Antlers, outside, and the comfort of a bed

Mason loves to explore the elk antlers in the front courtyard. I found him picking up handfuls of dirt and sprinkling it over the head, just too happy with himself.
I see a lot of outside time in our future, especially camping trips (which we are excited for this summer). I'm sure as soon as the boys are old enough to go hunting or at least antler hunting, we'll be combing the hillsides for sheds!!! I hope one day to recreate a photo I have seen many times at Diane's house. It's a picture of Dave, Brian, and Kevin all wearing their backpacks, ready for a hike, I think somewhere in Colorado. It's just too cute to see them at such a young age all ready for the great outdoors.

You caught me!
Just look at those long, long lashes. Momma is jealous!

After a long weekend with momma, both boys were ready to snuggle in and go to bed, happy as clams that Daddy had returned from hunting! It's really kinda cute to watch them arrange all their stuff (blanket, wooby, sippy with water) and settle down together. There is just something ultra-comforting about Momma's bed, both boys love to have the privledge of being there.
I will admit however, we have started a bad habit of letting Brandon fall asleep in our bed at night. It' just another comfort that he loves and I dread the thought of having to stop it. He is able to be transfered to his bed and stays there the rest of the night. On the good side, he has really stopped fighting the night routine, when he is ready for be, he collects his stuff, asks for water, and is agreeable to teeth brushing and using the potty! I'll take it as a small victory.

Eureka!

A new toy has made it's way out of the closet. It's called "Whack a mole" and the boys love to slap at the moles, even if they don't always hit them.





The boys re-discovered the lacing beads and string this weekend. I am pretty sure we spent hours sitting on the floor lacing things together. Mason loves to see what the string will fit into (and refuses to let me help him, he even shakes his head "no" when you ask him if he needs help) and Brandon is more than willing to show Mason it's proper use!
The boys and I spent most of the weekend playing in the backyard since it was so beautiful outside! Can't beat getting a little vitamin D in February. Much to my surprise, neither one of the boys seemed overly upset that Kevin was hunting this weekend.

Another day

Every now and then I think about having a third baby, I think about those first few moments when you meet your new baby, the way they snuggle on your chest, the way they look at you (as if memorizing the face of the one who unconditionally loves them). I think about the possiblity of having a little girl, the name I have been hoping to give, the ladybug themed room I planned on buying when pregnant with Mason, as I was so sure I was having a girl until the ultrasound proved differently.

Then reality strikes! "Momma, I want milk. Momma, why is your hair short? Momma, your not old, your skin isn't wrinkly or bumpy!", meanwhile Mason is crying and pulling at my pant-leg or attempting to climb onto the barstool, just to be a part of the action. I think about the balance (ha, who am I kidding) I (we) have established. Between working, getting the kids to and from daycare, and taking care of the household stuff, it seems like most days are a frenzie of "getting it all done".

It seems to me that I have all that I hoped for, that I should be so fortunate to have the babies I have, the husband I have, the life I have. So I think I have finally made peice with the fact that we are done having babies (although we still need to permanently fix that issue).

I am content with the life we have established and am start lookng forward to the next chapter in ourlife, to all the great adventures we will soon have!

PJ's and Play-Doh

Ah, finally an evening of post-bath bliss. We were able to have an early dinner and get baths done before the evening wore the kids down. We even got to share a bowl of popcorn while watching some of our favorite shows on the Discovery channel! Not that most nights aren't great with the kids, but lets be honest, the evening are usually hectic and are my least favorite time of the day!
The boys are back on a Play-Doh kick. Mason just loves to mash it in his hands and Brandon is quite imaginative with his creations.

So big!

To the park!

We met up with Grandma Diane this morning for breakfast at IHOP and then it was off to the park! The boys had fun exploring (first time to this park), climbing, swinging, and sliding (with Grandma's assistance). I'm still on the hunt for an inexpensive swing for Mason (for our house).

Soaking up the sun

We're just having a blast exploring our yard!

Mechanic-in-training

I've said it before but I'll say it again, Brandon loves to be Daddy's little helper. He helped Kevin change to oil in both vehicles this weekend.
Brandon is ever focused on seeing how things will fit together, be taken apart, and reattached to something else. I think we may have another engineer in the making!
Just too happy that Daddy let him help!