We're waiting.

I had been talking to Roland before bed at night about Christmas and Santa Claus and suggested that we write a letter this year so that Santa could have a hard copy and to detail every toy that has been advertised on Cartoon Network in the past month. So in the subsequent evenings, we came up with a list. Not to my surprise, the list was hot wheels, transformers, and power rangers (plus a "nice" coat per Mom's suggestion, and a couple of other odds and ends) because Roland could no longer remember any of the toys he said he wanted from the commercials. When Roland woke up the next morning, we went over the list again and I could tell he was a little exasperated that I needed to hear it again. Then he says, "Can you write all that Mom?" I said I was pretty sure I could and he seemed pleased.
So this year, we visited Santa with our typed festive stationary lists in hand and we are hoping for good results.

Now Duncan was another story. Obviously, he couldn't compile his on list, so I helped him a little in that department. As much as I wanted to just list Pampers, I didn't. Duncan only made it to the edge of Santa's "kingdom" before he started crying. And he didn't stop crying when Roland sat with him and he didn't stop when Santa gave him the first stuffed animal, or the second, or when Dad held him and squatted by Santa's knee. He did stop crying immediately after leaving the "kingdom." Roland's 2yr picture is the same way, as is mine. Oh well. Better luck next year. The picture actually looks much better than the reality. There was no chance of prying the reindeer away.

I hope all of you are ready for Santa. I can sure tell you that this Santa is not ready. Have to run and get the lip gloss (now nose gloss) away from Duncan.
Merry Christmas!

Pilgrams and Indians and All That Stuff

Much to my dismay, Duncan had his first day of school. They say it is worse on the parent than the kid (don't get me wrong, it is horrible for me too), but I think Duncan would challenge that statement. He started school on 11/16/09, and did not stop crying until 12/10/09. Poor guy would bawl when you dropped him off and grab on like a spider monkey, and at the end of the day, he would burst into tears the instant he saw us. I think he thought we were going to leave him again and he wasn't taking any chances. He is gradually getting the hang of it, and has already came home singing the alphabet song. The other kids in the class seem to like him as they all say, "Hey Duncan" repeatedly when he arrives.

On the up side, Roland seems to do much better knowing that Duncan is at school with him rather than at home. He is no fan of school either. Poor guy says he doesn't like doing all that paperwork, which is pretty sad seeing as he isn't even in kindergarten yet.

The little men got to have Pow Wow at school before Thanksgiving. Roland (3rd Pow Wow) did a great job. He is really a good singer and we got the privilege of hearing him sing "You're a Grand Ole Flag" non-stop through the month of November. All that practice paid off and he had a great performance. I love this picture because he totally looks like he has two pilgram babes. No Puritanism for my guy.

Duncan (1st Pow Wow) didn't cry and didn't run for Shane and I like a lot of the little ones do, so I would say he did a fabulous job. He hadn't really been in school long enough to learn the songs, but I kept hearing him "clicking" (like the language) and I couldn't figure out why he was doing this. I thought maybe he had watched too much Discovery channel. During Pow Wow I realized one of the songs has this clicking in it so I guess he picked up at least a little bit.

One Little Indian

Although we have many things to be thankful for, especially two great boys and our friends and family, we are extremely thankful this year that Roland appears to be in good health. For those of you who didn't know, Roland had a colonoscopy on 12/11/09 in an effort to find out why he has had some intestinal bleeding. He had a polyp removed and we are thinking and hoping that this will cure him. Thanks to all of you who have been checking on him.
The tree is up (minus a few less ornaments than when we started), we have visited Santa (pics to come) and are waiting on the big day. See you all soon!

Happy Birthday Duncan Butters

It has been two wonderful years since we welcomed Duncan into our lives. And what a ham he has turned out to be. Duncan is the most non-stop (okay-maybe a close second to Roland), hard-headed, knows what he wants, lovingist little man around. I can't get over how mature he is sometimes. He already says and attempts everything Roland does. When I sleep with him, he has to put my head on his shoulder and when we play, if I say " Ouch," he immediately asks "Okay?" Just last week I told him he was a bad boy (a total positive parenting no no, but it is what it is) for dumping the safari track and the train track on the floor all at the same time. He just looked at me blankly, but when I came back in the room he had put every piece of the safari track back into it's box. I was impressed. If Duncan is the first of the two to awaken, he always gets in Roland's bed and rubs Roland's hair and tells me to "Wook Mama." We still have our ups and downs, but overall, we consider ourselves very lucky to have two sweet boys.
Happy Birthday Duncan!

