Things that make me laugh ...

While driving down a pothole-riddled street that was really making for a noisy, bumpy ride, Riley asking, "Hey mom. Where'd that earthquake come from?"

After picking up a guitar and preparing to give us an impromptu concert, Gage saying, "Watch me rock 'n roll on my McTar!"

During a long awaited break from the ringing phone at my office, my assistant Riley inquiring, "Geez, mom! What's wrong with all those customers bothering us?"
Priorities people, come on! = )~

Gage: Mom? Your hair is brown?
Me: Yes, Gage.
Gage: What color is my hair?
Me: Your hair is red.
Gage: No, momma. Look CLOSELY. It's BLUUUUUUUUUE. (I love that he said closely, not close or closer, closely. Such a big boy adverb!)
Me: Ummm, I'm pretty sure it's red.
Gage: No, momma. It's blue. Just like I like it.

I love, love, love these kinds of conversations and funny observations!

A little of this ... a little of that ....

It seems like there is always something going on around here lately, which is good or cabin fever would probably get the best of us. Thankfully, the boys are good at keeping themselves occupied during these cold months of winter. Once they've completed their real chores, they even sometimes find some things that need done that mom and dad have even overlooked. For example, see the picture below ... the boys decided the screws on the bottom of the chairs needed tightened. Such good little workers = )


In spite of the frigid temps, duty still calls and we must venture out of the house now and again. While running some errands around town, the boys spied this cool Jayhawk in front of one of the businesses downtown. Riley and Gage also happened to have their shades on since it was quite bright out with all of the snow. We couldn't resist this photo op!




Back at the house, Riley, the master conducter, kills a lot of time with his train sets. It's always fun to see what new track setup he will build.

Once all of the business of the day has been accomplished, this is usually how we end our day ... all snuggled together either reading some books or enjoying some silly cartoons.

Ahhh, what a life = )

McEverything!

Well, it's no big secret that Gage's favorite place to eat is McDonald's. If it was up to him, he'd literally eat there everyday. Unfortunately, he has really mean parents that limit his Mickey D's intake to about 3 or 4 times per month. Anyhow, up until just recently, he would frequently request 'Donalds for almost every meal. If we're driving around town and were anywhere within the vicinity of a Golden Arches he would gleefully yell, " 'Donalds! 'Donalds!" However, something has recently clicked with hime that it is actually McDonalds. Now, several items in our home have somehow adopted the "Mc" label at the beginning of their names. For example, right now I am not typing on a COMputer -- it is a McPooter. We don't change the television channels with a remote control -- it is a McTrol. Oh, Gager. He sure makes us smile = )

Nice try ....

Oh, Gage. So cute. So sweet. So not very good at being naughty. Here's his newest schtick. Say for instance, he wants to get into the "junk drawer" in the kitchen that he knows he is not supposed to be into and you are standing in the near vicinity watching him. He will say, "Momma, could you not look at me, please?" or "Daddy, can you please turn around?" or "Can you leave me alone a little bit?" Then, if you follow his request, just to see what he's going to do, he, of course, gets right into the forbidden drawer. When you call him on it he'll demand, "No! You don't look at me!" Ha! Nice try, sweetie, but that's not gonna work = )

And then there's Riley. Oh my darling, Riley. Last night while Corey was doing dishes and I was putting laundry away, I faintly heard what I thought was the sound of running water. I yelled for him to turn the faucet off and stop wasting water. The sound didn't stop and I got no reply from Mr. Busy Boy. That's never a good sign. So, I venture into his bathroom to see what is up. He has covered the entire surface of the sink and cabinet, the toilet, and most of the bathtub with Lysol. Not just a fine mist, mind you, but completely soaked! His reply, "Mom, I was just cleaning for you. See. Smells good." as he takes a big whiff. As I explain to him that it is wonderful that he wants to help clean, he is not to ever get out the cleaning products without mom and dad because they are poison. That is why those cupboards have child locks on them. He then says, "But, I'm big enough mom. I can open it just like this!" He then proceeds to show me he has outsmarted the safety feature. Nice. Too smart for his own good, for sure!

