The Runcible Spoon

Get Ready for Christmas and Elf Yourself

2008-11-25T22:38:00.001-05:00

Apple Picking

2008-11-18T10:39:00.013-05:00

This year we made what will hopefully become an annual trek to Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock for apple picking. Patrick had grading to do, so Merrill joined us for the trip. Great fun!

We got our baskets (which apparently held half a bushel and a peck, respectively) and off we went!

Eli enjoyed sitting in the tree, but Sam cried.

Here's Sam next to a tree that looked like it was having some difficulty, but still was putting out apples like a trooper.

Here we are in line to get some hot apple doughnuts. You can see how crazy it was--kids running around everywhere! We had a great time and are looking forward to our trip next year.

Halloween in Black Mountain

2008-11-18T09:48:00.016-05:00

Well, here it is, once again--Halloween in Black Mountain. Last year the boys made their WNC debute as Dr. Suess' Thing 1 and Thing 2, and this year we have continued with the twin theme and the boys were Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum from Alice in Wonderland. I'm just about tapped out for twin costume ideas now (after only two years!) so if anyone has ideas for next year, I'm all ears.

We met up with our friends the Joneses (Tinkerbell and Fireman) and had a great time. Sweet Eli kept wondering where the Halloween party was, and why we weren't going into the houses...We finally convinced him that the party was on the street, and then he really got into it.

Patrick couldn't resist taking a picture of this hotdog. Pretty hilarious. This costume was such a hit that it also made it into the Black Mountain newspaper... :)

We continued the Halloween tradition from last year and followed up our trick-or-treating with a visit to our friends Mark and Merrill's house, or, as Sam likes to call them, Guess and Metty.

And once again we concluded our Halloween with a visit to our next door neighbors' house, Ms. Paula and Mr. Alex. Unlike last year, the boys discovered that there was actually candy in their pumpkins and indulged in some lollipops. I'm guessing that by next year I won't get away with eating all their chocolate.

Things Run Afowl...

2008-10-03T18:39:00.008-04:00

An event that has been highly anticipated in our household has finally arrived with the morning mail. Eleven frantically peeping, day-old ducklings came in one small cardboard box. The next two days were a little chaotic until my neighbor came and took six of them off my hands for her home flock, and now things have settled down a little bit.

They pretty much just eat, sleep, poop and 'try' to preen themselves, with hilarious results, and make a gigantic mess for such tiny little creatures. But they are already growing so fast in the few days that they have been here (which they should, for as much food as they put away). They boys and I have been enjoying watching their antics, whereas Patrick and Annie are still reserving judgement. Once the duck egg omelets arrive though, I'm sure they will both come around. In just a few, um, months.

Here are our five little girls (one is under the pile). Aren't they cute?

And here are boys wishing our five little ducks good night. We'll see how this little foray into self-sustainability goes over the next few weeks...

State Fair and Purdy Invasion

2008-10-03T18:10:00.010-04:00

One of the weekends when Sam was sick, Eli and I joined our friends Mark and Merrill and we all went to the WNC State Fair. We had a fantastic time (despite soaring temperatures) seeing all the fair sights, all the livestock in the agricultural section, petting random animals in the petting zoo (I saw a wombat!) and eating old-fashioned churned ice cream. One of the highlights was the armored vehicle that you could climb inside. Eli almost burst with excitement at the sight of all those switches (but really I think that Mark was even more into it than Eli was...).

Last week we had some friends from Atlanta come and stay for a few days. The boys had a fabulous time following around the older kids, but especially hanging out with 2 1/2 year old Shae. I think that they are both in love.

Look at that those curls...who wouldn't be, right?

Fall in the Mountains

2008-10-03T11:51:00.013-04:00

After a crazy summer (and I know that I still have to post beach week pictures) we are finally settling in to the fall routine. Despite the usual upper respiratory infections, we have been having a wonderful time.

