Week Updates...

Updates in no particular order...

We got the goggles out to get ready for summer...and C kept his on for most of the day.

Every month, we get together with our friends Debra, Greg and Rubin. They hosted this month and dessert was the only time I could get all three of them sitting together. All three boys are nonstop when we're not feeding them. =)

 The rest of the weekend was spent playing at home...

And enjoying a surprisingly sunny winter day at the zoo! Justin asked for elephants and monkeys - so that's what he got. When we got to the primate house, this gorilla greeted us.  And after, we played in the playground and watched wild deer in the zoo.

----
me: Colin, you are so handsome.
C: Yes, I just get handsome everyday.

Colin: Justin, if you stop crying, then you won't get boogers.
Justin: No. Wahhhhh
Colin: You're going to get boogers
Justin: Boogers! Wipe! (as he points to his nose)
Colin: See, I told you.

6am and both boys are up
Me: Colin, can you read to your brother and play with him? Mommy is going back to bed.
Colin: Okay, c'mon Justin
Justin: Wahh..
Colin: Justin, let's go read books.
Justin: No..Mommy!!! Wahh...
Colin: Justin, just chill out!

Justin: Love you, mommy. (unprompted. and that's enough to make anyone's day.)

Alexis & Fireman Andy

Alexis took us to the fire station to visit with Fireman Andy this week. Oh, how the boys loved every moment!!!

Best fire station visit ever = riding in the fire truck (with the sirens) + playing with the hose + tour of the firehouse + climbing in the rescue squad car + sitting front seat while Andy drove the fire truck back into the station + squirting a fire extinguisher + learning what an axe does + eating a fireman Drumstick + hanging out with Alexis and Fireman Andy!!!

 

As soon as we got home, we had to make our own fire trucks!

Thank you so much Alexis and Andy. We had a blast!!! Colin has been drawing fire trucks all week and Justin has been repeating, "Andy? Fire truck? Justin in fire truck!"

Happy 6 years!

Jack & I continued our 6 year anniversary celebration this weekend. Grandma watched the kids while we went out to Michael Symon's B Spot for lunch. No pictures, but between Bachan and Grandma, we are getting used to restaurant eating with no kids. Loving it. After, we played with cousins at Nick & Tami's house. Matt and the kids came down from Michigan too.

I didn't manage to get any pics of Brooke and Reagan on this trip. Here are Justin and Ana...

 Colin got a hold of Tami's iPad and didn't let go. He had to play with Tami's iPad because he tells me, "Mom, why don't you share your iPad? You know we want one too. Family is supposed to share."

And Tami fulfilled her DQ cravings and got an ice cream cake. She and Justin couldn't wait for the cake to soften a bit - they just had to cut it right away...haha. Thanks for an impromptu day!

 We ended our weekend with a dinner date with Alexis and Fireman Andy. They are both so great with the boys...C & J loved every moment of their time and attention. Let's just say that the night ended with Alexis & Andy reading Colin 3 books to put him to bed!

In other news:
*Whenever Colin has a question, and we don't know the answer, he says, "Let's call, Jichan. Jichan knows everything." But after a week with Bachan, Colin has added her to the list. "Bachan knows everything. There must be a lot of brains at Bachan and Jichan's house because they know everything." We visited the aquarium again and when I asked him what was under the sting ray, he confidently said, "Mom, those are gills. That's what they use to breathe. Sharks have them too. Bachan told me."

*Justin is growing up. He loves to be with Colin, but talks the most when he's alone with Jack or me. He has a great sense of humor and is already taking after his older brother  - he hates to wear pants! haha.

 And Happy 6 years to us!

Bachan in Ohio!

We feel so lucky. My mom flew in and spent the week spoiling us with lots of love and attention.

 As soon as she came in, I felt like she belonged here with the boys. Colin ran to her and although Justin was still clingy to Jack & me, by the second morning, Justin was calling "Ba-chan!" to get him out of his crib. =)

We did a ton - aquarium trip, zoo trip, dim sum trip, shopping trips, stay home days, easter egg hunts, science fairs and eating out. I took 2.5 days off of work and we all just enjoyed this time together. Jack & I even got out for some date time. Thank you so much for making us feel so special. Here are some pics...

We did Easter early so my mom could enjoy the fun with the boys...coloring the eggs and hiding plastic ones. I think she did an easter egg hunt once a day!

 C & J's school hosted a science fair and the theme was outer space. The teachers have stations for all of the kids and J's favorite was the light table. Colin loved the constellations and making a comet.

 

We made a stop a the zoo...

And we visited the aquarium that just opened up. Let us know if you want our opinion before you go buy the $21 tickets. We made the most of our trip and had fun looking for starfish and seeing sharks.

 Jack & I aren't huge gift givers, but he surprised me with an iPad for an early anniversary present!! Totally made my day. Then my mom took the boys for a whole day while Jack & I made a trek to the casinos. (Thank you, mom!) Between the iPad, gambling (and winning!), car-talk, and bar escapades with Jack & Matt (yes, Matt came to visit us), it was a near perfect day. Jack was a bit annoyed with my picture taking though. I was trying to get a pic of us with our new iPad. This is the best I could get.

