Grammygranpa.

Mark and Jan (a.k.a "grammygranpa") came for a visit this past weekend. There was lots of hide and seek, tent building, reading books, and puzzle-making going on. The boys really like puzzles and they keep surprising me how well they can do them. We took a trip to the Air Armament Museum and out to lunch at Panera Bread. Then I drug Jan with me all over town looking for a certain pre-paid phone since mine is broken.

Puzzle-time:

Inside the tent...can you spot J?

Trying to run from Grandpa at the museum:

Mark and J in front of the O-2 he flew in N. Vietnam:

W throwing his penny in the tornado:

Geoff and J being "found" during hide and seek:

Mark and W doing the "seeking":

I tried to be adventurous with my cooking and make two new recipes while they were here. They were both just ok. One recipe was for Singapore Noodles. My favorite dish is Singapore Street Noodles at PF Changs and this recipe was supposed to taste like it. It was definetly not the same....but I will keep trying to reproduce it. We never live close to a PF Changs so I have to get my "fix".

Geoff also took Mark and Jan and the boys to rent a canoe to paddle around nearby one day as well. I was running but it sounds like they had fun. The weather was glorious!

Sleeping......

The.house.is.quiet. I can't believe it. The boys haven't napped for two days straight and I was getting worried. It took them awhile to fall asleep today. And they were very busy little boys both Tues and Wed during their "naptime".

On Tuesday, they discovered the gigantic storage container underneath J's crib (you know the large flat containers that slide under a bed and can open on both ends). And pulled it out. And managed to dump all contents (which were their 6-12 month clothes all organized and neatly folded) and (I have no idea how-I guess teamwork?) got that container up into J's crib. And when I found him, he was standing on it swinging the framed pictures that are above his crib.

I refuse to take those pictures down. I had Geoff hang them as high as he could without looking funny bc that is the only decoration left in their room. The closets are locked. There is nothing on the dresser. Just cribs, mattresses, a wooden airplane, and a large upholstered rocking chair. Nothing else.

On Wednesday I heard a loud crash and found the large upholstered rocking chair knocked over onto it's back with J hanging off the top of it laughing. And the air purifier knocked over. Seriously. Their room is going to end up with just walls, and maybe two mattresses on the floor.

Speaking of mattresses, I need some suggestions for their next bed. We are probably going to use Geoff and Matt's old bunk bed set eventually...but I don't believe the boys can use bunk beds until they are around five. Sooo.....do you think we should get toddler beds until then? The mattress on the floor will not work. I am pretty certain they would never sleep if we did that. Let me know if you have any suggestions!

Grandma

Grandma Flynn came down for a few days to offer some help when the boys were recovering from the hospital stay. She helped with breathing treatments:

She bought us a mega-helicopter for the backyard:

Just kidding.

But we did see some cool planes and helicopters at a local museum.

W playing soldier.

And she did loads of laundry...made very yummy chili...read a gazillion books to the boys, an took care of all of the other stuff I pretty much let-go on a regular basis. Thanks mom!

And we were all surprised to see Geoff walk through the door unexpectedly a day early!

Here is J enjoying hanging out with his daddy:

TrUcKs

I picked the boys up from MDO early today. This is what W had to say as we were leaving.

Me: "Say thank you and bye bye to your friends (and teachers)."

W (yelling): "Bye Bye trucks. Bye boat."

I guess we know where his priorities are. Trucks man. It's all about the trucks. Here are some pictures of him and J playing with their trucks in the dirt. The dirt is our yard. I knew there had to be an advantage to not having any grass.

(Please folks, I know you are DYING to know who did our landscaping...but we will keep it a secret...)
Kachow!

W jumping with excitement over his truck in the dirt:

Still jumping....

I asked W to squat next to his truck and smile.

Take #1:

Take #2:

Here is W acting crazy before bed (i know-totally random picture in the midst of the trucks-theme):

Let's not forget about J. Here he is and please enjoy a picture replay of him asking/begging for a shovel.

J:

Hey J...

Stopping to watch a plane fly overhead.

Bear stealing the shot.

"MommMEEE....my shovel!"

"MoMEEE....shovel!"

It's right over here.

Do I have to do everything myself?

Back to the drawing board. MOM MEE. Shovel please.

Seriously. Mommy. Put. the. camera. down. Focus. I.need.my.shovel.

"Ms. Suzanne and MR. Rob"

Please notice that Mama Pin Pin (the big penguin) and Pin Pin (the baby penguin) made it in the picture too. J and W are obsessed with them after the movie Happy Feet.

My first road trip with the boys was a success...at least until the drive home when J's small cold went straight to his lungs and his small cold escalated to something much bigger very quickly. Upon arriving home I took both the boys to the ER and J was later admitted for the night. Poor W had to come too. So we three had a sleepover together in the hospital.

As for the trip....we had so much fun visiting Rob and Suzanne. They are so great and the boys had a blast running around their spacious house and playing with "Ms. Suzanne's toys." We went to the Mann Museum (funny name...see pic below) and then to the zoo. It was raining but the animals must like the rain bc they were all out and snuggling or playing.

The MEN at the MAN(N) museum!

Love this....little Suzanne looking at the BIG moose!

Suzanne and I did some shopping while Rob stayed home with the boys while they napped. He had to peek in once (he heard them twanging the door stop) - upon seeing him the boys were so surprised (that it wasn't me)...that they apparently dove into their pack and plays and went right to sleep.

And I got to do a long run (sans the stroller, the boys, or the dogs) while the boys played with Suzanne and Rob. I am so glad we went - it was fun to visit and the weekend flew by.

s.o.u.n.d.s

J and W actually were arguing over a sound today. Yes. A. Sound. I heard one say "IYIYIYIYI" (pronounced eye-yi-yi) And then I heard "NO, MY IYIYIYI" "no, MY iyiyiyiyiyi!"
smile.

Rap

Today W (without me noticing) reached into the desk drawer and said "Mommy, clip my nails!" as he held up a mini stapler to his finger.
Goodness.

Everyone wish me luck. I know it doesn't seem like much but I am taking my first road trip with the boys by myself. We have about a three-hour drive to do so I am trying to plan it so I don't have to stop. I don't want to feed them, change diapers, or get gas. Just go. I am hoping they will nap at least 30 minutes in the car. That is about all they do in the car. And I have the portable DVD player with a truck movie prepped as well.

We are going to visit our friends Suzanne and Rob. I was supposed to attend a piyo certification (Suzanne and Rob were going to watch the boys for me while I attended-bless their hearts) but it was cancelled. But we are still going...it should make the weekend go faster and I am looking forward to seeing our friends and I am making Suzanne take me to Costco. I know, that is pathetic isn't it? Getting excited to go to Costco.

I have been meaning to post some videos but haven't gotten around to it lately. The boys are full up singing as of late...they can sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (traditional or rap-style), Rock-a-Bye Baby, the alphabet (ending in the traditional "now I know my abcs...." OR "now I know I know I know I know.."), Down By the Station, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Happy Birthday (it seems to always be somebody's birthday in our house these days) and there is more but I can't remember right now. It is fun to hear what songs strike them enough to burst out in song. I tried to catch the rap version of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star on video but W has been freezing up on me when I pull out the camera. Here is a few second sample of the rap song before he stopped on me.

Their favorite question right now is "What's That?!" Their favorite word right now is "no!" Their favorite breakfast item is "crackle pop" (Rice krispies). Their favorite snack item is always fruit or cheerios snack mix.

And when they fly their toy planes around the say "flying to Mexico!" and I say "why are you flying to Mexico?" Reply: "To see Daddy."