Domestic "Helpers"

I'm not sure why, but Ben & Zach really love the vacuum cleaner. It's bulky and a little dirty and I don't understand their fascination with it. Ben still gets freaked out if it's on and gets to close to him. Poor guy is like a deer stuck in headlights! He spazzes out and doesn't know which way to go to escape from it. But if it's off, he climbs all over the thing.

Last week the vacuum was upstairs in the hallway, and Zach must have pushed it up and down the hallway for a solid 20 minutes or more. Ben would get in his path sometimes and Zach had no qualms about trying to mow over him.

The boys also love the dishwasher. It's almost impossible for me to load it if they're on the loose. Ben climbs on top of the door and tries to pull the racks out. If there are dishes in it, they won't be in it for long! I've come to learn that there are few easy chores when the boys are helping!

365 days and counting...

Happy 1st Birthday Ben & Zach!

Darius and I made it through our first year as parents. We sincerely give our thanks to all our family and friends for helping us along the way!

It's hard to wrap my mind around all that's happened this past year. Having Ben & Zach has forever changed Darius and I as people. We are so blessed to have our boys, and look forward to celebrating all their birthdays still to come.

I honestly thought I would be a weepy mess all day, but I didn't tear up once. It was just a simple happy day with some party decorations, cake, singing and many Happy Birthday wishes.

There were so many of you who called and sent gifts and cards for Ben & Zach. The boys may not understand all the special attention but Darius and I do, and we're so grateful for all that everyone did! Many thanks!

Some photos from the day...

Ben helping with the decorations.

Zach is so close to walking. He could IF he wanted to.

Our salute to Florida where our journey began. Old Swampy was a delicious alligator!

All that sugar had them up hours past their bedtime. You only turn 1 once!

"No more. Two is all I can handle."

Zach on the phone with Aunt Brooke.

They boys had so much fun playing with their new Tonka Trucks.

Zach looking at one of his new books.

Persistence Pays Off

Darius is quite the devoted fisherman! He's been out fishing over the past two weeks, at least a dozen times. Even if he doesn't catch anything, he's right back out there the next day to try again. He'll say, "That's why they call it fishing not catching." I think it's evident how much he loves to fish especially considering he's going out on the water in freezing conditions! His patience with fishing is the equivalent to my patience with our boys...pretty good!

He's asked me a couple of times if I'd like to go out on the boat with him. I'm definitely not interested in freezing my digits off while watching him fish, but there is a minute part of me that wishes I had been out with him this morning to see him catch his first two Winter King Salmon.

If you've never tasted a Winter King let me just say they're delicious! Dad fillet the fish and cooked a few pieces for all of us before Darius headed off to work. The flesh of the fish is lighter in color than regular Kings, and when it's cooked it turns white. For fun I looked up what it would cost to buy a pound of WKS. It ranges from about $25-$30. Lucky for us we have our persistent fisherman Darius!

Darius can't wait to take his boys fishing! He'll be such a good teacher!

Birthday & Lemons

We celebrated Joy's 26th birthday on Tuesday. I think it's been about 10 years or so since I last spent her birthday with her. I think she had a pretty good day. She spent a good part of it on the phone talking to her family and friends. If you know Joy, you know she has a lot of friends!

She spent time playing with Ben and Zach while I worked on her cake and got things ready for her birthday dinner. Joy had a few of her friends over to have dinner with us. We enjoyed some delicious chicken & black bean enchiladas, with lime cilantro rice, chips, and fresh salsa.

Joy beat all her friends at a game of Nerts. If you have ever played Nerts with Joy, you know she is queen of the game.

Mom and Dad had just got back from a quick trip to Anchorage a few days prior and brought back three or four sacks of lemons for Joy. She's using them for her Master Cleanse diet. I didn't know she had this planned until after I saw all the lemons, so I thought it was kind of funny that for her birthday I had planned to make a lemon cake. I guess I'll always associate lemons with her 26th birthday.

Love you Joy! Glad I could celebrate your day with you!



....and thank you Mom & Dad for giving us Joy!

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

I thought it was appropriate to read Dr. Seuss books to the boys today, in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday. We didn't quite make it to the end of any of the books (short attention spans), but we dabbled a little in Green Eggs and Ham, One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish, Horton Hears a Who!, and Cat in the Hat.

Darius and I both enjoy Dr. Seuss' books and would like to collect all of them for Ben & Zach. Their first two books, Green Eggs and Ham & One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish, were Christmas gifts from Nini & Papaw. When Darius was young his favorite story was One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. I like the thought of Darius' Mom and grandmother Laveta, reading these same books to him when he was young, as I'm now reading to our boys.

I wish Darius' grandmother were still alive to meet Ben & Zach, and read to them. From everything I hear from Darius and his mom, I know she was a very special woman. It's difficult to lose the people we hold dear in life. I know the day will eventually come when my grandmother will leave this life too, but I take comfort in the memories I have, and the memories that I'll pass on to my children. Something so simple as a book can help us pass those memories along.

Thank you Dr. Seuss!