three.

Jack & Braden, I always knew I would teach you but never imagined how much you would teach me. The unconditional way in which you love dad and I - but especially each other - takes my breath away.

Jack you are such a musician. You will strum anything, you are constantly singing a tune and dance? Oh boy can you dance. You are so, so sensitive and dare I say - dramatic. Your heart is so big, you care about other people's pain as much as your own.

Braden you love to laugh and it is so contagious. You know what you want and are determined to get it. You play so rough but you hug so tight and you love so deep.

I hope you both will always embrace your individuality but remain bonded by the fact that you knew each other first. Before any of us had the chance to meet you, you knew each other.

Happy, happy birthday my little boys.

Here are some pictures from their birthday celebrations.

We had a small party on their birthday where they got birthday cupcakes




and a couple of presents.



I kind of forgot how loud Hungry Hungry Hippos was

But the real party was on Sunday! When the boys woke up from their nap the party was underway.




They opened presents


and blew out the candles,




but all they really wanted to do was play with our new toys!!










To everyone who took the time out of your day to make the trip to our new house we are sincerely grateful. Hearing everyone sing Happy Birthday to the boys in our dining room brought tears to my eyes. My heart was so full of love, thank you.

Our new home

To say a lot has happened since my last post would be an understatement.

In the middle of June we said goodbye to our old home. While the transition wasn't smooth, we are here and we are getting settled. The boys started at their new daycare just two days after we moved. I cried the first day and they cried the second but each day since has been a new adventure for them. They have made so many new friends and they adore their new teachers. We worried a lot about how the boys would handle this transition. They loved their daycare, they were comfortable in our house and they knew what to expect. This summer, on average, we stayed in a place a week for eleven weeks. And you know what? They didn't even flinch. As long as Brian and I were there they slept great.

We have made a couple of trips back to Cheshire. On one of those trips we went with Grandma to pick out pumpkins and go for a hay ride!













We miss a lot of things about Cheshire - and we knew we would. But, we love a lot of things about our new home. We have moved in the middle of an established community that has welcomed us in a way we couldn't have expected. I remember talking to someone about making this move and they said "living on a school campus is like having your kids grow up with a community of people loving them". In just the few months that we have been here I can already see that happening.


Here are some pictures of our new house:











Life is different here. Not better -or worse- just different. Some say it's country living, I think it is just quiet living. But, it won't be quiet for long - we've got a third birthday to plan!

Easter

It isn't until I sit down to update the blog that I realize how much I enjoy it. It's just too bad it takes a holiday (and harrassing e-mails from a cousin who shall remain nameless)...
Either way, here we go...

This year Easter was more than chocolate and bunnies. It was a chance to get away from our crazy life in CT and hang out with my parents for the weekend. I am fairly certain my mom had the boys' bed made for at least 2 weeks in anticipation of their visit. I think we all needed the down time that the weekend gave us. We sat at the island in the kitchen and talked about life's big decisions, reminiced about Grammy Henry's brownies and ate - a lot. And because there are no rules at Grammy's the boys got Peeps for breakfast and got to sleep in a big boy bed together.

On Easter morning we waited for everyone to get up and then Brian distracted the boys so I could hide some eggs and set out their baskets.

The hunt was on...




They found all sorts of treasures...




but they didn't understand the concept of putting it in the basket to be rationed out at our discretion. They wanted to eat it as they found it. So we let them...




and 20 minutes later things were quiet.




Once rested, Daddy took the boys for a walk...


and to test out those new bubbles.


Jack made sure his new bunny had enough to eat too.

This one's for you Grandma...

When Grandma and Grandpa left for Florida, I promised to be better about updating the blog... oops!

A lot to share...

On one of the many snow days I have had this month I made some homemade playdough. The boys had a great time with it!





The snow days have also provided some great outdoor fun with, well, SNOW!
Jack was really ready to get out there and jump into all this snow! While Braden was a little more reserved and decided the garage was a good place to hang out!


Eating snow is pretty good too!


Jack has decided that he doesn't like sleeping alone anymore. As soon as we tuck each of the boys into their own bed Jack grabs his blanket and runs into Braden's bed. Each night before Brian and I go to bed, I go in and kiss the boys. Friday night, I went in and found this:


Last night, this:

That is Braden squished in the corner and it's his bed!

And just to prove that even though I haven't kept my promise of updating the blog, we really do miss you Grandma! (Grandpa too)

Good times

Christmas was magical. I have always loved Christmas. As a kid my sister and I would stay up as late as we could to listen for Santa and his reindeer on the roof. We would always wake the next morning so sure that we had heard him. It was validated when we came downstairs and he had left all the the things we had asked for on the hearth. As an adult a little of that magic goes away. Until you have kids. This year, I had butterflies in my stomach as we were setting the hearth with gifts and filling stockings. Having my parents here to share all this with was amazing too. It was so much fun to talk about a time when they were doing this for us.

I wasn't sure what to expect on Christmas morning. It was clear the boys didn't know who Santa was and that he was going to be coming down our chimney with a sac of gifts, but it was also clear that our downstairs playroom was now filled with tricycles, toy cars, and wrapped gifts.



The boys came downstairs on Christmas morning and Braden caught a glimpse of the tricycles before he actually made it down the stairs. He quickly made his way to the doorway and ran to them yelling (squealing really) "Bicycles"!!


Buzz ended up causing such a scene we had to go out the next morning and buy another.



It was awesome. They day only got better. Filled with family, laughter, fun and Bavarian creme pie!

And now, Christmas is over and just like that another year is gone. 2010 was a great one!

We got our first haircuts




We spent many afternoons swimming in Sharon and Ron's pool.


We had a great vacation on Cape Cod.



Went for ice cream with Grandma.


In 2011 I am going to focus on living in the moment. I tend to always be thinking about the next moment, the next milestone. Like when we were reminiscing with my parents about Christmas' from my childhood I couldn't help but think about a time when the boys will be all grown up and doing this with their children. Dude, they're 2, pull it together. Despite several pep talks from my better half I still worry and think ahead and worry about thinking ahead. I am a planner by nature and so it will be about finding balance. Oh, and birthday cards. I am going to be better about Birthday cards.

Happy New Year!