Step 1 - Step 2 (2-18-11)

Step 1: Make sure brother is not around his Diego toy and attempt to press the blue button.

Step 2: Delight in my abilities to problem solve and repeat task to check for repeated results while simultaneously hoping brother does not see what I am playing with!


Meanwhile.....

Step 1: Play tug-o-war with dad and make a silly face to help aid in the winning of this game!

Step 2: Try to remember that dad is a lot stronger than me and playing tug-o-war can be dangerous for me.

I see a pattern! or the Gene Simmons Affliction (2-16-11)

So there are some nights where I seriously chase the boys around and say "Come on, just smile once for the blog!" It probably sounds easy 365 days of pics, but I am definitely challenged some nights. Tonight I sensed a theme in our pics, "Open mouth syndrome" which for baby Ryan is a teething/clogged sinuses issue and for Cash is a stinker/I'm not going to smile issue. :)

 The more I open my mouth, the better I play the guitar!

The more I open my mouth, the higher I can jump!

Mom's Birthday Presents (2-15-11)

On my birthday I was not excited to add another year, I have been saying 34 for so long I almost believe it. But as I go to bed I am overjoyed at the evening's events. Cashy made me an incredible mug, he painted all by himself. Baby finally used his first sign language sign AND we got it on video.

You demonstrate and show your children how to do things and you wonder if they "get it" or when they may show you what you want to see and then you hold a piece of asparagus in front of them and presto, you see the results. Now using sign language isn't the be all, end all, but I am all about solutions before problems and I know that using signs kept Cash from getting frustrated before he started talking, so you go baby Ryan,


Cash would not let me take a picture of him and the mug he made but he did have a pretty funny story to tell about his stuffed animal.

Had a fantastic birthday with my boys!

Valentine Day Prep (2-13-11)

It was hard to know if I should just fill out Cash's Valentine Cards or try to get him to do it. I decided to test the waters and have him try a few, he went ahead and filled out 20 of them! He was pretty funny about it too because by the end he was putting a C in one corner an A in the other and making a game out of writing his name. He also tried to hold back several of his 3-D Sports Valentine cards for himself.

I was pretty proud that he stuck it out until all the cards were done.

Valentine's Day (2-14-11)

Ryan was working late which meant I got to pick up the kids. There is nothing like the yells of "mommy!" from Cash and baby crawling at lightening speed to get to me. When we got home Cash wanted me to carry him, a sure sign he was tired. I left him at the bottom of the stairs and went back to the car to get baby. I found him asleep on the stairs 1 minute later.

Cash had his first Valentine exchange today and loved going through his bag and pulling out the candy. After his snooze, Cash got things ready for Dad by decorating cookies and we baked our heart shaped pizza.

You gotta love the frosting on the side of his mouth!

Hey, what are you doing back there?

One Size Fits All - apparently :) (2-11-11)

It was a S-A-D day and Ryan needed to leave when I got home. He told me he had a cute pic of Cash sleeping and Ryan playing so I checked it out.

I didn't think much of the tummy hanging out at this point, but after watching Cash play a few games of tennis and dance around I knew something wasn't quite right. I tried to look at the tag inside his shirt, which took an hour because he kept running from me, and sure enough it read 12 months! You see, I bought matching Cars outfits for the boys at Christmas, Cash was wearing the right pants, but Baby Ryan's shirt.

I thought Ryan had done it on purpose to be funny, but when I checked with him he seemed pretty shocked Cash actually fit into it.


That night we told Cash he could stay up a little later than brother and watch a movie. He had never seen   The Jungle Book, but we had read the book many times. He loved the movie and halfway through took off all his clothes because he was going to be like Mowgli, he even asked for orange underwear!

The Early Bird Gets The Smiles (2-10-11)

Oh the sound of baby slowly grabbing at the rail on the top of the crib, pulling himself up. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 tries because he is still sleepy. But once he makes it to that standing position, game over and mommy has to get up. This morning was extra early, 4:45 to be exact, but the following pics show it was all worth it!

