Family Collage Project

Sepia family prints,
curtain rod,
picture frames,
ribbon,
and some glue...

Family Photo Collage Wall Hanging

LONG week...but the cards are done!

It's been a l-o-n-g quiet week. Okay scratch the "quiet" part because cabin fever has set in on the boys these past two days and they have been anything but quiet! (Loudly going at eachother is more like it!)
It's to be expected though-they are use to being on the go, go, go and they have not left the house in a week. Both of them have been on antibiotics all week from ear and throat infections and their little noses have been draining, draining and draining...I lost count days ago how many boxes of Kleenex we have gone through in this house! Mike has been absent most of the week, too so the brunt of dealing with two sick, miserable and moody toddlers has largely fallen to Mommy!
They started to perk up today a bit so we're hoping that with Daddy being off for the next three days that we'll be able to get out and not be so couped up from being sick!
On the upside Connor's chocolate cars finally arrived and I FINISHED the Valentines!

Connor's "Wheely" cool Valentines...
A close up of Connor's cars...

Braden's buzzing bee's...

A close up of Braden's "Bee Mine" Valentine...

Braden's Boo Boo = Connor's First Crush

So Friday night (late I might add, while Mike was on duty I'll add, too!) Braden banged up his hand real good.
They were rough housing with the fire truck ball pit Unkie Mark (this makes it his fault) bought them and they had 175 of the 200 balls all over the living room floor-I told them to start picking the balls up it was almost time for bed, Braden managed to get twisted around and fall back on his hand-I'm still not sure how he did it I just heard the dreaded POP...then the wailing started!
His thumb completely swells and is turning purple and he will not use his hand. I don't "think" it's broken but I don't "know". I also don't know if he has done damage to his tendons, ligaments, etc...my initials my be MD but doctor I am not.
I call hubby who is driving around an axillary officer trying to get him signed off and they stop in. We all debate for a bit. It looks bad but how bad? Worth a trip to dreaded Chesapeake General where you get treated on gurneys in hallways do to the overflow from serious injuries like GSW (gun shot wounds) and stab wounds? It's estimated it could take till 4am-then how will the poor kid be feeling?
Luckily one of Daddy's former co workers and good friends Faith is now with the Fire Dept as a Fire/Medic so Daddy heads over to find her.
Faith was amazing with Braden she got him to let her examine him a lot more than he'd allowed either Mike or I and he got such thorough treatment from her I doubt the doctors in the ER would have paid even half as much attention (in their defense he's a toddler with a sore hand on a busy Friday night-not exactly high trauma).
Faith felt he'd most likely popped his thumb back out of and back into socket-jamming it pretty good. She felt we could get away with skipping the ER for the night and monitor it through the night and reevaluate in the morning. (She was right the swelling went right down as did the color and now four days later you would never know he hurt himself!)
Braden's pain was a blessing in disguise for Connor. Connor tripped hard and fast head over heels in love with "firefighter girl" as he calls her (she definitely has a stalker in him). The fact that Faith use to be a "policeman" like Daddy earned her even more points in his eyes!
Poor Connor-Daddy teased him good-it is not everyday that Connor warms up to people fast he is definitely the reserved twin, but he was all over "firefighter girl", hugging her, laying his head on her shoulder, giving kisses...I was jealous, too! Mommy doesn't get that kind of loving anymore!! Whenever Faith spoke Connor would just stare into her eyes and no matter what she'd ask he'd smile and say "yes" (even to what's your name? "yes") it was cute!
The next day all he could talk about was his visit from "firefighter girl"!

My Boys

Connor & Braden

January 2009

CONNOR

Connor Allen is 34 months old, he's not "two" anymore but not quite yet "three".

Connor's favorite color is green.

A few of Connor's favorite things are:

• Jeff from the Wiggles
• Tyronne from the Backyardigans
• His cowboy hat
• His cowboy boots
• Scooby Doo
• Blues Clues
• His brown slippers
• His guitar
• His Diego hoodie
• His "park bear" from Kings Dominion
  

Connor's favorite foods are:

• pizza


• roni's


• rice


• Townhouse crackers


• Cheez It's
  

Connor's favorite drink is strawberry-kiwi.

