WATCH: They're shirtless and crazy

This is a regular night around here...
And there's just something about these two babies of mine being little and shirtless and happy... my heart is busting with appreciation that I get to be their mommy.

WATCH: Oak likes Willie

Who doesn't love a Willie Nelson song! Oak surely does. When Willie started playing, Oak started swaying his head to dance. 

Davey's new kicks

Davey picked out some sweet shoes at the mall today. We went in to find him sweatpants since his are suddenly two inches too short...and we left with Spider-Man shoes. Momma said yes since they were marked down from $36 to $19. Score!

Love the conservatory

Thanks to Dave getting a membership for me at the Franklin Park Conservatory in downtown Columbus. ..we can visit the beautiful museum anytime! So on this freezing cold day, I took the boys to see the conservatory for their first time. They loved all the fountains and waterfalls and fish. Davey took some interest in the giant palm trees and enormous cacti. Oak loved the colorful glass-blown art that hangs from the walls and ceilings. 

Dinner time

Just chowing down on some yummy pasta...

For Santa

Here's what big Dave and Davey Tre placed by the fireplace tonight: a full plate of homemade snickerdoodle snowflake cookies (I hope Santa is hungry), a glass of whole milk, food for the reindeer (oats with glitter, of course), and a piece of paper with Davey Tre's wish list (check it twice Santa cause this boy's been good all year). Christmas is so fun as a parent. Davey is beyond excited about Santa.

Smiles on Christmas eve

We're heading to bed because Santa won't come until we're all asleep. Tonight we let Davey open one gift early from us...and he's wearing it! Spider-Man robe!

Brothers selfie

2014 is considered the year of the selfie...and the boys are in on the craze.

Wrapping and singing

Boys are sound asleep (knock on wood rub a rabbit foot fingers crossed) I am wrapping the boys Christmas gifts and the perfect movie is on. Sound of Music sing along!! I'm cutting taping and belting it baby. The hills are alive! With the sound of music ahh ah ahhh! This house can really only handle one girl at this level.

Seeing him grow up

You might not see right away why the picture is significant but this moment was surprisingly sad to me. Well sad but also a proud realization. My little boy is growing up and becoming independent. For about four years, this sweet boy would not could not fall asleep without clenching onto his "best sleeping friend" Eddie...his little green elephant. Eddie has been the most necessary part of Davey's nights. There was no sleep, only tears, if he didn't have Eddie in his arms at bedtime. Tonight, Davey rolled onto his left side like he always does to fall asleep and nestled under the covers while I sang Christmas songs. He fell asleep after 10 min...without Eddie. He left Eddie with the other stuffed animals on his headboard. Hubby and I laugh about how we'll have to pay Eddie's room and board at college with Davey. But now I'm seeing a big sign that our little boy is finding his own confidence. Still important and loved, Eddie isn't needed as closely anymore. I am not ready to face the day when my baby outgrows me. Although I know it's coming.

Only Oakley

It wouldn't be my younger son if he didn't sleep like this. I snuck in his room during naptime to grab something and here's what I found. My silly son at it again. I'm pretty sure we'll find him sleeping like this in 15 years. Probably with Blanket.

Toy box or boy box

Their toy box never looked quite so adorable....
It's just me and these cute clowns hanging out together this morning. Hubby is at work. This is the first low-key relaxed day we've had in a while and we're enjoying it.

Who's 43?

Monkey put the candles on Dave's cake and did an outstanding job...almost. He accidentally switched the numbers adding nine years to Dave's age. Also, I told the bakery person to write "You're our favorite superhero" on the cake. She wrote "You're are favorite superhero". In another life I want the guts to point it out and say "c'mon its a four word sentence...wake up." I just smiled and said "Thanks! Looks great!" And because it's Christmas, when we sang happy birthday to Dave...Davey sang it to Jesus instead. So happy 43rd birthday to are favorite superhero Jesus!

Beach Babes

The boys had an absolute blast at the beach yesterday. It took Oak a couple hours to warm up to the sand and water. For a while he didn't want anything to do with the sand...if he touched it, he screamed. Then finally he started exploring the seashells and had fun! He sat down at the edge of the water and played with the sand and tried eating shells...he figured out that was a bad idea. Davey was non-stop almost the entire four hours building sandcastles for superheroes. His Auntie Colie and her friend John helped dig out this huge moat system for the castles...it was impressive.

