Barber shop duo

Both Ben and Sam have been looking rather scruffy lately and in desperate need of haircuts. Typically, Ben goes to Louie's Classic Barbers with Daddy every couple of months. Somehow Ben missed out on the latest trip when Brian was rushing to get himself cleaned up before his recent business trip to New Jersey. So, with Easter and my family's largest annual gathering quickly approaching I decided to bite the bullet and take not only Ben in for a haircut but also Sam. So far I have trimmed Sam's hair when it starts to creep into his eyes or tickle his ears but have not done a great job of really giving him a little boy style. This morning the boys and I ventured to Louie's with Sam's booster seat in hand (just in case he needed to be strapped into the chair!).
Ben volunteered to go first and was great the entire time. He seems to really enjoy the attention from Louie and the lollipop he gets when he's all finished (though he never actually eats it). Sam enjoyed roaming the shop while Louie was at work with Ben. And when it was Sam's turn he was anxious to climb up into his booster seat in the chair. But once Louie got started, Sam's thoughts changed.....
Why is it that a haircut can be so traumatic? I love having my hair cut and styled and the pampering that goes with it. Poor little Sam started to fuss at first while reaching for me and eventually had real tears running down his cheeks. Louie was great with the entire situation and talked calmly to Sam and played with him too saying, "Come on, Sam, let's hear you really sing." And Louie assured me that a first haircut isn't authentic unless there are a few tears. So, now my baby is officially a big boy and cuter than ever!

Sam a couple of days ago with his shaggy hair.

A little uncertain after the first few snips.

Feeling even more reluctant.

Downright mad!

Still mad but almost finished. Good job, Sam!

Ben ready to lose his long locks.

Very patient and still.

Finishing touches.

Caught red-handed!

The boys have been enjoying their weekly art class at TCF so much that we are constantly doing "projects" at home too. I am letting loose enough to put the potential mess out of my mind and break out the paints much more frequently. Yesterday's sponge painting ended up becoming handprints and fingerpainting!

More Sledding...Family Style!

After our successful day of sledding earlier in the week, Ben was adamant that we take Daddy sledding during the weekend. We had thought to just go back to the little hill by the golf course but by Friday morning there was NO snow left! Just a few warm afternoons and it was completely melted. So, we opted to drive up the mountain to the meadow. It was another beautiful spring day with blue skies as far as you could see. The hill was bigger than the one by the golf course but Ben showed no hesitation and hiked his way to the top to sled very quickly down. He even crashed at the bottom after his first run down but was unfazed. Ben did multiple runs alone and with Daddy. Sam, on the other hand, was a little more cautious and only went down one time with me as the last run of the day. The hill was not only steeper but also bumpy so it ended up being an exciting ride. While we waited in between runs we built big brother and little brother snowmen at the top of the hill.

Sledding Snowbunnies

Even though it's officially springtime now, in Tahoe it still feels like winter at least a couple of days each week. We got a few inches of new snow over the weekend and decided that if we wanted to get the boys out sledding at all before the weather stays consistently warm we had better do it now. So yesterday the boys and I added sled shopping to our grocery shopping at Raley's. I don't know if it's because it's been so long since I have been in the market for a sled or if I am just horribly unaware but a basic plastic sled is expensive! I was expecting no more than ten bucks for a typical toboggan but when I saw the price stickers in the mid-twenty dollar range I was shocked! I was then convinced that it was because we were at Raley's which caters to the winter tourists offering sleds, hats, gloves, and even snow pants and coats in their grocery store. And if you are an unprepared tourist in Tahoe of course you'll spend twenty bucks for a sled without batting an eye. But not me!

The boys and I then made our way to Ace Hardware to see what they had instead. Unfortunately, their prices were no better but I felt better knowing that the sled I bought for just over twenty dollars is an environmentally-friendly sled made of 100% recycled materials. It is black to absorb the winter sun and keep the riders backsides a little warmer too. The company also points out that by using their sled you are also taking part in an emission-free activity....no stinky snowmobiles for us!

We made our plans yesterday afternoon and invited our good friends, Joseph, Katie and their mommy Kristen to join us. When we arrived at the golf course driving range we were excited to see not only Joseph, Katie and Kristen but also our friends Bryn and Nanny. Then shortly after Maddie and Fancy arrived too. The kids (and grownups) commenced the downhill runs immediately and there were smiles all around. Luckily I brought the camera so I was able to get pics of all the kids enjoying the sunny day.

