painting

so while one tired mama painted the living room, to match the new couch and chairs and rug and curtains, matty painted ornaments for his family. (it's in the mail gigi and ninny!)

 he was very meticulous, making me write names on the back so he wouldn't forget who he picked for each one, and carefully painting the first two. then it was a mad slop of paint and glitter for the rest.

 these guys painted some paper and their high chairs. and the floor and island and wall and even the oven!

 and each other's cheeks.

 three years and always the same. what are they teaching these kids??!!

 the little ding-dongs heading to the library.

 lots of tears and quite the effort from ben trying to reach the button for the three minutes until the doors were unlocked.

 inside i run around trying to keep books on shelves, toys out of mouths and a general sense of order in the kids room.

it is not always easy...

but no one got hurt.



just when we were getting in a groove

these nuts climb everywhere. i do not remember this with matty. this is ben about to pounce on non-toddler toys and jack eating body lotion. seriously, he unscrewed it and everything.

 sometimes i shower them all together. it's a quicker wash, but requires drying off the entire bathroom.

mostly we stick with baths. this was the introduction of toothbrushes for the little ones. later that evening, ben managed to climb into the bathroom sink, turn on the water and proceed to brush his teeth. he was wearing his footed PJs.  

 despite the rogue snowstorm, the weather has been fabulous. we meander home through parks and playgrounds from matty's school or playdate.

 i am super mom if i bring one of his new RC toys.

 if you were a giant golden retriever, would you think jack had a toy on his head?

 maybe he just found him irresistible.

 this one is going through an odd phase. lucky he is so stinking cute.

 matty's party was a blast. and the cake was divine.

 while the big kids did a whole lot of running and tumbling...

 the little guys raided the juice box stash. (mom, cutest shirts ever...the mammoths!!)

 and you know how i determine success: 

 ahhhhhh, slept all night too!

 and much of the next few days. thank you little colds.

boo.

target, old navy, babies AND toys r us, spirit halloween store, itsa party and finally carters. who knew shopper's world would sell out of halloween costumes. thankfully these guys can still swing a 6-9. all that driving and buckling and unbuckling and what do i get?

a mad cow:

yes, he fell behind the toilet.

really, really mad. too tight perhaps?

 thank you glow sticks.

 this guy caught on quick. and hammed it up big time.

  good dog.

 he could not tear his eyes from the tv. construction worker. 

 the second and third houses were soooo spooky that matty immediately turned toward home and would only stop at houses without decoration.

 and down in virginia was the cutest little stinker i ever saw.

 love you so much charlie!

happy happy

on saturday we endured lunch at TGIFridays and i told matty how my gram always told the server it was someone's birthday, even if it wasn't, so she could have the free piece of cake. (i've always wanted to do this to him.) well, when they started clapping and singing, i was crying with laughter. i will never forget the moment he realized they were coming for him. (i am still laughing out loud.)

 he was so excited to be 5 like his friends sam and owen from school.  

 the presents made him happy too.

it's his day and he wanted to take the new tool we use to grab cars from behind the radiator to a playground in boston to recover a car we lost. in summer of 2009. it fell into a hole. and he apparently still grieves the loss.

thankfully he decided on glow-in-the-dark mini golf at the mall.

 then we played in the snow. lots of snowballs from the 5 year old.

 someone got hit. and did not like it.

 we ended with a party of five.

 it has since been determined ben is sweet enough without sugar.

love my guy's birthday.