Us. Simply.

Popcorn, Grandpa + some turning over, well almost.

By whattheharry - 9:01 PM

A house on my mother's street had an estate sale a couple of weeks ago. I hated the feeling of walking through this person's house, looking at all their stuff that was up for sale. But. This homeowner was older and had moved into a retirement community recently, so many of the items in the house were dated. Or 'vintage' if you please.

I scored a high chair/stool - to be used in the kitchen, when feeding Theo or if I want to put the computer on the counter to work. I also scored an electric popcorn popper. Oh, yes. And at $3. (which was 50% off from the day before I bought it, so really even at $6, it was a steal!)

(everyone repeat after me, looking at the picture above, say, 'Hello Soltys!'. He certainly has many of the Soltys traits.)

Let me tell you ... 1, there is nothing like fresh popped popcorn, like right out of the popper, 2. it provided much entertainment to Max who kept calling it 'bouncy corn', he absolutely loved it and 3, just the nostalgia it brings to pop some up ... ah...

(I just so happened to have those pop-corn boxes in the house - have no clue where I got them and for what reason.)

The day Grandpa was leaving, I wanted to make sure I had a photo of him and the boys. I think #3 is frame-worthy, dont you?

And lastly, Theo is starting to show signs of turning over. Look at him putting his foot down and lifting. Growing up so fast, I tell you.

Cant have a blog post without a picture of that smile. These two boys, drive me insane, literally, and I apologize to them for being crazy all the time but I would not have it any other way. So I was doing dishes at 4am today, and I have Max sleeping next to me in my bed as I type this now at 11pm, its certainly not perfect, but we are happy. And for the record, I like being happy.

0 Comments

family

Pumpkins.

By whattheharry - 6:43 PM

This year Max will really get the idea of Halloween. Right now he still is weary about it and says no when I ask him to try on a costume. I know for sure he will love the trick-or-treating part.

Dad came in to town for a visit last weekend. We havent seen him since Max's 1st birthday, so it was long overdue and really great to spend quality time together.

We decided to have the annual pick-your-pumpkin event while Dad was here. Andrew, Kelly, the twinkies, Mom, Al, Dad, Max, Theo and myself all headed over to Johansen Farms in Bolingbrook.

The twinkies and Max absolutely loved it. Cant wait for Theo to be old enough to join in on the fun.

i love tyler's face!

We did indulge in their apple cider donuts. I mean ridiculously indulge....who cant?? They are good. Ridiculously good. Along with their apple pies. ... yum. If you go, I recommend either, and if you want to be dangerous, like us, cause we roll like that...get both! You wont be disappointed!

0 Comments

boys

DuPage County Fair.

By whattheharry - 7:47 PM

This past summer (yes I know this is WAY late...but I think about these ladies quite often) I took Max and Theo to the DuPage County Fair. It was a rainy Thursday, Theo was just a few weeks old, Max insisted on walking but then later changed his mind.

Its a great place to take the kids, and I found the 'kid' section to be all age appropriate - meaning there was something for 2 to 12.

What amazed me the most, was the size of these.

I mean literally these cows were the size of my first car, a three-cylinder Subaru Justy (I loved that car). Their names were Molly and Eunice. They were there with their young. Their job is to produce milk for us to drink, for cheese, and various other dairy products.

So why am I thinking of them lately? I am not sure if its my age, the fact that I have two young boys (and I am thinking I need to buy one of these ladies to keep in my backyard, so we can have our fill of milk at any time!) or I have been appreciating the way things are made, and the more natural, the better.

I'll go with 10% first reason, 40% second reason and the remainder the last reason. My desire to have my own farm is probably pretty far fetched seeing I wont even get a dog because I dont want to be on poop patrol, but I can certainly feel my appreciation for supporting local farmers increase.

I even splurged so Max could feed the goats.

Then I took him to the kiddie milking tent, and taught him how to milk a cow (you know so he knows what to do when we bring Molly or Eunice home).

Sometimes you just have to improvise...what started with Max insisting on walking, turned into this:

0 Comments

Maxwell

Amazement, part two.

