Growing Boys!!

My joy....

 My little tree climbers.

Curly-head CB.

My knight in shiny armor.  Ever since we took them to Medieval Times last year, it has been swords, armor-making, and castle building.

 EB made these potty charts for him and CB.  It took FOREVER to train CB.  Tried on his 2nd birthday- obviously wasn't going to happen.  Tried in Fall, 2013- Obviously not ready.  Tried on Christmas break.  12 days of NOTHING.  Two days later was off due to snow days, and voila!  I was very proud of EB making CB a chart since he remembered that I had done the same for him.  He is my little helper!  I have to say that, even though I am working full time, I was very blessed to be home with CB to potty-train him.

 My Lego Master builder!  This is a pic of EB not wanting to be interrupted while building his 1000pc Lego castle.  He would have finished it in one day had he not gone to school.

EB and his sweetie.  He is very much attached to her.

 Getting some cuddles from my little one.

 We love to swim, and are grateful for the huge pool and hot tub feet from our place!!

 Romping around before the 2014 Fireworks!!  EB made that star crown for his sweetie.

 2014 Fireworks.

Boys loved them this year (aka no freaking out).  Prior to the fireworks they got to see a couple of concerts- which they love!

 @ 4th of July parade.  Love having a playground nearby while we wait for it to start!

 Resting up for all the parade excitement.

 I'm not sure whether the boys enjoy the parade as much as the popsicles ;)

I got asked if they were twins !?!

And, yes, 6th year wearing navy blue polos and khaki shorts.

EB following his sweetheart around.  Ha.

We had a wonderful time at their 4th party!

This is Halloween 2013, Lego-Mania

EB wanted to be a Lego-man, and CB is the Lego Duplo Dalmatian.

I am pretty proud of these costumes I made for them- in the midst of making them I wonder why I spend all my 'spare' time doing it, but as soon as they are all dressed-up, it melts my heart.  I love making their ideas 'come to life'.  The boys had a blast trick-o-treating in my office again!

 The skies cleared up just in time for them to go trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. It was adorable watching them, and they were the only kids about so they took home quite the loot.

 The annual Maple-Syrup Fest.

One of EB's favorite annual events.  The local forest preserve puts on a Maple Fest and they get to see how maple syrup is made.  This year he got to drill & tap a tree- he was THRILLED!  He says he learned how to do it from Curious George- ha.

 Boys will be boys.

Though this makes me remember when my sisters and I played in the diaper boxes.

EB designed and decorated this train ALL himself.  I only cut out the window holes.

 Summer as we know & enjoy it: sand & popsicles.

The boys love having a gigantic sand volleyball court to play in!

 CB & sand.

Playing with dump truck and bulldozer that are huge hits from G. Auntie P.

 

The piece de resistance.

I would have never imagined the day when I would decorate my walls with THIS!

And every single month there is a 'super work award' for EB completing all of his month's homework, math awards from his math teacher, and pictures and scribbles from the boys from school and home.  It's my piece de sweetness, especially when EB gets 1st prize for reading the most books.

 



 

Thanksgiving Memories

 The camera-evasive pilgrim.
Ha- I had the best time making these pilgrim hats for the boys & their cousins. 
Got the idea from the PBK catalog.  So the teacher side of me.

The itsy-bitsy pilgrim.

It was his 1st Thanksgiving!

Unlike his big brother, Colin had no issue with posing for some holiday pics.

Cuddles with Daddy.

Ethan joined us for his first thanksgiving feast- in the past he was conveniently sleeping away.

He loves cranberry sauce as much as his mommy!

Beary cute!

This was as good as a pic as I could get of these handsome brothers together.

Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Colin is 7 Months Old!!

 Oh, Little Colin, Happy 7th Month!!!

 *At 7months you are not so little, you are still a growing giant:  25.4lbs, 30.5in+, about 115%+ for both weight and height.  Oh my, but your head is tiny (at least compared to your big brothers) in the 50%. You are done with 12mth clothing, and needing both 18month for tops and bottoms. I truly hope you'll wear them for a couple months.  But, I did have to get you a 24MONTH snowsuit. Your feet are keeping up, and already would fit in a size5 shoe.  What size will you wear when you do need your first pair?!?!  And, your tushie is in a size4 diaper, but could use a size5- Ha.

 *I just love this shirt on you.  EB wore it when he was the same age.  We only have it because it is our sweet friend's and she let us borrow it once again.

 *You are getting mobile, at least reaching/lunging while on your tushie, trying to sit up if you are laying down (finally getting an ab workout), wiggling around while I change your diaper.
*I don't think you'll crawl (at least if you are like EB), but you are also flopsie-wopsie when it comes to standing, so I don't see you going mobile for many, many months.  I feel like a physical therapist trying to get you to bare weight on those legs.
*You love the entertainer, as much as I do having a place for you to get some exercise and give my arms a break.

 Huck Finn, anyone?!?!!?    Ha.

I've just adored him in these 12mth PBK bibs the last couple months and thought they'd work for his month pic.  Mmmm, not so much (but I was too weeded to change him after I saw them hitch up his legs).  Obviously time to retire these cute things.

 * I love that you can now sit anywhere without falling over in a matter of minutes.  Unless, of course, big brother takes you out with his ever-so-often tackles.

 * You JUST started eating solids.  After Pedi's recommendation to really hold off on solids to at least 6mths, we finally gave you rice cereal.  You couldn't stand it (I don't blame you: nasty, bland food), and we held off on trying any other food.  Well you had your first veggie just the other day and looked at me like why didn't I give you the good stuff first.  Mmmm, yum.  Now you've had sweet potatoes, peaches, acorn squash, and oatmeal. 

* You're in love with tags right now. 

You'll just sit and stare at them, fumble them with your fingers, and suck on them. 

"Cheeeeeeese"

He won't let me get a single proper pic of him and Colin, but big brother tested his patience in waiting for me to finish with Colin's photo shoot, then plopped himself down right next to his baby brother.

I love it when I look in my rear-view mirror and see Ethan making funny faces at Colin, and hearing all the big and little laughter that ensues.  I adore when Ethan demands to give Colin a gentle 'happy' hug & kiss before his bedtimes.  It makes me so happy to have an extra pair of hands at home to pick up toys Colin drops on the floor or pushes too far out of his reach:  "Here you go, Ca-in".  I love that Ethan is incorporating/wanting Colin to play with him (cars, trains, blocks, etc), and that he knows which toys are okay for him, and which toys he needs/should keep away.  If he doesn't he comes to me and goes, "Ca-in okay??"  If I say, 'no', he'll repeat, "----  okay for E-ten, not okay for Ca-in".  You got it, bud.  It melts my heart when Ethan tackles Colin to the floor and I hear laughter, not tears, fill the room, and I know these boys will be best of friends, and that there's a reason why Colin is just growing so fast.

The Perfect Spot

I found the perfect place to hang our annual Christmas wreath from Aunt P.!!!!

Our front door just wouldn't look the same without it.  It brings me so much cheer.

Yes, a sneak peek how our house is coming along!