And our Flexible Flyer Winter Heat Eco-Sled turned out to be a great buy! It is not too long for a kid Ben's size to maneuver and I felt safe with the upturned front on it to help keep both Ben and Sam stable inside, there are also brakes on the sides just in case you get going too fast. Both Ben and Sam went up and down the small hill so many times I lost count. Actually, they both went down a bunch but Sam still needed me to haul him back up. Apparently they thought Mommy needed to burn a few calories today too. Ben loved every minute and rode down alone and with friends over and over again. If only I had remembered to tie a rope on to pull the sled back up the hill....Ben was a trooper and hauled it up by himself several times and with the the help of his buddy, Joseph. One of the cutest moments was when we sent Sam and Katie (both less than a year and a half old) down the hill together in our sled. They zipped right down the hill and welcomed me with smiles when I went to retrieve them and haul the sled back up the hill.

After a solid hour of sledding, the kids all gravitated back to the top of the hill where they all shared snacks with each other and gave the adults a welcome breather. And after just a few more runs down the hill, we were all ready to pack up and go home to rest. I was sure the boys would fall asleep quickly and sleep hard but after just 20 minutes of rest Sam was awake and crying. I let him fuss and he got himself back to sleep and is still sleeping now. Ben fell asleep shortly after lying down but is already awake just an hour after going down. Oh well. It was all worth it just to see how happy the kids were.

Nanny was so impressed with our sled that she and Bryn had plans to go straight to Ace after leaving the sledding hill to buy one for themselves. She also was not thrilled about how expensive sleds are but really liked ours and was willing to pay the twenty bucks. She sent me an email letting me know that today all sleds were 50% off....figures, a day late for us but still worth every penny!

Our first sledding adventure!

The whole crew.....Katie and Bryn, Joseph and Ben, Sam and Maddie.

Sam had so much fun! All smiles.


Joseph on his sled next to Ben and Sam.

Here we go!

More photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=mjbrowder&target=ALBUM&id=5316859100429903409&authkey=Gv1sRgCP6H0pyUyJmQTg&invite=CKf9gPMK&feat=email

Keeping busy

The boys have been taking part in an art enrichment class through TCF for the past few weeks. Ben has become all about the art projects. He spends time almost every day painting, drawing, cutting, and gluing - sometime with my help, sometimes without. We have now turned our bathroom door into a gallery of all the boys' work....except for their tissue paper stained glass which are hanging in our kitchen window so they can catch the afternoon sun.

Fun with watercolors.

Ben and the gallery.

Hand print fish.

Tissue paper stained glass from TCF art class.

Sam has also decided that meal times are so much more fun with utensils! His favorite thing to spoon in...yogurt.

Right after I took this picture the yogurt was in his hair too.

And just a few more pictures of the boys playing.

Sam wearing a sweater that is over thirty years old and once worn by me.

Snack time! Sam is big enough now to climb up into his own chair at the little table from Nan and Teddy.

Doctor Ben taking care of a very pitiful-looking Sam.

Finally! A decent picture of the munchkin!

Birthday Buzz

Today has been a wonderful day and it's not even three o'clock yet! The sky is blue, it's nearly 50 degrees outside and I can't count how many people I have in my life who care about me.

My birthday really began a few days ago when a trip to the post office yielded a beautiful pair of aquamarine earrings from my in-laws, David and Sarah. Many people don't like their birthstones but I happen to LOVE mine! In fact, Sam's eyes are almost the same shade of blue :) I then began receiving birthday cards filled with wisdom, humor, well-wishes, and even a little "do something nice for yourself" money. Brian came through with the new LL Bean leather moccasin slippers for my tired mommy feet and has another gift still ordered. Sue and John obviously read my "thirtysomething" blog post a couple of weeks ago and are filling out my Friends DVD collection with the missing season seven. And I've received phone calls, emails, and Facebook posts from so many other friends and family members.

