Happy birthday Niles, Ni-guy, Niley-noodle, Mr. Magoo, Nye-Nye, Niley-poo (did I forget any?)

While you don't let us call you too many of your nicknames anymore, the reason we have always done it is because of the love we feel for you and how incredibly cute you have ALWAYS been. You are so funny and serious and curious and caring, I can't help but love you. On your birthday (that you've been counting down to since August;) I want you to know how much we do love you and look forward to everyday with you:) It doesn't seem possible that you are 13, but you are. My heart is feeling a little achey right now because I know you're headed for great, exciting things...but that might mean I'll lose little parts of you to others (but you'll always keep a part for me, right?)

You changed my name forever and I'm so grateful that God has let me have the privledge of being your Mom, I'm looking forward to getting to know the big boy you. I love you Niles...love, Mom.

My kids are silly (in the very best way)

So I promised Aunt Ashley I'd post a good picture of the guys tomorrow morning, but then I realized, it's my Niley-noodle's birthday, so I have to have a Niles' devoted post.

I don't know why it is, but Roy and I love to buy the goofiest clothes for our boys...these shorts on Fletch are no exception, the only difference is Ashley was my accomplice in this purchase, he's really filling them out, huh? And there he is with his trusty side kick, inside out book cover man! No really, that's his costume~~an inside out book cover...I love these little weirdos.

mmmm weekends....

What a great weekend, nothing to do, nothing planned...just lots and lots of together time. We had 3 nights of family movie night. So great, snuggling on the couch answering Fletcher's 1,500 questions a minute about any given topic in the movie. The Wizard of Oz REALLY sent him for a loop, but it was fun seeing the film through their eyes.

Now as we start off Monday, the boys are nursing colds (with crazy, crazy coughs), I just hope it will be all clear by the weekend for Niles' big birthday extravaganza...Aunt Ashley is going to party with the little ones, so Niles can enjoy big boy time with his friends.

So, this weekend was so relaxed, I didn't even bust out the camera, so I'll just post a picture from earlier. Sawyer involved in his favorite activity (and it's not the book reading)

ahhhh, love those ears (I could fill an album with these kinds of shots)

Ears to you, Papa Harlow

My kids have 2 grandfathers that they love deeply, and I feel lucky to have them in our lives. Today is Papa Harlow's birthday, so I feel like it the perfect time to reflect on what he means to us.

My consistently sarcastic, never serious husband showed me a moment of sincerity once when I asked him something like "gosh, you really like your dad, don't you?" he said without hesitation "He's my hero". I love that. (and I can tell this story because Roy never reads my blog;)

I couldn't possibly list all of the things he has done for us, but I know he probably wouldn't want me too, he's just that way. But I will say that he is a kind-hearted, generous, funny man who brings a sense of stability and calm to any situation. And while I may never forgive him for teaching my children the word "buckwheat" (because they like to say it so much, so often), I am so glad that they have him to learn all the important stuff from. He is a hero:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA HARLOW

This is Halloween...and not my computer anymore

So, I've said before it's Halloween year 'round here...I wasn't lying. As you can see (or hear rather) I have added some music to my blog, one of those songs is "This is Halloween". Well, it was cute the 1st 50 times, now we have to volley between the Youtube version and just listening to it here. I have heard all about how Fletch is Jack Skellington, I am the girl in the movie, Sawyer is the scary thing with sharp teeth. When daddy took them to see the movie "The Nightmare Before Christmas", I thought it might be too scary for them, apparently it was just right scary and has become an obsession. It's better than Spiderman at least. I have to go now, Fletch wants to watch it on Youtube again. Happy Halloween:) (again)

(by the way, if you don't like listening to the music, you can just press pause on the player)

I am easily distracted

It's a fact I have to face. Ashley (my sister) has teased me for some time about the lack of my multi-tasking ability...it has never become more obvious until recently.

Take Saturday for instance, there I am, scrapping my little heart out, with for one, this girl:



We shared a hotel room and I checked in, so I put it on my card. Greta gave me money, and I noticed she had another $20.00, being the comedian that I am, I told her I would take that too, whoo, funny, and not at all annoying, right? Well, I took a phone call at that point...

cut to the next morning, as I am emptying my pockets from the day before-

Me: Greta, how did I get an extra twenty in my pocket?

Greta: I handed to you.

Me: Wait, what? You handed to me? When?

Greta: When you were on the phone, I handed it to you and you took it.

So up until that moment, in Greta's eyes, not only am I a loud, obnoxious blabber-mouth, I am also a money-grubbing, loud, obnoxious blabber-mouth. I did give her the twenty back, but I have NO recollection of taking it from her, none, like, not even an twinkle in my mind (and no, I wasn't drinking)

And yesterday, I was trying to have a conversation on the telephone, when I saw Sawyer hit Fletcher in the head with a rolling pin! That seems to warrant some kind of disciplinary action, however, I didn't want to interrupt whomever was talking....So if I don't answer the phone, it's not because I don't want to talk to you, it's because I don't want another trip to the E.R.

Oops, 5 days!

Sorry I haven't been here in 5 days, I went away for the weekend, and I've been trying to get caught up. I had a really good time in Novi with some friends, doing the crazy scrapbooking thing.

While I was gone, Daddy took the little fellas to see "Bee Movie" (Niles stayed at Nana and Papa's house with ALL of his cousins). Apparently not a big hit with my boys...Roy said there was a freak out situation on Saw-dog's part near the end of the movie.

However, it did open a very important dialogue between Roy and Sawyer...Sawyer told this to his dad "Daddy, bees always fly up my nose and steal my boogers and make honey, why do they do that?" I guess we'll have to check into that.

They had to sit up close to the front in the theater which prompted Fletch to ask " Where are the buttons to turn off the big movie screen?"

I hope everyone has a great day...stay warm if you're in this blustery Michigan weather