Big Boys

The last few days I have found myself feeling quite introspective. Thinking about myself, my husband, our family, our boys... life in general. 
Today at the park I found myself feeling grateful.
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Grateful for this beautiful place I have had the privilege of growing up and living in.
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Grateful for the sun on my back.
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Grateful for my healthy children.
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Grateful that I have an awesome husband and a fantastic marriage that will allow us to surivive what is coming.

And with the boys' {actual} birthday coming up {on Monday} I am finding myself grateful that we have made it this far. Grateful that they are as beautiful, funny & grown up as they are. They constantly amaze me.

 For instance, their bike riding skills are off the charts for their age!

They love riding, especially around the "big loop" at our local park. 

Jack sings while he's riding, turning his handle bars back & forth rapidly- it's so adorable! 

They like to ride together.

  If they get separated from each other, whoever is in front will stop and wait for the other to catch up. It warms my heart!

{Jack}

Daddy watching the boys make the trip around the loop. 

 Jack's so proud of himself when he rides!

Love that determined look! 

Logan, riding the big loop like a pro!

In addition to big boy bikes, they also recently transitioned to big boy booster seats in the car.  We've had a handful of seat belt issues (they can now unbuckle themselves) but I believe they have been scared straight!

As big boys they also get into the most intereseting mischeif. 

I walked into this sight the other morning. They had apparently been throwing Jack's bubba and he got stuck on this glass "water droplet" thing I had hanging in their room. 

By the time I walked in, they had figured out they couldn't reach it by climbing on the boxes at Jack's bedside, so they determined throwing another bubba up to knock down the first one would be the way to go. (Notice how Jack's leopard bubba is mid-air in this shot.)

Lucky for the boys (and their bubbas) mommy came to the rescue.

What I love most about their getting older, though, is listening to them talk to each other.

Josh overheard this the other day:

Logan: "Jack, stop doing that or I am going to be cross."

(This is from Thomas the Train, they always say "cross" instead of angry.)

When Josh told me that one, I was cracking up!

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And we both overheard Jack tell Logan:

"We can't go to the restaurant because you had two temper tantrums in the car." He said this while holding up four fingers emphatically aimed in Logan's direction.

Another new thing that Jack will say is, "I was just making a joke."

He says this when he's getting reprimanded for talking back or being goofy.

It's really hard not to crack up because he says it so perfectly!

Recently I took Jack to Motherhood Maternity to shop and he walked in, so happy to be free of the stroller, was instantly shy, yet flirty with the worker and ran straight for the toys in the changing room we had, commenting on the funny penguin toy they had.  Then, while I was paying, he ran off to play with this huge sign that hung from the ceiling, making it sway back & forth.

About a week later I took Logan to Motherhood, and I swear to you that he did exactly the same thing.  Shy, but flirty with the employee, commenting on the penguin and messing with that huge sign. It was freaking me out!!!  I guess since I so often see their differences, I forget their brains are (generally speaking) identical-- they are attracted to the same things, often solve problems the same way and see the world through much the same eyes.  It's such a privilege to witness it firsthand.

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On the same trip Logan saw some bright yellow flags flying near an office building and asked me what they were. I told him they were called flags, but they kind of looked like kites, flying in the wind. He told me, "No, mommy, they're tags." (Like he has on his bubba.) So cute!

Along with lots of talking, big boy bike riding & other exciting things, they have mastered eating an apple the "big kid" way.  They are so adorable, carrying around a huge apple, crunching off chunks.

 Chomp!

I also love their new swim trunks & rash guards- super cute!!!  We bought these almost a year ago and have been waiting for them to get big enough to wear them. Today was the day!

 {Logan}

But no matter how big they may be getting, they are still my sweethearts. 

Logan seems to prefer his mama lately, which is a welcome change.

Whereas Jack (seen here wearing Josh's glasses) prefers his dad. 

The other day he even chose to stay home to just hang out with Josh instead of having donuts & juice with me at Fred Meyer.

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It's so fun, being on this journey with these boys, watching them learn about and understand the world around them. 

I am grateful for it, for them.