Wow...

Thank goodness it didn't go up into the windshield! Matt was driving to work yesterday morning and the car in front of him threw this heavy duty tractor trailer ratchet strap up into his radiator. Matt saw it for just a split second, thought it was just a yellow caution tape until he heard the thud of what he thought was an impact on the undercarriage. He qucily realized tape doesn't make a thud on impact but didn't realize it hit the front of car. He just thought he had run over it like the other car! Two other drivers drove up to him and pointed to it. He was very lucky in two ways: First that it hadn't been kicked up into the windshield, and second, that once it had embedded into the radiator, the strap ends didn't go under the tires while he was driving at 70+ mph. What a freak accident!

Nathan is getting his first molar. Thomas has 4 molars and three of the four eye teeth coming in. Earlier this week, Thomas actually helped me mow the lawn! He took hold of the handle with me and walked along. I couldn't believe he could already reach, but he did! Last night was the first time Thomas actually fed the dogs their dog food for dinner. He had gotten one piece of kibble into the scoop and was dumping it into the dish. We went back together and fed them much to his delight. I can't hardly believe they are old enought to be interested in helping but they sure are! I was planting bulbs earlier this week and both boys were very importantly taking handfuls of bone meal and mixing it in with my dirt. All they have to do is see you do it once and they try!

Nathan has started rebelling at his bath. I'm not sure why but every time I ask him to sit down, he screams bloody murder. I have checked all over wondering if something hurts him but I don't notice anything. This has happened about 4 times now so this past bath, I sat him down and let him hold onto me. He calmed down and actually started to play. I don't know if it's an act or if he is scared of something but hopefully he'll forget about it soon. I think we'll try a shower today.

A flock of turkeys roost in the trees in front of our house so every night after dinner they come parading through the yard. The boys are taken with them. As soon as I start clucking, they run to the windows!

Just a few cute pictures

Sunday morning, I quick polished the boys sandles. The next morning, Thomas found the shoe polish and was busy working on his sandles. Great to see the boys copying! I had to get a picture or two of the boys with the black case on their heads. You'll notice the picture of Nathan standing in the corner of his bedroom that he has socks on his hands. I'm not sure which boy started that trend, but it's a favorite. Pretty much every morning, I sit in their bedroom reading while they play and usually at least a handful of times I'm given a pair of socks and a set of hands! The dark picture is of my darling boys sitting in Annie's crate. Annie was spayed last Friday and so we had the crate out so that she could rest away from the boys. I'm quite sure the boys spent more time in there than Annie did. The last picture is of Thomas this morning on his grandpa's old cell phone while he was getting a diaper change. I love how he holds it to his ear. He has his hand next to his cheek and the phone facing his shoulder. He actually is very good about talking on the real phone. Nathan usually pushes the phone away but Thomas will talk.

We are noticing Thomas is walking on his tiptoes more often. Nathan never does but Thomas does I'm guessing about 25% of the time. I notice it especially when he first wakes up. Apparently, Matt had a problem with this that really came to a head when he was around 4 years old. The boys have their 18 month checkup soon, so I'll just mention it to the doctor.

Hats and such...

Just a few cute pictures. Thomas' hat was his idea! Nathan decided to climb up in the window and for that reason those windows have been closed most of the year! I think I was watering the window boxes. What a couple of monkeys. Thomas has my apron on, poor kid! The two smiling kids eating their afternoon snack is a picture from today. They have a hard time pulling out of their afternoon nap and I find giving them something to eat brightens up their moods. As you can see I was getting great big smiles! We have started this week to eliminate the morning nap as the afternoon nap was getting later and later.

This past weekend we were out in Rochester for my brother Tim's wedding. We took the boys (all dressed up....picture coming!) to the wedding but then they stayed with their grandparents while Matt and I went to the evening reception. From the sounds of things, it went very well. Nathan was excessively tired and broke into gales of tears during the evening but he was easily comforted by grandma or grandpa. Apparently both boys enjoyed Grandpa's fresca & orange juice! The boys are definitely getting memories of their grandparent's house. It took them about 2 seconds to remember the phone that gets religated to the top of the couch in the living room when they appear. They also went right to the phone in Grandpa's computer area.

