Showercaps from Santa ...

And I thought I had received some pretty cool things when I opened the mixer, a funky necklace and a gorgeous china teacup. But I was wrong ... the real fun started on Christmas night when we opened our STOCKINGS! Hidden amongst the toothpaste, gum and hand warmers (Santa is very practical with his stocking gifts) ... were THREE shower caps! Secretly, I was hoping Santa would bring me a shower cap so I could stop using the Glad baggy to keep my hair dry but I really thought it might be a stretch to receive shower caps for Christmas. Apparently ... I was wrong. Of course, I couldn't wait to bust out the shower caps and try them on for size. Who knew J How would also think they were a total hit! He insisted they were hats and made sure that someone was wearing one at ALL times. Wish we hadn't sent out of Christmas cards now .... these would have been PERFECT!

Oh ... Santa also brought me some very cool fuzzy socks! I know you're all secretly hoping you can be on Santa's stocking list next year. I'll let him know you're interested! If only I could get my hands on the slippers he brought my sister-in-law ...

8 Weeks Old ...

Say Cheese!

I really wanted a picture with Joshua and Eli to send out for Christmas. I had high hopes that I could get just ONE picture of both children looking at me with no drool, no tears and perhaps ... a smile? Well, let's just say I have a whole new appreciation for anyone who has chosen to take photos of children as a profession. After a mere 15 minutes, I resorted to bribes of all sorts and was only slightly optimistic that Eli would make it out of the ordeal alive!

J How trying to make Eli one with the chair ...

Trying to make silly faces ...

"What ... you don't like my silly faces? Where are the treats I was promised?"

Eli is reaching up? Saying a prayer? Seeking deliverance from photos with Joshua??

And ... this is what we ended up with! The Costco man said I was thinking outside the box. (That was a compliment ... right?)

Nothing Can Get In The Way Of ... A One Track Mind!

Excuse me ladies ... coming through!

And ... time to go back!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATE! We had tons of fun at your party!

WORK DAY at Bella's ...

In our new house, we don't have much of a yard and the yard that we do have ... is VERY muddy and pretty much off limits. In the absence of having a yard, J How has experienced a bit of "PLAYTIME CONFUSION." Gone are the days of playing with trucks and blocks and trains. Now ... we're all about the yard work! When he's at his Bella's house, he can't wait to get outside and get his hands on all those cool yard tools. Do you think I can keep him confused about yard work being fun until he's out of the house? That would be awesome! Because I am not as confused as J How (at least in this area) ... I am certain that yard work will never be confused with having a good time :)

Moving all that rock is hard work! Too bad you can't hear the sound effects!

I resorted to tying a bow around his pants the other day ... just to keep them from falling down to his knees. Suspenders might be my next option? Nothing says COOL like an over the shoulder belt!

After a long day of work ... J How takes a ride on the lawn art duck. Where's the pink flamingo when you need it?

Move Over Beethoveen ... Mook Is In The House!

Mook ... really, he should have his own blog because in the last week, he has become the third child in our family. Joshua has always been attached to Mook. Mook goes EVERYWHERE with us. If you are wondering where EVERYWHERE is ... a small piece of EVERYWHERE can most likely be found on Mook's very worn fur. Mook goes on walks, eats with us at the dinner table, goes flying down the slide ... you name it ... if Joshua has done it ... Mook has done it too.

But something has changed in this past week. In Joshua's eyes, Mook has become real. When we picked J How up from Sunday School, the teacher said that Joshua insisted that Mook be fed a snack with the rest of the children. And ... when I came downstairs the other day ... this is what I found ...

The concert was obviously fantastic (picture almost 2-year old type piano skills and an out of tune piano!!) and after I finished applauding, I said "Joshua, Mook is a great piano player!" He looked Mook in the eyes, got a huge smile and said, "Mmmm, I know."

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Can you tell what team they were cheering for yesterday?

Cottage Living ... The Food Network ... When Does a Girl Get Any Rest?

