Thomas Time

More Family Pictures!

Don't you even worry. EVEN MORE will probably come. I just love every single picture I can't decide which ones to post. I feel bad for Erin, the photographer, because Jake was not feeling well that day so he had a runny nose (BAD). I'm sure she had to photoshop like crazy:)

Again, she is awesome. Her blog is http://aphotoadaykeepsthedoctoraway.blogspot.com/

P.S.
I love my family!

PREVIEW!

An awesome photographer took our first ever family pictures and I just wanted to upload two of my favorites.

More to come......

Her photo blog is http://aphotoadaykeepsthedoctoraway.blogspot.com/ I'm not sure if she has a portrait blog- I'll check!

Finally, a Halloween Post!

We had a fun Halloween. The boys had to miss their trunk or treat because Sean was sick. So, for the actual holiday, we visited grandparents and had dinner with Mike's mom and dad. It was a lot of fun. Mike and I feel so old. We truly go to bed when the kids do and we feel exhausted 100 percent of the time. Whew! The boys are both sick right now and we'll probably have to take them to the dr again tomorrow. Poor little things. Anyway, back to Halloween- Sean really really REALLY wanted Mike to be Eeyore. In fact, for an entire week he just said, "Daddy, Eeyore?" over and over and OVER again! So, of course, Mike HAD to be Eeyore. We rigged the costume up pretty nicely! I'll have to steal pictures from Mike's mom, though! I dressed up as Darby from the new Winnie the Pooh series, and Sean was Tigger and Jake was Pooh. It was fun! Hope you guys all had a great holiday!

Mike and I went on an actual date to the Gardner Village Witch A Palooza (so fun- totally making this a tradition!)

My Super Sleuths!

Me and my sick boys!

Doesn't Sean look so old in this picture? He is growing too fast!

I just hate days when you notice two of your favorite shirts were washed with a greasy greasy towel and now they have huge grease stains, you spend way too much money at Wmart, blew your diet at 5am, your kids won't sleep, kids are sick, blah blah blah BLAH! It's already getting better. I made rice krispies and have eaten half the pan. Dang diet
On a side note, the kids are doing a lot better. I think Jake has an ear infection now:( Sean is still on meds but is doing lots better. Sean is so cute when he's sick. He just cuddles and wants to hold my hand. He has a "man-cold!" I think maybe you have to be a woman to know that that dx is.

Really, it was pretty much the flu and ear infection and now I think Jakey is getting it! Wish us luck.

What to do when you're sick......eat lots of food.

Make ornery faces when Mom chooses the wrong movies to watch:)
Clean up your own vomit (don't worry, he really really wanted to help!)

Play in the sink!

Get messy eating yummy squash and THEN play in the sink.

Take funny pictures with Daddy!

Not to Boast:)

Lucky boys to have such sweet grand-parents!

I don't mean to brag but I have the world's best in laws! I absolutely love them. They are and have always been the greatest.

Today, Ann came and we visited the great grandparents. She is so good about spending time with us. Ryan was sick so he wasn't able to visit. But he sent Ann with some goodies for the boys, of course! She took some pictures of Sean at McDonald's. He had so much fun with her. As long as I was holding Jake, he loved to show off his new skills (crawling, standing, making fun sounds, etc...)

They really are the greatest! When we were newlyweds we lived down the street from them and it was awesome. In fact, I would comment that they didn't visit us enough:) I know. Strange!

Sean and Jake Part 2

Let's pretend this is my own personal venting journal because what this post will entail should actually be personal and written in my very own (real) journal. But let's face it- no one reads my journal and no one can give me advice on something they can't read.

Cyberworld- WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? I feel like I'm going to have a nervous breakdown half of the time while the other half is filled with feelings of "I can't believe this is my life and how did I get so lucky?!" Such polar opposite feelings. I am sick and tired of seeing people who are sickeningly happy and never lose their cool with their kids ( I know, it's just a facade yada yada yada.....) Am I that bad of a mother? Am I really crazier than the rest of the population? Seriously, my two year old is going to be the death of me.

