Days like these

Are the best of days. The weather was perfect. There was just the right balance of play (a whole lot) and work (just a little bit). I love days like today where we just flow from one fun activity to another. The boys eat three good healthy meals. There are no melt downs. Everyone naps. We do a little yard work. The garage is straightened. And, most of all, we are together. Very good day.

I love this hat. It's one of my favorites and Liam is just about to out grow it.
February '10 - Liam is 26 months old.

Memories of another really good day.
February '07 - Ben was 18 months old.


Sneak peek: The project Rob is working on is in the background of the photo of Liam. That cute little camper is going to be a mobile mansion one of these days. I can't wait until we get to take our first trip!

All day play

We spent the early morning around the house and both the boys ended up in costume. Liam was delighted to spend a couple hours in his kangaroo suit. He looks sad in this photo but he was actually very happy all morning and I love how sweet he looks as a little Roo baby.

We headed out around 10am and spent the majority of the day outside. I am not sure what is so fun about cardboard tubes but that's what Ben played with for a good hour this afternoon.

Basically, we played all day. There were a few quick errands here and there but all in all it was a fun filled day in the sun.

Back at the grocery

Rob recently introduced Ben to the "car cart" in an effort to keep him happy on a rushed trip to the grocery store. Up to that point, we had avoided this experience. So, today, when we were back at the grocery again, you can bet Ben wanted to get in that car cart.

Liam, (having never been to Disney World) thought he had won the lottery and was honking and waving at everyone we passed. It was a total riot.

Ben decided it was a bit too cozy in the coup and asked if he could ride on the top of the car "like I did when Daddy was with me". Hmmmm, interesting. So, after a quick look at the official warning label...

I figured, what the heck. If Daddy says it's ok, it must be.

Those were some happy boys. And, by the way, we went to the grocery specifically for Fruit Loops. Ben has seriously not stopped talking about those colorful Cheerios since he woke up this morning. It's been at least a year since we have had them in the house and he must have been having the worst craving because he wouldn't let up about it. I took them after their NAP (serious, another Double Bonus Day) and told Ben that IF he ate a really good dinner, he could have Fruit Loops for dessert. So, he rocked out on the din-din and then I have never seen the boy put away so much cereal. When I was tucking him in tonight, he said his belly was totally empty and he needed something to eat. Maybe he is about to grow an inch.

Dessert

Quick trip to the store.

Picking out the goods.

Headed home for ice cream.

Yum.

Boys

Boys like dirt. Tractors. Dump trucks. They like to dig. Run. Jump. Bugs are cool. Mud is the best. Climbing trees and swinging from the branches is very fun. I love my boys. I like dirt, too.

Hide and Seek

"One Two Three Four Six Seven Eight Nine Ten. Ready or not here I come."

I love this photo - even though the exposure is all wrong. That is pure happiness on my three favorite boys faces!

Hide and Seek was super fun tonight. Liam followed Ben in the counting and then they would charge off down the hall looking for Rob, calling "Dad-dy, Dad-dy, where are you?". After they found him, Ben would tell him where to hide the next time. We had a big talk about the number five at dinner tonight. It comes up often because Ben will be five on his next birthday. So, it's really important that we get that five to start following the four...

The boys and I made lasagna for dinner tonight. I opted not to pre-cook the noodles. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. It's never made a difference and since I had two helpers, I opted not to this time. Apparently that was a mistake because after an hour in the oven, they still weren't cooked. Shockingly, everyone still ate. A lot. That never happens. Here is one of my helpers. Again, not sure about the goggles.

One Two Three

One
I took the boys to the dollar store and gave them each a dollar. Wow. You'd think I gave them $100. They both picked a "ball shooter" (plastic gun) that came with four plastic balls. It was well worth the dollar - lasting just minutes after we got home. The balls didn't actually shoot out, they crushed easily and quickly the entire thing went in the recycling bin. Lucky for me, I thought ahead and grabbed a can of spray string on the way to the check out counter. That's what put this smile on Ben's face.

