3rd Birthday

Last Friday night we celebrated the boys 3rd birthday. They said they wanted a Thomas Party. I made their cake again this year. Tad helped me when he got home late Thursday night. The Wilton Thomas pan was retired and I didn't plan ahead enough to find one so we created this. I wasn't crazy about the way it turned out but they loved it.

My parents and brother came over for dinner. With the holidays and Tad's work schedule we didn't plan anything big except pizza, cake, and presents. The boys woke up from their nap to find some Thomas decorations around the house. They couldn't wait for the "party". Peyton (L) Connor (R)

They kept asking when their friends were coming but we had family only so they were a little confused. I guess next year it will be time for a party with friends.

Anyway they loved ALL their presents. Uncle Brian gave them each a pack of the Disney Cars. They opened these first and we couldn't get them to put them down and open their next present. We had to take them away just to keep them unwrapping.



My mom bought them these adorable Christmas outfits- we hope to use for our card picture. They were excited b/c it has a train on the sweater. (My mom & Peyton)

Meme and Papa (Tad's parents) bought them the Deluxe Thomas Roundhouse for their train table. They were SO excited. I wish they could have seen them open it in person. I'm working on uploading a video of it b/c they were besides themselves. My dad gave them some new trains and once they opened the roundhouse they didn't put that or the new trains down.



While they were so busy playing with the new roundhouse and trains, Tad & I brought out our gift- a Thomas Train Table. We carried this from the guest room, through the foyer, and into the living room and they never saw what we were doing. We even set up some track, covered the table w/ wrapping paper and had to call them in to see they had another gift. They were really excited. We got it on tape. As soon as they opened it, they stopped and said "get the trains" and took off running after their new trains in the other room. They came running right back and started playing w/ everything.

We told them it was time for cake (Peyton had wanted it since 8 am that day). They both came into the kitchen, we sang to them, but as soon as they blew out the candles they both said " I'm done" and hopped down. We asked them where they were going and they said "to play with the roundhouse and train table". So we laughed, let them play, cut the cake and then I came in and asked them again if they wanted to come for ice cream and cake and they said "no- we're playing with the roundhouse". So there you have it. The rest of us had their birthday cake and finally 2 hours later once my family left and they played for a while, they had a piece of cake as their bedtime snack...even Connor tried it this time. It was crazy how much they just wanted to play w/ that.




It was a really fun time. The boys are busy every day with their new things. Its hard to believe Santa will be bringing more things in just another week.

3 Year Olds

Connor & Peyton turned 3 last Friday. Any parent would agree that these years pass so quickly. I can't believe it! They arrived safely to us at 38 1/2 weeks. I was so ready to have them here - I was miserable. Tad & I had no clue as first time parents. We often think back to our first night at home. It was snowy and I was released from the hospital at 11:00 PM- we got home at midnight. What hospital does that to someone? But they did. We had the babies in a bassinet next to our bed and it was the worst night. The babies cried all night. Everytime they woke up they were SOAKED. It was probably user error on the diapers but we swore there was something wrong w/ the diapers. We were completely exhausted by 5:00 am. The drawer full of clean blankets, sheets, and sleepers was already empty. We were like zombies...trying to stay awake to hold them so they'd stop crying. I remember looking at Tad and checking the clock and saying "ok it is finally 5:00 am. My mom is always awake by 5:30 so 30 more minutes and I can call her to come over." Promptly when that time came I called her crying to come help. Of course she did. She sent Tad and I both to bed and took the boys downstairs. By lunch time everything was so much better. There is something about the middle of the night that makes the perspective so much worse. A couple weeks later we actually had my mom move in with us for the next couple months. The boys had collic and even w/ a 3rd set of hands it was rough times. Every month got easier. Now 3 yrs. later those times seem like so long ago. Thank goodness. We are still blessed w/ my mom's help as we need it. The boys love their grandma.

The boys seem older all the time. They keep us laughing and smiling with the things they say. It is fun to watch them learn and see their relationship with each other grow. Most days they are best friends. They love to wake each other up in the morning, usually play the same thing together (most often Thomas Trains) all days. I rarely find them in separate rooms in the house.