I will give you two scenarios:

#1. Sean woke up this morning happy as always. Smiling and ready for the day. I say, "Let's change your diaper." He immediately throws himself on the floor screaming, "Noooo........." I proceed to try and change his diaper with him kicking and screaming and throwing a major fit. While at the same time wanting to crawl back in my warm blanket and sleep another year til his tantrum is over.

#2. I reluctantly decided it was best to go on a jog if I wanted to lose that forty pounds that was supposed to be gone a month ago. So, we suit up and go. Good run. After having a massive heart attack we end up at the park like I promised the boys. We play. Sean runs away from me and almost ends up in the street. After I threaten time out a few times I leave Jake in the swing to get Sean. I then decide it was best to go home, of course. Sean agreed, surprisingly. I think, ok, that was a miracle and the day may turn out ok. At the car, I sit Jake next to the car and hope and pray another car won't decide to make a crazy wild turn and run him over. Sean is supposed to "touch the car" while I put the stroller in my backseat since we live in a condo without a garage. Sean would rather run around the car instead. I throw the massive stroller in and hope I didn't break anything as I slam it shut (and hope nothing falls out when I open it next time). I pick up Jake and go to take Sean's hand and he pulls my arm off trying to get away and then when I tell him he has to hold my hand and we're going up three flights of stairs to our condo he throws himself on the concrete and smacks something. While holding Jake I pick Sean up. No blood. I proceed to carry both boys up the three flights of stairs. Did I mention I live up three flights of stairs. Sean is screaming and I yell, "Look at that bird" in an overly cheerful voice to hopefully deflect his attention to the amazing vulture (that doesn't really exist by the way.) We get inside and I finally get what he is saying, "Car. Go." He wanted to get inside the car and go somewhere apparently. After fifteen more tantrums, he finally takes a nap.

Whew! After half a dozen cookies, diet mountain dew, a few distressing thoughts, I am calm now.

Sean and Jake

Decided I need to be more grateful so I made this post for myself-

#1: I love how Jake eats a cracker and tries to put it in his mouth only he drops it, gets a confused look, and searches for it until he remembers if he cries I will get it for him.

#2: I love Sean's reaction to Jake getting his stinky diaper changed. He gets a disgusted look on his face and says, "ah Jakey, poopy! ah, jakey!" It's quite hilarious.

#3: I love how Sean lines up his animals and dances in a circle around them singing, "EiEiO."

#4: I love when Jake watches people and smiles and laughs until you say one word to him and he cries.

#5: I love how Sean likes things tidy and does a great job cleaning up.

#6: I love when Sean pours water on Jake in the tub! He's such a helper.

#7: I love when the kids take a nap at the same time.

#8: I love when I told Sean to sing Jake to sleep one night they slept in the same room. He sang to him forever and when Jake finally got annoyed by the hundredth round of EIEIO he started crying. When I picked Jake up to rock him, Sean looked so relieved. Funny stuff.

#9: I love when I go shopping with Sean and hold a shirt up to him and he says, "Nuoooooah" in a funny voice!

#10: I love when I go in to get Jake from his crib and he smiles so big and starts kicking with excitement.

I love MY BOYS! They're my life. I took them to their 6 month (a month late) and 2 year appointments. Sean's in the 90th for height and 50th for weight and Jake is in the 75th for height and 50th for weight. Big boys. Sean just sat there the whole time while he got his check up. Such a big boy. They're quite adorable!
I am grateful for Sean and Jake, and of course, Mike. I listen to this song by the Motab called "where are you going" about a child growing up. "You turn around and he's two. You turn around and he's four. You turn around and he's a young man going out the front door." Time goes by so fast and I just want to hold on to these moments with my boys forever!

Sean's Two and Fun in Bear Lake

Sean's birthday was pretty low key. We did cake and ice cream at Mike's family's house on Sunday and then on Tuesday Ann, Caitie, and Erin came to visit. We ate pizza and Sean got tons of nice presents! He loves building things with his Lego's from Grandma and Grandpa. He also carries around the Thomas the Train outfit they got him and says, "Choo Choo." Can't wait til it gets cooler outside so he can wear it.

