Generations

My cousin Elizabeth recently posted a picture of her mother (Mary) as a baby and her own sweet little baby. Here's My Aunt Mary at one year old...

Now, for those of you who don't know, I am said to look a lot like my Aunt Mary. Still, it came a surprise to see how much her picture reminded me of these two darlings when they were a year old...




Cool, huh?

Family update

It's been a while since I gave a general family update, so I thought I'd fill in a few blanks left from the boys' blogs.

Brock is insanely busy at work, but we can't complain--job security. Anyway, he still manages to get home in time to help put the boys to bed (9 pm in the summer months). He loves to plan fun weekend activities for the family (like a day at Happy Hollow or visits to Hidden Villa Farm) and golfs whenever he can squeeze it in. He is also kept busy house-hunting with our new agent. We would love to find a place in the next six months or so.

Brady fills his days with potty training and high-energy playtime. He loves to play outside with the other kids in our complex (there are five or six in his age-range), build long and complex railroad lines, and hold incomprehensible conversations with everyone, including his toys (ALL of his toys). Potty Training is going very well. Brady can keep his "big boy underwares" dry for up to 20 minutes in exchange for junior mints and he gives me fair warning when he needs to use the potty. Just a few more weeks and he'll be in those underwares all day long! He'll start preschool in the fall (and maybe soccer too), so I'm hoping he can manage this before then. His closest friends now-days are Laney Parker, Nylah Agrella, Ryan Kazmucha, and Olivia Zumstein.

Tommy is curious as a squirrel and just as troublesome! This guy has his nose and grubby little fingers in every nook and cranny in the apartment. He's also starting to climb. I'll hear him calling for help and find him in the oddest places (on top of his toy piano, hanging from the safety gate like a monkey, and even perched on the window sill--yikes!) He chatters constantly and loves to mimic. He recently learned to bark like a dog and roar like a monster. Now and then he even utters a few words that make sense (like peek-a-boo, all done, and bottle). Tommy is a terrible lap-hog and even gets jealous if I hug Brock too long. His favorite thing is story time. He will carefully choose a book (usually a touch and feel), hand it to you, and back up into your lap--ready for my story! This is very cute, but we're waiting for his attention-span to last for more than ten seconds at a time.

The boys are best friends and love to play together. They have created a few games that both can take part in (though they usually end with someone in tears). My favorite is the blanket train. Brady drags a long blanket around the house while Tommy stands in the middle of the room, waiting in great anticipation for Brady to run by so he can jump on the blanket. Every time he attempts to grab it, Tommy squeals and Brady shrieks. When he actually gets on the blanket (very rare) both boys scream with laughter and Tommy gets dragged about three feet before he lets go--laughing too hard to hang on.
Other games include: dancing, throwing balls, wrestling, and Tommy knocking down Brady's favorite block or train-track structures (Brady is not a fan of this last one, but they play it four or five times a day anyway).

As for me, I just handed my latest manuscript over to Stan and hopefully we'll hear from a publisher or two by the end of the summer. With all my new free time I intend to make a few blankets for the boys, try to keep this apartment in order, help Brock find us a house, stick to Brady's potty training, and even do a little fun writing on the side (an outline for book 2 and research for my next series). Coming up soon, we have swimming lessons (mid June) and a trip to Utah (late July or early August).

So, that's what we're up to these days. Whew!

Say What?!

Brady talks...a LOT.
So does Tommy, actually, but Brady makes sense. Sometimes.

This morning, on the monitor, Brock and I heard the following:
Tommy: Aaaaaahhhh.
Brady: Shhhh!
Tommy: (giggle) Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!
Brady: Shhh! You'll wake up the whale!

huh?

A moment ago, Brady, staring out the front window with a serious expression, told me, "Mama, I don't like lye-jah-ways. I don't like 'em."

Okay then.

Tommy, meanwhile, is throwing a ball for himself to chase in the kitchen--one of the few places Brady will let him play in peace.

When I tell Brady his diaper stinks, he runs away, screaming: "Don't change me, Mama! Don't change me!!!"

Brady can pray by himself too. During his bedtime prayers he often blesses each family member, his juice cup, Ducky, and the fire alarm above his bedroom door "that it be loud and wake me up!"

He has favorite movies: Cars, Alice in Wonderland, Thomas the tank engine, Aristocats, and few we haven't figured out yet: "Jungle" (not Jungle book or Horton hears a Who) and "the naked one" (What???).

Brady's interest in naked (defined as "showing any skin usually covered by a t-shirt and shorts") is on-going. Passing the pool in our apartment courtyard, Brady will point to the group of swimmers and scream "Mama! They're NAKED!!!"

Still, Brady refuses to take part in potty-training. Scolded by a four-year-old girl he plays with for not using the potty, he put his hands on his hips and gave her a look-to-end-all-looks. "I do NOT use the potty!"

Tommy's cute little phrases are a little harder to explain.
Here's what we've deciphered so far:
Daddy--"Dah-tah"
Hi--"aye aye aye"
Yes--"ish"
I'm unhappy!--"Mamamamama!"
All done--"ah-duh"
NO!--"na-na-na-na-na"
Brady--"Buh-Buh"

Easier to understand are: snuggles, hugs, lap-envy (NO ONE ELSE sits in Mama or Daddy's laps!), and waving bye-bye.

Oh my cuties!!!!!

Sorry All

I have to apologize for the lack of updates, but I do, in fact, have a reason.

The simple truth is--I have no photos to use just now. I lost my hard drive and have been gradually piecing my computer back together. Thankfully, the repair was free, but it means I have to reload all my music and find my camera to upload the newest pics again.

I promise to get back up to speed soon--as soon as I stop spending the day in the doctors or taking the car in for repairs!

Thanks for being patient, All!

Brady-isms

The things this kid says!!!

I was writing in a cozy corner when Brady climbed up beside me and slipped his arms around my neck.
"Mama, you my best friend."

Brock giving out hugs on his way out the door one morning.
Brady: "You goin', Daddy?"
Brock: "Yes, buddy."
Brady: "You goin' to see Frens?"
Brock: "No, I'm not going to France. I'm going to work."
Me: "I think he meant Friends."
Brady: "Frens. Yeah, Frens."

"Come on, Gramma. Let's play toys!"

Tommy crawling towards Brady.
"Ahh!" Brady screams. "He's crawlin', Mama! He's comin'! He's comin' to get Brady!"

Or, my personal favorite. Brady, with his shirt off, staring at our temple painting.
Brady: "That's the temple."
Karren: "Are you going to get married in the temple, Brady?"
Brady: "Um, no."
Me: "Brady, are you going to get married in the temple?"
Brady: "Um, I'm naked."