I love to listen to their conversations. They play make believe and take turns being different characters or trains. They also push each others buttons and fight over trains, who sits where, etc. but I suppose that is something expected to work through. I get asked a lot if they have the same personalities. They do and they don't. The love so many of the same things but there are things that make them each unique from one another.

The both love: Thomas Trains, Disney's CARS, being outdoors, dirt, trucks, any kind of fruit, most vegetables, love to run everywhere, play hide and seek, want to do things w/o help. They are first shy in a group of people they don't know but eventually wind up being one of the loudest. They are overall very happy and healthy boys and usually good listeners (for being 3) that keep us laughing by the hour.

Peyton- loves cake & memaw's cookies, carmel corn, brocolli, spaghetti w/ no sauce, is crushed if he gets in trouble, reminds Connor of "rules", appoints himself and loves being the "teacher" when we play games, uses new words first.

Connor- hates sweets- unless it is memaw's cookies, wants ketchup and sauce w/ any meal, hates brocolli, laughs easy, pushes the limits on getting in trouble and sometimes thinks we're joking (seriously), is more likely to try something new before Peyton, BUT scared easier by movies.

We love these boys. They are so sweet and bring much happiness and love to our house. Happy Birthday Peyton & Connor.

Connor's first trip to the dentist

It is that time of year when our calendar seems to be filling up with well checks. The boys are turning 3 and so we've scheduled our eye and teeth appointments along w/ the pediatrician's well check. Peyton did great at the eye doc. last month. Today was Connor turn to try an appointment alone. Connor is more shy around strangers between the 2 of them but he did great.

Miss Sandy was the hygenist. She is GREAT with kids. She had fun names for the instruments, made the chair into a "ride" and even had a movie to show about plaque germs. She gave him sunglasses to wear w/ the bright light turned on. Connor thought he was so "cool". He wanted to wear the sunglasses the whole time. We couldn't get him to take those off until we were leaving. He did a great job letting her do the cleaning, checking, etc...and continued to do great when the dentist came in too. We had a different dentist than we planned on, probably scheduling miscommunication, but we still loved the appointment. Here are a few shots I took to share w/ Tad.

I have really enjoyed the times I can take just one boy and go somewhere- even if it is to a doctor's appt. It is so DIFFERENT and easier when they are separated. They really act like different boys when they aren't together to get each other wound up. Although we are usually ready to get home and see the other one.

Showing Miss Sandy his teeth

Letting Miss Sandy clean his teeth

Connor trying "Mr. Thirsty" - the straw that sucks away the water

Peeking out of the sunglasses

Finished w/ the movie, waiting on the dentist

No Cavities- Ready to go home!

Happy Birthday Brian

Yesterday was my brother's birthday. We usually aren't lucky enough to have him home on the actual day but since he lives here now, we were able to celebrate with him. We went to dinner at one of our family favorites- Max & Erma's. We've gone there for birthday dinners many years growing up. It was fun to do it again. Then we came back to our house for some birthday dessert. The boys were so funny about Brian's birthday. Since their birthday is exactly 1 week later than Brian's, they kept thinking it was their party. Finally by the end of the night they "got it" and sang to Uncle Brian. The boys love him. He is such a great uncle and is so great with kids. We have a month long celebration with everyone around.


Brian, Peyton & Connor, and Tad all have December birthdays before xmas. It works out we have a party each week and then Christmas. Fun times and too many calories. Oh well. Today the Christmas mood seems to be filling the air. Today we are putting up Christmas lights, the tree, and it is snowing. Tonight we have the FBI Christmas party to look forward too. Happy Holidays!

Thankful

We had a great Thanksgiving with all our family this year. We were very disappointed we couldn't travel to Kansas City to see the other side of our family. Tad's last trial started this past Monday so that pretty much eliminated any travel plans this holiday season. My sister's family came to visit and with my brother living here now it was the first Thanksgiving in several years all us kids have been together.

