Halloween Hoarders

The boys LOVED Halloween. I, like ever self respecting mom, have cautioned my children that if I find one wrapper all the candy is gone. Not one wrapper has been spotted. I wished they valued their clothes and shoes as much as their candy.

Ticklish Talmage

August/September

Talmage

Mt. Baldy

Grandma's Visit

Talmage

Talmage @ one month

His favorite spot

He Did It!

It was a real coming-of-age moment for Sam. He Did It!!! Yup, he actually did it! For the first time, Sam courageously took the first step and then the next and the next and the next all the way to the Finish line at the Birchwood Jamboree Race. No tears. No hysteria. No Sad pictures to post. Hooray. Hooray. Hooray.

Adjusting

I really worried how this little one would adjust to the change. I was worried that his happy little world would come crashing down upon him . . . but luckily he hasn't seemed phased by becoming a big brother. When people ask I happily reply, "He could take or leave the new baby. . . and to be honest that is exactly where we want him."

One Week Old

A few things I forgot about:

How much LOVE you can have for someone so little
How much it HURTS to get up every three hours at night
How much HAPPINESS there is in just sitting and holding
How much there is TO DO in sitting and holding
How much I TREASURE this privileged

Smoothered

Best Find of 2009

This was the best find of 2009.
Matanuska Glacier.
Privately owned which means that it is "tromp-able" and grounds for discovery.

Uncle Scott

My brother Scott came to Alaska and watched our kids for a VERY LONG week while Eric and I were off EFYing in Idaho. He was a trooper and endeared himself Eternally to our children by simply bringing a Nintendo Game. Warner keeps asking, "Where did Uncle 'Cotty go?"

Bock Bock Chicken

Warner can't quite say chicken, but he's got the "Bock, Bock" down pat and insists on going with his big brothers to gather chicken eggs every evening.

A perk to chicken duty are the strawberries and raspberries from the Ripps Garden. YUM!

Tired

If I don't happen to take a nap in the middle of the day, this is how I FEEL around dinner time.

Eight Hours a Day

This is how I spend a good portion of my day. . .


The boys have been FASCINATED by every aspect of Newborn Life . . .

The first day home the boys walked in on me changing Talmage and were so curious about his "black poop"
"Mom, what does it smell like?" Sam asked. So yes, they ALL took turns smelling.

Then today while changing Talmage's diaper he hiccuped and pooped at the same time. The boys thought he was the best little brother ever.

And of course, I get the feeding questions. "How do you know he's getting milk?" "If you drink water does it fill you up?" "Did I really do that too?" . . .

Look A Like Contest

I went through some of the boys baby pictures tonight . . . and found one that looked remarkably like Talmage.

Can you guess who is baconbit A?

Can you guess who is baconbit B?

Happy, Happy Birthday Sammy Dear. . .

Sam always has the best parties. I don't know if it is because it is summer time and the kids just love being together. . . but his parties are always so simple and so much fun. This year he had a really hard time deciding what "theme" to have for a party. He finally decided on a lego car derby party with ice cream sandwiches.

After he opened each present he said something like, "this is just what I wanted."