Boots and Bravery

Tom has been working on the tree house every day after work.

and it's almost done!

two more posts and he can put up the rest of the railing so they can go up on the platform.

Right now they are allowed to climb up the steps.. which will eventually have a railing.

And go down the slide.

Tommy wanted his Daddy to hold his hand on the way down.

But Daddy said no.... he would catch him.

Tommy was having none of it.... 

he was determined not to go unless someone was holding his hand.

By the way I didn't tell him to wear those boots.

I said "go get your flip flops"

He came back saying....  

"Boots Ma! BOOTS! No fayip fyops" 

I choose my battles... and unless its Sunday morning I don't argue with a two year old about footwear.

Please???

He was angry... obviously.... but I'm not spending my summer helping him down a slide.

So since he was to scared to go down by himself the "right" way....

He decided this way was safer... maybe cause he couldn't see where he was going?

Who knows what's going on in his brain.

 He was going Fast!

By the end of the night his poor little knees were bright red and sore... but he couldn't stop smiling.

Here is Isabella... once again, not looking at the camera.

When I do get her to look at the camera she suddenly looks like she has just woken up... 

I hope this is only a phase.

Candid shots are the way to go for now :)
More work tonight maybe, so more pictures later.
Off to make some dinner!

The Boys are Back in Town

Today we had a play date with Aunt "B" and the boys!

I like saying "Aunt B".... it sounds so Mayberry :)

 

 AJ and Tommy are three months apart, 

The twins and Isabella are 36 hours apart.

It was a busy two days, especially for my mother in law.

I didn't get a picture of just the three of them today, but here they are just at over a year old.

Just imagine them taller and thinner... the boys have less hair now.... Bella has more, finally.

People always think they are triplets.

 Can't imagine why.

 This was the time out chair... although I don't think this one was in trouble at this particular time.

 parts of the tree house were everywhere.

So we gave them sidewalk chalk, 

made sure all the rusty nails were hammered down, and let them go to town.

"say cheese guys.... TS... quit making that face...."

 

 "Bella.... look at the camera.... TS! quit making that face!"

 "JACK... Move!!! don't stick out your tongues!!! TS.... Quit making that face!!"

 

 "oh forget it"

 

 "I can't get the chalk"

 Notice the forehead.

 Bella is not a climber... but her "boys" are.... TS to the rescue.

 about every five minutes one of them would bring us a "flower"

 

 She is nearly incapable of looking at the camera.... if you see a shot where she is?

It was most likely an accident. 

 

 And here is how we did lunch... because we are lazy hard-working mommies who deserve a break!

 twenty-five or so chicken nuggets on a large plate... every man for himself

 

 lovely sweetheart, very ladylike.

 Oh.... AJ.... no no no.... see his brother? That look is for his mom, he is delighted...

See Tommy? He is shocked.

The twins and AJ, are rough and tumble Boys with a capital B.

Tommy is all boy also... but he is a boy being raised by a big sister.

Hence he is a little neater.

And yes I'm helping raise him but you can give Bella all the credit for his love of dresses and high heels.

Someday he'll be in therapy because of this picture.....

Anyway....

 

 AJ looks bored doesn't he? His face is cracking me up.

 Here is the aftermath.... we learned something important today, 

they eat much better when there is only one plate.

I'm sure a psychologist could explain it better, but basically I think they were afraid of starvation.

They unconsciously did the math...  

one plate, five of us... I better eat!!!

It was all very discovery channel.

Like when five lions are eating one gazelle.

Yes they have all seen the Lion King.

Oh.... Daniel was here too... eating, sleeping... you know the usual.

 Tickle Tickle!

And since it was a warm one... Popsicle all around!

 ALL around...

on the their legs, 

on the chair, 

on the floor,

Later I found out Jacks hair was dyed pink in spots....

I didn't look to close... it could be chalk... either way.

It was a good day...

we need more days like this one...

Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go pass out on my bed.... until Monday....

Men at Work, Dogs in Therapy....

I have no wisdom to spout here today, no funny stories, no energy for anything really.

I am having a weird and fairly unproductive day.

I can't seem to get ahead of the housework anymore, 

This has been the norm practically since Daniel was born. He is a sweet "easy" baby... but he is a baby.

So we have more to do... less time to do it in... and I am tired.

Bone weary.

And if I'm tired then Tom must be near death.

