Photo Bomb 43

Dear Hubby,

You would think that I would take more than four pictures in a week's time.  You would be wrong.

Grandma came up Sunday afternoon and stayed with us through Wednesday...and I only managed to think of taking pictures about 5 minutes before she left...while the boys were taking my shoes for a spin.  What can I say, when I have a captive adult in the house I take advantage of having someone to talk to that doesn't make me pretend to be a puppy-giant-monster-transformer-ghost.  I am still kicking myself for not taking advantage of getting some cute Grandma/Grandkidlet pictures though.

Thursday night the boys had a blast with the babysitter.  Over my lunch hour I interrupted nap-time and ended up having the most fun I have had in a long time just playing with the boys.  That evening we headed to my sister's as the boys were invited to have a movie night sleepover with their cousins (they didn't have school Friday).  Mom picked them up the next day and will be keeping them until Wednesday. I have been stressed out and short fused and Grandma decided I might just be burnt out and in need of a break.

It was very strange to wake up and not hear our children.  For everything that was tidied up the night before to still be in its place. No toys scattered, beds still made.  Peaceful and a touch lonely all at the same time....at least I was able to reclaim my shoes though.

Photo Bomb 42

Dear Hubby,

Another week down, another week closer to having you home again.  The boys definitely know how to push all of my buttons.  They are always into and up to something.  I love watching them play though, and the things they come up with never ceases to amaze me.

There was the sweeper truck that needed to sweep our house, bathroom disasters, everyday kid destruction, games, books, splashing in puddles and food fights. Relocating chairs, crawling on counters, too much sugar, cookies, and candy and not enough sleep. A bit of screaming, yelling and crying (and that was just from me) Fortunately there was also lots of hugs, kisses, pleases and thank-yous   A whole bunch of I love yous and enough peaceful moments to make all the hectic ones worthwhile.

We love you very much and can't wait to have you part of a chaos again.  Stay safe.

Its hard to know what to think initially when you see a waving broom coming from out of a doorway.
Sometimes its a fight, sometimes its a cleaning machine.

Unfortunately for the sweeper truck most of our house is carpeted and little brother gets in the way a lot.  In other words, it was slow going with little progress

Can you spot the sleeping mess maker?

(Also you can tell this picture Grandma was here helping us out)

So peaceful and innocent looking when he is asleep.

The boys playing hide and go seek in the laundry room.

I probably shouldn't encourage them hiding from me...someday they are bound to get better and I will regret all the practice I allowed them.

 While I was chatting with you on the IPad and getting ready this morning, your son was in the bathroom.  Going potty wasn't enough, so from what I gather from his story he needed to brush his teeth.

There is some evidence to his story...

toothpaste on the mirror and squeezed all over and sink and a wet toothbrush.

However that doesn't quite explain his face and arms.

What does explain his face and arms is watching me get ready and putting on makeup,

apparently he decided to have a go with the mascara.

This mess was much  more manageable then two other messes I have found in there in the last couple weeks.  One of which I will probably never fully recover. (More on that later) 

We picked your grandma up and headed to Dickinson to visit your Great Grandma.

The Big D was fascinated and obsessed with your Gma's walker.  In fact he stole it from her and crawled up and down on it and tried to give the Toddler a ride around the room in it shouting "Go Go Go!"

The boys were excited to see another grandma!  

When you get back though I would love to make another trip up.

Josh(3) and Great Great Grandma (104)

Your Grandma hasn't changed a bit...I can't say the same for our son.

Josh (1 month) and Great Great Grandma (101)

Photo Bomb 41

Dear Hubby,

Last week was interesting.  I decided to pull the boys out of the daycare center.  My mom has been coming up Sunday evening and staying with me to watch the boy's Monday - Wednesday.  Thursdays I have someone that will start coming to the house in a few weeks to watch the boys, and on Friday a neighbor lady watches them.  As far as they are concerned she is like another grandma.

It has been nice to have another adult in the house, though I'm not sure it is as nice for her.  After all she trades a bed and her own room for the couch in the livingroom.  I have also roped mom into doing pilates with me...and watching Dr. Who.  I have got the most sleep I have gotten during the deployment with her here, she needs to go to bed before midnight and the boys pester her when the get up. (Yep I'm getting the best end of this deal!)

It has been nice for the boys (and me) to have them at the house.  It allows us to have more time together, cuts down on the morning chaos...and forces me to do better meal planning.  They are still my morning alarm clocks, typically getting up 10-15 minutes before my alarm clock.  If grandma isn't there to pick on they pile in Mom's bed or turn on the radio and dance.

Once in a while we do a special treat and the boys eat on their little Lightening McQueen table.  They get to help set the table, clear the table, and wipe it down.  With it being their size there is no need for booster chairs...albeit meals are still pretty messy.

Playing a Mickey Mouse game on the IPad.

The boys love having Grandma at the house...though the three of them don't cooperate very well for pictures.

Going for favorite son/best helper award.
He claims to like cleaning, helping, and making things shiny and clean.

Photo Bomb 40

Dear Hubby,

I am getting behind on the blog again.  Blame it on multiple doctor appointments, daycare issues, new babies,  party planning, and traveling.  I did a horrible job taking pictures this week.  Monday and Friday were my only full days at work.  Tuesday and Wednesday I was doing some doctoring and of course meeting our nephew, Thursday I ended up without daycare. I drove the boys to my sister's and spent the afternoon/evening.  She kept them over night so I was able to go to work on Friday.  Then I drove back up to get them and starting organizing and deep cleaning our bedroom and threw a Superbowl Party over the weekend.

What a proud looking Dad.
Don't worry, I don't have baby fever...but our nephew sure is one cute kid!

The boys discovered some of the toys that aren't currently in rotation,

 and after that lived in the closet. Can you spot them?

Hide-n-Seek has been a continued favorite game this week...

...they are such sneaky little buggers.

The Big D is becoming obessed with Trackers (Tractors)

We had the Batman family of Superheros over for the Superbowl.

Some guests even arrived with bells on!

 Guests lounged in the living-room at their own risk

The boys didn't watch much football....but they did get packed around like footballs.

 Everyone apparently was more interested in our conversation on the IPad than the big game...

I think that's when the lights went out, plus the commercials weren't even that good this year.

I missed the Jeep/USO commerical so I looked it up online.
Yes I am nerdy enough to google commercials.

**PS- Did you notice they got haircuts again? **