Sick Little Man

Poor little man!  You know you're sick when you wake up after a nap to instantly fall asleep again with the thermometer in your hand and in this position.  Of course, it was a Friday afternoon after the doctor's offices had closed.  We went to an urgent care.  Verdict-double ear infections.  Last month's probably never healed.  We went stronger meds than Amoxi-clav this time.  Hope Cefdinir works.  Feel better, Trenton.

Fireside Play

Bennett is in his exersaucer playing away and Trenton entertained by a Pinterest fine motor skill activity I found, pipe cleaners in a strainer.  He said he was building a castle.  I could not help. Mr. Independent!  All the while we enjoyed the warmth of a fire!

Teeth & Baths

If you look closely, Bennett's two bottom teeth popped through today and this past Monday.  It's an excited accomplishment for a baby who has been chewing like a mad man. 

 Left on Monday, right on Wednesday

 Sporting his new grin.....just can't see those rascals too much yet.  Oh, you will.  Give it time!

 Trenton loves blowing raspberries on Bennett's belly.

 Bennett likes receiving them just as much.

Two brothers ready for bed.  Good night, Snuggle Puppies!!!

Car Seat Nap

Bennett didn't take a long afternoon nap today and was exhausted when I picked him up.  He instantly fell asleep on the drive home from Ms. Buckler's house, and I knew we needed to keep him asleep a little longer.  Trenton easily stays asleep after falling asleep in the car.  He doesn't have a loud older brother to wake him up.  :)  However, Bennett almost always wakes in full alert because of the loud toddler playing around him.  Even when I ask Trenton to be quiet, which he can manage to do, his energy catches Bennett's eye.  So, my plan this afternoon was to take Bennett straight to his room before even getting Trenton unbuckled.  I left Bennett in his car seat and positioned the video monitor on him.  It was a short nap--only 20 mins probably--but he needed that power nap.  Trenton thought it was funny that he was sleeping this way.

Meet Chippey

If you have not heard of the book Elf on the Shelf and have kids or grandchildren, get one!  They are so fun!  The main concept is that the elf reports to Santa each night when you are sleeping about how you've been.  He's good motivation, especially in the beginning.  :) 

Each morning Trenton would instantly ask about Chippey, our elf, and have to see him before doing anything else.  You couldn't find him.  He had to.  Our elf couldn't get into too much mischief this year.  He needed to stay in high places so that little hands did not touch him.  (They lose their magic.)  Most of the time, he was clearly out of reach.  One day, we put Chippey hanging out of the silo of his barn, and Trenton without thinking reached out and touched him ever so slightly.  Not really caring, we reminded him that you can't touch Chippey because he'll lose his magic.  The sadness appeared and you could tell Trenton was deeply upset.  His eyes swelled with tears (like I said, we told him nicely--he wasn't in trouble by all means!) and his lower lip stuck out.  He couldn't hold back his little cry.  He felt terrible that he had touched Chippey without even thinking and genuinely thought he'd made Chippey lose his magic.  Of course, we felt so bad and tried our hardest to reassure Trenton that Chippey was perfectly fine.  Luckily, he soon got over it.  Trenton such a sweet, sensitive boy, and he feels sad if he thinks he's hurt someone.  It really is a sincere quality he possesses. 

Chippey then remained in high locations through the downstairs.  If Chippey got out any of Trenton's toys to play with, you can bet it was something Trenton wanted to play with that day.  So without touching the elf, Mommy had to borrow the toy back and share it with Trenton to keep us from having a meltdown.  You'd then catch Trenton over talking to the elf saying, "Sorry Chippey, you can play with it later."  His conversation with him always cracked us up!  He told him good morning, good bye, good night....you name it....Chippey was one of us.  Trenton even invited him to his birthday party.  We will see if Santa allows Chippey to leave the North Pole and come to Trenton's Knight Birthday Party in January.  :)

Tree Up

Daddy put our Christmas tree up while we were out running errands, which was conveniently arranged so he could get the task done in a timely fashion.  (When a 2 year old wants to help, it can sometimes turn into an all day task!)  We all were excited to see it, and Trenton was even more excited to start decorating it with ornaments!  Love the Christmas season!

