Three Boys and One Girl

Puppeteer

2012-01-18T23:14:00.021-06:00

Last week I got some photography studio supplies I ordered online. As soon as I set up the backdrop stand, Joel's wheels started spinning. "Mom! Can I do a puppet show?" Sure thing, buddy. So, he clipped on some old fabric I had and went to town. Jude loved it. As far as he is concerned, his brother is the funniest guy on the planet.

Pantry Play

2012-01-17T23:14:00.010-06:00

Another day at home today = a glorious FIVE day weekend. That means jammies, sippy cups, and playing in the pantry. Yep, I live with two adventurous little boys.

P.S. Happy Birthday, Uncle Gabe. We love you!

Eating, Learning, and Creating

2012-01-16T23:13:00.034-06:00

Sometimes working at a school really has its perks. One of those being holidays like today. I had the day off to spend with the boys. I cherish the extra days I have home with them this school year leading up to the end of my job.

Jude has really turned a corner with his eating skills and it's all thanks to the Up & Up yogurt melts from Target. I give those little things full credit for pushing my guy toward self feeding and no longer gagging like crazy.

After some time off of doing structured pre-school activities with Joel, we kicked it into gear again today by restarting our Letter of the Week studies before we jump into some reading skills. Doesn't he look thrilled? Sometimes it takes a little coaxing to get him into learning mode. A very wise friend told me that as long as we talk about playing games (learning games, of course!) that could be just the hook he needs to get going.

Here is s a shot of a tiny little spot of our evolving school room. A dry erase lapboard, picture easel, baby cereal container (covered in dollar bin wrapping paper), and dry erase markers and erasers - all from the dollar spot. I love creating things like this for my home - cheap, easy, and nice to look at.

P.S. Happy Birthday, Mimi! We love you.

Mama's Boy

2012-01-15T23:12:00.033-06:00

Jude was especially talkative at breakfast this morning. Can you tell he loves his mama?

Tonight we got a babysitter for the boys and spent the night in the city with the rest of the church staff. We always do our Christmas party in January and this year we did something extra special. We went to see Blue Man Group at the Briar Street Theater. If you've never seen their show, I would highly recommend it. I can't even begin to describe it to you, but paint, percussion, and paper towels are at least three of the elements of the night.

Big Day with Big Food!

2012-01-14T23:11:00.021-06:00

We had a BIG day today with Nana and Papa. First, we flew all around the world in Joel's cardboard box jet plane. Then, we drove on over to one of our favorite children's museums to spend a few hours letting the kids run around. Jude even found some spots just for him.

As if our day wasn't adventurous enough, we ended it with a TWO AND A HALF HOUR family style dinner at Maggiano's thanks to a few years worth of gift cards we had saved up. I couldn't believe how great the boys did for such a long time sitting at a table in a restaurant. After that, we rolled ourselves home and called it a night.

Maze Days

2012-01-13T23:11:00.020-06:00

Nana and Papa drove up tonight to spend the weekend with us. It's always nice to spend some time with our family. I neglected to get some shots of our pizza/iPad night, but I do have some artwork from Joel to show off. In the first one we've got a frog, crocodile, and swan. The second one, well, it's a maze if you couldn't tell. Joel has been really into drawing mazes lately for me to solve. I wasn't quite sure how to do this one, but I gave it my best try.

Snow Day!

2012-01-12T01:31:00.016-06:00

After enjoying the sunshine and warmth a few days ago, we were hit with some snow today. As soon as Joel sees the tiniest flakes falling from the sky he starts to ask, "Can we go outside?" This morning he wanted to go out on his own while I was still feeding Jude, so he put his gear on and went out. Well, part of his gear. He decided he would just put on his shoes with no socks. This is the result. He let me first snap a picture of him and then looked to the side and said, "Maybe I should get some socks. It's cold out here."

Jude was captivated by the white stuff. He just stared out the window in awe making chirping and yelling noises. He also recently discovered our neighbors' dogs and will say "woof woof" at them. Looks like he might end up as a chatterbox just like his older brother.

A Boy and His Toys

2012-01-11T01:30:00.015-06:00

Joel got about 500 toys for Christmas and tonight he played with two tops from his bubble bath. He stuck them on some parts from a doctor's kit and used them as puppets. I am thoroughly convinced that he doesn't need toys. He will grab anything lying around and play with it. I love that about him.

Here's another shot from Jude enjoying the swing yesterday at the park. It's only about the second or third time he's been on one and he was loving it.

Oh, the weather outside is DELIGHTFUL

2012-01-10T01:28:00.010-06:00

This winter weather has been amazing. We are such outdoor people that I've been especially grateful for it. When have we ever been able to walk to the park and play on January 10th? In years past we've been buried in snow at this point.

Well, today we lived it up. We played line tag on the lines of the tennis court tried our hand at shadow pictures. And yes, my four year old is almost as tall as I am.

Just Another Monday

2012-01-09T01:25:00.012-06:00

Just a quiet night at home with all of us here together....listening to Joel philosophize over his chicken nuggets and watching Jude look bright eyed at the camera. I love these boys of mine.

Story Time with Dad

2012-01-08T01:24:00.012-06:00

This a rare moment where both boys are actually still enough and paying attention to the same thing at the same time. Josh is just so captivating. Well, Josh and Dora combined.

Night Out

2012-01-07T01:23:00.010-06:00

We had a special treat of meeting Grammy and Papa John for dinner tonight. Where do you go on a Saturday night with kids? Red Robin, of course. That place is so loud that your kid could be screaming and no one would even notice....well, maybe it's not that loud.

Joel and Grammy played "foot puppets." She's always coming up with some crazy way to entertain him that cracks him up. Jude and Papa John just chilled together with a straw. Jude's obviously not too difficult to entertain. A straw, napkin, cup and he's all set.

Joel the Builder

2012-01-06T01:22:00.013-06:00

Joel got a Toys R Us gift card for Christmas from his aunt and uncle so Josh took him to the store tonight to pick something out. Much to my surprise, he came home with this. He immediately wanted to saw the REAL! KID! WOOD! Look at the concentration.

Jude, well, he's clapping a lot lately. His favorite time is when he has food all over his hands, of course.

Watch Out, Gingerbread Man!

2012-01-05T01:21:00.014-06:00

So we might be a little late to the game as we put together our gingerbread house today. A family from church gave us one for Christmas and we just got around to constructing it....er, throwing it together. Joel was not interested whatsoever in putting any of the decorations on it. Icing only. Then he just couldn't wait to eat it. Maybe that's why we waited so long to do it; because I just knew it would only last five minutes.

Jude is in the final stages of his cold and has been sleeping like, well, a baby. Today he took a three hour nap and I had to wake him up for dinner. Here he is as a hot, sweaty mess in his crib right before I woke him up.

"You Wanna Wrestle?"

2012-01-04T01:20:00.017-06:00

"Are you ready to wrestle, Dad?" is typically the very first question Joel asks after dinner. Why he waits until approximately 2 minutes after we finish eating, we're not sure. Josh's answer is always, "Let my food settle first." A four-year-old doesn't really understand that concept, but he waits and waits....