 As always, some of our moments were at home with no cameras to capture every moment. We enjoyed good food and good family time. My mom is all about learning and having fun, so she was teaching J his letters, and C how to tie his shoes. She talked to the boys about constellations and stars, did countless arts & crafts, cooked with the boys and read book after book. We enjoyed her wonderful food and good company. Loved.every.moment. We love you.

After my mom left, Colin said to me, "I think I will just sing songs about how much I miss Bachan. That will make me feel better." And Justin kept repeating "no more Bachan?" all morning after she went home. My heart sank a bit when we all had to go back to our regular routines today. We miss you already. But as Colin says, "Don't worry mom. If you miss Bachan too much, you can put something of hers close to your heart. That will make you feel better." When I asked him what we have of Bachan's, he replied, "Didn't she forget her sock here? You can use her sock."

Week Updates...

"ALEXIS!" "Leshis!" The boys absolutely love their Alexis time...Colin even ended the night with, "but I want Alexis to read me books tonight." And no wonder why they love her - she completely embraces their "put me in a box" phase of toddler-hood. Yes, they are in those boxes!

 Justin finally (it took us 2 weeks) started wearing the next size up in winter jackets. Our handsome 2 year old.

 John & Shirley had us over for dinner and all of the Oakdale boys were reunited. They all met about 2 years ago - and look at how much they've grown. =)

 Whenever we get together with Hao-ie, Colin starts screaming with joy. All of the boys have so much fun together - pretty much non-stop screaming and laughing.

 We ended our weekend with dinner at Grandma's. Decorating and eating the cake were the highlights.

 After we left Grandma's, I had to snap a picture of the sun. Ohio gave us another beautiful sunny day...just proof of our wonderful winter.

Other fun things:

• Colin's friend, Max, has Darth Vader on his lunchbox. Colin came home, made a black mask and said, "I'm dark mater." haha! All he knows is Mater from the movie Cars!
• Cousin Sarah still loves Justin Beiber...and after we see her, I hear Colin chant, "Justin Beaver, Justin Beaver!"
• Colin told one of my friends, "I think there's a baby brother growing in your belly."
• Justin's teachers told me that Justin talks about Leela at school all of the time! After all, they have seen each other every week since the day he was born. Love.

Justin @ 2 years old

Justin updates at 2 years old:

• 35.5 inches tall and 29 lbs round
• Loves to watch Dolphins and Happy Feet
• Copies anything that Colin does - except for eating. He won't eat what Colin eats.
• "In mommy's (or daddy's) lap," can be heard as he starts to climb on you to read a book or watch VT.
• Loves train, trucks, airplanes and buses. "vroom," "choochoo," "take-off"
• Loves hitting things....and uses his hands, golf clubs, wrapping paper rolls, anything to hit. And when he hits people, he knows how to walk himself straight to time-out.
• "Where's Colin?" is a common phrase
• After being told no, he likes to say "hug. kiss," just to stay on your good-side.
• When carrying him (and he loves to be carried), he may "honk" your nose or squeeze your cheeks. All with an irresistable smile.
• If you are too close to his head for too long, he may head-butt you. 
• If he hears you cooking, he immediately runs to the kitchen and asks to help. And when you make popcorn, he does a popcorn dance for you.
• He still covets Jack's lap the most...and is the most peaceful child when relaxing with his daddy.
• When I leave for work in the morning, he has to give me a hug and kiss (or sometimes just a high-five.)

 We love you, Justin.

Happy Birthday, Justin!

We had a fabulous week leading up to the big TWO for Justin. Birthday dinners with Uma & Carlo, family dinner, zoo trip, first family Costco trip, and lots of family time.

Here goes...
I went to the bathroom upstairs, and when I came down, I found the boys like this. They dumped all of their snow stuff out of their bins and used them as train cars to watch TV. Creative, right? Just gotta work on them cleaning up their own mess.

 And the next day, Jack took this picture of them...We're definitely in a train car stage.

 Auntie Lori called to sing Happy Birthday to Justin, and Justin kissed the camera the whole time...long enough for me to pull my camera out and take a pic. (Side note: Remember the days when having a flip phone was cool? Yes, I still have a flip phone.)

 For J's birthday dinner, the family came over and we BBQed! We have snow, but that didn't stop Jack from grilling steaks.

 The cousins played all over the house. Justin took his shirt off and refused to put it back on.

 The kids are older now, so the adults didn't really have to run after any little ones. We just ate and chatted. Our house held 16 people!

 Birthday cake time! He blew his candles out about 15 times throughout the night. Look at the cake- the boys and I decorated it ourselves. We did a road with yellow cars. I asked Colin to be in charge of the trees and to think of something green to put on the pretzel sticks. He responded with, "They are winter trees. They don't have leaves, mom."

Sam, Sarah, Justin and Colin going crazy with the last of the birthday cake. Good times...

On Sunday, we went to the zoo. The sun came out for us so we took advantage and headed out! I think this was one of the first times I didn't haul the stroller with me. The boys did great - running and walking everywhere. The elephants are always a big hit.

Just wanted to show you this picture. Colin really isn't a little toddler anymore. He's growing up just so fast.

 

 Have a great week everyone.