The Little Drummer Boy & Mr. Potato Head

My kids love to dress up. Here are a couple of their ideas the last couple of days. Usually they are more ordinary (fireman, pirate, doctor, etc.) but this time they were a little more creative.

The little Drummer Boy

Mr. Potato Head

My Twins

No I am not having twins! Let's clear that up first.

Serval times a week people ask if my boys are twins.To which I would look at them funny and say no. Then they will almost always say how close in age are they 10 - 11 months? That is when I laugh and say actually they are 27 months a part. Wow this is not looking good for Kaden. I couldn't figure out what people were smoking about the whole twin comment - the boys do look similar but there is a pretty big size difference when they are standing. Then I looked in the rear view mirror on our way home the other day and saw this.

I guess when people see them sitting in the stroller or in their carseat at first glance they probably look close in size. The funny thing is when I compare their pictures at the same age they look completely different but they look similar now.

Easter Fun

I hope everyone had a Happy Easter. Here is a few pics from our Easter. I really didn't get many pics.

I can't believe this is the only pic I got of my little guys dressed up!

Jack was so funny. He would walk past 10 eggs to pick up just the one he wanted.

Yummy! - Mouth full of candy

Our beautiful dyed eggs - I sure wish I had some pics of this process.

That was enough of that!

Well, after a week of hiking my dad is coming home. I can't say I am sad. I am glad that he won't be gone for 6 months. He said it was just so lonely and very cold. I know he also got very bruised and blistered feet. I think he will still hike some of the trail - but just parts at a time instead of all at once. Thank you for your prayers.

A Walk in the Woods

Today my dad started his adventure. He left Kansas City this morning and will be staying at a Hiker Hostel (in Georgia) tonight. Then tomorrow he will begin the Appalachian Trail. I can't remember how long the trail is something like 2100 miles and it will take 5-6 months. This is a dream come true for my dad. We will sure miss him but look forward to hearing about his journey. Please keep him in your prayers for a safe trip. You can follow his hike on his trail journal (link under blogs i read). When you get to his journal you have to click on the last button to see his latest entry.

Our new little Alien

We had a sono last week. It was fun to finally see our sweet baby. We took the boys not because we wanted to but because we were on our way to Kansas City and my appointment was on the way. I think Kaden was a little freaked out and Jack had no idea what was going on. Now I remember why we never took Kaden when I was pregnant with Jack. The baby was measured at 12 weeks 6 days.

Finally I can let the wild animals outside!

I know we will probably still have some "winter" days left but as long as there are a few nice warm days mixed in I will be happy. Here are some of the boys enjoying the outdoors the last couple of days. Kaden driving - Jack giving directions

Just like Daddy...Almost

Kaden, Kaden, Kaden - What were you thinking?
Tonight Tim got Jack out of the bathtub and was putting his jammies on. Kaden climbed up on the side of the bathtub (which could have been a disaster) and got my razor off of the shelf. He then was "shaving" the inside of his lips. I can't hardly think about it without getting the chills. It must not have hurt because he kept doing it. Tim looked in on him and caught him. His reasoning was he sees his dad shave his face. There was quite a few cuts and a lot of blood. The pain did catch up with him at that point. We had Grandpa come over and check things out. He insisted the only cure needed was a popcicle. So Jack and Kaden got popcicles at 8:30 tonight. You just can't think of enough things to tell them not to do.

I won't be up for mother of the year this year!

Ugh! Who invented daylight savings time anyway? What a horrible day. Tim reminded me that I love the day we fall back and am singing whoever started it praises. I reminded him that was before we had kids because they don't ever get the memo that we will be sleeping in an extra hour. But anyway back on topic. Tim and I had to be in church today. I was facilitating our Sunday school class and Tim leads worship. Of course we have to be out the door by 8:15 to get to church on time. Which felt so early this morning - which it was. We let the kids sleep as long as they could so I thought we would just let the kids eat doughnuts at church for breakfast. We never have doughnuts for breakfast but I figured if there was ever a time this was it. I did however give them each a cup of milk for the car ride to town. We got there and waited and the doughnuts never came - which has to be the first time I have ever not seen them there. So I sent the kids to class without breakfast. The kids took it well and didn't complain or whine. I felt horrible. What kind of mother sends her kids to class without breakfast? Don't answer that. I was a teacher I already know the answer. Hopefully it won't ever happen again. Next time I will at least send them out the door with some crackers or something equally healthy.

Friend's Blog & Business

I wanted to take a minute to point out some of the things my friends are doing.

First of all my friend Jenny has a business called Doodle Designs (link under products I love). She makes really cute hand painted signs, aprons and bags. If you need something for your child's room she will create something to match perfectly. They make good gifts as well. I gave my niece an apron with her name of it and then put a cute kids cookbook with it and a pink spatula. Jenny has great gift ideas as well.