On the patio with the "sensory table" and Sean decided it would be more efficient to just get it in!

Got him a tricycle- he's fearless on it but doesn't really get the idea of it as you can see!

Nice birthday! I still can't believe he's two years old. He definitely acts two but he looks older especially when he stands next to me. He's over half my size and I just can't help think time will just fly by me and he'll be on a mission. Sad to think about. I was sad when he was born in the hospital thinking the time will just slip by. I try to enjoy the days I have with him. We have fun. Caitie also got Sean a sensory table and lots of ideas of things to put in it (you can tell she's an elem. ed major!) I got out the shaving cream once, put water in it another time, and tonight I'm filling it with dirt! Caitie and Erin (Mike's sisters) also made Sean the cutest book ever. It is called, "Butterumpus" and Caitie wrote it and Erin illustrated it. It's adorable. I love it. The main characters are of course, Sean and Jakey, and they try to protect their house from the "monster" underneath their parents bed (which turns out to be their dad, Butterumpus! It's so cute. I seriously almost cried when I read it. Caitie always gives really thoughtful gifts. I always wish I could give those kinds of gifts. I gave Mike a homemade cd for his bday with every song meaning something and wrote out why I chose each particular song. It took forever and I still don't think he has listened to it. Anyway! It's so fun. Jake just loves Sean and vice versa. They are adorable together. I love them to pieces

We had a great vacation right before Sean's bday. We went to Bear Lake with awesome friends. We had a really fun time. Sean's very best friend, Rylee, was there. Sean LOVES her and talks about her all of the time. The boys did fairly well on the trip.

Driving to Bear Lake. These are the times I wish I had an Acadia (ok, I always with that:)

Sean playing!

Sean's future in-laws (a.k.a the Lloyds...a.k.a Rylee's parents!)

All of the kids minus Jakey

Is it August?!

August is our busiest month- well mid July to August. Three bdays in July, 3 in August, and our anniversary in Aug too. So, needless to say, we spend a lot of money in the summer!

Update:

Mike: Loves his job. LOVES IT! It's really laid back. He is really happy there. I still can't believe he prescribes medicine for people. Honestly, it kind of scares me:)

Lori: Doin' well. Bought an awesome jogging stroller (comes tomorrow) and Mike got me an IPOD for my bday. So, hopefully, I can lose forty pounds! Too bad, my goal for that was this Friday. Oh well, must plug along! Keeping busy with the boys!

Sean: Can't understand 90 percent of what he is saying unless you are mom or dad but he's so cute when he tries to get you to understand. He loves to dance. He points at whomever he wants to dance with and then points to the the spot he wants yo uto start dancing. It's hilarious. He also is still obsessed with singing "E,I,E,I,O and loves hanging out with Gpa Thomas. Poor grandpa, he makes him get every single guitar he has to sing with him. He has been really cute with more people. Not so shy. He goes to nursery now and prefers it if I just go and not bother or embarrass him in front of his friends. Man, that started early!

Jake: Trying to crawl. Wants to like crazy. He watches Sean and laughs and smiles at him all day. He loves LOVE LOVES to eat. One day, he grabbed Seans bean burrito and had it stuffed in his mouth before I could get to him, stole one of Sean's bread sticks and seriously threw the biggest fit when I tried to take it from him, and one day, he found a plate of animal crackers and he was in heaven! He is so cute. Such a chubby, cuddly, adorable baby!

Sean with his good buddy the goat pinata! (He'll take whatever animal he can get. He's obsessed with animals!)

The whole little family.

Mike and Sean Jake with his Great Aunt Cathy


Jakey and me (I love to give him kisses!)

With Thomas Grandparents

With Cousin Madden (Matt and Meg's baby) Opa (Great Grandpa Morrell's 80th bday)

My happy boy!

Loves his crackers!