Up Up and OFF!

That's right...Matthew is busting out his hidden energy! Off he goes...no fear...as you can see. Today I accidently lost him. Looks like it's back to wearing the tie dye shirts so I can pick them out of a crowd easier!
Red, sweaty, hot and sticky! My little boy :)

A Butterfly Release party!

What a fun morning! Friends of ours raised Monarch caterpillars and invited us all over to watch them be released. The kids got to make a butterfly, drink nectar and eat very yummie butterfly cookies specially prepared by Ms. Jen!

Thank you Jen, You ROCK!

This picture looks like a serious case of boys vs. girls!

Making Butterflies Art & Craft
Drinking Nectar!
Matthew just wanted to know if she had food for him!
Here is one of the 3 butterflies that is just waiting to be released into freedom!
There they go!!!

Animal Adventure Morning

Wednesday has been reserved for the Animal Adventure Morning. This event usually takes place around 9 a.m. I load up the critters in the stroller and we venture over to the park where we go on an adventure. Sam thinks he sees elephants, monkeys, giraffe's etc...but the reality of it is, there are snakes, spiders, ants, frogs and birds. They boys love hanging out on the long bridge that connects our subdivision to the park. The stomp their feet and wait for the fall of pinecones in the forest. They look for sticks to pick up and throw in the preserve.

Priceless moments like this are worth the sticky hot humid mornings that surround us by fog.

A favorite Florida picture!

"Matthew, stop talking, I think I hear the elephant"

Watching the butterflies

Looking for the reptile

Mommy, "Sam, what are you and Matthew doing?"
Sam: "mommy, I'm looking for the anaconda"
Matthew: "aaahhh? doggie? daddy? aaaahhhh?"

YIKES...I hope ther isn't one of those in the yard as well. YUCK!

Nice Work

He tried dressing himself the other morning...and then told me he couldn't walk....wonder why! The concept was there, the effort was exhausted. At least the under ware went on first, then the shorts and then the shirt. Nice efforts Sam!!

Unwanted Reptile

EEEWWWWW EEEEWWWW YUCK!

YUCK YUCK YUCK
Hmmmm...we thought our Armadillo was gross....today was WORSE...
We have another new pet in our yard...and it is disgusting.....
A SNAKE!!!! YUCK.
The body is about 2 feet LONG...the head sprouts up every so often and hisses. YUCK YUCK YUCK. The worst part about the snake is.....unlike the armadillo, the snake could possibly slither under our door and get INTO our living quarters. YUCK YUCK YUCK...

I just send B to Wal-Mart to purchase moth balls. Our dearest bug man Ralph told us to place moth balls around the outside perimeter of our home to keep the snakes out. I just laughed. He's told me this over and over and over. Today....I'm not laughing. Those balls will look like snow against the perimeter of my house from now on. I HATE SNAKES. And, we have to have a converstaion with our neighbors. Just the other day, we noticed mothballs around the perimiter of their home. SO...because our homes are only 12 inches apart, I wonder if they FOUND a snake in their home OR because they put the moth balls up, all the snakes are heading OUR way?!?!?!

I did take a picture of his head peaking above the grass, and when I download it, it will be posted. YUCK YUCK YUCK.

Just Sam

If he can do it, so can I...

Remember the post: http://teplinfamily.blogspot.com/2007/02/washing-dishes_22.htmlWell,

Matthew thinks he is old enough to do the same. His little hand, pointing to the step ladder that is housed behind the fridge. The floor, soaked. His shirt, soaked. His feet, drenched. The floor mat, soaked. His voice, happy as can be! Oh how I love him.

The wet week

It's been a wet soggy dreary week. Going outside was impossible as the rains just poured out of the sky. Here is a picture we took last night as the clouds were sailing over our house. The sky was pink. You can kind of see the white little rain drops.

Boys

Boys. I have two of them. One with no fear, one with fear of an ant.

Why is it that every toy needs to crash into the other? Why is it fun to throw a toy at your brother and tell him to "fetch"? Why is it more fun to jump from couch to couch? Why is it that it's more fun to run around the house naked? Why is it never the right time to leave the park? Why do we yell and scream at the top of our lungs when we're in the middle of the library? Why is every toy a train? Why is every dinner time a free for all with food flying across the kitchen? Why is every meal I serve not the right meal? Why are bath times so much more fun when mommy is soaked, and the bathroom is drenched? Why is it funny when mommy says no to just do it anyways? Why why why?

Why do girls sit still and wait for their toe nails to dry? Why do girls dream about becoming a princess and waving so graciously a magic wand? Why do girls play tea party, my boys play, who can throw the teapot high enough to hit the picture off the wall. Why do girls get to wear pink? My boys have so much Shout it out in their clothes, I forget what color they were?

Just had to get these questions out....thank goodness it's bedtime. It was one of those days today. Now it's time for a cocktail!

Boys will be boys...

The new 4 wheeled friend

Due to the recent disaster of the slow smashed death of the 3 wheeled tricycle, that mommy accidentally ran over with her monster van, the new 4 wheeled bike with training wheels has been put together!

Today Sam, Matthew and I met some friends at the park and decided (for exercise purposes) to walk there (which was a LONG walk in this heat and humidity that returned). Sam on his bike, mommy with Matthew in the stroller. He is so stinkin' cute on his new 4 wheeled bike, with his sweaty helmet on. He did GREAT. The only challenge he has now is understanding that the pedals will stop the bike, unlike his smashed tricycle.

He showed off his new set of wheels to everyone. He told his buddy Brendan, I don't know how many times, about how the tires are bigger than the other bike. Brendan just kept asking, "can I have a turn" as Sam would speed right past him, not even looking at him. When anyone would come close to his bike, he would politely say, "no this is my bike, I don't want you to get hurt." I mean after all, some of the kids were 5 inches taller than him :).
My little show off!

Thank you Gaga and Papa for the bike! Sam can't wait to show off his new moves to you in a few weeks!!!! By the way...where is my little boy???

Matthew's vocab:

AAAHHHH AAAHHH
NeNe (thank you Sam)
Thank you (sounds like ank u)
AAAHHH AAAHHH
am (Sam)
Daddy (NOT MOMMY)

We're a little slow in the speaking department, however, this video is just him! Wine point wine point wine wine and sooner than later he'll get what he wants. But, I have to admit...not being about the use words must be completely frustrating!

Frosting for Sam!

Sam finished his cake, then Matthews, then Mommy's, then daddy's and then asked for more!

This child can SMELL frosting. He is addicted to it. He talks about HIS birthday party at least 3 times a day. He tells us who is coming, who is not coming, what kind of cake he is going to order, what presents he's going to receive and always reminds us that Matthew is still 1 and he is going to be 3. I can't WAIT to see the look on his face when Thomas the train pulls up on the sidewalk for his birthday. Life will NEVER be the same!!!!

Happy 30th Birthday Daddy!

September 12th came along and Daddy finally caught up in age to mommy! Unfortunately for Daddy, he had to work today. However, he was treated like a prince at work as his co-workers surprised him with great food, presents and cake! Happy birthday Daddy!

Matthew thinks all this sugar goes along really well with milk!

Shovel it in Sam....

Another Birthday Celebration in FL

Happy Birthday Mimi!

Mimi made the trip down from Wisconsin as a present from Papa Tom! It was so nice for her to spend her birthday with us. We picked Mimi up from the airport (on time) and she spent 6 days with us! We got to show her all around Jacksonville and take her to our favorite hang outs.

Opening presents!

A homemade cake especially for Mimi!

We went to the Ocean...

We made necklaces....boy necklaces...

We ate out...

We had a photo shoot in the park...