Quick Conversations with Two-Year-Olds

So, before I get into the hilarious antics of my two terrible toddlers, I'm going to broach an issue that I've been meaning to discuss for a while: New Years Resolutions. Now, I've never really given much thought to them in general, usually coming up with a slew of random resolutions on New Year's itself. But this year I thought about several and actually wrote them down on a piece of paper. One that I would see before next new years. I wrote down about, oh, twelve resolutions. Ya, it's a lot, but I had a lot of things that needed resolution. Now, I know it's not even February yet, but I am actually living up to about half of these! I'm so completely amazed with myself. Now, here comes the part where this applies to this blog. None of these resolutions have anything to do with this blog. I didn't make any blog related resolutions, so in my attempts to fulfill the other things on my list I've let this go. I'm going to try and do better, but I don't want to loose my momentum, so expect to see random entries about exercising, craftiness, cooking, and, well, it's a pretty long list. So, just expect some randomness. Alright? Now, moving on.

Here are the latest conversations that I've documented for posterity from the boys:

(while looking at a picture of a white coach on the computer)

Sam: (in a kinda spooky voice) It's a ghost...

Me: What? What's a ghost?

Sam: It's a ghost. Right there. (He then points to the white couch)

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One morning Ben has woken up and is playing in our bed. We hear Sam starting to wake up and cry a little in the other room.

Me: Benny, go tell Sam that Mommy is in here.

Ben: Okay! (runs out in that endearing two-year-old manner)

(in the other room)

Ben: Sammy, Mommy in there!

Sam: I want Batman!

Ben: What? Oh, here he is.

Sam: Thanks.
(It's good to know that I am so, so needed)

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During evening cleanup of the boy's room after I put away a tractor toy.
Sam: You put my best friend away!
Ben: Mommy you put the tractor away! It's Sam's best friend!

(This is one of Sam's favorite phrases by the way, best friend. He has a lot of best friends these days.)
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Ben comes into our room whilst I'm on the computer, asking me to put a "fishing pole" in the playmobil guy's hand (it is actually part of the pirate ship). Sam screams in the other room.
Me: Why is your brother screaming?
Ben: Because he's screaming. (he begins to walk off with the guy) Ha ha, fishing pole.

Rains and Trains

So, now that California's yearly "false spring" is over, maybe I'll finally settle down to blogging. What? You've never heard of such craziness? Well, in my experience with Nor Cal, (granted, not much) you get about one week of absolutely gorgeous weather at this time of year. Sunny and beautiful. Before that it rains. And after you've begun to think that maybe it will just stay sunny forever, it rains again. And rains, and rains, and rains. And we stay inside perusing seed catalogs and watching He-man cartoons. Add some hot chocolate and popcorn. Life is good.

Anyway, I've been meaning to put up these photos from our Christmas in Phoenix, when we went to the train park. And now, finally, here they are.

Ben, looking at a room full of miniature trains. He thought they were pretty cool. (Please note the cape. We don't like to leave home without the cape, if at all possible.)

Aunt Stephanie and Ben with the miniature trains.

Sam and Zach with the same miniature trains. Sam thought these were awesome and choo-chooed all night.

Katie, Sam, Zach and Ben on our train ride.

The Whole Family! (Except Steph)
Hannah, Emma, Scott/Grandpa, Shauna/Grandma, Katie, Sam, Zach and Ben.
Doesn't Ben look so happy? He was so psyched for that train ride!

Emma, Hannah, Scott/Dad, and Stephanie

And after the train, which the boys thought was one of the coolest things ever, we rode a carousel.
Ben was especially pumped for this.

Sam, not so much. I'm glad I got this picture, because after we started moving I ended up holding him.

So, there you go. The train park. Good times were had by all. Thanks again, Phoenix Fam!

1 week down

My Dad is over fifty and running a marathon this year. This inspired me to get into better shape as well, and I dragged Katie along. So we started the 8 week adventure from Runner's World. And we completed the first week! Katie didn't want me to post this, but I think it an accomplishment. While we run at night now, hopefully by the end of the program we will chance a daylight outing.

The Ghost of Christmas Past

In answer to the question bleating out from the world at large: yes, we are alive. No, we have not dropped off the face of the earth. Yes, we are home. Yes, we are safe. Thanks for asking.

Now, I know that this is a bit after the fact, but here is our Christmas story in pictures. I think, in spite of the lateness of the whole thing, you'll still enjoy it.

Ben, trying on the stockings on Christmas Eve

Sam, clomping around in some stockings. We tried to stop them, but they both reminded us that, well, they were stockings. Wasn't this the whole point?

Mommy and Santa Sam

The boys were so into Santa this year. Intensely so. They wore these hats all over the place saying, "Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!" and absolutely loving life. They still love him. And they keep telling me that Santa is going to bring me presents. Looks like we missed the boat on the true meaning of Christmas. Better uck next year.

Benjamin Santa

Ben, helping me put cookies out for Santa. (p.s. I don't remember what those little glisteny tears were for, but they were very excited to be putting cookies out for Santa)

Shauna/Grandma had the idea to leave some carrots out for Rudolph and the other reindeer. It went very well. Until....

Rudolph? What? He's getting a little pudgy in the haunches anyway. He doesn't need no stinkin' carrots!

With the exception of letting the polar bear have a few nibbles the boys ate those carrots down to their stubs. I wish I had washed them first.

Santa Sam and carrot.

Oh Christmas Tree! Oh Christmas Tree!

Our Fam coming down on Christmas morning. Dark and early. The boys didn't want to wake up quite as early as Zach's sisters and were resisting. Then we mentioned Santa. Did I mention that we really didn't drive home the true meaning of Christmas home very well this year?

The boys playing with one of their gifts: a train set. Awesomeness ensued.

This is the chocolate rocking horse that Sam pinched from Emma's stocking. And then ate. And ate. And ate. Those boys were wired. Sorry again, Emma. But Zach says it's just payback.

I'd also like to profusely thank Scott and Shauna for feeding and housing us over Christmas. It was so much fun, the boys are asking to go back. They've named their stuffed dogs Harry and Teddy. And I am so, so sorry about everything they broke. Especially the stuff we don't know about yet. So sorry.

Merry
(late) Christmas!

P.S. Why do the British now say "Happy Christmas" and we say "Merry Christmas." They used to say it (see A Christmas Carol). And we don't put merry in front of any other holiday. Why? Can anyone explain this to me?