Boogey Bopper

Drew has been pretty congested the past few days, so when I announced that I was going to find the nasal syringe to clean out his nose, Dave went RUNNING to him to tell him, "Drewby, mommy's getting the boogey bopper!" I have no idea where he gets the names for these things...silly kid!

Btw, on the nose note, I asked Dave to tell daddy all about his trip to the heart doctor. I was curious what he would tell him about his experience getting his ultrasound. He told Vince, "First I had to take off my shirt. Then, I laid down, then they put 3 buttons on me, then they put snot on me, then they took a stick and put it on the snot to see my heart." I laughed so hard, the gel did look (and probably felt) a lot like snot! :)

Cheap Fun

Dave has always been fixated by flashlights. And, he's gone through a few...
When I saw these in the Halloween bins at the store, I couldn't resist picking them up for both of them. We got home, loaded them with batteries, and they were off to discover EVERY dark place they could shine on in the house...closets, bathrooms, under beds, under couches, and because it was overcast, it was pretty dark in the house anyway. They shrieked as they found their spotlights EVERYWHERE. Unfortunately, Dave brought his to bed last night and fell asleep with his on, so his light is very dim today, but Drew's is still bright!

A Long 10 Days!

Yea, Grandpa's Home!

Grandpa had a great visit with Kim and Larry at their new home in Pearland, TX for 10 days! Dave and Drew were VERY excited to go and pick grandpa up at the airport and bring him home!!!

A Year Later...

Last year at 7 months of age, Drew just sat, looked up in admiration of his big brother and let Dave pile and throw the leaves all over and around him. Dave cracked up and thought it was pretty cool! Dad joined in on the fun and they had an incredible leaf fight. I think Dave won!

This year, when I announced that it was picture time with the leaves that had fallen in front of the house, Dave JUMPED up and down with GLEE! Of course, he remembered the fun he had last year. Drew was a good sport and let his brother throw and pile leaves all around and over him again. Though, he thought it was much more fun to throw and pile leaves all over mom.

What do you think will happen in next year's pictures??

My Analytical Thinker

So...I bought two 50" spiders and placed them in the kitchen - one over the light fixture and one on the hutch - while Dave was at preschool. When he came home, I let him walk into the kitchen first to surprise him and let him "discover" them. Well...he walked in...and just stared at this one over the kitchen table.

Finally, I said, "Well, Dave, what do you think?"
And his response..."So, mommy, did you climb on the table to put them up there?"
I said, "No, Dave, I think they walked in the front door and climbed up there when you were at school."
Dave, "No, mommy, you bought them from the grocery store."

Oh well, at least Drewby enjoyed carrying them on his lap at the grocery store.

Though, after lunch, I think Drew was even showing Dave how I climbed on the chairs to put them up...

10 Seconds Ago...

...there was a nice, neat, big leaf pile that I raked up. And now, there's more of Dave's infamous "alphabet soup." "But mom, leaves are so much fun...you can crunch them, you can put them in your dump truck, you can spread them out, you can do all the work later..."

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em...what a beautiful Fall day!

If It Sounds Too Good To Be True...

Yup...you know the saying...I was making the bed and tidying up a bit and thought, "Gee, it sure is quiet outside. Those cute boys are playing together so nicely. What a perfect fall day!" Then, I had to go outside...

Dirt + Water...I forgot to check/dump out the wagons and toys before letting them go outside. Sprinkler water made TOO tempting mud in their dump trucks and wagons. The instigator said, we are making "alphabet soup" and "cleaning our trucks with a mud bath, mom...boy, are we dirty!"

Noticeably missing from these pictures...the instigator...

Tootsie Pop - Where Have You Been All My Life?

So, brother, how 'bout a lick?

NO WAY!

Oh, ok, maybe just one...you are my brother...and it looks like I don't really have a choice...

We went to the Racquet Club's Kid's Halloween Party on Saturday night. The kids had a great time playing games, decorating a pumpkin with foam stickers, eating sugar snacks, and winning prizes! Drew won a tootsie pop, and while Vince was holding him, unbeknownst to Vince, he chewed through the wrapper and discovered, his new best friend! He smacked his lips and licked, and sucked until he got to the middle...and YUM, ate the tootsie pop. This took him at least a half-hour of intense concentration. Oh my! My kid, the sugar-fiend...this is a special friend, only second to red vines...and marshmallows...and gummy bears...and...

