They really do grow overnight!

Gavin woke up this morning with his footed pajamas like this:

Safe bet it's time to go shoe shopping!

 

Gymnastics Winter 2013/14 Video Reel

For the boys' Christmas gift this winter, Pops gave them the gift of gymnastics lessons. It was a first for us, a class that both boys could do simultaneously with their own age groups.  All season I videotaped their progress. Ethan did so well, he advanced to the age group ahead of his years!

 

 

 

Grab some popcorn and enjoy watching our little monkeys! 

(If you are reading this via email, visit the link here: http://youtu.be/VIKki0DNvgQ to view our video) 

 

Thank you Pops!

Brothers' Bedtime Shenanigans

Tonight the boys started their (recent) ritual of snuggling tight under Ethan's covers for bedtime story.

The favorite selection for the last two weeks has been this book. Every. Single. Night.

Gavin yells, "ight!!" [fight!!]

And Ethan asks a bazillion questions about the specimens' anatomy and the how's and why's of how everything works.

But tonight they got extra silly and turned book reading into ticklefest.

I had to pull the boys apart at the end to send Gavin to bed as they didn't want to part.

When I went to bed later that night, I found Gavin OFF the bed. You can see the bed rail on the bed he must have gone around.

Had he rolled off? Scooted off to go somewhere and gave up?

Your guess is as good as mine...but I'm suspicious he was trying to get to his brother.

Consciously or not.

(And you know I must find this adorable if I'm willing to share evidence of my laundry on the floor for all the internets to see.)

 

What makes me love Chris more?

1. He's the best husband

Last night, Chris set up a ladies night out for us girls and we had a blast!

After I rolled in at 3am, he let me sleep in. Heaven.

2. He's the best father.

THEN he took the boys solo to their favorite place, the GW basketball court! (I napped again!)

When we told Gavin where they were going, he signed "basketball game", yelled "Dada!", and ran to the door. "Car!!!"

Here is Ethan at Gavin's age, two years ago, on the very same spot!

Brothers united in the love of sports. And their Daddy!

The verdict, I think it's a tie for #1 and #2!

 

New School, New Wheels!

Ethan just moved to a new preschool program at a local elementary school. His favorite parts include bringing his lunchbox for the first time, recess everyday and weekly P.E., no more naptime (groan, it's in the afternoon- giving his nap the permanent boot!), and most of all...the big yellow school bus!

The morning began with our first day of school tradition.

Here was his first day at his last school almost two years ago!

And his first day at his first school, our very own Building Blocks Co-Op.

Slipped a special note into his lunch box.

He wasn't impressed, might have to do with not knowing how to read yet.

Ethan said goodbye, no problem.

Gavin was a different story! He sobbed trying to chase Ethan onto the bus!

When we waited for the bus to return a couple hours later, he remembered being mad and missing him all over again.

Every vehicle that went by without Ethan on it was another blow!

He'd watch for more...

Finally a bus came by!

And it wasn't Ethan's bus.

Here is where I put the camera down. Between Gavin consumed by missing Ethan and envying the bus ride, and Ethan coming home after missing his nap...

No one needs to see how the rest of the evening went.

 

 

The wheels on the bus...are carrying my baby!

Nothing inspires a great lunchbox meal like sending your kiddo on the bus for the very first time. Sniffle. I give it two days before it's a plastic grocery bag with a yogurt and two granola bars.

More details to come!

It's cold out there, good thing these boys warm my heart!

While Daddy was at work (for the last two days straight), my tiniest valentines and I headed out into the snow...AGAIN.

Here's our little snow family. Stuck with a Floridian for a mom, that's as far as I could help them with.

Gavin felt as daunted as I was trying to clear the ice boulders the snow plow left in our driveway.

Yet again a charitable neighbor came to the rescue with his snowplow!!

Kind neighbors armed with snow plows cleared us out of this mess and got me on the road today!!

Ethan tried a snow angel, but it was a little too deep.

Sledding still worked though!

Next it was time to make Daddy's Valentine's cards (swear to God, Ethan's suggestion!).

Flowers and hearts, "I love you Daddy, Ethan"

Footballs and horses, signed "Gavin".

Not to be outdone, Chris baked me a cake with the boys!

And helped them make their first cards to their Mommy.

I might have been strongly hinting for that for about 4 years ;)

Chris and my 9th Valentine's Day together was special as always, now if the boys would just stay asleep so we can watch more House of Cards!!