"Flowers" for Grandma

Last night after the boys had their wagon ride, we were walking toward the house when Luke noticed some dandelions in the grass. It's rained recently and everything is really green so we had a few weeds.

"Oh, pretty flowers!" Luke exclaimed.

"Pretty!" Liam echoed.

"Boo-tiful!" Luke said.

They each wanted one, and I picked one too and said why don't we give them to grandma so she can put them in a vase for a bouquet. They liked that idea. I remember when I was little, thinking that I would pick a lovely bouquet of them for my mom, not knowing they were weeds. She took them gratefully and put them in a vase, and this time she did the same.

"I'm going night-night," Luke announced. They have this game where they just drop down to the floor or ground and pretend to snore and say "night-night"--except of course when it actually IS bedtime.

And Grandma's bouquet...my guys were so proud!

Party pictures

I'm behind in posting. But here are pictures from a birthday party we went to a week ago Saturday. This was Ms. Zoie's party, she turned 3! My boys were invited and we had a great time. Heather had it at the perfect location, a nice spacious building at a park. The weather was perfect--she was lucky because I think it was probably the only day this entire month that the weather has been nice.



Heather and her mom have done cakes professionally. Last year it was a double tier cake that was impressive. I may have to hit her up to do my boys' birthday cake this year...

One of our coworkers was there. She does training with Heather.

Great picture of our moms!

Luke loved the balloons. He found one that he really liked!

So did Liam!

The birthday princess! Love that tiara!

As soon as we got out of the car, Luke goes, "I want the birthday cake!" You can see my guys are eagerly awaiting their portion...

Naturally they love ice cream and cake...

Luke ate all his frosting first...

Me & my guys! Dang I look old. Becoming a mom has really aged me. I used to look a lot younger than my age and I noticed as soon as I got out of the hospital from delivering these guys, I had aged about 10 years in 2. Kind of like George Bush's before and after pictures of the Iraq war.

And the birthday girl once more! Very lucky little girl to have such a special party.

L&L played outside on the equipment for awhile then Liam kind of had a meltdown as he was getting tired and was on a sugar high and needed a nap. Luke tried to ride Zoie's new birthday bike that she hadn't even received yet as one of her gifts! It was time to go, so we left a little early but they sure crashed once we got home.

Easter Day

With their new haircuts, my guys were all ready to go to my aunt and uncle's for Easter. They live 2.5 hours away so it's a long day in the car for all of us. I dressed them identically and with their new haircuts people had a tougher time telling them apart. This year was a little different for me than all the other Easters as it was the first year I didn't go to church for Easter since I was born, but otherwise it was like every other holiday.

While I got their snacks packed, they decided to read the morning paper...

Liam decides to read the morning comics at his leisure...

Luke took the Local News section...

This is my aunt's kitchen. They have kept their house in great condition all these years, especially considering they raised 4 kids there and it's a small home. I really admire them for that. All the decor is exactly what it was since they moved in in the late 1960s after they married. I was telling my cousin that the decor is actually back "in" now and considered kitsch--something that could be featured in Metropolitan Home magazine, perhaps.

These two people came out of the same womb and grew up in the same home--my dad and his sister, my aunt. My sister and I are as different as two people possibly could be, but even moreso, the contrast between these two is so stark it is almost amazing. My dad is basically the Four Horses of the Apocalypse and my aunt is so saccharine sunny on her outlook, it is hilarious.

My guys have made great progress since they started visiting their aunt and uncle's place! The first couple times Luke cried the entire time and was scared, I had to hold him the entire time. But he was only 8 months old. This time, he didn't care to hang out with me at all, they wanted to play with their cousins, which was great! I actually got to eat my meal in peace.

I wish they lived closer to their cousins! I would hire the girls for mother's helpers to assist me in watching them outside at the swingset while I do laundry and other household things that need done on Sat mornings. They just adore my guys, and my guys adore them. They think they are so cool and fun because they are closer to their age than mommy! I love it.

Great group photo!

Mom plays a song on the piano that my aunt wrote.

Liam hams it up with Aaron!

Later, their cousins planned an egg hunt for L&L in the backyard. They hid the eggs that were filled with Trix cereal and my guys were supposed to find them and put them in their baskets. Well....to them a "hunt" is where the eggs are visible and while somehow they manage to find stuff all the time that I hide from them in the house, they were not into another egg hunt and instead wanted to ride trikes.

Luke stayed on this one because it looks like a tractor. He would not get off it for a solid hour.

He was determined! Finally he got thirsty and my cousin Jean brought him a cup of water so he wouldn't have to leave his "tractor." She also had their cousins go fetch the eggs and just give them their treats. Luke ate the cereal but he was too excited to eat any lunch.

Liam on the big kids' swing...

Luke got this bunny as one of his prizes from his cousins, and he wouldn't part with it all day after that.

Then he carted around both his and Liam's baskets in the wagon.

They were exhausted and cranky on the way home and the last half hour was a hurdle but all in all it was a great day for my guys!