photo dump

museum of science trip.

 jack learning that we can not always retrieve thrown balls...

and the rochester fair.

spent way, way too long at the tractor pull.

 and saw our first demolition derby.

keep in mind it was 85 degrees out.

 sounds like heaven for matty, right?

nope.

 he was terrified we were too close to the cars and would get hurt. sometimes we can't win.

 so we have beer.

 in other news, i am thinking about a perm. any thoughts? :)



18 months.

they chase each other. and wrestle. tackle. pat. swat. tickle. one usually gets bit. (usually not jack). one morning vincent found their cribs pulled together. slightly alarming, more sweet. we have to have two of everything: balls, forks, straws, spoons, lipsticks in my purse. combs in the bath. they comb each other's hair.

 they feed each other off their forks. usually the vegetables.

around 12 or 14 months they started fighting over colors, like the blue drum stick. and no one wants green bottles anymore. so now we need two identical everythings. it's always monkey see, monkey do. (except when ben climbed into the tub fully dressed on wednesday.)

ben really, really dislikes getting his pants on. he wiggles and twists and cries. but put on jack's pants first, ben brings his to me and sits on my lap. take off one's shirt, the other comes running trying to tug his off. put on jack's "choo's" first and he chases ben with the other two. give one a couple of mum mums and he finds his twin to share.

 they are like little pals. and foes. there is some pushing and hair pulling. usually over the toys without a twin.

jack plays with cars. with matty, just like matty. ben likes to throw the cars. and animals and music. he will rock out to anything that resembles a tune. jack is currently a snuggle-bunny. and a biter. ben is a night-screamer. jack eats great. ben likes meats and sweets.

they both have lots of teeth, but jack still has more. ben weighs more. they are about the same height. jack knew more words, now it's ben. we call ben mr. bump. jack can climb anything. they wave, say hi, go crazy for dogs and fire trucks and train whistles. one loves apples, one doesn't. i don't keep such meticulous notes with these two. does it really matter? next week they will be off to school. then i can start making it all up for the baby books. which i plan to buy soon.

i could go on and on about how fascinating these guys are. but they are also very busy, so off we go.

school.

i forgot to take pictures on matt's first day because i have these two toddlers running in opposite directions and i had to learn the morning drop-off routine. (the new school is very strict.)

i did remember on the second day:

 and the third day:

 thankfully he felt better on the fourth day. but we did this:

thankfully they are all recovered. except dad who woke me up at 2:20am last night because he thought he had a fever and might throw up. what? did he want a towel? my poor 4th guy gets no sympathy. 
on a brighter note, we started this week fresh and matt seems to be having fun. we even had a classmate over today for lunch and cars and there were no tears!

it took three days.

yup. the curse of the indoor playground proved to be real. jack started puking sunday night and i am now on my 90th diarrhea diaper and matt missed his second and third days of school due to the illness. would be wrong to send him while he is puking his guts out, right?

thankfully we were able to enjoy the beautiful weekend before it struck.

ben cheering on the runners

 posing like a champ! go red sox! we really want to go to a game here, but thinking the little ones would not love it...

 the firemen outside fenway let matty climb all over their truck.

 ben found some dinosaur bones at the zoo.

 and these guys liked the camel.

he seemed to like them too.

 must be getting chilly in VA!

we are planning on living it up this weekend...apples, mums, pumpkins...but no indoor playground.

so long summer

it was 90 degrees out monday, and matty wanted to go to boston so we hit up one of our favorite summer spots.

 he showed ben the ropes and they danced and played for an hour.

 love us some brotherly love. (jack took an early on direct stream to the face and did not venture back in.)

 and summer ended in true new england fashion: the first two days of unofficial fall have been cool and rainy. like socks and long sleeves cool. it was not totally unwelcomed. (what can i say, it was a hot summer.)

so we hit up the indoor playground. yes, yes. the place that always makes us sick. we went armed with antibacterial wipes...

matty coming out of the weirdest looking structure ever.

 he did not seem to notice. even after the 49th time.

 don't we have this at home?

 love jack's hair. may never cut it. i even brushed it today.

ben loved this dog.

fun times. until the inevitable illness timed perfectly for the weekend!

sweet, sweet charlie

we love us some charlie lundy! this sweet baby sleeps, smiles and snuggles. that is it. if i didn't hear him cry very early this morning as i tiptoed past, i wouldn't believe he ever does.

 he spent a couple of hours on the beach...sun, sand, wind...just happy as can be.

he loves his mom and dad too

our big guy loved charlie. and the freezing cold, wild ocean waves.

of course we warmed him up with a go-kart ride...

 all three tuckered out uncle scott.

 and jack...well, he is a regular snuggler these days. he hopped out of dad's arms and into nicole's for a little nap!

 and he played so gentle with charlie....even sharing his new toys.

ben on the other hand...well, this is usual ben these days. note the crazy eyes.

 he really, really wanted to put his finger in charlie's mouth. it took all of us to make sure it did not happen. and he really, really did not like his mama enamored with such a sweet baby. lots of clinginess rewarded with lots of mama snuggles of course.

such weird, funny little boys.

 and sorry gigi...no-go on the grandaby snuggle shot. guess which two were not cooperative?

 maybe in a few years...for now, was very good times!