Pool time

Yes, we do have a junior Olympic size neighborhood pool that JUST opened, but it's almost as much fun to play in our kiddie pool in the driveway :)

Chores

We tried to institute a chore chart with Brady, but we're not very good about sticking with it. He is in the habit of making his bed in the morning and he's always been great about keeping his room [relatively] neat and picking up his toys.

It used to be his 'chore' to feed Maggie, but Rudy seems to have picked up that one. Of course, I'll never be the one to explain that it's a chore, not a treat :)

Sweet Dreams

It cracks me up the various positions we find them in when we check on them at night. They always look so relaxed and chill!

Night at the lanes....

We went bowling with "the neighbors" Sunday evening. Brady took his game pretty seriously (perhaps a little too much so...seems we're raising quite the competitor!).

Rudy, on the other hand, could not have been less concerned with the bowling...

Four little monkeys

When James and I first got married, our very first neighborly neighbors lived in the townhouse right next to ours. Even though we moved away 7 years ago, they're still (and always will be) "the neighbors."

They visited us from the Chicago this weekend and the kids hit it off immediately - no bashfulness here!

Sydney and Brady were so excited about sleeping in the same room. (Don't worry - different beds!)

Sydney brought our boys each a "lolly" and a new pair of shades. Together, they made up a pretty slick bunch.

We had fun just hanging out - kind of like old times, except a lot louder and more chaotic with four little guys. It's great to have such great friends!

Foul language

Everyone has a story about their kids using inappropriate language. We have fairly regular conversations with Brady about what is appropriate and what is not...and I'll always remember his first and most shockingingly inappropriate phrase: we're getting ready to head out the door when he was about 2.5. I was gathering various supplies we needed for the day and he was patiently waiting by the door, shoes on, ready to go. Finally, in the most casual voice, he says: "Let's go, *itch." He even repeated it when I asked him what he said - he had no idea it was inappropriate! I have NO idea where he would have picked up that little gem...can you imagine coming from this sweet face:

I was once again reminded of this treasure of a story this afternoon. We were playing outside and Rudy hands me a ball and says, "*itch." What? He repeats and then turns around and grabs his baseball bat. Ahhh...Pitch! [sigh of relief!]

My little...elephant?

Rudy was (surprisingly) climbing on something today. I pulled him off and asked him if he was a little monkey...

Nooo...
No? You're not a little monkey? What are you?
[elephant noise]
You're a little elephant?
Yup!

Look what Rudy learned

He picked up this new song from Brady's friends...

Belly Buttons

James took the kids to a festival this weekend. Rudy and one of his friends were apparently comparing belly buttons. I love his hand-in-the-pocket, finger-in-the-button stance!

I wish I could have read their minds!

Counting with Rudy

We were in the car on the way to preschool yesterday. Brady is singing (Dance, Dance...as usual!) and Rudy is saying what sounds like "to to tree tree".

The following conversation follows the trend of many dialogs I have with Rudy:

R: to to tree tree
K: choo choo train? Did you hear a choo choo train?
R: Noooo! to to tree tree
K: You didn't see a choo choo train?
R: Nope. [pointing out the window] to to tree tree
K: What do you see?
R: Trees!
K: Oh, you see the trees?
R: To to tree tree.
K: Oh...you're counting the trees? One two three trees?
R: Yeah. Yu-ess! Trees!

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In case it hasn't yet become obvious, I'm attempting to use this blog to journal a bit about the joys, trials, and tribulations (thankfully there are more joys than trials and tribulations!) of my life with my kids.

I've never been successful at keeping a diary, but I am great at taking tons of pictures. (Notice great at taking tons of pictures, not great at taking tons of great pictures.)

I have snippets of "Bradyisms" that James and I have written over the past 4 years, but nothing consistent. Brady asked us last week what funny things he used to say, and I froze! Couldn't remember a single thing - and he was (is) one funny kid! Remember: turn the dark on, cover you up, and buckle me out?

I figure if I'm taking the time to post the pictures here I can almost as easily take a few minutes to share all of the stories that I keep meaning to jot down. We'll see...

My new favorite pictures

We needed to get out of the house and there was a break in the drizzly weather. We went exploring on the golf course, where Rudy and I had seen a beaver the day before.

