4 years ago ....

4 years (and a week) ago a big thing happened in our house.  I mean really big!  I became a mom.  Chris became a dad.  Brooks David was born.  And this year the celebration of his birth happened to land on Father's Day (we knew it would happen eventually).  So we had two special guys to celebrate!  Not gonna lie though.  Although we tried to celebrate our Daddy as much as we could, Brooks received most of the attention.  Neither didn't seem to mind.

The festivities actually began on Saturday night with a little party at McKennan park.  This mama really didn't have the energy or ambition to host a pinterest-worthy party, so we settled for pizza and cake in the park with a few close friends.  Brooks thought it was awesome!

Brooks requested, of all things, a Viking cake for his birthday.  And unfortunately he didn't mean the nordic pillagers.  So this die-hard Packer fan mama swallowed my pride and made a Minnesota Vikings birthday cake for my special guy.  He loved it!

Oh, and what's a 4 year old party without a little shuffle board?  No really.  They played shuffle board.  All the equipment was set out at the park, so the dads and kids went and played a few rounds.  Brooks still talks about it!  Who knew it was so fun!?

Birthday presents!

We ended the evening with a baseball "game" with Brooks' new bat and ball from Auntie Heather.  He still loves playing with balls.

Blowing bubbles

Uncle Joel and Grandma Gale

Katie & Eric aka "Jake's mama & daddy" :)

On Sunday we started the day by going to church then had a low key lunch.  After that Brooks opened presents from Grandma Marty and Papa Dave that they had sent in the mail.

A whole drum full of instruments.  My little musician LOVED it!

Anderson Family Band.  Watch for us.  We'll be big someday!

He makes this marching band mama proud!!!

While the "musical" ruckus was going on in the living room, Chris started assembling Brooks' new scooter he received from Grandma & Papa Gale at his party. 

Then while Carter was napping, Chris and Brooks did the ONE thing Brooks had been looking forward to for weeks.  Going to the arcade.  And it was extra special because it was just him and Daddy.  He had so.much.fun! 

We ended the evening with Brooks' requested birthday meal - hot dogs and chocolate milk.  No joke.  That's what he wanted.  And the rule in our house is you can have whatever dinner you want on your birthday.  But while he and Carter ate hot dogs, Chris and I enjoyed bacon wrapped sirloin steaks with fresh sauteed mushrooms and mashed potatoes.  I was NOT going to feed him hot dogs on Father's Day :)

A Letter to my Dad

Dear Dad,
Today I just want to say thank you.

Thank you for letting me play with the bait at your tackle shop and doing my hair with rubber bands and fishing spoons.

Thanks for coming to all my band concerts and dance recitals, even though I know you didn't really want to go.  It meant a lot that you came.

When you worked out of town, thanks for calling and playing "our song" over the phone for me.

Thanks for being silly and dancing around the kitchen table with me.

Thank you for teaching me to be an attentive driver.  For teaching me how to brake "gently" and to not cut through parking lots like a "Wisconsin driver".  Thanks for teaching me how to use jumper cables, check the oil in the car and change a flat tire.

Thanks for teaching me how to build a campfire, the difference between oak and pine logs, and the proper way to belch (sorry mom).

Thanks for encouraging me to get a good education, get smart and get a good job.  That's worked out well for me.

Thanks for teaching me to stand up for myself and others, even if no one else will.

Thank you for demonstrating generosity and giving to those who need it.  You've always been willing to 'help a guy out'.

Thanks for not totally freaking out when I told you I was getting married at 20 years old.

Thank you for welcoming Chris into our family.  Thanks for taking him fishing and hunting and for stuffing the ducks and pheasant.

Thank you for being a wonderful Papa to our two boys!  They adore you just as much I do.

Thanks for loving me dad.  Forever and always.  Happy Fathers Day.

Love,
Bug

pantless

I have many more important things to write about (and someday I'll get to them), but for now ....

a pantless toddler with a frog wrapped around his neck.  'Cause ya know ... why not?

Ooooh, I love me some chubby legs!!

Hair. Styled.

I'm not entirely sure what fascination my three year old has with styling hair (he NEVER styles his) but he tested out his skills on his little brother this week.  On Monday after lunch, I was cleaning up dishes while the boys went upstairs to play.  I went to check on them and found Carter with, um ... a new hair do.

Brooks had found an ooooooold bottle of perfumey hand lotion and proceeded to "style" Carter's hair with it.  Lots and lots of it.  He was so proud.  And I, honestly, was relieved it was only lotion and not Chris' hair pomade, but still annoyed.  So we had an impromptu bath time and I threw them both in.  The lotion washed right out, but the smell?  The smell did not.  I mean, it's lotion so it doesn't smell bad.  But the flowery perfume smell is a tad overwhelming.  Even today, three days later.  Never a dull moment.

Rainbow Graduate

Last night was the awards ceremony at church and Brooks was awarded a certificate honoring his first year completed of the Rainbows program.  And it's kind of a big deal.  Yes he's only three.  Yes he'll have many more years of club program awards nights ahead of him, but this was his FIRST.  It was OUR first.  My "baby" is three (almost four) and he finished his first year of Rainbows, which by the way is the same program I went through when I was three.

