The Sleeping Giant

Chase loves playing the “sleeping game,” he just giggles and giggles!

FL Run

One of Chase’s favorite activities at the beach was to run up, down and around everyone. He would run in circles around the sand castle and high-five me every time he passed…very cute!

Happy Birthday Grandmommy

We sent a birthday e-card to Grandmommy for her birthday tomorrow (July 5th), similar to what many of our Grandparents have received. But the videos were so cute, I thought I would post them here too!

Happy Birthday Grandmommy!

Update on Summer

Summer has been so totally fantastic! The boys are having a blast playing and hanging out with a less hurried schedule. Although we have still been busy! Today ad had some time at the playground before going to Toy Story 3 (which was terrific by the way). The remodeling project is done, so even that has lightened out load a bit. I noticed I had quite a collection of pictures that hadn’t been posted. Here is a quick update on some of the happenings as of late.

We took some pictures to remember the signed we used to welcome Daddy back from India.

Another dress-up day and just hangin’.

 

I picked up some water pistils and the boys are loving them!

We had a outstanding rainbow right in the in the backyard a few days back.

Chase is enjoying books more and more; here we are after finishing number 9 for the day. I love it because it is my best chance for a decently long cuddle.

Tyler has had time to get to some of the little things around the house that were put off with the big remodel. Here is the lovely gate he made going out to my garden boxes, which incidentally are not producing much this year….:(

 

Tyler loves to wrap the boys in their bath towels and watch them wiggle around the house. Here Chase is working it, but can’t keep it going for long!

Video Galore

We have some fantastic “habits” right now. Chase hasn’t quite got his Ls and Ys down yet and when he says “I love you” it comes out as “I looobbb boooo” Too cute!

Even though Chase has his own way of saying tons of words, he tries to repeat most anything….even “naked body”!! I love little naked bodies and the boys know it, I chase them all around the house before bath-time and try to pinch a hiney or kiss a belly.

Finally, for the past several months, Tate has been singing to Chase before bed. He usually says how much he loves him and wishes him sweet dreams, but other times he really gets creative and sings about the next day (….we will eat lunch, then go to nap-nap….). I caught this evenings serenade on video and the grand finally, a kiss through the crib bars….no kidding, EVERY NIGHT! They both love it!

Clean Sweep Appreciation

The main reason for my recent blogging hiatus is because I have been working my tail off! Susan arrived Tuesday May 25th and I mean to tell you, she got us right to work on Allbritton Clean Sweep 2010 (not that this means there will be another clean sweep next year or the year after…no, no, I have mended my ways).

We started with the new TV room, getting rid of piles, moving furniture, straightening. The following morning we moved to the sunroom. It was here that Susan started to loose faith in my abilities to really make change. But since I am an early riser, I woke up the next morning and redeemed myself with some extra hard cleaning.

All the dirt in the house is gone (well, that I know of anyway). It is to a point where all I have to do is dust to maintain its beauty and shine…and shine it does! I mean, we cleaned windows, floor boards, base boards, frames, books…oh the books! I have WAY too many books. I donated a good 60+ to the thrift store.

We made our way to the kitchen, which was probably the worst of all the rooms. Susan was incredible; finding new ways to organize my stuff in different spaces so it fits and is more accessible. On the third or forth day Susan said, “you tell your friends I can’t be hired out!” I know my friends will be impressed. I am not sure I have seen this much kitchen counter space since we moved into an empty kitchen!

Then it was onto the spare bedroom and yoga room, which involved moving and organizing books. Finally, Monday Susan spent the entire day making a new cover for the ottoman in the TV room, it looks FANTASTIC! It is a fun red with gold details, very cool!

So there you have it, we worked pretty much from sun-up to sun-down for 5 days…and both of us were so tuckered by the end of the day we didn’t even get to enjoy any movies during her stay. But the lack of relaxation was so worth it. Now everything has a place and it is so much easier to clean since all the clutter is gone. So THANK YOU Susan, you are the BEST Mom-in-Law EVER!!!!

