monkey see...monkey do and a movie too

Well, I've been quite the blogger lately!! I'm doing better at taking pics. Who knows how long I'll keep this up.

Blake is SUCH a copycat! I guess I think it's funny because no matter WHAT Andrew is doing....

Blake has to do the SAME thing!
I think Andrew likes the attention because it doesn't seem to bother him...yet!

Yesterday I brought the car inside because it was too chilly to go outside. Well, it wasn't that bad but until I know that B's ear infection is gone we will stay inside. Anyway, Blake had to get in the car with Andrew. Doesn't Andrew look thrilled???

Last night we had movie night with the boys. Andrew had an awesome day at church (no crying when I left him...don't know why but this started at the new building) so we let him pick out the movie. He chose a dinosaur movie. We started it 30 mins before Blake had to go to bed because I didn't want him watching the whole thing. They did really well. I figured they'd be a little ADD like I get during movies, but they didn't. Andrew thought it was pretty neat and wants to turn it back in for another movie. We'll be waiting a few weeks before we do it again...that way I can hold it over his head if needed!! :)

computer buds

For Christmas Andrew got a Leapster. He LOVES it!! Whenever Blake sees Andrew playing his Leapster he has to get the Thomas computer and crawl in the chair next to Andrew. It's pretty cute. If we didn't have the Thomas computer we would definitely have a battle on our hands because Blake thinks he should be able to play with the Leapster too!!!

christmas '08

Well, I've finally found a moment to catch my blog up...I really need to fold some wash, but this is for JILL!

We do the whole Santa thing with the boys. I know some people don't agree with it because it can take away the whole reason behind Christmas but we also celebrated Jesus birthday to remind and teach the boys (or really Andrew) that it's Jesus' birthday. We made cupcakes the night before we celebrated our Christmas. Andrew was SO excited! He seriously talked about it all day. And while it wasn't really Christmas Eve, it was our Christmas Eve...so, yeah, my children will probably be totally messed up!!

Blake woke up to this new (to him) car. He LOVES it! And Andrew got a fun racing game. Blake was all into opening the first few presents but then he was done and wanted to play with his new car. It was funny tho because every present he would open he'd yell STUCK because he'd want me to take it out of the box right away. Andrew enjoyed opening the rest of Blake's presents for him!

They also got these cute capes from my mom...Andrew was all about his, but Blake...not so much! He'll get there!

On Saturday we headed up to Arkysaw. First stop was Matt's parents. There we saw all his family and we did our Christmas with them on Monday morning. I hardly had any pics from there. And Matt was in charge of the camera! It was too cold so we didn't play outside. Just hung out in the house. So, I'm thinking that's why the lack of pics.
Here's Josh, Mark and Mr. Deer.
The boys had fun playing with Cousin Jack. Jack was kind and let Blake control the train under the tree the WHOLE time. Not sure what would have happened if Jack wanted a turn. Blake was NOT into sharing that thing!We had a nice time at Granny and Buddy's. They go WAY overboard on all of us. Seriously!

Then on Tuesday we went to The Village to see my family.

Our visit there started with a choir practice. My mom is the choir director of her church and Christmas Eve the children's choir sang. Every year at Christmas my nieces join them. So, mom was teaching them the songs. Well, of course, my boys were all up in the practice. They both LOVE music. As you can tell by this picture, Blake was mesmerized by the guitar. Andrew kept requesting Go Tell It On The Mountain. At the Christmas Eve mass Andrew sat with the choir on the front row next to Mallory. I was a nervous wreck and worried he start talking and the mic would pick him up or something...but he did AWESOME! I was SO proud of him. Matt would have been too, but he stayed home with Blake. There was NO WAY that boy would have been quiet for an hour!!
It got MUCH warmer when we were at my parent's so we spent some time outside.
Andrew and Blake LOVED the blow-ups my parents had.
Playing with sidewalk chalk.

Andrew playing with CrAzY cousin Matthew.
Opening presents. It definitely was a FULL house!
Our first family pic we've taken in 5 years, I think. I think the last time was my wedding. Crazy! Of course, Blake had OTHER things to do then have his picture taken!!

All the grandkids! aka...free babysitters!! :)

And here are some pics my sis took for us. It was hard trying to get a decent picture. ugh!