Second, my friend Tara (Hobbs Happenings) has started a new blog called Meals to make in Minutes (link under blog list). If you are like me you are always looking for more inspiration in the kitchen. We have tried the potato soup and it was very good. Her recipes are kid (and husband) friendly. So go check out her blog as well.

Observations from the airport

First of all I don't get out much. So some of you are going to be thinking: What you have never seen that before. But it was a first for me and I still can't get over it.

In the airport in Dallas we stumbled across a bunch of vending machines. There were drinks, candy, sandwiches, and i pods. Wait a minute. Yes there was actually a vending machine with i pods, digital cameras, speakers, etc. You could even pick the color you wanted. Then across from it there was a place you could download your music and movies. I couldn't believe it. If the kids weren't with us curiosity probably would have gotten the best of me and I would have bought an i pod. Talk about an impulse buy! Now that would have given me something to do in the airport. I could have just downloaded all the songs I could think of on my new i pod. That would have been fun! But as it was I was watching my kids play in the kids play area. Definately cheaper! On a side note no I don't have an i pod- yes I am probably the only 20 somthing without one. On second thought I am probably one of few under 75 that doesn't have one. But it just isn't somthing I have had to have - yet. But we will see what happens if I am ever in a place with time to spare, no kids, and an i pod vending machine...

On the airplane topic I just have to share this product. It is a must for people who travel with little kids very often (or if you don't go very often I have 2 you could borrow). Any way it is a travel mate by GO Go Babyz. It attaches to most carseats and allows you to wheel your carseat through the airport to use on the airplane and then of course you have your carseat at your destination (which of course is essential).

This is not us. But this is how it works.

Jack on the airplane

Kaden on the airplane

Oh and my prediction was correct. The way home was a nightmare- behavior wise. Kaden absolutely lost it in the customs process. Why does that have to take so painfully long? It was dinner time and he had just been on the airplane 3 hours. Then Jack screamed from Dallas to half way to Wichita. I have decided that when traveling with small children you should carry a lot of extra cash so if they scream for very long you can just treat everyone within about 5 rows (and yourself) to the alcohol of their choice. The flight attendent tried to be nice but she was just annoying. She came by to ask if I had a pacifier for him- um no. And does she think that I might have just forgotten to try that. She then came by and asked if he had a sippy cup he might like- again does she think I just hadn't tried that. I told her he did have a cup and a special blanket and they were both thrown on the floor but I would let her try to give them to him for the 10th time to see if that would help. The most frustrating thing was Tim and I traded seats at the halfway point of the flight. What does Jack do? Instantly stops crying and within 30 seconds was laughing like crazy. Tim turned around and said "I don't see what the problem was". I wanted to kill him. Anyway we did have a good time but we are happy to be getting back to our routine. I will hopefully have pics soon.

I have to brag on my sister

Kristen ran the Napa Valley Marathon on Sunday and finished in 3:33.59. That is a fantastic time and qualifies her for the Boston Marathon. I don't know if she will do that or not. She really improved her time from the Chicago Marathon she ran two years ago.

Way to go Kristen!!!!!

I am just so impressed I had to brag.

We have got to learn Spanish!

I have to share this funny story from last week. Tim and I went on a date to San Jose to eat at a Thai restaurant. Which by the way is fantastic (right Alex). Anyway, of course the food is very spicy so we drank a ton of water. After dinner we walked around the town square shopping and eating ice cream. Of course it was inevitable we were going to have to find a restroom. Kind of a scary thought in Mexico. So we asked one lady and she told us to go to city hall. When we walked in there was a guard sitting on a bench with a huge gun laying across his lap. (It's kind of scary to think why that might be necessary.) Tim ask where the restroom was and of course he didn't understand. So what does Tim do? What any man would do. He made the motion like he was getting his boy part out and holding it. Of course the guard smiled and knew exactly what he wanted. There is just some language that is universal I guess, especially among men.

Why do we not know any Spanish, you might ask? Well both Tim and I took French in high school. I have no idea why and not that we still remember any of that either. Spanish still would have been so much more practical.

Things are going to get a little crazy...

Our big news is finally making the blog. Baby #3 will be here in September! It wasn't a secret we wanted another one (maybe 2 more) but this was definately sooner then planned. For those of you who know me well know I am a planner and pretty much wait for the stars to align before I make any kind of big decision. Okay not really but you get the point. I guess there might be someone else with plans for me. I am not sure I am ready for this and kind of ignored it for the first month. But after hearing the heartbeat and realizing my clothes are getting tight it is becoming more real. I think I am almost 12 weeks. I haven't had a sono yet to determine my due date but I think my guess is close.



Oh, and I love the comments from parents of 3! My favorite: Two is crazy but manageable - Three is insane. Great. Yes everything about 3 terrifies me. Which is saying something because I didn't think twice about 1 or 2. When we were traveling we kept asking ourselves what in the world are we going to do with 3? I mean look at what it takes to get through the airport with 2 kids and 2 carseats. Oh well somthing to worry about next year. So if you have 3 (or more) tell me your stories that way at least I will be prepared!