He absolutely loves to sing Happy Birthday and we have already went through several lighters singing and letting him blow out the flame.

Our neighborhood friends.

Duncan enjoying this awesome gift. Oh yeah-paper.

Getting an escort from brother while jamming to the radio and having an ice cream. Good times.

The boys waiting on the neighbor boys to get done with their homework. Sadly, we never saw them again.

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes and gifts!

Halloween Knight

We had a fabulous Halloween, and hope all of you did too. Shane really worked hard to get the kids costumes ready (note that I have 3 kids) and they looked AWESOME! We still have enough candy to feed a small nation. I have to say that is one of the perks to the door-to-door TOT. There was also a super fun "thing" at Ruritan club with bouncies, hay rides, games, cake-walk, the works. We provided a lot of entertainment for the older ladies working the games. I think we must of set a record for number of putts to sink a golf ball.

Sir Roland. The knight costumes were his idea. Well, it could have been anything that carried a weapon, but this is one of his choices that we could actually make. The boy knows what he wants...he had to be green.

Little Duncan was hilarious saying "Happy Halloween"...or his version of it. That will definitely get you some candy. He did a really good job staying in his costume.

The other Christie. As an added bonus, I got to visit with my old friend on Halloween. Christie and I worked together in the lab and were partners in crime. I haven't visited with her since 2004? (a long time).

Roland had a great time playing with Dorothy. She is 4, and is gorgeous. I don't think he noticed that last part though. They both have crazy energy and were a good match for wearing each other out. Glad you guys could make it!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

Once upon a time...

in a land far far away, Daddy was born (9/25/1969).

Shane on the left circa 1973. He still has the same look.

Shane's last hours as a 39 year old. Still smiling. We are all fortunate to have such a great dad and husband. We celebrated at home a day earlier because we took a little trip to the beach with Grammy and Pawpaw on Shane's real birthday.

We also met the grandparents earlier in the week to celebrate Pawpaw's 58th b-day.

My good looking guys.

Summertime-and the living is easy

Okay, summer has come and gone and once again, I realize it has been FOREVER since I have posted.
The boys are changing so much. Duncan is talking a mile a minute, which might be normal for some, but is (was anyway) the polar opposite of Roland. So for us, this is all new. He says "horsey"-"dog"-"cat"-"pawpaw"-and the more bossy ""go"-"help"-"watch me"-and "turn." And tons more. He is a real sweety giving lots of hugs and kisses. He loves to wear my sunglasses and walk around the house with the cell phone to his ear. He looks like a teenager.
"Where go?"Duncan is here watching me type saying, "Train. Train."

Roland has become quite the ingenious little man. I caught him stacking all of his books up to get to the top shelf of the closet (where Shane had put something that Roland had gotten taken away). In the mornings, he stacks his Rubbermaid boxes of toys by the bed so Duncan can get down by himself. The other day I kept hearing strange noises and finally went to investigate only to find that Roland had opened the lock on our attic door with a stick and Duncan was in the attic, alone. I asked him why he would do something like that, and he said "Duncan wanted to go up there." That's my boy, always looking out for his brother. Roland has really been learning a lot in school, also. He goes through the alphabet and says, "Big A, little a. A says a-a-a as in apple." (multiply this by 26). He can also write his name and is a an awesome color-in-the-liner. He still hates school (except for music class, of which we hear no complaints, but lots of serenades) but at least he is getting something out of it. For the record, Roland has totally made up for lack of talking in the earlier years.

Here are the boys waiting to ride the train with Dad at the museum.

Against my better judgment, we took a 1800 mile, 5-day road-trip to Little Rock Arkansas to celebrate Aunt Barbara's 70th birthday. The boys did surprisingly well. I was impressed. We got to see a lot of aunts, cousins and family (and there are a lot-Shane's mom is one of nine kids), and of course MamMaw, PapPaw, and Aunt Trish. We had a blast. Oh-and there was cake. Good cake.

The birthday girl.

Duncan trying to break free from Aunt Trish.

Uncle J.B. and Duncan (pouting). Uncle J.B. loves him some little people.

Relaxing with Aunt Judy.

The gang enjoying the celebration.

Pitstop at MawMaw's house on our way back.

We also had an earlier trip to MawMaw's to celebrate her (56) and PawPaw (62). We got to spend some time with all the family and ride the 4-wheelers. Good times! Oh-and there was cake. Good cake.

Customary Dollywood trip. What a Hoot!

Duncan is a sucker for Jesse, too.

Look at all that cheese.

How cute.

And..as always, my favorites.