Here are the boys in their first fall wear, complements of Grandmama. Eli was pretty unhappy about the transition to long pants, but now that it is getting down to the 30s at night, he has thankfully come around. (I told Sam to put his hands in his lap; he's such a good boy.)

The first weekend in September, we journeyed to Nashville for cousin Charlotte's second birthday party. Charlotte loves buses, so Aunt Heather and Uncle Paul got her one! We all went on a bus ride and had a wonderful time.

Here are Eli and Grandmama enjoying a tour around Nashville on the birthday bus.

This fall I have enrolled the boys in a Mother's Morning Out program. So for four hours once a week, I actually have some uninterrupted time to clean the house. I was worried that the boys would have a hard time being left, but Eli was all, "Don't leave!! Don't leave!! Don't...hey, is that playdoh?" So everything turned out just fine, and now we all love Wednesday mornings.

Salt 'n' Peppa

2008-06-12T10:18:00.004-04:00

As I was coming home from the grocery store the other day, I saw something sad-looking slink across our driveway. I got out and realized that it was a very tiny kitten. I nabbed it before it got under our back steps, which wasn't that hard because it was in pretty bad shape. She looked so rough that I thought she may have been hit by a car. But after a trip to the vet and a bath, and food and warmth and sleep, she is looking much better. She is still pretty skinny and has an upper respiratory infection, but she is getting better and has settled in nicely (...as you can see. I don't think that Annie is that thrilled, though.) Unfortunately, she can't stay because Patrick is allergic (he's the one who has dubbed her Pepper). So if you know anyone who wants a five-week-old kitten, let me know...

Finally Phalenopsis

2008-06-06T10:16:00.002-04:00

I am so excited to finally post a picture of my blooming orchid. It only took three and a half years to get it to bloom a second time.

Ring Around the Rosies

2008-06-06T10:07:00.004-04:00

Caught the boys doing something spontaneous, but Eli still takes a little time out to ham it up for the camera... :)

It's Been a Little While...

2008-05-30T11:20:00.008-04:00

Well, now that I've finally gotten a battery recharger for our camera, I don't have any more excuses--so I have to blog! A lot has been going on recently, so I will just have to catch everyone up...

The most recent major event was the boys' third birthday. It was very exciting--we had a party and everyone came: our friend Jesse, who also was celebrating his third birthday, and his sister Emily and parents and grandparents, Miss McIntosh, Mark and Merrill, Miss Carol, and Grandmama, Aunt Heather, Uncle Paul and Cousin Charlotte came all the way from Nashville! Here are the boys with their cousin Charlotte and friend Jesse snacking away at the cookout. It was tons of fun!

Here I am trying to show the boys how to blow out their candles. Jesse had no problem, but Sam and Eli preferred a method that had more spitting than blowing.

The boys got a lot of fabulous presents: an art easel, sports equipment, puzzles, trucks, 'hug-a-planets', and a ton of great books. Here Grandmama is reading a wonderful book called "A Birthday Cake is No Ordinary Cake" to the whole gang. (If Jesse looks like he is possessively clutching his guitar, it's because it was his birthday present and Sam spent most of the party trying to get it away from him.)

After our big day we all had a bath to get clean together. We had a really wonderful time and can't wait to visit again with our Nashville family!

HALLELUJAH!

2007-04-15T18:41:00.000-04:00

It would be much remiss of me to neglect to mention the landmark occasion which ocurred on an otherwise normal afternoon on December 4. Eli stood up in the middle of the room and took his first unassisted steps! A mere three days later Sam did likewise. I would like to say that things were off and running from there, but it has hardly been the case. Eli decided that was all the excitement he needed and pretty much didn't do much more walking until about four months later. Sam did continue walking, and progressed in typical safe and staid Sam-fashion. Eli finally started walking in earnest a couple of weeks ago, and has almost accomplished what Sam took four months to do. So my little turtle and little hare are about to cross the finish line, and just in time for their second birthday. Yea!