On Saturday morning, I found a flyer on our front door announcing that the Food Network would be taping at Joe's Farm Grill and that Agritopia had been selected as one of the top 10 cottage communities in the US and Cottage Living would be here to take pictures.

You would think this would have prompted me to immediately rush upstairs, hop in the shower, find an outfit that coordinated and apply a bit of makeup? Yes, looking back ... that would have been a much wiser choice. Instead ... at about 12:30 in the afternoon ... I was still in my pajamas!

I went outside to help Ben with some Christmas lights when our neighbor came over and shared that Cottage Living was taking pictures just one section of cottages over from ours.

Shelly and I abandoned our children (like any good mothers would do) and went in search of the action and FAME! To make a very long and somewhat embarrassing story short ... when we got over to the shoot ... they appeared to be in desperate need of models. I think I should emphasize the word DESPERATE! Did I mention I was wearing sweatpants, slippers, the shirt I slept in from the night before and had mascara eyes!! The only cute part of my wardrobe was my pink sweater which they made me remove because the magazine pictures were going to be published in JUNE and no one wears sweaters in June. I almost mentioned that we don't wear pants or slippers in June either but I thought that might be pushing it!

So there I am ... making my national debut with uncombed hair, no makeup and pjs! I had to sign a release form since the picture was close enough to make out my face. I asked the editor if I was close enough to sign a release ... if he could at least add a little blush and lipstick to my face. I'll let you know if we make the magazine! If not ... Shelly took a picture of us with the photographers and editor ... just as proof! I'll have to get her to send it to me.

And ... as if that wasn't enough ... today we went to Joe's Farm Grill and mingled with the guys from The Food Network! J How was putting on the charm! He kept saying "Cheese, cheese, cheese" when the cameramen were around. Bummer for him ... when they actually thought he was cute and put the MEGA camera in his face ... he went to his "dear in headlights" look. Oh well! Here are a few pictures from our time in the spotlight :)

Here we are eating out meal ... right before they asked to "relocate the family" so they could tape in front of the fireplace. Joe and Guy chatting by where we used to be sitting ... maybe Eli's car seat will make the shot?

Guy and the crew! Looks like Eli is taking a trip back to the 60's ... Peace man!

I won't let all this fun go straight to my head but one of our neighbor kids does refer to me now as "Mrs. Famous!"

Deck the Halls ...

Our tree is up ... and totally NAKED! No lights, no star, no ornaments ... just a nice looking fake tree taking up space in our TV room.

In an attempt to solve this tree fashion nightmare, we had a neighborhood ORNAMENT MAKING project last Saturday. It sounded easy enough ... mix together glass ornaments, paint and people ... and you get ... a recipe for FUN! Not sure Martha will be knocking down our door to steal these creative gems ... but you never know!

And as of today ... the tree is still naked ... and the ornaments are sitting on the counter. So if you get one as a Christmas gift, you'll know they never quite made it to their intended destination :) Or ... maybe they did!

I Think She Might Be Forgetting Something Else ...

I read my mom's blog the other day and noticed that she was worried she was losing her mind. I think she mentioned that she couldn't remember if Eli was being fed or not? Well, he went to the doctor yesterday and has grown 3 inches in 5 weeks ... and he now weighs 9.2 pounds! I don't think she needs to worry about whether he's eating anymore!

However, I believe there is a new problem. Check out these pictures? Notice anything? Um ... yep ... I guess my mom thinks I look really cute in those striped pajamas because I wore them for four days STRAIGHT! Day and night ... night and day ... Eli Schmeeli ... J How needs a little variety in his wardrobe!

Any help you could offer me would be great! J How

Okay ... J How ... Mom gets the point. Stripes do look very good on you but I'll work on adding in a bit of variety! Did you let your blog friends know that you did a lot of fun things wearing those pjs? We put up Christmas decorations, attempted to learn how to put on our own shoes, got a BIG BOY bed and had a picnic in our tent upstairs! Not bad for forgetting to change your clothes!

Is My Condition Permanent?