Happy Oak

Well after reading my last post I realize I sounded a little tough on Oak. He certainly has been a cranky mess a lot but he has had super happy moments too! Like this one here ... He and Noni are looking for some ducks and doing some pool exploration. They're having fun :)

Nap time in the sunshine

This is how you do nap time when you're away from freezing Ohio and vacationing in sunny Florida! Outside! Davey is passed out asleep and in the warm fresh air. The breeze has a tiny chill to it so he's covered in a blanket but it feels really amazing here. Nothing like an Ohio winter to make you appreciate the sun! Our flight here yesterday was pretty great since we sat on the front row and had tons of leg room. Oakley was pretty difficult though.  He's been extra cranky since the flight. He was doing a lot of crying and fussing on the plane...especially at the end. As for Davey, we've been very proud of his behavior.  He's been excellent and very helpful with brother while travelling. He is having a blast on the trip. We're so happy to be here celebrating Christmas with Noni, Papa and Auntie Colie :) :)

School and playdate

I picked up these two buds from school today and brought them back to the house for an all afternoon-long play date. Davey is always thrilled to play with his really good friend Graham. It was a nonstop superhero day...we read books about superheroes saving Christmas,  they pretended to fight villains, they turned couch pillows into sleds and slid off the couch over and over and over, they hid and I found, and they built superhero fortress stuff in the basement. Davey was incredibly exhausted after this full day. For more than four hours these boys played together! Kids have amazing amounts of energy don't they!

He likes musicals!

I thought I needed a daughter to enjoy musicals with me. Turns out, I don't. This sweet boy of mine was super excited to watch Peter Pan Live with me last night. And he loved it. During the show he said to me, "I want to watch this performance infinity times." I cant wait to introduce him to Annie...my fave! Loved it since I was a little girl...watched it hundreds of times at my Gram and Grandpa's house. (Thank you Gram for keeping it taped on VHS for me all those years!) I think Davey will like Annie too. I may be stretching it to assume he'll love My Fair Lady...maybe if I sing along to all the songs. Oh and this pic of us is right before I started the show..we were snuggle-bugging in my bed in our pajamas to watch. It does not get better than that.

Rocket party

I took Davey and Oak to the library for a rocket launch party. Kids were invited to learn about the Orion rocket NASA was testing today (which was a success!) and kids got to make their own little rockets and parachutes and experiment with them. We had fun!

Blanket ritual

This is how Oakley falls asleep every time. If you dont know, this is Blanket. All important Blanket. Oak doesn't just snuggle with Blanket to fall asleep, nope, Oak has to wrap Blanket around his head. He started this early like when I still feared SIDS. I can't count the number of times I looked in on the video monitor and saw him like this and had a heart attack. I'd run into his room and check his breathing and take Blanket off and then he got pissed and screamed and cried for an hour. So I've learned this is Oak...he just likes to sleep how he likes to sleep I guess. I still check his breathing though. Which is how I ended up in his room tonight taking this picture. I saw Blanket swallowing his head on the monitor and worried he was suffocating so I had to check. Sure enough he's breathing fine...sound asleep.

Pre-bedtime silliness, part 2

Here's another example of what goes on...

Pre-bedtime silliness

After bathing and teeth brushing, we hang out and read books or just run around Oak's room to get all the remaining energy out. The boys usually end up bouncing off each other and landing on the floor laughing. ..much like you see here.

One Little Indian

Monkey worked hard in school to make his Indian costume....blue feather wristbands, the headdress, and his hand print turkey necklace. They worked on this and learned about Indians for a couple weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. We had a pow pow in the family room this morning. We sat in a circle, with Willow and Captain America, and banged our sacred Indian drums (popcorn tin and Tupperware).

WATCH: Peekaboo and brotherly love

WATCH: Future hockey champion?

WATCH: Follow Oakley at a park

WATCH: Who's behind the shower curtain?

Best buds

This is Graham! He is Davey's super good bud. He was the first friend Davey made here in Sunbury. We met Graham and his mom Laura and his younger brother Michael at library story time in January last year, and we've been having playdates ever since. The boys have a ton of fun...as you can see the playroom behind Graham...and I love hanging with and chatting with my super mom friend Laura. I've learned a lot from her and adore her and her three boys!

Boys, hockey, and memory game

I just finished getting Oakman to sleep in his crib and I walked downstairs and found the boys up to this... Watching hockey on TV and playing the memory game. Or as Davey likes to call it: the Rememory Game. I'm really enjoying watching this. Although, we kinda need to teach this kid to be a good sport because he's super duper competitive and pretty mouthy. "I'm beating you Daddy!"  "At least I'm winning!" "I just scored four points!" (do you even keep numerical score in the memory game?) When I was little I played this game all the time with my Grampa, and from what I'm told I cheated to win. Maybe Davey gets this from me :) :) 

Eating dinner

This is my view from the kitchen tonight. Boys are eating dinner. I'm watching Dave on the evening news. I don't think Oak is relaxed enough. :)

Waiting for brother

We're standing outside Davey's classroom waiting to pick him up. Baby bro is sick of waiting. He's tired and hungry and ready to get home.

Snow day

Well it surely snowed overnight...check this out...this is our backyard. Quite a snowstorm! School around here is even cancelled. Today is Davey's first official snow day. He was minorly disappointed about missing school. This winter wonderland had him eager beaver to play outside. 

