What's wrong with this picure?

As a note, Adam (and that's his Alex in his lap...Alex is his special buddy) is asleep here

Uses of Kitchen Tools

Mixing up dinner

Using them as a drum...not as loud as mine so I'm happy!

Our Weather

This was last week...seems like spring....
Now winter's back...

Boys

I got the boys some new kitchen toys - they didn't have dishes!
Adam was avoiding sleep and he's allowed to stay up at naptime now, but has to be in bed...so he was transferring his toy horde to his bed!

Bridge con't....

So I finally got the information I needed from my insurance and hopefully my dentist office will call me back tomorrow, happy with it, and we can FINALLY schedule an appointment and then I might finally be done....but I thought that once before....so not optimistic!

Update on Boys

We were at the doctor's for well check ups.

Adam is now 30 lbs and 37 inches. Andrew is 23 lbs, 11 oz and 28 1/2 inches. Adam, for comparsion, at 9 months was 20 lbs, 9 oz and 29 3/4 inches.

As you can tell, Adam is our beanpole, Andrew our tank! The doctor wants us to go back to whole milk for Adam!

The Boys

Adam got himself wet in the melting snow!
Andrew making a mess!

Andrew can also stand on his own!

Lovely Weather!

I know we have more cold weather coming, but we've had a really warm last two days. It was in the 50s today! Everything is mostly melting (lots of water, so everything is soaked), but actually very slippery. I've had the boys outside both days and we've been on walks both days, making it to Giant Eagle tonight as the ice had melted enough to make it possible. I'm enjoying the break while we get it! I even decided to stop and buy steaks for tonight so we could grill (Adam got a hot dog!). Adam is enjoying it immensely, even though it isn't clear enough to go to the park. Andrew can't really enjoy it as he can't get down as he's crawling and its way too wet (and too cold on the ground). Andrew did enjoy the time in his boucer outside, laughing at Adam, as I unloaded groceries. Adam was soaked, though, and had to be completely changed when we got inside.

Adam today went to the grocery store playroom (it is staffed by a worker, very professional, free to shoppers, really well set up) and had a blast! I wasn't sure how he'd do without me for an extended time, but I don't think he even noticed I was gone! I think he liked that Andrew was too little to go (you have to be 3) and enjoyed all the new stuff to see and do. We'll definitely try again next week! I enjoyed grocery shopping with just one kid in tow!

Andrew's New Noise

This is Andrew's new favorite noise!

Outside Fun

It warmed up a lot here so we were out enjoying it. It was VERY slippery though and you can see Adam ended up almost crawling! He feel a few times! After that, he was very careful! He also got out his hose nozzle and was pretending to use it - I think he wants spring!

Getting on track

We've had a busy few weeks and it has been hard to stay caught up. I think I've done okay on work, but other things not so good. We've been having major sleep/napping issues. We changed how Adam naps (quiet time where if he falls asleep, great, if not, that's okay, too), which has helped, but Andrew has been very argumentative. I think some of it is wanting to be held, which we have done more with him so as not to let him distrub Adam. So we are working on it. Its also a matter of whether it is teething or just general crankiness.

Ray has been very busy with work and so that falls over to the rest of us as well. His big thing (the FIRC) is finally over (last weekend!) and now he just needs to get caught back up (sounds so simple...).

The kids and I went out of town last weekend to give Ray more time, but that means we came back Monday with exhausted kids. We spent yesterday and today (I made the decision last night to skip Story Hour today and I think it was a good one) at home to give them time to catch up as well as for me to catch up. I think I'm finally caught up on work and got the housework under control this morning. Now if I can just get some laundry done and the paperwork caught up....

Ray and I have a baby-sitter set up for Saturday and are planning on going out to dinner - hopefully that will go well! We have really warm weather here, but it is very slick out. Adam fell a LOT yesterday when we were outside!

Well, off to feed Andrew who is up (but he did nap, yah!)....he also did a messy...third time today...I swear that kid can poop his body weight...and what a mess....seriously, where does it all come from? I wonder at times....

Aunt Maureen

Adam got some birthday presents - including that cute chef's hat - in the mail from Aunt Maureen. You can see him trying to open and play his new game - he has some work on understanding it, which is god!

Andrew and Great-Gramma

We stopped by to see Gramma Weber on our way home on Monday.

Changing a Light Bulb

Helping PaPa change a lightbulb in the garage!

Finding Studs!

Adam found PaPa's stud finder and was enjoying himself!

Adam helping PaPa make dinner!

Lincoln Logs

Adam got Lincoln Logs for his birthday!

John Deere Fun

Adam enjoying the John Deere with PaPa!

Birthday Cake

Adam got this new birthday cake decorating set (good sale at Borders!). It comes with "toppings" and candles to put on it. Adam is quite enthralled! He was even trying to blow out the candles!

Andrew at PaPa's

I got into the tupperware!
Oh, yummy, a tape measure!

Checking out brother's Harley

Hmm...fire truck! This is his current fav!

On Adam's Harley!

Andrew also checked out the keyboard!

What a mess!

The boys and I are in Michigan for the weekend. You can see the boys have already been at work! PaPa's house is "Adamized" and "Andrewized." At almost 9 months, Andrew is definitely responsible for half now!

Ray is teaching a FIRC (flight instructor refresher course) all weekend and it is so stressful/hard on him, I decided it was best just to clear out and give him time at home to be able to really rest.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy anniversary to my grandparents - 59 years and counting!