Christmas Loot

2007-04-15T17:29:00.000-04:00

So we were having a wild time in south Florida last time I blogged, and the boys raked in the Christmas presents...

Sam: Hey Eli, check it out--I got a soccer ball!

Eli: That's nothing, look what I got--a cement truck!

Sam: Oh yeah? Well I got this pink thing.

Eli: Hold the phone! What is this? Sliding pocket doors? AWESOME! (Hours of endless entertainment ensue.)

The boys did get a whole bunch of great gifts, some of which (like their Spiderman hideaway) they didn't even open until they got home, so it was like Christmas all over again. (The pocket doors had to stay behind in Florida).

After the Christmas present chaos we got to go to Butterfly World with the cousins, where Caleb used his mad butterfly charming skills. (The boys were all, what are we supposed to be looking at?)

We had a really wonderful time hanging out with all the relatives, but we had to leave and come home, where we languished in a post-vacation funk. (Maybe 'stupor' would be a better word for the parents...Sam and Eli: Man, this place is so BOOORING. Patrick and Julia: zzzzzzzzz...).

...and December...

2007-04-10T21:35:00.000-04:00

December was one big Christmas whirlwind. Eli decided to kick off the month by discovering how to remove his socks...

We celebrated an early Christmas with Grandmama, Uncle Paul, Aunt Heather and Charlotte coming to visit.

The boys got so many great toys that they love and still play with every day (even if 'playing' generally means throwing them down the hall).

And here is cutie-pie Charlotte loving on her Bufford the Moose that she got from the boys for Christmas...

After fun with family at home, we made a loooong trek down to south Florida for Christmas with the ENTIRE maternal side of the family. That's right, Nana, Mo, Great-Aunt Rebecca, Uncle Dave, Aunt Sarah (and let's not forget little in eutero Ethan, coming in March), Uncle Jon, Aunt Perry, and cousins Abigail, Rachel, Caleb, Joelle and little Jada. It was a full house, and we all had a wild time. The boys were properly schooled by their little cousin Jada, who taught them their first words, 'up' and 'uh-oh.' Here is a picture of Christmas calmness..

...and Christmas chaos!

To be continued...

A Much Belated and Long Awaited Catch-Up

2007-04-10T20:57:00.000-04:00

Well, Nana has informed me that it has been almost HALF A YEAR since our last post, and as the public has been screaming for pics of the cutest boys in the world, I guess it's time for an update. Sorry I'm so behind--but you try keeping up with these guys!

November (that would be last year...) started off with a visit from Nana and Mo. I can't remember anything that happened, but I'm sure that we had fun!

We also took a trip to Nashville for cousin Charlotte's baptism, and I'm sure we did some Thanksgiving stuff, but again, I can't remember.

The boys had a wonderful time, playing in Grandmama's red rocker, seeing lots of family, and going to the park with cousin Charlotte.

The boys really loved the swings!

Whew! On to December...

Halloween Hand-Me-Downs

2006-11-27T08:02:00.000-05:00

October brought some fun amidst the fall snotties--we dressed the boys up in some hand-me-down costumes we had gotten from friends and went to a Halloween party. The boys did have a fun time, and loved their costumes (once they saw themselves in the mirror!) despite the fact that halfway through the evening Eli started getting a low-grade fever and a runny nose. Sam's costume was a little big, and Eli's a little small (notice the tight shirt around the belly), and we suspect that when he's bigger Sam may wonder why he got stuck with Tweety Bird instead of the cowboy...

My Little Petri Dishes

2006-11-24T08:52:00.000-05:00

This fall and winter have been banner seasons for us in that the boys (and Patrick and I) have seemed to catch every cold virus that has ever existed. We are able to go to maybe one event every couple of weeks or so (to pick up whatever is going around) and then the boys manage to spread the illness out for a couple of weeks, catching it from one another, before we go back out to pick up the next cold. Right now the boys are both recovering from double ear infections. But despite all the unpleasant fevers and snotty noses, the boys have been able to stay pretty chipper (I can't say the same for their mom!).

