One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Mom-Kind

Well, we finally did it. We finally took down the crib rails on the boys beds and put up the toddler rails. It makes me sad. My sweet babies don't sleep in cribs any more. They have big boy beds. I have big boys. Tear.

They have been able to hop the rail of their crib for some time now, and my fear of a serious emergency room visit finally got the best of me so we made the switch. The good part is not only can they get out of their beds (like they have been able to do for a while), but now they can get back in them!

So Daddy (aka Handy Man) made the switch...

...while I corralled the boys in the other crib.

And soon enough, there was no corral.

Of course, it's deer season, so Daddy's phone is permanently attached to his head. I'll take his handyman duties any way I can get them.

Then we switched to the other bed, because, in case you didn't know, we have TWO of everything!

Ahh! But wait! There was a problem with the second toddler rail. It was broken.

We got these cribs well over 2 years ago, and we didn't know this one was broken in the box. I don't think they would have taken it back this late in the game, so Chris JB Welded it together.

Worked like a charm. However, in the 1 MINUTE that I had my back turned to help Chris glue it together...look what happened!

Little Monkeys!!! Here is Daddy showing off his handy work. Notice the boys found a new use for the toddler rail that Mommy never thought of. Maybe my fear of an emergency room visit won't be put to rest! Giddy Up Horsey!

But at last...Merry Christmas to all...

...and to all a good night!

Ha! Don't let the peaceful illusion fool you, at 1:48 a.m. I heard a door slam...yup, Heath had easily escaped and was headed down the hallway. I am thankful for my sons' OCD about having all doors shut. If he hadn't of slammed the door, who knows what could have happened in an unsupervised MINUTE!

**On a later note: It took three nights for Hunter to fall out of his bed. I heard a big thud followed by a terrified scream. I guess that's not a fun way to wake up.

Christmas Cookies - The Photo Story

Rolling Pin Gun "Bang, Bang"

"Bang, Bang"

A little help was given in the "Icing Department."

A little more help should have been given in the "Sprinkles Department."

Community Christmas

Our town has a wonderful Community Christmas every year. They have holiday music, booths for the kids, soups, stews, chili, and of course, all of the Christmas characters. Just add a little snow and it would be a Norman Rockwell painting.

Notice how Heath is straining not to have to get too close to Frosty.

Distracted by candy canes, that was the only way we got them close enough to sit by Santa. No way, were they going to sit on his lap!

Check out Hunter giving Rudolph the "Sink Eye."

Such fun and wonderful memories were made!

1 minute!

1 minute. That's all it took for the playroom to go from this...

...to this! I only turned my back for ONE tiny, measly, minute!

Ohhhh! Talk about one NOT happy Momma!

This is what the playroom looks like now. Go ahead boys, fall off of the couch and hit your head on the brick flooring underneath. Maybe you will realize why Momma put the cushiony flooring down.

By the way, the Monkey in the window is the one that did it! That's right, Heath, I'm telling on YOU!

Zzzzzz!

Enjoying our "Turkey Induced Coma."

We hope your Thanksgiving was as good as ours was.

Baking

I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but it's hard to get many things accomplished around the house when there are two little ones that are into everything. I try to fold laundry and they either drag all of the clothes out of the basket and down the hall, getting it all dirty again, or they sit in the basket on top of all the clothes making it difficult to fold them. If I try to unload the dishwasher, the either climb in it or add their full of milk sippy cups to the clean dishes I am trying to unload. I mop the floor only to have it look like it has never seen a mop just 5 seconds later. I make the bed only to have 2 little boys jumping on it and playing under the covers. Sometimes I really feel like I'm going to loose it!

However, I have recently found something that I can do to be productive, and the boys can help. Baking.

They love to sit on the counter and help me stir the ingredients. Notice in the picture, Hunter has a bag of peanut butter crackers. Warning # 1: I do occasionally have to "fish out" some of the extra ingredients.

Just last night, we made 2 versions of pumpkin cheese cake and a pumpkin strudel bar.

Warning # 2: You may not want to eat any of our baking because I know there have been little hands in it. I don't think you can taste the sticky stuff on their hands that was left over from lunch in the baked goods.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. We will be eating lots of BAKED goods and guess what I'm bringing for the family Thanksgiving....Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes.