Santa Santa Ho Ho Ho

We finally went to give our yearly love to "one of Santa's elves..." who just happens to dress up like Santa at Nordstrom. (Look what I have taught my kids!)

Blake put in a request for a trumpet, and a magic stick (to make people disappear) and Parker's response when asked what he would like was..."I dunno!"

He thought and thought, while Santa waited and waited...and finally came up with, not one, but TWO flashlights!

Oh, and "unnerwear peeese"

When You Grow Up...

"Someday, Mommy...when you have your castle, and after I have filled it with lollipops, I will give you all the beads in the world. Then I will just sit around and make you neckalaces."

That actually isn't really what I had in mind for Blake's future...

The least I could do...

"Mommy, thanks for babysitting us and smelling so pretty while Daddy goes to work."

-Blake Needham, age 5

I wish I may, I wish I might...

Have this darling wish tonight.

We took the boys to our annual evening in Bellevue, with dinner, snowflake lane, and a 2 hour wait for Santa...which we didn't participate in.

At dinner, they brought Blake a chocolate sundae which he chose to share with all of us. The ice cream had a candle on top, and we told him to make a wish, but to not share with us.

I knew this would kill him...so about 5 minutes later, he asked us if he could tell us his wish. We said of course, and then he said,"I wished that someday, I could go to Bethlehem. I want to meet the baby Jesus."

Bless You...

Having an iPhone is one of the most perfect items in my life. Dave is convinced that someday, I will leave him for it.

Sigh...it makes me so happy.

Ironically, it is my husband that is always introducing me to new games on my phone. I hate video games, computer games...and board games (shhhhhh).

However, I do NOT hate my latest download. Let me introduce you to Sneezies. The other night, Dave and I went to bed at 10. We chatted for awhile, and then I heard him fall asleep...I leaned over to my nightstand and grabbed my phone. I then proceeded to break my 1000 level mark at 11:40pm. Like I said, Dave is sure that my phone and I will run off together.

The best part of all is that Parker occassionally will request to play "achoo game".

My Perfect Wish

We have the most darling advent calendar. Blake has memorized what is happening throughout the month according to what sort of symbol is on that date. For example, Angela, her birthday is on the penguin, "you know mommmy, the 14th." We can only make gingerbread houses on the pocket with the mouse...and we always see Snowflake Lane on the day with mittens.

I was packing for our trip to Leavenworth last weekend, and I overhead the following conversation between my children;

"Parker, come here. Let me show you something. See this number 13 right here? This is the date that mommy wished and wished for two little boys. Then this is the date when Jesus gave her her wish...and she got us!!!"

Be still my heart.

It's Christmas Time!!!

We were having lunch at the Nordstrom Cafe last Friday with my mom. Mid macaroni bite, Blake announces that he needs to use the bathroom. You would think that Nordstrom would try and make my life easier, but no...we have to leave the restaurant and make our way clear across the top floor to the restrooms.

On our way, I spotted a man wearing red denim overalls and a striped collared shirt with dancing reindeer. I told Blake he looked like Santa. The man came straight up to Blake and said, "My my...look how big you have gotten! I can't believe it."

I laughed and said, "Oh...you must be one of Santa's helpers, we call you elves." He looked me in the eyes, looked down at Blake and then pulled out his wallet. He then slides out his North Pole driver's license, and tells us, that he is the REAL Santa.

Blake's eyes got huge, his cheeks got super rosy and his darling little mouth just hung open. When we were walking to the bathroom, Blake said, "Mommy...I hope that every little boy and girl gets to meet the real Santa and be as happy as I am right now."

S.T.O.P. (he is so cute)

Then we make our way back to the table, where Santa is also having lunch! (Who knew he too loves the Tomato Bisque!) Parker is now getting the Santa treatment. Blake loudly tells the darling man, that he wants a trumpet for Christmas. I look up at Santa, he looks down at me. After clearly picking up what I was laying down, he turns to Blake and says, "Oh Blake, no need to make a quick decision. There is still plenty of time to change your mind."

Here's to Santa...(and me triple crossing my fingers that Blake doesn't now decide that he needs a drum set!)

Feel The Love

The other day, on the way home from school, I turned down our "jam time" music and said, "Boys, I love you so much. I am so glad that I am your mommy. You both make me happy."

Blake never looks away from the window. He then says, "I knew you were going to say that. I just wish you would have said something funner. Like, hey...let's go to the park."

Zip Zap'n Good Time

My children are into this whole new concept...of "zapping" me. I have asked them repeatedly what happens when you "zap" someone, and Blake finally told me.

"Mommy, it is just when you freeze, like stop talking and doing all that stuff you always do."

Really?

Who gives toddlers ice cream bars on a field trip to the pumpkin patch?

Pumpkin Pouting

We went to the Pumpkin Patch 5 times in the month of October. Yes, 5 times.

I would like to curl up and live in the corner of the patch. Wake up in the mornings surrounded by ghost pumpkins, bath in apple cider and sleep on a bale of hay.

You think I am joking...

On our 4th trip, we took Dave with us. Blake and Parker had each already picked out 2 pumpkins from our previous ventures, so Daddy got to pick this one out. Blake had his heart set upon this very large pumpkin, and was devastated that:

1. Dave didn't want that one

and

2. Someone else might buy it.

Please enjoy the progression of drama that ensued.

Peekisms

Parker is so darling, and has the manners of an old English woman...

