My how things change

We spent New Year’s Eve night like just about every other night this year: hanging out at home.

The biggest difference was I told the boys it could be a really late night and they could stay up to watch the fireworks at midnight. Zander kept double checking with me asking “We get to stay up into midnight, right mommy?” It was quite cute to hear him say. Thankfully, they don’t know how to tell time yet as I was planning on watching the ball drop in New York at 11 and calling it a night. The boys were bound and determined to make it to see the fireworks. About 9:45 they started dragging and repeatedly asking when it would be time. So, I did what any same mother would do, I started a snowball fight using the plastic balls inside Ben’s fire truck. It may not have been the best idea I’ve had all year, but it was quite possibly the most fun. The boys had a blast chucking the balls at me and I kind of enjoying chucking tossing them back. That gave them their second, third or fourth wind of the night (I lost count), but I quickly quieted them with a new movie.

We eventually turned off the lights and cuddled up (Mike and Nick on the floor and me and Zander on the couch) and the boys started to nod off. Nick was the first to fall at about 10:20. Zander kept soldiering through though. He got a little loopy about 10:40 and finally nodded off at 10:49 in some contorted shape on my lap and the couch. I felt so bad that the poor little guy had waited all that time and didn’t even get to see the fireworks. On the other hand I was kind of glad he fell asleep because apparently they don’t shoot off any fireworks for that celebration. I would have had one ticked kid on my hand when there were no fireworks at “midnight.”

A new way to Lego

Nick got very few Legos for Christmas. He was a little disappointed. Until he saw Mike’s Lego haul. Yes, my husband asked for, and received, Legos for Christmas. But these weren’t just any Legos. These were Mindstorm Legos, the epitome of all Lego geekiness. And all of the boys in my family were appropriately geeked. They have spent every free waking moment in the Lego room (it is no longer called the computer room) building Legos that move. And they are loving every minute of it. Me … well at least they are happy and out of my hair. Ben and I have had some serious bonding time since Christmas.

Tonight the boys got to play with one of Mike’s new toys. While I am not a huge fan of Legos (mostly because they don’t interest me) I can see just how much my boys (all of them that are old enough to walk and talk, anyway) love them. I love Zander’s face in this first picture. He is so intent on watching every move that Nick makes.

And of course Ben had to watch. He’s so stinking cute I had to get a picture of him.

The solution

After last night’s block debacle I told Nick we could try and re-create his castle using the photos I had taken of Zander building his tower. The solution seemed like a good one at the time, but now, every time Nick builds something he wants me to take a picture for posterity. It’s cute … and a bit annoying. But, I do it. Mostly because I hope my good camera karma will build up so when I really want a picture my kids will cooperate in return. It’s unlikely, but a good motivator nonetheless.

And of course if there is a camera present Zander has to get in on the action.

After a couple snaps like that I asked him what he was doing. His response: “Making silly faces.” Duh. Guess I should have figured that one out.

Tumbling down

Nick and Zander were playing so nicely together with their new BIG blocks. It was fun to watch.

See that great tower that Zander is so proud of? It came tumbling down one second later leaving this in its wake.

Maybe blocks weren’t such a great idea after all. Nick got mad, attempted to beat up his brother and then got in trouble. The castle was demolished. Zander was crying. Nick was crying. I wanted to cry. This is my life. These two boys are at each other’s throats (sometimes quite literally) that I sometimes worry for their safety. I’m guessing it will only get worse when they get bigger and a third brother is thrown into the mix. What have I got myself into?

Sleepyhead

I leave the house for a little bit and this is what I come home to.

While it’s cute it makes me a little worried that no one is paying any attention to him while I am gone. And seriously, how is this child still that flexible. He’s had room to move for nearly eight months. Mike swears he fell asleep just as I was opening the garage, but it’s not like he’s going to tell me if the poor baby has been sleeping there for two hours.

The day after

The day after Christmas is always crazy. The boys want to play with all their new toys. I want to get all the Christmas decorations put away, their new clothes tried on and their new toys put away. Unfortunately it never goes that smoothly. We did get the tree put away (by about 9 a.m.) but the house is definitely not back in order, as is evidenced by the photos I am about to show you. Please pay attention only to the cute little boys using their imagination and (one of) their favorite Christmas presents: 6 rolls of tape from my parents.