While we waited, Jude played on the iPhone. Yes, I said "played" with the iPhone. He knows how to swipe his fingers around to make things move. Crazy.

Tonight was an especially active night of ~~wrestling~~ giggling. It is impossible to be tired or grumpy when you've got a giggle box like this living with you. It's one of the many reasons I am grateful for having kids.

Pass It On

2012-01-03T01:19:00.007-06:00

The snot just keeps flowing here, but that doesn't keep Jude from smiling. I just had to snap this shot of him before I wiped his nose. The poor thing doesn't know how to blow it, so he relies on us to wipe it away.

The two of them just love to share germs with each other so I think they keep passing it back and forth through all of their kisses and licks....yes, licks.

P.S. Happy Birthday, Pappy! We love you so much.

Boys' Day In

2012-01-02T01:18:00.010-06:00

I think my school might have been the only school back in session today. Josh stayed home with the boys and I found them in their usual way when I got home - pajamas on and toys strewn about. That's the true sign of a boys' day in.

You are My Sunshine

2012-01-01T21:01:00.010-06:00

We have a big splash of sunshine that comes into our dining room every morning and this morning I couldn't help but notice Jude's profile on the wall. And what a profile it is - look at the forehead and his fluffy tuft of hair. I could just eat him up!

NYE at the Zoo!

2011-12-31T23:39:00.029-06:00

On this last day of 2011, I'm realizing just how much I have been blessed this year. Jude came into our lives, my photography business continued to grow, and I finally made the freeing decision to quit my job at the end of the school year to be home with the boys. I can't even begin to explain how excited I am to take this next step in my life as a mama to these boys.

We decided to bring in the new year at the zoo. Sounds crazy, but they have an awesome holiday lights display and laser show. The lions were even out to say hello to everyone in the cold. We spent some of our time indoors at the play zoo for an early 8:00 pm countdown for the kids. Joel painted his face like a bear and Jude was a trooper in the cold. It was the last "warm" night before the temperatures are supposed to drop so we lived it up!

I am so unbelievably grateful for this family of mine. I have been blessed to have boys that are funny and adventurous and a husband that is supportive beyond belief. Bring on 2012!

Someday

2011-12-30T23:38:00.011-06:00

You know we're nearing the end of Christmas break when the most exciting things the boys find to do are chewing on an unopened bag of M&Ms and playing with our endless supply of Target plastic bags. I thought about flipping out when I found the massive pile of bags strewn all over the pantry, but then I remembered that I would miss things like this someday. Someday.

Super Duper Cough Catcher

2011-12-29T23:37:00.011-06:00

Well, I guess it was inevitable that we'd get sick this winter, and today was the day the sniffles and snot showed up. Joel did a great job demonstrating his cough catcher, but Jude just wasn't having it. The sniffles combined with his first attempt at chunky food, did not make for a happy Jude (ha, that rhymes!).

Homeward Bound

2011-12-28T23:26:00.036-06:00

I had to include just one more shot of the lightsaber today. The kid is obsessed!

We spent the morning hanging out in Mimi and Pappy's new and improved room with all of the sunlight, which is where I was able to catch Jude with this not-so-happy face. It's ok, he's not always in a good mood. I want to make sure I remember the shar pei-faced frowns, too. :)

We headed out after lunch to the amazing world of Scheels so Josh could spend his Christmas gift card. I will forever be amazed by that place and all it has to offer. Joel especially enjoyed the giant moose chair at the entrance.

Our three stop Christmas journey ended tonight at Grammy and Papa John's house where we dined on the infamous First Wok and opened even more presents. We did our best to pack the car up and rolled out for home right at the boys' bedtime. Is it time for a mini van?

Lighting It Up

2011-12-27T23:24:00.019-06:00

We packed everything up and shipped out to Mimi and Pappy's this morning to continue with our Christmas celebration. It was our first time meeting baby Harper and getting a shot of all four grandkids together. This was the best I could do with those four wiggle worms...well, Harper wasn't really wiggly.

Joel ooohed and aaaahed at her and Jude looked so big compared to her that he could've eaten her up. He was pretty fascinated by her tiny little self.

Some of my favorite shots of the day were of Joel opening up his precious lightsaber from Grandma B. This wasn't just any lightsaber; it was the one he had been asking me about for months every time we went to the store. I love how you can see how he first suspects its the lightsaber, then frantically rips into it, and then finally - success! It's the lightsaber! He wouldn't even let me throw out the box. Oh boy.

Family Christmas

2011-12-26T23:16:00.020-06:00

We were able to spend another day at Uncle Gabe and Aunt Lori's house hanging out all together. Extended family even came in today so it was a nice, full house! The boys had a good time wrestling and
"sandwiching" each other while the rest of us kept a safe distance.

We ate and ate and ate thanks to Grandma Sugar's baking and we stayed up way too late catching up and laughing. Gabe even broke out the espresso maker and whipped up one of his speciality lattés. It was so good to be around them and connect about life with little ones.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

2011-12-25T23:10:00.032-06:00

Christmas morning was a little bit different for us this year since we're in the ministry. Since it was on a Sunday this year, we had to do our celebrating early before Josh left in the morning. We didn't want the day to go by without it being extra special from the start, though, so we kicked it off with a little birthday cake for breakfast - a tradition around our house that I love.

After singing Happy Birthday to Jesus, we dove into the cake (decorated by Joel), and Joel told us the Christmas story. We opened presents, too, and even a stocking for Joel filled with M&Ms and the super grabber nabber. He had been eyeing that thing for months at the store, so he was pretty excited!

Later on we traveled down to visit our family and that is when the cousin fun began. We opened presents, ate together, and did a whole lot of playing. The stars of the show for the night, however, were the iPads and iPhones floating around. As you can see, they were glued to them. At least they remembered to look up every once in awhile to talk to each other and even put them down to play for a bit. Whew. Joel's brain hasn't been totally fried by technology.

Christmas Eve at the Park

2011-12-24T23:09:00.025-06:00

This afternoon we trekked over to our park to take a family picture. It was a Christmas gift for Grandma Sugar and since we like to live on the edge, we waited until the last possible minute to take it and get it printed.

After we got all spiffed up and drove to the park, Josh reaches back to get Jude and found that he was covered in, well, barf. Yep, he had tossed his cookies on the way to park and we didn't even know it. Hmmm...we drove home, made sure he was ok, changed his clothes and came back for round number two. This is what we ended up with. Not bad for 40 degrees and a puking baby.

Joel begged to play for a bit afterward, so we did. His excitement and joy were seriously better than any Christmas present I could ask for. I mean, look at that face! And, we were at the park on Christmas Eve. Do we live in the Tropics or what?

Christmas Eve Eve

2011-12-23T21:47:00.012-06:00

Our Christmas Eve Eve was spent doing a lot of important stuff like dumping all of the blocks out on the floor, eating them, and unrolling an entire roll of wrapping paper down the hallway so we could run on it. Life with kids is anything but slow and boring.

