Stay Classy

Pretty much sums it up.

See how sweet they look?

Even sweeter, right?

And yet... see the undercurrent of aggression? As in "I love you, you're my best friend... and at any moment this hug might become a choke hold"?

That's pretty much their whole relationship, captured on film (not that anyone uses film anymore, but that's neither here not there).

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Spring Sing

Brady made his stage debut this morning.

Ok, so it was less a 'stage' than the sanctuary of the church where he goes to preschool. And it wasn't so much a 'show' as it was a group of 3 and 4 year olds sing/yelling all the songs they've learned this year.

But for my boy... the dark haired skinny one all the way on the left-hand side... it may as well have been Broadway. He was SO excited. He's been talking about it for weeks, and last night he asked if we could go to the store and buy a 'new fancy suit' for the occasion. I convinced him that a button-up shirt and khakis would suffice.

He sang every word of every song with the most amazing little smile in his face-- a little shy, but mostly proud. The way he picked me out of the crowd and smiled at me after every song nearly turned me into a puddle of mush (and picking me out did take some work on his part-- Zack was not nearly as enthralled with the singing as Paul and I were, and so I spent the entire time moving around the back of the church and shushing him). And director's son that Brady is, he gave subtle little disapproving glances at the kids who sang too fast.

When it was all over, he ran to Paul with so much excitement that there may or may not have nearly been some man tears. Our boy was SO proud of himself, and I am even more proud of him.

It was definitely a Moment.

And then Zack loudly announced for the hundredth time, "I jus wan go HOME!" So we followed the crowd back to the classroom, where the excitement of donut holes quickly overshadowed Brady's excitement about his performance.

It was a good morning.

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Train Love

Forget about the animals. For my kids, going to the zoo is all about riding the train. We do it at the end of every visit, mostly so I can use it as incentive to be good ("If you throw that stick, you're not riding the train." "If you're not nice to your brother, you're not riding the train.").

Works every time.

That's Brady, Zack, and their train-loving buddy Vincent, willingly posing for a picture-- as long as they could pose with the train-crossing signal.

Thank goodness the zoo (and, of course, the train) are open again for the season. I needed that bribery ammo.

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Self-aware

Brady: Look how cute we are, Mom! Come take a picture!

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Sometimes..

Sometimes Brady drives me absolutely crazy. He is at an age where he challenges and defies like its his job (which, developmentally, I suppose it is).

And then, just when I think I can't take much more, when I am tired and testy and short with him, he'll do something like what he did this afternoon. He brought me a book about Easter and asked me to read it to him. And when I was done, he said, "Mommy, I want to write you an Easter card. It will say 'Dear Mommy, I love you so much that I want to be with you on all the days. Thank you for everything you give me.'"

Sigh. I think God must give them some innate sense of when it's time to turn on the Mom-melting sweetness.

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4!

Last month, this guy turned 4. He made his big-boy birthday wishes...

I should explain the cake. It's... pretty, right? You're dying to know how I made a thing of such beauty?

Here's my secret-- bake a chocolate bundt cake, and (now here's the secret part!) make sure the entire top sticks in the pan. Make a glaze, drizzle it over the whole thing, and then tell your kid it's a "mountain cake". He will seriously freaking love it, and tell everyone about his awesome birthday cake.

Even more awesome than his mountain cake was his awesome pirate party at the Lincoln Children's Museum. Brady does love his pirates. (That blue stuff is the 'beard' he painted on.) 

All his best buddies were there.

And yes, he does count his brother among his best buddies. Brady and Zack are honestly BFFs these days, and it is one of the sweetest things I've ever seen.

And no, I did no make another mountain cake for the party. We had cupcakes made by an actual professional at an actual bakery (not that the kids noticed or cared!).

There were, of course, plenty of presents. Brady enjoyed this part just a little.

We got half of the kids there in costume and into a photo, which may be the closest to a successful group picture I've ever gotten at a kid's party.

They're pretty cute, right? I love that Brady already has such great friends that make him so happy.

Mostly, though, I love my sweet, smart, adorable, creative, happy 4-year-old! 

Crazy Uncle Andy

I already mentioned that it took my brother coming to visit from California to finally get me to suck it up and really play in the snow. I immediately felt bad that we haven't done more of it, because Brady seriously may have had one of the best days of his life. 

Can you tell? Could his smile BE any bigger (insert Chandler Bing inflection)?

It wasn't just the snow, though. My boys love them some Crazy Uncle Andy.

Plus, he's content to let the boys jump on him. Wrestling, as it turns out, is a sure way to their little boy hearts. And not having to be the one getting jumped on goes a really long way with me.

Come back soon, Andy! Please!

Mama Do

I have this almost-two-year-old whose favorite phrase of late is "Mama do!"

As in, Mama do it.

"It" can be anything-- putting him in his high chair, wiping his nose, handing him his milk. The other day he actually accepted a goldfish cracker from Paul, then brought it over and gave it to me so that I could hand it back to him. Then, and only then, would he eat it.

Mama do.

The amazing part is that he no longer cares if I leave the house without him. He'll give me a hug, shout "Bye Mama! Love you!" and then go about his business. He LOVES playing with his Daddy. But if I'm here, he's all about Mama do.

For the first time in forever, he's started waking up again at night (thankfully early enough that I'm usually still awake), just needing to check in with me. And if I can't be the one to hold and rock him through his post-nap crankiness, it's not going to be a pleasant evening.

He knows there are changes in the works, I think. All this talk about Baby Sister has left my little guy a little extra needy. As I seem to be reminded so much lately, I will indeed miss this. I won't always be this little boy's whole world.

Mama do.

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California Dreaming...

I don't think I ever appreciated LA in January until I spent January somewhere else. Wait... you mean everyone doesn't get to go to the park in t-shirts in the middle of winter?

I am now a huge fan of the January trip to LA. We spent a fabulous week visiting family, surprising people with the news of another Durban baby, going to a fabulously un-crowded Disneyland (!!), and wearing t-shirts to the park in the middle of winter.

Well, some of us did. Others hunkered down in sweatshirts and napped in the park in the middle of winter. Which, as far as I'm concerned, is just as good.

Even better than playing in the park in January? Swimming in January. Poppi Ken's pool just might be Brady's favorite place in the world.

Zack has a growing affinity for it as well.

My mom spent a day with us at Kidspace... which, being LA in January, somehow also involved a waterfight.

The boys also spent a few days beating up on Uncle Andy, which is also among their favorite activities.

And then... Disneyland with Paul's whole family. But that deserves its very own post!

I miss you, LA!

Better late than never!

Yeah, so... Christmas. It wasn't THAT long ago, right? And it's definitely not embarrassing that it's taken me over two months to actually upload the photos I took.

Actually, I waffled on whether to even post these at all, given how old they are now. But I figure it's a 'better late than never' situation, and the grandparents will love them even in March!

With that, I give you... Christmas 2011.

I still can't believe Zack let Santa hold him. He didn't smile, but he didn't cry either, which I consider a victory. Santa told me it was because he's the real Santa, and kids can tell. I'm pretty sure it had way more to do with Zack's fascination with the candy cane Santa gave him.

Whatever... Zack didn't scream.

Out of focus, but too much happy not to share. Apparently, Christmas Eve is exciting.

Brady's request for Santa was very specific: a pirate hat, pirate sword, and pirate telescope. Santa threw in a pirate shirt for good measure (because if you bought the whole set, it qualified for free shipping).

My dad's fiance got the boys a fort-building kit, which has become a near-daily activity.

So there you have it... Christmas did come for the Durbans this year (even if it took me until March 4th to share it)! (Belated) Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!