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Happy 2nd Birthday Court Robert!

Our party plans this year got rearranged by life but we happened to be in Fremont on Court's birthday and also had the company of Aunt Whitney, Uncle Chris and Malcolm added to the usual group so it turned into a wonderful party. Grandma Cindy made a motorcycle cupcake and there were gifts galore.

 

As you can see in this video, our sweet boy was a little overwhelmed by the attention but he recovered well.

Yummmmmmm...

Court's Favorite Things at Age 2: 

-motorcycles (called "wy-o-wooks") and trains ( "chug-choo-choo")

-snacks of the sweet variety, mac'n'cheese, avocados, cherry tomatoes, hard boiled eggs.

-running and jumping, 

-Daddy (he copies everything Joe does)

-the sandbox and dirt in any form 

-books; The Woods by Hoppe, Lift-the-Flap Trains, Construction and Airplanes, Smokey by Peet

-his blanket

Mommy and Daddy's Favorite Things About Court at Age 2:

-his tender heart and desire to please

-his "snuggly-ness"

-full out squeals and giggles when you chase or tickle him

-the way he loves to show off his flipping, jumping, flying tricks with Daddy

-whispered "okay"s and "yeah"s when we correct him

-fierce scowls that are completely for their humor value

-the way he curls into your chest in the middle of the night and asks for a "rock-rock" if he's woken up crying. 

-covering his head with his blanket and running around the dining table like a short, laughing, ghost.

-the way he jumps, landing almost stiff legged; and runs, with total abandon.

-his crouching pose for shooting tinker-toy "guns" and the "pchoo-pchoo" sound effect that accompanies it.

-his big round head and big brown eyes 

-the ecstatic squeal of "Daddy!" or "Mommy!" when we arrive home.

-the love he has for his big sister "Loola".

Happy 2nd Birthday Court!

We love you SO much.

A Weekend With Malcolm (and Chris & Whitney too)

 Court tried his best to teach Malcolm all sorts of boyish traits. Throw, hammer, smash, run, yell...

Bean Girl in her new quilt from Grandma.

Malcolm and his collection of magazine shreds.

 Court has to figure out how everything works and he loved the tray on this stroller.

So cute!

He ate his whole meal with his hand on my shoulder. Melt.

Where does sand go? On Grandma!

 

 I thought the hat was going to be a casualty but it stayed on.

 Sand Shovel!

I have entered the stage where it is nigh impossible to get both kids facing the camera let alone smiling together. Sigh.

My Littles

Oh the eyelashes.

 Run!

 Catfish Petting Zoo for Babies

April 1-20...A Quick Picture Reel to Catch Up

 Naptime Art Sculpture

 Chocolate Pancake Breakfast

 Spring IS Coming

Nothing Like a Good Nap

 Stealing Daddy's Hats

This mess was from one pudding cup. One.

 I started seedlings for my vegetable garden in eggshells this year (saw the idea somewhere) but what I didn't realize was that they would shoot up so fast. I thought I had timed everything just right but they quickly outgrew their egg carton, so I took a chance and put them in the ground.

 The cups worked for the first late snow but not the second or third. Back to square one! However, if you are thinking of starting seeds indoors, I highly recommend the eggshell method. It speeds the whole process up and are a snap to plant. 

 Entertaining cousin George with a puppet show.

 Court did a lot of "Tummy Time" with George.

 

 Story Time

Luca planting some seeds of her own.

My sweet daughter came in with flowers for Mommy. She picked every single blossom off the vinca vine.

Boys and Dirt

A busy day at our house: Naomi, Luca, George, Court, Audrey and Madison

Pillows for the kids made out of fabric leftover from the new roman shades in their room.

How do you get your kids to eat new things? First eat it in front of them insisting it is "Mommy's special snack" and not really "for kids". Then, give in a little, "oh, okay, you can have a couple of bites". Bingo. Two kids who formally wrinkled their noses at avocado now request their own half (or whole) with a spoon. As you can see, Court has to get every last lick.