The man never stops working! He always has something he needs to be doing lately and so tonight I'm on my own with the little ones, probably until Letterman comes on.

I'm glad he is a hard worker though... I'm even more glad when he is hard at work right outside my kitchen window where I can stare at him like a thirteen year old who is in love for the first time...

 I'm so glad he doesn't wear a suit to work everyday... this is a way better look in my opinion.

 When I took this picture I told him it was the "money shot"... I love to make him blush by telling him I"m going to blog about him!

So the tree house is progressing slowly, it has been unseasonably cold the last few days, and Tom has been busy, but this weekend looks promising.

When i say "promising" I mean warm enough to sit outside and watch him work all day...
after he lets me sleep in on Saturday.... 

Are you reading this baby??? 

Plleeaaasseee??? Just till ten thirty?

Anyway..

We have been enjoying the great indoors too. Camping out between the boys cribs.

And I am brightening up the cold cloudy weather with my happy toes.

They make me disproportionately happy.....

Here are some more pictures of the kids "campin" without my freakishly long toes in the way.

 

Ahhh poor Jack...
I think he need to get outside more than the average pup. I read that boxers get destructive if they don't get enough attention....
remember the snow white massacre?

Well in the last few days he has eaten  her friend sleeping beauty, 

the back legs of a large plastic grasshopper, 

a toy frog,

a stuffed elephants trunk,

an earring,

a barbie hairbrush,

an Easter egg filled with bubble stuff...

and a partridge in a pear tree.....

See!? ... this is why I blog... now that I wrote it out like that I'm not nearly as angry...

But still this has to stop!

I bought those toys for my children to destroy... not my dog.

Also I'm afraid if he continues down this path of destruction and crime
I will have to hide Isabella's favorite Snow White dress...
Does anyone else think he is looking at her like she is dinner?

Does anyone know the number of a good Doggy therapist?

And I guess I lied... I did have a funny story after all.

My Mother's Poem

I was complaining about not being able to find a half hour to clean my bathroom yesterday and my very wise mother reminded me of this....
I have no idea who wrote this but my mom had a version of it on the wall when we were little.

I hope my children
look back on today
and see parents
who had time to play.

Dusting and scrubbing
can wait 'till tomorrow
for babies grow fast
we learn to our sorrow.

There will be years
for cleaning and cooking
but children grow up
when we are not looking.

So settle down cobwebs
and dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby
and babies don't keep.

In Love and War... and Easter Eggs!

The following is a ridiculous amount of pictures from our Easter egg hunt at Nana and Pappy's house...its almost to much cuteness for mere humans to handle....you have been warned....

looking out the window for eggs!

The hunt for the baskets begins, Isabella said we had to do this first so she would have a basket to carry all the eggs she was going to find... the girl thinks ahead.

maybe in the playroom....

not a basket... but something....

Swords!!! Yay!!! Now we can beat each other and mom and dad won't yell!!!

...or we could just hit Nana and Aunt Julie... either way....

Finally, Isabella finds the basket....Tommy is still over on the battlefront trying to finish off Nana :)

It must seem that all Daniel does is eat while the rest of us have fun... not true... sometimes he sleeps :)

Tommy is getting ready to hunt.... he feels protective head gear is more important than and egg receptacle.

Nana is giving her the pep talk....

Or the guilt trip... 

"Tommy is little, let him find some too."

I too am the oldest child, so I've got that speech memorized.

And off we go... with cute shoes of course....

And now my favorite part of the whole day!

Bella found the last egg... then she waited for her brother and showed him where it was..

My heart is happy :)

And so is Tommy's!

So this is what my mom meant when she said there will be moments of unspeakable joy...

I love that they love each other.

I remember watching Isabella play at a playground when she was little and I was pregnant with Tommy and my heart ached for her all alone, surrounded by all those big kids, she looked a little lost, and more than a little overwhelmed! This is a big part of why we have three kids and we will hopefully have more, there is something special about someone with whom you share your whole history, someone who was there with you from the beginning. 

If you want to know how your girl will treat you after marriage, just listen to her talking to her little brother.  ~Sam Levenson

 

To the outside world we all grow old. 

But not to brothers and sisters. 

We know each other as we always were.  

We know each other's hearts. 

We share private family jokes. 

We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.  

We live outside the touch of time.  

~Clara Ortega