Time.

Time moves way too quickly these days...I heard someone say not too long ago that when your kids are little the days are long but the years are short. It's true...somedays fly by and others are more challenging...I have an almost 2 year old and a just turned 3 year old so I expect the challenge...but woah, I have an almost 2 year old and a just turned 3 year old. How did that happen?

A weekend or two ago we went to a pre-school open house at our church so that Jackson could meet his very sweet teacher and see his classroom to be come September. In September, OF THIS YEAR, I'm going to be the mama of a school aged kiddo. Preschool...but that counts, right? I'm excited for him to meet other friends and have a new experience but it's bittersweet. My little baby is getting bigger and I'm powerless to stop it! I'm so blessed to be his mommy, though, and he's a silly, sweet, loving, funny guy. We're very lucky.

Even more shocking that Jackson going to pre-school in September is Gram's 2nd birthday looming in the very near future! 2! Seriously? Didn't I just have a newborn and a 14 month old? Crazy. Gram is talking up a storm and still not sleeping through the night. My "Gram, go back to sleep!" Is met with "no mommy not tired" At least he's honest.

Rain, thunder and lightening. I have to cut this short. I have scared little munchkins. See, they still need me!

Thanksgiving Cookie Project

A few weeks ago Jeff's mom gave us animal shaped cookie cutters and ever since then Jackson has been begging to make "shape cookies" several times a day. I promised him that we could make some Thanksgiving pumpkin cut out cookies and then I couldn't find my pumpkin cookie cutter!

A quick Google search later I found these adorable turkey cookies on Pillsbury's website and decided that we would try to make them.

They are super easy. You just make round sugar cookies and then stick candy corn on the top of the cookie to resemble feathers and use M&M's for the eyes (attaching all with frosting) and then pipe a mouth/nose and feet with icing and you're all set. My "helpers" quickly abandoned me as soon as I cut off their supply of M&M's but I still had fun making them.

The boys also loved that they got to eat some of the candy corn and as Gram has a habit of holding his food in his hands for a looooong time before actually deciding to eat it I found out that candy corn melts easily and makes a very sticky, very messy goo substance that acts as a glue to anything it sticks to...anyways.

They turned out cute and will look cute on our dessert platter for Thanksgiving day.

A Beetle Bug!

A couple months ago, when Gram was around 15 months old, he started calling us "a beetle bug." It has since become a term of endearment and he will often hug one of us and then call us a beetle bug. It's funny and cute and something that I hope he continues to do for a long time. Jackson has also picked up the term and I frequently hear it peppered in amongst their chatter to each other.

This morning the boys are playing with trains. The noises that they make while playing with trains are too cute and Jackson has to "correct" Gram and let him know that "noot noot" is actually pronounced "toot toot" and that a train actually says "choo choo" and not "moo moo." Thankfully Gram handles these minor corrections well.

This past week or so we have been keeping busy. We went to the zoo twice because we are trying to take advantage of nicer weather. We got to see the baby elephant playing with a ball and some of the other animals were active as well. I think they are enjoying the nice weather, too!

Dragons Love Cheerios

I am not sure that most of you are aware of this but Jeff and I are raising a dragon. He will be three in February and insists that his name is no longer Jackson but rather Jack the Dragon and that he will only eat cake, Cheerios, grass, or "trick or treat candy." He also would like to announce that he is too busy to use the potty. (He tells me this as he is eating Cheerios and watching an episode of the Wonder Pets so one can only deduce that he is, in fact, just being stubborn about the whole potty issue. That or he really thinks he is busy...hmmm.)

This afternoon, after nap time and lunchtime, the boys and I went to the Air force Museum, where I was informed that dragons not only don't have to follow the rules but are allowed to fly whatever plane they want. After a short discussion we finally agreed that even dragons have to listen to their mommy says. The boys both adore sitting in the cockpit of the two planes that are open. One of the planes has two separate areas and the other one just has one seat. My boys, as they adore each other, insisted on sitting in the single seat together and "flew" that plane for a good 10 minutes.

We're having one of those days where nothing quite suits Gram and Jackson, ahem, Jack the Dragon, is having a hard time listening. It must be frustrating to know exactly what you want but not be able to verbalize it. I know it's frustrating to be able to verbalize but not have anyone listen! (As a side note the boys just used "teamwork" to break our floor lamp. I explained that lights of any type can not be used for riding or turning into cars.)

Thankfully Jeff will be home soon to save us all! In the meantime perhaps I will try to convince my little dragon to try to use the potty? Maybe he's not busy anymore.....