Portraits

2011-12-22T21:43:00.015-06:00

Did I mention how much I love being home? Here are more of our drawings from yesterday. Joel wanted me to draw a gorilla, so I googled "How to draw a gorilla." Whadda ya think?

The bottom pictures, well, those are family portraits by Joel. From left to right - Dad, Mom, Joel and Jude. Apparently Josh doesn't have ears and Joel just floats. In case you were wondering, that's Jude's mouth wide open crying. Should I show this to a child psychologist? :)

Chalk it Up

2011-12-21T21:38:00.026-06:00

There's something about writing on a chalkboard. I pulled one out today to write down our dinner menu all fancy like and Joel was all over it. He wanted to write and erase, write and erase...the only problem is that we didn't have an eraser. So, I spent a lot of time being the official eraser with a paper towel on hand.

Today he managed to write "Joel, Mom, and Josh" amongst various drawings of zoo animals. Jude, well, he just wanted to eat the chalk.

In the Studio

2011-12-20T15:04:00.011-06:00

Being home this week has given me extra time to do things I wouldn't normally get a chance to do. Today I had the boys help me pick the best spots for light in the living room so I could dream a bit about setting up a studio space in there soon. Jude wasn't super interested, but Joel at least posed a bit for me. I love my photography muses.

Playtime

2011-12-19T22:06:00.012-06:00

Jude is pretty into the iPhone. He likes to talk into it and just move his fingers all around to see what might happen. Our 9 month old knows that if he moves his fingers, the phone will respond. What is this world coming to?

Although Joel is pretty into technology, too, I'm still grateful that he likes some good old fashioned playtime. For instance, did you know that if you wrap a piece of felt fabric around your body, you can turn into a warrior? Well, now you know.

Home Improvement

2011-12-18T22:05:00.012-06:00

We fixed the stinkin' dryer. I can't believe it. If you know us at all, you know we are not what you would call home improvement savvy people. We managed to take the ENTIRE thing apart, replace what was broken, and put it all back together. When we hit the button to start it tonight and it worked, I was in awe.

As amazing as that was, the best part of my day was what you see here. I secretly snapped this shot this morning before church. While I was getting ready, Joel was putting on a puppet show for Jude. It made this mama's heart oh so happy to see them playing together.

Super Shopping

2011-12-17T15:07:00.032-06:00

We finished our Christmas shopping in two hours this morning. Seems like I should take Josh shopping with me more often because he apparently has super shopping skills. As you can see, the boys crashed before we were done, but we made it out of the store with all of our gifts, tons of Target money back (due to my newly found couponing skills), two sleepy boys, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Chuck E. Cheese, Please!

2011-12-16T14:51:00.008-06:00

I took the boys to Chuck E Cheese yesterday because I knew if we waited until everyone was on Christmas break it would be CRAZY. It continues to amaze me that Joel's favorite part is playing in the tunnel play set which requires exactly zero tokens.

Oh, and look who's standing on his own. His new favorite trick.

Nine Months and Counting!

2011-12-15T22:22:00.003-06:00

I attempted to take some 9 month pictures of Jude today and quickly realized how difficult it was going to be to capture a 9 month old who is on the move. Thankfully when Josh came home for lunch he held him for a bit so I could snap a few.

Getting both boys together seemed nearly impossible, so this is the one shot we got. Since I fancy myself a photographer, this was quite a humbling experience. It was all worth it, though, when I finally captured some smiles and giggles from these handsome boys. Will one year photos be any easier? I think not.

Hard Day's Night

2011-12-14T22:22:00.017-06:00

I worked all day and night and it made for a looooong day. I hosted a financial aid night at school and while it was helpful for parents, I missed my guys. Josh brought them to school in the pouring rain to meet me for dinner. It was the best.

Here are some shots of the boys from earlier this week. Jude showing us his best army crawl and Joel engrossed in Star Wars Legos on the computer. It was pretty intense as you can see.

I Like to Move it Move it!

2011-12-13T22:22:00.018-06:00

Jude is seriously on the move. He might not be officially crawling on his knees yet, but that doesn't seem to stop him from moving at warp speed throughout the house. I now need to pay attention to things like outlets, garbage cans, and tiny four-year-old toys lying around.

Speaking of toys, Joel has recently been coming up with new ways to use his. Today he decided that his noodle set could be used as a bow and arrow. He made several attempts to find a good "satchel" to hold his arrows but in the end decided it was a little too hard being an Indian.

Bouncing Boys

2011-12-12T22:24:00.013-06:00

I had to stay home from work today because our babysitter's son is sick. It was such a hardship to not work and stay home with my boys all day....not! Ok, so that was a 90's reference. At any rate, we had a blast bouncing a tiny bouncy ball on the dining room floor. It's (literally) the little things...

Breathe Easy

2011-12-11T21:37:00.023-06:00

Have I mentioned that we LOVE it when grandparents come up? What a breath of fresh air from our usual parenting duties! Plus, Mimi and Pappy treated us to lunch and came bearing birthday gifts. They even made yummy treats for us that we were able to take to our small group tonight. Yay, grandparents!

Here are some videos of the boys from last week - Joel dancing to the music in the restaurant and Jude raspberryin' it up...

We Love Grandparents!

2011-12-10T22:04:00.012-06:00

The boys were geared up for their big day with Mimi and Pappy as Josh and I pulled double duty at a wedding - he was the officiant and I was the photographer. We make quite the wedding team. We are so grateful to have family members who are willing to give up their weekend to come and love on the boys.

Sword Toss

2011-12-09T17:04:00.004-06:00

Josh geared up for tomorrow's wedding by going to the rehearsal tonight and I stayed home with the boys for a nice, quiet, cozy evening of toss the sword. Yep, Joel and I played with his sword for about an hour while we listened to some Christmas music. Jude opted to army crawl all around the living room smiling at us each time we'd look at him. He even tried to stand at the couch a few times here and there. Crawling and walking are imminent. It's just a matter of when...

Ouch!

2011-12-08T12:50:00.008-06:00

Whew. It was a rough one today. As we were just getting ready to leave Wal-Mart, Joel thought he would check out how cold the drink cooler at the checkout was. He opened it up, stuck his head in, and his hand slipped to close the doors right on his head. You probably could have heard him screaming at the other end of the store! The clerk got a manager and we filled out an accident report. Thankfully it was just a minor scrape and bruise on his ear.

After a bit of a breather at home, Jude used his newfound mobility to pull the stocking holder down right on his nose in a blink of an eye. Needless to say there are no more stockings hanging up. I'm sure this is minimal to what may come later with these two accident prone boys.

Go! Go! Go!

2011-12-07T12:48:00.010-06:00

Tonight Joel just wanted to watch a movie. He always wants to watch a movie! So, here is what you do when he says that. You redirect him by asking him about his day and just like that, the movie idea is gone. Some day he might just be ok with hanging out, but for now he always wants to have something to "do." He is seriously always on the go until his head hits the pillow. At least he had a few minutes tonight to feed his brother some dinner....not that Jude was very interested in that idea.