So to kick of the whole ceremony, he and his 20+ Rainbow compadres marched onto stage, stood in a "line" and were surprisingly cooperative as their teachers handed out the certificates.  My favorite part of it all?  This ....

He stood backwards nearly the whole time.  20 children standing shoulder to shoulder, looking at the teacher leading their songs and then there's Brooks.  Backwards.  The kid next to him, so kind, kept trying to turn him around.  To no avail.  Kind of a repeat of the Christmas program.  I just giggled.  (We learned later that he was looking at the drum set on stage.  I guess that makes sense.  It is really cool.)

He did eventually get the hint to turn around (and I know Aric isn't fist pumping because of that, but it kinda looks like it :)

 Brooks' favorite part by far was the cupcake that boasted just as much frosting as actual cake.

My little Rainbow earned all eight of his badges this year.  Yep, I'm one proud mama!

Snowmageddon

On Saturday, the temperature reached near 60 degrees.  We played outside for hours, took walks around the block, played baseball, grilled out.

Fast forward five days to today, Thursday.  This is our neighborhood.

 

Those would be power lines drooping down over our neighbor's yard.  Yikes!

We have been stuck in our house for three days straight due to high winds, frigid temps, raining ice (yes, raining ice) and now snow.  And it's the ice that's really wreaking havoc in this city.  Ice is covering streets and sidewalks, power lines, trees and everything else in town.  We lie in bed at night and listen to the creaking, groaning and eventual snapping of giant tree limbs, followed by what sounds like glass shattering as the ice covered branches crash to the ground.  Roads are closed because of downed trees, businesses are shut down and school has been closed for two days.  (Remember we live in South Dakota.  School NEVER closes in South Dakota)  Thousands are without power.  Sirens are constant all throughout town as firefighters and police officers are working around the clock putting out fires and removing tree branches from on top of people's homes.  We, thankfully, still have power, heat and food (I did all my grocery shopping on Monday before the storm hit.  Whew!).   We're just going a little stir crazy, that's all!

Chris was home all day yesterday.  The power was out at his office and considering 90% of his job involves a computer, there wasn't much he could do.  Having him home made the day go by way faster.

This is the craziest April weather and I am unbelievably ready for SPRING!!!

Brooks & Carter: an update

My boys are growing and changing so much I can hardly keep track of what's new, who's doing what, what new words Carter has, etc.  So I'm just gonna jot down a few notes, really for my own personal sake.

Carter - 19 months

He's chewed all the corners off his blanket.  It's disgusting & slimy.  He loves it.

loves putting his hands in his pockets

hates being told "no"

can throw a really big tantrum when the above happens
tantrums may involve any (or all) of the following: throwing things, hitting things, throwing himself on the floor, burying his face into a wall and crying, screaming

tantrums kind of make me laugh.  they probably shouldn't

will eat anything I give him

bananas are his favorite.  he would eat them for every meal if I let him.  

I don't let him.

is talking up a storm.  can say several multi-syllable words.  so smart.

is good at stacking blocks

tries to dribble a basketball like his big brother.  does pretty good
is good at putting away toys

is surprisingly OCD.  proof he's my kid

has a smile and laugh that lights up a room.  it's infectious

loves bath time

still loves anything with a wheel

loves to go for rides in the wagon

will give me random hugs and kisses.  that's my favorite

is shy when meeting new people

new people think he doesn't ever cry

he does
is very opinionated
knows all the animal sounds

can climb onto the couch and chairs

loves to look out the window

will clap at the end of a song

has little interest in watching TV.  I'm ok with that

is well behaved in public.  not always the case at home

is not very patient

out-eats Brooks at most meals.  sometimes out-eats me

likes to wear Daddy's shoes around the house

will wear mittens in the house but refuses them when we go out

Brooks - 3.5 years

 loves music

I mean, really really loves music

every surface in our home is a potential drum

watches cello videos as a reward

loves things to be orderly

doesn't like change

is not always good at sharing with his little brother

doesn't like time-outs

still cheers for the Vikings

 sometimes plays really great with Carter
he's a good big brother
loves to make Carter laugh

likes to clean the bathroom.  cries if I won't let him

was excited to share his room with Carter

is a hard sleeper

likes to sleep with a stuffed animal.  not any one in particular

loves to read books

enjoys playing basketball, baseball, football or whatever sport is in season

adores his Daddy

likes to snuggle
loves his family to be all together

likes watching Elmo

has a great memory

knows all the letters of the alphabet and their sounds

will be reading soon, I'm convinced

will do just about anything for a piece of cheese

we always have cheese in our house

likes to ride his bike

has no concept of time. doesn't do a lot of things in hurry

eats slow

teaches me to eat slow

is sensitive to loud noises

doesn't like mannequins. they make him cry 

loves to play outside

has a tender heart toward people
doesn't like to see anyone hurt or sad

doesn't take naps anymore

likes to choose his own clothes in the morning

asks about 4,593 questions a day

I answer every.single.one of them