Wrestlemania

Growing up, I don't recall ever taking part in this.



This is where the boys beat up on each other. That usually includes all the boys in the house, except the baby. And that's only because Joshua thinks he's pretty tough.

Joshua is taking more and more steps now, and showing off, too. He likes to carry things in BOTH hands while he meanders around the house.

Sometimes, though, he needs to get places quick. That's when he drops down to all fours.



On this night, Joshua decided it was time he made a name for himself in our Wrestlemania event. Look at Doug's face. Priceless. The baby just beaned him with the palm of his hand.



I am so outnumbered.

Happy to be home

We have returned from a whirlwind tour up the Jersey Shore.
Needless to say, we are thrilled to be back home.

On the way back, we took the Cape May Ferry, like we always do.
However, on that ride, we were introduced to what once was Hurricane Bill.

We obviously desperately wanted to get home, because even knowing there was a threat of high seas, we pushed along and stuck with our ferry reservation.

Thankfully, our crew did fine during the turbulent journey. I can't say everyone on the boat did, though. I saw many spots that had to eventually be cleaned up and disinfected. Ick.

Despite our rough ride home, the five of us truly had a great trip.
Here's a look at us on the ferry ride going there--during a ride that wasn't quite so bouncy.

Thank goodness for Uncle Tim, who handled the boys with ease.



Have I mentioned how much we enjoy being with our baby?




We kept it simple on the boat ride--cheesy snacks, some fruit--things the boys ate up. Of course, ten minutes later, they wanted to know when we would arrive at our destination.




All I have to say is thank goodness for putt putt.



We caught up with Amah and Akong, as well as Uncle Frank and Aunt Cora, Aunt Elisa, Uncle Jose, and Abbie, Asha, and Alaric. Quite a nice mini family reunion.

And the boys--while they enjoyed the grown-up talk and the hugging (right!)--they don't really care where they go, as along as putt putt is somehow involved. That, and dessert.




We somehow managed to squeeze in two games of putt putt while we were there, at two different times. This under the hot Jersey sun. Atlantic City was under some sort of a heat wave while we were there, so it was a little steamy outside. But, truly, the boys did not notice.

Jason's greatest memory of the trip is his hole-in-one on that course. He talked about that for minutes!

And then came Michael's greatest moment.

We took a trip to the arcade, you know, one of those Chuck E Cheese type places, where you play games with tickets that come shooting out. Michael somehow hit a jackpot on some ball drop game. Even I was a little amazed. The bells on the machine started ringing, the voice on the machine proclaimed him a winner. In the end, more than 300 tickets spewed out. Michael was in heaven, and he told everyone/he is telling everyone who will listen that he is a winner of a jackpot. They start young, don't they?




All the boys these past few days have been extremely funny. They just won't stop talking.

Michael especially.
Before we left, I guess he was excited about our pending trip. He pulled me over to him, had me bend down, and he whispered in my ear, "You are the loveliest of them all."

Yes, ladies, we're doing some hands-on training here!

Then, all of us were involved in some sort of twenty questions game to pass the time. And Michael surprised us all by running away with the questions. For example, one that made us fall over laughing.

Michael said, "What kind of mirror do I like? A) a mirror made of bricks, B) a mirror with carrots on it, or C) a clean mirror?" Thankfully, the right answer was C.

And, finally, on our journey back, as we were crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, we were discussing our days of vacation. And, I think we were talking about Michael's first trip on the Ferry several years ago. And we were surprised that Michael remembered.

To which he said, "I left it in my mind."

Boy, we can't wait to see what else he leaves in there.

Until next time!

Funny people

I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. We're back from a whirlwind visit to Atlantic City, and I was going through our pictures.

Obviously, I missed something during this 90 degree day, when I snapped this picture.



Honestly, it looks like we picked up random people for a family photo--people who just weren't thrilled to be sharing space.

At least Tim is smiling. Not sure what the others are doing.

Stories to come!

Summer lovin'

Talk about music appreciation.

The boys think they are some sort of Simon Cowell/Randy Jackson duo. Jason, by the way, I see him taking on the more Cowell-like tone.

During snack time today, the boys were discussing their favorite tunes. Michael mentioned "Flashdance" (all my fault) and "Since You've Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson (we appreciate it, Kidz Bop). Jason waffles between "Through the Fire and Flames" by DragonForce and "Ruby" by the Kaiser Chiefs. We have Guitar Hero to thank for his varied and decidedly rock 'n roll musical tastes. It's something else to have your six-year-old hum, "Talk Dirty to Me." He insists he doesn't sing it, though.

Michael said to me today, "Mommy, do you know what American Idol is?"

I knew this was going to be a doozy.

"Yes, Michael, I do," I said.

But something in his shoulders, in his big brown eyes, his eyebrows, told me he didn't believe me. Then he backed it up with his voice.

"NO, you don't," he said. "It's a little like Guitar Hero."

We left it at that.



Yup, still waiting for full mobility. But, look, it's our baby, standing on his own power.

Meanwhile, what is it about boys and their clothes?
First, stains.

Where do they come from?
And why don't they want to leave?

Jason actually wasn't a problem. He was a pretty tidy eater.

Michael wasn't bad, either.

This baby is another matter.



Stains as far as the eye can see.
And they don't come out.

One thing that will be moving on out, though, is this child's 70's Peter Brady haircut. I've been waiting so I could get all of them trimmed at the same time. I'd say I've waited long enough.



Cheers!

Three of a kind

It is not often the boys will sit still long enough for me to snap a picture.

Normally, when I refer to the boys, I'm just talking about Jason and Michael. The ones who can walk.

But, this photo just fell into my lap, so to speak.

Baby Joshua had just woken up from a nap. I brought him downstairs and placed him on the floor. He crawled onto the couch where his big brothers were sitting, and pulled up a seat himself.

What were they watching?



Wouldn't you know it?
That Spongebob.

Fascinating to these three brothers.



And it looks like the youngest one is already hooked.

Any day now...

We are this close to a walking 15-month-old.

But not quite yet.



Baby Joshua enjoys pushing things. He pushes his riding toy, stools, blocks across the floor.
He even stands by himself for seconds at a time. Not since that first time at Uncle Frank's house has he ventured to take a step, though. We are hopeful.

Of course, he is still recovering.



Poor baby got the croup. It's that terrible cough that sounds like a barking seal. He had a slight fever, was lethargic, didn't eat, all of it. We took him to the doctor, who gave him some steroids. I think he's on the road to recovery.

He looks better, doesn't he?

Really, though, there are some benefits when he doesn't feel well.

That's the only time he'll sit still enough for you to hold him.

The big dig

Jason and Michael love getting presents. No surprise there.

We were so happy to find the box full of goodies that came in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa last week. Thank you so much for the puzzles, cool notepads, books, and other wonderful playthings.

What surprised me was how one of the gifts occupied both boys for a good two hours. TWO HOURS! If I had known this would happen, I would have started a project of some sort. Like cleaned the bathrooms or something.

The boys looked more like archaeologists as they extracted "dinosaur" bones from an egg-shaped blob of clay.



Look at the concentration.

It got a little messy, but I let it slide. Clay got everywhere. Truly, though, it was really very easy to clean up. And, every time I looked up, every time I expected to start the washing away process, both boys started digging again.



Michael was a little frustrated. He couldn't get at the little dinosaur pieces as fast as his big brother. Notice his eyebrows working overtime as well.

Eventually, he found all of them. Jason did, too.

And then it was off to the next thing.