We got home Sunday evening and on Monday we had some friends in town. They ended up not staying with us but we tried to go see them when the boys were awake. They left on Wednesday. Today was my first day since being back that I didn't have anything to do...except chores around the house. So, needless to say, it's been a busy last couple of weeks. I'm exhausted. Blake had an ear infection while we were gone too...and that was not fun! It was good seeing family but it's definitely good being home. Now if we can just get back into our routine! Hope you all had a great New Year!!

just busy

We're busy here...as I'm sure everyone is this time of year. I'm trying to get everything in order before we leave Saturday. I don't think I'll get it all done! This morning the boys finished up painting a few things for me and then we made cookies. They had fun cutting out the cookies. Somehow they managed to make a huge mess of themselves so I just threw them in the tub! It's been a busy morning to say the least. I think I need a nap! The boys are also snotty, sneezing and coughing... great way to start a vacation, don't ya think? I'm just hoping it doesn't lead to ANOTHER ear infection for Blake! I'm trying my hardest to use the saline and clean him out but not sure if that will help. It never fails, someone is ALWAYS sick on our trips. Anyway, the boys chilled and watched Christmas videos while I cleaned up the kitchen....

I pulled out their nap mats to make it a little more fun...well, really to keep them out of my hair so I could clean! :)

weekend update!

Yesterday we had some friends over and made some gingerbread houses. The kids had fun. (thanks Megan for the royal icing recipe!)

Blake worked hard on making his house.And eating his house!
For some reason the pics of Andrew building his were blurry so here are a few of him with his house. He was pretty proud!

He's waiting for me to turn my head so he can dig in!The final houses.

Andrew's is on the left and Blake's is on the right. I did the front door on Blake's house...just so y'all don't think my child is too gifted!
Then today we painted some trains. I found these wooden trains at Hobby Lobby and figured it'd be a fun thing for the boys to paint.

Blake only had two colors to work with.Blake's masterpiece!

Andrew's masterpiece!

So, it was a good weekend. I am anxious to get this week started! This is Andrew's last week before Christmas break. He's not going to know what to do without school for two weeks. Then, Friday we are celebrating our Christmas before we head to see family. I think I'm more excited about Christmas than the boys are!!!

more snow pics...

Look at me...one post I'm saying I'm cutting back and now I'm posting two in one day!!

Tonight I tucked Andrew in bed, straightened up around the house, checked the weather outside ...AND IT WAS SERIOUSLY SNOWING! I RAN in Andrew's room (afraid it could stop at any moment) and got him dressed to go outside and play. He was SO excited...probably because he knew he was supposed to be in bed.

the front...

Our weak snowman. Andrew wanted him to have a hat and eyes. I didn't have much to work with tho!
It was fun! I don't know if I could deal with that every winter. I don't like all the wet clothes and stuff. But, we sure did enjoy it tonight.

it SNOWED!...FOR REAL!!!

Yesterday it snowed IN the house and today it snowed ON the house!! :) We are SO excited. We haven't seen snow if 4 YEARS! It was Christmas Eve and I was pregnant with Andrew.

I took the boys out in it this evening. I don't even have thick winter jackets because it rarely gets that cold here...so we didn't stay out long.

Anyway, here are some pics for my family who doubted me...

it SNOWED!!!

This week at school Andrew is working on the letter S. So, today at home we made snowmen and had a snowball fight! Here's Andrew getting pegged!!

And getting pegged again...

And Andrew throwing snowballs at Daddy and Blake... It was funny because Andrew and I gathered our snowballs all up and called Daddy into the play room. When he came in we started screaming and threw them at him. Andrew thought it was SO funny. Blake did NOT! We scared him and he started crying. So, he never got into the throwing of it but laughed at us pegging each other! It was a good day for this as it's rained ALL day long!! At least it will be colder tomorrow!!

slacker

Yeah, I'm slacking on the blog. I can't decide if I want to keep it...but have decided to cut back. Here are some pics I took this week...

Andrew painted and managed to get it on his nose when he decided to smell it!

Blake made less of a mess than Andrew did!

We went to see Santa this week. Andrew was SO excited..surprisingly! He cried when we left because he thought he was getting his presents then. It was funny. Blake didn't care much for him. Guess it wouldn't be Christmas without a kid crying on Santa's lap!

We went with the twins to see Santa. Blake did NOT want to be in the picture!
The kiddos sitting in this huge chair at the museum. Blake and Andrew look like they are being sucked into the chair!
And after that we went to the carousel. Blake LOVES it. He doesn't get a choice as to what animal he can ride on as Andrew ALWAYS has to ride on the frog!

So, that's about it. We are anxiously waiting on Christmas to get here. Can't believe it's almost here. The boys are at such a fun age that we are all going to really enjoy it. We are heading up to AR and I can't WAIT for them to play with all their cousins. They aren't going to know what to do with all the attention!!