A few Funnies...

It's been awhile since I've posted some funny Sam/Jake stories, so here are some... I really wish I could remember more - they make me laugh all the time!!!! Love these kids!

• Sam has been mean to Jake lately... not all the time, but when he is it's like he can't stop! We have had many, many conversations about being kind, using sweet/kind words, having a happy heart about sharing, taking care of his brother, etc, etc... One analogy that I like to use is that we see a 'Sweet Sam' and a 'Mean Sam' at different times... when I go to talk to him before he can come out of his room, I tend to tell him that only the 'Sweet Sam' can come out.  I said this the other day, and Sam's response was: "Mommy, I'm sorry, but the Sweet Sam is on vacation, and I don't think he's coming back!"
• I could just end the story there because I'm sure EVERYONE ELSE is laughing about this.... but I am sure that the next question would be, "WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT? DID YOU JUST LAUGH?" No, I actually didn't laugh - I was too irritated by his constant meanness (that day) to Jake... I told him that the Mean Sam wasn't allowed to come downstairs or come out of his room - I didn't like that Sam, and he would need to get the Sweet Sam to come home ASAP... but he could send the Mean Sam on vacation!!!! "DID IT WORK?" would be your next question.... a little - he tends to forget conversations within 5 minutes... is that a boy thing?????? I can laugh about it now, though - quite clever!!!!
• Jake doesn't stop talking. Ever. I know I say this pretty much every post, but it's 100% truth, and he hasn't let up AT ALL with the talking! Even watching TV - if he's not narrating what's going on, he's asking question after question.  Sam even ignores him (which causes him to repeat himself over.. and over.. and over.. and over......)
• Jake came in my room to go poopie one morning when I was getting ready for the day.  He took his jammies off (he has to completely disrobe, or he can't poop - I promise - if I put his shirt back on, no poop!?) and sat on the potty.  He held his hand up to me when I came in to collect his clothes and said, "Just trust me mommy, and let me poopie by myself.  You can go get my clothes!" Trust him? I think not....
• Sam is always making things... daily... using scissors, glue, tape, any paper laying around (bills are not safe), boxes, and whatever else he can find! The other day, he made a book, and here are some 'stories' from the book that he made.....
• Jesus is watching us, even if we don't think He is, He always sees us
• Everyone should have a family - a Mimi and Pop Pop and a Opa and Ernie.... and everyone should have at least one friend! [what happened to mommy and daddy???? I pretty much can figure out why brothers weren't mentioned!]
• Everyone needs this book to read everyday - because it tells us what Jesus is doing
• You should read this book a lot because it tells us what we should know
• Everyone should love everyone
• First of all, it made my heart happy that he was talking about Jesus and being kind... Second, I (tried to) use it as a learning opportunity about how being nice to everyone and loving everyone also includes his brother.... that's when the book ended.....
• BJ asked (me) what kind of car I would drive if nothing else mattered (kids, money, etc)... Sam answered for me: "I want a red and blue striped camper... with an candion (cannon) on the back!" Note to self... don't tailgate Sam!!!! It used to be Pop's 'orange juice truck' with a super big rocket engine!? Come to think of it - I wonder if the need for the rocket engine has something to do with Pop's driving? hahahahaha!!!!!!!

That's all I have right now! :-( I'll think of more soon!!!!!!!

He's Going WHERE?

Sam came home the other day with THIS in his book bag... He's graduating from Pre-School ALREADY??? You want me to send him WHERE??????

But leave it to BJ to lighten the mood...

Then came the day I had to go to his new Elementary School and REGISTER him for KINDERGARTEN!!!! I was really great the whole time - thinking about it, doing it, etc.  Then I got in the car and burst into tears!? He's growing up so fast! I can't slow it down!!!!!

But he is SUPER excited about going to Kindergarten..... that makes me happy!

Cat and Mouse

One thing about my new-found career that makes me sad is that I have less and less time to look at/edit my own personal pictures! :-( I plan to MAKE time by the end of the week!?

Until then, here's a quick Sam / Jake fact......

When watching TV, they love to 'assign' themselves a character... then they narrate the entire show/movie! It's quite humorous to listen to! Especially when they are narrating together (Jake is UNABLE to be quiet at ANY given moment in a day... Sam can be if he wants to)! One of my favorites is Tom and Jerry.  Jake is typically the mouse and Sam is typically the cat (appropriate, I think).  You'll hear them say, "Ouch! You hit me!" or "Whack! I got you! Haha!" and such things.... It's so funny, and I personally think it's healthier that they interact with the TV than just sit and watch it blindly!? Or that's what I'm telling myself since I obviously let them watch TV a good bit! haha!!!!!

