Where Does the Time Go?

Boys making their Grandies and Auntie special shirts! Peta was gracious enough to model it before leaving…and help me basically scrape off the puffy paint after we were done.  Two words, rubber – gloves – for the next time I get creative with non-washable paint!!!  We were excited to see Poppy in his special shirt tonight when we Skyped!

Wow, looking back on the past few months I have been lax on blogging. Time flies when you are having fun, I guess.  We’ve certainly have been busy. Auntie Peta finally made it home after a long flight turned into an even longer flight when her initial flight from TIA was delayed and thus caused her to miss her flight in Guam back home.  Ugh.  She really got back luck on the way back, but finally got back to Oz, and her luggage made it a few days later…and she spent New Year’s Eve on the plane! 

The boys have been busy, and sick, and trying to get back into the swing of things not having Auntie Peta around to play with 24/7.   Instead of the mundane musings about the day-to-day stuff, I need to do a write up of our “favorite things” or at least some of the funny stuff coming out of these boys’ mouths lately.  Time really is flying, the boys are growing up so quickly.  In a few months they will be turning three, heading to preschool and I am sure making us laugh and cry with the new things they will come up, this dynamic duo they are.

 

Raleigh is continuing to be a real comedian.  He really does enjoy a good poo joke, and still loves to talk about his penis, but poo poo is the newest funny maker for him, yes, him, I tend not to laugh about poo.  However, yesterday when he informed me that his poopy looked like a pineapple, complete with the “pokeys” on time, I had to laugh.  Gus is a poopy inspector as well, he impressed me when he said his dootie looked like a “U.” Sure enough, I had to check it out as well, and it looked like a GIANT U!  Today, he said his looked like a manatee, so, yes, poop jokes are alive and well in the Hamilton household.

Augustus is really into his letters.  Or “word building” in the spirit of Word World.  He is able to recognize and point out many letters, A, R, U, X, M, B, O and C.  They are not into repeating the A, B, C, D song, so I’ll take it.  Better to know them rather than repeat a song, right?  Raleigh is not really into it yet, so I am not pushing it.  He does know the “R” for Raleigh and “X” for x marks the spot, like a pirate! Raleigh is like Daddy and about the numbers and has been able to count to 10 for almost a year now.  Gus, well, he always starts with two, then one, then five, and has the 7, 8, 9 down.   He is great to listen to when playing hide-and-go-seek!  Which, by the way, they love to play, and always hide in the same place during each and every “game.”  Usually under the blanket on the couch.  Hilarious, and they just giggle each and every time they “find” each other!

Here is a shot of the boys after completing their alphabet train puzzle from “Auntie” Kristy!  The LOVE it!!!

After a little over two months of really, really, really pushing limits at bedtime and nap time, we seemed to have gotten back into a routine that is less stressful on the parents, for now.  I know, each phase is short lived and can be fleeting.  We have started to lay off the time-outs and are focusing on consequences they understand and can articulate back to us.  The most helpful of consequences is to take away one toy at a time after giving them choices to do the right thing, or make a “good choice” instead of a “bad choice.”  It is great to hear them tell us what happens if they make a good choice, and vice versa.  The time-outs are usually used now when we need an immediate break in action; i.e. they are getting on each others nerves and pestering the heck out of each others as brothers tend to do, or not listening in a more dangerous situation (i.e. running away and not listening to stop).  Keeping your cool when they are testing you is hard stuff.  How do you moms do it all the time? We have some great friends with the calmest moms ever, and I just look at them in awe!  My goal this year is to enjoy every moment with these little guys and raise my voice less.  Pretty soon they will be in school part-time, then full-time and not so willing to give me a kiss all the time and call me “princess” and tell me they love me or answer that they love me, too, or love me more…heart breaking stuff.  I am trying not to sweat the small stuff, while still help instill the things they need to be the awesome little men that they are. 

Bikes.  We now have big boys bikes.  They are only 12 inches high, but they are real big boy bikes with helmets and all.  The boys love them, but are not too sturdy on them yet, so we are trying to keep them to the tricycles and big wheels for now.  However, Raleigh is almost a pro at his three wheeled scooter that was handed down to them.  Seriously, the kid’s got skills! 

Yes, Gus’ helmet is on backwards.  don’t ask.

In other funnies, today, words out of their mouth -

- “Mom, I am going to screw you” as Rals took a screwdriver to my leg.  Thanks, bud, that is so inappropriate on so many levels

- “I’m gonna be easy, Mommy.” as Raleigh took a hammer to his bench. Meaning, I am going to take it easy, not pound the living crap out of this thing.

- “Get out of my kitchen.” Raleigh to me as we were playing chef and I tried to enjoy my chocolate cake and “muff” cakes the boys made me.  Huh, do you think they know they cannot be in the kitchen when I am cooking?  Bite me in the bum that tone did!

- So not out of the mouth, but a great impersonation of me as Gus put the pretend cell phone to his ear and held it in his shoulder, and put his finger to his mouth when Raleigh tried to talk.  Just a silent shush and a great “mom” look. 

- “What, what, what, what, what, you doing?” From Augustus’ mouth any time he clearly wants to know what you are doing.  It is the funniest thing.  And the only time his adorable little stutter comes out.

- Me – “that’s mommy juice” when the boys asked what was in my wine cup. Gus “No, that’s “Peta juice.”  Ha, brilliant, yup, that’s right Gus, that is Peta (auntie) juice!