 Bennett is happy about his first Christmas tree and his first Christmas!

 

We left the 12 days of Christmas plastic ornaments at a good level for Trenton to grab them for the tree.  However, he soon moved on to the remaining ornaments and we had to be extra careful with helping him hang those.  He had so much fun!

 Bennett likes the masterpiece and decides to have dinner in front of the tree.

 Aren't babies the cutest when messy!  Looks like it was a sweet potato night!

And the adventures with Chippey our elf reemerge now that the tree is up.  (He was Dax last year when a 1 year old named him, but thanks to the show, Chippey was the only name Trenton called him this year.  So, our elf is now officially Chippey.)



Trenton Shows

I love bumbos.  Whoever invented them was great.  Seriously, it's the chair that can be taken anywhere and is comfortable for the little ones.  Bennett can sit front and center at the "Trenton Show"......today's episode takes place near Christmas.

 My brother is so entertaining! 

 Trenton mimiced his daddy taking the Christmas tree home from Pike on the jeep with these clippings on his cozy coupe.   

Bennett became a little distracted when he got his teether stuck on his foot.  How in the world?!

Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving!  We all have so much to be thankful for.  We are thankful for our precious little boys.  Granna and Opa who live close by and help with the boys regularly.  GiGi and PaPaw who are actively involved in our kids lives.  Jobs in an economy where they are hard to come by.  A nice home to raise our boys in a child-friendly neighborhood.  Extended family who we miss dearly but are in our thoughts routinely.  Friends who give us support, encouragement and joy.  A nurturing church that encourages involvemnt.  Our health.  The list can go on.  God truly has and continues to bless our lives.  We don't take time enough to thank Him. 

 It was a beautiful November day to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Leskovens.  We enjoyed a homecooked meal by Granna and then hiked Thompson Park in Roswell. 

Operation Christmas Child

We had fun preparing boxes for Operation Christmas Child and hosting a neighborhood gathering to compile boxes.  Then, Trenton was Mommy's big helper as we delivered the shoe boxes to the distribution center. We hope to hear from the individuals who receive the gifts.  It would be neat to see how far the boxes may have traveled.

 Trenton was good about picking out the toys, but had to give Winnie the Pooh and his crew one last play before packing them in.

Maddox, Kendall, Trenton and Rylan gather around the table with their shoeboxes. 

Boo-Boo

Trenton's boo-boo he got when he was playing with Mommy in the driveway. 

Spiderman

The latest and greatest Trenton obsession....Spiderman!  We now are proud owners of gloves, shirts, characters and movies. And, Santa's list has several additional spiderman items.  Don't let this little guy fool you.  He'll get you with his web!

Green Jacket, Green Shirt...Same Thing!

Masters, beware.  Trenton has been working on his golf game. 

Trenton Feeding Bennett

Trenton was excited to give Bennett a bottle.

Bennett liked playing with Trenton's ear.

 Trenton became a bit annoyed as Bennett got more curious.

 Then, I think he was ready for us to take Bennett. 

Fall Fun

With Daddy off and home with us, we decided to have a little fun outdoors this weekend before the cold strikes again.  We really needed to get rid of our pumpkins since it was approaching the end of November; however, they were in good condition.  So, Mommy put a little pinterest into action again.  I don't think Bennett was too excited about being inside the pumpkin--oh well, he was a trooper and I got a cute picture before the screams.  We also were able to play in the leaf some more this weekend.  Our neighbor across the street had his entire yard covered with leaves.  We took full advantage of that opportunity!

Trenton tells Bennett to look at the camera.  Funny thing is, Trenton is the one who is usually not looking!  He's giving Bennett some unneeded assistance when he is the child needing it! Go figure! 

 Daddy and his boys and then on to the pumpkin fun!  Bennett looks so cute! 

 I don't think he knows quite what to think at first.

 Then he realize it.  Get me out of this pumpkin!

 There is nothing better than leaves in the fall!

Daddy would hide behind their sign.....

and jump out to throw leaves on Trenton!  He loved it!