Hang Time!

With snow and cold temperatures we are always trying to find a way to burn off some of that bottled up energy. We brought up our basketball hoop from the basement for the boys and they have been enjoying it ever since. It's been a great way for them to blow off some steam!

Mac trying to get it on the action

slam dunk!

Yes!

Mac still waiting his turn!

Bids for Kids Dinner and Silent Auction

The Stevensville South St. Joe MOMS Club is proud to sponsor our service project this year, Bids for Kids. All proceeds will benefit three wonderful charities that directly affect three children within our chapter. As the Administrative Vice President of the club, I am the event coordinator. We have put in a lot of time and hard work to make this event amazing. Check out our website at www.bidsforkids.yolasite.com

Happy Friday!

Hope this face brightens your day today as much as it brightens mine everyday.

New Shoes

As I mentioned in a previous blog, AJ is obsessed with light up shoes. He seeks Tommy's shoes out and will just throw them at you with a whine wanting you to put them on his feet. So this past weekend we headed to the shoe store in hopes to find some light up shoes that would fit AJ. The store clerk measured his foot and said he would fit into a 4 1/2 wide to extra wide. He's a big boy! Well, I found one 4.5 wide, Chris and I tried and tried and could not get this shoe on his foot, there was just no way. Right in front of me there was a 5.5 Buzz Lightyear light up shoe. We decided to try it on just to see if it would fit him. Sure enough, fit him perfectly. 5.5 shoe size at 14 months, I couldn't believe it. He wouldn't let us take the shoes off either, he was very proud of them. I don't know why something so little as shoes makes him look so grown up. I can't believe what a big boy he is becoming!

Sporting the new shoes

Quality Playtime

The other night Chris and I sat and watched the boys play together. It was so much fun to watch them interact and actually play together. They love Imaginext toys, which I think are pretty awesome too. They can occupy them for a long time! Here they are playing with the bat cave. Somehow AJ always gets assigned as being the "bad" guy. I don't think he minds quite yet!

Chaos

Chaos is defined as a state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or order. I think that's the only way to describe this picture. I have no idea what is going on. Chris took this picture and I am glad I was MIA. I have no idea what Tommy is doing and it looks like AJ is trying to put a diaper on his head...

Happy Birthday, Uncle Scott!

We wish you all the best, Scott! Hope you're day is great...just think you are almost half way out of your thirties!

Basil, My New Best Friend

The other night, I was making dinner. I was chopping basil and AJ came up to me and did his usual witching hour routine of clinging to me and crying. I usually try to find a way to distract him so I can get dinner done. So this time I put a basil leaf under his nose to smell. He loved it! He couldn't get enough of it! He ate it too, just plain basil. So now I know to keep basil on hand because it will occupy AJ in a bind!

Blocks

For Christmas, my mother in law sent AJ a set of wooden blocks. They have been a hit in our house with both boys. Every day Tommy, AJ, and I get down on the floor and build for a long time. Well, it's usually Tommy and me building and AJ knocking down. Sometimes Tommy and I will have competitions to see how many blocks we can stack before AJ knocks them down. They have been so much fun to play with, thanks Nonni!

AJ eying the prize

Taunts from Tommy

And it's down...

Banging blocks together, so much fun!

Time to rebuild

Snow!

This past weekend it snowed! Tommy was very excited to go out and play in it. The boys received snowball makers and snow fort makers from Uncle Scott for Christmas. Tommy couldn't wait to break out the snowball makers! I have to admit though, I was the first one to use it, and throw the first snowball at Chris of course! We had a great morning playing out in the snow!

AJ still doesn't know how to walk in his boots

Finally able to stand!

Enjoying the snow

Snowball making time!

Crash!

Neighbors getting in the snowball action!

Thanks, Uncle Scott! We had a great time!

Lovies

I have always wondered how kids determine their favorite stuffed animal, their lovie. Tommy picked his when he was a little over six months old. Blue Bear has been his companion ever since. AJ recently just picked his lovie. A monkey. We kept trying to see what AJ would lean towards and never picked a favorite until about a month ago. Now Monkey and him are inseparable. It's amazing the comfort these lovies give you. Chris and I still actually have ours. We passed them along to the kids. Chris loved Thumper as a child and mine were what I called my lolly dolls. I hope our kids can pass their lovies on down to their children too. Here are some pictures of our lovies.

Tommy and Blue Bear

AJ and Monkey

My lollies and Chris' Thumper

Buzz and Buzz Jr.

Toy Story still plays a huge roll in our lives. It's not only important to Tommy, but AJ as well. It's funny how AJ now recognizes the characters and always gives a little giggle when he sees one. I have to admit, sometimes before dinner I put on Toy Story 3 so I can get a good 15 minutes to get dinner underway without AJ attached to my leg. He absolutely loves the beginning of the movie!

Tommy lately has just been consumed with Buzz, everything relates back to Buzz. Chris and I have even taken so far as to say Buzz wants you to eat your breakfast so you can be a strong space ranger! Tommy told me the other day that he introduced himself to a little boy saying "Hi, I'm Tommy, and when I grow up I'm going to be a space ranger."

AJ, however, loves Woody. He is his favorite. AJ has been throwing Tommy's light up Toy Story shoes at me to put them on him. I think a pair of those shoes is in his future soon!

The other night, they both put on Buzz Lightyear costumes. Chris and I got a real kick out of watching them both run around as Buzz. Here are a few pictures.

Visit to Grand Rapids

After Christmas, we headed up to Grand Rapids to celebrate with the cousins.

I got one good picture, and then...

the chaos begins!!

Tessa scared of AJ

AJ and Papa cuddling up

Mallory posing!