An uber masculine kitchen

Okay, so I feel guilty considering opening a gift a Christmas highlight, but it was so much fun watching our boys open this gift. They were on cloud nine and opening it definitely put them in the Christmas spirit. Although for awhile I think they enjoyed the box as much as they did the kitchen.

The anticipation was HUGE. Sam wasn't quite sure what to think of a package twice his size. He was definitely going to need big brother to help open.

They circled it several times before they were brave enough to begin tearing paper.

This gift was also the cause for great debate this Christmas. Papaw and Daddy weren't quite sure they wanted their bug squashing boys playing with a kitchen. Actually, they were quite certain they did NOT want their boys playing with a kitchen. It didn't matter how much, or how often I tried to convince them of the masculinity of this particular kitchen, they were not going to be fans. Period.

Despite the kitchen being BLUE, there being a BOY on the cover of the box (see green shirt on box), or the number of famous manly chefs on the Food Network...it didn't matter.

Once they got started, it didn't take long

It looks like a kitchen...

It feels like a kitchen...

It smells like a kitchen...(see boy in green shirt on box)

It MUST be a KITCHEN!!!

My little chef

And, the phone...Sam's favorite kitchen feature

And let us not forget the box!

My famous last words...look how happy your little chefs are, Papaw and Daddy. Now, aren't you glad you gave in and bought them a kitchen. And for peace of mind, below are some famous male chefs, who are not only burly men, but also make quite a good living in the kitchen. Cheers.

Moms - If your little man has a kitchen, please, PLEASE speak up. Leave your comments for Henry and Sam's Daddy so he can see how many other blue kitchens exist in our circle of friends/readers.

Bobby Flay

Guy Fieri

Michael Symon

Sam Talbot

Curtis Stone

Rocco DiSpirito

Johnny Iuzzini

Aaron Sanchez

Chef Emeril Lagasse

A Love/Hate Relationship

Imagine...

Life with two sets of twins. Can you picture it? I give you Andrew and Henry (two weeks apart) and Addison and Sam (two weeks apart). If this were your life. 7 days a week. 24 hours a day. I'm guessing you'd a) need some SERIOUS hormones, or b) keep boxed wine in your fridge.

Santa vs. Pregnant Woman

So, it's obviously been awhile since I updated family and friends on our crazy life. There are many reasons for this, many of which I'll attempt to hash out via this blog in the coming weeks. But until then, I leave you with this painfully true depiction of Santa and a pregnant woman (stolen from howtobeadad.com).

momma said there'd be days like this

Last month was a busy month...I'm taking November to catch up and rest up. One major October event happened the night of October 6. It was PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) night. And as PTO co-president, I was taking a small break from the work day to franickly tweak that night's agenda...when Wade called. Wade had planned on coming home early that night to meet a friend who recently bought our desk. His call was to let me know he wasn't feeling well and that he probably wouldn't be in any condition to help move the desk or attend PTO. He was either a) really sick because he wanted that desk GONE, or b) he REALLY didn't want to go to the PTO meeting. Either way, I was sorry he didn't feel well, but didn't think too much about it.

Then, I got another call about 45 minutes later. Wade had already made the 25 minute drive home and called to warn me he had the flu. In other words, I was on my own for the night. Dinner, baths, bedtime...I'd better pick up a 32 ounce diet coke on my way to pick up the boys.

Then, 10 minutes later. Another call. The first thing out of Wade's mouth was "something isn't right. My heart is beating really fast." Needless to say, I was soon on my way home. He was waiting on me as soon as I pulled into the driveway. He was gray and I was worried. As soon as we got to the ER they whisked him away and left me at the front desk to check-in. Panic was beginning to take hold. Was Wade having a heart attack? As soon as I was able to join Wade and the half dozen nurses and doctors poking and proding him, I heard the blonde nurse yell, "it's over 200!" What was happening?!

Thankfully, only minutes later, Wade's heart which for a time was beating over 200 beats per minute, finally returned to a normal rythum. The doctor confirmed it wasn't a heart attack, but called it hyper fibrillation. They kept Wade in the hospital overnight to monitor his heart and watch him closely. As long as it doesn't happen again, they say we have nothing to worry about. And no damage was done to his heart during his episode that afternoon. Good news. Crazy day.

While they were working on Wade in the ER, I kept thinking of Katie. I wondered if this was the room she was in before they flew her to OKC. There have been so many days/moments something has happened at work and I've wanted to pick up the phone to call her. And one day I actually did and was surprised by the stranger that answered. It was a wicked reminder. I miss you, Katie. And look forward to the day I'll see you again and meet your precious little baby. Not sure why, but I always imagine you with a baby girl.

To Infinity!

I have to admit that I wasn't uber excited for Halloween this year. With moving and everything else going on, it was the last thing on my mind. But, we made it to the Sunnybrook Harvest Carnival and Henry had SUCH a good time in his Buzz Lightyear costume (which he picked out himself) that I decided we should partake in trick-or-treating the following night...at least for a little while. Besides, it would be a good opportunity to get to know some of our new neighbors, right? Ha. Let's just say Henry definitely made a first impression.

Ready for takeoff

 

Flexing his muscles

 

Buzz and our half-dressed zebra

 

You can see from the floors that one of our current home projects is the living room floor.

 

Buzz was VERY excited to run in to THE Cat and the Hat at the Harvest Carnival

 

 

Group hug

 

Henry's friend, William, came over to join him trick-or-treating. They had a blast and loved every minute. They traipsed over mums, plowed through grass, tripped over paving stones...all to be the first to ring the bell. And sometimes they enjoyed ringing it multiple times! I pulled Sam, our zebra, in the wagon through most of the neighborhood. That is until he decided he wanted to play too. I was so proud. He had been watching big brother and Will closely and quickly learned how to walk right up to the door, knock, and flash his dimples to win the very best candy. Candy that is now hidden high in the pantry. What was I thinking when I made the boys' dentist appointment for three days BEFORE Halloween?!

Doing it just like the big boys

 

 

The Cat just saw a ghost. And who was passing out pacifiers?!

 

 

 

Some of my favorite trick-or-treat moments -

• When Henry told one home owner, "you're a WORM!" Good thing that neighbor had a sense of humor.
• When Henry pointed out to another neighbor that he had a fly on his wall.
• At one house, the man answering the door said to Henry, "Cool! Buzz Lightyear! To infinity!" Henry responded by firmly planting his feet shoulder width apart, thrusting his fist up in the air and yelling at the top of his lungs, "AND BEYOND!"
• Watching Sam's little bottom waddle back and forth in his zebra costume while he tried to keep up with Henry and Will. Between the Harvest Carnival on Sunday night and trick-or-treating on Monday, poor Sam was mistaken for a little girl three times.