Picture Mania

So this time, Jake got sick right after Thanksgiving and Sam has followed him... AGAIN! However, Jake 'just' had a cold - still stinks to have a sick baby that you really can't give anything to except TLC. Not to mention he's cutting three 1-yr-molars too! Sam, on the other hand has had high fever and puking. I don't know if it's just his 'thing' that he pukes whenever he gets a fever or if it's just another stomach bug. Bless his little heart. He's so pitiful! And none of us have gotten that much sleep the last few nights. Geez... I am DONE with all this sickness business! He fell asleep on his 'sick pallet' - and Stormie is always 'sick' with whomever will sit still!

I have quite a few pictures/stories to share - so get ready!

Here are the "Popsicle Amigos" at work. A lot of nights, they have to share Popsicles with Dad!

We went to the farm a few weeks ago, and here's Sam enjoying his snack and Gatorade.

We took Jake's walker and he literally took off out there and hasn't turned back since. That weekend was really the turning point for his walking - he figured out how to 'maneuver' the walker around things (instead of running into a wall and turning to look at me and whine). When we got home, he started walking more and more, and within a couple of days, the walker was history (unless he just needed to go faster)!Jack helping... he has gotten so big!Sam and Jake in the woods. Jakes' pretty happy about it, huh? I think it was close to dinner time... and we didn't take a snack cup along for the ride - big mistake to EVER leave a snack cup behind!

Snack time at our house...Jake feeding Sam... (Sam not sharing his)Jake feeding Stormie!Jake took over as 'boss.'Then Sam snatched it away...And has maintained his title!Our big turkey - this is how he came home from school before Thanksgiving. See all the stains on his shirt? The teachers had his jacket zipped all the way to his neck!!!! It was grape jelly from his sandwich... so it was technically BJ's bad (he made the sandwich!!), but I thought it humorous that the teachers tried to 'hide it' until I got him home!!!!! Sam helped me make brownies for his Thanksgiving party at school...And loved every minute of it!This is the reality of life with kids... my OCD-self has had to learn to 'let it be.' At least until the kids go to bed!!!!! My....... how life has changed!!! Mommy put the boys to work... none of them miss the chance to do "man-work!" Can you see Sam's screwdriver???? Jake really just wanted to climb on the ladder!!!My boys!Is that fear on Jake's face???? I'm afraid it was!Sam had such a great time helping us decorate the Christmas tree! So did Jake.... yes, that is a plastic bag in his mouth! We were watching him the whole time... promise!!!Thanksgiving..... Bo slept in the same room as Sam - who got up way earlier than Bo usually does!Playtime with Jack!Jake was saying, "Wait up guys!!!!" The MimiThe Mimi and the Pop PopMe and my (littlest) baby Bo and his kidPlaytime... (yes, that is a pink bubble popper you see in the background - my grandmother was really hoping for a little girl!!!!!!)And we're down (he didn't hit his head, by the way!)And Jake is escaping up the stairs... AGAIN! This kid has stair radar!!!

Now... we're getting into the holiday spirit!

This was Sam's first 'homework assignment.' Looks just like a 2-yr-old did it, huh? Mama and I helped him (he colored it, obviously! We looked at it and said her face looks bruised, so when we finished it and mentioned it anytime thereafter, Sam says, "I bruised her face!" Ummm...my bad!) But all-in-all, I think Sam did a good job!?This is my most favorite decoration in our house (the tree is a close 2nd, though!)And, a little holiday cheer for all!!!!! Most moms wouldn't have even bought the picture, but... these are my kids, and this is my reality! Everyone else has their perfectly dressed kids with their perfect hair and perfect smile on their holiday cards (and are living in a dream world). Not me! This is my reality, and it makes me smile SO BIG every time I look at it - because they are MINE, and I think they're cute!!! (Not because they are in distress - I promise!)

Merry Christmas........ time to get into the holiday spirit - Here comes Santa Clause!!!!!