Happy Birthday, Isy!

Happy 5th Birthday, Isabella! Thank you so much for inviting us to your party at Chuck E Cheese! Alexander had an awesome time and, as you can see, especially enjoyed the tattoos from his goody bag. I'm a little psyched that Jack is getting old enough to enjoy Chuck E Cheese. Alexander was the official photographer (for us) for the day, although I took a few as well. :)

So totally his father's son

Alexander does not take after Justin in all regards. For one, he eagerly orders his own meal now when we go out to eat, something I think Justin would still rather not do (okay, so I exaggerate). However, when this order is what comes out of his mouth, you know he is his father's son. "I would like the sad face pancake." ?!?! We were at IHOP tonight, and they offer a "Create-A-Face Pancake," which comes decorated with a happy face, but Alexander decided he would rather have a sad face pancake. The staff happily accommodated his request. Thanks, IHOP!

My son the what?

Jack always sleeps in a sleep sack. This morning, the boys and I were cuddling in bed before getting up and Xander said, "Mommy, can you take that thing off of Jack so that he won't be a glow-worm anymore?"

The group consciousness?

Are we all actually just the same person in different bodies? Is there a group consciousness? Do we have ESP? Do we sometimes "channel" each other?

Today in the car on the way to another fabulous day at Cunningham Falls State Park:
Alexander (channeling me): Jack, if you keep doing that with the spoon, I'm going to have to take it away from you.

a little later:
Me (channeling the "parent" group consciousness): Alexander, do you want to go to the lake or do you want me to turn around and go home?
Alexander: Go to the lake.
Me: Then stop poking your brother.

and a little later still:
Alexander (channeling the "child mind"): Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?.....

And now, for a few translations from English to "Xanderese."
McDonald's= Old McDonald's
decided= buh-cided
I forgot= I hadda forgot

Put one foot in front of the other...

Today is a momentous day! Today Jack, who has been "cruising" for a while now, let go of the couch and took two quick steps to me! Way to go, Jack! He is by no means ready to start "toddle races," but he's working his way up! I'm so proud of my big guy! Watch out, World! He is a very determined, focused little boy.

Happy Independence Day

We spent a very lazy day here today, but do plan to celebrate with a cookout at my dad's house tomorrow. Happy Independence Day, everyone! I am thankful for what we have here in America and proud to raise my boys here! Alexander can (most of the time) now tell you his complete adresss, city and state. He knows that he lives in the United States of America and can identify a map of the US and find Maryland. :)

Alexander and Jack celebrated their independence with a feast of Gerber Graduate Lil Crunchies, of which they can easily kill a whole can in one sitting. Total addicts. Alexander continued the celebration by taking some family portraits (the ones not of him). Is that really what we look like?! (I want to remind you of this drawing of "Uncle Tim," so that you can now compare it to the real thing (bottom right). I told you it was accurate! ;)

Family Reunion

First, I must say that I am quite behind in blogging! The reason, you see, is that I am hard at work on a super secret, time consuming craft project. Can't say more, as the recipient reads this blog! ;)

Anyway, last weekend I took the boys (by myself, I might add... not that anyone will be much impressed with me) up to PA to visit my grandmother, view the house my dad is planning to buy there, and attend an annual family reunion picnic. I want to go ahead and give some huge kudos to my friend Kara, who just returned from a month long driving trip across the country with her three and two year old boys. I believe she said that they traveled over 6,900 miles. I am in total awe, as I barely made it the 300 miles round trip to PA with my two boys. There was poop, there was crying, there was peeing, and there was even vomiting. There were cheesy hands smeared ALL over the backseat of the car. There were vows never to take my children anywhere again. And that's only the stuff that happened during the drive!

Drive aside, the family reunion was great. Jack and Alexander were very well behaved. There was a sand volleyball court that occupied Alexander for at least an hour. There was no shortage of relatives available to hold Jack while I ate yummy picnic food. Jack went peacefully to sleep not once but twice as I strolled him around the playground. I'm pretty sure that Alexander's favorite part was the "candy scramble." Have you ever heard of this before? It's pretty barbaric, really. Some crazy (but well-meaning) grown-up gets a bag of candy, throws it all over the grass while the children are held squirming by their parents, and then when the grown-up says, "go," the children all run out and grab up as much candy as they can. Does it surprise you that the grown-up who instigates this game is NOT one of the parents of these small children? ;)Alexander grabbed up a bouquet of lollipops and was pretty darn pleased with himself. And I am pretty darn pleased that in a few minutes, I can sneak downstairs and STEAL one of those lollipops after Xander goes to bed! WHOO HOO!