Happy Birthday To Me

2011-12-06T12:07:00.020-06:00

I seriously have the best family. I didn't have to lift a finger all day and it was glorious. I think I'm starting to get the hang of this relaxing thing. Joel sang me happy birthday and gave me the perfect card from the three of them. I should scan it in and share it. In the end, you open it up and find three bunnies relaxing on the sofa eating and watching TV talking about relaxing right along with them. Props to Josh for picking it out!

When you have kids, your own birthday starts to look a little different. It takes a backseat and I'm actually ok with that. We ate lunch at one of my favorite spots and then you know what we did? We went to Chuck E. Cheese. In the middle of the week on a school day it's actually a pretty fun place to be. Josh and I have been known to like to have a bit of kid-like fun. I mean, we are in youth ministry. The three of us challenged each other at skee ball and Joel actually beat me once. Now if I could just fit on the rotating clock ride.

I am one blessed mama.

Apple of My Eye

2011-12-05T12:03:00.017-06:00

We kicked off my birthday celebration early tonight by eating at one of my favorite burger joints and perusing the Apple store. As soon as we walked in there Joel shouted, "Look! It's an Apple TV!" He then walked promptly over to the iPad on display and discovered just how much he likes Fruit Ninja. Jude just stared on in amazement at all of the technology. We have one wired kid on our hand (in more ways than one).

Dancin' Machine

2011-12-04T08:45:00.014-06:00

Tonight we had Christmas at the Creek. It's a chance for our church to get up and share any talents they might have. Joel didn't get up in front of everyone, but he did share some talents per se. When the music started for the puppet show, he stood up in the aisle and started dancing with facial expressions and all. After awhile he grabbed his friend Grace and started dancing with her. Every once in awhile he'd glance over at me as if to ask, "Do you think I'm funny, mom?" I sure do.

The Old Days

2011-12-03T22:44:00.004-06:00

We had a wonderfully super lazy day. I really can't remember the last time I watched TV in the middle of the day just to watch it. Josh tells me that's called relaxing. Thanks to streaming Netflix, I am now hooked on Lie To Me. I Googled it and much to my chagrin, it was canceled in May this year. Darn you, Netflix, for getting me hooked on a show that's already been canceled. It will be good while it lasts...

This morning Jude got a whole glob of oatmeal smeared in his hair by his very own hands. The result was an awesome sticky up hairdo. Who needs gel? Oatmeal mixed with a little baby wipe works just fine.

Joel was on a roll today, too, as he started a few of his stories with, "Back in the old days when I was three years old..." Yep, that was a long, long time ago, buddy.

Guys Day!

2011-12-02T22:42:00.012-06:00

I came home from work today to discover quite a mess at home. That just means the guys had a lot of fun together. Josh sent me a ton of pictures while I was at work which always makes my day so much brighter. Here are just a few from their day of fun.

The Music of Christmas

2011-12-01T22:40:00.026-06:00

We finished up with the Christmas decorations this morning. It is mandatory that we blast some Christmas music while doing so but we typically can't decide on what kind. I'm a Charlie Brown Christmas kind of girl and Josh, well, he likes these guys. It was nice to finish everything up and just wait for the first snow to come for it to really feel like Christmas.

Oh, and I just have to add - look at Jude's eyes. Completely unedited and beautiful. What a beautiful boy if I do say so myself. Happy nine months of life, Jude!

Oh, Christmas Tree!

2011-11-30T22:34:00.017-06:00

We put up the Christmas tree tonight which means we lugged the giant box of pieces out of the attic. Jude was especially mesmerized by the Snowman light which is all the more reason to move it to the counter outlet in the kitchen where it can't be reached by little hands.

After we got everything out we discovered that only ONE strand of lights worked. I guess since we haven't had to buy Christmas lights for eleven years, that's pretty good. We are both so cheap that we opted to put one strand of lights on the tree and wait for the clearance sales in a few weeks to get more. Besides, Charlie Brown Christmas trees have character.

Magic Socks

2011-11-29T22:31:00.026-06:00

We went to the store this afternoon and it was quite an ordeal. Jude did his famous disappearing sock trick and I could not find them anywhere. I happened to find another random sock in the car and put it on one of his feet. I wrapped the other one in a blanket. It was 30 degrees outside and my kid had no socks. Mother of the Year!

It was a total comedy of errors trying to get in the store. It was so windy that all of my bags flew out of the cart and as Joel tried to retrieve them, he started screaming because he was scared he was going to get hit by a car. I mean, hysterically screaming. Poor guy. We almost got blown away, but we made it.

Jude also tried some puffs today and by the looks of it, he wasn't too sure of them. I tried them a month ago and it was not a successful experience (I'll spare you the details). With the development of his FIVE TEETH, I thought he'd be up for them, but I guess not.

Three Stars

2011-11-28T22:12:00.013-06:00

Joel had another great day at the babysitter. He keeps getting three stickers for all three parts of his day and I'm so relieved. It was quite a rough start, but it's finally getting better.

Jude's teeth popped through this weekend. The latest count is three on top and two on the bottom. He's going to be a biting fool.

Waste Not, Want Not

2011-11-27T23:15:00.019-06:00

Tonight I brought out my giant box of coupons and organized them. As you can see, Jude was a big help. My reason for doing this is because Jude has been pulling the coupon boxes off of the shelf for weeks now. I knew it was just a matter of time before he had them scattered everywhere...note the attached picture.

After flipping through weeks and weeks of coupon inserts I began to discover that they are all pretty much the same products over and over. So, you know what I did? I clipped the ones I thought I'd use and I tossed the rest. It was quite liberating. Saving money and saving space.

It seems as if I need to do a better job at saving other things around here, though. This morning when I was running the water in the sink to get it warm, Joel reached over and shut it off saying, "Mom, that is called 'wasting'." Touché.

Going to the Chapel

2011-11-26T23:15:00.032-06:00

The four of us got all gussied up and went to a wedding tonight. It was just a small ceremony in the fireside room at church so I was a bit nervous about how the boys would behave, but they amazed me. Jude didn't make a peep and Joel attempted to whisper when asking me questions, although I'm not sure he knows just how quiet a whisper needs to be yet.

I also can't believe I actually got both of them in ties. Jude didn't even try to rip it off, but Joel just complained and complained about everything from the tie to the dress shoes. In fact, it was kind of a rough day with Joel all around and something really sunk in for me as a parent today. I think I'm too hard on him. That coupled with the two of us being a lot alike causes us to butt heads sometimes. Today was one of those days. At least now I know and knowing is half the battle - GI Joe. That was for you, Josh.

Black Friday

2011-11-25T23:14:00.023-06:00

Well, we did it. We went Black Friday shopping with the kids. It wasn't the -get-up-at-3 am kind of Black Friday shopping, but we went out to actual stores on Black Friday. Jude snoozed in his car seat and Joel bounced back and forth along every aisle along the way. He even took Dumbo for a spin before we left the store.

Joel painted a special Christmas decoration with Grammy, too, just like I used to do with my Grandma G. I'll have to post a picture of the final product because it was quite the masterpiece. Jude discovered a baby just as handsome as himself in the mirror on the floor. He was lovin' it.

