Planning

The train keeps getting closer to the 3. I can't believe it. I can't believe H&M are going to be 3. Three? I will have two three year olds? I'm in denial. But, denial or not... the planning has been going on.

Invitations have been sent. I'm super excited, this will be the first party that we are inviting friends - not just family to the party. It will be fun to have friends of the boys running around with them.

Emily: Wow, Thomas, you better get cleaned up... I hear there's a party soon and you are the star!All the trains are lined up.Oh, oh, are we invited??It might not look completely like it yet, but here is our Thomas Train for the party. Slowly taking shape, I'm hoping the decorations we are adding to it will make it look more Thomas-ish.

Rewind - Snow ice cream

I forgot to post these, but I really wanted to... so let's go back to the days of 12 inches of snow :-)

I said I really was sad we didn't make snow ice cream.... well, we ended up making it the second day - I made sure we got the snow in an area that had no animal tracks and it wasn't yellow :-D

Here is Hagen taste testing - funny, he felt compelled to keep his mittens and hat on. In order to eat Snow Ice Cream, you must have on mittens and a hat!

He really enjoyed it ~ but let's be honest, Hagen doesn't meet many sweet foods that he doesn't like.

Mason finally decided to tear himself away from his toys to come taste test the ice cream.

But in all honesty, Mason never tasted it - the little stinker. They are both at that magically age where they have discovered self-will - the power to choose and decide. Such a tiring age... Mason felt no desire to even try it, so he just played with it.

I thought it was very good. Hagen and I plan to make it again next year when it snows 12 inches again, right?

Sheryl and her Momma

When I went to college, I joined a sorority (Shout out to my Alpha Xi girls ;-) ). My little sis in my sorority, Sheryl, is the sweetest person I know. (I'm not just saying this because she will be reading it... she is just that kind of person.) I have never heard her say an ugly thing about another person and she genuinely cares about everyone - and dogs.

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She has two older sisters, all three of them work for her dad out of their parents home. (Every time I talk to her, I ask her for a job!) They have a very neat family - probably one reason Sheryl is the way she is. Anyway, I still keep in touch with Sheryl and I love, love, love her mom. After we went to the Children's Museum, we went by Sheryl's Mom's house.

The boys immediately gravitated to Sheryl's momma (who doesn't??). It was so cute. Mason and Sheryl's momma had fun drawing.

After all the drawing and playing, the boys were ready for lunch. Mason grew attached to Sheryl. He held her hand, wanted her to put him in his car seat and had to sit by her at lunch! Hilarious - my little stud muffin.

Had fun Sheryl! Give your Momma a hug for me :-) (Oh and let me know if you have any job opens - hee hee hee.)

Children's Museum

We had another playdate with my Mothers of Multiples group. It was some one's great idea (okay, mine unfortunately) to go on a Friday. Every school within a 50 mile radius decided that same Friday was a great idea to go as well.

It was so crowded, by the time we got back into the museum - I was overwhelmed and the boys were on the verge of being overwhelmed.

Here is the entrance to the new Children's Museum in our area. So fun! (The boys refused to stand beside each other in the alligator's mouth for a picture - oh well, some day.)Both boys wanted to ride on the turtle.

Mason trying to walk on the hilly balance board. Hagen and Mason waiting to get into the ambulance.

Mason found a hole to crawl through.

Watching the bubbles.

Hagen channeling Bob the Builder to build something.

The trains were a huge hit, but the trains were few and far between. (I think there were actually several trains - but there were TONS of children.)

Where's Waldo Mason? Look through the crowd... do you see him?

Hagen found some random toy on the floor. (At this point, I was just snapping pictures so I could be done and we could leave - too crowded for Mom.)

'Hey, these tools are stuck... Momma, help!'

Mason: Okay, I'm ready to go!

Mom: I am, too, Buddy! I am too!

Attempt at a group picture... about 6 kids are missing...

Sorry, Erin, but I just had to put this on here to show - this is about how fast the meltdowns started happening. Everyone was done. We didn't get a group picture because none of the kids wanted to cooperate. It was just that cRaZy! Oh well, maybe next time!

Never leave home without your lipstick...

Daddy is Home

Because of the snow that hit our area, Jeremy has been working LONG hours to help get the power restored. During this time, we didn't get to see much of him - but good news, they are off storm mode and the boys get to see their Daddy again! He was so very missed :-)

Sleeping is so Boring...

Oh Mason, Mason, Mason... as we fight this never ending stomach bug, Mason has had lots of trouble sleeping. I think tonight he turned a little corner and got some of his energy back - which then made his body realize how much sleep he has lost over the past few days.

After putting them to bed, I heard some noise - but I always wait (never jump up and run in there - it's a rule or something). Before going to bed, I went to check on them and this is what I found -

Yep, that is Mason. I guess the bed was too comfortable. I can't help but smile at that picture. He has so much personality, it oozes out of his pores.

When we had the ultrasound that told us Hagen was a boy, the doctor told us Mason was hiding his parts, he must be shy. Could that doctor be any more wrong? Mason just wanted his own show. He wanted a few more weeks for us to talk and speculate about him. He wanted his own glorious moment when we found out that he was a boy.

My dear Mason, when you are 16 and you come home to meet your curfew - trust me - I will be waiting up an hour later to check your bed again.

This stomach bug made you tired and grouchy - I missed you, I missed your over-the-top, curious, infectious personality.

I can't believe you will be three in almost a month.
From the start, your brother slept and you did everything you could to keep those eyes open so you wouldn't miss a thing.

I love you to pieces.

To the Park

(This post was written before the record-breaking snow fall we had this past week, but I moved this one back so I could post all the snow pictures.)

We have had what I would call the Never-Ending Stomach Bug. We have also been experiencing a major lack of sunshine in our area. Because of the stomach bug and the rain - we were stuck inside for too long! The one day that the sun started to peak out, we bundled up and headed to the park.

Here is Hagen on the way out, super happy that he was going to be trapped inside no more (at least for a little while). Mason: Come on Momma - quit taking pictures and let's G-O!
Let's go, Let's go, Let's GO!

All the slides had water on them, so they really weren't too interested in playing on the equipment.

Wet, Momma, wet.

They found this board that had animals on it and loved pointing out all the animals. Favorites are elephants, hippos, and monkeys.

We decided to swing and the boys loved them! How happy were we to be outside again?

Higher, higher

Hi Momma...

Heading home .... and then we spotted ~

dirt! (Yes, 110% boy)




They played for a little while and then it was time for lunch - Hagen never misses a meal -- he was my reminder that it was time for lunch!

And there is Mason still wanting to play on the dirt.