Father's Day

Since I was going to be in Tulsa on the morning of Father's Day the boys and I got some chocolate milk and donuts in advance. I hid the donuts in a cabinet and put a paper sack over the milk with instructions telling Nate not to peek. Before I left, I showed Max where the donuts and their father's day card were hidden so he could get them out and surprise Nate on the big day. He kept asking, "Do I do it tomorrow?"

When I found out the boys were coming to Tulsa I just thought that we'd have the donuts and milk when we got home. But, Max told Nate that he had some things he needed to bring. He told Nate he'd need a cooler and a bag. Max remembered to bring the goodies and even brought the FD cards in the car (for some reason, the cards didn't make it past the car and Nate didnt' get them until we got back home). I was so impressed that for one, he kept it all a secret and second, he remembered all by himself! Such a sweet little guy.

Much to Nate's delight our whole family got to spend the whole day together. Thanks, Natey.

Tulsa Weekend

I went to Tulsa with Leah on Friday morning for a girl's weekend (Bekah had a baby shower on Saturday). Friday night, my dear friend and college roommate, Vanessa came over with her girls, Elena and Carmen.
Elena inherited a little Mexican heritage from her mama but Carmen is all her daddy's girl...

It's slightly creepy how much she looks like Ben. We called her She-Ben.
Ben and Vanessa are moving to Artesia, NM in a couple of weeks. They had a little going away party on Saturday and Vanessa had the bright idea to call Nate and invite he and the boys to come. So, my "girl weekend" ended abruptly on Saturday evening when my family arrived in Tulsa.

Training Wheels

When I got home today Max informed me that his bike doesn't have training wheels anymore. Then, he showed me how he could ride! ( I use the term "ride" loosely but he did pedal multiple times without anyone holding onto him before he crashed into something.)

Immediately after this picture he crashed into the curb. He cried and said he should have left his training wheels on until he was 6.

Grant was quick to point out that he is only 3 and he doesn't fall off of his bike.

All my boys

I'm starting to think we don't have any pictures of the boys without weapons.

Photo Shoot

Max picked out costumes and posed Grant and I... as well as himself... for a mini photo shoot the other night.

He was a Red Ranger-Pirate first.
Than Grant was an American Idol warrior.
I was supposed to be a pirate of some sort... this is how he told me to hold my arms.
And finally, a Power Ranger-Pirate-Hunter, the coolest thing of all.

Cookie Creations

I've been making sugar cookies for years and have always been curious about making a cookie bouquet. Somehow, it came up a couple weeks ago I was talking to my friend Stephanie and she said she knew how to make them! So, last night she came over and we spent all night making and decorating sugar cookies. It was so fun. I made mine for Nate's parents anniversary lunch that we are going to tomorrow.





Now I know why those cookie bouquet places charge so much. (Max and Grant, well, mostly Max, painted the pot).

Strange happenings

Funniest thing Grant said yesterday (as we were leaving Grovefest): "I don't like the going part. I just like the staying."

Weirdest thing I've seen today: Max and Grant shooting the shampoo out of each other's hair with water guns.

Strangest thing I've said today: "How many times do I have to tell you? NO NAKED WRESTLING!"

Maddest moment today: Max and Grant fighting and hitting each other over:
-a light sabre (We have 7 light sabres and they fight over wanting the same one)
-who gets to be Luke in the Star Wars movie
-over a Star Wars gun that Grant had but Max needed so he could act out part of the movie
- who gets to sit on the roof of the play house to eat their popsicle
-who gets to use a certain plate with dinner

Happiest moment today: Bedtime for the boys followed by drinking international coffee while sitting on the couch enjoying a little peace and quiet.

BEE BO!

Grant has always had an outie. As of late, it's gotten a little out of control...

Grant came into the living room the other night saying his P---s was bloody. That was a little alarming to hear until I realized he was talking about his belly button. It had popped out and was red on the bottom. He thought it was a P---s! (Is that a dream for a man? I don't know.) He asked me to push it back in. It took a while but we finally got it. We went to the doctor the next day (not specifically about his belly button, but I did ask about it). Apparently, it is a result of his umbilical hernia which is continuing to get smaller and since he has been coughing a lot lately it has forced the poor little belly button out. The past two days it hasn't stayed in at all. I think Grant has given up hope of it going back in because he's stopped asking me to help him with it.

This all reminds me of the song from The Belly Button Book by Sandra Boynton:

"BELLY BELLY BUTTON, YOU'RE OH SO FINE. OOO, BELLY BUTTON, I'M SO HAPPY YOU'RE MINE!"

(Bee bo is the tiny hippopotamus way of saying belly button. It is a must read!)

Jack and Bunny Bear

Bunny Bear has magical powers. It's true. Jack will be screaming and crying and unconsolable, but if you hand him Bunny Bear he immediately puts his thumb in his mouth and calms down. It is truly miraculous. A couple nights ago I put Jack in his crib but BB wasn't in there. Jack just sat up looking at me as if I were a little bit crazy. I found BB on the floor and handed him over. Immediately, Jack inserted thumb, laid his head on his pillow and started stroking BB's ears. I love that little bear.... I just wish he had a more masculine name.