By whattheharry - 8:49 PM

A couple months ago, Max kept saying his truck is stuck. He would find a place anywhere he was when playing with his trucks and they would be 'stuck'. I thought, 'aw, how cute. how creative.' Well come to find out its a book they've been reading at school.

So last week we got home from our day and Max wanted to play outside, and who am I to say no?? I went out to check on him and I find this...

1. He's riding his bike.

2. He put his new book in the basket.

3. And his truck is stuck.

Over the weekend, Max has figured out that if there is something on the kitchen counter that he wants, he pushes a chair over to the counter and helps himself. Many of donut were consumed without my consent. Tonight, as we were on our way out to the library for storytime, I find him ...

This kid simply amazes me what he is learning every day. I am so lucky to be a witness to these awesome transformations. This is one part of motherhood that I had no idea how awesome it would be, no matter who told me.

Because it is really. awesome.

0 Comments

Maxwell

Amazement.

By whattheharry - 12:13 PM

a·maze·ment (

-m

nt)

1. A state of extreme surprise or wonder; astonishment.

2. Obsolete Bewilderment; perplexity.

It seems as of late I am in a constant state of amazement. Watching, experiencing, enjoying both Max and Theo. Each day they do something new that simply amazes me. Each day they are becoming more independent. Each day they are becoming more of themselves. Each day they are expanding their brains and demonstrating what they learn. I honestly cant get enough of it.

Today, the boys are at school because The Wretched Stomach Bug of 2012 has made its way to Grandma and Ginga. So I went down at lunch to check on them. Theo was on the floor with the play mat swinging his arms, kicking his legs, talking, laughing, happy.

Max was finishing up lunch. When I peeked in the room all the kids were topless. I was all, 'WHAT??', then I looked at the lunch menu. Pasta. Ok, smart move teachers!

But it was SO cute to see all of them topless. Then they were instructed to go get their shirts and bring them to the teacher. I watched Max walk to his cot, pick up his shirt and start heading towards the teacher all the while talking with his friend, nearby cot-mate.

What amazes me about this event. Max knows what to do. Max knows he has to take his shirt off for pasta day. Max knows that his shirt has to be on his cot during lunch. Max knows that he has to get his shirt after lunch and bring it to the teacher.

And he's two.

Amazing.

Simply amazing.

I love this kid.

1 Comments

theodore

Three Months.

By whattheharry - 11:09 AM

Dear Theo,

You are three months old now, well have been for a couple of weeks. I'm sorry this is late. But this has been the story of my life since your arrival. I am not complaining in the least bit you see, before you and your brother were here, I was uptight and rigid about schedules. I relaxed a bit when your brother arrived. And since your arrival, well, I cant say I am all 'go-with-the-flow', but I am most certainly much better about just doing what I can, forgetting about the little insignificant things.

I just cant get over how cute you are. I cant get over that smile, it makes my heart melt.

At three months:
-you started school, going three days a week, and love it. You love watching the other kids.

-you still eat an enormous amount of food - well not really, but you still like your food. You especially love bananas.

-you transitioned from cooing to flat out right talking. Of course there are no words, but you love to hear your voice.

-you had found your hands last month, always holding them out in front of you. Well, this month they are in your mouth.

-you are doing super with your tummy time, a task that you hated up until recently. You are strong.

-your hair still stands straight up off the top of your head. This mohawk is not going away any time soon. (and I love that!)

-you love the water. You absolutely love taking baths, even with your brother's help.

-you are just simply happy.

I say this every month, and I did so with your brother, I am so so blessed to have you. You are fitting into our family perfectly. I imagine that you and your brother will be the best of friends, getting along famously (and not, as siblings do).

I look forward to each and every day with you. I sometimes feel as if I am not able to give you as much attention as you deserve and will hold you a bit longer before you go to bed, or let you sleep in my bed next to me just so that you know I am here with you.

Thank you little boy for being just who you are.
I love you.

Love,
Mama

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And we cant say, 'your hands are always in your mouth' without proof, now can we??

1 Comments

family

Labor Day Weekend.

By whattheharry - 8:31 AM

We went up to the Lake Geneva, Lake Delavan Wisconsin area for Labor Day weekend. We tagged along with Grandma + Ginga, as they went to a family wedding. It was a good weekend.