Two week recap

I have absolutely no idea where the time goes. Ok, I really do. After working all day, I've been a little computer averse at night so light on blog posting lately. Lots of fun stuff coming up so I'd better step it up!!

The last weekend in January, we had a normal family weekend. Saturday morning we did swim lessons with the boys and then went to church on Sunday morning. Tim also painted Cole's room (big reveal after we can put his decal on the wall) so we took turns sleeping with him in the play room. Other than that, I'm sure there was a grocery store and BJ's trip in there.

Cute picture of Cole & Daddy

Cole concentrating during a song

He just loves the water.

Big kicks!

Eli has been doing great in his swim classes. Even doing a little without the turtle pack.

The boys were extremely excited last week to know that Grandma was coming to see them Friday afternoon. They literally asked every single day if it was Friday yet. Tim & I took Friday off work to prepare for our big weekend project - closet makeover. We spent Friday taking everything out, sorting keep / donate / throw, painting and picking up our new closet system. Grandma got here just in time Friday afternoon to go to school with me and pick up the boys. THAT made them very happy. Friday night we did dinner at home and worked on the closet some.

Saturday morning, Grandma & I took the boys to swim class while Tim did a few things around the house. After swim, it was time to tackle the new closet install. The folks at The Container Store must have asked me six or eight times if we were sure we wanted to install it ourselves. They made it sound like such a big deal and said it would take us 8 hours. I explained to them that I do construction for a living and that we love stuff like this. We were pretty confident that it would not take 8 hours. All told, it took us 4-1/2 hours to install and that included time spent shimming out a bowed out wall. Were it not for that, it would have probably only been 3-1/2. Maybe The Container Store needs to hire us!! But seriously, Tim & I work great together and we had fun installing the shelving and baskets. During all that time, Grandma kept the boys busy inside (it was rainy and cold) with play doh, coloring and trucks. Saturday night, Tim & I even disappeared for dinner out! Who did we think we were?! A project AND dinner out. It was really nice and we appreciate Grandma C watching the boys.

Sunday, we went to church, played more play doh and tried to stay warm. Sunday night, I decided to be crazy at the last minute and have a Super Bowl party, toddler style. We had bagel bites, chicken nuggets, potato skins, mini tater tots and chips. The boys had fun serving themselves and eating with the tv on. They were also really happy and cheering that "Eli" was playing in the football game. Fun times!!

Closet before

Eli used the saw he made at school to cut up the boxes

Play-doh fun with Grandma. I love how the light fixture put an angel halo on Grandma!

Eli helping Tim measure the walls.

Our big helper.

A little bit of outside time with Grandma. It was so cold that it didn't last long.

Saturday picnic.

Cole was all about Grandma's oranges. I've never seen him eat oranges like he did with Grandma.

Look what came in our Elfa box - a little boy!

We tore open a few boxes and let the boys draw. They loved it!

New closet......love! It's not JUST a closet anymore, it feels so calm and more like a room. Amazing difference!

Cole still found a place to hide

Boo!

Saturday night movie date.

Off to church

Eli had Daddy help him make a play-doh Angry Bird.

Super Bowl Party!

And this week, I got to meet my friend Kara's little girl - Iris Jane. Sweet name for a sweet little girl. Iris was born Tuesday morning and I met her Wednesday night. Mom and baby are happy and healthy. So excited for their family!

Lost his FIRST TOOTH!

Eli lost his first tooth today. Oh my goodness!!!!! I noticed yesterday that it was loose and then today, he apparently pulled it out himself on the playground at school! He is getting so big so fast!

Blog post coming soon

I promise a blog update is coming soon. We have been fighting something (bronchitis?) maybe for several weeks - Tim & I, not the boys - and at the end of the day, I just haven't had it in me. Between coughing, work, crazy boys.....Mommy is tired! But I promise, Grandmas & Grandpas that one will be coming soon! We love you!

Catching up.......long overdue

Seems like forever since I've actually sat down to post. I even found pictures that I thought I had posted but didn't. Busy busy life.

Quick update: We're all doing great. This week we've been fighting some sort of cold stuff but we're pulling through. We're getting back into an exercise routine - me early mornings, Tim right after work. Work is, well work. My big project is coming to an end (woo hoo!!) but it's crunch time and everything is so crazy. The boys are awesome. Growing, being silly and learning new stuff every day. Tim & I were just talking about how it seems like Cole takes a massive leap every week or so in his language and actions and it is fun to watch he & Eli interact. Just like all brothers, there is a lot of fun and happy but also the occasional disagreement and tears. We just made our choice assignments for Eli's elementary school next year - we have to wait until mid-March to find out where he will be assigned. Fingers crossed it's where we want. We also started going to a great church. I went one week, Tim & I went last week and we took the whole family this week. The boys enjoyed their classes and want to go back next week. And, since my brain never stops, I've been thinking of all kinds of projects at the house and crafty things to do. First up, painting / redecorating the boys' bedrooms.

Now, the past few weeks......

I found these pictures in my files that I could have swore I had posted. On New Year's, we let the boys destroy their gingerbread houses with monster trucks. They had SO much fun doing it. It, surprisingly, kept them busy for a long time and took a while to crush the houses.

