He learns to pedal.

I sent this picture using shutterfly---but for some reason, it wouldn't stop cutting off her hair---so I had to post it here. . .because her hair is cute, too.

Boys.

Could you say no to this? I do--all day long!! Gus is such a chatter box these days & asks for whatever it is he wants. . .over & over & over & over again----basically until you go crazy. . .

He's funny--when he wakes up in the morning, he comes into my room & gives me a big smackaroo---when I say big, I mean hard---it startles me out of sleep! And he just smiles (even though my lips are in pain) just because he knows that his sweet kiss woke me up.

Washed his hair all by himself. I was just thinking last night that Charlie will have his 4th birthday in 3 months. I can't believe he'll be 4! Charlie has been having growing pains in the middle of the night---he's getting taller---yeah! Poor kid---one night it was his knee & then two days later his leg. When he woke up the next morning, we told him about growing pains & marvelled @ how much bigger his knee was. He laughed.

Smiling with their eyes closed. If only they were as good at keeping their mouths closed. Haha.

Only (partially) kidding.
We bought the boys some bunk beds & they are loving them. It's so nice because there is so much more room to play in their bedroom.

Peanut butter kiss anyone?

PS: This peanut butter piggie (yes, he is digging the peanut butter out using his hand as the shovel) has been in big boy undies for 8 days now! Way to go Gus!

I love the blog

I just couldn't wait for summer & had to put Ila in her swimsuit. . .& these flip flops are just adorable!!

Randy gave Gus the nickname Hound Dog---aka Houndie, The Hound, Big Hound. Randy always thought that Gus was more like an animal than a baby because he was curious & enjoyed getting into things. It just stuck. When I was a baby my nickname was Screamin' Mimi because I cried all the time--now it is mommy & honey. . .I'm always taken aback when Randy calls me Tanya. I frequently call Ila booger because she makes the biggest boogers I've seen & Charlie doesn't have much of a nickname---sometimes I jokingly call him Chaz or Chuck. . .He also likes to be called other children's names---cracks him up. Last summer, he went by Captain Undies because he was constantly in his underwear & sometimes Randy calls him thunder butt because he farts a lot on the potty (TMI) I like to think that Randy's nickname is Mr. Aquacrete---

What's your nickname?

Sarah--let's read that $50,000 essay of Bobby's. Did you find it?

Houndie Story

Sunday night, we were having a youth group thing here. I was just starting w/ the lesson when the phone rang. It was right next to me and rather than just let it ring until it quit, I just answered w/ the intent of saying I will call ya back. Anyway, my phone won't work unless it is on speaker. I automatically hit speaker, said hello, took a breath to say call ya back later and Tanya yells into the phone, Gus pooped and peed in the potty!!!! No hi how are ya, nothing, just the announcement. So, the whole room started laughing and cheering. That is the story that you missed, Sarah.
Anyway, am sooooo proud of Houndie. Has he done it again?

Joyce, I can't believe that you tried crawdads. I am amazed. Bet you had a good trip though. It is fun to to other places, especially somewhere that is unusual. I am So HAPPY that you saved you new white blouse. It is such a looker.
BTW, you never have said what you think of the new make up. Is that a hint?

She sits!

I had a birthday--shout hooray.

Having a birthday has never been so great. As usual, I went bowling on Wednesday night with my friend, Amanda. Lo & behold, my other friends were there to surprise me with a birthday celebration @ the bowling alley!! (Darcie planned it) I couldn't even believe it---a party for me?? They even gave me a gift card to Forever 21 and a new bowling ball and took me out for icecream!! It was such an awesome surprise & made me feel so special----plus I could tell that all of them aren't obsessed with bowling like myself, so I appreciated their willingness to go bowl with me. I feel so lucky!! And for those of you trying to make this picture bigger by clicking on it. . .no can do---any bigger & you will see the wrinkles of a 26 year old!

An anniversary kiss to Linda & Chris.

Loving my pre-owned van

Ila loving her feet in our new van.

The boys loving our new van. . .really they are just happy to be sitting in the driver's seat.

Randy wasn't home when I took these pictures---so I took a picture of myself (happy of course) in my new van----but it was kind of scary looking----you know how pictures that you take of yourself look---so I'll spare you the details.

PS: This van has 100,000 miles LESS than our old van. YEAH!!!! Hopefully I won't need a different van for a LONG time.