My current issue is my memory ... I think it's going! Actually, its probably already left but I am holding onto the hope that a slight bit of it remains! I can't remember ANYTHING. Like ... when was Eli last fed? How much did he eat? Did someone feed him at 1pm or was I just dreaming that someone fed him and he really hasn't had anything since 10? I'll wake up in the middle of the night and I won't remember if I woke up at 2am or if I was dreaming that I woke up?

On the positive side ... he does appear to be gaining weight so he must be eating at some point!

One month down and ... MANY MORE TO GO :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Eli's First Bath

I gave parenting two children a "go" yesterday morning ALL BY MYSELF and was exhausted by lunch time! My mom took Joshua yesterday evening for a sleepover at Bella's house. What a great blessing ... I took 2 naps today (my first naps since Eli was born) and I actually feel partially human! I thought I might be able to slip into a pair of pants with a zipper but that is where the "human-ness" stopped ... no zippers yet ... it's still drawstring for me! I guess that's good news with Thanksgiving coming up!

Ben and I braved giving Eli a bath tonight. I remember the SHRIEKS that Joshua let out during his first bath so I promised Eli that we'd make it speedy!

A quick sponge bath and we're done!

A pose in the duck towel! Looking a little bit similar to his big bro below ...

He's STILL Here?

I think J How was really hoping that Eli's stay at our house would be short lived. So ... when he realized that Eli was staying for a bit longer than a lunch date ... How took matters into his own hands and started calling for HELP!

Much to his shock, no one came and took the "baaaaabeeee" ... so he gave bonding a good college try. Too bad this picture doesn't capture J How pushing Eli's foot out of his "personal bubble" each time it slipped past the invisible boundary. Can you just see our car trips in 10 years?

Ahhh ... the third time is the charm! J How brought in his people and made formal introductions. The meeting with Mook and Kitty went well and I think we might be making progress!

Introducing the Newest Pit Crew Team Member ... Eli Bennett Bost

He's here! Eli Bennett arrived October 30th at 5:48pm, weighing 6 pounds 15 ounces (exactly one pound less than J How) and measuring 19 inches long.

The last picture of Eli UNDERCOVER!

We're ready to rock and roll! I had my paperwork in hand and I'm headed off to triage ...

The first picture of Eli Bennett ... (no, I didn't grow an extra hand during delivery ... the nurse is helping me hold him ... I was a little numb!)

Eli's first photo with Mom and Dad!

Big How How and GiGi come for a visit. They were also J How's first visitors when he was born!

Somebody finally decided to open his eyes ... bright blue but notice a difference ... Eli has HAIR!!! How did that happen?

Eli meets his Bella.

Ben and Eli sharing a little cuddle time ...

And ... we've been blessed with another sleeper! This is how we generally find Eli ... SNOOZING! Only problem is he enjoys snoozing much more than eating so eating takes FOREVER! Oh well ... I'll take sleeping over eating any day!

Fall Festival in Agritopia

On Saturday, we made the long trek (about 50 yards) to the community center in Agritopia for our annual Fall Festival. Howie was not the most active participant last year ... so J How put his "Mr. Never Ending Energy" suit on took in all the sights and sounds ... to make up for his inactivity in 2006!

With his face covered in Joe's BBQ ... he hangs onto his mini pumpkin!

Giving the bouncer a shot! He never moved from this position. He had a smile on his face the entire time but he just didn't have it in him to actually stand up! (I like how the other little boy - almost his same age - is offering his sympathies for J How's lack of bouncer skill - or is he just holding him down?)

J How desperately wanted to line dance. Ben's plan to keep both he and Joshua out of line dancing misery ... place him behind the tennis net and hope he couldn't figure out how to get around!

Getting ready to take a hay ride ...

Loving our little farm!

Mr. Paul is showing J How the ins and outs of tractor maneuvering ... Joshua was SUPER excited to raise and lower the scooper shovel!

The farm life might be fun but GOLF still rules in our family!

Trying to convince J How to walk about from the flag stick!

I LOVE THIS LITTLE GUY!