Nick is funny and two year old Christmas presents

May, 2013 - at Frisch's, Nick drew a "fake-uh mustache-io" on himself. 

In turquoise pen.

May, 2013 - after a shopping extravaganza at Target.  "Mommy, take my picture!!"

Yes, that's a flying fish! Aunt Jenn and Uncle Ryan got the boys these giant things that you fill with helium and they are remote controlled, so you can fly them around. Their tails move like a fish to propel them forward. They are really cool! 

Aikido

May 28, 2013 Alex and Nick have earned their yellow belts!

Nick has his partner pinned.

And so does Alex!

Sitting in circle after the testing is over. They love circle time because Sensei Bill always thanks the class for listening and "most importantly, thank you for not breaking the paper wall" which they all shout in unison with him.

They really have enjoyed Aikido! I like it because it is a defensive martial art (so theoretically, as long as no one is starting a fight at home, it shouldn't be used at home, right??). They've been studying it since February, going twice a week. They've really come a long way with it. It has been fun to watch them improve and start to take it more seriously as time goes on. Nick is very diligent and yet playful. Alex often has one hand in his pocket and comes home to create new defensive moves that he practices on his large, stuffed Spider-Man. Poor Spidey! He spends most of his time airborne or with both hands pinned behind his back.

So proud of these boys!

It's been a long time!!

A lot has happened in the past couple of years! The boys have grown, and they continue to amaze and enchant me every single day.  Last year, I gave them each a hard covered printed book of this blog, and they love it!  They have used it to learn the history of their early years, and it is funny at how they "remember" the stories for which they've seen pictures and read blog posts. That, along with the fact that my laptop crashed last night, and I'm physically sick at the thought that I might have lost the last two years of pics, has made me acutely aware of how important this blog is! It's our history! And, it's a backup!!!

February 26, 2013 - H.R.H. Nick and his Edible Arrangement from Aunt Jenn, Uncle Ryan, Michael and Cassie. 

Nick had an inguinal hernia repaired at Nationwide Children's.  It was an exhausting day, but he did wonderfully and within a few days was his usually bouncy self. Nick is, by nature, incredibly bouncy. Watching him play Wii is like watching a basketball being dribbled. We were worried about how he'd do with the surgery and recovery - well, he did great!  He had been worried about the surgery, too, as it approached, but he was excited about getting to be "King for the Day."  I told him that he would get to do anything he wanted to do, and go anywhere he wanted to go, and eat anything he wanted to eat once the surgery was over.  It took a few hours before he was up for it.  His requests were very reasonable, but he did get a trip to Target and a Lego set out of it.

And the bonus was that Cassie and Michael got to stop by and deliver it (and eat some of it, too)!