The boys all got sunglasses in their easter basket.  It was a big hit!

Firefly

Riley made a fire fly with a flash light, two cups, paper, tape, and a marker.  

Jeremy has always doted over Zachary.  He is so precious with him.   This picture and video is when Zach was just about 2 months old.  Zach was fussing a tiny bit and Jeremy (without being told) went over and started singing to him and Zach quickly fell asleep.

Easter Egg Hunt

This year we had planned on going to the church easter egg hunt.  We ended up missing it.  So we hid eggs and let the boys find them over at the school.  They had lots of fun!

Catching a Leprechaun...Well, ALMOST!

I know that to say that I'm posting this late is an understatement.  Better late than never.  Back in March for St. Patrick's Day Riley had to make a leprechaun trap for school.  Riley was so excited and talked for weeks about how he was going to catch one.  There was NO doubt in his mind that he would catch one.  Since his teacher told him that leprechauns like things that are green, gold and shiny...he delivered.  Over time I kept reminding him that he might not actually catch one.  He could not be swayed.  Fortunately, I have a creative and artistic husband who delivered and saved us from the crushing realization.  Apparently Riley ALMOST caught the leprechaun.  We think that he got nervous and escaped before he tripped the fishing line.

Riley was slightly disappointed that he didn't catch one.  However he was very excited that he got so close.

Photography

Here are just a few of the MANY MANY pictures Jeremy has been taking lately.  He has also been taking LOTS of videos but those just take too much time to upload.  

His subject?  Tyler.  

I put a few pictures below not for the cuteness factor but because it's a demonstration of Jeremy playing the photographer/director role (minus the video).  And really this blog serves as my kid journal.  

Tyler has become Mr. Mischeif.  He is always getting into things.  And I love that Jeremy is the one who caught this picture.

Jeremy's beloved yellow blanket and Phillip.  On a side note, I didn't crop or manipulate any of these pictures.  Not that they would blow someone out of this world but the boy is 4. 

This picture makes me laugh because Jeremy had Tyler pose with his rabbit.  I wish I had seen Jeremy telling Tyler what to do as he placed Phillip on his back.

"That's My Business! Reading!"

From time to time, over the fast several months, Jeremy would tell me what something said.  Usually it was something like a sign we'd seen a million times so I figured he just memorized it.  Today he brought something to me and told me what it said.  So then I asked him to read the apple sauce jar.  He read Tree Top.  So then I pulled out a beginner reader book and....HE READ ME THE BOOK!  I was so excited.  He has known all is letter names and sounds for about a year but we haven't really tried to teach him how to put it all together and read.  After all he was only three when he knew them all and since I was spending so much time with Riley reading I figured I'd hold off with Jeremy.  So I was praising him and I told him that I couldn't believe he could read.  Jeremy was so pleased with himself and feeling oooooh so happy.  Then he says, "That's my business!  Reading!"  

Zachary

Here is Zach when he was a week and a half old.  He had already lost quite a bit of hair in the front.  Zachary is now a month old.  It goes by too fast!

words from Jeremy

Jeremy is such a sweet boy.  He is completely infatuated with Zach.  He has been my biggest helper since we brought Zachary home.  He's always looking to see what he can do and giving narrative to Zachary about what is going on.  One thing I just love about Jeremy, among so many things, is the colorful way that he talks.  Then you add the fact that he has the cutest voice to it, and it's just the best.  Here are a few of my favorite things he's said lately.

*  We're all in the car  Jeremy says to Riley, 

"I think we'll be there in 10 minutes."

Riley starts trying to tell him that it's going to be some other time.  Then they ask me how long it will be.  I inform them about 10 minutes.

Jeremy:  My brain just told me that!!  My brain is a good one!!

*  Today Lane told Jeremy that he was soooo cute.  Jeremy then says,

"I know!  I've seen me in the mirror!"

*  "Zachary is my best friend!  And he always will be my best friend!"

*  "I think Zachary likes this earth!"

*  "My favorite thing about our home is Zachary!  He's the cutest thing I've ever seen!"

I was busy cleaning up the kitchen and I hear Tyler say he's going to read Goodnight Moon.  I look over and he's reading Goodnight Moon to Zachary.  It was so cute!

Is this what I should expect to see?

So I opened Riley's bag and this is what I see.  I couldn't help but roll my eyes and laugh.  Is this what I should expect to see in the years to come?  Is it an age thing, boy thing, or both?  To Riley's credit, there is two days worth of papers there but Geez!

Zachary has arrived!!

I was suppose to be go to the hospital at 6am Wednesday morning.  Instead at about 2:00 Wednesday afternoon I started thinking that I might be in labor, and less than 4 hours later he was here.  Thankfully my good friend Michelle was home and took me to the hospital, her husband watched the boys until my Dad picked them up,  and Lane met me there.  I got to the hospital at about 4pm.  Zachary arrived at 5:48pm.  So here is

Zachary Lucas Cook

8 lbs 3 oz

21 1/4 in long

We brought him home from the hospital today.  The boys were so excited to see him!  He is doing so great!

