On the Upswing Hopefully

One of the kids (at least) has been sick since Thanksgiving.  It's mostly been Sam, but Tyler was out with the stomach flu for a day or two.  Needless to say, Mommy and Daddy have had quite the time trying to keep up with everything.  I think we've finally got Sam well.  Poor baby.  He hit 1 year old and hasn't felt well since.  Surely we're on the upswing now and things will be looking up.

Although not walking quite yet, here's Sam walking with his walker.  (Video taken several weeks ago when he was feeling good.)

Susan mailed me the softest UNC socks ever.

So comfy for lounging around the house at night!

Look who promptly stole them from me.

Tyler and Daddy climbing a neighbor's tree.

Magnolias make the best climbing trees.

Baby Sam snoozing in Mommy and Daddy's bed at home from school (one of many days) with a fever.

Feeling much better after some medicine though and lots of rest!

Tyler's big adventure to the dentist.

He was such a great patient.

He looks a bit terrified here, but he really wasn't.

At home playing "Superman" with Daddy.

Naked.

For some reason, he's insisted on eating dinner naked lately.

I don't care what you do, just eat your chicken.

New Bedtime Ritual

Now a days, Sam can be found lunging his body off the bed or attempting to throw himself down the stairs while we're trying our hardest to get both of the boys to bed.  Meanwhile, Tyler is up to his old tricks of "playing" with his younger brother, aka rough housing or "gently" pushing, knocking blocks on Sam's head, or some other wrestling move.  

This is our solution to providing a contained way we can let them play together in a somewhat safe manner.  

And they love it!

Happy First Birthday Sam!

    

 Look who's turning one-  Sam-a-lama!  We celebrated at Pullen Park with friends and family.  The birthday boy celebrated with a trip on the train and a cupcake.

Look at me-  I'm one!

Tyler of course spent his time on the boats

Couldn't quite get it all together, 

but this is the closest we got

The Krehelys were all smiles 

The Horners made it out to party as well!

Tower of cupcakes

Sleepy birthday boy

You gonna eat all that? 

I can help you if you want....

It got a little messier than this,

but this is how it started out

Where's my picture of Terra'?!?!?  Hhhhmmmm..... not sure.  I'll look for it.  But, it must be said the party would not have been a hit without her.  She helped with the set up, helped with the clean up, and helped everything in between.  Not to mention she was the one who took all these fabulous pictures.  Thank you Terra'!!!!!!  Heart you tons.

Happy Hulk Halloween

Before we get to the Halloween pics, here are some quick videos for the Grandparents.  By the way, Sam has very intentionally been saying "Mama" and "Dada" for at least the last week and just today he said "ba" (for ball) 4 times in direct association with a ball he was playing with.  Looks like he's going to take after Tyler, I mean Daddy.

(Don't be fooled- that's Tyler saying 'ball' at the end of this video)

     OK, on to Halloween.  Primrose (the boys' daycare) had their annual Costume Parade.  It was Sam's first parade, but he got the hang of it soon enough.

                                         

Here comes Tyler Head!  Or should I say, The Incredible Hulk!

 Party time afterwards back in the classroom.  Yummy snacks of cheesy puffs, oreos, fruit chews and cupcakes.  All of Tyler's favorites.

Later that evening.....

 

'Hulk Smash!'

Twins

The trick-or-treating crew

Neighborhood friends- Optimus Prime and Scuba Diver

And they're off.....

Tyler really had the hang of things this year.

'Have we been to that house yet??'

Sam even joined in the fun

Chewing on some Puffs in the stroller

State Fair 2012

The kids have gone to bed, we've finally eaten our dinner and I'm just sitting here drinking my wine, waiting for Andrew to return with my yogurt with peanut butter cup toppings.  So I thought I'd update the blog with some fun times from this year's State Fair.

As per the last several years, Grandmama and Grandaddy met us early at the fairgrounds-  with ham biscuits!!  Yummy!!  We scarfed those down easily (with lots of mustard, of course), then headed straight to the rides.  

Sam was content for most of the time playing with his feet

Here's our first ride!

Tyler and Grandmama on "Jalopy Junction"

Notice throughout, Tyler constantly picks the blue car/dragon/truck/etc to ride

He rode with Mommy on some dragon-dinosaur looking things that went around in circles.

Had Mommy known circles were involved, she may not have as eagerly agreed to ride this one

Grandaddy and Daddy on Sam duty and keeping watch over both strollers while Tyler was gallivanting around throughout the fair 

Ladybug ride all by myself!

Petting zoo and farm animal time!

Look who who we found-

Olivia and Evan!

(friends from school)

As we were walking away from the ride section of the fair, we noticed a MONSTER TRUCK ride.  OMG-  we couldn't let this one pass us by.  Monster Trucks, after all, are one of Tyler's most favorite thing in the world.  Daddy was up for this one.  

Daddy could barely fit in this truck, but it was well worth the scrunch.

Quick wave as they passed by

Tyler:  "Mommy, that was SO awesome!!!"

On a sadder note, unfortunately Uncle Bill passed away last week.  Mom, Dad, and Michael came up to Durham for the funeral and brought Tyler an old computer of theirs.  He's been using the computer at school and has been asking about one at home.  Ask and you shall receive!!

Poppa and Tyler with "the best toy ever!!" according to Tyler

Oooohhhhh!!  My yogurt is here-  gotta run!

Fall Fun

We've had a busy fall so far.  Here are some photo highlights:

We've been to a couple of UNC football games.

The boys made it through the whole first half during their last game!

OK Sam, we get it you're sleepy, it's waaaay past your nap time.

Can you make it a little longer so Mommy and Daddy can watch this football game?

This one couldn't decide if the fireworks was his favorite part or the scariest part

We took a trip to Atlanta to see Nana, Poppa, and Uncle Michael and to go to The Sheepdogs concert.

What a cute face I got to look at for the 6 hour drive.  (Giggling at Tyler)

Sam started eating more "table foods" including peas and green beans shown here.

We did not take a picture of Tyler's dinner this night as he had 2 cereal bars and 2 rice krispy treats.

I realize this is a pretty bad picture of Sam, but please notice that little curly-cue of hair on his left side. You can barely see it.
 Where did that come from?!?!?

Aaaaaahhhhhh-  getting into the peas and green beans a little more

OK, now you're just showing off.......

We got a fall pass to the NC Museum of Life and Science.

They love the train.

Recent trip to the pumpkin patch.

Included this picture because Sam constantly sits this way when on the ground and not on a blanket.

Super skills or super sensory issues?

My new favorite sound:

Listening to Sam giggle and giggle due to Tyler making him laugh

Uh, Mommy-  can't we go look at those pumpkins again?

I'm going to get this pumpkin

Best picture I could get of both of them.

Had to bribe Tyler with a cookie

Let's see if we can get this video to work.  It's not great by any means-  mainly for the grandparents.  Sam laughing at the craziness that is big brother Tyler