Double Trouble

The boys are really partners in crime around here.  Silence speaks VOLUMES.  When it is quiet...Kevin and I start sweating.   But when they are caught...their reactions are so funny!!  Cole is a runner.  He drops whatever he has...runs away and acts like it was Tommy's idea.  Tommy on the other hand, tries to remedy whatever they've done at the last minute.  If it can't be fixed, he just stands there and says sweetly like nothing is wrong, "Hi!" 

The other day, the boys were in the kitchen.  I walked out onto the back porch to water the plants and when I came back in...there was silence.  I said out loud, "Boys?  What are you doing?"  At that...there was a gasp...and then Tommy came tearing around the corner from the living room with two bananas in his hands, pushed them back up on the counter and ran out.  It cracked me up.

This week, I was in the family room when I noticed the silence.  Uh oh.  Then I heard it.   When I turned the corner into the kitchen there was an entire box of elbow macaroni on the floor!  At my intake of breath...Cole ran.  Tommy immediately sat down and started putting the macaroni back INTO the box.  :)  It was so funny!!  In the end...they both sat down and helped mommy clean it up.  Every once in a while Tommy would say, "hi!" just to be sure that all angles were covered.  

Our Boston Adventure

On a total whim, my mom and I took the boys on the ferry into Boston to get them some new crocs and have lunch.  The boys have never been on the ferry before and it was a pretty amazing ride.  We saw helicopters, airplanes, freighters, a British naval ship, sailboats...we even passed by fire engines that we're conducting training out on Moon Island.  

Cole loved every second...screaming "HI!" to passing boats and lots of "WOWS!"  Tommy was a bit more hesitant.  Preferring to sit on mommy's lap and use his trigger finger to point out interesting things.

We arrived in Boston and browsed the shops at Fanueil Hall...got some snazzy new crocs for the boys, chased a few pigeons and then headed to American Joe's Bar and Grill in the North End for a leisurely lunch.

Tommy colored on everything but his place mat.

Cole was ALL business about the apple juice.  I am pretty sure he finished it before his meal even arrived.  I think he lives in fear that Tommy is going to swipe whatever he is eating or drinking.  "Quick!  Down the hatch!"

After lunch we caught the next ferry boat home.  This ferry took a longer route which was really scenic...and a bit rocky.  Cole loved the movement on the boat and was laughing hysterically.  Tommy stood with Nana at the front window pointing out airplanes and boats, until he noticed a woman with a baby.  Then off he went to stand near the baby and stare.  He LOVES babies.  

I don't even think I had pulled out of the parking lot when the boys fell fast asleep.    

Tommy

Cole

It was such an easy trip into the city - maybe 35 minutes tops.  The ferry pulls right up at the Marriott Long Wharf...which is next to the Aquarium, across the street from Fanueil Hall and adjacent to the North End.   It's perfect...and the boys loved every minute.  :)  Next adventure?  The Boston Aquarium!

Car! Car! Car!

The boys are obsessed with cars and trucks...seriously.  When we are driving anywhere...all I hear for the majority of the ride is..."woah!  car!  car!  car!" and they point to every truck, car, motorcycle, etc. that we pass.  And...this NEVER gets old to them.

I took this video while driving; however, I just propped it up on my shoulder and hoped for the best.  I had no idea whether it was even aimed in their direction as my eyes were on the road - -PROMISE.  I was so happy when I came home and realized that I caught them.  It is so funny to me that they do this...

Night three...binky free!

Well that wasn't so bad afterall!  The boys slept straight through the night with no waking and no crying.  They aren't even looking for their binkies anymore.  I am so relieved and happy that we decided to do this now.  They are young enough to not be too attached and having that over with is such good feeling.

I think it was harder on us.

The Big Dig

As I mentioned in my previous post, we had the gas company out to replace our gas lines.  They contacted us...so we scheduled a day for them to come out expecting something simple.  They worked in the yard...with this HUGE digger...until 4AM.  Two separate crews came and went.  It was insane.  

The guys were SO nice though and really were great with the kids.  At one point they shut down the excavator so the boys could come out and climb on it.  They were in heaven!!

Night two -- success!