Italian Sausage and Peppers

This was dinner a few nights ago - very easy and the sausage was fabulous! The sauce was only okay - it is just canned sauce with some wine in it...not too impressive, so we think this will better as sandwiches than a pasta sauce next time. But we LOVED the sausage, even Ray who doesn't usually like the sweet Italian I love whereas I don't like the breakfast sausage he's ga-ga over. Adam just likes sausage.:)

Italian Sausage and Peppers
Modified from The Slow Cooker Bible

3 cups bell pepper chunks (mix of red, yellow and green...I used some I froze when they were in season), diced
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb sweet Italian sausage links [I used Johnsonville sweet Italian with Basil]
2 cups marinara sauce (they only used 1)
1/4 cup red wine (or port...if I don't have this on hand, I plan to use beef stock)
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp water (they only used 1)
Grated Parmesan cheese
Hoagie Rolls (they served over spaghetti....we think it will be better as sandwiches)

Coat slow cooker with cooking spray. Place peppers, onion and garlic in botom. Arrange sausage over veggies. Combine sauce and wine and pour over everything. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 4-5 hours. Make sure sausage is no longer pink and veggies are tender. Transfer sausage to a platter and keep war. Skim fat. Turn heat to high. Mix cornstarch and water and stir until crock pot. Cook 15 minutes or until thickened. We think this would be good on a hoagie roll, topped with cheese. They served it with spaghetti, which we did, but the sauce is rather bland. The sausage is the AWESOME though. Makes 4-5 servings (we used Johnsonville sausage so 5 links, one per sandwich/person/serving and they have 5

Whitey's Closes

This is so sad! We used to love to go to Whitey's! The place had been there since the 20's!

My Drummers

So Adam got out a pot and made a drum....Andrew, of course, had to try to emulate! When he wasn't cheering brother on! Note that Andrew is using the same pot as Adam...I gave Andrew his own...so not good enough! He had to try to steal brother's! As a note, Adam stole it right back....

Andrew made it!

Andrew made it up the stairs (well, two before I pulled him off...his concept of BALANCE isn't so good).

Making Pie

I love the Melissa and Doug baking sets. They are a little pricey, but they are worth it. They are awesome and VERY well made. They stand up to Adam!:) This is our newest one - an apple pie set. Adam loves it! He hasn't quite got it all yet, but that is good - makes him work for it! The crust is his "hard" part!

• Cutting the apples
• Putting on the crust
• Serving the pie

Adam loves to cook with me, so anything baking related is tops to him!

Making Spaghetti

Adam helping me make Grammy Pat's spaghetti! I cut the onions, by the way...he was just adding them for me! He also added my peppers.:)

Kitchen Crew

Adam and Andrew helping me make chai tea!

Adam's Messes

Adam is a pretty neat kid and will actually MAKE a mess so he can help clean it up! He tells me "mess" all the time. Sometimes, though, the three year old comes out and we get a BIG one.

Toy Homocide! This followed puzzle homocide a few days earlier...for some reason Adam decided to take EVERYTHING off the shelves...

Last night, Adam pulled everything out of the living room and put it in a big pile in the middle...not sure why, just because. You can see this even includes the couch cushions! You can see him here, putting in the shoes!

Earlier that day, he "made" soup then proceeded to take all the ingredients out and place them around the room...very specifically, too. Like one here on the shelf, one in this door, etc.

Productive...somewhat

We were actually surprisingly productive last week and on Sunday, Ray gave me time and I managed to finish some projects that were "close." I even got the kitchen and Adam's room mopped! (yes, there is lineloem in Adam's room...don't ask why...I have no clue!) Most eveything, though was done "with" the boys, which while fun, is much slower.

Andrew just needs to SLEEP. He absolutely needs naps and has had the WORST time staying asleep we don't get any time to get things done without him and he's also very crabby when up! That also means I'm not getting the "prep" work I was hoping to do done for work. I was doing so good, too.....Housework doing good, other stuff not so hot...and I'm back to the grind as I'm supposed to be grading....had a meeting tonight, hence behind, then Andrew got back up....agh!

Andrew

Andrew made it up the step! He's also having MAJOR napping issues. I think its his teeth, but seriously that kid NEEDS more sleep! The only way to ensure sleep is hold him or drive him...cam't do that ALL the time.

Reading My Books

Adam needs a nap, but doesn't want one, so we've compromised with "quiet time." If he falls asleep, all the better, but he has to stay up in his room and do "quiet" activity, like reading his books, for an hour to two hours (depending on various factors). I think come summer, he'll sleep more as he's more active...its hard to run like crazy in a snowsuit!

Ice Days!

We got two days off this week due to ice! We've had quite the ice storm (definitely better than other places!) and are now getting some snow. Anyway, today and yesterday, Kent was closed. That meant Ray got to stay home! Yesterday morning it actually wasn't too bad (the interstates were the issue and since Kent has a lot of commuters, that's a problem), so we went out and got Adam a haircut and did some errands. We headed home when it started to get bad. We pretty much stayed home all day today and I even made cookies.:) Ray and I both got some work caught up and some extra sleep. Andrew had been having issues sleeping (a cold and teething), so sleep was definitely helpful! Definitely a nice treat!

Haircut

Adam got a haircut today. Although Kent cancelled classes today, this morning wasn't bad and so we went out. When it started getting bad, we came home. The freeways (which we didn't go near) sounded VERY bad.

After Adam's haircut, Ray got one, so we were killing time and I put Andrew in the tractor chair that Adam got his hair cut in and Adam was spinning him around!