Owen's laugh probably is the best laugh I've ever heard in my life. His daddy's laugh is...unique...so maybe that's where it came from. The best part, aside from how hearty and giggly it is, is when he toots while he's laughing. It's absolutely hilarious...guess I'm big on adolescent humor. Sooooo cute to tickle him.

He and Noah have been playing around with doing the NO NAP routine. They both have gone about 3 days straight this week without one and gone to sleep relatively early. Today they both napped so it might be catching up to them. I was just shocked that my not yet 2 yr old is not napping at all!!! Noah was ahead of his peers (and still is) with this at closer to 3. Luckily they both do a decent job of occupying themselves or asking me to read to them etc so it's not as crazy wild as one might think...well not all the time at least.

Noah's potty training is experiencing another set back. He did so well in May/June and now in summer camp he's wetting his pants every day. Only happens at school and they tell me they prompt him often. Not sure what that is all about but I figure there will be accidents even into kindergarten.

Boys are having a wonderful summer so far. Kicked it off with the Disney trip and camp for Noah. O and I have been busy with momma group stuff. The boys have enjoyed playing with the neighbors (including Hannah in from Michigan) and Noah got to try a slip n slide for the first time. I'm gearing up in the kitchen with Owen (made blueberry oatmeal whole wheat muffins today) so that he'll be pretty schooled about the rules when he helps bake his own birthday cake in July. Still debating having maybe a LITTLE TINY shindig --like a playdate with cupcakes at the house--for his birthday...it's not a party year but still...

Little O at a playdate...
Noah plays on slip n slide at neighbors
The 1st run
My beach boys...

Story time
Neighborhood Walk
Takin' it to the Goal...

When Owen was born I looked at him and thought he looked nothing like his brother Noah. My two unique boys. I was a little worried that people wouldn't even think they were brothers. To my surprise everyone went on about how much Owen looked like his brother...especially when Noah's hair is cut short. For the first time yesterday a stranger finally remarked about it. We were at the Children's Museum and the boys were playing on the train table. The woman nearby asked Noah's age and I said 3, 18mos older than his brother (pointing at Owen). She looked truly surprised and said "Oh! They're brothers?!" ;) My two handsome, unique boys ;)!

I may need to find a new route home from Noah's school. I take 441 which in Palm Beach county (near Delray/Boynton) is flanked with farms and...well, not much of anything. It really makes me feel like we're in the country and is a nice break with some quiet. BUT! There is a huge u-pick farm on the corner of 441 and Boynton Beach Blvd. Noah comments on it about 1/2 mi before we get to the intersection...listing off fruits and veggies and wondering if it's open. Then he sees the gates open, flags waving and begs to stop and pick veggies. The last time we did stop and he picked up 1 apricot, 1 plum, 1 acorn squash, a plum tomato and navel oranges. He talked to the men working and named everything for the check out lady. He held the plum (which matched his shirt) all the way home and insisted on trying it with the apricot as soon as we got home. Liked the plum better ;). Nice to do sometimes but definitely not every day!

Get the Whale

O's Swim Lessons

Mama's 33rd Birthday!

We took a family mini vacation (which is about all the boys can handle) to Orlando to celebrate my birthday. Nana donated a few nights at a resort and Disney donated my entrance fee to the cause. We had a WONDERFUL time at the Magic Kingdom and I was so happy to see old friends on Sat/Sun. We met with the Ripleys (minus Katie) on Saturday for some pool time and lunch then with the McGuires at Loch Haven Park for a picnic lunch & playtime. Mama Karry, thoughtful as ever, made birthday cookies with a "safety" candle to celebrate. I had one of my best birthdays ever and got tons of birthday wishes that really helped me feel loved on my special day. ;) Here are some of the photos from the weekend. FIRST, I want to put down the details of the boys' Magic Kingdom trip before I forget them (sorry for those not interested *wink*). We stayed at the Cypress Pointe Grand Villas one exit east of Disney off I-4. We got to the park as it opened and made a bee line for the Tommorrowland Speedway. The boys were SO excited to drive race cars and Noah actually did a really good job steering. Owen and I were a wreck...literally. Silly me let him get behind the wheel. We then went to see Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse where my two serious faced boys gave them really really big hugs. Noah loved seeing Mickey's house and "messy kitchen". The two of them were pretty wide-eyed, excited, happy and well-behaved the entire day...heck, all of the weekend too! What we did: Buzz lightyear's ride (O hated it), Peter Pan's, Tea Cups (Daddy and Noah), Small World (favorite--went 2 x), Jungle Cruise (Noah yelled "echo" in the tunnel and everyone laughed--got a high five from the guide), Riverboat, Monorail (another favorite), the WDW Railroad (loved it), Swiss Family treehouse (Noah saw the kitchen and said we needed to bake me a cake for my bday--aww), Carousel Of Progress (Owen and I had to leave but Noah liked it), a show in front of the castle, Country Bear Jamboree (N & Daddy while O & I held parade spots on the street outside), and the Barnstormer (N was afraid but didn't cry). We never waited more than 10-15 minutes (hmm, maybe longer to meet Mickey--that felt like forever but it was all under a/c) to ride. Noah enjoyed finding different clocks around the park (his new obsession). The boys napped around 3 so Daddy and I got some snacks and a fastpass while they slept. We closed the place down and the boys were awake enough to see all of the SpectroMagic Parade (LOVED it!) and the fireworks display (O was afraid and N's fav part was seeing tinkerbell of all things). It rained for maybe 20 minutes where the rides were shut down but it really was barely a wrinkle in the day. We liked it so much we're already planning to go again for Daddy's birthday in August!

Owen with Ms. Alison

Mike, Ronan, Noah and Harper Ann
Daddies at the lake

I have a similar pic of these two on a picnic blanket at about 10 mo old...

Stuck in traffic so bad that everyone turned off their engine and walked around the highway...