HAPPY 2009!

A very Happy New Year to you all! Our 2008 has been wonderful. Our sons are the beat of my heart, and we love them so dearly. These are just a few pics of fun with Play-Doh (Sam's current fave - a snowman!) and them talking on the phone to their Nonni and Granddad.

To our sons - we didn't know joy like this existed. We love you to the moon and back!

Sheer joy

I know I don't even qualify for "bad blogger" anymore. More like "who are you, blogger?"

Sam took some cushions off of the couch today and made his own launchpad. He was saying, "One...Two...BLAST OFF!" and then jumping from the hardwoods onto his pillow nest. After a brief moment of fear, I thought, "Boy, does he ever know how to live life. How refreshing!"

And so the jumping game went on for almost an hour. And the giggles never stopped.

And a mommy got another reminder that life really is so much fun!!!

Halloween with a monkey and a puppy

Wow - Halloween with two 2-year-olds!! So much fun!

We only went to a few houses in our cul-de-sac, but they had fun. Well, except for the scary trick or treaters that came to our house. Sam was telling me this morning that he was scared. When I asked him why, he said, "Saw ghost at Sam's house" and "Kids at door at Sam's house." We explained many, many times that it was just pretend, but he said "Scared when bell rang." We really tried to shield him from the scary ones (he only saw one when he had first gotten home from trick or treating). But I guess it made quite an impact. He has been telling me today that he is scared, Luke is scared, and apparently, I am scared too. We took him for a walk to show him that no scary people were out. He is very into "scared" right now.

I don't think Sam gave 2 hoots about the candy, but Luke has asked for "canny" about 10 times already. (we let them share some M &Ms last night - their first real candy!)

Chocolate face (when we got home)


Chocolate face (and a little boy in heaven)






Oooh, if I could just bust this open!

The loot

Sam "acting like Bella" (his Nonni and Granddad's dog)

M&Ms, I love you so...

Checking out "the other" trick or treaters

I absolutely love this picture of Sam.

Luke was making monkey noises.

Happy puppy

Our little monkey

On break again....

So, here's the deal.

Between a nasty respiratory infection, (me) just getting back from a soccer tournament with Tony in Tulsa, two adorable little boys who are changing and growing every day, oh....and that little thing they call "grad school," I'm worn slick, peeps.

Life is wonderful. Will check back in when I can. Sorry if I am deserving of the title of "Bad Blogger."

Baseball

I can't repeat enough that Sam loves baseball. I have never seen a 2-year-old so into something. If Sam could marry baseball, he would.

But since he can't, he settles for me playing baseball with him (sometimes all day long) and sleeping with Pinky and his ball. We are going to sign him up for T-ball once he turns 3, but are wondering if we should get him private lessons as well.

He is really good - out of 10 swings on his t-ball stand, he usually makes contact at least 8 times. And then he runs "the bases." (there are no bases, but he runs around the yard after he hits the ball, yelling, "GOOOOO" to himself). It's quite a sight.

His catching would be much better if I could find a small glove (Do they make gloves for a 2-year-old??!) that his fingers actually fit into. I will keep looking.

I decided to try to capture the cuteness that I see every night when he goes to bed.


I thought he was asleep, but his eyes popped open! Photo op!


Not liking the flash...


30 minutes later...


A boy, his ball and glove, Thomas and his puppy. Sweet dreams, little slugger.

Wacky slippers

Are these slippers not the most ridiculous thing you have seen in a while? They are E-normous! And the boys love them!







This was Luke's reaction when I moved him away from me to take the picture. We're touchy these days.

Toby and Pinky

You all know how obsessed Sam is with baseball. The "wallpaper" on this blog is dedicated to my little slugger. He just loves it and loves to say, "Catch the ball! Hit the ball!" while we watch a game. I never knew a 2-year-old could love a major league baseball game on TV, but he does!

So I popped in to our next door neighbor's garage sale earlier today. Sam has bats, balls and caps, but no glove (we were trying to "pace" him). I saw a glove, yes, a pink glove. And I thought, "What the heck? It'll give him a chance to try it out." Tony was not very enthusiastic about "Pinky." As I excitedly burst through the door with my treasure, Tony said, "Please tell me you didn't just buy our son a pink glove." And I guess the whole "Oh, honey, he's 2 and it was 50 cents" wasn't sufficient. So Tony is emasculated for Sam. And to add insult to injury, it says "It's a girl thang" all over it. Tony read that aloud, shaking his head in disbelief.

But, as I had hoped, Sam is none the wiser. He is LOVE with his mitt. He immediately put it on, handed me a ball and said, "Pitch, mama." WHAAAT? He has never said "pitch" in his life. (Maybe it's "a girl thang.") He never takes it off and is currently napping with it on, much to my husband's chagrin. He wants me to pitch non stop, so I guess I better warm up my pitching arm.

The other new addition is the frog tent that we named Toby. Toby was quite scary at first and neither of them would get in it. It seems that has passed and good ol' Toby is welcome to stay.

Pinky!


Ready to catch


I caught it!


He doesn't realize he's dropping it.


Inside the belly of the beast


Good morning, Toby

Boys and books

Most of you know I am a reader. When I was about 19, I decided to make it a goal to read at least 3 books a week. And I have pretty much done that since. Some weeks I do it, some weeks only 1. But I always read.

Since the boys came home, I have read to them a lot as well. They both seem to really enjoy it. I was so worried (new mommy thing?) about all of the "jazzy" toys that light up, make noise and "do" something. Worried that books, imagination and creativity wouldn't seem as fun. Thankfully, I was wrong. We took the boys to a toy store today. Guess where they went first and stayed? With the books. (Wait - what is that noise? Can you hear that? Oh, it's just my heart pounding with joy and pride.)

So this was the second we got home with their new books - in the entry way! No time to move to the living room, you know. We finally convinced them to move to their room, but they insisted on napping with their books. Works for me.

Aaaah, books. I love you so.


Hey - look at my new book!


Sam gets so serious and focused.





You guessed it - chooo choooo!


Um, care to keep it down? Reading over here...