 

I’m not quite sure what they were doing but it kept them busy so I didn’t question it. As for Ben, he was busy getting way to big for his britches. He is standing up quite regularly now and I don’t know if I am excited or sad. My baby is getting really close to being a toddler and I don’t know if I am ready for that just yet. I keep telling myself my sisters will have babies soon enough to squelch my baby fever, but I don’t know if that is even true.

He’s such a little show-off, one-handing it and all.

Merry Christmas

It was a whirlwind day filled with presents and family --- the best kind of day! Nick was ready to greet the world at 4:45, but there was no way I was getting up that stinking early so I took him back to bed and crawled in with him (I don’t think I have ever done that before, but it was worth it to keep everyone sleeping for another hour). When we finally let the boys get up about 6 a.m. they were so excited to see what Santa brought them. Santa brought Ben a ball pit and we used that to corral him while the boys dug through their stocking and checked out what Santa had dropped off overnight.

Zander was pretty excited about a candy cane filled with Skittles.

Then the rest of the fun began. Zander apparently didn’t have enough gifts of his own (see that pile stacked against the fire truck?) so helped Ben with some of his. Ben didn’t mind. He really wasn’t that into the whole present thing this year.

Nick’s favorite presents were this jersey that Mike brought home from his trip to San Jose (a former Black Hawk, Joe Pavelsky, plays for the Sharks) and the small pack of LEGOS he got. It’s a far cry from the piles of LEGOS last year, but seriously, we don’t need anymore!

Zander was so excited to give me an ornament he made at school. He had to add it to the tree right away! I was excited to get one from him and Nick! I love all their handmade ornaments and can’t wait until my tree is full of them!

And the aftermath of our Christmas morning. It took just minutes to tear through everything!

Nick finished even faster and started playing with his new army guys ASAP.

He even let Zander play along. Where was this when Merton was watching?

With one Christmas already under our belts we cleaned up and headed for my mom and dad’s for more family fun. See, Zander loves everything! Though I have to say I was pretty excited about this shirt, too.

I really thought Zander would like a new pair of Crocs with fur inside that he could wear this winter. I was very wrong. He wanted absolutely nothing to do with them and said as much.

And again, Ben mostly just watched. Next year he will see just what he was missing this time around.

LOVE this picture of Kelsie and Ben!

Even with all the new toys Nick wanted to play with the “computers” that are as old as me. Seriously. That blue and gray one on the corner was mine. Technology has changed just a bit since then.

The couch may not be the comfiest (it’s brand new and my parents hate it) but it sure holds a lot of people.

After presents we headed over to Jay and Michele’s for lunch and to hang with the rest of the family. Nick made my dad write on his back (that’s his thing lately and I find it so funny because I used to make my Mema do this, though we often did it on the other’s foot – gross, I know – to see if it would tickle).

And this is so cute. Every time I turned around Justin, Ashley’s longtime boyfriend, was holding Ben. I offered to take him several times. Others did take him, but still he ended up back on Justin’s lap. I’ve said it before, but she has definitely found a good one!

Let the Christmas celebrations begin!

The first of our three (hopefully battery free) Christmas celebrations started today at Mike’s mom and dad’s. We usually go over there mid-morning, hang out, have lunch and listen to the kids talk about all the presents under the tree. After torturing them for a good couple of hours they finally get to tear into their loot after lunch is cleaned up. By then they are usually chomping at the bit to see what is inside, and as always, Grandma did not disappoint.

Zander has to be the most expressive child when he opens gifts. I smile every time I watch him because even if it is something as boring as clothes he acts like it is the best possible present ever. Love it.

Nick is a little more subdued, but still always very thankful for what he gets.

And Ben would rather eat the wrapping paper and bows than actually open the presents.

The aftermath is always loads of fun (and wrapping paper and boxes). Christmas is definitely Linda’s holiday. She loves to spoil everyone!

We headed home just before dinner so we could get the boys fed and settled down before bedtime. It’s hard enough to get them to sleep on a regular night, but when Santa is about to come it is nearly impossible. Thankfully Santa didn’t have a lot to do to make our house picture perfect for the early morning wake-up call.