This last cold which resulted in the ear infections has been a particularly protracted illness. Sam caught the cold first, and had it five days before Eli came down with it. I thought Eli might escape unscathed, but no such luck. But for a while there Eli was having a great time, while Sam was a bit miserable. One day I sat them down for lunch, gave them some Cheerios, and had to go do something else for a few minutes, when I came back, Sam had eaten all his Cheerios, and promptly fallen asleep in his chair. Poor sick little boy!

Wreaking Havoc

2006-11-23T09:15:00.000-05:00

So, we returned to the homestead after a very exciting summer of trips and visits, and we all setttled back into the daily routine. After all the smiling faces and beautiful places, I'm afraid that the boys' newly acquired toddler mentality felt a little confined back at home. So Sam and Eli set about finding new and exciting things to get into.

Eli has been looking for little nooks and crannies around the house to tuck himself away in. Sometimes it has resulted in a moment of panic for their mother when I step back into a room and can't find Eli anywhere.

Sam has been a little mischievious as well, but his bent is more towards finding out how things work. Whether it is finding the button that turns on the nightlight on their pack'n'play, or getting into things that I have *ahem* inadvertantly left around, he has definitely been keeping me on my toes.

The boys did get a chance to participate in an old family tradition from my side of the family, the Christmas sausage from Uncle Hank and Aunt Dawn.

The boys really enjoyed the sausage, and didn't even seem to mind it being slightly spicy. Someone who did not get to participate in the tradition, and who could smell what she was missing, was clearly despondent. Well, that was the end of the Christmas sausage, but since it was the end of September when we finished it off, at least we only have to wait a few months for some more! Thanks Uncle Hank (Annie wants me to pass on that she wants her own batch...)!

A Brand New Cousin!

2006-11-22T09:38:00.000-05:00

Well, September started off with a bang with the birth of our newest cousin, Charlotte (for more of Charlotte, as I mentioned before, please visit her here). We finally got up to Nashville for a visit, and boy, is she cute! The boys didn't really know she was there for a while, because she was so quiet and still, but I think once Sam did, he was really puzzled as to what sort of thing she was...

The boys also had a wonderful time hanging out with (and on) Grandmama...

and lounging on Grandmama's little red rocker.

Sam also perused through Grandmama's books,

...and Grandmama read to them (The Runaway Bunny being a perennial favorite).

Catch Up Time...

2006-11-22T09:07:00.000-05:00

Since the holidays are right around the corner, I am more motivated than ever to finally catch up on all our pictures--especially since there will be many, many more taken very shortly. In August we went for a long visit to Nana and Mo's house, while Patrick took a trip out to Colorado for a conference. We had such a great time that we forgot to take any pictures. Okay, I did take one picture--while I was home I found my old dollhouse that Mo and I *started* to put together back when I was of single-digit age. I found all the old parts, got them out and cleaned them up, and decided to put it together (but Patrick says I can't let the boys play with it...). So here is the 'before' picture (have no idea when the 'after' picture will debut, but I'm working on it):

So, we had a wonderful time. The boys hardly ever fought, monopolized Nana and Mo's attention, got to hang out with cousins, and had a great time chasing each other around the house. (Needless to say, Annie had the time of her life with Mo.) One of the things the boys learned to do while on this visit was to eat (sort of) with spoons, and here they are practicing at home. I think that Eli has the right idea, if not the right end.

We Spotted the Ocean, Cont.

2006-10-08T07:53:00.000-04:00

The exotic locale and summer sunsets must have had an effect on the boys, because Sam developed quite a crush on his Aunt Perry...

...and Eli carried on a bit of a love affair with the garden tub, or at least with the knobs (big pools = bad, little pools = good).

All in all it was a great trip and we can't wait until our next time at the beach!