In hindsight, we probably didn't leave at the best time to drive home. We ended up stopping a bit down the road for dinner and then listened to Jude wail for a good portion of the ride. I think he just didn't know what to do with himself in the dark when it wasn't bedtime yet. About an hour from home, both of the boys zonked out and gave us some peace and quiet. Finally home.

Thankful

2011-11-24T23:13:00.023-06:00

We spent Thanksgiving in the giant metropolis of Waverly today with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. I was feeling a bit old as my cousin (whom I used to babysit) hosted Thanksgiving dinner for the whole family. She and her husband live in this amazing old house that she has decorated Victorian style. Joel was mesmerized by it but I think his favorite part was being able to play with my cousin Alex. They made up stories of kings, queens, and royal jewels all afternoon.

One of my favorite parts was the front balcony and the amazing light it offered just before sunset. I just had to grab my two handsome guys and snap their pictures out there. Look at them. And this is precisely what I'm thankful for.

On The Road Again

2011-11-23T23:02:00.019-06:00

We started the drive down to Grammy and Papa John's house this afternoon and it was much easier with Josh this time - no oil spilling or post office incidents - just a nice easy stop at Dunkin' for some road trip coffee. It's trips like this that make me realized just how blessed I am.

We dug out an old portable DVD player we had in the closet and Joel was good to go. We only had to field a few questions regarding "How much longer?" and "Will it be dark outside when we get there?"

We were met with an awesome surprise when we got there - a bedroom just for the boys! Joel was pretty excited to have his own room to sleep in with the Jude...well, I'm not too sure about the "with Jude" part, but nonetheless they both managed to sleep well.

Mr. Tall Teeth

2011-11-22T16:15:00.002-06:00

Joel and I have been working together on learning the alphabet for a long time. He's now to the point where he asks me how to put letters together to make words. What better way to do that than typing on the computer? He's always asking me for a place to "text" on the computer, so I opened up a word processing file today and let him go.

Between learning, a trip to the library, and lunch with dad, he was exhausted. When I went in his room to get him from quiet time, I found him lying on the floor like this. It took me three times to wake him up - once from his floor, once from Jude's floor, and then once after he crawled back into his bed.

Jude, on the other hand, didn't do a whole lot of sleeping today. He's growing three teeth at once right now! I can't even begin to imagine how that feels. Thankfully he's sleeping at night, but seems a little off during the day. And, he's on the move like you wouldn't believe. Today he discovered just how much fun it is to crawl into the bottom of his exersaucer.

Lip Service

2011-11-21T16:54:00.005-06:00

We took Jude to the dermatologist today and it was sort of a non-event. She said that his hemangioma on his lip won't get any larger and that it could take years (we're talking 5+) before it would start shrinking. I personally think he's still as handsome as ever. Besides, if he does need to eventually have plastic surgery to remove a portion of it, he can make up a really cool story about how he got the scar. "There was this one time when I fought a tiger..."

Before the doctor came in, the nurse weighed and measured him. He weighed in at 22 lbs. 13 oz. and is 31 inches long. That is more than half my height and he's eight months old. Wow. I'm officially a midget.

God, Friends, Family & Mac and Cheese

2011-11-20T16:30:00.023-06:00

We hung around for church this morning with Mimi and Pappy and got the chance to eat a big Thanksgiving meal with everyone. It was so good to catch up with old friends and have our kids play together.

Joel went early with Mimi for worship time with all of the kids and while he was there he made a tambourine inscribed with what he was thankful for. I think he pretty much covered all of the bases, don't you? I mean, mac and cheese is pretty important around here.

They both did such a great job on the trip home. Jude didn't sleep much, but wasn't fussy at all. In fact, he giggled and cooed most of the way while he listened to and watched Joel. We rocked out to some music when things started getting long and that seemed to carry us through all the way home. Thank you, God, for good music.

Lights Out

2011-11-19T16:27:00.030-06:00

We had quite the full day today. We kicked it off at Scheels with a little bowling and ferris wheel riding; you know, the typical stuff you can do at a store. Oh, wait. Jude even got his lunch fed to him while we were there. The kind salesman brought Mimi a chair to sit on while she fed him. He was also pretty content with chowing on Aunt Megan's new stroller. I warned her that it would never be the same after he rode in it.

After awhile we dropped Joel off at the movie "feater" so he could enjoy Happy Feet 2 with is cousins, Nana and Papa. Papa reported that Joel was cackling during the Tweety and Sylvester short at the beginning of the movie. That's our boy - lover of slap stick comedy.

At the end of our full, full day Joel asked me to shut the light off because he was "so tired." Now that's my kind of bedtime.

Road Trip

2011-11-18T16:26:00.029-06:00

The boys and I drove down to central Illinois tonight just as Josh was taking the youth group to ICTC. I didn't think we'd ever get out of the house. I don't know what it is about packing for a trip with kids, but sometimes the task seems insurmountable to me. To top it all off, I had to stop by the post office and Auto Zone on the way out of town with them in tow. Have I mentioned I can barely carry my 8-month-old?

I added four quarts of oil to the ol' car and it was so windy, the wind caught one of the bottles and sprayed it all over the windshield. It was such a comedy of errors that all I could do was laugh. When I finally got on the road, I took a deep breath because the easy part was to just drive now that everything was packed and oiled up.

We couldn't quite make the whole trip without feeding Jude, so we stopped at a truck stop and Joel kindly snapped this picture of our makeshift eating set up. I took my turn and snapped a shot of him with the sunset. Can you tell he was cold? :)

The chorus of "Are we there yet?" was manageable once we decided to turn on some music and rock out. Between that and oohing and aahing at the sunset (Thanks, God!), we finally made it safely to Mimi and Pappy's house. After a little bit of playing, Joel fell asleep right in the middle of our bedtime prayers. Play hard. Sleep hard.

Words with Friends

2011-11-17T21:05:00.017-06:00

The boys and I went over to Collette's house today and spent most of the day over there talking and playing and drinking her famous homemade lattés. It seriously tasted just like a cinnamon dolce latté from Starbucks. She never ceases to amaze me. I love how well our kids play together, too. Not so much as a peep from them really the whole time which allows for us mamas to catch up.

Have Patience

2011-11-16T21:01:00.019-06:00

Josh had a late night at work tonight, but the boys were awesome. I think God looks out for me and gives me extra patience coupled with some extra obedience from them on nights like this.

Here are some more shots from the zoo yesterday. I think this is Joel's best face painting yet. He said he was an Indian. So intense. Jude loved the birds' nest play area and looked even cuter than a baby chick if I do say so myself.

What's Up, Doc?

2011-11-15T22:29:00.002-06:00

We went for what I thought would be the final check up for Jude's hip today. You know, the one where he is released with no other follow up. Well, that didn't happen. We got a good report, but not a great one. Without going into all of the complicated medical details, his left hip is still a bit behind the right and the doctor wants to see him again in five months to make sure it's developing. The angle of the hip has improved and his legs are the same length, so that's the good part. Since you're reading this, please pray for our little guy's hip to be healthy and normal. He's got a big brother to keep up with!

