We're baaack!!!

After a short hiatus of no posting...I'm happy to report that we are back up and running here on the blog. Several computer issues, a change of operating systems, reorganization of photos, a holiday, one trip to New York and two toddlers had things backed up a bit. But that's okay...the good news is we have LOTS of catching up to do.

First off, let me start by saying that the boys are at the BEST age right now. They are talking up a storm and saying the funniest things. Yesterday, I asked Cole, "Hey pal? Do you have a poop in your pants?" To which he replied, "No. Tommy pooped." (This was not true...I was talking to the culprit.) Before I could respond he opened his arms really wide and said, "Tommy did a BIG poo poo."

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family in Connecticut and the boys had a blast. Grandma's house has a LONG hallway that quickly turned into their speedway. Uncle Tom and Auntie Vicki showed up with Tonka trucks which thankfully kept them very busy. Other highlights for the boys would be: Auntie Meredith hid M&M's (emmy's) in her pocket for their enjoyment, Uncle Steve gave them a ride on his mini excavator and their cousins spoiled them with lots of attention. The weather was beautiful...just a great day!

Ready to dig in! This isn't even the whole family. Missing are three aunts, 2 uncles and even more cousins. These little guys are so lucky to be a part of the Riordan clan. :)

Auntie Meredith and Grandma. The lump in Auntie Meredith's coat are hidden M&M's. She knows all the secret tricks!

Cousin Kelly teaching Cole how to play the Ukulele.

Hmmm...turkey is pretty good!!

Daddy and the boys relaxing after a big meal

Uncle Steve takes Cole for a ride on his "BIG TRACTOR"

I still can't believe he actually got up on this. Cole is becoming more and more fearless. Yikes!

Tommy preferred it when the tractor was not moving. He got very brave then. :)

It's not easy saying goodbye to big tractors!

On Friday, Auntie Meredith and I stole away for our annual Black Friday shopping trip. We have certain stores that we like to go to, but when Target opened last year it quickly made the list for toy buying. Last year, she sent us home with the Little People Farm for Christmas. This year, the boys scored the Little People Airport, the Fisher Price Doctor Kit and a big Play-Dough play pack. They are going to freak out on Christmas morning. Every Black Friday shopping excursion is capped off with a seasonal latte from Starbucks. Actually, I think this is really the sole reason for the shopping trip!

Thank you to Grandma, Vicki, Patti and Meredith for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner! It was a great couple of days and we had a blast.

Potty Champ No. 2!

Today, Cole followed Tommy's lead and informed me he needed to poop on the potty. He sat there for a good 15 minutes kicking his feet and talking about how he was going to get TWO "emmy's". Tommy cheered him on and handed him unecessarily large amounts of toilet paper. :)

After Cole and I must have high-fived ten times. He is so cute and VERY proud!!!

Recently heard around the house....

- "Boys!!! Don't drive your trucks through your toast!"
- "Tommy, mommy wants you to keep your clothes on."
- "No honey...you can't have chips. It's only 8:30 in the morning. Why? Because we don't have chips for breakfast! You can cry all you want, but you're still not getting any."
- "Who ate the tips off all these crayons?!?"
- "Is that water or pee?"
- "What the...?!? WHO ATE MY CHAPSTICK???"
- "Look at me. We don't pull keys off mommy's computer keyboard. See these? They are now broken. Forever. Okay? Now mommy loves you. Go be a good boy."
- "Cole...eat your chicken. Mommy is not making cake for dinner. You can say please all you want...still not happening."
- "Don't touch the tree. Don't touch it! What did mommy say? Don't touch the tree. Put that down!!! Good boy. That was a very good decision."
- "Tommy where are your socks? What do you mean gone?"
- "Honey, can mommy see those scissors? Can you give those to mommy please? Oh thank you!"
- "Where did that play-doh go? Open your mouth. Did you eat it? Where is the play-doh?"

Potty news!

Okay, so this is our life now. Poops make us want to celebrate. :) Today, Tommy walked up to me and said, "Mama? Potty?" Surprised, I brought him into the bathroom where he happily sat for 15 minutes and pooped. After, he wanted an "emmy" (m&m) and to flush. "Bye bye poo poos!" He shouted as the toilet flushed.

BIG day! We told daddy, called Nana...and now of course everyone knows who is reading this. Tommy is very proud of himself. He's been showing signs of readiness for a few months, but never enough to make me think we should pursue training. (Boys are usually late anyway.) Now, I think we may gently try to nudge him in that direction. Luckily, he got some pretty cool pirate underwear for his birthday!

Swine Flu Halloween

Well we had a pretty miserable week here. First, my computer (just over a year old) had a complete melt down and I lost a lot of stuff. No fun. Then we all came down with swine flu! Just not our week...

The boys were scheduled to get their H1N1 shots last Friday. On Wednesday, I started getting sick. I tried to keep away from the boys and assumed it was just a cold, but it kept getting worse. When Friday rolled around, Kevin took the boys to get their shots and Tommy couldn't get it as he had a fever of 103, but Cole was able to get his. In the end, it didn't even matter. The shots take two weeks to take effect and we were all sick - including Cole - within a few days. I went to the doctor and they said it was the H1N1 flu. Then the boys went to the pedi and got the same diagnosis.

I was first...Tommy second (he ended up in the hospital Wednesday night getting a chest x-ray due to his wheezing which scared the crap out of me), then Cole and Kevin. They put Cole on that Tamiflu stuff and it seems to be working. He is MUCH better today than he was yesterday. Overall? It was pretty miserable! It lasted about a week total. The coughing and chest congestion was just the worst. Fevers were on average around 102. Really nothing you could do to help the kids, you know?

We're all on the mend this week. I can't believe...after ALL my worrying...that we got it!!!! I was being a maniac about hand sanitizing and stuff. At least we've got it behind us now. I'm still going to complete the vaccination for both boys just so I'm SURE we're 100% immune. But according to all sources, once you've gotten it...you're done.

Here are some pictures of the boys from Halloween. You can see that Tommy is feeling better and Cole looks miserable. Poor baby...


Tommy, Cole


Tommy, Cole


Tommy

Poor Cole - Feeling crummy....