jackson are getting pretty good at kicking the ball around.  Jackson even picked up on some soccer lingo.  He runs around the apartment screaming "GGOOOOOAAAAAAL!" First word, mark it in the book.  Hahaha.  He wakes up in the morning, "GGOOOOOAAAAAAL!" He plays, "GGOOOOOAAAAAAL!" He goes down for a nap, "GGOOOOOAAAAAAL!" He wakes up from a nap, "GGOOOOOAAAAAAL!"  Its not really even baby jabber.  He says it with authority.... too funny.

Today, we dropped Mom off at rehearsal at 10:00 and headed down to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum.  All was going well until we hit a wall of traffic.  Took us about 2 hours to go a half mile.  I was surrounded by a party on the highway.  It was obvious that these people were not going the same place as us.  Apparently, Kenny Chesney decided to schedule a concert at Heinz Field and his fans love to party hours upon hours in advance... How inconsiderate.  I wasn't gonna steal anyone's tailgate spot. All we wanted to do was get to the museum.  Much like many situations in parenthood, we experienced a couple of hours of being miserable for a big payoff at the end.  WE HAD A BLAST!  The boys did awesome at the museum!  We are definitely going to have to bring Mom back to this place.

Mom's Got the Weekend Off

A little soccer in the park

Since we had a little extra time to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend, the Esker family decided to make a trip downtown to the Three Rivers Art Festival.  They had a giant stretch of tents devoted to the visual arts, multiple music stages and even some food tents... all for free.  It couldn't have taken us more than 10 minutes to get downtown and parking was only five dollars.  We definitely don't miss the Chicagoland traffic or expenses.

It was a little busy considering all that was going on... Saturday, the art festival, and the Pirates were also at home.  We were just on the other side of the bridge from Heinz field and PNC park.  Even though the Cardinals aren't in town, we may have to make a family trip to the ballpark at some point.

Heinz Field in the Background

Dad really wanted to see a band called Leagues who took the stage at 6:30.  So, we had a little bit of time to kill considering we parked around 4:30.  The stroller didn't last long since Brenden and Jackson just want to explore.  We decided to lay down a blanket and kick it on the lawn while we enjoyed some festival food.  Snowcone... yes please, cheese quesadilla... don't mind if I do, and it wouldn't be right if Mom did enjoy some delicious falafel.  Food is always a form of entertainment for the boys.  I fear for our grocery bill in a few years.

As always, Brenden and Jackson managed to attract the attention of almost every passerby.  We had a photographer who was working on a calendar for the city of Pittsburgh ask to take some shots of the boys.  Shortly after, Brenden and Jackson made a few friends a little closer to their age and had fun chasing them around.  Leagues played some real feel good music and provided the beats to even do a little dancing.  It felt really good to enjoy some quality family time outside of the apartment.

Jackson all tired out

Mommy stealing kisses

Church Brew Works

Sunday was Fathers Day.  Brenden and Jackson woke up early so we were able to put them down for their first nap and get to church by 10:00.  We went to St. Paul's Cathedral just down the street.  It's an absolutely beautiful church and even makes the Cathedral in Springfield look small.  After church, we skyped with Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt Julie to wish Grandpa a happy fathers day.  Shortly after we fed the boys a small snack, it was time for nap number two.  Dad chose to go to Church Brew Works for his fathers day meal.  We did a late lunch at a brewery in an old restored church.  They had great beer and even better woodfire pizza.  The boys had their meal gone before our pizza even came to the table.  They are machines when it comes to eating.  Mom and Dad split a bbq pizza topped with wild boar.  It was very tasty.  Towards the end of the meal, Brenden and Jackson must have got a little loopy from all the food.  We got some really funny pictures.

After lunch, Brenden and Jackson were showing signs of a food coma.  We made a stop at the grocery store on the way home and picked up a few things for the potluck that evening.  Upon our return, we did a quick skype with the whole Beaver family and put the boys down for number three.  You know it's bad when it's a three nap day.  While the boys napped, we fixed a dish and then it was off to party with the couch surfers.  Mom's fellow young artists invited us to a potluck at their host family's house.  It was a little rough chasing the boys around a house that hadn't been baby proofed but we managed.  We attempted to enjoy some food, drink and conversation while the boys ran around and made friends.  It was an exhausting day, but for all the right reasons:-)

Hello