If we tell him he did a good job putting away his shoes, or that we like what he did with his painting...or he used the potty, he always responds, "Welcome Mommy, welcome."

And the verdict is...

I broke down and bought Old Navy costumes...sigh.

Blake told Parker that no one was going to give him any treats when they saw that he had a banana in his pocket.

(and it is always fun to trick or treat at your good friend's vacant home, because they just moved to Chicago...we were trying to make them feel guilty. They have yet to text us back...)

Beep Beep

If we can't sit in traffic outside, why wouldn't we recreate it inside?

The Sweetest of Dreams

I got Parker out of bed this morning and asked him the same question I have asked him for the last two years and 9 months.

"How was your sleepy time?"

"Good."

"Did you have good dreams?"

"No."

"Oh no! Did you have bad dreams?"

"Yes."

"What did you dream about Parker?"

"You, Mommy."

Let me proudly introduce to you...

THE most amazing photographer, Kara Hicks. Check out her blog to the right.

The Powers that Be

On the car ride to school this morning, all is quiet while the squirrels in the backseat are engrossed in their books.

Then, out of no where...

"Mommy. What kind of powers do kangaroos have?"

Thinking I am sooo smart, "Well, they use their brain, or their mind, they use their eyes to see another animal coming at them, and they use the strength of their arms to fight away anything that might try to attack them." Very nice.

"What kind of powers do you have, Blake?"

"The zapping kind."

Picture Post

I let the kids take photos the other day, with my camera...and my help. Here is what they captured.

And down the road he goes...

Blake packed up his suitcase the other day, in case he needed to make a get away.

I think that as long as he knows what letter his last name starts with, he should be fine.

Spooky Choices

Blake's List for his Halloween Costume:

A Pickle
A Grass Hopper
A kitten ("shoot, those only come in girls sizes")
A Light Bulb


Parker's List for his Halloween Costume:

A Pirate (but only if my dad dresses up as one too)
Batboy (with side kicks, batgirl, batlady, batman, and Blake batboy)
An Alligator (to which Blake's response was, "then I can be a swamp!")
and my favorite...A Fruit Fly.

I personally like the idea of dressing my kids up as Garden Gnomes. Dave did not.

Stay tuned...

Count with us...

Parker has two favorite numbers, and that is all he uses.

They are 2, and...wait for it...8.

Right now he is 2, and on his birthday, he will be 8.

Right now he wants 2 pieces of toast, and then he wants 8.

Right now he has 2 hands, but someday, he wants 8.

Let's just be honest...

"Mommy, you should try and look pretty tomorrow."

"Really, you didn't think I looked pretty today?"

"Well, kind of..."

-Blake Needham (almost 5, going on 15)

A New Kind of Theology

Tonight on the way home from my parents, we had to pull off to the side of the road to let an aid car pass.

"Let's pray that Jesus would protect whoever needs His help right now."

The boys and I said a quick prayer and Blake says, "Mommy. Sometimes I think that Jesus falls asleep in my heart."

"Huh?" I replied.

"Well, you know when I get sick. Like when I have the throw ups, or get a bloody ouchy, or even when I have a bad dream."

"Really? Why do you say that Blake?" dying to hear his response...

"Well, Jesus gets tired from protecting me all the time, sometimes he just needs a nap."

Some Like it Hot

Starbucks is really feeling the heat lately from the new "bikini" espresso stands. In order to compete, this is their new idea for Fall of '09.

I have to share these darling photos of the boys picking lettuce at the South 47 Farm last week. I don't have any photos of them picking raspberries, as I was having a hard time picking, photographing, and keeping my children from eating them.

Work It!

I was making a return to Old Navy last spring, and completely forgot to bring my stroller to corral the monkeys. My children were busy making "new besties" with the staff in the store, and the manager comes up to me and says, "Can I speak to you about your boys?" (I knew these conversations would come someday...but already?)

She asked if I would be interested in my kids being a part of the Fall '09 fashion show they were having in the store at the end of July. Hmmm.....I guess, but only because I knew my kids would have a lot of fun showing off in front of a large group of people.

Their moves, unreal, and no joke, they came up with them on their own.

Canadians are Batty!

We spent a long weekend in Whistler a couple of weeks ago, and ended up at a Children's festival on Sunday afternoon. There was a couple who had all sorts of costumes for kids AND a few lucky parents. We were able to wear them for a parade as well as a super duper hot and sticky tent story. Blake and Parker each dressed up as bats, and I was blessed with the flower costume. My kids could not have been any more thrilled.

We could not have been any more thrilled than when we looked down, to see our children pretending to be "sleeping bats."

Jetty Island Days

We took the boys to Jetty Island yesterday with some really fun friends, played in the sand, ate sand, and then later, scrubbed sand out of our hair. Blake found a live shrimp, a dead crab and exactly 583 rocks.

I promise you...I am in fact feeding my 4 year old.

"Say my name, say my name."

Parker has begun to make leaps and bounds in terms of his speech lately! We have been so enjoying what is coming out of his mouth. To think that there was this awesome sense of humor in there all along, just waiting to come out!

One of the things on the top of our list was for him to say, Blake as well as his own name. This last week, he has begun to say Blake's name. It comes out, "Bait"

Randomly I will hear, "Hey Bait! Hiyeeee Bait!"

Just yesterday he said his name for the first time. It was so fun to hear him say "Paw-kur".

Today I asked him what his name was.

He responded, "Bob."

Look Mommy!!

"Get down here and make bark angels with me!!!"

Hmm...no, that's okay.