Even the boys like the new bed......

When we first got our new bed, I walked into the bedroom and found the boys all cozied up in our bed!  They were so cute, I had to grab the camera and take a few shots!  Poor babies....they never get to sleep in our bed unless they are running a really high fever, so they couldn't have been any cuter telling me how they wanted to sleep in mommy and daddy's bed for the night!  For the record, they didn't, but the pictures show how cute they were in the process of trying!

The following morning, I let them sit on the kitchen counter while I made pancakes, their favorite!  I snapped that shot as well!

Master Suite Make-over

For many years, Harry and I have wanted new bedroom furniture.  Well, who am I kidding?  I have wanted new furniture.  Harry, I think, was perfectly happy with the furniture that we had.....furniture that he contributed when we got married.  There was nothing wrong with his furniture, but it wasn't my taste at all!  Imagine that! 

I've been looking on and off for a while, but I found the furniture that I REALLY wanted a few weeks before Christmas, and we decided to bite the bullet and make the big purchase.  Of course, soon after the purchase, we realized that NOW was the time to remove the bedroom carpet and put down hardwood floors.  Our bedroom was the only room left downstairs that still had carpet.  So, we did that as well. 

Well, you can't have new floors and new furniture without getting new lamps, a new ceiling fan, and new bedding....right?  .....Right?  Add to that a few new picture frames and tassels for the existing drapes....and we're in business. 

The pictures below show off our new Master Retreat, as we like to call it.  Because, let's face it, for the first time in 6 1/2 years of marriage, we truly feel like we have a retreat in our very own home. 

Arts & Crafts

Since most of you know me so well, you will understand what a huge breakthrough it was for me to allow the boys to do arts and crafts this weekend.  First of all, I didn't buy them!  My friend, Tricia, gave them as party favors, and the boys saw them, and Benjamin couldn't have been any more excited at the thought of "painting!" 

So....I took the arts and crafts table (that I purchased in the Fall but have only used once or twice) out to the back patio area.  I put aprons on the boys (that my friend, Jana, gave to them - THANK YOU, JANA), and we were all set up and ready to paint.

Benjamin was very neat and organized, as usual, and Timothy.....oh, our sweet, Timothy, was all over the place - spilling his water, trying to eat his art, painting his face, and finally..just sticking the whole paint brush in his mouth.  Of course, Benjamin found this so funny that he followed suit! 

I'll admit, it was painful for me to watch, but as usual, I was there snapping photos the entire time I was yelling, "Don't do that!"  "Stop it!"  "NO!"  Needless to say, they were only outside about 20 minutes before they were stripped and showered clean, but I think they had fun in the process, and I have pictures to prove that I allowed them to do it!  See below!

The fun is just getting started!

Benjamin - concentrating on his work!

Timothy - All over the place!

So proud of himself! 

Benjamin switches back and forth between his left and right hands!

The fun is really starting now!

Benjamin just couldn't resist playing along!

Not to be outdone, Timothy adds more paint to his face!

Are we having fun yet?

Benjamin paints his apron!!!!

Timothy will not be beat!!!!  MORE paint!

Good try, Benjamin - but Timothy still wins!

Even on this teeth from eating it! 

One last shot before being showered!

I think we'll wait another 6 months or so before we paint again! 

Conversations with the boys!

Conversations are getting more and more interesting at our house these days.  The boys are really starting to talk to each other, and it is hilarious to hear some of the things that they say to each other.  I can't near remember all of the cute and funny things that they say throughout the day, but below, is a list of a few funny ones that stick out in my mind!

One week ago - while I was getting Timothy out of the bed first thing in the morning:
     Timothy:  "Daddy!  Daddy!  Daddy!"
     Mommy:  "Daddy is not here."
     Timothy:  "WHY?"
     Mommy:  "Because daddy is at work."
     Timothy:  "WHY?"
     Mommy:  "Because daddy needs to make money!"
     Timothy:  "WHY?"
     Mommy:  "So that we can have a house!"
     Timothy:  (without missing a beat) "NO HOUSE!"

A couple of weeks ago, while we were singing happy birthday to Timothy:
     Mommy:  "Benjamin, why aren't you singing?"
     Benjamin:  "I'm too jealous to sing!  I'm busy and jealous!"

Riding in the car last week, heading to a playdate:
     Benjamin and Timothy were conversing with each other, and as mommy joined in on the conversation, Benjamin said, "NO MOMMY.  I was talking to brother!"

Mommy saying her final goodnight to Benjamin Saturday night (after reading books, saying prayers, and singing songs.):
     Mommy:  "Goodnight Benjamin.  Sweet dreams.  God bless you.  I love you."
     Benjamin:  "Wait, mommy!  I want to hug and kiss you!"
     (Mommy going back to hug and kiss Benjamin AGAIN.)
     Mommy:  "Night night!"
     Benjamin:  "I love you!"
     Mommy:  (Exiting the room....)
     Benjamin:  "Wait!  Sweet dreams!  God bless you, mommy!"
     Mommy:  (Smiling)  "I love you, Benjamin!"
     Benjamin:  (Smiling) "I love you too, mommy!"

California Christmas and New Year

Harry, the boys, and I traveled to California the day after Christmas to spend a week with my sister's family in San Jose. We had such a fun time celebrating Christmas with them, followed by my dad's 66th birthday, and ringing in the New Year! Harry and I even got away for a couple of days, spending a night in Carmel, one of our favorite places! We had such a relaxing time, and it was nice to have some "us" time with no distractions. I think the pictures below speak for themselves! Happy 2010!

Texas Christmas

We had a very low key Christmas this year at our house in Kingwood.  Nonna, Poppa, and MaMa came in on Christmas Eve, and we ate an early dinner at a local Mexican Food Restaurant.  With no mess to clean up, we were able to start opening gifts by 6:00pm. 

After opening gifts, the boys each watched a special, personal message from Santa on the computer, and then were off to bed!  Santa visited us on Christmas Eve and left a few gifts, and we enjoyed playing with them on Christmas Day.  We flew to California to visit my sister the day after Christmas - more on that later.  For now, please see pictures of our Texas Christmas below.

 Our family:  Benjamin, Julie, Harry, & Timothy

 Nonna & Poppa pose with the boys!

 Julie & Harry

 MaMa - 88 years young!

 Benjamin playing with his new Leapster.

 Timothy singing on his new microphone while

watching his new Wiggles DVD.

 Benjamin doing the same - with his new guitar!

 A new firetruck and police car!  They make noise!  Wow!

 Benjamin intently watching his message from Santa!

 Timothy really listened to his personal message too! 

 A rock-n-roll band in the making!

Guess who is going to play lead?

Who is putting who to sleep?

 Santa visits Kingwood!

 Timothy likes his plasma car!

 Benjamin sits on his new big boy bike to watch the Wiggles!

 Not one to be left out - Timothy sits on Benjamin's bike too!

 Timothy, our little sharer, wants Liesl to sing Karaoke! 

I don't think she is interested, do you?

 Benjamin rides on the horse swing from Nonna & Poppa!

 Timothy loves it too!

Liesl being such a good girl - sitting and watching.

 Benjamin tries out the new scooter!

 He's riding the bike really well!

Here, he tries to hit the baseball!

Harry's gift....the 52" TV.......that he got for himself.  :-)