The Summer Love Triangle

We love our boys to death but they can be quite a pair.... 
This is Thomas

He's rambunctious, talks too loud,  has been known to tear up books, chews on things for no apparent reason, never stops asking questions (never....really), dislikes beards (yes like men with facial hair),  asks Daddy to mow the lawn every day,  has to have his socks very carefully put on otherwise they "hurt," screamed the entire time he got his teeth cleaned at the dentist- and I mean screamed-  I was sure the fire department was going to come and block off the street outside and that experience doesn't even compare to when he got the flu mist up his nose last winter. 

This is Ben

He's pretty analytical for 3 1/2; belligerent when he's hungry, very curious, insists on eating cereal every morning for "backfiss." loves to play games, scowls at people who smile at him, when he's watching something good on TV he could ignore the start of the apocalypse, never willingly allows his picture to be taken,  never willingly changes his clothes, makes up silly rhyming words, talks to himself (a family trait from the maternal side), and generally does not like his routine fruited with and absolutely won't buy the excuse that we're not going to McDonalds because Mommy doesn't have any money. 

But the little person in the middle here just thinks they're great!

It's been a lot of fun this summer watching the bond between Rachel and the boys solidify.  She's always been entertained by them and loved being around them but now that she's 20 months and busy she's always where they are and has to have what they have.  Her and Tommy spend a lot of time running around and being silly.  Ben is fun to torment anytime he's playing by himself.  If he has a toy out it's only a matter of time before Rachel runs off with an important piece of it.  Tommy is good to join in on any play.  Ben is always the guy that will share.  When the boys were gone overnight at their aunt's house Rachel's first words in the morning were, "Where's Toomy?  Where's Ben?

 

The End of the Boys First year of Preschool

The boys just finished up preschool for the year.  They've gone to a class on Thursdays and we've been very pleased with the experience.  They've learned songs,  socialized with a 12 other students,  been exposed to the alphabet,  done artwork using a variety of mediums and had an all around good time.  Here's their first day and last day pictures.  I can see changes in their faces and Ben has grown around an inch and Tommy has grown around  1 1/2 inches.

Apparently the sun shines directly on our front door in the springtime.

And this little person went with me to drop them off in her stroller last September.

By May she was walking in with me to go get the boys.

Weekend Adventures

The following photos are from some past adventures we've gone on with the kids.  The first set is of a local community event,  Kidz Dig Rigz.  Local businesses and city departments brought vehicles of all sorts for kids to climb on.  What could be more up our alley?   The second batch is of a day trip to Palouse Falls.  The boys had fun hiking around and we saw a marmot and a garter snake.  Rachel saw it first since it had crossed the path under her stroller! 

Rachel with her free worker hat.  Once she was let out of the this stroller she successfully evaded it the next two hours!

I know what you're thinking:  Christmas card photo done!

Rachel loved that police man.  So did the cheeseball at the top of the photo!

The very old yet popular police dog.

Picnic lunch.  Mommy forgot plates!

Chitchat that (mostly) Takes Place in the Bathroom.

Ben: Where do you find glasses that don't come with a beard?  Explanation:  We have some Groucho Marx glasses and this is in response to Thomas finding Aaron's swim goggles.

Daddy: Why ARE you in (bathroom)here?
Thomas:  Because I like to be with you.

Benjamin about Thomas: I'm getting awfully tired of that kid!

Benjamin when caught sneaking a drink of coke:  Well,  you shouldn't have put it so close to my plate it should be there by yours.  ( yes,  it will be nice to have an attorney in the family)

Mommy: You guys are going to go with Daddy on Saturday and have an adventure while we have a baby shower here for Andrew's mommy.
Tommy:  How are you going to shower with babies?

Rachel: Ow On  = all gone!
I sit
more
mine!
MaMA
Da DA
Bike
woof woof = dog


Help

Funny stuff...I forgot to post Last February!

Thomas:  When it gets cold the birds fly to San Diego.

Ben: Can I have a strawberry? Me: Yes, here." Ben Did you wash it?

While I'm showing off to Aaron three mysterious bug bites on Mommy's back, Thomas: Did kitty bite you?"

 I was catching a little snooze during their naptime and pretended to still be asleep when I heard feet in the hall.   
Ben: Mommy's not in there kitty is in there,  I'm scared of kitty,  I'm going to look for Mommy upstairs.
Thomas: I see her head up there. 
Ben: Oh, Mommeee..

Thomas: I'm putting this (play phone) up here (counter) so Rachel can't get it. 
Mom: Why can't Rachel play with it?  You don't want to share it?
Ben: Yeah, like the boy with the fishes (the bible story of the loaves and fishes).

Thomas: I want to go outside with you and Ben and Rachel. 
Mommy: It's too cold out for Rachel. 
Thomas: She has a coat. 
Me:  I think she wants to play in the house.
Thomas (as I'm finishing last sentence): I'll go get her coat.

Ben,  while we were out shopping: Afterwards, if I be a good boy, we can get lunch at McDonalds,  you have money.

Thomas: After dinner we can get DERZert!

Springtime this and that

I have nothing particularly clever to post this time just some photos of what we've been up to.  We've been enjoying the on and off nice weather, Easter, yard projects, and the constantly changing kiddos.

Renaissance Grandpa. He even does windows!

Ben helping Daddy put some plants in the front. Daddy is behind that pussy willow tree...

Grandma and Grandpa with Rachel on Easter. 

Playing instruments outside,  sorry neighbors!

Look who has enough hair for piggies!

Guess who's 18 months now?

Made a little oasis of our bedroom patio.

Even the Biggest Boy Needs a Little Security.

From around the age of 15 months or so our boys have a favorite blanket.  I believe the attachment started with Tommy.  He's the more tactile of the two and before requiring this blue striped blanket he had a stuffed dog, and a bear toy that was important.  I think Ben just followed Tommy's example. Now a good fraction of my day is spent locating blue blankets. Often they're left behind in their bed or under the table.  Thomas looks for his when he's tired, upset, or needs something to hold when watching TV.  I've even recently sewed the tag back on as he's rubbed the stitching loose.   Even Rachel knows the importance of this blue blanket  to Thomas.  When she wants some attention from her brother she swipes it and trots off leaving him going "Bwahhh!  My blue blanket!"  

 

Ben modeling.

 Recently something in the laundry basket caught my eye.  I realized that there's more than two "security blankets"  around here.  There is a textile that has existed before my time,  it's origin unknown to me.  Perhaps it has just always been.  It makes it's appearance several times a week if not daily.  It's been washed countless times.  For many of the big and small events in my life it's been there.  It's been captured in photos predating the ones shown here,  before we were digital.  My earliest memory of it would be Fall of 1999,  with it (and him) standing in my college doorway being worn with tattered shorts and snowboard socks and those blue eyes.  The whole package quite charming to me.   Like an old soldier I'm sure it will never die.  It will probably just fray away to nothing.  The fibers holding it together will simple fail and it will blow away in the wind....

Aaron's sweatshirt

With baby Ben,  San Diego 2007

With baby Thomas, 2008

Around Christmas Thomas 1 year old.

Doing yard work. 

Going night nights.

Rachel 5 hours old... 2009

Sledding!

Yard work last week.

Those shorts are a whole other post!