It's not all bad, though; they are becoming more and more humorous each day. But I would just love to settle into this home that is more than we ever hoped for and have a little more calm. I must be dreaming, right?
Here's what I'm talking about.
more wrestling (and gymnastics)
I guess it's a boy thing, but we can't sit or lay down without someone climbing on us.
more elaborate train tracks
As far as playing with the boys goes, building train tracks is one of my favorite things. It is funny too, now, because Gabe likes to critique me as I build, and say things like I don't think so, not that one, that's not gonna fit! He's hilarious. The living room has become our main train area, because their bedroom is usually too messy. From time to time the boys will start to build one together, but Gabe really doesn't like it when the track goes off to nowhere and just stops, as they usually do when I don't come to the rescue.
more goofy, more cute
(a little) more time for crafting
In the last month I have finished my knitted socks and the top for Gabe's quilt. I'm not sure how, really. Possibly because the crazy times have been so crazy that anything less seems like a major break, and I take advantage of it. When I look at the socks, two things come to mind. One, there is a reason people with size 9's are not foot models, and two, I don't really need another pair of socks. I guess I made them just to see if I could. I'm hoping to finish the quilt in the next month or two. I'll be sure to take a photo of the boys who are almost bigger than the baby quilts that were made for them!
more creativity
Play-doh, painting, and coloring are still big around here. Funny how Zach prefers to write with a pencil than draw with a crayon anymore, and he likes to leave notes on scraps of paper all over the place, all with the letter "Z" on them. Gabe's scribbles are coming along too.
Inspired by Little Bear, I'm sure (because I know the episode), Zach decided to make a mole trap in the middle of the kitchen. Because they are "harmful to your garden, you know." When he was showing it to me, he described how he put the track to lead the mole up, and then he put blocks all around the trap, in case the mole wanted to play once he was in the trap. All I could do was crack up.
more requesting Chili's and McDonald's
We don't eat out that much, but we have gone to both places recently, and it is very obvious that these are their favorites. I think Zach said "it's a great day to go to Chili's" about four days in a row. And not at dinner time, first thing in the morning.
more endless energy, and more passing out
Here are some of the more tame gymnastics pics; we don't reward jumping, climbing on, or tumbling off the couch with photography, though there is plenty of that too. There's also a lot of running, and we are trying to get the yard fenced asap. Frank and I have taken tons of cute kid-asleep-on-the-couch photos, but these may be our first fell-asleep-in-the-supermarket ones.
(a little) more time outside
So far it has just been one of us hanging out with Gabe on the porch while the other goes to the mailbox with Zach. Or all of us on the deck while Frank's grilling.
more baking, and bigger appetites
It's happened...the boys went from pre-schoolers to teenagers overnight. It really seems like they never stop eating. Turns out they love any kind of muffins, but especially banana, and I'm happy to not let any brown bananas go to waste. I'm also happy to report that we are just about done with sippy cups...they are only an indulgence first thing in the morning at this point.
more questioning, more learning, more growing
As a reward for good potty training (they are both progressing well, by the way), Zach picked out this little pot with some strawberry seeds. He's very attentive to it...luckily it lives in a window of our bedroom because it's the best, safest light source.