We Spotted the Ocean

2006-10-05T20:15:00.000-04:00

One of the big events of our summer was a week at the beach on the Outer Banks.* We had two full houses there and the boys, Patrick and I had the best time hanging out with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great aunts, great uncles, and first cousins once-removed. We swam in the pool, played at the beach, played in the house, caught cool bugs, watched fireworks, and didn't sleep very much at all.

Here the boys are catching their first glimpse of the ocean...

They didn't really know what to do with the sand (it was so sandy!), but they enjoyed looking at the waves (and the birds and the sand and people and dogs and kids...).

The boys also had a great time playing with their cousin Jada, who managed to fare quite well with a couple of boys who are used to shoving each other and stealing toys. She had a great trick: she would just pick up the toy and walk away. The boys still haven't quite mastered that trick yet.

The boys also had their first experience in the pool. Eli was a little nervous, but Sam took to it like a fish to water. At one point he even tried to shove off me to swim to a ball floating nearby. Here are the boys sylin' and profilin' in their shades and floaty-boats...

*Trip made possible through the generous support of the R. A. Betts Family Vacation Fun Trust. (Thanks Aunt Rebecca!)

One Crazy Summer

2006-10-03T13:42:00.000-04:00

Well, it has been a bit of a whirlwind summer for the boys, and as a result, I am once again very behind in my blogging. But I will try to catch you all up on the last few months...

It began with a short visit from our Uncle Paul (who, incidentally, just gave the boys--along with a little help from Aunt Heather--a new cousin, Charlotte Eaves! To meet Charlotte, please visit her here). We had a great time with Uncle Paul and are looking forward to seeing him next weekend on our trip to Nashville.

Before the summer really kicked in to high gear, the boys got nice, short haircuts for the hot weather.

Sam's haircut turned out a little shorter than originally planned, due to an unforseen sudden turning of the head. Our cute little Friar Sam...

Our summer travel kicked off in earnest when Nana and Mo came to visit and watch the boys for an extended weekend while Patrick and I went to Puerto Rico for Falcon's wedding. We had the greatest time hanging out with Brent and Ana and our friends Chimmy and Cassy from San Francisco. (I think that maybe we should make the trip an annual event...)

Experiencing Technical Difficulties

2006-10-03T13:08:00.000-04:00

I apologize to Sam and Eli's faithful fans--we are all fine here but have been unable to post or upload pictures for the past few weeks. I was looking in to the problem but not coming up with any solutions, and had just about given up hope. But apparently the blog has healed itself, so there will be many summer pics coming your way pronto!

Thank you for your support.

Sam Acquires a New Skill

2006-06-15T15:03:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day and Mayfield's

2006-06-13T13:10:00.000-04:00

For Memorial Day Grandmama came for a visit to celebrate the anniversary of the boys coming home from the hospital. And as a special treat, the boys got to sample their first ice cream...of course, Mayfield's!

We made a couple of funny faces, because it was so cold, but we warmed up quickly! (Man, Mom and Dad have been holding out on us!)

Thanks, Grandmama! We are looking forward to our next Mayfield's sampling (maybe Cherry Limeade...?).

The Birthday Fun Continues...

2006-06-12T16:49:00.000-04:00

The boys have been having so much fun this past month playing with all the great toys that they got for their birthday...

Hanging out at the ol' Leap Frog Learning Table, shooting the breeze...

Eli takes a load off while Sam changes the oil in the Mini Cooper...

Sam and Eli go tooling around the house and the neighborhood in the Hummer...

Go zipping up and down the hallway in the Mini Cooper...

And check the air in the Hummer's tires before heading out to cruise the neighborhood again!

Boy, it's going to be a great summer! (And we'll have fun, fun, fun 'til Daddy takes the Hummer away...)

We Are One! ...But We're Not the Same

2006-06-10T07:59:00.000-04:00

May has been a very exciting month for us. We have had visits from Grandmama and Nana and Mo...and on the 15th the boys had their first birthday! (Here they are in their birthday suits above.) I can't believe that it has already been a whole year. Here are some of the highlights of our month...

