New playground

The boys are up to it again, and it is cute.  Man these kids are getting bigger and bigger, but Brenda and I were thinking just tonight that this year we will have been married 10 years.  It seems like it has not been that long and if those 10years went by so fast I can just imagine how the next ten will go.

Matthew continues to get bigger and stronger every day.  He kind of has a cold and raspy cough right now, but that will happen when your brother grabs your pacifier off the ground and shoves it into your mouth no matter where you are.

James was showing us how fast he was the other night running back and forth in the living room.  Not sure why he had the goggles, but he will need those when he gets a dirtbike in a couple years.

Matthew hanging out.

My wife must be the cruelest woman in the world.  I mean seriously, who would ever dress their boy up in this hat and let him go in public.  He looks like a little gnome.  Ok, it is kind of cute I guess.

He has really grown up and smiles at us all the time now, but seems to put it away when the camera comes out.  We finally got this one.

I think he really was interested in what I was saying about the motorcycles in the garage

 

Last fall we got a wood play structure for free from some friends that were moving out of town and the weather has finally got to a point where I can put it up, sand, and stain it.  That was more work that it would seem and my back is still reminding me that I am getting older and older.  If I feel like this at 32, I am in for a long long road ahead.

James had a great time exploring on it before I had a chance to stain it.

 

Mugging for the camera as always.

He like to peak out from around the corners and hide from you when he gets a chance.

Seriously cute kid

It is a pretty robust structure and can easily hold me and the kiddos.

Another pic before I get the rock wall handholds on, but with the swings up there was little to no chance of keeping the kids off the structure.

Brenda mowed the lawn last weekend with the boys.  They all loved it.

 

For Easter we thought we would try and go to a egg hunt at a local church.  We got to the field as they were saying go and we thought...ok, there will still be some left.  Little did we know that the hunt really only lasts 30 seconds and it is a free for all where kids lie shell-shocked on the ground wondering what just happened and parents are left opening eggs and creating candy mountains of greed.  I never thought you could get PTSD from a easter egg hunt, but I think I may have to go to the doctor soon if the nightmares don't end. The place was a bundle of chaos and the Guns and Roses music piped through the loudspeakers which really set the mood to celebrate Christ rising from the grave.  There was absolutely no indication that the event had anything to do with Christ or Easter.

 

Needless to say we are not ever...and I mean ever...going to one of those things again.  While we were there we asked each other "isn't this why we moved out of California?".

James did get to go in the petting Zoo  which consisted of 2 rabbits, a chicken, pony and a duck...there was only about 50 kids in line waiting to get in, but luckily we got in at the beginning and headed out of there

Dutch Dinner

Two weeks ago we had a chance to get Matthew dedicated while Paula was here.  It was a great day and reminds us of the great responsibility we have as parents.  Just when I thought I had skirted responsibility, I get it again. 

We also were able to get a few pictures since it was such a nice day.

We are anxiously awaiting spring and more of this weather.

Here and me and the boys hanging out.  James just had a bath and loves to run around the house after a bath.  He also really enjoys holding his brother.

Sometimes you just have to give in.  James really wanted to wear his ski goggle  at dinner and we had to give in.  We also got a video of it and it was very funny.

 

This weekend we got a chance to go to Manhattan MT to visit my parents and partake in the Dutch festival they have once a year there.  The dutch dancers reminded me of the days back in IL when I was a kid and danced at the festival we had there.  Nothing like getting a round of Klunt with a ladel of butter, and bacon grease to really bring you back to your roots.

They also had a benefit auction for the School.  It was fun to see and it seems like everyone likes my parents and have enjoyed them.  I know my parents are really enjoying Churchill.

Saturday we went to a ranch and James instantly wanted to get up into the tractor.  Someday I will have to get him out to job site and sit in an excavator...he will shake out of excitement.

My mother got a lot of good Grandma time.  She elected to stay at home with the grandchildren today and still was in her PJ's when we got home from church..  She could not get enough of holding Matthew.

James and I broke out my old lego's and brought back some very good memories.  I had a great time playing with them and think it will not be long until James get a bunch of his own to play with (so I can also play with them).

Matthew was smiling so much on this trip and my mother could get him to smile all of the time. 

James had a great trip and both the boys really travel quite well.  Those two kids crack me up every time I look at them and their cute smiles.

State Basketball

Another couple of weeks have passed and I have time to post so here it goes.

 

Brenda's sister Paula was able to come out here and visit.  It was nice to visit with her and Brenda's parents.  James and Matthew also enjoyed it.

 

We often have a chance to go for a walk around the block and feed Gus and Gladdy.

James is not scared at all and usually I would say that is a good thing, but I think he is going to get his finger chomped one of these days.

Here is my boy ready for a ride around the town.  Once he got up there he started making motor noises.  A father could not have been prouder.

Perfect riding position as expected.

James also has started to like wearing glasses and goggles.  He used to hate it and would not let you put anything on his head, but now about 50% of the time he likes it and has the biggest smile when he gets them on.

