Olympics 2012

This is how the boys like to watch the Olympics: 

And here are a few selected sound bites from Howie during the Olympic season:

Howie: "I want to be in the Olympics."
Mommy: "Well, you have to be really good at something.  Like running or swimming."
Howie: "Do you have to swim without your swim vest?"

Howie: "I think I am the fastest in the whole world.  Except for the giants."

When one of the American's doesn't made the all-around gymnastics round:
Mommy: "She is sad because she didn't make it."
Howie: "I would make it.  Because I have lots of tricks."

Happy Birthday Dear (sweet) Nonnie...

Loving this Picture

It's a serious one, but I love it.  

Oh, Chicago

Rick and I set out for a fun weekend in Chicago with Howie.  

It was going to be a Mommy-Daddy-Howie time.  

"I so excited." -Howie

 A bucket list is made and the car is packed.... we hit the big city.

Does this look like a boy who might burst with excitement?

You can see Navy Pier from our room.  

We have to convince Howie to ride the ferris wheel.  

And his efforts of bravery are well worth it.  

Turns out, it was his favorite thing in Chicago.

Mommy and Howie up in the Ferris Wheel.  

Can you see the fear in my face?  

It's high up there! 

Just like his Larry Gets Lost in Chicago book, 

we find the "bean" and make some funny faces...

That's my little boy in the blue shorts. 

Playing in the fountain at 9 am.  

He pretty much had the place to himself.

On the 96th floor of the Hancock Building, Rick and Howie check out the scene.  

The most interesting thing to Howie?  

Counting the pools he could see on top of the buildings.  

11 total.  

We had a great adventure.  

What a special weekend of bonding with our oldest son.  

Hopefully he will look back on it as fondly as we do...

Happy Birthday Johnny!

We had a Sprinkler Party for Johnny's 2nd Birthday.  He's getting so big!  

If you ask him, "Johnny are you two?"  

The reply will be, "No, I John-John."  

Silly boy. 

Take-Aways

Howie asks me about getting some samples at Costco, "Mommy, can we get some take-aways?"

Get on the deer!

Happy 4th of July!

We celebrate this day with family, friends, and lots of crepe paper.  

LOTS of crepe paper.