Here are the boys at playgroup with their friends Everett and Andrew (cutie-pie Perry was there, but I think she is having a snack during this picture). The boys have been having a great time at their playgroups hanging out with other kids and stealing toys.

The boys have been adding to their mobility skills a ton this month. Here they are practicing their commando crawl during our first annual Cracker Race. Eli won. (Oops, I have been corrected. That is indeed Sam in the lead. I don't even know my own children...!)

The month began with some special packages arriving in the mail. Then Nana and Mo arrived to celebrate the special day. I made an almost sugar-free applesauce cake, which was a hit with the boys (and Mo) if not exactly for the rest of us...

We got some really wonderful presents from everyone. Grandmama sent us a big Radio Flyer wagon (which we call The Hummer). Nana and Mo sent us a small Radio Flyer walker wagon (which we call The Mini Cooper). Aunt Heather and Uncle Paul sent us a great Leap Frog Learning Table, which has been playing non-stop since it arrived. These boys are set for the next five years! Thank you all so much for the wonderful birthday presents!

Our First Injury

2006-06-09T09:57:00.000-04:00

I realize that I have been a bit remiss in updating my blog, so the next few entries will be a bit of a catch up. The boys have been growing by leaps and bounds over the month and a half since my last entry. Sam has been standing while holding on to something since April and Eli has recently joined him. They look like they are about ready to pull themselves up any day now. Eli has been getting a few bumps lately that I suspect come from the attempt.

Speaking of bumps, Eli had his first 'injury' at the end of April. He was sitting on the floor a few feet away from me and took a tumble forward, hitting what I thought was his forehead on the floor. It didn't look bad, but it looked like it hurt. I picked him up to comfort him, but he just kept on crying. As I pulled him away from my shoulder to see what was up, I saw blood all down my shirt and on his face, and felt a rush of panic. It turns out that he just fell on his face and his front teeth cut the inside of his upper lip. He had a little fat lip, but he was a very good patient and let me put some ice on it.

Here he is with his little fat lip...poor guy! But he rebounded quickly and was back to playing in no time. I had better prepare myself for the bumps to come when they actually start walking!

Zooropa

2006-04-23T20:38:00.000-04:00

Here's Big Papi's recap of his zoo adventure with the boys:

Julia and I decided that in order for us to get some projects done around the house, we would need to get the boys away for a while. They're not big fans of hammering, vacuuming, and being ignored so chores can get done! So I took them to the Atlanta Zoo while Julia could get some down time and projects done. Sam and Eli had a great time, even if they probably only really saw 20% of the animals we looked at. They love to walk around, see interesting places, and meet nice, cooing people. The animals I am sure they did see: the flamingos, the elephant, the panda bear, and the kangaroos.

So here are some pics from our outing:

First, this hilariously unimpressed gorilla. The boys couldn't see him, but I cracked up at his pose. He was looking at this crowd of people gawking at him and taking pictures with an expression that seems to say: "You people bore me."

Second, here's the panda bear that Sam and Eli DID see (and here are the boys watching the panda...).

Very cute, rolling around on his belly, munching on bamboo. Kind of like Sam and Eli.

Third, here's Sam and Eli after lunch. We packed our lunch and found some nice shade on a porch. After lunch, I lathered the boys up in sunscreen. Their hats provided additional shade, although Sam kept taking his off, as you can see.

Finally, a nice man took our picture as we left to commemorate our day. What fun! Yeah, that's me in the Outback hat--sure it went out of style in the early 90s, but it keeps the sun out...

Water Babies

2006-04-20T14:16:00.000-04:00

I went upstairs a few days ago to get the boys up from their nap and guess what I found...Eli managed to sit up and get ahold of his mobile and yank part of it down. It has been broken for a while, so I guess I really have to fix it now! (Eli: "Heh, heh, heh...look what I got...")

