2 Good days (and a not-so-good day)

The weekend was short, the weekend was long - the story of parenthood! This weekend actually started early when Cole was sent home at 4:15pm Thursday with a slight fever. Thus he had to stay out Friday - he stayed home with Mommy. We had SUCH a great day. We hung out, played, ran errands. Cole was happy and I think he liked the Mommy one-on-one time. Both he & Eli slept like champs Friday night, sleeping until 6:45am Saturday. That's some serious sleeping in at our house. =)

Saturday morning, we did our normal thing. Breakfast, a few cartoons and a trip to the Y for Mommy and the boys. During our Y trip, Daddy painted over our red wall in our living room (I finally have a plan for that room - yay!). It took 11 sample cans of paint to pick the perfect color but it looks great! Now we (or more accuratelyTim) just have to paint the rest of the room and get it finished. I'm quite excited about it and feel like we're finally growing up. It only took 7 years to figure out a plan for the living room. Saturday after the Y, we ran a few errands and had lunch at Chick-fil-a. The boys had fun playing in the playground and we thought it would wear them out. Eli took a short nap but Cole wanted to stay up and play. The rest of the day was spent hanging out, playing inside and out.

Sunday morning, the boys were up much earlier - as in the 5 o'clock hour earlier. Ugh. Cole was up quite a bit during the night and was just off. Due to that, we had to cancel his playdate with his buddy Boyd - I was so bummed. Then he was just off all day. We ran a few early errands as a family (Target and Lowe's) and then Eli & I headed off to play at Ryan's. It was GORGEOUS outside so the boys played outside for a while and then inside. It was great to catch up with Carol and the boys had a blast together. Once we got home, Cole & Eli both refused to nap. These days I've gotten ok with them not wanting to nap as long as they are happy....or at least tolerable. Cole was a bear all day but Eli was fun. About mid-afternoon we had to get out of the house so we headed to Lake Lynn to feed the ducks. I pushed Eli in the stroller and Tim toted Cole in the backpacker. We thought for sure Cole would fall asleep - he finally did about 5 minutes from home on the way back. We had a great time outside feeding the ducks oyster crackers and honey nut cheerios. Bet you didn't know ducks love cheerios did you? That outing made the mood in our house much better and we survived the night unscathed. =) The boys went to bed fairly well and then we got ourselves ready for another week.

The nice weather is making us all happier - we're looking forward to the nice week ahead!

Eli and his new I-Screamer monster truck, Tow Mater and Lightning McQueen monster trucks. He carries these trucks everywhere!

A game of "which is bigger" and "which is smaller". Eli is getting good at putting things in order.

Two cute boys watching Saturday morning cartoons.

Saturday at Chick-fil-a. This is Eli's new favorite pose for the camera.

Cole-Man......"where is my food?!"

Mommy and Sweet Cole-man

Daddy got in on a little play action.

Love this action shot - makes me think of a Superhero.

Mommy and Eli.

"You coming Cole?"

I caught Cole drinking and driving Saturday night. We had to have a talk.

Sunday, Eli & Ryan drawing "roads" with sidewalk chalk.

And then driving their monster trucks on the roads.

I was enlisted to draw each of them a Tow Mater monster truck. Hard to believe these two met when they were 8 weeks old!

Sunday afternoon we made some Red Velvet Cupcakes for Valentine's Day. Eli is my little baking assistant. Here he is wisking the flour mix for me.

Aren't my helpers adorable?

Before our walk to the lake - neat shot of Eli in the stroller.

After being grumpy for a while, Cole was so happy to go for an urban hike.

Hanging out, feeding ducks.

Told you that they love cheerios!

Eli had to break the news to the ducks that we had nothing else to give them.

Daddy and his boys

Literally 5 minutes from home, Cole finally gave it up. Then, of course, once we got home he was raring to go.

cookie dough

He was reluctant at first but Cole tried chocolate chip cookie dough tonight and, just like Mommy & Eli, loved it!

He had to get every single bite and lick off the spoon. My sweet little cookie boy!

what We did

Whew, we survived the weekend - almost, Tim is putting Eli to bed right now. Yesterday was a super rainy day but today was nice enough for us to be outdoors.

Our weekend started with our Friday morning ritual - they get to eat Pop Tarts for breakfast. The boys wake up and ask if it's "Pop Tart Friday". It's a sweet end to the long work and school week. Saturday, we did our normal - I took a spin class at the Y while the boys played in child care. It was an accomplishment to get there as it was raining pretty hard when we went. After I dropped the boys off, I went to the spin room - getting there before class time - only to find all the bikes were taken. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do and was so bummed after all the effort to get there. Thankfully, the instructor let me have her bike so I was able to take class. Yay! I even managed to hop on the treadmill for a few minutes after. I've signed up for two triathlons this year so testing my fitness level.

On our drive home from the Y, Cole started giving me glazed eyes. Every week he ends up so tired after the Y that he takes an early nap, hopscotching with Eli so we always have a little one awake. While he napped, Eli & I went to Lowe's and picked out some paint samples. I have started down the path of redecorating (or actually really decorating because I never really have) our living room. I found a few things that have kicked my creative brain and make me want to get it done. It's my grown-up project. =) No seriously, I have read enough house blogs and watched enough HGTV that I am ready to have something amazing in here. I'll be sure to post before and after pictures once it's done - my timeline is quite long but I know once I start, I won't be patient and it will happen sooner than I have planned.

