Arts & Crafts Time

I try to have at least one afternoon a week for the boys and I to do arts and crafts. We got some foam sheets and foam sticker back sea creatures (go figure with Gavin's love of all things oceanic!) Gavin and Grayson has super fun creating their scenes with octopus, coral, blow fish, clown fish, sharks and lobster shapes. After about 30 minutes Gavin ran to his room and came back with his stingray stuffed animal he started digging through all the animals and pulling out the clown fish. He then stuck them to the back of the stingray and started singing the song from Nemo where the sea creatures are on the back of the stingray swimming through the ocean! We were cracking up! I'd say Gavin was defiantly being creative. He was so proud of his idea.

I think I hear a murmur......

It's debatable, either I watched too much ER and Grey's Anatomy when I was pregnant with Grayson or it's just in his blood to be a health care professional like his Mommy.

Christmas on the 4X4s!

And off they go.....Grayson is so happy that Gavin in no longer trying to take away the batman 4x4 from him and Gavin is so excited to have a big boy 4x4. All is well in the Howard backyard now. Gavin's new power wheel has 2 speeds (we locked out the fast speed for now!) and also will do reverse. Gavin in doing great on his new 4 wheeler.

Merry Christmas!

Of course, they like the box more than the toy.

OMG!! When Gavin saw the gorilla he shouted "Look Look, gorilla mountain!!" So cute!

Gavin digging out presents from Papa and ShooShoo's Christmas presents bag.

Grayson loves this "vacume" that sings the ABCs and makes lots of noises.

Super excited Gavin!

Both Boys digging into their plastic sea creatures (We already can barely fit the boys in the tub because they have TONS of plastic sea creatures...especially sting rays!!)

I wrote a little jingle on their easel for them!! They love Mommy's silly made up songs!

The boys had a blast on Christmas morning. When they woke up they were excited to go see what Santa left then. I dressed them in matching Santa outfits for morning fun. (I know when they are older they were cringe at the site of these outfits!) The were super good boys. Gavin helped Grayson open presents. Santa brought Gavin imaginext gorilla mountain and lots of accessory animals, large Superman and Batman toys, Spiderman action figure with web, play dough, plastic sea creatures and a new power wheels 4X4!! Grayson got little people airport with accessory kits, little people pirate ship with 2 accessory kits, plastic sea creatures and a (hand-me-down) 4X4 mini quad. Both boys got an easel so they can let their creativity grow. Greg and I had super fun watching our boys enjoy Christmas Morning. Oh, most importantly, when Gavin is asked why we celebrate Christmas and whose birthday it is, he proudly boasts, "Jesus Birthday!" AMEN... enough said!!!

Grayson Bath Time Cutie!

Grayson's personality is really starting to shine through. He is a tease, stinker and super funny! He loves making faces and acting "big"! His smile still melts my heart and his sweet voice just makes my heart race. Now, his booming personality is shinning through. My little baby is not
little baby anymore. He is becoming a precious toddler with SPUNK!!

Welcome Home Nanny

My Nanny, Gavin and Grayson's great grandmother passed away December 14 while waiting for her ride to church. I have so many happy memories with Nanny. I spent the summer with her in Scottsdale while my Mother was tending to my injured Father in Australia. She was a classy lady who had a zest for life. We've always been very close and when I was 3-4 years old, Nanny coined the term 'Golden Girl' for my nickname! I am honored for Nanny to compare my husband to her number one man, George Silva AKA 'Papa'. She loved Greg and always commented on his character and integrity. She frequently stated how Greg reminded her of Papa. What a compliment! I am fortunate both my boys did meet Nanny. I went to Phoenix for her funeral and celebrated her life with 30+ relatives who flew in from all over the states. It was an amazing time to see how many people came to honor her and how many lives she touched. Her legacy lives on in her daughters and their families and her late son and his family. The burial was so personal with her 3 son-in-laws speaking about her life. Farewell sweet Nanny. It's tough to get used to you not being here, but the glory of Heaven is your forever home now!

Nanny and my boys

Four generations in this photo! WOW!!

Sweet Gavin gives Nanny a hug!

Nanny came to meet her 5th Great Grandson Gavin and visit with me in recovery!

Nanny was back to visit yet another Great Grandson, #6 this time, Welcome Grayson!

Gavin and Nanny when Gavin was 4 months old.

Ode to Elf on a shelf, my new partner in disipline!

You showed up in a box with a cute little book
I thought you'd be bigger until I got a look
Small, cute and red and your smile is kinda creepy
But who would have guessed your presence would make my boys sleepy
For just the sheer thought that you might just go tell
Those boys brush their teeth and go to sleep well
A report on the happenings that occur here each day
I remind them each morning when they first start to play
They clap, point and dance when they find your bright face
Each December we hope you'll return to our place.

Thanks little guy! Gavin and Grayson are sure happy you are here to make sure they behave. I have enjoyed your "backing me up" in the discipline department. Somehow your silence speaks volumes! Cheers!

Paging Dr Howard...

