These warm spring evenings are heaven.  My boys spend their time running barefoot, skinning their knees, ripping their pants, getting dirty, and giggling nonstop. Who doesn't love warm weather?  I'm in love with the colors of spring and the excuse to just sit outside in the sun.  

I love how happy these two guys are when they're together.  I love that Max will pick up any bug he can find and squish it in his fingers.  I love that Sam will push his little brother endlessly on the swing.  And I especially love how quick Max is to tell me that his best friend is Sam.  

I love my boys. 

Big news around these parts.

 

We celebrated Eric's big 30th birthday yesterday!!  He was home all weekend and we soaked up every minute of him that we could.  We partied hard!  From indoor water slides, to dinner with the Curtises, to his traditional birthday dinner of  ribs and mashed potatoes...his birthday was a success.  He forgot about work for a few days and it just the break he we needed.

 This morning brought more big news at our house...

 

We found out that we're expecting another baby BROTHER!  I'm not kidding! Three boys.  Right. In. A. Row.  

I have to say I'm not really surprised.  I just started laughing when the tech told us it was a boy.  I kind of knew deep down it would be and it really feels just perfect.  This little boy has two big brothers who are thrilled he's coming, and all the transformers and cars he could ever want.  He's one lucky duck.  

I feel pretty darn lucky myself.

I think about what the next ten or so years of my life will be like and I'm thinking lots of baseball games, lots of cub scouts, and lots of laundry.  And I wouldn't trade it!

Nothing better than a visit from Gram and Pops.

We enjoyed a few fun days with my mom and dad last week and it was fantastic.  In true Hoosier fashion we went to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and showed Gram and Pops how HUGE the Brickyard is in real life.  

I definitely didn't do my part when it came to taking pictures during their visit.  I think when I'm with my mom I turn on my kid brain and give that responsibility to her.  I also don't love picture taking when I'm pregnant.  Go figure.

 

We had so much fun just being together.  We laughed, played, watched basketball, shopped, and found a secret indoor walking route to the mall.  It was perfect; time just went too quickly.

We also had ourselves in tears of laughter as we took about 1,000 pictures on Gram's computer.  Aren't we good lookin'?

Thanks for the fun memories, Gram and Pops!  Come again...soon!

As of late...

my Sam is growing too fast.  Way. Too. Fast.  I got all emotional thinking about it last night.  I blamed it on the pregnancy hormones, but we all know that's not true at all.  I'm such a cry baby; especially when it comes to my kids.  

I'm in a real dilemma with Sam right now.  I love, love, love his ever-expanding independence in so many ways.  He makes his bed, clears his plate after dinner, gets himself dressed, helps his little brother, has his own opinions, and loves to be my helper with everything (and is actually helpful!).  

But at the same time, I'm so not ready for a lot of this growing up stuff.  I'm not ready for him to go out with the neighborhood boys and ride bikes by himself like he begs to do.  I'm not ready for him to ride the bus to school.  I'm not ready for him to get sweaty armpits and whiskers for that matter.  It'll happen all too soon, you know.

Can't I just keep him safe behind the fence in my backyard forever and ever?  

I love age four.  Love it. Love it.

Today, he went and grew up a little more on me.  He mastered the rings at the playground.  I've never seen him so proud.

 

 Besides my emotional outbursts, we've been loving spring.  We've dug in the dirt at the park, worked in the yard and soaked up the sun.  Spring is happiness in my book.

Super

Superheroes are making a come back at my house this week.

Here they are waiting for their dad (who's work schedule these days requires superhero strength).

 

 

I think coming home to an excited Superman and Batman makes these long work days worth it.

Lately.

 

It's March!  It's March!  We now have some of these poking up around our yard...

and I just love it!  I can't wait to see what else pops up this spring!  Bring on the sunshine.

Max had a terrible ear infection and was sad most of last week.

But no need to worry...he's definitely on the mend and is back to his busy and energetic self.  He talks and talks so much right now and loves to whisper secrets in my ear.  Those secrets are usually about candy, gum and licorice that he wants for Christmas.  He's planning ahead. 

Sam loves the sunshine almost more than me.  It will be 25 degrees out with just a glimmer of sun and Sam begs and begs to play outside and ride his bike.  So, we've been thankful to spend a couple of afternoons here, at this amazing and free indoor playground.  Places like this are lifesavers.

Both boys seem excited about having a baby join our family this summer.  Sam has been very worried about what I eat.  I was chowing down on something last week (probably fruit snacks because those are a favorite of mine right now) and Sam suddenly became very concerned.

"Mom!  Stop!  You are only supposed to drink milk.  Didn't you know that newborn babies can only eat milk?"  

Sam is also certain that we're having a baby girl.

 "I already have a brother, Mom.  We have no girls at our house and sisters are funner than brothers."

I, on the other hand, am pretty certain we're having another boy.  I've been trying to explain to Sam that we don't get to choose the gender of the baby.  It's not up to us.  

His response, "I know God chooses, but I just want him to choose a baby sister."

 

We shall see.  We shall see.