My best pals...

A warm November afternoon gave me an opportunity to work on a "concept shoot" with a local photographer.  She wanted to capture a mother just interacting with her kids.  This is the result.

Happenings....

All three boys are at the PERFECT age right now.  I love Grant's newfound independence and the excitement he shares over every new discovery.  He squeals with delight watching his brothers, stares at me adoringly when I'm working around the house and smiles and laughs EVERY time he sees Kevin.  He is the most loving, happy little baby.

At the moment, he is obsessed with Tommy.  And the feeling is mutual!  Tommy runs to Grant's crib every morning and makes sure Grant has his blanket and bear before coming downstairs.  Tommy tells him he is "his best buddy" and shows him how to build rocket ships with legos.  It's so beautiful.  Yesterday he drew Grant a picture and showed it to him.  "I made this because I love you Grant!"  So sweet.

Cole loves to sing to Grant.  Our jokester, Cole sings songs like "ta-ra-ra BOOM de-ay!" and "pop goes the weasel" in an attempt to make him laugh.  Cole is ALWAYS joking.  In fact, after he pulls a fast one on you...he yells out "JOKING!!!"  It's awesome.  The other day he pulled the band-aid off his finger and said "look!  my cut is all better!"  Shocked - because he had just gotten the cut earlier that day - I stared at it with wonder when he yelled out "JOKING!!  This is my other hand!!  I tricked you!"  :)  He put a band-aid on by himself for the prank.  Can you imagine?

The boys are loving school and really picking up more and more Spanish, too.  In the morning they ask for "jugo de naranja" (orange juice) and yesterday Tommy and I were doing his homework and I was surprised to learn how many food items he could name in Spanish.  I need to beef up my own learning to keep up with them.  Otherwise, they'll start plotting their shenanigans in Spanish and Kevin and I will be left scratching our heads.  :)

Now that Grant is crawling, things have definitely changed.  The gates are back up and we are still learning to navigate with them.  The hardest part is staying on top of the boys as they are always running from one thing to the next and forgetting to shut gates.  The other day, Cole literally saved Grant's life.  Tommy had come up from the basement and forgot to shut the door and no one knew that the baby gate to the TV room was left open.  When Cole yelled for me...I found him holding on to Grant's ankles...Grant's two hands were on the top step of the basement steps.  He was about to go down.  My stomach still turns just thinking about it.

But it actually opened up a good window for us all to sit down and talk about safety.  I've shown the boys what to do if they ever saw him choking.  And the boys have become more vigilant with gates and doors.  Sometimes all it takes is one scare.  Thank God Cole spotted him.

In other news, Tommy was evaluated at school for speech and looks like he may be seeing a Speech Therapist to work on his pronunciation.  We work on it at home, but he definitely needs some more help.  I just am so thrilled to have such interventions at such a young age.  He'll be right on track for Kindergarten in two years.

Our photo shoots...

We've been working on photos for our Christmas card...and in the process...I've REALLY come to love photography.  I've always liked it.  But now I am starting to understand my camera more and that is making a huge difference in the results.

The boys are SO patient with me and my "photo shoots".  The other day - as I was about to start clicking away - Cole asked me if I wanted his "soft smile" or his "big smile".  LOL  And they have truly mastered those looks.  Just ask them...they'll show you the eyes..the smile...it's so funny.

The hats the boys are wearing in these first few actually belonged to Grandpa George.  They love wearing them.  Kevin thinks they look like old migrant fishermen.  :)  I just LOVE these photos.

Warm fall days...slowly waning.

GUESS WHO IS CRAWLING!?!?!

And standing...and pulling himself up on furniture...  Watch out world!  Grant is on the move!!  
He is so funny with his newfound independence.  He is practicing every chance he gets!  I put him in his crib today and he decided to crawl back and forth a few times just for kicks.  He is such a funny little guy!  Actually, just writing that made me think of some other interesting things about him:


He LOVES salmon.  Would eat it all day long.  Does NOT like beef of any kind.

He likes chicken.  And noodles…but only curly ones.

He likes BEETS and fresh avocado.

He also likes broccoli and green beans.

Mangos = LOVE.

Apples = only green ones.

Yogurt or milk make him throw up.  He's clearly "lactose" like his papa. ;)

Just discovered french fries and goldfish.  If he sees them…he squeals.

If you ask him to show you his teeth. he throws his head back and makes an old man scrinchy face.

He flirts with EVERY girl he sees.  And every guy for that matter.  He is just a big ole flirt.

He can say mama, dada and baba.  Oh...and when he sees the boys he yells "RAAAAA!" in his version of a scary voice.

He LOVES his nana blankie and his giraffe named Sophie!

Brotherly Love!

Today I witnessed one of the most touching moments a mom could wish for.  We were all outside in the front yard.  Grant on Great Grandma's quilt, boys on their big wheels and I was sweeping the porch.  Tommy was doing circles on his big wheel in front of Grant.  Grant was squealing with delight.  


At one point, Tommy ran by me and into the house and said, "I need a tissue Mommy!"  (Tommy is always needing a tissue, so I thought nothing of it.)  Then out he came and ran over to Grant.  Plopping down with him he said, "okay Grant…blow!"  


He was wiping Grant's nose.  I almost cried.  There the two of them sat…Tommy (my big 4-year old) chatting away and Grant staring up at him.  When I wipe Grant's nose, he wriggles and squirms, but when Tommy does it?  Grant sat still as a statue with huge eyes and a big smile.  


I'll never forget it.  Seeing Tommy's beautiful, kind heart filled with love and concern for his baby brother...and seeing Grant's complete adoration of his big brother.   Love!!!!

Hmmm...something looks different here...right?

Welcome to our NEW blog!!  I know...I was planning on keeping things the same, but I kept feeling so badly for Grant and really felt like we needed a new look.  Then came THE SIGN.  One of the domains I've been eyeballing opened up.  And this was too good of an opportunity to pass up!!  I'm trying out this new fancy layout.  (You the reader can actually choose the way you view the blog.)  But will most likely move back to a more basic layout once I've redesigned my header and graphics.  

So now...(you are going to think I'm nuts)...you can access this blog through any of these links which we've been slowly acquiring over the years:

Here is the one I've been WAITING FOR!!!!!
www.theriordanfamily.com -- Can you believe it?!?  I've been trying to get this one for so long!!  YAY!

www.riordanfamilyadventures.com - This was always our travel blog.

www.riordanboys.com - I'm holding on to the next two in case the boys start a boy band one day.  ;)

www.theriordanboys.com

www.tommyandcole.com - The originals....
www.coleandtommy.com

Nothing changes...I'll continue to update and post pictures and videos.  I think this may be a little more fun to play around with to see pictures, etc. until my next version makes it's debut.  Oh!  And Halloween pictures coming SOON....I promise!!!