Thanksgiving in Oklahoma

We once again headed up to Oklahoma for our annual Thanksgiving celebration with Nick's family. The boys got right back into the routine of chasing around the cats while inside and running around with the Tonka trucks while outside. The weather was great, just cold enough to feel like fall, but not too cold to enjoy some time outside!

He kept running toward me and trying to crash into my leg. He was quite amused by it all!

Here he comes again!

Close-up!!!

It's a fine line of Matt teaching Jonathan how to work things, and Jonathan feeling like Matt's not trying to steal toys from him. Sometimes it works out.

Even though the football was bigger than his head, Jonathan wanted to be involved.

One of the boys' favorite activities is climbing in between the trees.

Matt found an awesome "hill" for the truck to climb.

We took the boys to Incredible Pizza while we were there and Jonathan got some more driving practice in.

Matt got a scooter for his birthday from Nana & Pawpaw. He loved it, but not as much as Jonathan!

Matt kept his helmet on in case he wanted to get back on the scooter.

The helmet came in handy for truck driving.

Jonathan was back at it.

Look at that smile!

Matt's turn again.

Cousin Dom brought over his skateboard, and Nana though it would be a good idea to try it out. Nick didn't think it was such a good idea, and let his protest be heard. Nana insisted, and Nick insisted on holding on for the ride.

Pawpaw jumped in for added safety down the driveway.

Matt went off to pout about something (I had woken him up from his nap so he was sure to have some afternoon time to play with his new scooter- silly me), so Nana went to see if she could cheer him up.

More sneaking through the tree!

He's going to make it!

Sticks + dirt + boys = fun for hours!

Nick and Steve were putting the Christmas lights in the trees, and Jonathan got a bit curious about the ladder.

We stopped for ice cream one night on the way back from dinner. Although the McDonald's was close to the house, the boys ate what didn't melt, and then had a mess to contend with by the time we got home.

Jonathan's first ice cream cone!

What a cheesy grin!

Even cheesier!

Matt Turns 4!!!

Matt requested a cake with an airplane taking off. I tried to give him what he wanted, without the luxury of my own kitchen, cake decorating accessories, and kitchen tools.

He LOVED it!

He wasn't quite sure what to think, but he was excited!

Matt, as usual, had a story to tell first

.

Smiling as everyone sings to him!

It was all he could do to resist touching the airplane before we sang. So, as soon as the candle was out, away he went to fly his new plane!

The runway suffered a bit, but Matt was so excited to lick off the frosting and chocolate runway!

I've never seen a child get so excited about hippos! He was ecstatic!

TRAINS!!!

Matt's birthday in Dallas looks to be the opening weekend of the trains exhibit at Northpark Mall every year. We took the boys last year, with minimal interest by Jonathan. This year, both boys were fully engaged in the amazing trains!

The boys look on with Daddy at all the trains passing by.

Matt looked at all the details of the scenery in between trains.

Jonathan couldn't be distracted from the trains for a picture.

Matt couldn't look away either, but at least he smiled for the picture!

Look at those trains!

So many different trains going by at once. Who knows where to look?

Jonathan enjoyed looking at the moving pieces in the scenery. There were miniature tractors, snow plows, people, etc.

Again with the non-look at the camera! He loved his surprise birthday outing!

Look, Daddy, it's a pickle train!

Baseball!

While driving around and running errands one morning, the boys and I discovered yet another park. This one was at some baseball fields. It was early on a Saturday morning, and no one was around. It was perfect!

Matt tried to recreate the fun he had with the Angels' Stadium baseballs almost 2 years ago.

Matt's getting a bit more adventurous on the playgrounds now!

The boys chased each other around the playground for about an hour!

They "raced" down the slides. Matt would say "Ready, Set,..." and then he'd start down the slide and say "Go!". Or, he'd just go before Jonathan even sat down and got ready. They had so much fun!

Such joy on that face!

The camera never seems to take the shot I want, but this would have been a great shot had it caught a millisecond earlier! They both had their arms up and smiles on their faces.

Jonathan loves slides!

Matt seems to have a thing about having Jonathan crash into him at the bottom of slides. This isn't the first time.

I don't know what he was trying to portray in this pose, but I love it! I love it even more that his shoes are on the wrong feet.

Jonathan tried to get in on the posed shots.

Trying to move big concrete baseballs is hard work!