No big news today but lots of little things. The boys are changing daily. Not the way they did when they were infants but in so many different ways. It seems as if they look a bit more mature each day and they are starting to mimic Joe's and/or my mannerisms and facial expressions. I know where Jason gets that scowly eyebrow look and it's not from Bert. They are showing and telling us that they are becoming individuals as they display interest in new things or different things.

Reading continues to be a big deal at our house. No surprise given Joe's and my love of books and reading. Of course, the boys won't be allowed anywhere near Joe's collection of horror and suspense tomes for many years to come but in the meantime the boys are enjoying their own expanding library. In the pic above you see us enjoying Curious George Visits the Zoo. They are able to sit through longer stories now.

Other developments...The nighttime cup of milk is gone, having been replaced by one-on-one reading and cuddle time. Before bedtime, the four of us read together with me reading a book or 2 and then Joe reading a story or 2. Then it's prayers and we part with each parent taking a boy and going off to cuddle and read stories and (formerly) giving each boy his milk. The no-more-milk transition was gradual and the boys did great. The one-on-one mom/dad reading time seems to be an acceptable milk-substitute for the boys.

The boys are purdy smart. Each night after the family reads, I'll say, "Ok, time for prayers" and roughly half the time that is the cue for the boys to jump up and run to a toy and start playing acting as if they didn't hear me.

Both boys have learned how to use small ride-on toys. Here is a pic of Jason on an airplane. Kevin tends to stand over his ride and walk. A pretty funny visual.

Here's a cute pic taken by my folks. Jason is flying around the kitchen while Kevin is doing "happy feet" something akin to tap dancing.

Last night we had a traffic jam in the kitchen table rotary followed by a driver meltdown. Once we got all traffic going clockwise, calm was restored.

More cute kid tricks: Jason knows what certain animals say. So if you ask him "What does the cow/dog/cat/pig/duck/goose say?" He'll answer correctly. When I say, "What does Mommy say?" Sometimes he'll respond, "No." ha. ha. ha. Thanks.

Jason caught mid-flight.

It's difficult to tell what's going on in this one, eh? It's a snap of Kevin upside down on the changing bureau. He has Fred's ear in his mouth and trying to shimmy off the table while Joe valiantly tries to hold on to him AND change his diaper. Good luck with that Joe.

Kevin has finally found some favorite songs after months of not seeming to enjoy Jason's dinner music choices. Oscar the Grouch's "I love trash" and Ernie's "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon" are the big favorites as of last night when I found the missing Sesame Street CD and popped it in. Given his love for Cookie Monster I thought "C is for Cookie" would've been a hit but nope.

I made a new CD for the dinner hour and Jason has picked a couple of new favorites. This is a relief as we're all bit tired of "Popeye the Sailor Man". And, while Chickory Chick is still enjoyed, it's a big relief that Jason's taste has branched out to include the Bay City Rollers' "Saturday Night" and "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow". I'm still holding out hope that he'll start to enjoy "I Like Bananas, Because They Don't Have Bones" a cute song from the 30's/40's.

Well, that's it for now ladies, gentlemen and ships at sea. Bundle up, it's going to a wet and chilly night.

Love,

Kathy