Okay, so Doctor or Nurse, I'm indifferent! But my little guys love their stethoscopes and other accessories that came with their dr kit. Mostly though they love their scope! They literally fight over it, so in the name if peace, I purchased an additional kit. The funny thing is I never bring my stethoscope home, so they are not mimicking Mommy. (yuk, I work ICU, it stays in my locker!) This is their own deal! They will wear them around their neck or put them in their ears. So cute! A career in healthcare maybe!!?.....Whatever, as long as they are happy!!

Roarrrrrrrr.......

Need I say more?!

Gavin is just cracking me up these days!

Gavin is such a conversationalist now. The things he says and does crack me up! Here are 3 funny 'Gavinisms' all of which were said today:

1. The boys and I are playing and I smelt poopoo (yes, Mommy of toddler boys, you just gotta check). So I ask each one who pooped? Gavin said "Sayson", as usual. I checked Grayson, NOPE, then I checked Gavin, NOPE. (by checking I mean, pulling the back of their pants out and looking down to "see".) A couple of minutes later Gavin says (while pulling my pants the same way) "Mommy poopoo pants?" hahahahah!! Yea, like not in the last 32 years!!

2. Gavin is playing with his box of cars and he lines them up in 3 rows on the leather trunk and say "look Mommy, traffic traffic!" Then he takes the motorcycle and runs it up the side and says "See motorcycle go fast!" WOW, he really is paying attention when we are driving! You know those motorcycles always zip by fast on the shoulder lane.

3. We get the boys naked before bath time and make a game of it and sing out "naked babies, naked baby!" And the boys run around laughing toward the bath tub. Okay, so I am changing from jammies to my outfit for the day and Gavin is in the bedroom with me, he sees me changing and points at me and says "Mommy's naked babies, naked baby!" haha!!

Can I just freeze him at this point, no more growing up.... I want to keep this discovery and innocence stage forever. I love it so much!!

Happy Thanksgiving: turkey, markers and an Elf!

We have so much to be thankful for in the Howard House. We have awesome boys, jobs, great family and friends and each other to share it all with! Gavin and Grayson are recovering from bronchitis and look and sound much better. Papa and ShooShoo came over early to start the festivities. We played outside and the boys rode their 4 wheelers then played inside before nap time. Papa and the boys built tall towers and had a blast. After nap time Gavin colored with his new markers and Grayson colored with his craysons. We opted for putting the boys to bed before sitting down for turket dinner. I know, I know, where is our sense of adventure?!! However, the last 2 years have been less than perfect meal time when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner. Greg and I deserved this opportunity to eat a great meal without screaming toddlers. We had a great evening. We tried to take a family photo, however it turned out to look like a group of monkeys instead!! We put the boys in their Christmas jammies (tradition!) for Thanksgiving night sleep to
bring in the holiday season. Gavin and I also read our Elf on a Shelf book. I explained to him that Santa is sending an Elf to visit our house and will be reporting to the ole' Jolly man each night the happenings in our house. Gavin was so excited. He decided to name his Elf Rudolph!! Cute! He is excited to look for him tomorrow morning.....yeah so much fun!

Peek a Boo Grayson!

I remember Gavin loved putting boxes on his head! He would laugh and laugh. Now history is repeating itself in Grayson. He thought he was so funny walking around with his head in the box. He was laughing and screaming (happy scream; much more tolerable!) So cute!

Markers!!

Apparently Gavin has drawn with markers at school because he keeps asking for them. We only color with crayons in the Howard house up until now. I bought the boys, mainly Gavin, packs of markers and paint brushes (with paint already in the brush-less mess). I also bought each boy a smock to wear. Gavin loves his smock and is proud to wear it. Here is my little Picasso letting his creative juices flow! (After about 10 pics, he said "bye bye camera Mommy" and pushed the camera out of my hand!! hah!)

Gavin's Nativity

Gavin loved his little people manger toy set so much last year! This year we bought him the stable and drummer boy set to go with it. He was so excited and set it up right away. He loves "Baby Jesus" and the animals. We got a little confused with the wise men and Joseph, but after explaining to Gavin that the wise men bring gifts to baby Jesus, he could differentiate who was who! (The wise men toys are holding gifts.) Grayson thought the toys were pretty cool too. He especially likes pressing on the angel and hearing "away in a manger" play. He starts to dance! We have been spending alot of time trying to get the boys to share these toys. It's a little frustrating when they are fighting over the nativity toys. Ugh!!

Trip to the Zoo!

We had a great day today at the zoo with Addison and Dayna. We bundled up in sweaters and had a blast. The kiddos loved playing in the children's zoo area. Gavin and Grayson crack me up! We have a new stroller (#5 !!!) that is a sit and stand...Well, Gavin being the oldest is supposed to want to stand and have the opportunity to sit if he wants to and Grayson, being the baby is supposed to want to sit in the front. Go figure my boys have their own ideas on how things are gonna work out! Gavin likes to sit in the front seat (I think he will be my leader!) and Grayson likes to sit/stand in the back. (probably because he sees Gavin do it and he wants to be just like his big brother! At any rate, it's super cute to see. Love 'em boys to pieces!!!