How does it go?

...snips and snails and puppy dog tails...

...that's what little boys are made of.

Thanks for reminding me, Jack.

California Dreamin'

Can't wait to tell the story of our first big family vacation!

Since I'm just a little busy unpacking, shaking the sand out of stuff, running the washing machine non-stop, and trying to feed the boys from our very empty refrigerator today, I'll just start with this:

{Nolan loves the beach!}

He's a thinker, this one.

Sometimes I watch him and just wonder what he's thinking.

...What the world looks like to him....

Other times I just marvel at this little man-child and know that what ever he decides to do with this great big life of his, it's going to make me proud.

And this is my joy.

{Givin' Momma some cheese...}

Finding pictures on my camera that Grandpa John took of the boys decorating Easter eggs with their Grandma Caryl, while Momma and Daddy went to a fancy dinner downtown.

Watching Warren play with Nolan so very lovingly.

Showing him how all his toys work.

When did our oldest get so... old? Must have been around the same time I turned into a complete sap who thinks her children are all miraculous and stuff.

Noli-bean

Just wanted to let you know that your biggest brother loves you - very much!

And is (mostly) waiting patiently for you to walk.

Conversating with Kids

"Nolan, I just love your hair today."

"And that heart-shaped confection of a mouth you've got....mmmm...sweet enough to eat."

"Jack, I've been trying so very hard to get a picture of you with your pretty blue eyes."

Him: Here's a blue block, you can just take a picture of this!
"Oh, Hello, Conductor Warren. How much for a train ticket?"

Him: How muchya got?

"Wow. Whatever happened to service with a smile?"

"That's much better. The toothfairy must love you."

Ahhh...fostering meaningful conversations with little ones...

Good-ness Today

.A Good Snack.

.Awww... A Good Puppy Dog.

... Good Grief ...

I don't think my mom could have ever realized

how fitting this onsie is for Nolan when she sent it.

But today, there are a few other things his onsie could conceivably say.
Such as:

"I-will-fight-sleep-until-I-can't-even-stand-myself man"

"Today-I-will-simply-cry-and-fuss-for-no-apparent-reason man"

"This-is-my-most-pathetic-nose-is-running-face man"

...just to name a few off the top of my head....

(no babies were hurt or even slightly neglected in the making of this post. the 0.001 milliseconds that I had to set him down in order to zoom to the restroom was hardly lengthened in order to snap off a few shots. then the coddling commenced.)

Keeping my day job!

::woosh::

That's the sound of Nolan making his first lap around the park yesterday with Daddy while Momma grilled halibut for dinner on the front porch.

{I've got a thing for these chunky legs...}

::wizz::

That's the sound of the boys playing their Darth Vader laptop thingy on the landing of the staircase, one of their favorite hangout spots.

::wrrr::

That's the sound of Jack lowering himself on the pully contraption at our new stomping ground in Lafayette, the WOW Children's Museum.

::what?::

I know...

it's amazing that I haven't been picked up by a talent scout for my sound effect abilities!

While I'm waiting, I'll go ahead and keep my day job...

8 MONTHS

Firsts this month:
::sitting in grass::
{You kept oscillating between an icky face and smiling.

It was apparent that you aren't sure if you like the feel of the grass yet,

especially since it is still so dry and prickly this time of year}

::swinging::

::saying "mama"::
{Can't imagine why that would be your first word...}

::pulling yourself to standing::

{To say you were proud of yourself is an understatement}

::trying very hard to crawl. all the pieces are there, you just gotta put them together::
::being left overnight while Mommy and Daddy went to Jamaica for a few days::
::going to the zoo with your brothers::

Grrr...

A Little Message for My Bear Cubs:

Momma loves you more than Bears love honey, and everyone knows that's an aweful lot!

{At the Denver Zoo today}

I am a Momma Bear. I come by it naturally, from a long line of Momma Bears.

{Three fellow "Garrison Girl" Bears, Auties Shelli and Shawna}

{Jamaica 2010}

Back from Bryan's Sales Recognition trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica.

We are already unpacked and more than settled back into normal life

after taking a {short} break.

But, I can still vividly remember that:

+

=

{A smiling relaxed couple}

It was so nice to spend some time with just my hubby. I quickly recalled how much fun we have and how easy it is, without the stress and chaos of real life.

...but oh how we missed our boys...

Wish Come True!

{Showing his "I just won the bathtime lottery" face!}

He's watched from the sidelines for almost 8 entire long months,

longing for the day when he could join in.

{Two peas in a pod!}

Well last night, I finally decided that his brothers were being calm enough for Nolan to join them, or what is that Nolan was being wild enough to be part of the little boy stew that is our bathtime ritual? Hmmm...

{Little boy stew...}

{Who needs a bath chair?}

What a week this has been... Daddy was gone on a business trip.

I {got} to run the Star Wars After School Fan Club all by myself.

I hosted my neighborhood Mom's Group and got to hold a week old baby girl (be still my heart).

I took Warren to a professional basketball game.

And now we are leaving for Jamaica tonight.

Leaving our beloved boys in the excellent care of family members for a few days of much needed R&R.