Thomas has a canine tooth coming in and we are still waiting on molars for Nathan. Nothing else new! We are enjoying cool weather. I can't believe Nathan still fits into some 9 months winter clothes! They are 17 months but he is a couple inches shorter than Thomas.

The boys attended their first parade today, clowns, horses, big bands and fire salutes! We had one short crying episode early on, but from then on they were enthralled. It was very long (like more than 2 hours) and the boys were very good to sit and watch.

Matt just set up the basketball hoop which seems to be a big hit with both boys. I didn't realize that I put my hands in the air when I ask "where is the ball" at least until Nathan started doing it. Even several days later, when he doesn't know, up goes his hands (check out the picture).

I had to get a picture of Thomas sleeping with his hand curled around his little teddy bear. How he loves that blanket.

I thought Thomas looked cute up on the exercise bike. His latest feat is to climb the changing table and hop into Nathan's bed. I have found him there several times, happy as a clam, sucking on Nathan's pacifier and holding Nathan's teddy blanket.

Nathan is really taking off with trying to say words. We are working on naming and pointing to body parts. So far we have, head, ears, nose, belly and foot. Thomas seems to know but isn't so quick to play the game. I'll be asking Thomas and can see Nathan out of the corner of my eye pointing to everything. We are also having fun sending the boys on little errands in another room, like "go find some socks" or "go give the ball to Daddy".

Grandparents Visiting

Matt's parents came for a weekend visit mid-August. On Saturday, we all went to JCPenny's and had our portraits taken. Our first to include grandparents. It seems like the boys did better having their pictures taken then at their birthday time maybe because they were older or because the photoghapher was better. She was very fast and did super getting the boys to giggle. While we were at the mall, the boys rode the merry-go-round for the first time. Both rode on horses. Thomas did fine but towards the end Nathan decided it wasn't that great. I'm not sure why he changed his mind but Matt just picked him up and held him. Thomas was ready to go on again! As we tried to leave he kept pulling to go back.

We just bought a second kid-seat that straps to a chair so that the boys can both sit at the table. We were having problems with the seat that clips onto the table because the straps weren't tight enough to keep whoever was in it from standing up. So the entire meal, was becoming a struggle and not good for conversation. The seats the boys are in now strap them down so that they have to sit. We are just starting with plates and silverware! They seem to get the concept of leaving the plate on the table now.

Laundry!

We do what we have to to make folding laundry fun! So if we can wear it on our heads, we do!

Nathan thought it was cool to wear his friend, Isabelle's pink hat yesterday. As you can see along the side of his face are some red bumps. He is getting these all over, his head, his neck, his arms, his fingers. I thought they were bug bites, but I never see him getting bit. I checked all around his bed and washed all his linens. He doesn't seem to have any other symptoms, he eats well, sleeps well and plays well. I have been putting hydrocortizone on it the last 2 days to see if it will clear up.

This morning Thomas was running around with a small hymn book and sitting down to sing to it.

Nathan has taken a real interest lately in the stacking cups. He spends several minutes figuring out what order they go in. Hard to know which one will be the engineer! Maybe both.

all for now,

Earphones!

One new tidbit....they have both on their own figured out how to blow their noses. It is very cute to see.

I did look out the kitchen window the other day to see the boys in a full body hug! I think they really were hugging to start off with but it didn't take long to turn into a wrestling match. Thomas who weighs a few more pounds usually ends up on top with Nathan hollering at the top of his lungs on the bottom.

My sister Laura and her husband Brian came over for the weekend to see all of us. Such wonderful weather and we all enjoyed one another. The men did go shooting Saturday morning but did not take the kids.

love,