So Happy Together

The day has come when Jake FINALLY wants Marshall to play with him...at least until he gets tired of him. This morning I got some cute shots of them...

Jake let Marshall sit near him for a picture! I almost dropped the camera!

Hugs

Marshall escaped, but Jake "gently" escorted him back to his room.

Helping him up after a spill.

I left for a second and came back to this...not sure how Marshall ended up on his back, but no one was crying.

Today was one of those moments that I just really had to stop and smile about (while clicking away). Jake doesn't look at him with that look of annoyance anymore and Marshall still looks at Jake with that "I want to be you someday" look. It was bittersweet though, because I did feel a little lonely while watching them! They don't need me to entertain them anymore. I know that one day, I will be banned from their room. But for now, I am enjoying my front row seat to watching this relationship grow.

Christmas at the Ranch

Merry Christmas 2010!

Gaga picked up the boys and took them to the ranch early on Thursday the 23rd so that Tom and I could get a lot of errands and the big new house walk-thru done (took 6 hours...YES, I said 6 hours!) So, Tom and I drove there on Christmas Eve. Christmas is getting more and more magical with two little boys who "believe"! So fun!

Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve...I've waited 3 months to see them in these;)

We started a new tradition of putting out reindeer food. Cute idea from Hillander.

My favorite thing...the "Santa came!" face

Jake's favorite gift came from Linds..."THE BRIDGE THAT BLOWS UP!"

Boys and their toys...

The whole family

It's a Christmas Miracle! Me and the boys FINALLY get a picture together (so I'll post 4:)

Tired boys

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!

Onto the dreaded (but much anticipated) move...

Santa Hayride

We went on a Santa Hayride at Gigi's house for all the kids this past Sunday. It was so cute and the boys had the best time! Jake, once again, dodged Santa...even though he rode in on a cool fire truck! Marshall still managed to be in good spirits on the hayride, despite not having sugar cookies for dinner (like Jake) and an alcoholic beverage in one hand (like Mommy and Daddy).

Marshall and Daddy playing around

Marshall, Gigi and friends

Mommy, Marshall & Santa

Jake and Cousin Jackson on the hayride

Mommy, Marshall and friends

Not sure why Jake is covering his ears???

Fun night!

The Polar Express

We all went to Lubbock this past weekend to ride the Polar Express! It was just like the movie...down to the hot chocolate! We made one, no two, mistakes. One...we bought Jake the train souvenir BEFORE the train ride. Therefore, when we got onto the train he was so busy and happy playing with his train that he looked at me and said "Why are we on this thing?" I think he would have been happy driving back to Midland after we bought the train to be honest. Mistake number 2...we put Marshall in his Christmas pajamas to match Jake. I was all excited that they looked so cute like the little boy on the movie. However, after smelling an awful smell as we held Marshall on the train (after the 2 hr card ride), we noticed that we had neglected to wash the shirt from last week when he had the sickies and explosive diapers! EWWW! We thought we had washed it, but I guess we got the clean pile mixed up with the dirty one??? Anyway, we had to remove the shirt and put on his fleece. Oh well. He still looked adorable!

Jake was NOT happy about seeing Santa, so hid under the table when Santa and the elves came on the train. Marshall was carefully optimistic though. He also had Dance Party 2010 on the train. This kid has some serious groove in him.

All in all, it was (to me) and perfect day...happy kids, happy Mommy, happy Daddy and a magical train ride!

Tummy Troubles

I was awoken this morning by the sound that no mother wants to hear...the sound of the yuckies. Marshall has the stomach bug and I'm 90% sure that Tom and Jake have it, too, since Jake is napping voluntarily for the first time in 6 months and Tom just came home from the office!

Jake's stomach was pretty popular this morning...he had his Hillander Christmas Program. He spent pretty much the whole 15 minutes pulling his shirt up and not singing. Plus, it was very traumatic when his jingle bell broke on song #1 of 3 "ring your bell" songs. I know one thing, I do not see Broadway in his future, which I am totally okay with!

I'll take a smile, forced or not!

And this is when I began to suspect him not feeling good

So, it's chicken soup for all tonight!

Just playing

This afternoon the boys and I went to the lot next door and played. I grabbed my camera because they were being so cute! They didn't have "portrait" clothes on or perfect hair (or clean faces for that matter), but there was just so many sweet moments...

By the way, we have a contract on our house! We plan to move the weekend of January 7th. So, our empty lot playing days are numbered. Actually, make that 'empty lot with grass'! We have plenty of empty lots where we're going!