Happy Memorial Day!

We have had a great Memorial Day weekend.  We had a great time getting to spend some much needed down time with family as we remember those who have so bravely served our country. 

We started by spending Friday at the zoo, and then spend the remainder of the weekend with the grandparents!



Group Hug!



Autographs later, please!  We're just trying to get in a little family time. :)



Under the sea!

While at the zoo, Luke decided to preform an acrobatic feet.  He did a perfect flip off the bleachers at the sea lion show onto the concrete.  I have to confess, his landing was a perfect 10 (despite the busted nose)!



I just loved these of my precious boys!  They look so sweet.

Hope you and your family had a great holiday weekend!  Thank you for all of those who have served our country and protected our freedom so bravely so that we can enjoy lazy weekends like this one with our loved ones.

Oh boy!

You know the saying...."boys will be boys," but as mine are growing way too quickly I'm realizing the truth in this statement. Please note, none of these pictures were encouraged by Mom, but all contrived by the male brain!

 

Saturday we made a pit stop at the hardware store.  While Dad was busy checking out needed yard supplies, the boys insisted on driving the tractors. Both of them seemed to prefer the John Deere over any others.

Dad, I've got my gloves and I'm ready to work!

  

 

Houston always seems to have road construction somewhere.  Who knew it could even move into our home!?!  This was the new construction built in our dining room after supper tonight.  I just wish you could have heard the crashes as cars were slamming into one another.

Okay, so maybe this one had some help from the female influence, but it wasn't me!  Last week a friend sweetly encouraged the boys to pick Mommy some flowers and snapped this picture.  I just couldn't help but share this one!  Too sweet. 

With one more boy coming to join our family soon, I'm looking forward to more roads, tractors, wrestling matches, and sweet moments with Mommy!  There really is nothing like watching these precious gifts grow into young men (although I'm not quite ready for the men part yet)!

Aggie Bear



Levi sleeping with "Little Aggie Bear."



Every child has something they enjoy sleeping with.  Whether it is a favorite blanket, lovey, or stuffed animal for whatever reason these bring great comfort and security when drifting off into slumber.  For our boys the favorite has become "Aggie Bear."  Now there are two variations of Aggie Bear, Big Aggie and Little Aggie. 



Luke snuggling with "Big Aggie Bear."



I have learned a lot about my parenting from watching the boys play with their bears as they are going to sleep.  Most nights Aggie bear gets tucked in on the pillow along with the boys, and upon insistence from the boys given "sugars" from Mom & Luke or Levi.  Many mornings, Aggie bears join us for breakfast, and if I'm not careful Aggie bear is offered milk, cereal, applesauce, or anything else the boys have available.

I think my favorite has to be from the other night.  Jonathan walked into the boys room to quiet them down.  He looked at Levi and quickly questioned what he was doing.  He informed his Daddy, that Aggie bear was in time out!  Not sure what Aggie bear did to deserve this punishment, but Levi was insistent that he needed it.

One lesson we have learned, Aggie Bear is an important part of our family and we rarely get to leave home with out him!



The boys playing "night-night."  Not sure why this game is so fun when they don't enjoy the real time to go night-night.  Please note, Aggie bears in hand!

BUBBLES!!!

So a couple of weeks ago, there was a big "foam party" at Discovery Green for toddlers.  I thought the boys would have a ball with this.  I mean they love the bubbles in the bath tub, how could this be any different right?  Wrong!!
We met a couple of friends for the party, and their kids LOVED it!  Here are some pictures from the boys big bubble party. 

 

After a good 15 minutes, Luke decided the bubbles really did look like a lot of fun.  He never ventured into the bubble mass, but had a lot of fun on the edge where it was nice and safe.

Levi, on the other hand, NEVER warmed up to the idea.  In fact, if the wind blew bubbles in his direction he let us know he did not like it at all.  We quickly headed over to the splash pad instead, and he was much happier.  Well at least half of our crew finally enjoyed the party!

Jesus is ALIVE!!