Christmas train

Big time excitement this weekend....we've pulled out all the Christmas decorations from the basement and we're making it look festive around here. Davey's passion is the Christmas train that circles the tree. He's been waiting 10 long months to play with it again. He and big D are assembling it now. Christmas is the time when I welcome freezing temps and snowfall. Bring it on baby...let it snow! It just puts me deeper into the Christmas spirit. We're supposed to be all white by tomorrow...four to six inches expected tonight.

Lucky me

I am so lucky to get to spend so much precious time with this baby boy and his brother. Look at this sweet Prince. (the patience and adoration are supremely high when they're asleep)

First snow of the season

Yep it's snowing so the boys are excited and looking out the window. It's actually really pretty because this snow is big, light fluffy snowflakes floating and swirling around. Davey keeps yelling "it's so beautiful! I can't believe it's snowing in November!"

Bedtime conversation

Last night when I crawled into Davey's bed to read a bedtime book I said, "Hey, do you know who my favorite four year old is?"  "Who" he asked. "You!" I said. Then he said to me, "Well do you know who my favorite 80 year old is?" "Who?" I asked. "You," he said. "How old am I??" "Eighty," he answered.   :)

Gorgeous day for the zoo

Took these cuties to see some exotic and not-so-exotic animals at the zoo today. The turtles were Oakley's fave. He squealed and pointed and smiled when they swam by. The penguins were a big hit and so were the fish. No one cared too much about the venemous snakes. It was like 'eh' and we kept walking. My fave part was the weather...oh so nice. Bright beautiful sunshine and clear blue skies and temp was mid 60s. When you get that kind of weather in November, you must be outside. You gotta enjoy and appreciate it.

Pink and purple coaster

My little monkey made me this. It's a pallet-style coaster. Cool, huh! He made it at the kids workshop at Home Depot. He painted it pink and purple because " those are mommy's favorite". It's the best thing I've ever put on my nightstand.

Day at Cosi

Took these sweet two boys to the children's museum and had such fun. Oakley was nonstop exploring and squealing with excitement. It was the first time in Kidspace that I let Oak play and go wherever and didn't wear him in the Bjorn. He had an absolute blast. He got about three full hours of walking and socializing and tasting every toy he could pick up. Every small toy he found laying on he floor went straight to his mouth. As for my big boy Davey Tre, he was fantastic. It was the first time I didn't hover over him and follow his every move, since this time I had Oakley to keep a close eye on. Davey and I talked about the rules of not running far off and playing nicely, etc. He was super good...played and shared well and followed my directions. I felt so proud of him. And really, he made it easy for me. I seriously had a ton of fun with these two. Can't wait to go back next week.

Fire on Main St

Fire Chief Davey is working to put out a fire on Main St (hallway). I'm helping, mostly. Oakley is distracting me with his cuteness. Fire Chief Davey is being nice about it but we better get to work, he can be pretty tough.

Voter fraud

Let's see that photo ID, buddy. Are you sure your registered to vote?

WATCH: Towel!

We have a silly tradition for getting out of the bath. The boys like to compete with each other to see who can say towel faster and get out first. I don't think they know how cute they are...

Trick or Treating as a wee-new truck

I never saw this coming... Davey wanting to be a fire truck for Halloween. A firefighter? Sure. A fire TRUCK, no. But he wouldn't budge... he wanted to be the actual truck and that was that. I had to make it happen.. so I did my best. See previous post for details on that. As for trick or treating, the night went great. Big Dave asked the local fire dept to join us in front of our house while he did live shots for the 5pm, 5:30 and 6pm newscasts. Our neighbors and friends joined too. We had fun and Davey collected a pretty sizable stash of candy.

Also, on a related (and embarrassingly painful) note: I got zero pictures of my other child. Zero. Apparently, it slipped my mind to photograph him too. I promise I love him. I cried when I realized this hours later. He was dressed as James Dean. I put a heap of gel in his hair and molded it to stand straight up, rebel style. He wore a black leather (polyester) jacket, white t-shirt and jeans. He was freakin adorable. I will forever hate myself for forgetting to take his picture too. I promise I do remember to feed him.

(This is the only picture of Oakley from the night.

What's worse is I took this while I was using the bathroom.

Poor kid.)

**************Update from Dave*******************

Crystal is the best mommy... she spent so much time trying to get the boys and their costumes ready.   I mean countless hours/days of hard work.  So this week she was trying to put the finishing touches on everything, plus get the boys ready for Halloween, and then her goofy husband has work come to the neighborhood for trick or treating.   Oh and did I mention Crystal has been fighting not feeling well and migraine headaches.....I know Crystal is hard on herself for not taking pictures, but she had a lot on her plate, and she did great.   Plus we had a lot of video of the Oakman... here are a few screen grabs :)