Sure..drive your monster trucks on me in church

As much as my boys continue to grow up and their interest in man things increases by the day, I have to say I really enjoy special moments with them. Like today in church, both of them driving their little toy monster trucks all over me and my sweater, boots and even head at one point. I'm glad they know they have the kind of Mom that wouldn't scoff at such behavior, I welcome it and have come to enjoy it. Everyone always says "they grow up so fast, and to enjoy this time.." well I have to say the more Parker grows up, the more I enjoy him. The most amazing thoughts come into his mind and bursts of love these days. He greets me with open armed hugs and tells me sweet things unexpectedly. One day a few weeks ago I had a miserable cold and was driving him home from preschool. I tell him I love you Parker randomly, all the time and he repeats it back to me. On this particular day after he said he loved me he added "and when you are sick, I will love you even more!" Absolutely heart melting, no prompting..just from the bottom of his little 4 year old heart. More than anything, I want my boys to know how much I truly love them and always will no matter what choices they make in life, or don't make. I am so thankful for these 2 little men to raise, to cuddle with, race cars with, talk about their boogers and to share love with.

A glimpse of God direction

I love it when God reveals his plan. Ever have one of those moments where it dawns on you..or something falls into place, the right opportunity, or reasoning behind why a door so long ago may have closed? Sometimes we seem to get an immediate answer to things, sometimes we don't and always wonder, and sometimes we get resolution to those things even years later. I am trying to say, I get it God..an answer from years ago, resolve and contentedness and even joy about your plan. You made me..to be wife to him, to be Mother to these 2..to live THIS life, in this place and in THIS way. A brilliant and mighty God you are...

Bubbles & Boo Baie`

The Jackster himself has mastered the world "bubble" during bath time. Although it sounds a bit french, Boo Baie`is how it comes out from the mouth of this babe. I love watching him imitate his older brother and repeat new words...bear, downstairs, Dada, Mama, Carker (Parker), car, chooch (train), food, drink, Nana...just a few.

He has learned the art of climbing all too soon. Caught him not only on top of a kitchen chair, but then the kitchen TABLE itself the other day! Frequently he stands a top the coffee table declaring my wooden chest his baby domain from where he shouts his baby wants and desires...and it's only the beginning. This kiddo is all boy, rough and tumble all the way.

Anniversary 2009

7 years later....

the amazing anniversary omelet!

what a way to start the new year; work boys, work!


Our 7th anniversary we celebrated, just 2 days after the hustle and bustle of Christmas Day. A beautifully crafted ham, egg & cheese omelet entered my life the morning of December 27th, along with the other members of the household. I have never been the same since....we now have grown accustomed to a family sized omelet where we can serve it straight from the skillet while it resides on the table.
Another reason to be so thankful and reflective of what this 7 years means to me. This anniversary is just a reminder of the memories we are making in a 7 yr. marriage with 2 creatures that share our intertwined DNA. All of this would not be here in our worlds if not for that wonderful night, December 27th, 2002. More love, more times to cherish, more to learn and work hard to keep our family balanced and thriving....
love to you, my husband!

More Christmas Lovin'

mmmm...that extra jolt of espresso..does 2 tired parents some good!
Beautiful sight from my kitchen counter....

Christmas Eve snack..cookies & milk

and frozen blueberries

my little decorating elf, Santa mut have enjoyed the most sprinkly cookies by the sprinkle master himself!

the only decent photo we have of the boys before Parker got "overheated" and needed to strip down:)

A white Christmas indeed! We enjoyed so much snuggling up with our matching Christmas jammied little boys..watching paper fly across the room and exclamations and shrieks of each gift being opened, it was great. Although next year I have decided to get up before the kids and start that caffeine line stat. I suppose 6:30 am is satisfactory for a 4 and 15month old to arise for Christmas morning festivities, however, I didn't wake up really until my much later around noontime jolt of espresso...thank you Krups!

In closing this year, I am most thankful for my two little espresso's, the little bursts of enegry they are, supply me with enough wonder and thrills to fill my tank in all reality. I am looking forward to what 2010 holds for us, so many things to learn and love and experience....

Christmas Lovin

Our little Christmasy house...

Christmas hugs from a special friend, Brianna

Brotherly love...Big brother gives a lift to

little brother...

My favorite things of Christmas time..."lovin" of the season. Lights, hugs, and cookies!

It amazes me how much love these little boys have inside their little hearts so young.

Their hugs are infectious, real, and full of umph! Their hugs are from the heart

and I love to watch them spreading their Christmas cheer to one another and special people in their lives. I shall post more of my Christmas favorites later...most appropriately with a glass of milk to compliment them...

Trimming the Tree Trauma

Parker's placement of ornaments...

Mommy's redistribution of ornaments...

It's that time of year...the trimming of the tree. Each year, I look forward to more and more having help from a little Christmas elf that becomes more and more capable as he grows and matures. My job has always been to open each Hallmark ornament box, find a hook, find a spot on the tree and then balance it out with some other colors...all alone..So this year when Parker was old enough to handle hooks and was actually excited to help me I was ecstatic! One request for "puppy chow" was already handed in by the mister, so I thought..ah ha, what a great tradition to start. I'll make puppy chow and enjoy munching along with my little munchkin while we happily trim this sparkly tree! Little did I realize my expectations were so unreal. Of course I figured it would be a challenge to unwrap the ornaments fast enough for an impatient toddler, while keeping a 1 yr. old out of the tree. Jack was already fussy all day, growing teeth seems to take precedence these days over anything else. Dad was already on the job of assembling the greenery and soon discovered a section of the pre -lit green was not so pre- lit after all! I was at his beckon call to be of assistance and on kid duty since we both were being used for jungle gyms by both boys as we sat on the floor in the midst of this tree. Parker soon figured it would make for a fun game to play "basketball" with the tree, tossing a small ball in the branches and watching it tumble down, conveniently landing right in Dad's way. I'm fairly sure I saw some steam exiting Tim's ears....but then, finally, after rigging a butter knife into the fuse (while the tree was electrically illuminated of course) Parker threw one last toss into the tree and bam, the lights were fixed! Freakishly weird, it worked whatever he did and Jack trounced off with the butter knife in his mouth. I quickly confiscated it and thought, well this is most likely the most difficult part of the night, that's over. Meanwhile I managed to melt up my gooey ingredients for my new tradition of puppy chow and unwrap a few ornaments for Parker to put up. He licks the bowl and then decides to play in it, dumping glasses of water, napkins and such..you name it, he dumped it!I proceed on to getting things in order for the tree. Tim finishes giving Jack his night time bottle and puts him in his bed. Shortly after I hear him crying and something seems not quite right. Sure enough, he had thrown up all over his bed. I dash to the bathtub with pukey baby, wash, then dry, then turn loose to find a diaper. Meanwhile Parker is mastering the hose on the vacuum to vacuum up pine needles off the carpet when I hear from his little voice over the noise of the vacuum "Mommy! Jack is peeing on the carpet!" ..."Yes!" I exclaim.."this just makes the evening so festively wonderful! "

Unfathomable that all of this went down in just a span of one hour...but, the tree is done. And then RE DONE by Mommy. Notice Parker's ornaments seem to "hover" around the center of the tree, around his height.:) If there ever was a Griswold Christmas reality show, our family would take the prize!