 There is nothing like hearing your children proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ!  Even the littlest pieces they understand, bring me such joy & hope.  In Sunday School, the weeks leading up to Easter the boys have been hearing pieces of the last days of Christ.  The Sunday before, the boys learned about the empty tomb.  They told me they learned a story about an angel and that Jesus was alive.  So all week, my boys have been proclaiming this tructh...Jesus is ALIVE!  Then they usually get very excited and clap with a loud "YAY JESUS!"  There is no greater joy as a mom than hearing these things proclaimed with joy in our home. 

Not sure where Levi found the blue candy, but they were happy boys with full baskets!

Tales from the crib (or lack there of...)

A few weeks ago, we (again) made the transition to toddler beds!  Once again, with mattresses flat on the floor, one of our boys figured out how to climb out of his prison (aka the crib).  With the reality of another baby coming this summer, we decided to go ahead and work on this transition.  As you can imagine, there have been quite a few stories coming from two two-year olds sharing a room.  So I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you.

The first night we moved the boys into their toddler beds, the boys did really well.  I think more than anything it was a shock because it was by far the best and easiest night.  Levi looked at me after we said prayes, and asked so sweetly "door?'  He was asking for the railing to be added back to his bed.  No longer did he have that barrier that he had become so familiar with, but freedom and he was scared!

We have learned a lot about the boys through this transition.  Luke is a much crazier sleeper than what I realized.  He has rolled out of bed, completely stunned a good handful of times.  He also talks in his sleep, which he gets from his Daddy.  The best though is that he has walked in his sleep to his bedroom door.  Thankfully Daddy caught him before he got further!  This is going to make for some good stories in the years to come. 

If Levi wakes up first, Luke better watch out because he is jumping ship.  The boys have been told many times, when they wake up they are to come find Mommy or Daddy.  However, many mornings I have found Levi's pillow, blanket, and bear thrown on top of Luke (who is usually still snoring away) before he has come to find Mommy.  He sure loves his brother ALOT!

One night we were listening to the boys talking as they were supposed to go to bed, and absolutely died laughing.  We had been learning the story of Zaacheaus, and Luke started yelling "Zaacheaus (which when he says it it sounds like Ikea), you come down!!" over and over again.  Meanwhile, Levi was singing his favorite song, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."  However, instead of singing the words, he was oinking the tune.

I think the most precious thing they have done was way to early for me to truly enjoy.  About 5 one morning I heard the boys playing in their room.  As I walked into their room, they were huddled up in Luke's bed together reading their tractor book.  How do you discipline that?
I'm sure we have more adventures and stories to share, but thus far their transition to "big boy beds" has gone smoother this time around.  Still not perfect, but we're all learning in the process!

Our ever expanding vocabulary

They say from years 2 to 3, the language explosion takes place in most toddlers.  Well with two going through this stage at the same time, we have one major boom on our hands!  Daily the boys are picking up new words and phrases (please be careful what you say around them- you really don't know what will stick!). 

 Of all the new phrases they are using I think my personal favorite is "By yourself!"  We are still working on pronouns so the translation of this phrase is "I want to do this by myself!"  Wether it is building with blocks, washing hands, or trying to hit a baseball off the tee, daily the boys are growing in their independence and are rapidly desiring for mom to stop doing things for them.  They want to do it by themselves!  While this is a great thing in their development, there are still times they don't need to do things by themselves.  Several times over the past few weeks as this phrase has appeared we have let them attempt things on their own.  Sometimes they are successful and others they end up frustrated and want help.  Whether they like it or not, there are still times they need mom & dad to help them do it. 

What a picture of our relationship with Christ!  How many times, do I look at the Lord and say "By myself!"  Our loving Father, looks and says okay.  We fall and ultimately fail because He we can't do it on our own.  He alone has the scope of our lives in His hand.  He alone knows the beginning from the end, and all that is in between.  In my own strength and determination, I can't do it!  When will I learn to go to Him first instead of trying to do it by myself.  Once again, this is just another lesson my 2 year olds are teaching me! 

2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for your, for my power is made perfect in your weakness.'"