Despite it all

It always cracks me up that after a day of nearly ripping each other's heads off, they still want to sit right next to each other during dinner.

Poor memory?  Probably.  Quick to forgive?  That too.

McKay turns TWO!

Happy Birthday to this little animal! I can't believe he is TWO already!  We were planning on having a warm BBQ in our backyard, but the weather had different plans.  So we headed up to the grandparent's house for our little shindig.  Truth is, BBQs in the house are kindof weird...

All of our Robinson aunts, uncles, and cousins were able to make it except Matt & Crystal.  McKay was sneaking licks of his cake before we even started.

McKay didn't get the candle blown out on the first try, so on the second go around he growled at it.  That didn't work either, so dad helped a little.

McKay got all sorts of hot wheels from mom, dad, and Gavin. Grandma and Grandpa Robinson hooked him up with a Cozy Coupe.  Gavin could hardly handle having McKay get presents and not him.  He was acting so weird and wanting to be all in charge and stuff.  First child, I guess.  We had to hold him on our laps for a few so McKay could actually have a turn.  

In the past few months he has changed so much.  It's always amazing to me how fast these kids learn and how fast they get big.  He's certainly not a baby anymore.  He is talking all. the. time.  He repeats absolutely everything anyone says and is catching on to language and new words everyday.  He can sing Twinkle, Twinkle, and get through most of the ABCs.  He can count to 10.  McKay can say a prayer and yells "Amen!"  at the end.  He loves to hear stories and says "Oh!" at the end of every sentence we say.  (Once there was a rabbit.  "Oh!"  He had a friend named McKay.  "Oh!"  They were walking in the forest.  "Oh!")  I love it.  He loves tickles, loves to play horsie and sit on my back.  

He is sass, he is silly, he is serious, he is wild, he is agile, and so so quick to get away from me.  I have found him standing on the piano and on the kitchen island with a knife and scissors in his hand.  He pulls a chair up to whatever he needs to get and helps himself.  He is a lot dangerous and certainly keeps us on our toes.  He is not having the highchair business anymore and wants to play with the big kids.

He's a great eater (30 pounds already!) and a wonderful night sleeper.  He loves all fruit, broccoli, and quesadillas.  McKay has his own agenda and does not like that plan to be messed with.  (See above kissing picture.)  He can hold his own with Gavin and loves him so much.  I'm excited to watch them become best buds and look out for each other.  I'm still McKay's favorite, which is always nice, but am ok when he branches out to dad...  But grandma and grandpa beat us both out any day.

We love him so much and are so glad he is in our family.  Happy Birthday, little bubba! 

Ordinary Days

Brian's 32nd

We are getting older by the second.  However that I've decided that things get better with time.  This past year has been our best yet.  Brian and I get each other - and that's such a nice thing.

We celebrated with our little family, some of Brian's long time best buds, and Dunford donuts. What more does a guy need?

Dr. Suess Day

One of our very favorite days of the year! Gavin totally thought this was his party. He hand-delivered each invitation to the door of all of our neighbor friends and said, "Come to my party!" We talked about it for weeks. He and McKay were both super helpful in eating the fruit rollups for the bookworm rice krispie treats.

We had a pretty good turnout - about 20 kids. We colored hats, read our favorite book The Tickle Monster and then wandered the room hearing books from different moms. A tradition worth keeping.

Hours after the party, Gavin was still wearing his hat, playing Duplos with his little friend Kaylee for hours. I wanted to snatch him up and eat him whole. I took a picture with my camera, but the cuteness of this moment and how happy he was the day is forever filed in my mind under Happy Mama Moments.

Spring?

Today was a GORGEOUS day. My favorite kind of day. We were outside for three hours at least. That pile-o-laundry never got folded and beds were never made. Every time I tried to go inside to 'get something done', both of the littles protested. I am so sick of sitting inside. We all do better with a little sunshine. And I have to remind myself that playing outside is 'getting things done.' Fun and love and spontaneous need to be done as well...probably more than most things.

McKay's almost two...can't even believe it. And Gav already thinks he's four. I am so proud of Gav riding his bike like a pro. And McKay is ready for the action. I push him around on the scooter and he's ready to take Gavin's trike as his own. It's going to be a wonderful summer. McKay is talking and copying words really well. We pretty much have conversations, the two of us. I understand him second best - next to Gavin. When I don't know what McKay's talking about Gavin translates and is generally right on.

I do hear that tomorrow and some days after it will be back to freezing again, but I think I got just enough to get me by.

Funny kid

Yesterday I snapped at Gav a little because I wanted to be alone in my room during "quiet time." When do I get to be alone? I wondered in my sassy I-just-need-a-little-break voice. He's been seriously struggling with napping and I have accepted the fact that he isn't going to nap every day. Maybe twice a week. But he has been doing okay at staying in his room and being fairly quiet while McKay is sleeping. Gavin's been lonely for 'snuggle friends.' I sent him back to play with his legos - or something. Anything! About ten minutes later I called him in to snuggle on my bed and watch a show with me. He laid his head on my tummy and said, "Mom? Are you sorry?" At first I was deciding whether or not I should be offended but quickly realized that he was right. And yes, I was sorry. These kids keep me in check, I tell ya. Serves me right, I guess. Gosh, I have a lot to learn.

Today when I praised him for going to the bathroom on his own (which he does regularly now) he said, "Thanks. I was in my office." Guess that's where the business gets done. :) Later he came in and informed me that he and McKay were playing Laman and Lemuel. I asked him if he'd rather play Nephi and Sam instead. He told me I could be Nephi and "you have the power of God." Then he asked if I would play Jesus. I told him we don't pretend to be Jesus and when he knew for certain I wasn't going to do it, he said, "Okay...do you want to be a dolphin?" I'm not sure how Jesus and dolphins are so quickly interchangeable, but it made me laugh.

We had a lovely Valentine's meal with our little family tonight. Jello pudding jigglers were a hit. The boys could have eaten those alone and it would have been a success. Guess I should spend a little less energy trying to make things nice and well-balanced.