Train Trip!

Cal and Papa took a special trip to a nearby town this weekend, for the sole purpose of taking the train. Our previous attempt at the train was a little too scary for Cal but he was younger then and is such a big boy these days that we thought it was time to try again. And, boy were we right on. He loved it! He was big into sitting in his own seat and giving the conductor his ticket and clambering on the benches in the train station waiting area.

Other passengers thought it was great and could clearly tell this necessary part of their journey was his destination. The conductor even pretended to stamp the ticket receipt and give it back to him so he could feel official and special.
To top it off, they saw a freight train pass by while they were waiting. Now that is a treat! The only difficult part was that the train ride didn't last longer. So, might be a trip to New York coming our way in the not too distant future. Who knows?

A hot sunny weekend is perfect for..

goofing around with Papa,
making silly faces with Mama,

making fishy faces at the park,

chillin outside in the grass,

learning how to play t-ball,

and giving out lots of love.

Thanks Papa, you're the best!

You don't mind carrying a 30 pound wiggler for 10 blocks because I don't feel like riding in the stroller, you don't mind rocking me in the middle of the night because I don't want to sleep, you happily play dead knowing I'm about to step on your stomach because you know it's good for me to feel powerful sometimes, you always say, "Take it easy Mama" because you know she needs reminding, you always look me straight in the eye and say, "I love you" because it's so nice to hear it. You are a great Papa. Happy Father's Day.

I have preferences!

1. I prefer leaning far out to my right while you are holding me. It would be best if you rest all 15 pounds of my little baby self on an isolated portion of your upper left arm. Oh, and please don't sit down, it isn't nearly as interesting.

2. I prefer to sleep with my head resting to the left. I'm not really bothered that this is setting my head off a little lopsided, I'm sure it will be ok.

3. I prefer to be spoken to directly and will reward anyone who does this with lots of cooing and smiling and talking.

4. I prefer to laugh while I'm sleeping. Not while I'm awake, my dreams are funnier than you are.

5. I prefer hearing my brother sing more than anyone else. His strictly monotone version of "Baa Baa Black Sheep" is so good that I will stop crying.

Overall, I'm a pretty happy guy so please try to abide by these preferences. Thanks.

Kitty Daycare and Other Tales

We are beginning to get wonderful little peeks at Cal's budding imagination. Here are some of the best tall tales:

-The cat escaped the house the other day and I was outside with Callum saying, "Where is that cat? Where did she go? Callum, where do you think the cat is?" and he says, "She's at her daycare, Mama."

- He put sand on his feet in the sandbox and said, "I can walk anymore Mama" and then proceeded to break his feet 'free'

- He insists that his trailer truck would like to join us for book reading and then sits resting his arm on it the whole time, like it's an old friend.

-He reads his book and sings "Wheels on the Bus" to his school bus because the book has a school bus in it.

-He said to me, "I ate a giraffe. I ate a delivery truck. I ate a bumblebee. I ate a baby." with a mischevious little grin.

Can't wait to watch it grow!

Just Me and My Brother

Playing games, giving gentle touches, goofing around and just generally getting used to being brothers. It's pretty simple.

Who is Who?

Can you tell which baby is Callum and which baby is Jude? I mean, really, are they brothers or what?! Of course, Callum is 13 weeks in the photo and Jude is nearly 10. What a chubbo!

Visit from Mary and Sean

A busy week and fun-filled weekend was capped off with a rare visit from Kieran's Aunty Mary and Uncle Sean as well as Grandma and Grandad Crowley this weekend. There was lots of baby admiring...

and Callum managed to show off all his trucks and the wonders of his sandbox to our lovely visitors. It was a short visit but a great time to catch up with far-away family. Unfortunately, we were saddened to learn that Mama's grandmother in Minnesota is not doing well and had been rushed to the hospital with kidney problems. We are awaiting news of her recovery and feeling far away from everyone in Minnesota.

Strawberry Fields

Callum and Mama's special trip this weekend was to the strawberry field affiliated with the organic farm we get produce from. We are allowed to pick our own strawberries and we certainly did so to our heart's content. That is, of course, until Callum discovered the joys of MUD! At which point we had to stop at every puddle and experience the wonders of gooey, sticky mud.

Time to Celebrate!

As the school year winds down and summer starts up it means it is time for the annual preschool party! They really do up this event--rent a hall, provide snacks, prepare a slideshow, balloons, the whole bit. For the 4 year olds that will head off to kindergarten in the fall, they even make yellow graduation hats, have them process down the aisle and give them diplomas. This was the first year that Callum was aware of the whole party and he LOVED seeing all his friends. He would announce each friend as he saw them come in! It was great fun and Jude, feeling pretty overwhelmed slept in Papa's arms. The highlight for us was that the kids had prepared a song, practiced it, and sang it in front of everyone. Of course, most of them forgot to sing and just stood there shell-shocked. Cal focused REALLY HARD on ringing the bells he had been given and then was immensely proud of the whole performance. It was good fun...and, to be honest, the only party I've been to in two years so I had to live it up.