Connor's favorite candy is M & M's.

Connor's favorite book is Green Eggs and Ham.

Connor's favorite TV shows are:

• The Wiggles


• The Wonder Pets


• Blues Clues


• Go Diego Go


• Sid The Science Kid


• Max & Ruby
  

Connor's favorite movies are:

• Cars


• Barney


• Alvin and the Chipmunks


• Ice Age


• Scooby Doo

Connor likes to:

• play with Dill-our neighbor


• go to Chuck E Cheese


• ride in the race cart at Farm Fresh


• color


• go to Story Time at Greenbrier Library


• play at JW Tumbles


• play out back with his toys


• spend time with Daddy

Connor's favorite sport is soccer.

Connor's favorite song is "Scooby Doo Where Are You?"

Connor's favorite commercial is Chuck E Cheese.

Connor would like :

• a talking computer


• a Wonder Pets Fly Boat


• to play the tuba

When Connor grows up he is going to be a fireman with a big hose!

BRADEN

Braden Michael is 34 months old, he's not really "two" anymore but not quite yet "three".

Braden's favorite color is blue.


A few of Braden's favorite things are:

• His blue blanket-a must for all naps and bedtime


• His new big boy blue baseball cap


• His cowboy boots


• His blue flannel moose jammies from Carters-he'd live in them if you'd let him


• His "park bear" that we bought him at Kings Dominion


• Pablo from the Backyardigans


• Scooby Doo


• His brown slippers


• His guitar
  

Braden's favorite foods are

• pizza
• "roni's"
• slim jim's
• green beans
• pizza flavored goldfish
  

Braden's favorite drink is apple juice punch.

Braden's favorite candy is M & M's and Reece's.

Braden's favorite book is Green Eggs and Ham

Braden's favorite TV shows are:

• Go Diego Go


• Wow Wow Wubzy


• Baby Looney Tunes


• Backyardigans


• Toot & Puddle
  

Braden's favorite movies are:

• Anything Elmo
• Ice Age
• Cars
• Alvin and the Chipmunks
• Scooby Doo
• Lady and The Tramp 2
  

Braden likes to:

• go to Chuck E Cheese
• go to story time at Greenbrier Library
• play with Dilly-our neighbor
• go to Tumbles
• play out back
• draw
• hang out with Daddy
  

Braden's favorite sports are soccer and baseball.

Braden's favorite song is the COPS theme song.

Braden's favorite commercial is Disney-he would like to go to Mickey's house.

Braden would like:

• a talking computer


• blue robot


• a really really big blue rocket


• to play the tuba

When he grows up Braden is going to be a policeman like Daddy and he is going to put the bad guys in the back.

Snow? and Snow

So imagine my surprise when on Monday BEFORE 5pm all schools, courts, banks, businesses, etc.. started closing for Tuesday because we were going to get hit with the big one.
Yes folks, the dreaded snow...in Virginia...where rain can cause serious and deadly traffic snafu's...white stuff was going to fall. Not just a dusting either...

3 to 5 inches!

The boys were thrilled! They have been dying to build a snowman for months now (sorry that never happens, here boys) they went to bed Monday night with the promise of white stuff when they woke up Tuesday morning.
Mike was less than thrilled. Mike was scheduled for evening shift Tuesday-the above mentioned rain gives him a big enough headache during his shifts-snow (and INCHES of it) was going to be a nightmare!
Tuesday morning we raced to the windows...

NOTHING!

Checked the weather and yes it's coming any minute now boys we promise (sorry Mike) the weather channel says we're still in a Winter Storm Warning and NC is getting hit-it's coming!!!!

But all day Tuesday we waited and nothing. Not one flurry or flake...

Today we head off to story time for none other than-yup you guessed it a "SNOW" themed story time! Poor kids-talk about getting let down then having to be reminded of it the next day-ha ha!

They had fun though reading about snow and they loved making their snowmen-they may not be real "snow" snowmen but the packing peanut variety worked out just fine in their little eyes!

Valentine's Day Mania in January

So I guess now is the time to mention that Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays! We've been busy making some adorable little decorations for around the house-what can I say my boys love to "craft"!

