The Build Up

We are celebrating something big today. I tend to overdo birthday parties. I am well aware, and if you dare to point this out, I get backed into a corner like a cat facing a Mastiff. These kids are my life's work, and damn it, I am going big.



I am going to inflate no less then 5,000 balloons.



I am going to have the cutest cake I can whip up.



I am going to paint a board for pictures.



Yep. Overboard. It will all come together though and totally be worth the longest week ever of party planning. Well, I take that back. The build up to our wedding was a lot more stressful!



It has had me reflecting on this day though. I get overwhelmed trying to wrap my head around how fast this world had turned. This year had so much good. We shared lots of love, and had lots of moments. I am going to do my best to hold it together today, but I am going to take it all in. Pause and really see this celebration. And remember how far we have come. Even if he doesn't look like this at all anymore. I would swear that he wasn't even the same child if I hadn't seen the transformation myself!

The Limits

Grant is thisclose to walking. He wants to do it. He will stand at a table, and stttrrrreeeech his arm out behind him and then sit down. It is right around the corner. so is his birthday. I love celebrating these boys. I have changed my ways with this party though, I will not be rushing around last minute buying everything in sight! Pinterest has helped, too!

We had our first T-ball game last night. It was sad. Preston has been testing us lately, and he decided not to eat his dinner last night. He didn't get to play. He had to sit on the blanket and watch everyone else. My heart broke for him, and I wanted to scoop him up and make it okay, as he sat at the table and cried because he couldn't play. He is trying so hard to push the line of acceptable behavior, and we are working hard to stand our ground.

Hopefully we find a balance soon.

We did have a good time earlier in the afternoon. The Wall That Heals rolled pass our town last night. I found out that they would have an entrance like no other, so I loaded the boys up and we sat in the back of the car with our flags, and waited. It was worth it. We watched a full seven minutes of motorcycles beep, wave, salute as they roared by. Both boys sat in awe. Preston is looking forward to going to see this mini replica of the real deal. His grandad is going to take him, and hopefully teach him a little bit about what The Wall means, and why it is so important. He should know, he was there.



On a lighter note, we have been blessed with some warm days. We filled the kiddie pool, and Preston did his best to to convince Grant that he wanted to join him.



Grant is a smartie, and stayed skeptical.

BFFs

As I sat last night working on party things for an upcoming birthday, I realized Preston has finally gotten what he has been (sometimes) patiently waiting for. They had a football that Preston was tossing back and forth in the house, and they would both chase it, laughing the whole way. Grant never got within a foot of the ball, but he was so happy to be included in his big brother's game. It made my heart happy.



Spring break was a whirl-wind of fun. We started with a birthday party at the zoo, on an especially chilly day. It was so fun to see Preston checking out all the animals. The last time we went to the National Zoo, he was only two and this time, he was eager to learn about the animals. He talked about the tiger and lion all the way there, but seemed most excited to see the anteater.

This is his attempt at sitting like a gorilla.

After the zoo, we made the trek to Richmond to see my mom run in a race, that I was very sad to sit back and watch. I am still dealing with ankle issues, but that's another story.

Sorry, for the closed eye picture mom!

The week of Spring break, I wanted to enjoy every minute. I wanted to really soak up a week free from errands, and really spend time entertaining kids.

This little game ended surprisingly well.

The Children's museum had lots of special activities, and we went for the minute to win it games. You have a minute to complete different challenges, placing die on a tongue depressor while holding it in your mouth, stacking cans in a pyramid on a plate floating in water, picking up ziti on a spaghetti noodle while holding it in your mouth. There was a lot of rule bending, but Preston did amazing with the die!





We also met some friends at a nearby little zoo. It is perfect for little legs with a petting zoo, that I am pretty sure could have been the only attraction there, and the kids would have been satisfied! Preston was very proud of petting and feeding the Yak, and couldn't wait for anyone to ask him about it.







We rounded out the week with our own twist of a bunny cake.



And Friday and Saturday the saying of the day was, "Let's dye some eggs!" Now sing that and jump around.





Sunday, I rolled Preston up in his comforter at 5:30am and headed off for the sunrise service before we checked out the Easter bunny goodies. I want him to understand that Easter is more than some bunny that leaves prints on your floor and goodies in your living room, and a big lunch with family. I want both boys to know how lucky they are that we know about God and how much we are blessed by Him.






This week though, both boys are suffering from viruses that are being passed around. Preston suffered from a really high fever that is lingering, and Grant has an ear infection and croup. Preston was really disappointed that he didn't get to go to preschool, but he has a Trike-A-Thon on Friday to look forward to.



I am beginning to see these boys are becoming ingrained in each other. They are increasingly concerned with what the other is doing, and wanting to do the same thing. Preston is even eager to wear the same thing as his brother. Grant has always had an infatuation with his brother, but now it is being reciprocated. Grant is now getting to an age where they can play together. It is so exciting to see them run/crawl back to Preston's room, and then hear Preston telling Grant "the rules" of their game.