We had Sam's playgroup at our home this morning too. Twelve mommies with little ones (including us) came over to help me celebrate and let the kiddos play for a couple of hours. I was excited to make a small birthday brunch and get to spend some time with so many women who have become my good friends. We dined on mini Italian frittatas, mini blueberry muffins, veggies with roasted red pepper-cheese dip, fresh fruit, as well as cookies and cake brought by Nicole, Evaleen and Dorea. My home is now also filled with lovely spring blooms from Marna and Kristen. And Jackie arrived with another gift perfect for a Pisces - toe socks and peppermint foot cream!

I had meant to take pictures of Sam and all his buddies and me with all my wonderful friends but somehow got so caught up in enjoying the moment that the camera never even got turned on....oh well.
So, thank you to Jackie with Chloe, Courtney with Chloe, Julie with Zoe, Evaleen with Logan, Janet with Michael, Jen with Trevor, Marna with Sasha, Nicole with Hunter and Cody, Kristen with Joseph and Katie, Dorea with Aurora and Jasmine, and Janna with Ashley and Eric. It was so nice to spend my birthday morning with all of you!

Now the boys are resting after their busy morning and I am looking forward to going out to dinner for sushi with Brian while Mary comes over to watch the boys.

I am officially 32 years-old and so content with the life I have. Thank you to everyone who has helped me become the woman I am today!

Snow Fest Parade

This morning we opted to forego our usual visit to TCF for the Saturday morning winter program since Brian was stuck having to go to work. The kids and I joined many other North Lake Tahoe families for the 2009 Snow Fest Parade in Kings Beach. We ran into several families we know from Incline and ended up watching the parade with two of Ben and Sam's friends from TCF, Shane and Josselyn. All the kids liked watching the parade and gathering up the candy and Mardi Gras beads that were thrown their way.

Ben with his loot.

Josselyn - cutie pie.

Big brother Shane.

The Boys and Girls Club Whale float.

A dancing penguin.

Happy be out in the sun.

Watching the parade go by.

The snow castle with a dragon sneaking out.

Very interested in the dogs from the Pet network..

Sweet smile.

The Forgotten Child

I talk to my sister, Beth, pretty regularly and she is always anxious to talk to the boys on the phone as well. She is one of my regular blog readers so I asked her the other day if she had read my latest entry "For the Birds" since Ben was trying to tell her the story of the three birdies who flew into our window. She said she looked at the pictures but only scanned the writing. Apparently my blog entries get a little too wordy for a busy second grade teacher who tries to catch up during her brief prep periods. She also requested more pictures of the boys. Easier said than done.
Beth is the self-proclaimed forgotten child of my family. She sits right in the middle of the three sisters and has always said that pictures of her as a child are few.
Well, sis, here's why...it's not because parents love the second (and consecutive) child(ren) less than the oldest child, it's not that they are too busy to take photos (though they are). The real reason for there being far fewer photos of younger siblings it that they just don't hold still long enough to get a picture! Mom and Dad have always told us how Bethie was walking at eight months. She was curious, inquisitive, and only stopped to sleep (but only in her own bed). Sam is the same kind of kid and it seems that so are many of his peers who also happen to be the second child in their families. Sam goes everywhere at a dead run lately. He hears anyone talk slightly above a normal voice and he responds with a hearty yell. He will repeat almost anything that is said to him and loves parroting, "No, no, no!" when I tell he or Ben no. Sam is my whirlwind, my Godzilla, and as Ben put it tonight in the tub while Sam was splashing like mad, "A silly monster." Sam used to be very interested when I got out the camera but his interest was not to be the subject of the photo but to take the photo himself. Now he could care less that the camera is out. He just keeps moving! Thus, all my photos of him are somewhat blurred, he's halfway in the frame, or all I get is the top of his head. And, getting a photo of Sam alone is almost impossible since Ben loves having his picture taken. So, when I do get a picture of Sam it ends up being something like this....

The result of running through the living room, tripping on air, and smacking his head on the corner of the coffee table. Poor kid. At least it happened today rather than yesterday when he had his 15 month checkup with a new doctor. Could you imagine how embarrassing that would have been trying to explain the black and blue goose egg that protruded a good half inch out from his forehead! Unfortunately, it doesn't look much better in black and white.

A photo from a few days ago isn't too bad, but notice how much of the photo isn't Sam but the end table behind him and the blur in the bottom right-hand corner is his hand moving quite quickly.

Oh well, maybe when Sam is nearing three like his big brother we'll get some shots like these.....