Family Picture & Stories

Here's an impromptu family photo that we took in our backyard a couple of weeks ago. Not bad for using a timer. If only my brother-in-law, S, could've taken the picture! He's incredible. Oh, well. We do what we can. And now a couple of stories:

B--
Loves cars. He can't get enough. He really likes the Disney movie Cars and each of those cars have names: Lightning McQueen, Mac, Miss Sally, etc. . . He has some matchbox cars and took a favorite with him in the car. As we're driving along he suddenly starts fussing "Bixente dropped Beaucoup. Get Beaucoup Mommy." What???? It took me forever to figure out that he was talking about the little matchbox car, because beaucoup means "a lot" in French. He'd named that particular matchbox car Beaucoup!

S--
Is an adorable little crazy person. Changing his clothes is an almost impossible task. He twists and turns like nothing you've ever seen before. The other day I was trying to put his pj's on when he twisted away and went crawling off as fast as he could go to play with a dumptruck. "S! Come back!" He stopped, looked right in my eyes and said "No," and headed back to the truck. I couldn't believe my ears. He's only 9 months and he's telling me no??? I said "S, you're going to be in trouble," (I have to say this so that B doesn't get upset that only he is reprimanded when he's disobedient and not his little brother.) B comes running up to me and says "Mommy, S is not in trouble. He is not in trouble. S doesn't want to wear his dogs, okay Mommy?" (S's pj's have a dog on them.) So, I was teamed up against. But what a sweet big brother watching out for his baby brother.

At the Pumpkin Patch

We had such a fun Saturday. We took a ferry across the water to Surry where there was this great farm with a pumpkin patch. We had fun picking out our own pumpkins and trying pumpkin icecream! The icecream was surprisingly delicious.

K& B on the ferry. It was really windy! But the boys loved it. On the way home when B realized we got to ride the ferry again he yelled, "The boat again!!!!"

Muscle man

"Lost in the pumpkin patch"

This is my favorite!

Papa & B cutting the pumpkin

Aren't they adorable?

Nat doesn't really love this picture. I know I didn't get a good shot. I was trying to take it through the car window and it had just started to rain. But we thought the cotton field was too cool!

We had to wait in line for the ferry on the way back. I got S out to feed him and all he wanted to do was drive the car. And surprisingly B stayed in his carseat without complaint. Look at S's happy face!

He Talks!

Yes, our cute little S Man is trying to talk! He is too adorable. So far he says:
Mama; Dada; Ba (for Papa); Hi; Ball; Bath; Bye-bye; Attat (Attack, one of B's first words too. Our boys love to play kiss attack.); And he calls Bsomething that sounds like "Nnnnt." I don't know why, but he does.
S has also been trying to walk and is able to stand and balance on his own. The cute little monkey is constantly exploring. He never stops moving. Changing his clothes is a nightmare. And he's scary! Yesterday I was doing the dishes with B and heard Se screaming in the bathroom. I came running to find him on top of the toilet and trying to climb onto the counter and was just about to fall! He had been opening cupboards in the kitchen right next to us but sneaked into the bathroom where he had pushed B's training toilet up against the real toilet and had climbed on up. Aaaah! I must be on my toes with this adorable little acrobat.

Boots

B really likes boots. So does his mommy. B likes to wear soccer socks because they go all the way up his legs and he calls them his boots. When he's in the bathtub he stands up and where his legs and feet are submerged he points and tells me that they are "B's boots." I have a really cute pair of boots that I got when Nat and I went to France a few years ago. (I actually get a lot of compliments on them, then sighs of "You've been to Paris?" when the ladies hear where I've gotten them.) Anyway, back to the story. B was trying to walk around in my Paris boots the other day. "Mommy! X's boots!" I told him they were Mommy's boots from France. His response? "B goes to France. I get some boots!" Sounds good. Someday we'll take our baby boy shoe shopping in France.

The Most Incredible Zoo

And finally, to wrap up our little North Carolina vacation we went to the most incredible zoo in Asheboro. It was actually raining so hard when we woke up in the morning that we decided to head home, but as we were packing up the car there was a little break in the clouds so we decided to go for it and were so glad we did! The weather held beautifully and the zoo was amazing! The four of us had a terrific time. It was a perfect way to end our vacation.

I just like this picture of Nat and both of the boys.

Great view of the lion, huh?

Naturally splashing in the puddles was much more interesting than looking at the lion!

Papa and Sebastien having a look at the tropical birds.

Good picture Nat!

Those are rhinoceros' in case you're wondering.

And they had a helicopter by the elephants that B thought was the coolest thing ever. Isn't he a doll?

Hotel Fun

This is just a little more from our North Carolina trip. The boys were such good travelers. We were so impressed! We didn't have any crying in the car. Bloved listening to "happy music" and eating M & M's while S would sing along with the music till he fell asleep. B even kept his diaper dry the entire 7 hour trip and would use the pottie at the gas stations. The boys loved the hotels. They liked it all, wrestling with the cushions, playing with the TV remote control, watching movies, and swimming in the freezing pools, and riding on the bellhop. They were too cute. Every time we get in the car B asks if he can go to a hotel again. I'm glad they had fun!

The Fiddling Pig

We went to this fun place to eat while we were in Asheville, The Fiddling Pig. They played blue grass music and served pulled pork. (I guess that's a North Carolina dish.) We had fun. Both the boys were dancing like crazy. I love the end of this video when B throws his arms in the air and says "I'm shaking it Papa!" And isn't S's smile beautiful?

North Carolina

Last month my cousin S and her family were in North Carolina so our little family drove over and spent a few days with them. It was great to see them again and meet her baby daughter. It rained a ton while we were there, but we still had some fun. It sure is beautiful up in the mountains!

