A late Valentine’s treat

The family came over to visit last night so I had to put off my special Valentine’s Day treat for a night. This is a Pinterest, two ingredient special. You make some strawberry cake batter, throw in some chocolate chips and make a waffle. It looked a lot better on Pinterest, but Nick didn’t seem to mind. He gobbled up his (and Zander’s) without hesitation.

Zander is more of a traditionalist. He really doesn’t like to try anything new, even if it is a sweet treat. So he stuck with the ice cream and chocolate syrup.

And little Ben had some very special Puffs.

Then I took what was left of the cake batter and made cupcakes. I really hate cleaning the waffle iron and the idea of making anymore than what we were going to eat that night was a bit daunting. Besides, who doesn’t like a strawberry cake with chocolate chips? The correct answer would be Zander of course.

Happy Valentine’s Day

For real, no sarcasm this time. We started the day with some canned cinnamon rolls and Nick told me I was the best mom ever (or something like that). It’s amazing how such a little thing will make him so happy.

Even Ben got in on the sweet breakfast action.

Then, while the boys were eating I got their presents ready (I’m just as bad at Valentine’s as Mike – I had just bought the stuff the day before). But, they loved it just the same.

Love how everyone looks like they are getting along.

Then it was off to school and work and daycare for a normal day (except that the older boys got to pass out their cards and get jacked up on too much sugar before coming home). After dinner my mom, dad and sister stopped by to drop off presents for the boys. There were more Skittles (their all-time favorite)

and new t-shirts and other fun little things. My mom is way better at this than I am.

And Benny even got some new cool stuff. Look at that adorable little smile.

And this one just kills me.

The boys were very happy for everything they got today. Can’t you tell?

I give Nick ‘til second grade before he is as big as my mom (and therefore two of my sisters, too).

New model

Our Zamboni has been upgraded. That’s right folks, Zander is now driving a 2012 top-of-line, state-of-the-art ice cleaning machine.

So, last month Zander started sitting in the chair and pushing the tea cart around. But, that just wasn’t quite good enough. Now, he pushes around the shopping cart with the tea cart attached to the front.

And since our friend Felix, who drives the real Zamboni, took the boys down to show them how it worked again (they went last year, too) he has been quite explicitly explaining everything this Zamboni does. He has to get the old ice out of it and dump water through it and a whole bunch of other things that Felix told them.

I can’t wait to see the 2013 model.

I *heart* Valentine’s

Is there a symbol for sarcasm? Because that is what I need right now. I really don’t like Valentine’s Day. Mike has never been very good at the holiday so we just don’t celebrate and now that we have two kids in school the holiday has become even more fun. Valentine’s cards are the most tedious, mind-numbing task possible, at least when your kids are 3 and 6. Zander’s teacher and daycare provider FINALLY sent home the class list of names. Nothing like the last minute. The only positive: his teacher printed out the class names and a sheet of Zanders so all he had to do was cut and paste. Brilliant, I tell you. Brilliant.

But even this simple task took eons to complete. And then each Valentine needed a skull tattoo (perfect for the Catholic school class) stuck in tiny little slots before it could be folded and stuck together with a little heart sticker. Ugh. Did I mention how much I hate Valentine’s? Hats off to those crafty moms (I know I have one of you reading this) who *gasp* make their Valentine’s each year. I did it once and never again. I don’t care how many cute little cards I find on Pinterest, my kids are going to be bringing the store bought cards to school each year.

 

Guess I should be glad they are boys because truthfully, they really don’t care.

What was he thinking?

I spent the weekend inventorying all of the boys’ clothes in tubs in the garage. I found so much stuff I forgot I had and finally found a solution I think will help keep me on top of what I need and what I don’t as Ben and Zander work their way through the sizes. I managed to find some more clothes for Zander (this is the third batch of them that have surfaced). Every time I pulled out a new shirt or pair of PJs he got so excited about his new clothes. I can only hope he stays this excited about hand-me-down clothes in the future.

After Zander’s bath he came out in this get-up.

There is a “new” Toy Story PJ t-shirt on underneath his “new” Black Hawks sweatshirt. The legging snowman PJ pants are “old” and then there are those bright blue Toy Story sock (with the legging pants tucked in). This is one seriously questionable styling get-up. Someday he will hate me for this. For now, he thinks he looks good.

Nine months

Good ol’ Benny boy has been busy this month. This little guy just cannot sit still. He is into everything all the time. But, it’s so much fun to watch him try and figure out his surroundings. Too bad he thinks he needs to taste everything he touches. Case in point:

• He is 20.3 pounds (41st percentile), 27 3/4 in. (26th percentile) and his head is 18 1/4 in. around (76th percentile). It’s good to know that at least his head is just like his brothers’.
• We are still working on the solid food thing. He is now eating puffs like a champ, but still pretty tentative with everything else. Formula and baby food are still his main source of nourishment. He will gobble down rice cereal and two tubs of baby food at dinner if I let him.
• He now has his two bottom teeth. Hurray! Not that they do much, but at least they are starting to come in.
• Is using everything as a walking toy including his high chair, our kitchen chairs, his brother’s tea cart (don’t ask) and the garbage.
• He has finally said “Mama” though not really directed at me.
• He is wearing mostly 12 month clothes, though I have brought out a few 18 month shirts. They are super long in the arms, but look so much more comfortable in the belly.
• He talks all. the. time. And screams too. He loves hearing his own voice. And in this house you pretty much have to scream to be heard.
• He is still the most relaxed baby I know. He almost never cries (though strangers are starting to cause some drama) unless he is tired or hungry.
• He is still sleeping well which has helped this overtired mama immensely. I always know when he is getting sick because his sleeping patterns will be completely off.
• I’m starting to see more and more Nick in him. Lord help us all.
• He cracks us all up. His smile crinkles up his whole face and he gets this squinty Graham eyes. And he loves to shake his head to the point of almost making himself dizzy. It’s so stinking cute.

I’m beginning to think these monthly photos are getting a bit dangerous.

And finally, one of him just sitting nicely. These pjs make him look so little again after his little man shirt last month.

In training

Zander doesn’t know it yet, but these hours minutes he is logging on the treadmill are actually part of his training regiment. We are heading to Walt Disney World this summer and his little legs need to build up some stamina (then again, so do my big ones). Good thing he is young enough to still think the treadmill is a fun way to pass the time on a Sunday morning.

Too bad anything faster than a 1.0 and he goes sliding off the back. He thinks the safety clip actually keeps him on. And look at those feet, they are still turned in.