...And Merry it Was!

 We had a house full of activity this Christmas.  A visit from Grandpa Steve from Minnesota and Grandma and Grandad Crowley on Christmas Day. They boys both 'got it' this year and were full of questions about Santa and excitement for the day.  Cal had a bit of a eye irritation that we only just discovered was from the Christmas tree. But, it's didn't manage to dampen his spirits.

 There were lots of new toys to play with and yummy food to eat.  And, trust me, the boys gave the grandparents a run for their money!  

brothers on Christmas

Being a brother is a real adventure. It means you have someone to follow you around; someone to pull you along; someone to sing with; and, of course, someone to pummel every once in a  while.  It doesn't seem to matter if you are the big brother or the little one...you get to do any one of these things at any given time...

and, in the end, it's all called love.  Merry Christmas Everyone! We hope you have someone like a brother to make it merry and bright.

Holiday Magic

We have had lots of holiday-making around the house this December but one of the biggest adventures was our now-annual trip into NYC.  We take the train, see the city, visit Rockefeller Center, and then grab cupcakes.  Yum. Yum.

They boys are especially fond of the Disney characters that are out.  Cal kept telling Jude that he was going to see the "REAL Elmo".  Look at how excited they are!!

We saw lots of other important 'friends' too.

Cal actually apologized to Cookie Monster because we didn't bring him cookies! 

We did make it to Rockefeller Center, and while it thrilling the thrill lasts for about 20 seconds if you are 2 or 4 years of age.

What you can't see in this picture is the big Nutcracker in the store window, that Callum is admiring. He's learning about the Nutcracker story in his preschool and later told us that seeing the Nutcracker was his favorite part! Even better than the cupcakes.  That is not true for Mama and Papa who needed a little sugar high after all the effort involved in 'helping' two rambunctious boys navigate New York City. Phew!

{the train!!}

Thanksgiving

I thought I had better get in photos from Thanksgiving before Christmas was upon us!  We got to see Grandma and Grandpa Crowley; eat some scrumptious food; play a ton and generally run amuck!

We tried a family photo but these two boys are in such constant motion, it's near impossible.  So, enjoy a true representation of our family!

Grandma's Visit!

We are really behind on keeping up with this blog right now.  Please accept our apologies.  November and December just go by WAY TOO FAST! Well, with that out of the way...Grandma came to visit and we had a fantastic time. We wore her out with our impressive running and rambuction-ing skills but we think she had a pretty good time. 

I mean, really, look at how cute we are.  Who could resist? 

Happy Happy Halloween!

Our Halloween started out with a bang this year.  Literally! We had a huge snowfall the day before Halloween and given that the trees didn't have a chance to shed their leaves, the accumulated snow got really, really heavy until eventually a big branch off the glorious tree in our front yard fell with a booming thwack! It thankfully missed the car and the house so we are feeling awfully grateful around these parts! In the end, the snow inspired us to dig out Christmas books and music and got us excited about the upcoming holiday season.

But, first of course, we had an exciting Halloween to celebrate.  This was the first year that both boys were really able to get into Halloween and all of its sugary goodness. The action started with a pumpkin carving day at their preschool...it's a special day to celebrate Dads including motion-based songs and special handmade gifts just for Papa. It was a great treat.

Then, we got into costume for the trip around town.  Thomas and Percy the tank engines were the request this year.  And, it was a great, great time.  Kieran got into the spirit and dressed as Sir Topham Hatt (he runs the show on the Island of Sodor).  The boys loved it! And, Kieran managed to stay in character most of the night...which certainly added to the fun.

We met up with a great gaggle of friends and pretty much knocked out the town.  I mean, really, have you ever seen so much cuteness in one place.  It was really awesome!

Apples and then some more Apples.

We went on our annual apple picking trip this past weekend and loaded up on apples, apples, apples.  Now that everyone is capable of picking, we surely bring home a big haul.  The apple orchard we visit is usually quiet and we all enjoy being the only people out in the orchard.  We will likely visit a more active orchard later this year (the kind with tractor rides and deep-fried oreos, which mama loves!) but it's nice for our family to have a little trip without that fanfare.

Callum especially enjoyed being able to roam and explore and came back (breathless) with a story of finding Mr. MacGregor's farm. So, we all headed down a muddy hill so he could show it to us.  But, as soon as we got close to the lettuce and eggplant growing down the way from the apples he said, in a very serious voice, "Sshh. Don't go any further. Mr. MacGregor might hear us and then he will bake us in a pie and eat us for his dinner!"

Yikes!  That's a pretty hard look at the lessons inside Peter Rabbit.

 All in all, we ate lots of apples and had a great time! This guy was especially happy to be able to help out.

 But, after a while even a self-described "big boy two years old" gets tired and needs a lift.

 Happy fall everyone!!

Welcome to this Beautiful Story

Oh, Callum James! 

The very exciting new development in the life of this big brother is an unshakeable need to draw! After nearly no interest at all for years he suddenly is interested in drawing like mad! His favorite is drawing pictures with oil pastels (craypas I saved from my adolescence, none the less).  He's taken to promising to draw me something rather than explain it to me.  For example, "Hey buddy, how was your day?" "Mama, I'm going to draw it for you when we get home. Ok?" (Draw is always said with great emphasis as if he is explaining to me something new that I might not have heard of. ) 

The other day after reading one of our favorite Skippyjon Jones books he retreated to his little art table and was working away at a furious pace.  And, then he came to me asking to write the words.  He had written his own Skippyjon Jones book!  

So, here it is (if you know these books, you know that this text is ridiculous enough to actually make sense, though he was clearly winging it as far as book content on this one.) :

 Oh, I wear my suit!

 I like my family.

 I want some noise. 

 I like to ride at space with the space doggies!

 I like my sock monkey.

 I love anything in life!

 I like tables and...

 I like my mud toy. 

 I love my home.

 I like meatballs. I like my town.

 The end! 

Welcome to this beautiful story!