A Picture Post

Just some random photos so no one forgets what the boys look like!

Happy Underwear Boys! (No, Jack is not potty trained, but he wants to be.)

Alexander was a nice big brother and read Jack a story. Too bad he thought it was hilarious to tell Jack that every animal in the book says, "moo." Jack stood his ground, though, and made the proper noises.

Because my kids don't need encouragement to get even messier, we use brushes with our finger paints.

So that's where we rank, eh?

After leaving playgroup at a friend's house today, Alexander lamented that he'd like to stay there and be one of their kids.

Me: I would miss you too much! Wouldn't you miss me?
A: No.
Me: Wouldn't you miss Daddy?
A: No.
Me: How about Jack? Would you miss Jack?
A: No.
Me: Hmmmm... would you miss your bed?
A: Oh, yes! I would miss my bed. Can we bring my bed over there?

And then I laughed til I cried

A conversation from today that had me in tears:

Alexander was playing a video game: "Lego Star Wars" (which, for the record, is completely innapropriate for a four-year-old and is going back in "the vault" for a couple years).

Alexander: Mommy, that guy with the hat is on my team. But he doesn't have a sword or a shooter.

Me: Well, maybe he doesn't like to fight.

Alexander: Yeah, and neither does this trash can (said while repeatedly beating R2D2 over the head with a sword).

A lot to live up to

Alexander: When Jack is 11 feet tall, he will be as big as me.

Camping!

The boys and I returned today from their first camping trip! WAHOO! As far as camping with a one-year-old and a four-year-old go, I would call it a success. There were lots of family members there (4 generations/25 people). There was plenty of sun (and sunscreen!), lots of tubes floating down the river, roasted marshmallows, time spent throwing rocks in the water and practicing fishing, a big soccer game, a treasure hunt and several visits to the playground. There was a little rain, not much sleep, one brief moment of Mommy-terror, two skinned knees, and just a few tears. There were too few pictures taken, but here's a sampling:

Jack was super excited to be getting ready to go to sleep in the tent. Too excited to actually sleep.

It takes a lot of people and innovative tools to put up a tree swing, but it's worth it. I am pretty sure one of the tools is a section of a rain spout, but I have no idea where they would have gotten that. The other tool is an interesting piece of balsa wood lashed to a kayak oar. You gotta give them credit, really.

Alexander tried to join the boys vs. girls soccer game, but forgot that tackling is only for (American) football and soon got sidelined (the picture was taken before the action started). Enter tears.

Bubbles. Always a winner.

Alexander ate lunch with our cousins, some of his very favorite people. He also shared their play-doh, their fishing rods, and their Mommy's hand. I tried to get them to adopt him, but they were too smart for my tricks.

The campsite:

Maybe next year Justin will go with us. Anyone wanna place a bet? I know where my money is. I love you, Dear!!!

karma

I probably should have shared my pie....

Alexander: "Mommy, why is your belly so big? Is another baby going to come out?"

Confessions of a Bad Mommy: 7-13-09

I just fed my children a motley dinner of green salad, cheese sticks, and blueberry waffles. I feel bad, but at least it wasn't M&M's and donuts or something! I ate delicious country ribs (which were not burnt, Jerry), homemade baked beans, German potato salad, and green salad. Also, I will eat my mousse pie after the kids are in bed so that I don't have to share. There's probably a special place in Hell for people like me... ;)

Crazy, silly boys

Jack: Why am I in this box and why are there so many toys on top of me? I am not amused.

Tickle-fest!

"If I had half their energy...."

My little animals

Yesterday the boys and I met up with some of our Tot Lot friends at Green Meadows Petting Farm to meet some animals. Jack enjoyed himself, squealing with excitement the minute he saw animals. He petted the donkeys, horses, zebra and llama, chased the turkeys and chickens, and fed the goats. He did get a little nervous on the hay ride, and by noon he was getting sleepy and was ready to leave, but overall he had a great time.

Alexander was scared of the donkeys, horses, zebra, llama, turkeys, and chickens. He actually started climbing the fence in the turkey pen when a few of the turkeys surrounded him, and Miss Crystal had to rescue him. He was not impressed with the show or the pig race. The picture below is of him staying as far away from the chickens as possible. He was unclear as to why we took a hayride that just took us back to where we had started. He did enjoy the face-cutouts and feeding the goats, but was basically a grump most of the time. Well, according to him, he was "Mr. Chompy, who chomps bad guys," but I think Mr. Grump would have been more accurate. The poor child just isn't an animal lover. Later in the day, we had a discussion about how meat is animals, and he declared that he was quite okay with that. Perhaps he felt it was revenge for scaring him...