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!