K, B & S Blue Ridge Parkway
Nat & S--Asheville, Smoky Mountains

S & Baby R at the icecream shop. Sorry Craig. I thought the rain would let up and we'd get more pictures, so I didn't get any of you!

Bloved swimming at the hotels, but the water was really cold. Sand Chad an awesome tub in their hotel room so we let B go swimming in that. It was much warmer!

B loving the rain.

Nat & S

Kari & boys at the Biltmore House. It's the largest home in America and is modeled after the Versailles Palace in France. It was beautiful and had the coolest library --just like the one on Beauty and the Beast.

Nat and boys. A view from the house.

Sneaky Brothers

These cute boys are already always together. I love it! But they're also already sneaky little boys. Yesterday I was on the phone and everything became very quiet. My bedroom door was closed. I opened it. My bathroom door was closed. I opened it. There were my two sneaky little boys standing around the toilet with my wallet, each with their hands full with my credit cards, drivers license, library cards, temple recommend, etc. . . .!!!! Later Swas taking a nap and B said "Bneeds to check on S." "No. Let him take his nap." The next thing I know his bathroom door is closed. I opened it. Their bedroom door was closed. I came in. And there was B pulling S with all his might trying to get him out of the crib!!! He saw me. Screamed a cute little scream. Let go of S, threw a blanket over his head and stood there trying to hide from me. When I got him out from under the blanket he had wet his pants! Silly sneaky little boys. I wil lhave to be on toes from now on!

L'Occitane

Okay, I'm going to be an advertisement here for a minute. This shampoo here is the best stuff ever! I have tried every type of shampoo there is from whatever you can get at WalMart to the really expensive brands and this stuff is hands down the best ever! It's a little pricey, but it lasts forever. The bottle looks small and I'm still on the same bottle I got back in early May. For anyone looking for something fabulous for your hair this is it! The conditioner is just as good. And for those of you who know my thick, dry, crazy hair that's saying something! I haven't tried anything at this place that I don't really like. Check it out if you want to: http://usa.loccitane.com/FO/Home.aspx?cm_mmc=Google-_-2009-Brand-Exact-_-General-NoKWI-_-L+Occitane

Helpful Hints . . . Anyone?

Help!!! Our sweet little 2 year old slept quite well in his own big-boy bed for several months without any problems. He then started waking up at night due to noisy neighbors and getting scared and coming and getting in with us halfway through the night. But he was scared so he was crying which would wake up S. So, I started putting S to bed in his room and putting B in our room and staying with him till he fell asleep then Nat would switch him to his room. That worked for a few days, but he would still wake up sad at night and come in. Now he's certain he must sleep with one or the other of us at all times and wakes up if any other arrangement is tried! I've tried leaving lights on, giving toys and books, everything. And he can climb out of his crib (not to mention that's where Sebastien sleeps now,) so that's not an option. It's not a matter of "teach him to stay in his own bed, just keep putting him back" that's not the problem. It's waking up at 3:00 a.m. in terror and waking up the whole household. I don't know what to do! Any helpful hints anyone?

Angels

Jamestown

Free activities are always welcome! We enjoyed a morning at the museum and the Indian settlement. It was a hot day so we spent half of our time inside in the air-conditioning and the other half out in the village. We had a good time.

B sharing his water with his baby brother!

Mommy & B inside an Indian dwelling. Bis still trying to find the chicken. (See below.)

K & her boys. Do you see B's face? Still looking for the chicken.

Here's the ugly chicken with feather's missing off it's back. Bsaw it when we first came outside and searched for it the rest of the time.

Nat and S watching a demonstration on how deer antlers could be used as knives.

What's This Honey?

B is our book boy. He loves to be read to and memorizes his books. He says some really funny things too. Some he's come up with on his own and some from his books and movies. Lately when he wants to know what something is he'll say "What's this honey?" Other cute things he'll say:
"Hi Mama Gorgeous; It's Mother!; What's going on Thomas?; Luckily no one was hurt; I'll take care of you; B's being cheeky; B's a craaaazy vacuum!; Mama reads English. Mama needs to read French." He's really a very funny kid.

S!

S loves to take baths and he knows exactly what the word "bath" means. Whenever I tell B it's bathtime, S starts giggling and crawls as fast as he can to the tub and pulls himself up to standing and starts hitting the side of the tub till I put him in with his brother. It's so cute!
Funny how nothing captures a kids attention like Baby Einstein. I try not to put it on very often, but when I do even S crawls right up to the TV to have a look
And here's our big boy who only will consent to being fed his dinner if he is given something he can also feed himself. I can't believe he's already 8 months old!

Good Job B!!!

I was working in the bedroom this afternoon when I heard the toilet flush. "Oh no," I thought. I went into the bathroom expecting to find some disaster. Little B had gone to the pottie all by himself! He had just flushed the toilet and was putting the lid down with one hand and pulling up his undies with the other! God job B!!! (We still have to work on #2 though. As I was writing this post he came up to me smelling atrocious with a load in his pants. So, I'm off to clean a nasty bottom.)

Good Buddies

Look at these good buddies. If I ever have to put S in the playpen because I need to do something like take a shower where I can't keep an eye on him, I always come back to find that B has climbed in with him and they're wrestling or playing together. So cute!!!

Candle Light

This past week was wonderful. Nat and I went out twice! We hadn't been out on a real date just the two of us since Valentine's. The first night we went to see the latest Harry Potter which was fun. And Saturday night he surprised me with another date -- he even arranged for the babysitter-- and took me out for a candlelit dinner at an amazing little Italian restaraunt. It was very nice just to be the two of us for a little bit and really quite romantic. When we got home S was sleeping but B was still up and happy as he could be with the babysitter. When she left he asked "X gives a kissie?" then planted one right on her lips! It was darling.