what a day!

today was a nice stay at home day, nothing to be done really, just made some pies and have plans to go out with a friend for coffee tonight. The boys have been fairly well behaved today- with the exception of Logan's strong willed and destructive behavior... but that is just normal now. Logan clogged one toilet with paper today, and almost clogged a second, tore a leaf off my palm tree (which is my pride and joy...) broke multiple crayons into pieces, dumped out a basket of folded laundry, and stuck his hand into my freshly cooled blueberry pie.
but that's not what I'm writing about tonight. those things happen with most active two year olds (right?? tell me I'm not the only one...?)
Tonight at dinner I was sitting with Logan as he finished his vegetables while Carson and daddy were already in the midst of their nightly wrestling match. Logan was eating quickly so he could go join in, when -as usual- he got distracted with the fun he creates with that amazing little brain of his.
he held up a snap pea and said "FWEEZE! PUT CHA HANDS UP! FWEEZE!!"
I said "what are you gonna do?"
He looked at his pea pod and squeezed once, drew his eyebrows together and thought for a second. "Maybe its broken." he said quietly.

Carson also had a great day, today he learned how to spell CAT, HAT, BAT, and FAT.
I couldn't think of any other easily spelled "AT" words. he sounded each out, and even wrote FAT out on his own. I was so proud of him!
we also had a great discussion about policemen and when they put people in jail.
He wanted to know if people get arrested for stopping at green lights, or for driving when its a red light. I told him that they wouldn't get arrested for that, they'd probably just be told to pay attention, or be given a ticket.
Carson then wanted to know what kinds of things people get put in jail for.
We talked about people getting into trouble for stealing things, and people going to jail for killing other people, or for beating other people up, which is assault. Carson said quickly "well I guess the police aren't paying attention when I beat my brother up then, 'cause I've never gone to jail and I beat him up all the time."
I hugged my honest little brute and told him the virtues of wrestling for fun and warned him not to hurt his brother on purpose ever. he's still not sure if he should go to jail or not... but as I write this he's horsing around with daddy, and isn't too concerned about the police at all.

sketchy sculpting

This weekend we had our thanksgiving dinner together at Mom and Dad Mendes' house. The meal was amazing, as is now tradition- with Jeff's Italian meatballs and pasta, Rachael's turkey sausage stuffing, Natalie's creamy cheesey green bean casserole, Cynthia's twice baked potatoes and the best turkey I've ever eaten... Mom's BOMB-(layered chocolate cake, snickers bars, chocolate pudding, and whipped cream) and my homemade pies... and so much more that I don't have time to record...
We ate our feast, and spent a few hours enjoying being together, watching Rachael and Jeff's wedding video- which was awesome- and laughing together at all the funny parts- Daniel's crazy dance moves, Dad Mendes' dance moves... and then there was the play-do.
Carson and Francesca had been having a great time together, they love being around each other so much. they opened gifts from Rachael and Jeff, and one of the gifts was a set of play-do. Francesca decided to make a doughnut, and Carson -for whatever reason, or possibly for no reason at all- decided to make a snake. not any snake, actually, but a one-eyed snake. we all looked at each other for a second, and then burst out laughing. Francesca's dad points out that all snakes have two eyes, and if she ever meets one with less than two she should run. then he makes her a teddy bear out of play-do. our little artists kept on playing, and both ended up with great works of art. we ended up with cramps from laughing so hard.
*everyone in my household denies ever teaching my son about one-eyed snakes. this matter is still under investigation.

Logan is 2!!