5 Star Lasagne

Does anyone recognize this lasagne thief? Caught him trying to sneak away...he must have eaten at least 5 servings...

Well, I guess tonight's lasagne was a big hit. EVERYONE ate it and Dave and Drew even asked for seconds (ok, so Drew's was minus the middle, but, this is big news for him to ask for seconds of anything!). It was supposed to be enough for 15 servings, though, we'll be lucky to have enough for 2 nights. I can't count how many servings the lasagne thief ate...it is his favorite. Everytime I looked up to the kitchen counter, I saw his fork getting one more bite...this was even after the 3+ servings at the table.

Conversation:
After dinner in our bedroom while playing with cars as dad irons for the week...
Mom: "So, did you love the lasagne tonight Dave?"
Dave: "Oh Yes!!!"
Mom: "Which do you love more...mommy or lasagne?"
Dave: "Sagne"
Dad snickers in the background.
Mom: "What do you think Drew loves more, mom or lasagne?"
Dave: "Sagne"
More snickering...
Mom: "What do you think Dad loves more, mom or lasagne?"
Dave: "Sagne!!!"
More snickering...am I a gluten for punishment or what?
Mom: "Then, who loves mom the most?"
Dave: "Oh, Mimi does! She loves you the most!"
In the morning at breakfast...
Mom: "So Dave, you really loved that lasagne last night, didn't you?"
Dave: "Right!"
Mom: "So, which do you love more, lasagne or mommy?"
Dave: "Mommy!"
Too bad the snickerer had already left for work!
Mom: "What does Drewby love more?"
Dave: "Mommy!"
Mom: "What does daddy love more?"
Dave: "Sagne!!!"
Yeah, I know, truth hurts...and the lasagne thief wasn't even around to coach him for this response!

Recipe:
Melt 1/4 cup butter. When it foams, add and brown chopped carrots, onions, celery, and eggplant (had it in the fridge from grandpa's garden!). Brown meat (I used ground turkey this time). Add 1 cup white wine. When evaporated, add tomatoes (again, from gpa's garden...used 6 BIG ones!), salt and pepper. Simmer for at least 2 hours. Mix ricotta cheese, chopped spinach, 2 eggs, 2 cups mozarella, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. Layer sauce, pasta, ricotta mix, sauce 4 times. Top with mozarella. Cover with foil and bake 375 for an hour.

Pizza Snob

Friday Night is Pizza Night in our household...it has been for quite a while. Though, now, instead of buying our pizza, I've been making it. Homemade dough and sauce...though not the pepperonis.

This shows Dave's disapproval for the first trial. Too much wheat flour, I surmise. First time he's left pizza to go off to play. Pizzas have gotten much better, Dave actually asked for seconds tonight...though not to Drew's standards yet...whatever those may be...depending on the given day...

Happy Birthday Mom!

Yikes! Not sure what happened to this post from October 2! Highlights...it was the first time I've heard Dave sing Happy Birthday aloud and Drew GIGGLED with delight during the singing! Also, we had to light the candles on the double-decker chocolate cake twice...so BOTH boys could blow out the candles for Grandma!

Happy Birthday Gramma Sue! We'll have to celebrate when you get back from camping!

Hung Out To Dry - All Ears!

I just had to take a picture of this...all Drew's crib friends were bathed (went through the laundry!) and hung by their ears to dry. When he went outside, he immediately saw his friends and laughed at the sight! I made jokes about "all ears," "hung out to dry," "growing on the laundry line instead of shrinking in the dryer" all day, noone laughed except for me. It's ok, it was worth it! :)

Nachos from Afar

Tickled Pink! :)

Yes...this picture was taken by me from INSIDE the house, on the couch, while munching on a plate of nachos - glorified chips and processed cheese - but, nonetheless, eaten while SITTING down, without anyone asking for a taste, climbing on a lap, or refereeing chaos. The last couple weeks, the boys have been learning how to play together...by themselves! Dave usually insists on the "plan" - but, lately, Drew comes up with the game to play. I even "got to" vacuum the house while Dave "taught" Drew how to play Diego bingo yesterday!