My hero, Noah.

Ok, honestly, blogging is like weight loss. Once you fall off the wagon for so long, you just feel shameful facing it. But... I'm back. I really just need to make myself face the mess that is the pictures on my computer after the hard drive crash debacle this summer. Anywho...

I wanted to share a story that had my giggling and awe-ing all night long. We seem to be in a constant state of chaos around here. Moving the office, putting up Christmas. The boys are dealing with it well, but have their moments, so I try to indulge a little. Avery wanted to take his bath in my tub last night, no problem. We got the toys and lathered up. I gave them the choice of getting out while the water drained, or staying in and playing, and this is where the hilarity began.

My youngest, Avery, decided the toys were going to go down the drain when the tail of his lizard went in. I had Noah rescue it, but Avery kept freaking out. I don't know where my attention was (towels, pjs, who knows?) when I clued in that Noah was having a monumental meltdown. Just sobbing. He had his little legs in a V pressed against the walls of the tub, sobbing that he didn't want his toys to go down the drain. My little Hero Noah had made a dam of his body to keep all his tub toys from going down the drain, and was just crying and crying.

So many emotions, I wanted to laugh, but I was sad with him, and so proud of his little two year old bravery. I started to talk them down. I wanted to show them, after I stopped the water, that nothing but water goes down the drain. I grabbed some toys to demonstrate, Avery pushed his way past the Noah-dam and took them back. I finally showed them with my hand that I couldn't go down the drain. I got to show them with some toys. Then, finally, they tried it for themselves. They are too big! We don't fit down the drain! It was such a happy moment. We even showed Dada. We don't fit down the drain!

All night long, I just giggled to myself over it (when my heart wasn't breaking over how sad/scared he was!) My brave little Noah!

Carving pumpkins :)

Rich bought some most excellent pumpkins for the boys to carve, so we sat down yesterday as a family and carved them up!

Step 1: Scooping the guts!

I LOVE this picture.

More scoopage. I was Noah's assistant for this, but I was also manning the camera (as always).

What's in there?

A little help from dad...

Do you like the matching wardrobes? Rich had to get into his undershirt, before Avery could be convinced to take off his nice shirt and do the same.

A little co-carving. The planning process was funny. We drew on the faces with a crayon. It was a little like a police artist. "What eyes do you want, triangles or circles? What eyebrows? (Avery wanted scary, and a nose just like his) Teeth or no teeth?"

Sheesh! He's JUST like his father!

The final product! Look at that beautiful smile on my Noah! I told you he had one. He was actually laughing because Rich was saying Monkey Butt! LOL

Remember us?

Ok, folkies, I KNOW it has been way to long, and I won't even try to explain the absence that felt like forever. Just appreciate that we are back :) Here are some pics from the beginning of summer. In fact, I know it was in May, because that is the only time this summer when we had a week warm enough to wear shorts.

Avery, of course, accessorized.

My sweet boy and his sweet smile (if I could only get the eyes open at the same time)

In case you weren't sure, he's a tree.

and he's just cute!

Funny cuties in PJ's.

I still have to go through and re-folder my photo collection (my hard drive crashed while we were on vacation, but though the miracle of Mother-in-laws who want pictures, I actually managed to have most of it backed up) so the picture posts may be somewhat random for awhile, but we have returned!

Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi...

you're my only hope!

Avery took a shine to my sweater on night, and I kept having the urge to dress Noah as a cute little robot! :)

Our new sandbox

Instead of a sand table, we discussed building the boys a sandbox, and then actually found one at a garage sale about 15 min. later!

So, here are the results...

They try to fit 2 toddlers and 4 large trucks in a 4 foot by 3 foot area.

Tractors make him happy.

First trip of the year to the Nature Center

A month or so back, I took the boys to the Nature Center with fellow twin mom Lisa, and her girls Katy and Alyssa.

How many multiples can you fit in a hollow tree? (depends on the size of the multiples and the size of the tree :)

A PERFECT picture, save for the appearance of our frequent friend, big ugly forehead scab!

It was a bit dreary, but after a LOOONG winter, you take what you can get!

A solitary man

Isn't this awesome?

"Sharing" snacks. Avery took control of the container, and we had to work very hard at distributing the chips without a meltdown.

The highlight of the trip. I didn't bring my stroller because Lisa didn't have hers. I thought "It's not that far" Mmm, hmmm. Noah wanted to be carried the entire time, and our lunches were at the center, so we did have a bit of a deadline. I forgot the cardinal rule of toddler outings, its the JOURNEY, not the destination. What do you do when he wants to throw himself down in the path and pitch a giant fit? Photograph it, of course!

MY hat finally pulled him out of it.

and was then transferred to Avery's head.

The elusive Little Foot!

LUNCH, finally!

My little bear with his little paw on a mold of a big paw. Scary!

Awwww!

We had a picnic at a park with Lucy and Jill. Afterwards, we created this cute little moment. I was trying to use the function on my camera to pull the pink out of Lucy's dress and make every thing else black and white. I don't think the pink was dark enough, and it was a VERY bright day, so it didn't really work. The pics are cute though!

Fun in the sun

We have been spending every possible moment outside! For those of you that live in cold, snow bound areas, I'm sure you understand. I've also been trying to train them to wear their sunglasses. Enjoy the pics :)

Football anyone?

My boy loves his hats! I was cleaning out a drawer and had tossed this one on the floor. Between the hat, and the shirt, doesn't he look like an old time football player?

Leather head!