so much fun

fun bonanza: a week in photos

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

I should probably break this up into at least six separate posts, but eh.  My blog. My rules.

First things first, the boys got haircuts last Tuesday.  It was sort of spur of the moment.  I didn’t realize when I said “use the clippers” that Dexter would be BALD 2 minutes later. Whoops.  I had her use the scissors on the top of Theo’s head.  My boys look so different.

Moving right along.  Friday I took dinner to a friend who had a new baby boy 2 weeks earlier.  Maybe it was partly an excuse to get over there and snuggle up with a cute, squishy newborn.  Maybe it was an excuse to get my boys together with her big boy, who is 7 months younger than Theo and 7 months older than Dexter.  Neato.  ðŸ™‚ 
The boys loved little Parker and had fun playing on Paxton’s cool bunk bed.  We had to get home to clean up the house before my mom rolled into town and were surprised by sweet friends who stopped by with some gifts and pizza for Theo’s belated birthday. Dexter was kind enough to help Theo open his presents.
Somehow I managed to forget all about bringing my camera along with us on Saturday but posted a couple of pictures of the fun things we did on Instagram.  

 We went to the zoo.  I took this picture while Dexter and I were waiting for my mom, Theo, and Ryan to finish looking at icky snakes.  Honestly, it’s so hot in the desert building that I was about to start sweating.  We were fine catching some fresh air and chit chatting about life.  See?  That’s Dexter’s serious face.

After the zoo, we visited Jersey’s Cafe, which Ryan and I had seen featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives 2 years ago or so.   The food was amazing!  I had the Little Egg Harbor Crab Cake sandwich.  Wow.  Just wow.

We stopped by Ashley Home Furniture on the way home to see a bed in person that a friend of mine is selling.  Turns out, we love the bed and are getting it this weekend.  Like it?

Then we went home and talked about how full we still were from our late lunch, played with some cute little boys, and went to bed.  Sunday we revisited one of our favorite places to take the boys in Columbus, Indiana.  I love looking back at the previous times we’ve been there to see how much these bubs have grown!
The first time we went, Dexter was 2 months old and Theo was 16 months old.  
The second time we went, Dexter was 9 months old and Theo was 23 months old.  

This time, Theo was way to old to count his age in months (36) and Dexter was 22 months old.

It never ceases to amaze me how fast time flies. It’s even more painfully obvious when you have young children. I love these two places I’m about to blog about for the THIRD time, but even more I love looking at how much the boys have changed.

We visited the Commons, an amazing and unique indoor playground perfect for cold or rainy days, and an old fashioned soda fountain, Zaharako’s, perfect for ruining any diet.  (P.S. Did you notice my naughty eating habits…Friday pizza & Saturday giant sandwich.  Oh, and a sundae on Sunday.  That splurge meal turned into a splurge weekend…gotta live a little, right?)

This kid was a little tentative about climbing by himself.
Watching his big brother, not too sure what to think.  Nervous face.
Ryan and I both ended up climbing to the top a couple of times.  So much fun (and not a bad workout).
Up the slide…
And down the slide.
 (Ha – I just noticed Ryan & Theo on the big slide in the background!)
my monster.
A step back in time just across the street.
Restored to it’s original glory.  Ridiculously beautiful and equally delicious!
Mom headed back to Tennessee after lunch and we visited Ryan’s parents afterwards since Theo’s been begging to go there for the last week or so.  Monday was uneventful.  That brings us to tonight. 
Oh, you know how it is on a Tuesday night.  Guys’ cards night and everything. Gets a little out of control!
xo,
~C~

Theo’s third birthday celebration

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

Can’t believe this was a year ago.  Can’t believe this was two years ago.  Yikes.

Friday morning we started our day with a quick breakfast at McDonald’s.  We’d planned on going to more of a sit-down breakfast place but as usual, it took us longer to get out of the house than we’d hoped.  The boys didn’t mind.

Afterwards, we drove to the Newport Aquarium.  The reason we were hoping to get an earlier start was because we knew the boys would fizzle out after/around lunchtime.  We still got there around 10:40.

One of Theo’s favorite things was this big demonstration tank and the scuba divers.
Dexy liked the alligators and crocs.
He doesn’t really measure up to Mighty Mike.
I can’t help it.  He’s such a dreamboat.
And little Mr. Handsome himself.
Waiting for the lorikeets to get interested in our nectar (they never did).
Theo showing off his little box of tiny critters/souvenirs from the aquarium.
I missed my mid-morning snack and by 1pm when we left the aquarium, I was ready to eat one of my children, poor dears.  Luckily there was the MOST AMAZING THING IN THE WORLD right there by the aquarium called a soup and grilled cheese restaurant.  What I don’t understand is if someone built a restaurant JUST for me, why am I just now finding out about it?  I give you Tom + Chee.  
Playing with new critters while waiting for our cheese. Yum. Cheese.
Heaven in a plastic basket.
Oh, ya know. Just drinking milk out of the carton like I’m in school.
Goofing off at B&N.
I found it really surprising that by this point in the day, Theo still had not mentioned anything about opening presents.  We had decided the night before that we would let him open as many of the ones that we got him and the ones that had been shipped to us from my mom and a friend when he woke up, if he asked.  We didn’t want to make him wait.  Since we ended up being in a hurry, we were relieved.  Finally, around 4pm, after we got to Ryan’s sister’s house in Cincinnati, he asked to open some gifts.  
After we went out to dinner, we came back for cupcakes, more presents, and more Toy Story madness. To say that the boy is obsessed would be an understatement!  
YUMMO.
Singing to my boy.
Make a wish!
Dexter was every bit as excited as Theo was.
His wish came true.  Emperor ZURG!
All in all, it was a long, exciting, happy day.  I think Theo got everything he had hoped for and has been playing with his new pals ever since.  We spent the rest of the weekend soaking up family time and playing outside on Sunday in the beautiful weather.  It’s hard to believe my baby boy is already three years old.  I know time’s not going to slow down any time soon.  Boo to that, but cheers to the next year and Dexter’s 2nd birthday coming up in two months.  
xo,
C
~C~

v-day with my boys

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

Last year, I had big plans for how Valentine’s Day would go and I remember that I was disappointed. (Oh, I just have to laugh looking back at that post.  And Dex was sooo tiny!) This year I had no expectations, procrastinated until the day before to buy the boys anything, and the day came and went just about like any other.  With a couple of exceptions — 1.  Ryan’s parents dropped by with bakery cupcakes for the boys.  2.  I did get them each a book and a store-bought, heart-shaped crispy rice treat.  Fancy, aren’t I?

The crispy rice treats waited until Friday to be eaten, because those cupcakes deserved top billing for sure.  I’m not saying that I took a bite of Theo’s and/or Dexter’s.  I’m just saying I bet they were good. Pics!

They polished those puppies off in record time and were not interested in the books I got them at all.  Even though they both about made me cry when I read them to myself at Kohl’s the day before. 
For Dexter:
For Theo:
Oh, right. Valentine’s is supposed to be for us grown ups, too, right?  But doesn’t everything kind of become about the kiddos once you have them?  We did get out for a nice dinner on Friday night by participating in a kid-swap with a couple of friends.  They watched our boys Friday night and we watched their boy Saturday night. I have to say that I enjoyed Saturday as much as Friday. It was just fun to have a friend over and watch the boys interact with their buddy. Must. Do. This. More often!
Hope your Valentine’s Day was better than the average day. 
xo,
~C~