Two
The boys discovered the headphones my sister got them as favors for Maggie's birthday party. Somehow, with all the coughing and sneezing, we got away without them and I hadn't brought them out yet. They are an awesome gift and I know the boys will love them the next time we are road tripping to the grandparents and they can use them to watch tv in the car. Today, however, we were justed headed to the dollar store (no tvs on the way to the dollar store) but Liam was so pumped with his new discovery that he wouldn't take them off. He looks agitated in the photo but actually he was just concentrating on the...hmmmm, music??

Cool kid, huh.

Three
The boys took an extra long bath tonight. Ben was in rare form, cracking Liam up. I'm not sure who thought of the goggles.

Do horses float?

Double bonus day

Liam and I visited my grandmother tonight. He pulled all the shoes out of her closet and hid under her clothes. We took her dinner and he ate all her French fries. He put her telephone on mute and dumped out all her paper clips. When he tried to start a pillow fight, we decided it was time to go. He was quick to give her a kiss goodbye. So gracious.

On the way home, I drove by a horse farm. Liam was thrilled to see the horse right up at the fence. We have got to get this kid on a horse, he is a nut for them.

Ben jumped in Rob's lap at lunch today.

Food must just taste better when you are sitting with Daddy. Here he is in spring, '07 at our old house. My boys are so handsome.

Everyone had a great day. Liam woke up rested, healthy and happy. Ben got to spend one-on-one time with Rob tonight. They went out to dinner and had boy time. A special treat for both of them. Both boys took naps today - that's a double bonus day.

Opposites

Really good day.

Really rough day.

I can see clearly now

Liam is still picking boogers out of his nose and a few of us are coughing but other than that we are a vision of health! To celebrate, we spent the entire afternoon outside and it was delightful.
Look what's happening in the backyard.

Getting his riding legs back after the long winter.

My view as we went around the block.

We even broke out the chalk and bubbles.

This picture just made me smile - silly boy doing his very best "cheese".

And, Ben with chalk on his face. He had a great day. He has been saying two funny things lately. When I ask him to do something (and he agrees), he says "Yes Sir, Mister Mommy". And, when I ask Liam to do something, Ben says "That's a good point, Mom."

Here comes the sun

A little light, can go a long way. Today, I am thankful for some outside time with my boys.

We are getting better. I told Rob, I feel like I just missed a week of my life. Thanks for the emails and calls. The sun is shining on us - surely we will all be well by the weekend!

It was bound to happen

After being coughed and sneezed on for the past week, it is no surprise that Liam caught wind of it today. He has been such a trooper through all the sickness and today was no exception. He was a happy little guy, hugging his special horse and blanket most of the day. He logged some pretty extensive hours on the tv. Ate some ice cream. And, was all around a remarkably fine patient. Here's to hoping for a full night of rest and back to 100% health tomorrow.... a girl can dream.

Two

My boys have two cousins, Riley and his little sister, Maggie. Today is Maggie's birthday and we celebrated - family style. The evening consisted of pizza, balloons, cake, ice cream, kleenex and a puppet show performed by my sister and brother-in-law. The kids loved it (note the concentration in the photo below). As for the kleenex, the cough is hanging around and has been joined by a non-stop faucet (ie. nose drip). I am off to bed. Perhaps tomorrow the mean-old gremlins will leave my body.

Happy Two! We love you, baby girl.

Good times

In an effort to remain sane, we escaped the house for a few hours today. Everyone seems to be on the mend, with the exception of our coughs.

The boys were very happy for the outing. Especially Liam.


We picked up my handsome nephew along the way and he hung out with us the rest of the day. The boys played superheros, had dance party, fought with light sabers and ate a great lunch. No one took a nap. Good times.

Light

Coming out of the darkness can be hard. We are trying and it will probably take a few more days to fully recover. But we are seeing the light.

Still standing

This is a first. Liam is the only one in the house that isn't sick. I hope he makes it through tomorrow. He sure was a happy little guy today.

Sick day

Ben has a stomach bug. He got to take two long baths today for which he was very grateful. This made a not-so-great day, a whole lot better.





Liam got his own special bath time, too. Lots of Oohs and Ahhs.