My mom with all her grandkids home (we had to bribe Connor w/ a candy cane)


We started the day with Tad and Brian running the Turkey Trot (5 miler). I was going to join them and our friends Jane and Cynthia but couldn't juggle the kids schedule w/ the dinner preparations. Maybe next year. Anyway when they got back we headed over to my mom's for a delicious meal. Her brother and some of his family came and so did our grandparents. It is always fun to have a houseful of family. We look forward to doing it again for Christmas at my grandparents house.
The cousins playing w/ my old Barbie McDonald house- the boys only did this b/c the girls were home..it is usually packed away.

We enjoyed another few days w/ my sister's family, let the kids exchange xmas presents and made gingerbread houses. Everyone had a good time...although I'm sure the chaos of 4 kids and candy, was more noise than Uncle Brian usually has around. He is so good to put up with our craziness.



Peyton's house-he had a mild obsession with sprinkles on the front of it.

Kylie

Kenzie

Uncle Brian and Connor- Funny story- the boys and I have been reading The Gingerbread Man stories so after Uncle Brian helped him put a graham cracker door on the front he was convinced we needed to open the house. He told the gingerbread man to come out. Here he is in the stare down.

Here are a few things I'm thankful for as this year comes to a close.
* Our family is healthy, we have had some doctor's appointments lately that all ended up with good news
* At 30 years old, both my grandparents are still living. My boys love their MeMaw and PaPaw and we have been blessed they know them. We get to see them often, not as often as we'd like but often. They love MeMaw's cookies too.
* We were able to spend 2 weeks on vacation this summer and time with each sides of our family.
* We are blessed my brother just bought a new condo and is living back in Columbus close to us.
* We got to see my sister and her family sooner than we expected.
* Tad is currently finishing his last fraud trial. We're hoping another one doesn't come his way for a while.
* One of my best friends from college just moved up here only an hour away from us and easy to drive to see. Leslie- we need to compare calendars
*Our boys are healthy, keep us laughing all the time, and seem to be the best of friends with each other.
*I've reconnected with a good friend from high school,Jill, and now we have playdates w/ our kids every week- sometimes twice.
*Tad has job security w/ the FBI and we don't have to worry about that in this struggling economy.
* We are raising our boys in a Christian household and my boys know about Jesus
*My parents live close and help us out soooo often w/ the boys...Thank you!!!
* My husband puts his family first over everything and would do anything for all 3 of us. Thank you Tad!

Now the birthday and Christmas madness begins. At least some of the shopping is done.

Time Goes By

It stuck me lately how quickly time seems to pass by. Another year is almost to an end. Everyone told us when we got married years go quickly and we heard it again when I was pregnant but people were right. It is an understatement that time flies. In a couple weeks the boys will turn 3. It seems like yesterday we were trying to get through colic and reflux. Now they say the funniest things and are developing quite different personalities from one another. We are entering the phase of toilet training- this is a testing of everyone's patience. It also seems to be a great stalling technique for bedtime.

My younger(only) brother is buying his first place. That doesn't seem possible. We went a couple weeks ago to check it out. It is a great condo development in Downtown. He's really excited about it. It is brand new, granite kitchen, great appliances, etc. I know he's going to love it. It will be really close to his work and we're still not going to be too far from him. We're so glad he is back in town with us. The boys love their Uncle Brian.

Sat. night Tad and I took the boys to rent movies. We came home w/ Cars and as we both sat there with a boy on our laps I was thinking how things blessed we are. I enjoyed watching their faces light up at different parts of the movie. To see how happy they were to have our attention, and excited about the movie just gave me such a blessed feeling we could all be together. Tad has worked so many long hours this year. He's worked 7 yrs w/o a trial and this year alone we've lived through 3 of them. I am hoping another case like this never comes through the bureau again...at least on his squad. We are sad we won't be able to travel to Kansas City for the holidays but we're looking forward to 2009 with no fraud trials.

We're anxious for my sister and her family to come up for Thanksgiving. Everytime we see the girls they have changed so much. The boys are excited for them to come play. I started the madness of the xmas shopping already. I've been out w/o kids and so thankful for that. I can't imagine taking them along. They pick up the store fliers that come to the house and walk around saying "mom mom mom look I can buy that?" They would be crazy in the stores right now.