I am also excited about the Valentine's Party that is being planned for their play group. Braden selected "Bee Mine" Valentines-that Mommy has been going crazy making-see photo below! The "bee's" have become my biggest headache and worst nightmare!!!! Not that I was ever a big bee fan to begin with!

Connor picked out "To A Wheely Good Friend" a card featuring a race car-I had to order his chocolate cars so Connor's cards aren't finished yet but we did have fun running a match box car threw black paint and over the cards to make track marks!

I've added some picks of our Valentine's Day projects-I'll put up some shot's of Connor's cards once we attach his cars.

Connor's mobile...

Braden's mobile...

Braden's "wall art"

Connor's "wall art"

The plaques-can you tell who made which?

The magnet's they made for the fridge...

Braden's "Bee Mine" Valentines...

Nine Years

9 Years...

108 Months...

468 Weeks...

3285 Days...

78840 Hours...

4730400 Minutes...

Who would have thought when we met at the St. Lawrence Center Mall (of all the places) while I was working at Spencer Gifts (of all the places) that nine years later we'd have moved out of state to Virginia, that Mike would have realized his childhood dream and become a police officer, that we'd have an adorable set of darling twin boys who will be turning three and that we'd be looking forward to our seventh wedding anniversary...we sure didn't...but here's to the unexpected!

Baseball Hats, Penguins & Polar Bears

We ordered the boys new ball caps this week (big sale at The Children's Place everybody) because not only were last years caps a little childish-Daddy was over Braden's head being plastered with a giant fuzzy lion they were getting more than a little snug.
They were so excited with their "big boy", "just like Daddy" hats.
Here's a pic of them, just like Daddy:

I have to give Mike credit. I pulled something in my back earlier this week and knew I would not be able to handle Wednesday's Story Time at the library with the boys so Daddy braved it all by himself.

Mommy rules the roost and gets the little guys to toe the line to say that Connor & Braden think Daddy is a push over is an understatement-how the cop ends up being the good guy at home I have no idea but Mom is the law in this house.

So I KNEW story time was going to be interesting-a few stern glances from Mommy has the boys listening to Miss Ann, their librarian and sitting on the rug to hear the latest tale-I knew that was not going to happen with Daddy.

Sure enough Braden proudly exclaimed, "I runned in story time Mommy and Miss Ann talked to me!" as soon as they came through the door. Poor Daddy!

All in all Daddy's first trip solo at story time with the boys went well he claims-not that he would ever claim other wise and the boys were on a major penguin and polar bear trip while they ate lunch-here's a pic of their penguin creation:

Slacked Off

So I really slacked off during the holidays but I am going to commit to keeping this blog and therefore all of you updated!
Today both boys are fighting a nasty head cold-yay for them and yay for Mommy! Daddy is on days then on assignment at HN so it'll be Dr. Mom all day!
Yesterday we took them to the Auto Show at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. They loved looking at all the auto's with Dad and even helped him pick out a Ram that they all HAVE TO HAVE but I was disappointed with the "kiddie entertainment". It was advertised the Tyronne from the Backyardigans would be there-Connor's personal favorite "yardigan" and clowns from Ringling Brothers.
Well no Tyronne-big upset at that but we did see one clown (who remained on his cell) that did give each boy a nose and tried to engage them in a photo-which was a no go-I guess cartoon characters are okay but clowns not so much. I guess when I hear entertainment from clown(s) I assume more than one and that they would be doing SOMETHING-making balloon animals, riding a unicycle, something...did not happen.
So while it was nice to check out all the auto's the "show" itself was not a big hit!
Off to go make the little ones some chicken rice soup-as Spartacus from lazy Town tells them it will make them strong and give them energy-I hope so! We have a fun filled busy week again this week-penguin & polar bears themed story time on Wednesday, a Hat Party play date on Thursday in honor of national hat day and we're going to check out the new Looney Tunes play area on Friday with some friends at MacArthur. Plus at some point along the way Mommy needs to go shopping!
Virginia Beach's "mascot" is the dolphin and they are all over the city-the boys wanted to pose with the "frozen" dolphin at the convention center yesterday: