Snack Time?

Our little guys still aren't saying a whole lot in terms of actual words, but sometimes what they do these days speaks louder than words.

Take today, for instance. We had just gotten back from taking Connor to meet Grandma and Grandpa for their trip to the mountains. Josh asked me to write a business check he'd forgotten to do (Friday is pay day around here), so I was in the office.

Xander comes walking up to one of the baby gates that keeps the kids out of the office, and he's saying his token word of the moment "Goo-ud!" (translated good).

Okay, honey, not now. Mommy's busy. That's what I was thinking, until I happened to glance over and see what he was holding in his two little hands, just below the gate and out of direct eye contact. He looked at the item he was holding, then looked up at me and grinned that mischievous little smile that is only his.

"Goo-ud!" he offered again.

Yes, baby, ice cream is good. Thank you for bringing that to Mommy. Let's just put that back until later, okay. You know, after we've actually had lunch perhaps?

You see, the twins newest trick is to open and close our bottom drawer freezer on our refrigerator. They have both long loved the oven, where they have only to pull on the door and the light comes on. Sawyer will stand here for a long time opening and closing the door, if you will let him. But the freezer is even better, apparently, because the light comes on AND cold air comes out. And now they've progressed to actually bringing me things from the freezer, apparently. Good things, at least.

Just another day in the life . . .

Photo Flashback

I get you, Connor says. (October 19, 2005)

Another Day, Another Vacation

Someone in our house is getting ready to go on another fun-filled vacation. Not me, unfortunately, as we just got home from our trip. This time it's Connor, he of the "have suitcase, will travel" variety. He's quite excited. We're already counting down days, and he's only known for two.

As we've been counting, we've also talked about what he might get to do on his visit to the mountains with Grandma and Grandpa. There's going to be hiking (short ones, most likely). And swimming (lots and lots of swimming). And sight-seeing in Grandpa's truck and maybe even on the trolley (which is kind of like a train). And, of course, there will be shopping (probably lots of shopping). And eating out, too (here's hoping he wants something other than McDonald's at least every other time).

But, as much fun as all of that sounds, he's not excited about any of those things.

"Race cars?" he asked me, with a little twinkle in his eye.

Yes, perhaps Mommy did mention there might be race cars and putt-putt golf. It was one tiny piece of information among lots of others. But it's the one he's latched on to.

"Connor ride in the yellow car," he informs me, quite seriously, at dinner tonight. "Grandpa ride in green."

I have no idea where the colors are coming from, or why he thinks he'll get to drive his own, but clearly he has an image and he's going with it.

"Go fast . . . VRMMM, VRMMM, VRMMMM!"

This last part is in his (somewhat scary) deep voice, or kind of growl actually. He's been doing it a lot lately on his ride along Lightning McQueen.

It's scarier when he's just imagining a car.

So, here's hoping Grandma and Grandpa were planning to do race cars this week on vacation. Because I think they're going to be hearing a lot about race cars, either way.

"I Want It All!"

Just in case you were wondering where my three-year-old gets it from, I will share my funny moment from our recent vacation.

Every year that I have gone, for as long as I can remember, my family has stopped at a little candy shop in the mountains. They have this wonderful creation called dark chocolate raspberry jellies. They are the best, assuming you like dark chocolate and raspberry (which my husband does not). He got some home made rocky road fudge and some taffy instead.

But, I digress.

My jellies are outrageously expensive. They list them at $7.25 for a 1/2 lb., which of course just means they're embarrassed to list it as $14.50 a lb! Regardless, they are a must have on such trips. As we were browsing, I noticed that there were fewer of my favorites than any of the others nearby on display. When the lady behind the counter asked how many I wanted, my completely innocent and completely true response was,

"I want them all!"

Josh found this extremely humorous, as did the clerk. I was completely serious. And I got them all. All $13.00 worth that were remaining, which was not quite a pound but close enough. The ones I've eaten have been delicious. The few remaining will be equally so.

I apologize in advance to my parents, who will be traveling there this weekend (with Connor in tow), because I may have just cleaned them out. The poor clerk said it was a good thing I came in when I did, because they were so busy there wouldn't be time to make any more until after the weekend! Hopefully that means there will be some for Grandma and Grandpa and Connor this weekend. But if not, I'm not sharing mine . . .

Fall Vacation

Much to Grammy and Pappy's relief, we made it back home around 4 p.m. this afternoon.

The boys were happy to see us, some more than others. Xander ran straight into my arms and didn't leave until it was time to eat dinner and then go to bed. Sawyer was happy to see me too, but only in so much as I could fix the television and make Chicken Little play! I did get a little backward hug, which is his style, so that counts for something! And Connor gave me a hug too, eventually, but it was clear he was a Grammy's boy at first.

We had a good trip. We were both a little sick (mostly colds), but that's okay. We got to do just what we'd planned on doing - a little bit of nothing, a little hiking, a little shopping, and a lot of eating out! And yes, we finished Season Four of Entourage, if you were wondering!

Here are a few photos from our day actually in the mountains.



Mommy resting and enjoying the view after the 2.5-mile hike up to Alum Cave Bluffs. We're a bit too lazy (both in getting out of bed on time and in hiking the additional 2.5 miles straight up) to make it all the way up to Mount LeConte. Maybe one day . . .



Daddy resting at the bottom of the trail head, after our hike, and enjoying the scene from the bridge.



The token photo of both of us, so close up because we're holding the camera ourselves.