Preschool Grad

Tate had a nice finish to preschool. He loved his teachers, made lots of great friends (many who will be moving up with him to the main campus next year) and all around learned a whole heck of a lot. His social growth this year was probably the most significant. He learned how to play with other children nicely and get his sillies more under control. Here is a little clip of Tate singing in the end of year program…yes, he is tall, but it was still not easy to see him behind the other children.

I keep telling…

my friends that my Sienna is the bomb!

Scrolls

Tate has been excited about scrolls lately, and Chase has followed suit. He made 5 or 6 of them and strategically placed them around the house for Daddy to find, each with a clue as to where the next one can be found. Tate asked me to film this little clip…and then Chase had something to say as well…

Bubbles everywhere!

The boys took an hour and half bath the other night….they laughed like crazy and turned on the jets which makes the bubbles go everywhere! I had to call it quits when Chase swallowed some bubbles and everyone was getting a little giddy from sleepiness. I am just thanking my luck stars that the boys enjoy baths, as I am anticipating that it will be a nightly occurrence during the summer…dirty boys….they are already playing outside during any part of the day that is sunny and nice.

Tate the teacher

Tate has been practicing his form most days, as he has testing on Friday for his next belt (orange). And the cutest, I mean the CUTEST, thing started happening…Chase began following along!!

2 videos

Tyler tried to teach the boys how to “properly” jump the other day, it was so cute with Chase bouncing up and down, I pulled out the zune.

Tyler caught this cut clip while the boys were using his legs as a bridge.

First tournament

Tate had a taekwondo tournament Saturday AM. I wasn’t going to sign him up (there is an extra charge outside his class and I just didn’t think he was that excited about it), but another Mom from his class told me that it is worth the effort. The kids get such a “kick” out of it and feel such pride coming home with a trophy or metal. I figured it would be good to get us out of the house (as Tyler had designated the whole day to trying to finish up the new room), so we decided to go. 

Bright and early we packed up and headed down to the Littleton rec center and found around 200 other children ready to compete…of all different ages. There were about 10 other white belt Tiny Tigers in Tate’s group. An adult instructor helped take the kids through their forms. These people know what they are doing, I mean, they are all skilled at working with children and getting them to corporate, listen and follow instructions.

We have been practicing his forms at home and Tate does know most of it if given the chance to do it on his own. There is plenty of time though, no need to rush. I believe once he gets his orange belt he will be expected to know the forms on their own. Any hooo...we had fun. Every child won a metal for something different. Tate won his for sportsmanship, as he was the last to perform and the last to receive his metal. He is proud of his accomplishment and is wearing his metal NON-STOP! He even wants to wear it to bed! I would say it was worth going. Chase was a fantastic spectator and was completely memorized by all the activity. We got some great pictures and a little video clip of Tate, look at him go!

My howlers

Chase has taken to howling…eyes open wide with wolf-like tones. Tate got in the action too…

Easter

Seeing how I just downloaded Easter pictures, I realized how long it has been since I updated our blog!

Easter was a lovely day, starting with Easter baskets loaded with lots of goodies, church, a nice long nap and then joining the Seevers family for an egg hunt and dinner. Fun was had by all!

Tate’s “World”

Tate’s school is going through a rain forest unit and it has Tate really excited about nature and fun animals. Today he made a play-doh landscape of the world…with grass, trees, sky…the works!

Inaugural tractor ride

This John Deer tractor makes up for any toy we have purchased for the kids that has gone unused. Hours of fun have been had on this little plastic thing! During some of these recent Spring-like days, the boys have headed outside to play. As usual, Chase has been running around with his little car Jim, Konda and Jordan gave him for his first year birthday. And I was standing there watching the boys having fun and realized Chase has completely outgrown this car. His little legs are getting longer and they were bent so he could barely push the car forward. So Tyler went up to the attic to get the infamous John Deer tractor. Tate spent many hours on this thing and now Chase loves it just as much as his big bro.