Going Crazy

Cooper's oh so cheesy response to the "smile" command. I'm not sure why I can't get any text above this photo, but I'm too tired to care.

When you tell Cooper to hold still he really takes it seriously. He didn't flinch or move a muscle for this picture. He does some pretty funny stuff lately and I find myself constantly wishing I could find the camera. I'm never in time to catch the shot I want. He (they) just moves so fast! The other day, Tucker was sitting on the arm of the couch facing outward with his brother and said, "Suh-lide down!" Then after a few moments of silence, he turned to Cooper and with a sweet and sly grin on his little face inquired, "You comin'?" Times like those warm my heart. I try to remember them during the chaos that fills the other 95% of our lives.

This is Tucker showing off his new duds from my sister. She's a very thoughtful auntie who surprised us with a box in the mail with new clothes in it!
The boys and I have some serious cabin fever over here in the land of never ending snow. We've exhausted all of our movie favorites (one of them is actually no longer working properly) and toddler-friendly indoor activities. I would like to have more time to blog, but with the two of them (the boys) following me as though we were magnetically connected, I don't get to do much. I never knew I was so interesting. :-p

This is what happens when Tucker gets a hold of the camera you're holding.

Some serious monkey business.

Two Times Two

I can't believe that these guys are almost two years old! My sister just had her first little one (the most adorable girl I've ever seen...so maybe I'm a little biased) and it just reminded me how small the boy's were when they were born. Granted they didn't stay that way for long at all, but sometimes I miss those squishy little newborns. I'm now faced with the "terrible two's" times two. It's not so bad for the most part, but there are certainly days it can be VERY taxing. January and February have been filled with some playing in the snow, getting sick and going stir crazy. We are dying for the snow to melt over here! We miss going outside to play in the GRASS and be warmed by the sun as we stroll around the block waving to our friends and neighbors. Luckily we have been able to have some family and friends over for dinner to at least change things up a bit and feel connected to the outside world. The boys ask every day to go "owside?" and it breaks my heart to tell them that it is too cold. They're pretty good about it, but I know they're a little bored with the daily routine. We've tried to change it up with some fun indoor activities (today we will be making necklaces). And there is a lot of silliness that happens while we try to maintain our sanity. For example: Cooper "smiling" for a photo while wearing daddy's stuff in the hopes that I will let him out the door behind him.

What a cheesy little grin.

And then we attempted a camp out in the living room after having Aunt Carrie over for dinner for her birthday. You can see how well this turned out. After 10 pm the boys ended up back in their beds and so did we. We'll have to try again sometime when they're older. I don't think they really understand what camping is, though they certainly love their "tet!" (tent).

There has also been quite a bit of this around here lately. The boys are determined to choose their own wardrobe lately and to dress themselves (with a little help from mommy) most of the time. Here is Cooper's most frequent choice. As long as the house is warm, I'm choosing to pick my battles and let this one slide.