Since we were so much closer to the zoo than normal, the boys and I decided to enjoy what is left of the November sunshine over there this afternoon. I am so glad we did! We didn't even need our coats - in November. Beautiful.

Weekend Warriors

2011-11-14T22:29:00.011-06:00

This is what our weekend looked like. Can you tell how much we love our technology? Jude hasn't caught the bug yet. He's still happy with just looking at his own cute mug in the mirror.

Shopping Buddies

2011-11-13T21:50:00.002-06:00

I took the boys to the mall this afternoon so I could pick up my new glasses. Joel wanted to try some on while we were waiting and unprompted, this is what he did when he got them on. He never ceases to crack me up.

We, of course, played in the mall play area when we were done and it was the craziest I've ever seen it. I actually took a video of it to show Josh when I got home so he could take in the screaming running around mood of it all. There must of have been a hundred kids in there. Well, maybe not that many.

It didn't seem to bother either one of the boys, though. Jude scooted and scooted to get closer to the abacus on the wall. When I finally lifted him up to play with it, he squealed with delight. Joel, well, he ran around just as crazy as the other kids. Go figure.

A Walk in the Park

2011-11-12T21:44:00.010-06:00

We walked over to the park this afternoon because it was way too nice to stay inside. I tried and tried to get a shot of Joel getting some air time on the teeter totter, but from these shots I think you get the drift. He was loving it.

After this we stumbled upon two other kids that were playing at the park and Joel wanted to play with them. He went on the swings with them and asked one of them, "What's your name, big guy?" Oh boy. I'm sure that'll be a popular introduction as the years go on.

Jude was fascinated by the leaves, but most of all wanted to eat them. Yum.

Day Off!

2011-11-11T21:43:00.008-06:00

I did something I never do and actually took the day off today. Typically I save, save, save my days, but I used one today. It was so nice just to be home with all of the guys and snap pictures of the boys at my leisure. I seriously cherish days like this.

P.S. Happy Anniversary, Mimi and Pappy!

Sleepy Shopper

2011-11-10T21:41:00.012-06:00

We needed to run to the store this morning to get some groceries which meant that Jude didn't get his normal morning nap. Instead, he improvised and zonked out right in the cart. Looks comfy, huh?

Tonight I had to head back to work for Parent-Teacher conferences, so Josh held down the fort with the boys and got them all set for bed before I got back home. This teamwork thing rules.

Turtle head

2011-11-09T12:04:00.016-06:00

This morning when I was leaving for work Joel looked at what I was wearing and asked, "Is that a turtle head?" I should totally start calling turtlenecks by that.

I love it when I'm able to capture the rare moments of stillness with these two, but that's usually only when they're sleeping. It's when I'm most thankful for them because they are actually still and quiet enough that I can sit and look at them and reflect about how blessed I really am. Two beautiful, healthy boys.

Table for One

2011-11-08T16:22:00.000-06:00

Sometimes getting Joel to eat feels like a full-time job. I've read and studied all sorts of techniques for dealing with difficult students but for some reason I don't always carry those over when it comes to my own kids. In fact, a lot of times I find myself doing what many techniques say NOT to do. Hence, the dinner time battles. We've now resorted to just letting Joel sit at the table by himself until he finishes what we've asked him to eat. Because he could talk to the wall, it typically takes him awhile to finally decide to finish his dinner, but it does happen. Now that's progress!

Jude recently learned how to blow a raspberry and does it over and over again especially at the coaxing of his brother. I was able to catch him in the act tonight. He takes his raspberries very seriously.

Once Upon a Time...

2011-11-07T22:42:00.023-06:00

Joel got a GREAT report from the sitter today. It was such a relief. After praying with Josh in the car this morning he walked right in there and had an awesome day. Laura and I came up with a sticker system where Joel could get a sticker for three parts of the day - morning, quiet time, and afternoon. He got all three stickers today and I was so proud of him.

Tonight when we got home, Joel wanted to hide in the curtains while I told a story about my two sons that I had but couldn't find. He hid in the curtains while I told the story and then pretended to be everyone but himself. In this particular shot, he was Stitch. He does a pretty good impression for a four-year-old.

Jude thought he was hilarious as always and just laughed and laughed at him all night long.

Yum!

2011-11-06T22:41:00.019-06:00

We had an awesome lunch after church today thanks to a group of people that wanted to appreciate Josh and the rest of the staff. It was so nice to just stroll down to the gym after church and have lunch right there. Joel was able to run around with his buds and Jude snuggled with me and everyone else in the room. We are beyond blessed.

That Good

2011-11-05T22:40:00.017-05:00

It seems like we've been coming and going a lot lately in this here family. Tonight Josh needed to minister to one of the students, so the boys and I hunkered down at home ready getting ready for that extra hour of sleep. Actually, I have a sneaking suspicion that they won't really take advantage of it. It could be an early morning tomorrow.

At any rate, we had a fun night tonight. We played handball (?) in the dining room with velcro discs and a tennis ball. Joel thought he was pretty smooth as he tried different ways of catching it. A few times he even closed his eyes because he thought he was "that good" - his words, not mine. His humor never ceases to amaze me.

Jude watched from a safe distance in his exeersaucer, but then we got him out and let him have free reign of the room. He is really moving and scooting lately. It won't be long until he hops up on those knees and tears through the house.

Super Bounce

2011-11-04T22:07:00.018-05:00

This was a long week at school. It was so good to just come home and relax with the boys out in the yard before dinner. We need to soak up the last few evenings of light before the time change. Tonight we tried to bounce the super bounce ball as high as it would go and just about got it stuck in the tree a few times. Once Josh even hit it so hard against our neighbors' window, I thought it was going to bust into pieces. Thankfully they weren't home...

Joel thinks that anything Josh does is pretty amazing, so the whole super bounce thing was no different. He laughed and looked at him in amazement as he bounced the ball higher and higher. Jude took it all in right from the comfort of his Bumbo. He tried to squeeze his way out of a few times, but alas it contained him.

Hooked on Phonics

2011-11-03T22:06:00.026-05:00

Joel and I have been doing a free phonics program together that I found online. He really seems like it for about 30 minutes or so and then things get a little dicey. That's when we switch to some games to get the wiggles out. Little does he know, but the games are actually teaching him things, too. I learned that little tip from my very dear friend of mine who writes over at The Art of Being Mama. Thanks, Collette!

So far we've "read" two books, played matching word games, and even watched "movies" about the alphabet. Fun stuff, huh?

Jude loves reading books with us, too. His face completely lights up with a smile when I open up a book to read to the boys. Although he doesn't understand a word I'm saying, he smiles and coos as I read. It must be the rhythm of my words or the voice I use. Whatever it is, he loves it. He also loves his brother, too. See?

Wednesday Woes

2011-11-02T22:06:00.040-05:00

Well, we're having a hard time at the babysitter. There's no other way to say it. I can't even sugar coat it. Joel is just having a flat out hard time and I'm not exactly sure why. It's obviously been an adjustment for him to be at a new place after all of these years and now he has to learn how to share his things with another kid that is kind of in the in-between toddler stage of less than two years old. I'm not sure what this holds for the future with Jude once he starts taking his things from him!