 

I know that I am missing a million other of the little things, but I hope the boys can read this stuff one day and laugh as much as I do on a daily basis.  Yes, even when I feel like I am talking to two brick walls who would rather ignore me than look me in the eye and answer a question – the joys of almost three year olds, right?  All in all, they are just awesome, crazy kids.  The crazy I will take.  I soooooooooooooo know where they get it from…

 

A glimpse into our future…

Merry Christmas

It has been a whirlwind experience getting ready for Christmas and celebrating it this year. I cannot believe Matthew and I were still shopping on Christmas Eve day.  Seriously?  Matthew took the reigns on wrapping this year, for which I was thankful.  I hate wrapping, but I love to watch people open their presents. This year was extra special having Auntie Peta with us, but not having Nannie and Poppy here to fully appreciate the excitement and knowing the boys will never be two again at Christmas was bittersweet.  What a perfect age for the excitement of Christmas!

The beginning of the week was a quick trip back to Orlando to enjoy Sea World at night with Nonnie, and then the Magic Kingdom again, and then Sea World one more time before Peta leaves.  It was a great little vacation with Nonnie, Papa Pickles and Auntie Peta.  The boys were awesome travelers once again, especially when it was so cold and we spent some long hours out and about.  We also celebrated a little Christmas with twin friends and that was extra special, too.  How lucky are we to have found such wonderful MoMs and their wonderful children?  I know how much happier I am with all of them in my life. Then, one last trip to Busch Gardens with Peta, too, and a last visit with Santa as well.  The boys loved climbing all over Busch Gardens, but Raleigh got a little over whelmed in the Sesame Street tree house, but he survived and everyone still had lots of fun.  Raleigh went on the roller coaster with Peta, but Gus decided he didn’t really want to go, so we had fun watching them roll around instead.  Than, we went driving around looking at Christmas lights the night before Christmas Eve and although it took the boys a while to figure out what we meant by just looking at lights, they did finally get it.  Whew, I thought I was going to have to jump out of the car if Raleigh asked “where we going?” one more time!  The little monkey was adamant that it was fully appropriate to say “Happy Halloween” the entire time we were looking at Christmas lights as well.  I guess he has quite the affinity for Halloween!!!   Other little jewels from our sons’ mouths included a segment about how Raleigh’s penis was big, and of course, according to Gus, Santa himself was singing every Christmas song that we heard on the radio.  How precious?

We were having a lovely time Christmas Eve opening presents and watching the boys play with all their awesome new toys (mostly diggers/tools/fire trucks/and musical instruments), but when we finally got the boys to sit down for dinner, Gus told us his tummy hurt and proceeded to puke all over the table.  Joys of the holiday.  My good friend Jennifer has always told me it is not a holiday until someone pukes.  As a mother of three, she is so right!!  Besides the throwing up, both boys were acting as happy as clams.  Gus moved into real big boy territory though, because he was able to tell us his tummy hurt from that point on, and walk himself over the the toilet, step up on his step stool and vomit into the toilet himself.  Wow, that is another sign they are growing up, right?  Raleigh was fine and ate a full dinner, so we thought, maybe it was just too much excitement, but alas, no,  we heard Rals throw up in bed around 2:30 am.  That was his only vomit incident, but both boys are not eating and are pretty lethargic.  Although, yesterday, it was nice enough to get outside, so we did get a few walks and rides in the neighborhood in and you would have never guessed they were sick. 

Here is a little slide show of our holidays.  For those of you reading this blob, thank you.  I hope you enjoy a glimpse into what the boys are up to, and the crazy things they come up with all the time.  We all hope you had a magical holiday season, and and even better New Year!

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Auntie Peta Arrives!

Well, it has been a few weeks already, but we’ve been having so much fun, we really have not had time to blog.  Auntie Peta got here just after Thanksgiving and we’ve had a great time with her, and Daddy even got a week off for us to explore a bit of Florida with her, too.  Here are a few highlights in photos.  The boys are enjoying jumping all over Peta…although I think she’s learned that they are a heck of a lot heavier than they were the last time she visited a year ago.

Click HERE for last Thanksgiving.

Here’s a quick view of our ride to the North Pole on the Polar Express – how fun, but how cold???!!!??? The boys also got to play on some bouncy houses, their newest obsession!

"Polar Express and Snow Fest"

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Here are a few photos of the boys’ first trip to the Magic Kingdom, thanks mostly in part to another free pass from Miss Stacy – you rock!!!  The boys did great for being there all day…we even slipped over to Epcot for a few hours, and their favorite part of the day was the Spaceship Earth ride.  Being a Space Camp alum, I LOVED that they were hooked on space, too!!!! The fireworks were not their fave, but we all loved the view of the castle in lights with fireworks overhead.  We are still kids, after all!

		Disney Magic Kingdom 1st Visit for Boys VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

While Auntie Peta, Daddy and Gus were shopping, Raleigh and I stepped out for fresh air – hello claustrophobia!  The dance competition in Downtown Disney was just beginning, and here was the result…enjoy the videos.  Yes, Raleigh won, of course!

Raleigh shakes it.

Wait…they’re clapping for ME???!!!???!!!

Santa at Busch, complete with zebra pants and leopard trip coat…two trips, and neither resulted in much smiling.  Still adorable

In other news, we have the boys in their first pair of 3T pants.  The 2T jeans from last year are just too short, especially on Gus man.  Thankfully, Nannie and Poppy sent some Uggs, so we can hide the short pants in the boots, but today, they are styling some great pants that actually go past their ankles.  They are HUGE in the waist, even with an adjustable waist, but they’ll do.  Gus has officially jumped a shoe size.  He is now measuring an 8.5; whereas, in August, he was still in size 7.  Raleigh, he is at a 7.5, but I know he is about to sprout up too!  They are both tall enough to ride the roller coaster at Busch Gardens in the Elmo section, and they have done so a few times already with Auntie!