They were so happy to get permission to drive over their houses.

Rammunition - big truck, little houses.

Martial Law took his turn

Synchronized slap wheelies

Finally, Toro Loco crushed it.

The first weekend of the New Year, Uncle Billy & Aunt Niki came to see us and celebrate a late Christmas. It was really nice this year to celebrate Christmas over a month and spend quality time with our families. The boys enjoyed the extended celebration. Billy & Niki got to our house Friday afternoon and the boys were excited to see them. They kept asking when they could open presents. When they finally got to, it was worth the wait. They got these awesome Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater Monster trucks from RideMakerz. (Tim equates it to Build-a-Bear for boys. You can build up trucks however you want. New tires, new bodies, sound effects, it's super cool!) The boys were in absolute love. Eli slept with Lightning McQueen for several nights. On Saturday, we just hung out around the house. Tim, Billy and the boys made a quick trip to Lowe's for paint samples while Niki & I stayed home. Outside play time, running around like crazy boys....just a normal day in our house! Billy & Niki left after lunch and then we were ready for naps. Sunday afternoon, Eli was invited to a birthday party at the local gymnastics studio. He had a great time. So much so that we might see about enrolling him in a class. Hopefully it will go much better than karate if we do it! Pictures....

Ripping into their presents.

Yay, truck parts!

Niki loved her Betty Boop blanket that I made her.

Billy loved the big flannel snuggle blanket I made him.

Eli loved his Lightning McQueen monster truck

Cole loved his Tow Mater monster truck

Uncle Billy & Aunt Niki

Sweetcheeks - funny, when he was growing up I called Billy that but now....look at Cole's sweet little cheeks!

Party time

The foam pit was awesome - wore the kids out

Boys in a line

Eli had so much fun. It was weird b/c I was up overlooking it all. I wasn't down on the floor with him but he did really well.

Last weekend, the boys started swim lessons. Cole & I did a parent/child class and Eli is continuing his Pre-K lessons. Cole absolutely LOVED it. He was the happiest I've seen for an extended period of time in a long time. He didn't want to get out of the pool. Eli did great in his class and was happy to see one of his earlier teachers again. After swim lessons, we went to the grand opening of a local Firestone store where BigFoot the monster truck was on display. It was a neat event. BigFoot (the original Monster truck in case you didn't know) and his driver were there, they had a monster truck bounce house, a prize wheel (both boys got BigFoot monster trucks), a balloon artist, face painter and free food. We stopped into Chick-fil-a for lunch and a quick trip to Lowe's. Cole could barely keep his eyes open on the way home. It was so funny. On Sunday, we did church (Tim & I) and then Eli had a great afternoon playing with his friend Evan while Cole & Tim took it easy.

Cole really was happy to be at swim class

He loved splashing me and everyone else in the pool.

Happy little boy

Eli in the middle in dark blue, notice Cole and I in the next roped area

Kick kick kick, splash the instructor!

You can barely see Cole's expression but you can definitely see how happy he was.

Big time kicking

B-I-G-F-O-O-T!!

Monster truck bounce house

The truck that tows Bigfoot's trailer.

Cole kept trying to doze off and we kept waking him. Such a sweet little face!

Astronaut Evan

Climbing the funny dome

Great friends - Evan & Eli

Last week was more work and school - some days off would really be nice! Oh yeah, Eli did take Monday off. He said he had a bad cough and a bad feeling. He & Tim stayed home and ended up having to come see me at work since I forgot my box of work. This weekend we had swim class again and spent a lot of time inside due to cold icky weather. Eli has been really interested in drawing lately so we let him color / draw as much as he wanted. His pictures are a lot of fun and he always has a story to tell. I hope to get some scanned in to post soon. Sunday morning was church, family trip to the grocery store and then play time at home. We tried to get the boys outside but they got cold quickly so that didn't last long.

Our little Spud Muffin!

Ready for our 2nd class - Cole really really loves the water.

Eli swam with a little help but no turtle shell on!

I'm not too fond of my face here but I love how this shot shows Cole jumping like a crazy boy. He loved jumping into the water over and over.

Coloring time - I think Eli colored an entire coloring book this weekend.

Even dump trucks and mud puddles couldn't keep them outside for long.

The best hat EVER

The best hat ever is now Cole's! Tim wore it as a kid and Eli wore it. Now I get to enjoy that colorful poof ball on top bouncing around on Cole's head for a few years. Love it - so cute!!

Hello 2012!!!

Happy New Year!!

More great family outside time to start the new year. Today we went to explore the newly opened section of the Neuse River Greenway. I pulled Cole (over 60 pounds including Cole + trailer - wow!) and Tim pulled Eli. We very much enjoyed the trail, had fun and were ready for lunch and naps when we finished. A great way to start 2012!

Hanging out in Daddy's truck ready to go.

A behind the back shot - I love how it turned out.

I love this shot - it's like we were in the mountains.

Just chillin' letting Daddy do the work.

Learning about beavers and their habitat.

Searching for beavers........no luck spotting one.

Innocent before mischief - just after this picture, Eli squirted Cole with his water bottle.