At any rate, Josh and I have prayed with him and have enlisted others to pray for him, too. So if you're reading this, please join us. Help us pray that our little guy will adjust to his new environment, keep a handle on his emotions, and learn to love others and be kind even when he doesn't feel like it. That is our prayer for him.

We've given him a few consequences at home on days that he's been unkind/thrown fits - like no TV or video games at night - and it hasn't even really phased the little goober. After a few complaints, he ended up keeping himself occupied all night with his toys and make-believe stories. Let's hope we don't have to delve even further into the world of consequences because I'm not sure what else we would do at this point!

Yesterday the boys and I spent some time outside raking up the massive amount of leaves in the yard. Well I raked the leaves and Joel jumped in them. Jude didn't seem to enjoy the leaves too much on his own, but when I plopped down in the pile with him, he had a much better time. As you can see, Joel thought it was quite an "adventure in there."

Scary Stories

2011-11-01T07:34:00.018-05:00

We made a fort today out of some couch cushions and a blanket today. All morning, Joel wanted me to get in there with him, but Jude wasn't too interested. Finally at Jude's naptime, Joel and I huddled in the hideout and told scary stories while lighting up our faces with a red light from my phone. They went something like this (told in a scary voice of course), "Once upon a time Joel was walking through the forest and all of a sudden, he saw DADDY!" Pretty scary stuff there.

Since Jude didn't get to participate, I'm including a picture of him "waving" from earlier this fall. Right back at 'cha, little buddy.

Trunk or Treat #4

2011-10-31T14:36:00.042-05:00

With seconds to spare, I finished our Star Wars costumes as we rushed out the door for our fourth year at Trunk or Treat. Why are we always rushing out the door? Well, it's probably because I come up with super ambitious costume ideas and then I wait until the last minute to finish them. Don't tell Josh I said that, though.

This year I made Jude's Yoda costume out of a frog costume I found at the thrift store and repurposed along with a bed sheet for his robe and a curtain for his shirt. Jedi Luke was outfitted in a bed sheet and curtain. I was able to make Josh's Han Solo costume out of things we already owned and I used an old shower curtain to make my first ever dress to be Princess Leia. I even used real honey buns for the buns in my hair at Josh's suggestion. I think I spent about $5 on our costumes this year. I love making something out of nothing!

We loaded up Yoda and our Jedi Luke and headed to church to hand out candy to people from the community. Once we got there Joel asked, "When can we start trick or treating?" At first I thought he was asking when he could get candy, but what he really wanted to know was when he could start handing it out. I love it that once again, this is his understanding of trick or treating. We didn't come home with any candy for him and he didn't mind one bit. He was too busy ooohhhing and aaaahhhing over everyone else's costumes and saying things like, "God loves you" and "Go in peace" when he handed out the candy (which he got from the Veggie Tales St. Nick movie). Josh and I were both laughing and humbled by his ability to minister to others even when handing out candy. We could learn a thing or two from his boldness.

Boo! at the Zoo

2011-10-30T14:12:00.016-05:00

Since Joel went the rest of the day with no hiccups yesterday, we finally made it to Boo! at the Zoo just before Halloween. Joel just wanted to wear his "regular clothes" and not a costume, but when we got there and saw all of the kids that were dressed up, he kept saying over and over, "I wish I had my sword...." Kids!

Despite the costume mishap, the boys really had a great time. It was pretty cold and windy, but we bundled up to take part in all of the special activities they had set up for the day. We were led through the corn maze by daddy, drove a Lightning McQueen car, and played in a special Fisher Price toy tent. Rather than stand in line to get his face painted, Joel opted to paint it himself in the Play Zoo area. What a resourceful boy. He ended up as a pink and orange tiger.

We managed to leave right as it started sprinkling and when we were safely tucked in the car, the skies opened with buckets of rain. Perfect timing.

Life Lesson

2011-10-29T10:40:00.023-05:00

Today was a rough one. We were all geared up and ready to go to Boo! at the Zoo and then it happened. Joel became disrespectful, rude, and whiny so we had to put the kabosh on the trip. Boy did he wail and wail after we told him. It was one of those battles that we needed to stand our ground on and win, though.

I can only hope that today's lesson sunk in a bit for him. It seems as if he's testing us lately like he's going through a phase or something. It makes it doubly hard to look at Jude and realize the Joel used to be that cute and cuddly and cooing all of the time. Don't get me wrong; I am excited to see this passionate, creative four-year-old develop before our eyes. I just wish he would do whatever I say all the time. Is that too much to ask? ;)

So, no zoo today, but if he can make it through today without any other hiccups, we will go tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed.

Friday Night Lights

2011-10-28T10:38:00.021-05:00

We all loaded up for a trip to the MHS football field tonight to capture it in all of its glory before the first ever home playoff game. It was definitely a challenge for me, but I was up to it. Here is the final result of nine photos stitched together. Whew.

Joel thought it was pretty awesome to be on top of the press box and kept popping in and out of the hatch warning me to take cover because a snow storm was coming to get us. It sure felt cold enough for one. Jude just sat in his car seat and giggled, giggled, giggled as he watched Joel "announce" the game and protect us from the impending snow storm.

Happy Heart

2011-10-27T22:36:00.005-05:00

I got a new lens in the mail today. Dare I call it delicious? I had to test it out the moment it arrived in its carefully packaged box and this what I got out of these two. Unprompted, Joel grabbed his T-Rex and roared for me. Jude sat there as his perfectly contended self with a dab of drool and all. These boys make my heart happy.

Prep Time

2011-10-26T22:34:00.010-05:00

It's getting closer and closer to Halloween and I am no closer to getting our costumes finished. I tell myself every year that I am going to start sooner next year and then it just never happens. Tonight I started gathering everything together for our Star Wars get ups.

Jude investigated his mini Yoda lightsaber just before bedtime. Check out the rolls on this kid. I could just eat him up.

Spacetarium

2011-10-25T21:52:00.033-05:00

It was the last free day of the year at the Adler Planetarium and since we had never been, the boys and I went to check it out. For those of you that haven't been, I would highly recommend it. We spent over three hours there and Joel wasn't bored one bit. They have an amazing play area perfect for kids.

When we first got there, we could not figure out how to get inside with the stroller. The entrance is surrounded by stairs and we walked around the entire building before we found a door at our level. It was pretty cold right off of the water, too, but that didn't deter Joel from posing for a few shots for me.

I was banking on Jude napping for a bit of our trip, but I guess the planetarium was too exciting for him to close his eyes. He turned his head from left to right looking at every last bit as we walked around. He even clapped for a bit as he sat with Joel next to the display of the astronaut. He really couldn't be a more cheerful baby.

On our way out of the city, I really wanted to stop at Soldier Field to snap a shot of Joel since he was wearing his Bears jersey, but I was trying to be all legal and didn't want to just pull up next to it and get out. Joel went on and on the whole way home about his favorite parts of the "spacetarium." I am so thankful we live within a short drive of so many great places in the city. These boys are going to have some awesome opportunities as I drag them around from museum to museum every chance I get.

