Will and Nate are 2!

Will and Nate are 2! Our sweet boys are already two. They are still very little. THey are 22 pounds and 31 inches long. They are too small to make the charts but they are consistently following their own growth curve. They are speaking more words which is being helped by speech therapy. They are best friends and biggest enemies all in one. It is sibling rivalry and best friends on steroids. The twin dynamic continues to fascinate us.

Will loves to figure things out. He loves to build legos He is a snuggler.

Nate loves books and is often found sitting looking at the pictures. He is a snuggler as well.

Seattle

We did a short trip to Seattle. We ended up going a week later than planned due to the kiddos all getting sick. Thankfully, everyone got better and away we went.

On Thursday we drove to Seattle and went to the Aquarium. The boys loved touching the starfish and watching the Otters. After checking in to our hotel and eating dinner we went swimming at the pool. They all loved the kiddie pool that was only a few feet deep.

On Friday we rode the streetcar and the monorail to go to the Children's museum. The driver on the monorail let Derek blow the horn. He loved it. The boys all loved the museum and running around. We also went swimming again. We got awesome take out with dungeness crab. Yummy. We also had a lovely walk around Lake Union. Derek loved seeing the Space Needle and was so excited to point it out the whole trip.

On Saturday we went to Pike Place market and got fresh salmon to take home for dinner. We also visited the original Starbucks. Will and Nate were a huge hit with all the international tourists. After lunch we headed home.

It was a fantastic mini-vacation. We loved being together. THe streetcar and monorail were big hits for the boys.

Nate's new glasses

Wow it has been weeks since I have blogged. I am now going back and updating!

Nate has glasses. He is quite far-sighted. He looks adorable in his glasses. After a very short transition phase, he is doing a great job of keeping them on. Now if we can just get Will to stop pulling on them... Will's turn is coming- he is getting glasses too!

A stool for D too!

D wanted his own stool too. Daddy found the perfect stool for him- a bucket. D was so excited. The little things thrill him. Will in background on right.

Special Helper

Derek loves to help. On Sunday, D and Daddy went out to pick up leaves. D had safety glasses on. He did a fantastic job picking up leaves. Later Will and Nate came outside to help as well. We are so proud of our 3 boys that really try to help a ton.

Building fun

They boys all love to build. We were planning to go to Seattle this weekend but everybody got sick so we stayed home. After a visit to the doctor and antibiotics for Will and Nate, they were feeling better. Mike still took off Friday and we went to the Children's Museum (with the rest of Portland). It was very busy but we had fun. D loved the building area and Mike got an idea. He went to the Home Depot on Friday and made the boys their own building set. It is PVC pipes and lots of different fittings. They all loved them and spent a lot of the weekend playing and building. Will on right.

Me too Daddy

LIfe with 3 little boys gets interesting. Derek requested a horsey ride. Will and Nate wanted in on the fun too. So all 3 piled on Daddy. Whatever D does, Will and Nate want to do too. Daddy is the favorite "toy" that gets fought over. It is pretty awesome that the boys have such a fantastic Daddy. Nate in diaper

Stools

Will and Nate have taken over 2 rubbermaids. They are used as stools to sit on and as step stools. They also love to use their garage to read books. Nate is loving picture books these days. They both love to push cars up and down the hallway. I think their favorite activity is wrestling with each other.

Finger painting

We did some painting last weekend. Will and Nate enjoyed painting themselves the best. Derek has fun painting letters. Will on the left.

Kissing

We got new play mats for the wood floors. The boys love them. One panel has a frog with a mirror on his belly. Will and Nate love to go and kiss the sweet boy in the mirror. This is Will (at least I am pretty sure it is).

Happy Halloween

Derek was a fireman, WIll was a penguin (D's old costume), and Nate was a dragon. D wore his costume to school, to Daddy's office, and to trick or treat in our neighborhood. I brought the boys to Mike's work to see all of Daddy's work buddies. In D's world they also work with him and call him. He told me the other day that he was getting calls all morning because there were problems with the tools at work (hmm maybe he listens to Daddy talking).

We all went trick-or-treating last night. D only wanted to go to a few houses. He told which houses he wanted to visit and then proclaimed it was time to go home. Once home, we all had to take turns ringing our doorbell to trick or treat. Then D waited for other kids to come. D loved opening the door and giving away candy. We let him stay up a bit later than normal and he looked out the window waiting for more kids. He was very disappointed that more kids did not come because he liked his job. This is just so D. He is wild and crazy at home and much more quiet out in public.

Pumpkin carving

Mike helped Derek carve his first pumpkin- a pumpkin he got from school. Derek chose to do a face. The pumpkin was named Howard. The next night, D helped Mike carve the company logo into another pumpkin (from our garden). Mike took it to the company party. His pumpkin is also Howard and is also know as bony Howard. D just informed me that Mike's pumpkin is the grandmother of D's pumpkin. Where does he get this stuff?