We're curious what they will do w/ Santa. We're not sure if this year they will sit on Santa's lap for a picture or not. Right now when we see snow flurries outside they say "mom, its snowing, Christmas comes tomorrow". We have a long month ahead of ourselves I'm afraid. Anyway we already started reading Christmas books and they love to hear Frosty the Snowman on the radio.

That's about it for our quick update. Naptime is almost over...gotta run.

Halloween 2008

Connor- Winnie the Pooh & Peyton- Tigger





The boys went Trick or Treating for the first time this year. They were pretty funny. We had been talking about it all week. When it was finally time to go out they couldn't decide who they each were going to be...first Tigger then Pooh. It came to me deciding for them and once we got outside it seemed fine that Peyton was Tigger and Connor was Winne the Pooh. They were hilarious. I took them to the first house next door and when the door opened they both thought they were going "inside". This was the trend for the next 5 houses- they thought they were going inside to play....funny b/c these aren't houses that have kids to play with. Guess we haven't covered the whole "stranger" thing. Anyway, after each house they would insist on walking back to our house to show their candy to whoever was home passing it out (Tad & I took turns at the house and going w/ the boys). They would get even 5 houses down the street and we were still going back home after each one. This is why they were entertained on our cul-de-sac for over an hour. We finally convinced them to cross over and do the other side of the street on the way back home. That went better. Here are a few pictures. They don't eat candy- except sweet tarts and candy corn so we need to get this stuff out of the house so the parents aren't tempted. We then drove up to my mom's house and they got to trick or treat at her door too. Everyone had a fun night.

They helped Tad carve a pumpkin. They said it was too "stinky" so once the top was off they decided to watch a halloween movie instead. They named the pumpkin Henry. I guess from one of their Thomas Trains. Now every pumpkin we see is Henry.

Patterson Reunion

We had a family reunion last Saturday at my mom's house. This is her mom's side of the family (Patterson). It was a great day with way too much yummy food. Everyone stayed around to watch the Buckeyes win against Michigan State. The boys played outside w/the two other kids. They are my distant cousin's kids so I'm not sure what relation that makes them to each other. Let's just call them cousins- but I'm sure someone knows the correct terminology. We were so glad the weather was sunny and made for a great day outdoors.

The boys & Ellie had a good time w/ Uncle Brian. They made these pine trees a "forest" and kept hiding from everyone in there.




Taking a rest in the truck


We missed all those that couldn't be there.

Fall 2008

It has been busy around here again. Tad started a new trial Oct. 1st. We're hoping it will be over in time for trick or treat next week so he can go w/ the boys. It hasn't been as rough of a schedule as last winter. We were able to get down to visit my grandparents before it started. Here are a few pictures of the boys with their great-grandparents MeMaw & PaPaw


The boys love spending their days outside with this crisp autumn weather. It seems all they want to do is go outside. You'll notice the boys are supporting their Buckeye clothes. It was a Saturday and that seems to be typical attire around here. They are hilarious about the Buckeyes. When they are watching the game w/ us they keep cheering "Go Buckeyes" and throw their arms in the air. Now when they are giving highlights on the news or talk about the next week game they catch it on tv and do the same thing. We watch the news at lunch and they crack me up b/c when the football update comes on w/ coach Tressel talking about the upcoming game and practice they start yelling- "Mom- its the Buckeyes. Yes- Go Buckeyes" It was cute the first day,..now it just cracks me up they do it everytime. I guess we're teaching them something.

Brotherly Love


Connor

This past weekend we were able to start the leaf raking process. We just have to get them to the curb and the city takes them from there. That is always a chore in itself. We seem to get more than our share living next to the woods preserve.
The leaf pile was taller than they were. They loved it!!
Peyton (red shirt) Connor (stripe)





Peyton showering Connor w/ leaves- Connor didn't think that was too fun

Tad took down a tree in our backyard. It made for a great stack of firewood we'll be able to use this winter. Here are a few pictures. The boys tying ropes around the tree.