Perfect Playroom

2011-10-24T21:50:00.026-05:00

Tonight when I picked the boys up from the babysitter Joel told me a long winded story about the leaves falling off of the trees. It ended with something like this, "When you cook leaves from the tree, they turn into warm apple pie chicken soup." What? I'm not sure I want to try that recipe anytime soon.

We took the boys over to Sue's house, who is a woman from our church, while we went on a date. It was so awesome! Sue just called me out of the blue one day and asked if she could watch the boys on a regular basis so Josh and I could go out. What? Um, yes please. I don't think she realized just how amazing her offer was to us.

We were only gone for a couple of hours and when we got there to pick them up, Joel started sobbing. Nice. He didn't want to come home with us! He walked us up to the playroom and then I knew why. Sue has this HUGE playroom filled with toys from when her own kids were small. It was seriously the size of three rooms in our house and it even had cool custom built bunk bed platform perfect for launching rockets, animals, and whatever else a four-year-old boy could come up with. Looks like Sue's house will become a fast favorite with the Joel man.

Sunday Afternoons

2011-10-23T23:23:00.003-05:00

Look at this is. This is what a Sunday afternoon looks like when we don't have to rush home from the weekend. Jude snarfed up some food from Mimi while Joel hit some balls in the backyard with Pappy and I was able to capture it all on this brilliantly crisp camera phone. Have I mentioned how much I love this thing? Yep, I think I have.

Both boys were toast as soon as we pulled out of the driveway and they snoozed the whole trip home. That left Josh and me all by our lonesome to sip coffee and talk. It's the little things...

Fall Family Get Together

2011-10-22T23:22:00.028-05:00

We took our annual trip to the Apple Barn this weekend with our family and Jude was a part of his first ever family fall picture. As you can see, when we first started he was pretty taken with the straw. I love this shot of Joel and him as he investigates the straw thinking, "Hmmm...can I eat this?" Later on he snuggled up with Mimi while eating his hand. A tooth must be coming!

This afternoon we hosted a baby shower for Aunt Megan and the kiddos came along. They let out some energy by running around the front yard of the church checking out the leaves and the ginormous church bell. Joel tried and tried to ring it to no avail. He settled on a game of me timing how fast he could crunch up the leaves he found. Who needs toys?

We were so grateful to be able to relax tonight with our family instead of rushing back home for Sunday morning. I can't remember the last time we did that.

Road Trip!

2011-10-21T23:21:00.015-05:00

We made the trek down to central Illinois for our annual fall family get together tonight. We might have heard "Are we there yet?" and "Why is it taking so long?" a few times from the Joelmeister. He has gotten more impatient as he's gotten older. Go figure.

We didn't even hear so much as a peep from Jude as he stared at Joel and dozed on and off. What a good little trip taker. I see evidence of how this could soon change, though, through our experiences with one certain four-year-old.

Camera Phone

2011-10-20T23:21:00.013-05:00

Since I've gotten my very first smart phone, I've been amazed at the convenience of having a great camera with me at all times. This tiny but mighty camera helps me capture things like a giggly baby on my bed and a smiling boy in my car. And if that isn't enough, I can instantly post those pictures online. Any phone that can do that, is the phone for me. I don't know if I'll ever go back to one that just, you know, makes phone calls.

Wednesday Wrestling

2011-10-19T23:21:00.007-05:00

Just another day of wrestling and laughing for these two brothers. One of these days Jude is going to show Joel who's boss.

Hippopotamus

2011-10-18T23:21:00.014-05:00

Joel loves to do impressions. Here he is doing his impression of a hippo. Yep, if you couldn't tell, that's what a hippo apparently looks like. He must be holding his breath under water.

Jude hasn't quite caught on to impressions yet, although he does quite a good job mimicking us these days. He smiles when we smile, raises his eyebrows, and makes big eyes right alongside us. Before we know it, he's going to be pulling the same antics as Joel. I can't wait....well, yes I can.

Belly Laughs

2011-10-17T23:20:00.011-05:00

Yet another example of Joel doing something funny and Jude thinking he's hilarious. I swear this little guy thinks his big brother is the funniest person alive. We hear a lot of belly laughs at our house every day. Well, with that kind of belly, why wouldn't we?

Bedtime for Bonzo

2011-10-16T23:20:00.013-05:00

Jude looooves to cover his face up with a blanket when he sleeps. While this used to freak me out when he was really, really tiny, it doesn't so much any more. It's something he's always done. When I see him pulling his blanket over his face, I know that's his signal for bedtime. Easy enough.

Joel, on the other hand, has an entirely different way of letting us know it's bedtime. He gets super hyper and cranky and tells us he doesn't want to go to bed. I guess that means he's playing the opposite game.

Lion Tamer

2011-10-15T15:38:00.018-05:00

Jude has really come a long way in the last few weeks in terms of sitting up and partaking in what is going on around here. Today he was particularly taken with a piece of paper. Oooh! You can crush it up and it makes sound! Ooooh! Sometimes I wish I could capture a bit of his wonder for the simple things.

Here is a shot from Joel earlier this week at the park. This was his face for challenging the lion that was about to eat him. He thinks he's pretty tough sometimes.

Forever Friends

2011-10-14T15:37:00.013-05:00

We all went to our dear friends' house tonight and had an awesome time. It always makes me wonder why we wait so long to get together with friends. It is so amazing to find a family where each of us have an equally great time with all of them. We didn't hear a peep from the kids as they played all night long together and Josh and I went our respective ways to talk and do whatever guys do to bond together.

Here's an oldy but a goody to remind me of how fascinated Joel was when he first laid eyes on Jude.

Brothers

2011-10-13T22:54:00.003-05:00

It's moments like these that confirm our decision to have a second child. These two are so precious together right now that it makes this mama's heart overflow.

Daddy Day

2011-10-12T22:53:00.015-05:00

After six glorious days away from work, I finally went back today. Josh stayed home with the boys because our babysitter is on vacation this week. I really think Joel loves it when Josh is home for the day. He gets to stay in his pajamas, watch TV, and play video games. I think his favorite part, though, is the wrestling and running around at the park. Daddy can lift him up to the monkey bars and throw him in the air.

Jude is absolutely in love with Daddy, too. His face completely lights up every time he sees him so much more so than Joel's did as a baby. Maybe it's because Jude is his mini me. Whatever it is, the boy loves his Daddy.

Bookworm

2011-10-11T22:51:00.012-05:00

Jude is getting more and more mobile as the days go by. When I peeked around the corner at him in his room, he had wiggled his way over to the bookshelf to pick out some books. Just look at the curiosity on that face. Hmmm....I think I'll pick an adventure story.

Joel and I always crouch down on the floor a little ways away from him and cheer him on as he scoots and rolls our way. I'm not sure why I'm encouraging this because as soon as he starts moving, he won't stop. Our house will have to turn back into a barren canvas of no table accessories or papers of any sort anywhere within reach. Let the purging begin!