Happy Pop Pop!

That’s right!  Nonna and Pop Pop came for a visit this past weekend, and in addition to putting them to work, we had a BIG Happy Pop Pop Celebration!  We had a great time with them, and the boys have asked about Nonna and Pop Pop every day since!

Here they are, in all of their glory, at our favorite new pizza spot!

Earlier that morning, I took advantage of Nonna’s extra set of hands . . . we made some wrapping paper for Pop Pop’s gift, and we also did our first “family home work assignment” for school!  I had not let both boys paint much before . . . and they didn’t seem to love the finger paints, but they made it work!

Artist in training!  :)

This artist would only use a paint brush!

Lookin’ good boys!

We also got our new stroller (which, yes—seats 3!!  Thank you, GiGi!) on Saturday.  Our friend who sold it to us gave us these bikes as well!  (Her twin boys are turning 3 soon!)  The boys got some good snuggle time with Pop Pop, too . . .

Pop Pop and Daddy stained the deck!!  We are now 97% finished with our deck project!  Hoorah! The boys are obsessed with “tick tocks” right now, and they enjoyed playing with Daddy’s and Pop Pop’s!

Ni’ Night!

In Training

As you may know, Baby Anna is due to arrive in less than 4 weeks.  MMM.  Yes.  That is not a long time.  So, while Mommy and Daddy frantically try to get the house, the car, and whatever else ready for the exciting chaos that is about to ensue, Hudson and William are in training.

1.  Up and Down the Stairs:  While the boys have been able to go up and down for a while, in moments when time is of the essence, I tend to carry them because it is fast.  We are now in training to go up and come down on our own . . . with toys in hand (or not) . . . quickly (or not) . . .  

 

2.  The boys are fascinated with stools, so they are each using a little stool to get up in their highchairs for meals.  Most days, when they do this, William claps and cheers for himself and then instructs “Hudsey” to cheer, too!  (These were action shots, so please excuse the blur!)

   

3.  Tire them out in the yard:  We are practicing getting all of our wiggles and energy out in the yard so that naptimes and night night times are solid and sound . . . (all of Daddy’s hard work with the deck, the swing set (in progress), etc. is definitely helping to make this dream come true!)

 

please note the sticker in his hair . . . he is obsessed with stickers . . . 

Mr. Precious enjoyed his lunch and watched the boys play!

Ahhh, Diggin’ . . . before bed at night, we ask the boys what they would like to thank Jesus for . . . at least 4 times each week, Hudson says “diggin’ . . . sand box.”  While this dirt pile is not actually a sand box, they do call it “Daddy’s sandbox” (it is right next to the deck) and they LOVE digging in it . . . 

 

Time for yard work!

 

and, some porch fun . . . (note:  this mane will not be tamed!)         

William was helpin’ Daddy with his measurin’ . . . I adore this picture! 

Meanwhile, Hudson was flinging dirt all over, so we redirected him to putting the dirt back near the tree . . . we meant the base of the tree, but whatever works . . . 

Making a stick pile on the tree is also great fun . . .  

Next in our line of training is teaching the boys how to get into their car seats . . . and making a contraption that will raise and lower them into their cribs . . . just kidding.  It is amazing to see how fast they learn and how much they love trying new things . . . it is such fun!  And, while we need them to be doing some of these things on their own (after all, they are at the age to do many of these things without help), it still seems so wild to me that my babies are growing up so fast!  I just cannot believe it!