Darth Vader

I finally got Alex a helmet that fits. This noggin requires the 8-year old size! Got to protect that big brain in there...

It's a Zoo Around Here!

It seems like our house has gone crazy in the last week or so.  Kids in and out all the time, animals all around, and even my own kids getting a bit wild.

Mario and Blue go everywhere with the kids.  Luckily, they are proud new owners of a tiny parakeet playground that is also mobile and can even fit in the bathroom while the kids are in the tub.  I heard a game of "birdie hide and seek" today - I think the point was that some kids hid with Blue and some with Mario and they waited for the chirps to give away the hiding places.

We also did some puppysitting for Grandma's dog Doodlebug.  The kids loved playing with her and wanted her everywhere with them, too.  It got crowded at bathtime!

Doodlebug had more fans than just the two in our house...the kids all around the street couldn't wait to see her and play each day.

This little girl rode in style!

 

Saturday was a gorgeous 70F afternoon, which reminds us why we love Houston's winters and it was a great chance to enjoy the neighbors' hot tub.  The water started out a chilly 66 degrees so the kids didn't get more than their toes in.

It didn't take long before the whole gang was warming up and having a great time.  We are so fortunate to have so many kids on our street.  And tough little Presley kept those six boys in line!

We have had some quieter moments at home.  Alex has learned to play checkers and takes the game very seriously.  He LOVES to win.  His competitive side scares me a little sometimes, although I'm sure it will be great for him later in life.

This melted me...my first sweet love note from my baby!  It says "I (heart) U Mom.  From Alex"  They both say it a lot but seeing the words my boys write means so much to me :)  It makes all the wild times worth it!

A Brand New Year

It doesn't seem possible that 2012 has already ended!  It was such a happy, peaceful year for our family.  We stayed in the same house, Matt had the same position all year, and both kids finished and started a new year at their same schools for the first time ever!  We have really enjoyed this phase in our lives and probably appreciate it much more after so many years of change and uncertainty.  The kids are at wonderful ages because they're still so sweet and innocent but smart as whips and tons of fun.  I will definitely remember 2012 as a happy year and I hope 2013 is even better.

After Christmas, Matt left for a week to hunt and the kids and I enjoyed a quiet, relaxing week at home with lots of pajamas, games, and movies.  The weather was gray and cold and it was perfect to stay inside and play.  We tested out all of their new games.

 

 But by far their main source of entertainment has been their new feathered friends, Blue and Mario.

How about breakfast all together?  Two kids, two fish, and two birds.

We got an ipad for the family so now the kids play on my phone and the ipad.

It's more fun to play with company.

Had to include this picture...Apparently Alex dripped some pee on his leg and he wanted to wash it off, so I found him naked bathing in the sink!

There has been plenty of wrestling.  All of this togetherness has led to many fun games together and plenty of fights as well.  Ah, brotherly love.

Some friends did coax us out of the house one cold afternoon to check out a nice playground and it was definitely worth braving the weather to run off some energy.

These cooped-up boys had a great time climbing and sliding and played until the minute I was cold enough to leave.

Back home, it's more playtime with the birds.  Blue is a great little buddy and cooperates with anything Ben wants to do.

 

Mario, on the other hand, has a bit of crazy in him and freaks out about everything.  We can get him to calm down occasionally and act civil, but the oven mitt is still the most effective way to get him back in the cage.

Ben was even more willing to read a book online as long as his little buddy could hang out with him.

We also had to make a visit to Grandma and Grandpa's house and meet their new puppy, Doodlebug.  Two smitten boys had a great time playing with her.

I was also lucky enough to have a little reunion with some of my old friends from Perth.  Only Robin is still there and the rest of us have scattered to new homes around the country but it was just like old times getting together again.  (Laura, Jen, Robin, Amy, Melanie)

We even got to have a playdate with the kids (minus Melanie and her sweet girls, who had already headed home).  Terrible picture, because someone's flash was going off at the same time, but compared to the babies below when we all got to know each other, it's amazing how much these kids have grown!  Ben remembered the other boys a little but Alex had completely forgotten his old buddies Wilder and Austin, because we hadn't seen them in nearly two years.  Such fun to catch up!  (Alex, Wilder, Austin, Malcolm, Ben)

The same gang, circa April 2010.  (Alex, Malcolm, Brynn, Ben, and Austin)