Not much after this, the boys became co-conspirators in crime. Gage is currently in the midst of potty training and hopefully getting close to success. (Please oh please oh please oh please!!!) Anyhow, another one of his new things is hiding out to make poopoo, then sneaking into the bathroom to dump the poo in the potty. You see, he knows he's supposed to poo in the potty, he just doesn't want to do it. So, when he poos in his pull-ups he wants to hide the evidence. Well, a couple of the nuggets landed on the seat when he went to dump them last night and he did not want to touch them. So, he enlisted big brother's help. We, of course, intervened and proceeded with the clean up. But, I gotta say, I'm impressed with Riley's problem solving skills. His little wheels were turning with ways to push the poo in the potty without actually touching it. He was even a little upset that we wouldn't let him complete the task. It's too bad his major sanitizing project happened before this instance instead of after!
Oh the joy of parenting two little mischievious boys = )

The Artist and The Class Clown ...

So, each month a child is picked as "Star of the Month" out of the boys classrooms. This month, Gage is the "Star" of his class. The teacher sends home a little questionnaire for the parents to go over with the child and fill out as well as asks for pictures to put together a nice little bulletin board that will be displayed for the month (a picture of this is soon to follow!) So, as we were filling this out for Gage, we also asked Riley the questions, as well as some that were not on the sheet because we were having such a good time with our little Family Q & A. Although we were not totally surprised by the answers, some of them did take us a little off guard and provided some great chuckles...

What is your favorite color?
Gage: Blue. Batman Blue. Like Batman's cape. Not the black one -- the BLUE one. I wanna be Batman for Halloween. (you got that? he went on and on about Batman for a while after this, but I can't remember the exact words. the boys certain does like the caped crusader = )
Riley: Red. Like fireball laser gun red. (proceeded by numerous laser gun sounds and a full physical demonstration -- we assume of his interpretation of firebal laser gun red ... orrrr, maybe he just needed to get some energy out!)

What is your favorite activity at school?
Gage: Making statues and snakes with play dough. And painting with brushes and sponges and blue and yellow make green. Oh, and glueing the sparklies (glitter) on papers. And drawing and cutting and coloring with Miss Samantha. (this boy seriously loves his art time!)
Riley: When I fart and my friends laugh. When I burp really loud and everyone laughs. When I bonk my forenoggin like this (again, another demonstration) and everyone laughs. Oh, and when I freak out and fall down like this (again with the physical comedy -- this boy surely cracks himself up!)
Corey & I: What do you like about school besides making your friends laugh?
Riley: I like running in the gym.
Corey & I: Do you like any of the learning activities?
Riley: I like it when I win at art.
Corey & I: ?????
Riley: When I get the most paint on the paper or glue the most stuff. (everything is a competition with this one, even art. didn't even know this was possible! = )

What is your favorite food?
Gage: Strawberries with cream. (good choice)
Riley: Macaroni. (this is true, if it's got macaroni in it, he'll not only eat it, but probably have multiple helpings!)

What is your favorite book?
Gage: Snow White with the evil witch. And Cinderella with the evil stepmother witch. And Little Mermaid with the evil sea witch. (seeing a pattern?) Oh, and Dinosaur books. RAWR!!!!!
Riley: Sponge Bob with the Time Clock. (this is a book that explains what time Sponge Bob does each of his activites such as waking up, eating, chores, bedtime, etc ... for each one Riley has to move the hands on the clock to show the correct time. he definitely does better with interactive books = )

There were several more questions, maybe I'll post some of them a different day. I just love that they are now getting big enough that they can really verbalize and illustrate their thoughts and wants and likes -- even if they don't always coincide with what their mom and dad think is best. As for the title of this blog, even though these are definitely good descriptions of the boys, they are so much more than that. Gage is also my fun-loving rascal, always up for a good time and a laugh -- or a snack. He's a book lover, a storeyteller, and a budding conversationalist. He loves to cook and always want to help. Mostly he is a lover. He loves people, animals, inanimate objects -- you name it, his big heart loves it! Riley definitely is a funny guy and a fierce competitor with a strong desire to be the best. He is also a loyal friend who will stick up for his buddies in a heartbeat. But, under his comical and tough guy exterior is the heart of sympathetic young man who hurts when others hurt. He's also intelligently inquisitve and wants to know all the "why's" and "how's" of everything under the sun. These are our boys. Even though they both come with many challenges, they come with even more greatness. We love them and are blessed!