Our Family Photo Op...

So I have to stop my own family and take pictures every now and then... and it's not easy!
And cooperation is usually minimal...
Actually, when I take pictures of my family - I'll say they are the MOST difficult!!!! Hahahaha!!!!

But it's totally worth it (to a mommy who loves pictures of her sweet family), when you get these:

We DO have to go through a few short-tempered moments, raising of the voice, and minimal cooperation from these beautiful subjects...

But they're so sweet when you snap at precisely the right moment...

Or you have to stop for a moment... and you can't resist but to capture those sweet little hineys!!!

But if you snap a moment too late, you'll get the choke hold...

Then I try to remember how I get other people's kids to give me those perfectly happy faces, so I let my own kiddos roam and do something fun... well worth it when you get these:

The family shot... this was a bit more difficult to come across...

But we succeeded again - somehow!!!

I don't guess mommy and daddy were very cooperative either... but we learned from the best!

Mimi and Pop Pop did the best!!!

All the sweat and loud authoritative voices (some people may call it yelling or raising one's voice) is totally worth it now when I can look back and remember these precious faces that I have frozen in time now!!! But, dear God, I don't want to do it again anytime soon! ;-)

Just Had to Share...

For some, this may be TMI... but it made me laugh, so I'm writing it down!

The other night, the boys got undressed to get in the bathtub.  Jake was running back to the bathroom from putting his clothes in the dirty clothes basket and stopped and asked me, "Mommy, can you scratch my hiney?" So, like any good mother would, I gave his little cheeks a little scratch.  He looked around and said, "No, mommy - inside my hiney!"

Ummmm.... that's where I draw the line!!!! Only with protection!!! ;-)

Boys will be Boys...

I have a feeling I'll be saying this a lot in my lifetime....

This time, BJ and I were upstairs working to finish putting Jake's new bunk bed together (more on that later)... we heard the kids downstairs playing [happily] together and seized the few moments of sanity to finish everything up.  BJ went and looked over the balcony to make sure they were doing ok.  I heard an "uh. oh. Tammy, come look at this!" and knew it wasn't going to be pretty.... I could NEVER have fathomed how bad it really was!!!!  They had gotten into the empty boxes from the furniture - that was conveniently packed with large Styrofoam pieces to keep it from scratching.... they were "making it snow." Literally crumbling the rather large pieces everywhere... on their heads, the floor, the walls - you name it!

There was no way to get mad.  Just laugh, embrace their creativity.... and clean it up!!!!  We had to vacuum everything... literally! It was stuck to clothes, walls, carpet, in their ears, in their noses and in their mouths [after the fact, I realized that they could have choked.... but not to worry - they had it crumbled in way too small of pieces for that to have been an issue!]  This is just 'one of those stories' that I'll probably remember for the rest of my life - and will probably laugh harder each time I remember it!  That actual day.... there may not have been yelling, but there certainly wasn't any laughing!!!!!!

Here are the two guilty parites... Sam's apparently ill that I made him stop to take the picture!

The picture just doesn't do the mess justice!!!!

At least they're cute in all the mess!!!!

As for the bedroom / bunk bed... pictures to come later - the room is FAR from done!!!!!! But Jake is on his way to having a non-nursury - bona fide big boy room!!!!!

Run, BJ, RUN!

I know I don't blog about my wonderful husband very much - no reason in particular... the kids are pretty much the most interesting thing either of us has going on!!! ;-) And since he's totally involved (Thank the Lord), he gets his 'face time' on the blog when I'm posting about those two little guys!!!!

BUUUUT..... BJ has decided that now is the time to run a marathon.  Yes.  26.3 miles.  On foot.  Running.  Ridiculous, crazy, insane, dumb..... all words that come to mind! And of course, he chose to train at the coldest time of the year!?!?!?  HOWEVER - it is something he wants to do, so I am 100% on board and supportive!!!!  I told him that he didn't have to pay to run in the actual race though - I'll be happy to get a stopwatch, the Suburban and the kids hanging out the back and lead him around for 26.3 miles (I figured I would 'lead' so that he couldn't get run over and he could jump in the back at any point :-).  We can throw water at to him, protein packs, etc.... and I am POSITIVE it would be much more entertaining.  He didn't like that idea... he is already registered for the Atlanta Marathon!!!  I was hoping for the Orlando Marathon...... WHATEVER!!!!!!!