Kids can be a danger to your health and Prego updates

Thursday night Tyler poked me in the eye.  It wasn't your usual poke in the eye.  Hours later I still couldn't open my eye and it felt like a dagger was in it.  Fourteen hours later I was in no better shape.  Lane had to skip class in the morning so he could take me to the eye doctor.  I sustained a bad corneal abrasion.  There was actually a flap.  Sounds bad, it felt horrible.  They put a bandaged contact, gave me antibiotic eye drops, and told me to come back the next day.  There was a lot of improvement so they took the contact off and added a steroid to my eye drops and gave me a drop regimen for the following week.  Today it's much better but I'm still sensitive to light and when I use my eye for too long (which really isn't long) they hurt and feel really tired.  Now I"m hoping and praying that the pressure of child birth doesn't reopen it. 

Speaking of child birth, I"m going in for an induction on Wednesday.  He decided to induce me to make sure I make it to the hospital since I have super fast deliveries.  I was only at the hospital for an hour before I delivered Jeremy and Tyler was delivered by two nurses even though the doctor was in the hospital.  At any rate we're excited and glad I haven't gone into labor before then- Knock on wood. 

2 cute kid stories

Jeremy saw a commercial for a hair loss organization.  He tells me,

"There's this place Dad can go and they can make his hair come back on.  So dad can grow his hair back!"

Riley and I were sitting on the couch and he was suppose to be reading to me.  To say that he had the wiggles would be a gross understatement.  I on the other hand was holding perfectly still.  I couldn't help but laugh when out of frustration he says to me,

"Mom I can't read when you keep wiggling the book around!"

Jeremy's new stuffed friend

Jeremy recently got his first Webkinz Jr. and he is loving it!  He named his bunny Phillip.  I was quite surprised by the name.  It's so sophisticated for a stuffed animal.  I thought this was a cute picture of Jeremy and Tyler.  Jeremy built Phillip a tree house.

Riley's 7th Birthday

I can't believe I have a 7 year old now!  Time flies!  Riley wanted a webkinz party.  So we had to get creative.  I glued pictures of webkinz on the cups and he was happy!  This time he wanted to make balloon animals as an activity.  i wasn't sure how it would turn out but it was a favorite!  As always the pinata was a crowd pleaser, but then when is a candy free for all not a big hit.  Riley had tons of fun and it was a great day!

Snow Day

Christmas Morning

Getting a Christmas Tree

About two weeks ago we went to get a christmas tree.  The boys were so excited!

Some cute things Jeremy said in the past few days

#1

I was laying on the floor in front of the fire place.  Lane was sweeping the glitter of the floor after the boys finished doing some crafts.  Lane told the boys, "Why don't you go give Mom some hugs!"

Riley immediately came and lay next to me and hugged me.  Jeremy jumped on top of me and hug me.  Then he got up and said,

"You're so beautiful!  I think you're the best Mom in the world."

Then he went and told Lane, "I told Mom she was the best Mom in the world!"

Lane affirms what he said and then Jeremy says,  "Yeah she's SO GOOD no one would hardly believe it!!"

#2

I had pointed out to Lane while looking at some pictures that I loved Jeremy's ears.  Then we took a look closer and came to the conclusion that Jeremy's ears are lower and stick out a little bit.  We also concluded that Riley has Lane's ears and Jeremy has my ears.  Then when we were at my Mom's I saw a picture of my brother Tom when he was little and pointed out to Jeremy that he has the same ears as Uncle Tom.  A few days later I told Jeremy that I got an email from Uncle Tom and he said that he was very handsome.  Jeremy was so pleased and with a big smile on his face said,

"Yeah and when he sees me, he will say 'Hey you have mine ears!!"

#3

We were all sitting at the table eating dinner.  Jeremy looks at me and says,

"You're face is ovaled."

then he looked at Lane and said,

"You're face is VERY ovaled!!

A New Tradition

Last year, while looking at all our ornaments (specifically the really kiddy ones), I decided it would be cool if the boys had a tree of their very own in their room.  So after christmas we hit the after christmas sale and bought a really inexpensive fake tree.  Tonight we put it up, strung popcorn, and let the boys decorate it just the way THEY wanted it.  Riley insisted that they decorate it in the dark, well with just the tree lights on.  Saying they were excited is an complete and utter understatement!  They absolutely loved it!!  I'm so glad we did it.  It was well worth the $10 I spent last year to enjoy this year and many more to come.

Visiting Pa at the Fire Station

Who is Pa?  Grandpa AKA my Dad.  When Riley first started talking he started calling my dad Pa instead of Grandpa and it stuck.

The Things Kids Say

Jeremy:  I like the look of Tyler's cheeks!!  I love Tyler's tummy because it's smooth.  Tyler's tummy is smooth like Legos.

I don't even remember what had been put out of reach but Jeremy decided he was going to get it.  Thank goodness we saw it before he actually climbed it!

Me:  Did you realize that you're backpack has lizards on it and you love lizards?!

Riley:  Yeah!  I use to not like animals that much.  Then Eizabeth(good friend of his) taught me pet shop and ever since my thoughts have been all mixed up.  I"m always thinking about lizards, bugs, pandas and all sorts of animals.  My head is just messed up now.