I went out to Toys 'r' Us and bought the boys a pool. They weren't too keen on getting in, because it was a little cold, but then Sam peed and warmed things up a bit (just kidding). They were having so much fun splashing that I could hardly get them to look at the camera.

Eli's having a great time--as usual!

Frantic splashing! We had such a good time--maybe we'll go swimming again today after the boys' nap...

Okay Nana, there's your pool pictures!

Easter Weekend Fun

2006-04-20T09:31:00.000-04:00

Grandmama, Aunt Heather and Uncle Paul came down to Atlanta for Easter weekend and everyone had a grand old time. Sam and Eli went with Grandmama and Daddy to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History to see the dinosaurs and learn all about chocolate at the chocolate exhibit.

Sam and Eli had a great time playing with Uncle Paul and Aunt Heather and learning all about Easter eggs from Grandmama (the boys are having an egg dyeing class with Grandmama).

Here are the boys playing with their Easter baskets. This is the first--and probably the last!--time that the boys will find the basket more interesting than the candy inside.

Sam...

and Eli (mmm...yum!).

Over the River and Through the Woods...

2006-04-19T12:32:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago we went up to Nashville for a visit to Grandmama's and to celebrate Aunt Heather's birthday. The boys recognized Grandmama right away and had a great time. We went to Phillips Toy Mart to play with all the toys and to see the Easter bunnies. Here is Eli squealing at the bunnies (looks like he speaks their language). If only he had known Mr. Buns...

Sam and Eli were a little too young for most of the toys (and the trains were definitely not cool, and elicited some cries of distress--don't worry boys, you'll love them later!) but they enjoyed looking at all the lights and sounds and people.

Here's Eli tottering on a little truck. He already can't wait until he gets his driver's license...

Thanks, Grandmama for a great trip--and Happy Birthday, Aunt Heather! We already can't wait for our next visit!

Spicy, spicy!

2006-03-28T15:35:00.000-05:00

I finally finished painting my new spice cabinet that Mo and Nana made for me for my birthday. The spray-on chalkboard came out great! Patrick and I have been enjoying leaving chore lists for one another. Thank you so much Nana and Mo! It's so nice to have all my spices in one place and off of the fridge (where they were collecting a lot of dust) and out of my cabinet so I have room for other things. I love it!

The spice cabinet looks almost full already, but that's just because I have (for some reason) two jars of cumin, two of curry, two of parsley and three of chili powder. I guess when your spices aren't organized in one place it's easy to buy something you already have!

Crawling to Glory

2006-03-28T15:21:00.000-05:00

The eternal question in our house is, When will these boys ever walk? Or even, when will they crawl? Both of them have been getting their knees up under them occasionally, but they don't seem to be too serious yet about actually moving. Sam does like to stand though, so maybe he'll skip the whole crawling thing altogether...

Here are the boys hanging out in the box that their diapers came in. I haven't done a plug for 1 800 Diapers, so just to get it in--it's GREAT. You order online, they're cheap, and shipped free straight to your door. And they sell wipes and formula, too. It's like Christmas! Well, sort of...

NANAMO!

2006-03-28T13:57:00.000-05:00

We had a really great time with Nana and Mo. The boys thought that they were HILARIOUS. What with the boys dissolving in giggles when Mo would blow on his ginger beer bottle, or Nana playing the grunt/shrug game with Sam (the rules of which are pretty elaborate--you grunt and shrug, then I grunt and shrug, and repeat... repeatedly...). Eli apparently thought this game was so funny, that when he woke up that night crying (probably because his sixth and seventh teeth were coming in) and after I had picked him up and comforted him, he was lying in my arms with his head on my shoulder. As I'm sitting there wondering if he has fallen asleep, all of the sudden he gives a little grunt, then "heh, heh, heh, heh." Huh.

