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.