Dora... Dora... Dora... the EXPLORER!

Move over Fireman Sam.... there is a new girl in town...DORA.

While I'm not a huge fan of the boys watching TV... lets face it, some times it is a life saver!  For so long Fireman Sam was the show of choice... and then there was George and umizoomie and dino train and the occasional backyardigan with a little super why or Mickey mouse clubhouse thrown in there.  Well now dora is the show of choice.... I keep wanting them to like Diego but they much prefer Dora!  They love baby jaguar though... and the way they say it makes me smile EVERYTIME they say it!

so.....

Nathan and Ben were more then pumped when we got the post card in the mail from the Children's Museum telling us that a new Dora the Explorer exhibit was open.  They were so excited when Gramma and Grumpy decided they wanted to join us at the museum too.  So a couple of weekends back to headed out to meat Dora!

So Excited to go see Dora!

Gathering Acorns to fuel the nutty car.

There she is.... Dora and boots!

Captain Nathan!.... "oh map!"

Climbing high with Diego!

Astronaut Nathy and mama

Ben trying to figure out and analyse the star light display... wonder where he gets that!

Ben giving gramma and grumpy a ride in his nutty car.

Baby Jaguar and Diego!

Dynamite!

Grumpy and Ben in the ant hill... Grumpy just loves crawling through that with the boys!

Gramma and Nathy boy hung out on the huge ant!

WE had so much fun the first night visiting Dora that we headed back with our friends Ellie and Joe to check out even more fun!!!!  This was Ben Jamin' to a music video...so funny!

Joe, Ellie and Ben

The boys checking out the water....

Making a thunderstorm

counting turtles....

Nathan the beaver and Joe the bird.... 

The Children's Museum is so great and we have enjoyed it in so many ways over the last 3 years.  I always love watching the boys discover new adventures... plus it gives us the opportunity to hang out with our friends.  I hope that some day the boys look back with fond memories on all the fun thing they got to experience.  They are truly BLESSED!

What I love about you! Valentine's Day 2013

Happy Valentine's Day!

Nathan

* you love to sing songs at night....I've never heard a version of ABC's that I love more!

* You are so independent but at bed time you are the one that needs the extra hugs and kisses and songs. It is your special time with mom and dad.... and as much as "its bedtime!".... most days I cherish the special alone time!

* At some point you decided that when you are done going potty that if you smacked your tummy a little, the last drop of urine would fall into the toilet.... slightly gross but totally your quirky little thing.  

* You are strong and tough most of the time.... but when you are with a baby you love to cuddle and hold and kiss them. 

*You love balls and bats.... you are your daddy's little sports guy!

* When I ask you to smile for the camera you always say.... "Cheese Burger!"

* You have become a little backseat driver.... "mom we have to turn here..."Mom we need to turn left!".... "Mom go the way past fireman Sam's house"..... "No go this way, go that way" and my personal favorite  as I was turning right through a red light..... "Mom you have to stop at a red light!"

* You love to cook and stir things.

* I love that you look just like your daddy!

* I love when you help us tuck Ben into bed and you sing him a song or the ABC's and then you hug and kiss him!

* When you concentrate really hard you stick out your tongue... so cute!

BenJamin!

* you are my spunky guys.... you laugh and hug and smile often.

* You love to help out around the house... and you are always the first to help pick up toys or make your bed.  

* You love to jump off of EVERYTHING... the couch, the chairs, the stairs, and your bed.  

* Your new favorite bedtime song is "This little light of mine!"  we sing it at least 10 times a day. 

* You eat like your mama, you only eat when you want to.... sometimes you eat more then daddy and other times you go all day without eating anything but cheese.  

* You love to snuggle and read stories.

* You try to talk so fast now that you studder trying to get it all out!

* You love to play outside and Shovel.

* You look for your friends everywhere we go!

* I love the way that when you want to be picked up you say "Uppie me mom!"

* I love that I often find you snuggled up with Berkeley!

Making our heart shaped cookies!

The finished product!

Heart Shaped French toast for breakfast!

I just like his messy hair in this photo!

We even had pink milk!

Hugs for their favorite 4 legged friend!

I'm pretty sure they are each others favorite valentines!

He is working on his moves....watch out ladies!

It seems like just yesterday they were tiny little babes and now they are growing into these little people who have conversations, and tell stories and laugh and joke.  As much as their opinions frustrate me at times... I'm so thankful that they are growing and learning and developing.  The amount of information that they have is truly remarkable.  Happy Valentine's Day to my favorite little love bugs!

Love Always,

Mommy and Daddy

2 babies, sledding, a caterpillar and some sauerkraut

The Mitchell's are in town....

One of my very good friends just had twins.... I can't believe that we both ended up with twins.  Crazy how life works out.  Nathan and Ben were so excited to get to hold babies.  They wanted to hold them as soon as they walked in the door.  It was so cute!  They were excited to hang out with their friend Cohen too!  I was very excited to see Jen!

Just the boys... Cohen, Nathan, Evan and Ben

Ben thought that Elise was hilarious!

Missing Max and Greta who were at school!

Poor Elise is out numbered!

" look mama... twins just like us!"

Sledding on a beautiful winter day...

It was a beautiful day on Friday so we headed outside after naps for some sledding!

Best buddies!

\

Hungry Caterpillar Shower for baby Leonard...

Grandpa Dinner!

Today is the 10th anniversary of when my Grandpa Charlie died.  He was 96 years old.  We loved him and spent lots of time with him.  He was in great health up until the end, he always had a sense of humor and all of the great grand children had a very special place for him.  One of his favorite meals was backed pork chops, sauerkraut, mash potatoes and polish sausage... we refer to it as "grandpa dinner!"  So, in honor of this day, my parents made grandpa dinner and we all had dinner together.  The hat that we are all wearing is a hat that Grandpa always wore when he would walk in the winter.  After he passed away it was a part of him that I wanted to have with me... so I decided to show it to the boys and see if they would wear it... Nathan did for awhile!

Nathan wearing his Grandpa Charlie hat!

Mom with our "Grandpa dinner!"

Ben loved his grandpa dinner.... he even decided that the hat wasn't so bad.  We spent many weeks hoping that Ben had Grandpa Charlie's humor, perseverance and determination.  We may have gotten just what we asked for... and a little bit more!

Playing Cribbage... grandpa could count cards.... not sure we lived up to those expectations.

We also had an after dinner Whiskey and water... just like Gramps!

JUST KEEP STUDYING....

and as always, I did a whole lot of studying this weekend trying to get ready for boards at the beginning of March.  I had all my notes on the coffee table and I was only 1/2 watching what Nathan was doing.  He finally got my attention.... "look mom, I made you a pumpkin... he has a smiley face and grass... that make you feel better?"  So funny!  Yes Nathan Andrew that does make me feel better!

The adventures continue....

Love Always,

The Utechs