The Boys will be boys.

I like it when the winter just seems to fly by and that it has this year.  So far in the NW the winter is very mild and the temps have hit up to 50-60 degrees in February which is unheard of.  That of course is in stark contrast to the east coast but I guess that is why we live up here.

We have relied on our friends Jim and Jan quite a bit the last few weeks to take the two boys from us and help us out with them when we have other events going on.  I guess this is the trouble they get into when Jim and Jan have them.  James is having more fun than he puts on.

I got a chance to hang out with Matthew the other night just him and me.  We had a blast hanging around in the backyard and running all around.  Matthew is rarely seen without his "silky" which is a cape from a super hero T-shirt.

Here is Matthew trying to get some air.

He is actually a pretty good thrower.  There is something about a kid throwing a ball around and laughing.  It is really the best sight and sound in the world.

This is a pretty typical sight around our house.  James is constantly trying to climb all over the place.

Matthew loves to paint even if it is with the edible paints mom got off of pintrest.  Anything to create a mess.

The boys both have begun the inevitable love of Legos.  All boys, no matter how old, love Legos and I am sure that ours will not be any different.  That is one toy that even a father can love.

Matthew is such a cutie.

Once a week or so I stay overnight in St Maries and the last time I stayed down there I had a chance to go to Bingo.  A pillars of the community, our company has several people who have become members of the Fraternal order of Eagles.  With that comes the responsibility of calling the Bingo game.  It actually was a lot of fun.

Matthews favorite thing about being in the garage is sitting on the motorcycles.  Frankly, that is my favorite thing to do as well so I fully understand.

James is one speed demon on the bicycle and he has only had about one big fall.  I am quite impressed that the crash did not really seem to phase him one bit and his still has a need for speed.

This month James got his first valentine addressed to him and he loved opening it.  Thank you grandma and grandpa Elenbaas for all of the love.

Seriously...how adorable can you be Matthew.

With the weather warming up so much it really is starting to feel like spring so there is not time like the present to be digging in the garden.  Digging in the dirt is a favorite past time of many a De Jong and it is not going to stop at this generation.

The other day James really hated wearing his jeans since it gave him itchy knees so he thought he could wear some of Matthews sweatpants.  The results are unmistakable and leaves me asking where it the flood?

Matthews Birthday

Yes, Matthew is now 2 years old.  It is hard to believe that he is getting so big, and man is he growing so much faster than we would have thought.  Having an older brother must make you grow up faster and I think it is true since I obviously matured faster because of my brother.

Matthew was super excited every time he got to open presents.  James was always right there of course, but I think we were able to regulate that alight and let Matthew enjoy it as much as possible.

Matthew and James were very excited to see the candle.  I don't know what it is about fire that kids just seem to like it, but who am I kidding, I love fire as well.

Matthew really like to blow his candle out and I think Grandma liked to see him do it.  I know she did, because she preceded to light the candle three other times so he could blow it out over and over again.  You gotta love grandmas.

James was able and willing to assist with all things that included birthdays and attention.

Look at that cutie.

The weather has been unseasonably warm and I got the bikes out the other day for the kids to ride around.  I put Matthew on the tricycle and was trying to show him how to pedal, but there is only so long I can bend over, so I let James take over.  He loved drag gin him around the streets telling him to "pedal Matty, pedal", but to no avail.

Eventually James gave up and then wanted to have Matthew push him around.  I have a theory that this was his intention all along, but that is just a theory.

The weather was so nice that I got a chance to go out on the bike and take it out one Sunday afternoon for a few hours.  It was a breathe of fresh air and I now remember what it is like to be out on the bike.  Every time I get on that thing I feel like I could go out and ride for days and days without ever getting tired.

On my ride just when I got off on a "summer only" road I got to see these guys.  The road was initially pretty good and I knew I did not have far to go so I thought I would give it a try.  It got pretty muddy and rutted and I ended up dropping the bike in the mud, but I had a blast messing around out on some back roads.

Then, of course, it was time again for more presents.  Jim and Jan came over and knew James's propensity and brought him a present as well so he would not feel left out (and Matthew would be left alone).

James was interested to see what was in the present Matthew was about to open.

Then James got to open his scuba Steve as well.  It was then immediately time for a bath and time to play with the new toys.

Matthew has come to like these rubber boots and puts them on all the time.  He is a very easy going kid and always rolls with the punches.  James has not been the best at sharing and we are working on it, but Matthew does not seem to mind.  I don't know if there is much of anything else you can say about this picture...he is adorable.