Mom, Can I Drive?

I've turned into my mother.  This is the part where P chimes and says, "Turned?! You were there a long time ago."  He can be brutally honest sometimes.  Back to my mom.  She used to do this thing where she would just stare at me while I was eating.  Just watching every bite like I was going to disappear or something.  Drove. Me. Nuts.  Well, I get it now.  That glazed look on her face?   It's called love.  I do it to my boys everyday.  Like a moth to a flame.  I can't help it.  They are so beautiful to me and each day they grow, I find myself searching for the baby that is no more.  W's face gets smaller and smaller each time I look at him.  His baby fat melting away, making me want to stuff him with candy and chocolate just to retain it.  

But the hard fact is, there is no stopping time.  And now my baby is 4.  4!!!!! Next year he'll be 5!!! Do you know what that means?  He'll be going to school.  Like real school and I'm just not ready for that.  No sir.  I try to drown my sorrows in party preparations.  I know P wishes I would just keep it simple (and cheap).  But the truth is, I need to make it fun and happy because it's hard for me to make this milestone official.  You're grown.  One year closer to leaving mom.  Here.  Have some cake.  :(

Depressed yet?  Sorry.

Well, I knew my W would be happy having yet another train party, seeing as how he is still very much obsessed with them.  I just couldn't do it.  Especially since our little N is also just as obsessed with trains.  Guess what kind of party he'll be having next month?  Sigh.  I opted for a more colorful theme and went with Yo Gabba Gabba.  He really likes this show, I'm guessing, because there is a lot of music and dancing.  I think he had a good time, even though he was sick.   It was colorful and loud and all his friends came.  Oh, and I got the most awesome chocolate cake from Porto's, which I forgot to eat because I was so busy!!!  Been craving it ever since.  

Notice how DJ Lance had to be added to the cake.  W insisted.

 Isn't the Muno plate hilarious?!

He's so big, right?  ;(

Look at N's face.  LOL!

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Poor guy had an awful cough the whole time.

Lil B.

Big B.

Maddie!

Baby N, who I'm going to steal when my friend's not looking.

The twins came!!!

Gal pals reuniting.

He was so shy when we were singing to him.

Yes, he spit all over the cake.

Yu brothers.

Woo sisters.

Thanks for coming Uncle Pete!

W and his friends, waiting for the train to come.

:)

There was a festival going on in the parking lot, which I totally thought was going to mess up our party.  But it ended up being additional entertainment.  An after party, if you will.  

Cheese!!!  

Big bros prize gorilla.

 W wanted to ride this over and over again.  

Auntie J, showing N how to dance.

I couldn't believe he wanted to ride this!

So far so good.

This is more like W.

He's so good at making his lil brother laugh.

 My heart.

My men.

Happy birthday, my sweet W.

BFFs

I cannot get my head around the fact that it is almost he holidays again.  I feel like I write this post every year, but it is just THAT mind-boggling how time flies.  Did the box with tree even get a chance to collect dust yet?  I mean, I just put the ornaments away last week, right?   I just survived W's birthday party.  Now, I've got to work on Halloween costumes.  It never ends!!!  Am I complaining?  Heck no!  Just saying, this time of year is a whirlwind of events and I feel like an ostrich with it's head underground, just waiting for the sandstorm to pass.  I'm sure ostriches put their heads underground for a number of reasons.  But for this ostrich, it's a sandstorm.  

My focus for the next few months, and hopefully, for good, is to just enjoy the moment with my family.  With all the holidays and birthdays this season, it's really easy to get caught up with all the many errands I have to run and ideas I have to crank out.  But I just want to see my babies be babies before they become men.  And N has truly made some major progress with all his developments.  The boys have so much fun together that it just stops me in my tracks.  I gotta witness this right now.  No cameras, no video.  No saying "later" to myself.  Because the next thing I know, they are gone and living life away from us.  Can't even think about that without feeling a big lump in my throat.  

They are so cute together, W working so hard to make N laugh with his funny faces and obnoxious sounds.  I'm telling you, if N didn't laugh at those sounds, I'd beg W to stop making them altogether.  So loud.  It's not all peaches and cream all the time.  They fight.  N has a really bad habit of hitting.  And the fact that he doesn't know how to share yet makes it really fun when W is constantly taking stuff away from him.  At some point, I'm just going to have to let them deal with it on their own.  But right now, I gotta butt in and try.   For the most part, they are falling into their roles as brothers very nicely.  W is the big brother, finding ways to torture N from time to time.  And N is the typical younger brother, indignant and rebellious, but stills wanting to everything W does.  It's music to my ears, hearing those two go at it.  Good or bad.  

Rolly pollies.  Much entertainment.

Watching one of the pollies climb the stair. 

The hunt continues.

I better get used to being in the bleachers.

So little in this big world.

Not sure, but I think N burped.  W loves when people burp.

He has the best laugh.

Look closely.  Bath time is also booger loosening time.

Too cute, right?  

Don't judge.  This is the good life.

Laundry AKA pile of toys.

W teaching N how to have fun.

Pretty sure he rolled N off the pile.

More laundry shenannigans.

Almost got lost in my pjs.

Priceless.

Look at N.  He's like, do you mind?  I'm trying to eat my rice cake in peace.