And Some Other Stuff

You've missed this face, haven't you?


Howzabout this one?


Dolls, I tell you. Angels. Perfect angels.

Now, you second children out there can appreciate this story. Elliott got a new bike, so that meant two things. 1. He was soooooooo pumped to be old enough to get a big boy bike, and 2. Patrick got Elliott's old bike! Everybody wins! Here's Patrick who's delighted he can FINALLY ride this trike free-and-clear!


Meanwhile, Elliott got to go to the store and pick out a big boy helmet to go with his very own big boy bike. In real life, he was bouncing off the walls. When I lifted the camera to document said emotion, I got treated like a TMZ employee:



Sometimes Dad just can't resist the good stuff at the grocery store. Annnnd neither can Patrick:

He really had a moment with this icing. Don't you miss enjoying cupcakes enough to get the icing INSIDE your ear???

Because Patrick thinks Playdoh probably tastes kinda like that icing, Elliott usually goes it alone. A couple of weeks ago (while Patrick napped), we worked to make some new colors, then built these little crazy guys. Elliott was so proud! I told him I wanted to take his picture with them, but if he made funny faces, we'd never be able to tell which one was him. Give it a go! See if you can spot him!

Do you need a hint?

Ahhh, this one still makes me chuckle!

We've been having one of the mildest Julys on record, but we've still had plenty of chances to play outside! Remember this sprinkler?

I think the boys are getting too smart. They've realized I'm just trying to run them around like puppies in the backyard. Now they find ways to mock my efforts. Run through the sprinkler? How juvenile! I think I'll pull up a chair!

The one good thing about this sprinkler is it's about a zillion little hoses, so the boys can really multitask.

I'm one of those neurotic mothers who lets her kids eat popsicles in two places: outside or in the tub. (They LOVE eating popsicles in the tub, by the way.) Here they are in their "house."

This one goes for speed. (They don't call him "Big E" for nothin'.)

This guy's all about style. He usually gets about one-third to halfway through before it melts enough to just slide off the stick. It's hard to reprimand his speed when it clearly makes his dimples deeper:

Did I mention both boys have been to the doctor for their annual checkups? Patrick is--hooray!--on the charts! Actually, he's about dead center, so... kinda normal and average. His brother, on the other hand, is--you ready for this?--in the 100th percentile. He is the biggest kid in the history of kids! He'll be a linebacker by second grade. (Who's surprised?)