We also had a chance to go to the state basketball games in Spokane two weeks ago.  It was James's second time at state and he was really well behaved liking to watch the games, but kind of scared of the mascots.  He would not take his eyes off of them once he saw the Ram and the others.

 

State basketball was great and Sunnyside boys won the Championship with one of the team member setting a one game tournament record for blocked shots...11 of them.  It was a great game to watch and got a little tense at one point, but Sunnyside pulled through.

 

Matthews first time at state basketball and Paula held him the entire time we were there.  It was awesome of her to do so, but I was very thankful she is due with her baby boy soon, otherwise I would have been worried she would take Matthew with her.

It is never to early to start reading the BMW owners club magazine.

Matthew had a great time sleeping as always.  Kind of cute don't you think.

And then there is also time to be awake...

But mostly he liked to hang out with Paula.  She gave Brenda some needed time off.

Alas, Paula eventually did have to leave

Brothers hanging out on the couch. 

Our "friends" gave us this singing sock monkey.  It sings a song for about a minute and half and it just repeats over and over again.  Thanks.

This past week we had a chance to go to Sunnyside for some work and had some dinner with Laura and Ben.  We had a blast getting their kids all riled up and then left them.  Thanks!

VDay Dinner

The weather finally has gotten to 50 for the first time this year and it seems to appear like spring, but I am maybe a bit too optimistic.  I am guessing it is going to snow at least one more time.  I have been preparing for the best though and changing the oil in the motorcycles getting them ready for a long hot summer in the saddle...or so I hope.

James has been doing awesome for the most part and always looks forward to times when he can hold his brother and hang out with him.  Above James is excited to share his bed with him, if only for a short time.

Hard to imagine these guys are ever going to fight.

James also thinks that Matthew is very cute.

 

Valentines day was back upon us again and as we did last year, Chris and I decided to make an elegant dinner for our wives.  Changed a few things from last year, but the basics were the same.

On the menu this time was crab cakes over salad with a ginger vinaigrette dressing, Scallops on a bed of leeks, Fillet minion with a shrimp cream sauce and a side of a wild mushroom risotto, finished off with a Baked Alaska for dessert.   If it sounds like a lot, it was.  Notice the baby monitor is always close at hand.  We put the kiddos down early, but still did not end up eating till at around 8:30 or so.

Scallops when they are this big a awesome.

We had to go this Friday to get Matthews little man decapitated.  Here is they day before when I was explaining to him what was going to happen...don't think he caught on, but he soon figured it out.

Tonight was homemade pizza and James had a great time helping out and testing the Pineapple to make sure it was sweet enough.

 

Momma and little man loving the time together.

 

Here is James holding his brother.

James Dancing

And Matthew making funny faces.  At 1:12, you figure out why...eeeeeewwwwww.

Couple Weeks Off...whohooo

Been a while since I posted and although I have had a lot of time in the past couple of weeks to post, I neglected to do so.

In the hospital.  We talked the doctor into letting us get out of the NICU on the same day the Brenda was going to get discharged, so it was nice we could all go home as a  family.

James was really excited when we got home and the look on his face when we walked through the door was priceless.  It was the first time he could get close to Matthew and he wanted to hold him, but had to settle for a kiss.

Meanwhile, Matthew is up to his old antics of being sleepy all day, but only going down for hour and a half increments at night.  Baby faces are so cute when the squished like this.

My dad and mom along with my in-laws were all at the house when we got home.

Everyone got some good baby time and it was nice that they all could make it out.

 

Meanwhile I had told work I would see them in two weeks so I got to spend a lot of time at home relaxing and really did not do much.  Days at home consisted of hanging out in the house or going to the park/store in the morning for a little change of pace.

Of course whenever I get a chance to go for a walk we have to go see Gus and Gladys.  James loves to go there and is pretty brave when it comes to feeding them.

James and I made a couple trips to Hopeless Depot.  That kid could walk around those isles for hours.  In this picture he heard the key cutter start up in the next isle over...so exciting.

We took a couple pics of Matthew as well...the reclining Jabba just about to say.... "Ha! Mongo/Bargon wan chee kospah ooh." (There will be no bargain.)

James got a chance to hold the new brother.  These are not the best pics, but just the ones I randomly selected.

We also had a friend come over and take some pics with a better camera and James starting acting a bit crazy.  He is such a ham in front of other people or a camera.  I am not sure if you watch SNL at all, but this reminded me of an old Will Ferrel skit.

Brothers having a great time.

And a not so good time.  This pose lasted about 2 seconds before all heck broke loose.

Then there is the Family in front of the fireplace.

 

All in all I had a great time being at home for the past two weeks.  I did go in last week for a couple small things, but really got to take some time off.  I do love my job and always say if I won the lottery (which I don't play so I am already a winner as my grandfather would say) I would still continue to work doing what I am doing now, except on my schedule.  That is what last week felt like and it was nice to have that if only for a little while.

 

I also got to take the cafe racer out in the 39 degree weather for a short ride and it performed awesome.  Looking forward to the summer and getting a picture of Matthew on the bike.