Fashion Sense

I don't know why I must stoop to getting fashion advice from a three-year old, but what's a woman to do? I put an outfit together I needed to get a thumbs up or thumbs down on. I admit, I have had to get some opinions from my pint-sized posse before. Jason is very interested in my necklaces. So, I asked him today what he thought of a belt I used over a shirt. I asked him if he thought it looked "crazy" together. He told me it did look crazy and that I shouldn't wear it. I took his advice to heart.

Michael could care less about my fashion dilemma. He's too busy screaming these days. He's such a good-natured kid, but lately, his frustrations are obviously at a boiling point. He can't speak well, yet, and words like "mommy," "daddy," and "thank you" just aren't cutting it.



Grandma and Grandpa are coming to visit us for the weekend. We can't wait to see them!

Making a Splash

Jason's summer has been full of fun. I'm pretty sure he'll agree if you ask him. He's really beginning to take to the water. Here he is splasing around with his friend, Ethan. His second round of swimming lessons starts in two weeks. Michael will actually get the chance to get in the water, too. Lessons for him begin as well. But Michael has no fear. He jumps in, he blows bubbles, he is more comfortable in the water than Jason ever was. We're looking forward to the water antics.

First Day of School

I've had a lot to share, but the blog has been down for some reason. So, excuse the tardy entry. Jason started his first day at a new Montessori school on Monday, and is loving it! You could chalk it up to maturity, maybe he's getting more used to the whole drop off/pick up thing. But, he walked into the classroom bright and early Monday morning, and he didn't look back. If he had, he would have seen all the mothers standing there crying, including me. Good thing I had to be in at work early.

Doug has picked up a smiling Jason every day since. And, his teachers are already marveling at his love of puzzles.

And, Michael's verbal skills may be doing just fine. I have been telling Michael how much I love him, oh, I don't know, 20 times a day since the day he was born. I firmly believe he returned the love the other day. It sounded like this: "ah wwu yiu." Close enough for me. In this picture, he's blowing all of you kisses.



Michael is shaking off a few bruises, too. He took a tumble at the playground the other day, while I was at work. But, Doug and I laughed at a conversation Jason had with his little brother after the fall. Doug was trying to comfort the crying baby, brushing off wood chips from his bruised face, that kind of thing. He told Jason that he used to fall as a baby, trying to develop that whole empathy thing. And, it must have worked! Jason turned to Michael and said, "It's OK, Baby Michael. Don't cry. I used to fall when I was baby, but I didn't cry. It's ok." I'm just happy the bruises have healed.

Don't Eat a Jason Creation

Over the last couple of days, Jason has exhibited an imaginative side we didn't really know he had. For example, during his nighttime bath, he told me he was busy preparing a meal of eggs. He was stirring and stirring furiously, then decided he needed some seasonings. I asked him what he was going to add. Without missing a beat, he told me, "three glasses of salt and four glasses of wine." What are we teaching this kid??

And, Michael is not going to be left out of anything these days. Lately, he appears not to realize he is not as old as his big brother. Yesterday, he started trying to go down the stairs face forward. Since he topples quite easily, the thought of him doing that without our supervision gives me chills. He is simply copying what he sees Jason doing, though. He mimics sounds, yelps, actions. For example, tonight, he picked up a plate and used it as his "driving wheel," as Jason likes to call it. Jason was using a wheel of his own. He told me he was heading to Wal-mart. I asked him if he had enough money. Yes, he told me. Six dollars, and eight coins. I asked him what he was buying. Milk, orange juice, chicken, rice, and of course, what else? Video games.

Busch Gardens

We're back after a whirlwind trip up the East Coast. Our visit to Atlantic City was a good one, but, boy, are we glad to be home! The boys enjoyed visiting with relatives, eating candy, and receiving gifts. Not in that order.
You can see, no matter the location, boys will be boys. Our hotel room floor became the arena for several wrestling matches. We're still not sure who won. But, we know it wasn't the people who could hear Michael shrieking from clear across the hall--on the other side of our door!






We are not letting our days off together go to waste. We visited Busch Gardens today, and despite a driving rain that soaked the boys' shorts and t-shirts, they had a blast. The park had plenty of rides for little ones. And since the rain made it a bit uncomfortable outside for many, we benefited by enjoying almost no lines! We let the boys get on one ride together, just the two of them. It was so sweet. Jason made sure Michael was buckled in before he turned his attention to driving. Of course, at the end of the ride, Jason stepped over his little brother in his haste to get out. Obviously, we have a little more work to do! You can see Jason taking a turn in the bumper cars. On the way home, he told us, very seriously, that during that particular ride, there were a lot of accidents. But he did tell us, he wouldn't mind going back.