Yesterday afternoon, once the rain stopped, we got everyone outside for a walk before Ryan came over to have dinner and spend a few hours with us while his parents went out to dinner for their anniversary. The boys were so good together. All three boys sat at the table, ate dinner and then played their little hearts out. Cole went until he couldn't go any more. Ryan & Eli were going strong when Ryan's parents came back.

Unfortunately, our days have been starting very early lately - as in, the kids have been up at 5:15am. We were hoping with the busy day and playtime last night that they would sleep in this morning. It was not to be. Eli came downstairs about 5:10am so I went upstairs with him to try to get him back to sleep. While I was in his room, Cole woke up. He didn't want to go back in his crib so I took him with me to Eli's bed. We managed to keep the lights off for a bit and I almost kept them in bed until 6am. Not to be. I imagine now that tomorrow's a school day that they'll sleep late!

Today, we just had lots of fun family time. This morning, we went to the fairgrounds flea market. Not too much there but it was nice to walk around and be outside. Then we stopped back at Lowe's for more paint samples. I completely changed my mind on colors so the million samples I got yesterday were useless. Thankfully today we got simultaneous long naps. Eli slept almost 3 hours! Tonight we ran one quick errand and have just been hanging at home. We let the boys watch a little tv and we all chilled out.

Even with the icky weather, it has been a pretty good weekend. The weeks seem to go by so fast. January was a blur and February is shaping up to be the same way! Hope you all had a great weekend as well.

Cole is always happy on Pop Tart Friday

Cole took this picture of Eli - he wasn't quite camera ready that early in the morning. It was seriously 5:30am.

Dinner Saturday night - Eli, Cole & Ryan

Look at these cute boys watching tv - I'm sure it was Mickey Mouse, he seems to be taking up most of the memory in our dvr.

Getting a ride from big brother. Cole is definitely heavier than the last time they were doing this!

Our little sock monkey on the way to the flea market.

Bundled up and ready to find some treasures.

As we were walking in, we HAD to take a look at the huge tractor. Even Daddy wanted to drive it.

The back wheel was taller than Tim!

So Tim found this "vintage" bike at the flea market. Check out that shifter! It looks like it belongs in a car rather than on a bike. Tim has been looking at getting a new bike. Maybe I should surprise him with this - would help me keep up with him!

Eli trying out a tractor at Lowe's- and yes, he's wearing his pj's! He wanted to buy it (all $3k of it) and we told him that he'd have to mow the grass. He decided that he's not ready for that yet.

Our little acrobat - Cole is learning all about what his arms and legs can do.

Take it Outside

Oh my, this weekend was so nice! We spent lots of time outside; we have missed being outside with all the cold and crummy weather.

Saturday morning, as usual, the boys and I headed to the Y for spin class and play time. When we got home, Cole was ready to take a nap so he napped while Eli had some quiet time of his own. After Cole got up, it was lunch time and then time for Eli to nap so while Eli napped, Cole & I ran a few errands. We had SUCH a great outing. Cole was happy and cute and so sweet. I think something happened to him this weekend because he pulled out all the sweetness for us. Once we got back, we had snacks and then decided to go to the School playground to run around. Ryan and his parents also met us there so it was a fun play time for all. Before they got there, Eli & Cole had fun watching these guys run their RC gas powered cars all over the place - they were super fast! We played until it started getting dark and then walked home.

Saturday morning - book explosion. The boys LOVE "reading" books.

When Cole napped, Eli told Daddy to leave him alone that he didn't want to play. Then he settled himself "reading" a book.

Actually, looking at it now, he was reviewing the 'Cars' characters in his sticker book.

Looking like a pirate comanding his ship.

Ahoy, what do I see over yonder?

Cole was brave enough this time to try the wobbly bridge. He was tentative at first but before we left, he was going over it without holding on to the railing.

Big (little) boy Cole

Cole has gotten better at climbing ladders - he just needed a little safety support from Daddy.

Oh my cutie!

On Sunday, Ms. Katie came to stay with the boys while Tim & I went on a bike ride at Umstead. It was nice (and odd!) to go ride without them. It has been a very long time. The bike ride was tough since I had done a hard spin class Saturday but we made it through! I don't think the boys missed us a bit. They went to the park, Quizno's for lunch and were both asleep when we got home. Sunday afternoon, Ryan came over to play. It was great to let all the boys run around in the back yard. We all loved the warmer weather and sunshine - too bad it was just a tease!

Cole's new favorite hiding place - my exercise clothes in the closet.

Peek-a-boo!

Speaking of climbing ladders, Cole can climb into the swingset treehouse all by himself now. Can't turn our backs on him!

Running, chasing, having fun.

Eli & Ryan - buds! They played this game where they threw the ball over the fence and then went looking for it. It kept them busy for quite a while.

"Hi Mommy. Want to see what I can do?"

"Ta-daaaa!!"

"Rock"ing horse.

Cole ran all over the yard with the dump truck and kept being silly with the swings. I told you he was happy and silly this weekend.

I wish I knew what they were talking about.

Eli decided to dump out this huge trash can of pine cones - that HE helped pick up!

Swinging friends. Everyone loves a swing.

Amazing what tv can do. They were actually still for a few minutes.

Hello Hollywood!

Eli saw steam rising from the pot on the stove Sunday night so he got the fire truck, put on his fire hat and put the "fire" out with the water hose

and as I was taking pictures of Eli, Cole kept saying "cheese" wanting me to take his picture.

My little camera boys. They love to take pictures using my camera and, if they're in the right mood, love having their picture taken.