A Couple of Little Punks

2006-03-28T13:43:00.000-05:00

Nana and Mo came to visit this past weekend, and since the boys were looking a little shaggy, we decided they needed to be cleaned up a bit. They actually did very well with the clippers--only a few complaining protests and some "what are you doing back there" glances behind them--but mostly they were glued to Baby Einstein. I think their haircuts turned out great, but Nana is just hoping that their hair grows out before her Christmas pictures have to be taken (some have suggested that we take our Christmas pictures now!). You can see the before and after pictures here for Eli and below for Sam...

Pretty cool!

A couple of pairs of parachute pants and these boys would fit right in in the 80s! (Of course Sam might have before his haircut--I think that he was working his way to a Flock of Seagulls 'do...you can't really tell in this picture, though, just trust me...)

I don't think the Naval Academy will be letting Sam in any time soon (well, at least not for seventeen years or so).

Eli Plays the Crankmeister

2006-03-01T15:59:00.000-05:00

We went for a walk on Sunday to a little lake nearby our house. Annie had the greatest time swimming in the sub-zero degree water. The boys were all bundled up for the trip, munched on crackers, and came back in the greatest mood (it was a great day). Here they are blissfully making a tremendous mess with their zwieback toast. (You can tell that the boys have hat-head; their hair isn't its usually perky self...)

Well, we finally bit the bullet and got the boys larger car seats. Here we are enjoying them in our living room (don't worry, we will eventually be using them in the car).

Needless to say (as per the title of this blog), Eli has been a bit cranky today. Patrick and I have been saying all day, "Gee, Eli seems to be out of sorts today." So about three o'clock this afternoon I got around to thinking, hmm, I wonder what's wrong with Eli today? And I put my finger in his mouth and--lo and behold!--a TOOTH. That makes five for Eli. Five teeth and still has trouble sitting upright (I guess with that mouth full of teeth it's hard to hold that huge head up!). You can just see it in the picture, to the left of his two bottom teeth. Poor sweet Eli!

A little baby Tylenol, a teether (which he was obviously wanting!)...

...and the magic of Baby Einstein...

...and we are back to our usual selves! (Baby Einstein is the opiate of the masses in our household.)

Practicing Sitting

2006-02-26T07:51:00.000-05:00

Well, finally I am getting around to putting up some new pictures. We had some computer difficulties (again) so I have gotten a little behind on blogging (not that I ever got caught up!) and Patrick had to use the computer for his dissertation, or something like that... :) Like what, does he have to work? Come on, I gotta blog!

Here are some pictures of the boys practicing sitting in Sam's crib.

They can sit on their own (for a few seconds) but they really seem to like hanging on the crib railing.

We had a great time this past weekend with a visit from Grandmama while Dad was out of town. We had a trip to the doctor with one shot and a toe prick, which we didn't handle too well (but only because we were very tired) and we weighed 22 lbs. (Sam) and 20 lbs, 4 oz. (Eli). BIG boys!

Sam is having a little difficulty hanging in there!

Sweet Eli is having a lot of fun! No one told him his hair looks silly...

...And we all fall down!!

Well, I have to go put the boys down for their nap, but I will put up more pictures when we have them.

Ciao for now!

Do I Smell a Best Picture Oscar?

2006-02-11T07:31:00.000-05:00

This has to be one of the funniest internet videos of all time. If you liked Brokeback Mountain, you'll love Brokeback to the Future...

2006-02-07T23:33:00.000-05:00

After getting all those new toys for Christmas, there really is nothing like a mayonnaise lid. Go ahead and see if you can pry it from his unconscious grasp...

2006-02-07T23:28:00.001-05:00

Guess I didn't get Eli down for his nap in time.

2006-02-07T23:28:00.000-05:00

Thanks Nana for my Tiny Luv :)

2006-02-07T23:25:00.000-05:00

Say cheese? What does that mean?!?

2006-02-07T23:23:00.001-05:00

Falcana with a man on each arm...

2006-02-07T23:23:00.000-05:00

Snoozing puppy and groggy boy

2006-02-07T23:21:00.000-05:00

The cutest boys in the world!