Vantage Point

This is what I see everyday as the boys come at me. Yes, they just . . . come. Jumping, karate chopping, leaping, superman-ing. I get clobbered regularly, but I love it. Jimmy is still in the initiation stages--playing the barbell mode. His time is coming. Now that he is walking everywhere, he is learning to lunge forward onto me. Just another reason I love being their mom--each day is an adventure.

Photogenic Couple

I don't think there is a single good picture of Rob and me. Our engagement pictures don't even look like us (it just had a sweet background) and my hair was AWFUL for my wedding. And . . . it's just gone downhill since. Since having kids, there are almost no pictures of us both together--one of us taking the picture of the other with the kids. I have just begun to realize that this has to be remedied. Our posterity needs to know we were in love and how we looked together, right? So, I tried. Just on Sundays since I actually have make-up on. And as you see . . . it was a disaster!

This one I call Squints. At least our singly-squinted eyes are next to each other . . . that's kind of cute, right?

I can't decide if I should call this one I want to EAT you or KILL you. Either way, it's a bad look, Rob.


This one is Apathy. I'm like the totally in-love girl whose man could care less--totally bored by her. It's not really what I am hoping to pass on to my grand kids.


I call this one Creeper.


And finally, Get Off of Me! Totally looks like true love in this one, right?

Life Lately

We've been loving the perfect weather! The other day I sat out front with my eyes closed as Rob played catch with the boys and it felt just like home! Warm and sunny with just a slight cool breeze--I could have sworn I was back in Ventura. So, we spend most of our time outside--planting new shrubs, flowers, and trees or playing some kind of sport. The boys ride bikes all day, and we go on a family bike ride pretty much everyday. The boys are troopers! We frequent a park about a mile away, but decided to take a detour back home. After a few construction and road blocks later, we found ourselves riding up and down steep hills and curvy bends for over six miles--a major feat for a three year old with twelve inch tires! They've made it clear they don't want to do it again! Even Jimmy cries when he sees the bike trailer! So funny!
This is what it looks like at our house nearly everyday. Toys everywhere. Every neighborhood kid in our driveway. It's great.

One of Robbie's chores is to mow a section of the yard each week. It looks pretty cute with his little hands clenched onto the handle, his whole body angled to get the thing to move.


Jimmy, as always, likes to copy.
The kids have been chillin' in homemade forts

Rob's been busy building shelves out of wood left here by the previous owners.



They look ready for summer to me.

Easter

We got crafty a few days before. Making cards for grandparents--pretty glitter-glue everywhere!
And, of course, dying eggs.
Ah, the aftermath! The boys dumped all the dye into a pot to see what color it would make. The spills only stained my counter temporarily!But those smiles are worth it, right?

And then Easter came! The morning began with French toast and clues to their hiding baskets. And then, the hunt began . . .


And the loot . . .
Jimmy couldn't stay away from the peanut butter cups!

Fireballs Take Two

Robbie's playing spring soccer with the same team and doing just great. He has scored each game so far (twice last game) and is becoming a great defender as well. It is so fun to watch it all develop--it actually looks like soccer now. The kids are getting faster and starting to learn to pass. It's all he wants to do at home--play soccer! It was the same during basketball season--I'm sure it will be same for baseball. Ty gets to play this fall, so he's practicing now too. Jimmy just hangs out!

Strep Throat

Poor Ty. A few days ago he didn't want to eat breakfast because his "fwoat hurt." The day before I had noticed that his breath smelled funny. No runny nose. Yep, had to be strep. Rob checked his throat and sure enough. I took him in just to make sure and when the rapid strep test came back positive, I opted for the one-time shot instead of ten days of antibiotics. Ty was hysterical (he actually punched me in the face he was so mad--nice kid :)) The shot in his bum was super viscous and painful, so the nurse suggested that we heat it when it gets sore. This is of my sweet Ty, who fell asleep while heating his bottom!

He's been loving it, actually. He gets yummy Tylenol and Rob bought him popsicles . . . he gets to watch movies under blankets--being sick is a real treat! Today he is back to his normal self and his throat finally looks normal.

Just Another Day . . .

What did I ever do with my time before I had kids? My days are filled with adventures, mishaps, messes, brother battles, and yes, much laughter. This week, I thought I would capture just a glimpse of one day in my life (and mind you, I didn't get all the meal spills, all the times Jimmy emptied drawers or undid everything I put in the dishwasher, or all the millions of clothes Ty threw on the floor and then barricaded against his door to keep Robbie away. . .)

It started when I couldn't find my phone. Seriously, how can I make in through the day without a phone? Fortunately, Rob called me early in the morning and I heard it in the trashcan--deep. Jimmy had conveniently put it away for me!:) I cleaned it off, headed downstairs to look something up for Rob online, only to come back and find this:

And this: Cocoa everywhere!

So I quickly vacuum the stairs before heading to the kitchen to tackle that disaster. But when I make it back downstairs, I find this: Really, Jimmy?

Then Ty created this (which doesn't bother me at all, this is normal, but just in case the state of my house needs an explanation)
And then Ty changed into his 7th outfit for the day.

Only to find Jimmy found the boys toothpaste and toothbrushes.

And ate it. And then I caught Robbie shaving . . . again!

It's all part of everyday life here, but I love it, I honestly do! I'm glad the boys explore and don't just stare at a TV. They are my little gems and I am grateful for each day with them. I am not looking forward to the day that I can read all day in my perfectly clean house. Well, maybe a little bit! :)