I like being a big brother

Two brothers woke up early so I had them in bed with me so I could hang on to a few minutes of rest. Charlie is recovering from a cold and was having a coughing spell when Ben says, "No, Char. Like this. Cough in your melbow." And then proceeds to cough into angle of his arm.

Benny is relishing in being a big brother. He is still a disciple of Louie (at times), but he finally gets to tell someone else what to do! Even if that someone doesn't understand a word he is saying. It's pretty funny to watch.

New Zeeum Day!

Today we went to the "new zeeum" as Lou insists that it is called. We got a pass to the Cincinnati Museum Center last year and it was the best thing we ever did. Rain or shine, the kids have a blast at the Children's Museum, the sandbox and dinosaurs at the History Museum, and the trains at the Cincinnati Museum.

We were lucky enough to spend today with my friend Amanda and her boys. Owen was born just a few months after Lou, and Eli was born a few months before Charlie. As you'll see below, the boys have a great time whenever we get together!

Eli & Charlie getting to know each other.

After reading "Curious George at the Fire Station" last night, the boys were all revved up to be firefighters and recruited Owen to join the team. Amanda and I thought it was pretty funny.

Ben the Tortoise (Does anyone know the difference between a turtle and a tortoise? Is there one?)

Lou, a big ol' pearl in a clam shell.

Owen, Ben & Lou pet the snake. I'm not going to lie. I had to restrain myself from saying that they couldn't do it. I am not a fan of snakes.

Where do they come up with this stuff?

Kevin left yesterday to finish a job in Albany, NY, and will be gone until January 20th. Ben has gotten in the habit of sitting in Kevin's seat at the kitchen table while Kevin's out of town and fulfills his Daddy's role at meals: "So Mom, how your day?" It's all I can do not to laugh every time he says it. He tries to act so grown up but is in that teeny body and funny voice. But the kicker is that he asks it sporadically throughout the meal and gives me this look like he's sincerely interested...even though he's already asked nine times.

The boys got "The Jungle Book" movie for Christmas and they take turns being different characters from it. Of course Lou started out as the leader of the monkeys, the ape "King Louie." But now he insists that he is Bageera, the black panther that takes care of Mowgli the mancub, and that we are a black panther family. He acts like "Baggy" all the time, whether we're at home or in public...slinking around, growling, and all the other things panthers do. I have to suppress a laugh when he tells someone he is a black panther and the first thing that pops into my head is the 1960s civil rights group.

Kids say the darndest things

Earlier today I got into a long explanation of why we can't open up the train boxes and take out the tons of track to add to the ridiculously messy basement when Lou in turn gives me a long explanation that really didn't have a thread to weave through the words to give it any meaning, but at the end of it he says, "Do you understand what I'm saying?" And then gives me this look.

Uh-oh.

He's repeated things I've said before, but I have a feeling that this is going to be the beginning of some serious repeating parrot syndrome. I will hear how ridiculous I sound when correcting the boys or explaining things or just the little nuances I have in speech. Goodness.

I remember babysitting this family when I was in high school. It was the first time I watched these three girls who were about 7, 5, and 3. The three-year-old rushes up to me when I get there and proceeds to tell me this story, and though I don't remember a thing about it, I do know that when she finished she exclaimed, "Isn't that a riot??" Turns out that was her mom's go-to phrase.

Needless to say, I will be very aware of what I am saying to the boys. Most of the time. So if you hear anything really intellectual fall out of Lou's mouth know that it came from me. And if he has any sort of potty mouth, know that it came from his father ;)

A Few Funnies for Friday

We went to Mecklenburg Gardens in University Heights for my cousin Shannon's birthday. Louie and Benny had a fun night with Grandpa while we had a girls' night out, with Charlie. Mecklenburg's has the cutout in their biergarten and we thought it'd be funny to have Charlie play the violin. For those of you who may remember, this is the place Kevin and I had our rehearsal dinner almost five years ago!

When do kids get smart and stop doing the funny things their parents ask them, just for the sake of it being funny? I kept asking Ben to look at his nose, and you can't see it very well but he looked hilarious with his eyes crossed.

This is when he misunderstood me and in pointing to his nose he was inadvertently picking it. It helps the effect with him wearing John Belushi's "COLLEGE" shirt.

And not to leave out Lou, this is Louie the Turtle in the Children's Zoo. It's not too much of a stretch for this poky little puppy of mine.

Baby's First Christmas

Looking at the pictures I posted you'd think that it wasn't Charlie's 1st Christmas. Here are some more, showcasing the baby.

Charlie's snowsuit that lasted...oh, about three weeks. This kid is growing! He got this "Future Bengal" hat from Uncle Hog for his baptism. He get compliments on it everywhere we go!

Charlie & his birthday buddy, Ben. A rare moment where Ben is sitting still enough with his little brother to snap a picture.

A warm day in December allows Charlie to get more use out of the super-cool jean jacket Aunt Erin got for him!

Some Q.T. for Charlie with Daddy after the older brothers have gone to bed.

Start of the Christmas fun on the 22nd at Grandma & Grandpa Hess'.

Santa visits Aunt Robin's on Christmas Eve! No cries out of this guy. He's happy to sit on Santa's lap!

The End of 2007

Trying to explain the significance of one day to a 3 1/2 year old is nearly impossible, and absolutely out of the question for the 2 year old, but we tried. Why do people get so excited about New Year's Eve? Well, it's the end of the year when Louie turned 3 and Ben turned 2 and Charlie joined our family! We went to Norris Lake with Grandma & Grandpa H; we got really good at swimming; Lou was (semi) potty trained, we have started to understand Ben, and Charlie is rolling over! And, we have so much to look forward to 2008!

All the excitement mustered for those words ran smack into blank faces about 11:30pm on December 31st.

After driving through Sharon Woods' Holiday in Lights and having pizza over the Dunlaps' house, we drove home and tucked in two of the three boys before midnight. They were exhausted after a long week of holiday fun (with Daddy home!), and Charlie was just raring to go. Kevin and I sat on the couch and luckily turned to Carson Daly with just three minutes to go. I'm not sure if it's because I'm turning 30 this year or not, but this is one of the best New Year's Eves I've had.

Here are some holiday pictures:

Getting the Christmas Card Picture taken is not the easiest thing,
but in the midst of all the madness we got a few cute candid shots.

The first good snow of the year and the boys were determined to go out. Kevin braved the wet, sloppy snow while Charlie and I stayed in and took video and pictures of the fun.

The boys' silliness early in the morning after a late night of sweets and
opening presents at Grandma & Grandpa's in Columbus.

After church on the 23rd, we went to the BlueJackets' arena for ice skating. Ben loved it, with a little help from the uncles!

And Lou was pretty excited that Tim Horton's supplied
cookies and hot chocolate! Five feet from the entrance to the rink is all the further Louie got. He comes by it honest!

Christmas Eve and the boys are ready for Santa!
(Can you see that it's more difficult to tell the difference between
Ben & Charlie's clothes than Lou and Ben's?)

Festival of Lights at the zoo--very nice night so it was packed

Museum Center--Holiday Junction train display

New Year's Eve at the Dunlaps': Louie (Mar. '04); Gloria (Sept. '04);
Ben (Jul. '05); Drew (Nov. '06);
and Charlie (Jul. '07). Baby Dunlap due June '08!