So night two was MUCH better.  Which was surprising since the gas company was here and we had huge diggers in our front yard until 4am.  We had to have our gas service replaced and the job...which was supposed to be small...ended up being a big pain.  Now our front lawn is dug up...our water line was hit by the digger and our landscaping (just paid the bill) is ruined.  But...the boys didn't wake up.  So good news!!  Day two binkie free...going on day three.  

I'll post pictures of the boys with the digger shortly.  They were in heaven!

Bye, bye, binkie...

Today was the big day...binkies are making a silent exit from our lives. (We hope!) The boys are not super attached, but always liked their binkies at night when they slept. Lately they were requesting them more often...so it felt like the right time to pack them up. We just had our first nap with out them...just a little crying when I put them down. Hopefully, tonight will be issue free.

Honestly, I think it will be harder on us! Binkies were so great for calming the boys... They loved them on flights and helped with their ears. I will miss them for sure...my babies are growing up.

UPDATE:  Last night was brutal!!  The boys woke up and wanted them...and just cried and cried.  I had to sleep in the rocking chair in their room and just keep soothing them back to sleep.  A few times I actually thought..."is this really worth it?"  Anyway, holding strong.  Moving on to day two.  Feels like an intervention.

"The Escape from Kitchen-traz!"

Starring Cole Riordan as the Escapee

I thought I was losing my mind.  How on earth is Cole in the dining room AGAIN?  Did I forget to close a baby gate?  After numerous repeat performances, we finally learned his secret...  

Baby gates?  We LAUGH at baby gates!!!   

"CAR!!  WOAH!!  WOW!!  CAR!!"

Happy Birthday Uncle Joey!!  We love you!!

In honor of your birthday, we decided to "TP" mommy's kitchen and bathroom.  It looked great!  Just like streamers!!

Pirates at Play

I finished the pirate chest for the boys new swing set and we decided that was reason enough to try out our new hats and march around like pirates.  We were singing the theme song from Pirates of the Caribbean and laughing.  I didn't include the video of my singing...I figured I save you all that torture.  :)  Enjoy!

The Happy Painter

The rain finally broke this afternoon, so we brought out the easels to paint with their new brushes. Cole tired of it after about 15 minutes (he was busy practicing his slide technique), but Tommy stayed by his easel until dinner. He even took over and finished painting Cole's picture. :)

The photo above is of Tommy standing proudly by his artwork...and below is some video of my artists at work!

Forks are fun!

Hard to believe the boys are 19 months old! I made the boys dinner last night and was looking around for their spoons when I came across little forks that the boys had gotten as a gift for their 1st birthday. Forks? I had totally forgotten about them! Is it too early for forks?

I took them out and gave the boys a demonstration. They picked them up...speared a meatball...and that was that. They've been eating with their forks ever since. What else do these guys know that they aren't sharing??? ;)

Busy, busy, busy...

Wake up and enjoy breakfast. It's 7 AM...what now? Swings of course!



Cole perfects his slide...



Next up? Off to the woods to spot trees, look for birds and run down the hill.



This video was just so sweet to me. There are those moments in the day where I am just so amazed that we have two perfect little boys.







After a snack, we head out to the Home Depot to pick up play sand for the sandbox...this is like Disney World to these boys...a parking lot FULL of trucks! "WOAH!!!"

Home again, we are just about to have lunch when the pool company arrived in their big truck to open the pool. They were glued to the windows...Tommy yelling "hi!" and waving.

After they left...we took a peek...

After our nap, it was time to reveal mom's surprise....the new sandbox!! Cole LOVED it...as you can see from this video...

and these pictures....

After playing in the sandbox and some more swinging....it was finally time for dinner, tubbie and bed. How did I know? See below...

Sweet dreams!

Artists at work

The boys LOVE to paint & color. We have several works of art on display around the house...one is even framed and hanging in the kitchen. Here are some samples of their latest works. :) Enjoy!



Cole and Tommy - "Fireworks" (Markers)



Cole and Tommy - "Thomas the Train" (Finger paint)

Cole - "Rainy Day Scribbles" - (Crayon)

Tommy - "Rainy Day Scribbles" (Crayon)

Cole and Tommy - "The Ocean" - (Finger paint)