There's no other love like the love for a brother.  There's no other love like the love from a brother.  ~Terri Guillemets

Yippee!!

It has happened! He has gotten on all fours and CRAWLED!!! It has been a long 9 (2 days shy of 10) months! Up until now his mode of transportation has been screaming at the top of his lungs. This way people (me) would take whatever he needed to him to prevent every one's ears from falling off. Problem solved.

Proof:

Now if we can just get him to drink from a cup, so this can stop.


Oh- and legs make good tunnels!

Weekly Tradition

This week delivered! We had amazing weather! It was a great spring week, complete with three thunder storms. March is coming in like a lion, and hopefully leaving like a lamb, with lots of sunshine.

We tried Green Smoothies this week. They were a hit with everyone, including Grant. Preston calls them Green Goblin Smoothies. All about super heroes and bad guys. Little do they know that the spinach I added made them green!

There is a yin and yang for everything though. With our healthy green smoothies, we have started Junk Food Friday. It is worth the long run on Saturdays! Preston loves the idea of ending the week with a hot dog and Slurpee. I like the nachos with coleslaw myself!

Then we meander around the Flea Market in New Market and find little treasures. It is fun to see what we will find! This week brought home three new serving spoons, three ceramic Easter eggs, a batman suitcase (for an upcoming trip) and a ferbie. Remember those? Fifty cents and the kid had himself a used McDonald's toy. Nice.

It is fun though, Grant lays back in the stroller and Preston acts like he is exploring a jungle of treasures. It is neat to see toys that I played with when I was a little! I am going to do some digging though, and see what other Flea Markets are nearby to explore.

Attached, we MUST be touching!

Grant has just started an army pull of sorts! The boy is finally catching on to independence. We'll see how I handle it, but I am looking forward to seeing him explore some on his own! There is a lot of backward motion at this point, but every so often, he gets going forward!

All that crawling is hard work!

Last night, Brandon took Preston for a guys night out. He took him to see The Lorax. Brandon got to see what I see when I take Preston by himself anywhere now. He is a perfect child. It is sweet that when he gets our full attention, he is so well behaved and uses great manners. I love that he enjoys special time with us!

When they got home I made special Truffula Trees for him, and they were gone before I could get a picture! After doing chores and reading a book, I laid talking to him about his favorite part of the day, and believe it or not, it was still having a Slurpee while we got the oil changed! It really is the little things!

Spa-ring!

I woke up before the rest of the house today, and sat and listened to the birds singing outside. I look forward to when there are so many out there talking that they wake me up. I had a friend tell me the other day that she was disappointed with our winter. That she really enjoys the seasons.

This poor sweet duck was missing part of the top of his beak, and had to be hand fed beacuse he couldn't pick it up off the ground.

She wants the change in a year. Change can be good. I prefer to have just one season. I would be content with just summer. I do like change though. I like to mix it up. Do different things. Experience new things, see new places.

I like to show the boys new things, too. See things again, new through their eyes. We went to the duck pond in Staunton yesterday. The weather was A-MAZ-ING! Perfect Spring day.

Grant sat back and assessed the situation. The geese were slightly aggressive, tasting the stroller. Squawking loudly when Preston wasn't generous enough with the bread.

The taste of Spring had me buying tulips. You know the kind, where they expose the bulbs in a glass vase, so you can watch the change in them, and see them grow. I justified my favorite flower purchase as a science lesson for Preston.

I can't wait to see what new things the boys will learn and see this Spring.

Sickies

January and February were over shadowed with illnesses and discombobulated schedules. We made a quick trip to Richmond, enjoyed several warm days, had the threat of a blizzard that we didn't even see a dusting for. It has all been a little crazy.

Grant had a nine month check up, and we were told we actually have a 13 month old. I was really sure I had my math right when I walked in the door, no wonder the time has felt like it has gone by faster with him. The poor child is so stubborn and determined not to fend for himself and still refuses to crawl. His mode of transportation is rolling, or screaming at us until we bring him things.

Preston is racing to Kindergarten at alarming speed. He is in the beginning stages of reading, he can sound out any word (so spelling is going to quickly come to an end for us) and he has 30-some sight words memorized. Amazes me at his ability to soak up knowledge.

Last night we went to Pump It Up for a Super Hero Training Camp. It was the most fun I have had watching him in a while! He was so engaged and loved the entire party. They played games like "Kryptonite ball" AKA dodge ball, pitting the parents against the kids. My little super hero got me out, and was so proud of that.

I have spent a lot of time working on focusing on the kids, but I have also accomplished something I haven't done since I met Brandon. I ran FIVE MILES! It has been so long since I have run that far, and I am so proud of it. My mom signed me up for a 6K at the end of March, and when she first brought it up, I have to say, I didn't think it would happen. Last week though, I easily ran four, and yesterday did five. I am so glad that she put that goal in front of me!

Hope you enjoy this day as much as Grant!