Hams and Blankets

So Hagen is still a ham ... so much that I crack up and end up missing several shots because I am laughing. Notice the bruise in the middle of his forehead. If there's a chance he could bump his head on something - give him a minute - he will. That bump is the result of about 3 different hits from various objects around the house. He had just a bruise, then he bumped it again and he got a goose egg, and then I think Mason threw a toy and it hit in that exact spot. This boy is tough - he hardly ever has tears and when he does they disappear fast. Oh and still a major Daddy's boy - if he is hurt, he wants his Daddy. Daddy takes the hurt away much fast than anyone else.

Mason is becoming quite the follower. He loves his brother, but he loves the toys his brother plays with even more. The other morning, we walked in to see Mason looking a little like this:

Apparently he didn't want his arm in his PJs anymore. My friend, Courtney, said she would put her son, Nash, to bed and in the morning they would go in to find him naked. You know, I saw Nash talking to Mason at Nash's birthday party... okay Courtney - if Nash gave Mason any ideas - I'm coming after you ;-) But seriously, the boy loves to be naked. (notice no shirt in the pics below).

Mason is also still loving his blanket. He is still a blanket sucker. I don't know if it is much better than the thumb - but I do take the blanket away during the day. He is only allowed to have it during naps and bedtime.

Thanksgiving Pictures

A few pictures to share from Thanksgiving.

Mason enjoying Mamaw's pumpkin pie. He couldn't get enough! Gran with the help of Cousin Conner, read our "I am thankful for ..." cards. Notice Gran just had to do it in full costume.

The boys were very attentive - unless they were just surprised to see Gran was a pilgram and Cousin Conner was a Native American ;-)

Being Thankful

Like I said in my last post - I am thankful for my children... BUT, I am so very thankful for my husband. Not only is he my perfect match - but he is also the breadwinner of our family. I never pictured myself being a stay-at-home mom. Now I couldn't picture myself being anything else. I am beyond blessed to be able to stay at home with my children. Jeremy works so hard to provide for our family. So, those of you out there that are snuggled down on your couch drinking cocoa during a thunderstorm or snow storm - just remember - someone is making sure your lights stay on and it just might be my husband.

Baby, I am thankful that you are my equally yoked partner. I am thankful that my children have you as their father. I am thankful that you still tickle me until I pee in my pants - I love you!

Me and My Brother

I am so thankful for my children. They constantly entertain me as well as each other and themselves. Most of all, I am so thankful they have each other. They fight like cats and dogs but I know in the end they love each other like peanut butter and chocolate.

Videos

Sorry for the lack of posting. We have been nursing a cold and house hunting. Here are some random videos to satisfy the grandparents ;-)

Mason playing 'Peek-a-Boo'

Playing in our rocking chair.

Duck hunting anyone?

The Cheetah and the Bear

Last year my friend, Julie, gave me these costumes for the boys. They were too big for them to wear at Halloween. But, I still put the boys in them. They were 7 months old. I was cleaning out their closets (again) and I came across them again... so, of course we had to try them on.

Obviously Hagen did not like the Cheetah hat - this goes without saying - right?

Mason didn't understand what all the fuss was about. 'My bear outfit is nice and toasty.'

Once I took Hagen's hat off, he was much more chipper.

Notice Mason's 'wall art' beside him.

H: Look Momma, I'm as fast as a cheetah!

Mason loves saying 'choo choo' when he hears the train. I am trying to get it on video, but here is a picture. So cute! ;-)

Fruit and Juice

The boys love their cups of fruit and the juice that comes with that fruit. Jeremy taught them how to drink the juice out of the cups one day. They just LOVE to drink the juice... they will giggle endlessly and then cry when we take the cups away.

The other day I wasn't finished feeding them the fruit out of the cups and I had to get up for a minute. When I came back in, Mason had somehow gotten the cup off the table and was drinking it himself. Hagen thought this was the funniest thing ever and Mason thought he was quite clever! We usually hold the juice cups up to their mouths for them. I was very impressed with how well they could do it on their own!

Pajama Day

I will confess, when most of your life is still packed in boxes sometimes a pajama day is needed. Thanks to Julie and her sweet twin boys Dylan and Logan - we have these great hand-me-down pajamas. They just screamed to be worn on our Pajama Day.

What is Pajama Day, you ask? Well, a sweet friend - SPRING - introduced me to it. (right, Spring?) Pajama day is a day that you stay in your pajamas all day.

So, I am encouraging you to have a Pajama Day - it was super fun.

M: Hey Momma, these PJs are super comfy. Can we stay in them all night and all day tomorrow.

Hagen just lounging - he is becoming such a ham!!!

Not only is he a ham - but he is also perfecting the temper tantrum.

H: Momma, quit taking pictures of me... I am trying to still be mad.

And, this would be about 2 minutes later... yes folks, that is what I call a short attention span!

Playing together with the barn.

I found these tunnel things (Sorry don't remember the correct name...) but Mason really likes crawling through them. Hagen didn't at all - until Meredith showed him it wasn't scary. Now he loves going through them.

Can't wait for my next excuse to wear pajamas all day :-)

Prayers for Erica

Hi Everyone -
I felt compelled to add this as a post. If you remember, several weeks ago I posted asking Erica and her family to be lifted up in your prayers. Well, unfortunately she lost all three babies. If you get a moment, please read her latest post. It is so uplifting and encouraging. It just makes me think about the footprints in the sand. I know Jesus is carrying her right now. She is such a great example of fully relying on God and his plan for her life.
Please continue to pray for her and her family.
(Her Site) (my post about her story)
Thanks!!!
Leslie

Our New Territory

So far the boys are liking a few things about their new place...

The patio has been a huge plus. They love being out there! Playing with sidewalk chalk.

They also have lots of room to drive their trucks. (We make sure there are no cars coming or going.)

I love the tongue sticking out... can you see it? (On Hagen - not Izzie)How much happier can the boy get?



Every chance he gets and every staircase he finds - he tries to climb up them.
M: Oh, I didn't know you meant I can't climb up this staircase, too.

Daddy and Mason going to get the mail.

And I am sure many of you have figured out that getting them back inside is a whole other story!

The boys are adjusting to bed time in the new place well. Naptime is still a little hard for Mason. When they are playing, we have to be near them. They don't let us wander off too far. Other than that, the move really hasn't affected them too much.

Daddy reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The boys love this book. They love to put their fingers through the holes that the Caterpillar made.

Hagen reading to himself. (Pointing out the caterpillar on each page.)

The Water Wizard

I really didn't think the car wash was a big deal. But Jeremy said he was afraid of it when he was a child ... so we decided to take the boys through it.

Next in line...

Hagen while we are waiting our turn.

Mason cheerfully waiting.

Our dirty car entering the 'Water Wizard'.

Uh oh, Mason starts to scream...



...which causes Hagen to scream.

Okay, so the car wash wasn't the best idea. But, we decided to take them out of their car seats for the rest of the wash and they did much better in our laps.

(No Brittany Spears reenactment - we put them back in the car seats before we drove off!)