Demolition Crew

No wonder our boys think that every day with Daddy is an adventure! Today they woke up (as you can see they are still in pajamas), were handed REAL hammers and told to knock down a wall in our playroom! John (as he often does) decided that our playroom needed updating, so without notice he and the boys jumped in! After a long day of demolition, the boys were both in bed by 7:00 pm—that's early for my night owls!  I wish I could find a wall for them to knock down every day! More pictures to come after the renovations are complete, but with a top-notch crew like this on the scene, I'm assured the highest quality workmanship!

Passionate About Purple!

It's no secret that Wil's favorite color is purple! From lollipops to crayons, purple is always his first choice.  He's simply passionate about purple!  Right before Christmas he decided that he needed purple underwear.  Knowing that Mema will go to the ends of the earth for him, he submitted his request to her.  It came as no surprise that boys underwear was not readily available in purple, but not wanting to disappoint Wil, she purchased white underwear and a box of dye and went to work.  The result was a one-of-a-kind pair of perfectly purple underoos for my perfectly passionate one-of-a-kind boy! 

Letting Go...

Isn't is it funny how as parents we can't wait to be done with the sleepless nights, diapers, bottles and laundry associated with that tiring baby stage?  Until at last, we are.  And then, all at once we find ourselves nostalgic—wishing we didn't wish it all away.

Although Wil potty trained several months ago, I couldn't bring myself to throw out the single diaper pictured here. Removing it would mean closing the final chapter of Ty and Wil's babyhood, but with Ty's 5th birthday around the corner and Wil's 4th coming up in April, it was undeniably time to let go.  So, with much ado, I tossed the unused diaper into the trash today.  It's estimated that the average baby uses 6000 diapers in a lifetime, so  isn't it ironic that after 12,000 dirty diapers, this perfectly clean diaper was the hardest one to throw out?

With it all behind me now, I get teary-eyed thinking about folding warm-out-of-the dryer onsies; the refrigerator doors filled with fresh bottles of formula; the baby powder smell of the stacked diapers and the gratification of rocking my newborn babies back to their peaceful rest in the wee hours of the morning.  It was so much work, but I wouldn't have traded the experience for anything. 

I've heard it said that parenting is the hardest job you'll ever love.  Ain't that the truth.

The Pop-Shop!

After several barbershop visits ending in tears, Pop bought a pair of clippers and opened for business!  His only two clients are Ty and Wil, but they keep him plenty busy!  The boys still shed a few tears, mainly at the end when they are getting tired, but overall it's an event that everyone looks forward to.  Each haircut comes with a complimentary bath from Grandma and a homemade cookie!  The boys tip well with hugs and kisses and the all important high-five.  Pop probably won't get rich with his little side business, but I imagine it makes him feel like a million bucks being able to make childhood memories trimming these little noggins!

Happy New Year!

Ella, Jack, Ty and Wil celebrate the incoming new year in pajama style!