Anyway.... yesterday (before all the snow hit), he ran his longest training distance yet - 14 miles.  And if I were one to brag - he did it at a pace of 8.5 min/mile.  Impressive.  For anyone that knows BJ, he is a researcher... so he researched everything known to man about long-distance running, etc... including how to do ice baths to help alleviate sore muscles.  To me - no research needed: cold water + a couple bags of ice = ICE BATH!!!!  That's pretty much what BJ found out too! Hahaha!!!!  So we set him up when he got home from his run.....

I even added bath salts...

I really wish I had the sound effects along with these pictures (face only - no worries)!!!!!

And that was just his toe!!!!

Easing in.......

WHY would someone do this to themselves ON PURPOSE!?!?

Well, regardless.... he has my full support!  I will happily draw baths and take pictures!!!! HAHAHEEHEEHOHO!!!!!! (That was my best attempt at an 'evil' laugh!!!!!)

So, as I mentioned earlier - it snowed - A LOT (for GA - which is 6 inches and counting!)...... so....... we will be 'back to our regularly scheduled blogging' with the next post....... but I promise to update the marathon training progress as well - the entertaining parts anyway!!!!! ;-)

The-At-Least-Once-A-Month-Random-Pics Post...

Where do these random pics/posts come from??? Mostly my camera phone.... because it's always handy to capture those funny/special moments that don't necessarily require the 'big' camera!  Technology is awesome! Enjoy......

My three boys spending quality time...

Two sick boys...

Getting better when we mention getting the Christmas tree out!!!

Their new hats and gloves for the winter...

This time, Jake is doing HIS homework... you see Sam with a 'red horn?'

The tree... no ornaments...

Changing light bulbs... Sam LOVES to do this!

Good thing we had two out - Jake wanted his own too!

I'm sad to say that I found these in MY stuff when cleaning out a drawer... they were put to good use!

And the Snowman tree-topper (a few days later)... the blur at the bottom is Jake's head - you can see they got better rather quickly!

Sam has a set of Legos in my bathroom, and he is forever creating new spaceships...

Awwwww.... Reading with Dad (The Grinch, I believe!?)

And they NEEDED socks to keep them warm too...

Sam on Uncle Bo's iPad after Thanksgiving.  It was a rainy day, and he didn't put it down ALL day... his neck was hurting by the end of the day!!!!

My crazy Jake...

Sam about to brave the cold in carpool...

Jake aka Batman...

Sam thinks he has to strangle Jake to get a picture together!?!?

NOW... ornaments are on (about 3 weeks later)!!!

Another one of Sam's robot/ship things... and we always have to email Daddy a picture!

On this particular morning, he couldn't quite decide WHAT his alter-ego was going to be..... Batman, tool man, Buzz, birdwatcher, Iron Man!?!?!?

Jake either, actually... Batman or Woody?

I love it when Sam helps his little brother!!!

So now I'm caught up on random pictures lying around!!!!

Sometimes you Need a Laugh...

We've all been waiting for it.... here it is.....

Jake's first boogie (that he has picked himself!)

My day is complete... how about yours? As a mom, you tend to document the strangest things!?!? Sam has this thing where when he picks his nose - no matter where he is, I am, or what he is doing; he gives me the boogie... driving down the road, when he's in bed, at the park, etc - he takes the time out to bring it to me.  I just feel that is better than wiping it in places I will find later.... so now Jake has joined in his efforts....

Also - if you need another disgusting laugh.... we were in the car earlier, and Sam told me his legs get sore sometimes.  I (unknowingly) inquired as to WHEN his legs got sore.  Pretty much when he's going poopie!

And today Sam PEED (and you know I don't like to use that word) in the SINK!?!?  Just thought it was a good idea....

Ahhhh.... my kids are SOOOO cute!!!!!

Vehicle Maintenance

Even the little ones need to wash their vehicles!!! And he knows that keeping the wheels clean can make the entire car look cleaner...

LMBO!!!!!

When I asked Sam to show Jake how we smile for his (school) pictures, this is what he gave me!

I told him that if he does that for them and this is what they send me home, I'll get him a prize!