Ssshhh...we're hunting for beavers!

"Fishing" - they kept catching bigger and bigger fish!

Rainy and cold

Another dreary, chilly, drizzly day. Seems like we've had a lot of those lately. James is out of town. Oh - and we're trying to save money on gas by not driving to town on non- preschool days. I think we'll make it through the day, but it might get a little rough around here this afternoon!

Moms Day

These mother/father days are a lot of pressure. You take what would be a perfectly lovely Sunday and somehow feel like you have to make it into something even more lovely and wonderful. Our neighbor said that her family doesn't get too excited about mothers day because she feels like every day is mothers day...I can't say I believe that kind of nonsense! Even if there are no grand plans for the day, it's nice to be excused from breakfast duty, kitchen clean up, and general housekeeping. (Not that I really need an excuse...have you been in my house??)

The weather did not cooperate with our "grand plans," such as they were. We were hoping to get in a hike or bike ride or maybe plant our veggie garden. Rainy and low 60s though - outside activities didn't really sound fun. We were stumped! So, I caved (unusual, I know) and gave James his fathers day present - a HUGE 8-person tent. So huge, in fact, that when we proceeded to set it up in the family room, we had to move the couch into the kitchen.

Fun day though - played games and colored in our tent. Much cooler than playing games and coloring on the floor!

Soccer mom

Today was craft day with the moms' club. The boys decorated plates for me for mothers day. Brady drew a picture of our minivan on ours. Not sure what that says about our family, that he chooses to draw a minivan for me. At the very least, I guess it means I'm officially a soccer mom :)

Quiet time

Brady rarely naps these days, but I still try to send him up for quiet time a few days a week. Apparently he was completely worn out from our DC trip. He's fallen asleep upstairs several days this week.

I always wonder what this process must look like. Does he consciously decide to nap on the floor, or does he just all of a sudden get so tired that he can't even drag himself into bed?

Rudy's dinosaur

Who knew Rudy was such an artist? He drew this picture and then told me it was a dinosaur. It's a pretty good T-rex too!

Notice that his word for dinosaur is the same as his word for doughnut!

Day at the zoo

I think the best part of the zoo for the boys was climbing on all the railings, the playground (which is a giant pizza!), and the ice cream!

Take me out to the ballgame

We met up with some friends and spent the afternoon at the ball park. With the exception of Brady's constant refrain asking for more snacks, it was a great day. Weather was perfect - sunny and breezy - and the home team won!

What a trouper!

Rudy made it all the way until about the sixth inning (way past his nap time) before he finally gave in.

Same deal at the zoo on Monday - we left the hotel around 9. He walked all through the metro stations and all over the zoo until 2:00. Then, he just came to me and said, "Up." I picked him up, he put his head down and slept for an hour and a half.

Brady did even better - walking from the time we left the hotel until we met James that afternoon at 4:30. He had one little period walking up the hill to leave the zoo where he was just "so tired", but we stopped for some zoo-animal shaped chicken nuggets. About 10 minutes after he ate those, he told me he was out of energy. I said the nuggets must have gotten stuck somewhere in his body. So, he spent the several-block walk to the metro shaking the nuggets loose from his toes, fingers, and ears so they could give him more energy.

These are a few of my favorite words...

ME!

MINE!

NO!

But at least he's mastered the associated facial expressions!

Hard Work

Brady, Rudy, and I planted over 100 plants last week. It was hard work, but they were great helpers!

Rainy days

Maybe you can't tell in these pictures, but these are some wet and dirty kids! We had several rainy days in a row and we did a lot of puddle jumping!

Buddies

Most of the time, they are good buddies. It's definitely a case of monkey see, monkey do...but it works both ways. Rudy imitates everything Brady does (flying leaps off the couch, swinging on the his belly, goofy faces); Brady wants to do/have everything that Rudy does.

It's a tough thing, being the oldest (trust me, I remember). What do you mean, I don't get an M&M for peeing on the potty? Why can't I have a snack right after my breakfast, even though Rudy was up and breakfasted an hour before I was?

But - it's all "character building" right - these are the experiences and trials that make them better men?

Wow - men - that word makes me want to cry!