Logan's birthday party went well, he had fun playing with his cousins and aunts and uncles that were here. he got lots of great toys and clothes, thanks everyone! and had the coolest cake ever. He kept showing everyone over to the table and saying "look! its spiderman! and look there- its spiderman!"
he is growing up so fast, its hard to remember when he was a bald baby that went to bed without crying... now he's got a full head of hair (almost!) and jumps the coop every time we put him down. He's such a handful, and such a joy at the same time- its hard to know whether to be stern or just laugh at his antics most days. generally we end up laughing whether we want to or not, our little Logan is growing into a clown- cracking a joke at every occasion that presents itself, making a face to see what the reaction to it will be, or copying the things he hears Daddy and uncle Dan say when they watch football - "see YA, its GONE, see ya, TOUCHDOWN! a football touchdown!"
sigh... I thought that this toddler stage would last for so long... and its already slipped away! I have two little boys now, who are quickly growing into smart big boys- how did this already happen?! I'm still looking forward to being done with diapers, but when he's old enough to be potty trained will he be too old to talk to his stuffed animals at night- calling his goofy doll mickey mouse and laughing when goofy acts offended... too old to be giving kisses freely to anyone who is close to his heart... too old to say "I love you too, mom" throughout the day when it hasn't even been said first... too old for that hug that is so tight and sweet it makes you tear up every time...
...maybe I'll keep the diapers just in case.

Carson and his 100th haircut...

okay so not quite, but this kids hair grows so fast he is always looking shaggy. I was waiting to have his aunt Natalie do it again, but we have both been busy lately, so it wasn't looking like it was going to be soon. The last straw was the other night when the kids were in the bathtub and Carson was laying on his back swinging his head back and forth in the water saying : "my hair is just like a mermaid!"
and indeed it was- long and flowing around his head like mermaid locks.
So we got out of the tub and cut a good inch and a half off it, probably more.
He is thrilled with it, and it'll do until Natalie touches it up for me. :)

bible school

tonight at dinner we had an in-depth story time with Carson. He thought Nate had been at Bible school this afternoon, when he was really taking a test at work. Carson then proceeded to tell a long tale of how he himself went to a bible school named Nastestavonies that was just for kids, drove himself, and had a great day playing football. Nathan had a long conversation questioning him about the intricacies of how the day went.
Nate said "you drove yourself there in the Jimmy?"
Carson: "yeah."
Nate: "well, you can't drive a car yet, so how did you get there?"
Carson: "well, I guess I was just joking. I walked."
Nate "well, you aren't allowed to cross the street by yourself, so how did you get there?"
Carson: "well, it was just on the same side of the street, I didn't have to cross it."
Nate: " where was it? "
Carson: " in East Bridgewater, on East Brockton Road."
Nate : "well, East Bridgewater is on the other side of the road, so how did you get there?"
Carson "well, a guy just drove me to the other side of the road."

Nate: "you know you aren't allowed to go with strangers don't you?"

Carson: "yeah, I don't remember how I got to the other side I guess."

Nate "so, how many kids were in your class?"
Carson: "eight, but there were nine downstairs."

Nate: " so you must have met some of the kids in your class, what were their names?"
Carson: "I only made one friend. just one."
Nate "what is your friends name?
Carson "Scott."
Nate "oh yeah? what is Scott like?"
Carson "he's brown."
Nate "what color hair does he have?"
Carson " black. " (looking up directly at Nathan's black hair as he speaks,)
Nate "what color eyes does he have?"
Carson " blue"

I asked "what color shirt was he wearing?"
Carson "green" as he looks at my green shirt, without missing a beat.
Nathan "what is Scott's last name?"
Carson "Bott.:
Nathan " Scott Bott?"
Carson " yeah. Scott Bott."

The conversation went on to reveal that the school had a lady teacher that he didn't know the name of, was white in color with nine legs that didn't have shoes, but sandals on their feet.
The legs purpose were to keep the school up when there were too many kids inside.
after telling Nathan that he could go and check for himself to see that this bible school really does exist on East Brockton street in East Bridgewater, and not backing down from his story for a good 10 minutes... Carson finally smiled and said "I'm just joking, there really isn't a bible school. I tricked you!"
by this time my cheek muscles were sore from the suppressed smiles and smothered laughter, and I was glad to have his charade over... as funny as it was. I'll never be surprised after this at how quick a child's mind can be, and how vivid their imagination. but then again, tomorrow is always a new day with new surprises!