Happiness is...

...being surrounded by amazing friends and family.  We've had meals dropped by our house three nights a week since Grant was born, beautiful gifts for our little man and even gifts for the new big brothers!  Yesterday, our friend Sue came by with what was literally an extravaganza of food, gifts and fun for all of us.  One of the biggest hits is the "Bundle Me" - a super cozy sleep sack for the baby carrier.  Grant clearly loves it!!!  Thank you Sue!  And thank you to everyone for making our special time feel even more so.  We are so lucky!!!  xo

Happy birthday Grant!! ONE MONTH OLD today!!!

Well it's been an exciting month ... and we're happy it's behind us!  While I'll miss that newborn stage (so tiny, curled up on my shoulder, belly button still hanging on, little swirls in his peach fuzz hair, *sigh*) we're glad to be done with the colds and viruses that February brought our way.

He is still technically a "newborn" but growing in leaps and bounds.  He was 9lbs, 14 oz at his last weight check yesterday!  His little face is filling out...his hair is growing...he's long and has already outgrown newborn clothes.  Have I mentioned that he is the SWEETEST baby?!?  We just can't get over how laid back and content he is!  He stares into your eyes when you hold him and he loves shadows and contrasts.  He literally gasps with pleasure when a piece of my dark hair falls into his field of view.  He loves the black and white photos of the boys around the house.  He loves the boys.

Speaking of which, the boys are equally amazing.  They have proven to be the best big brothers and have dealt so well with all the craziness around here over the past two months.  I am so proud of them!  It's actually matured them quite a bit.  Tonight, I brought Grant over to "say hi" to Cole who was watching old cartoons on TV.  Cole turned to Grant...rubbed his head and said, "Hey pal, we're watching Dune Buggy!"  It was so cute!

Since we've been cooped up, the boys needed a fun activity...so mom delivered!  I had been saving this castle for months, having found it at a sale for next to nothing.  What an awesome activity this turned out being!!  We've been busy painting, decorating and playing make-believe.  The boys went to bed with plans for their next big painting day.  Tomorrow they are apparently tackling the "attic" wherever that might be.  :)

MARCH!!!!!!!

Just had to post that it is officially MARCH.  We couldn't be happier to welcome spring and the warmer weather!!  Yippeee!

Oh...and on a side note...Grant weighed in at the pedi's yesterday at 9lb 5oz!!!  He is getting bigger everyday.  :)

All About Tornadoes

Auntie Judy stopped over a few days ago with gifts for all the boys.  She always finds the coolest stuff!  The Discovery Kids Tornado Lab was awesome and gave us at least two hours worth of entertainment.  Before we started our lesson, I asked the boys what they thought a tornado was.

Tommy:  It's like a tomato...but its not red.  It's purple.

Cole:  "Toe-nados" are like ghosts and monsters except they are really tiny!

They are such a riot.  Tommy was pretty smart about thinking it MUST be something like a tomato!  :)  I explained a little bit - enough to catch their attention - then we sat down and watched the DVD that came with it.  We watched real tornado chasers and learned more about what a tornado was.  

After the video, it was off to the lab!  It came with a little simulator that created tornadoes in the water and we added little beads and foam squares to show what happened to houses, cars, etc when in the path of one.  This was their favorite part.  "This is mommy's car!"  "I'm throwing daddy in the tornado!"  By the end, we had Nana and Papa...their cars...Kevin and I and both of our cars...Cole, Tommy, Grant and our house in the mix.

After the lesson was over, I quizzed them on what they had learned.

Mom:  "What would you if there was a tornado?" 

Tommy:  "Go down the basement." 

Cole:  "You never play near a tornado...you run AWAY from a tornado."

Mom:  "Are tornadoes big or small?"

Tommy:  "BIG."

Mom:  "Where do tornadoes come from?"

Cole:  "The sky!  They go fast, fast, fast and whoosh down and swoop up things!"  (Said with LOTS of dramatic flair.)

I have to say, I am pretty impressed with how quickly they pick things up.  Let's hope they never actually experience a tornado, but it was such a cool thing to learn about with my favorite pals.  Thanks Auntie Judy!

My three sons!!!

Cole, Grant and Tommy

Grant is 3 weeks old in this photo.  It only took about 80 photos to get this one...but we got it!!!  Getting THREE kids to look all at once is a lot harder.  :)  My favorite munchkins!!!