Ahhh makes it all worthwhile!

TKO (2-9-11)

When we got the Wii a few years ago Cash wasn't ready to play, now you would think he'd been playing since the day he was born. He likes to win and even chooses to have himself cloned so that his 4 person tennis match is against himself, all 3 of hims. Then when he wins he jumps up and down and celebrates, the crack up, the split screen shows him winning on the left and him losing on the right head hung down! Too funny. Now his favorite game is boxing, although we have to remind him boxing is for the Wii and not for......people.

It's all fun and games.......until someone gets hurt! (2-8-11)

I was very excited to find out that Cash gets to hand out Valentines this year at pre-school. We took a family trip to Target and crossed our fingers that the popcorn we bought Cash to keep him inside the cart wouldn't evoke a protest from Baby Ryan who kept turning around and staring him down as Cash munched away. We also took some money Grandpa had given him so he could pick out a toy. I was on a mission to buy some items for the pre-school fundraiser and left the boys for a few minutes. When I returned Cash was wielding a green Light Saber and no one got within 10 feet of our cart. I asked him if that was the toy he planned to buy and he enthusiastically answered "yes!" I leaned over and whispered to Dad that he already had one Grandma had sent our way and I had to hide it in his closet for reasons that likely do not need to be explained. So, I went to work, albeit in vain. I pulled out all the stops, or should I say toys. But, not even the Buzz Lightyear foam arrow shooter would do the trick, the Light Saber was coming home.

Boys love swords! We didn't need to keep swords away because anything in our house can be a sword (or a drum I have found as well). About a week ago after playing swords (willingly) with kitchen utensils I was accidentally, repeatedly, whacked in the arm. It was then I added "no swords" to the list of "Let's play that with Daddy" games.

So.....later tonight

Dad was okay to, but game over! Baby worked on perfecting his two handed drinking skills. It's the only way he gets juice. 

Nighttime Routine (2-7-11)

When Cash was born I already had a library of children's books, and we started a ritual of reading to him every night before bed when he was a few months old. His library has increased exponentially and I can't seem to part with a book unless it is falling apart. As a huge reading buff sometimes I think I enjoy that nightly routine more than he does. Right now some favorites are the No David books, Blue Kangaroo, and Skippy Jon Jones. Sometimes when he wants to stall he takes a LONG time picking out his books for the night.

Baby loves a few books too, but his favorite part of the nighttime routine is his bath. He tries all night to get to the stairs and climb up them. When it is bath time we let him climb up and he heads straight for the bath.

What a ham!

Cash and the Wailers! (2-7-11)

Today was a fantastic day at Grandma's house. Uncle Tim and Aunt Heather came over and Uncle Tim brought his guitar! We had thought we would have Cash play the violin along with Tim, but Cash was mesmerized by the guitar and wouldn't give it up. Tim was gracious enough to let Cash play with it for a while.

Finally Cash played a while on the violin. Baby Ryan was supposed to accompany on the piano but he had to take a nap.

Baby and Grandma getting some outside time. Ryan is always watching his big brother!

Cash practiced hitting balls and one he hit so hard it went over the roof!

The Wierdos with the Beardos (2-5-11)

On any given day I often find myself saying "Now there's a phrase I never thought I'd say!" Today was no exception. 

Mom: Please put the spatula back in the kitchen, remember sword fighting broke the last two.

Mom: No you can't eat my toes! (for the third time)

Mom: Stop feeding your brother soap bubbles! I don't care if he likes to eat them.

Books! Books! Books! (2-4-11)

We love books at our house and I subscribe to the philosophy "You can never have too many books!" Although don't ask Ryan about his opinion on that. I wanted to get a photo of Dad reading to Cash and noticed Cash was missing a sock. He explained he had a boo boo and he couldn't wear a sock on that foot!

Baby loves books too and he began to get frustrated with is book so I went over to help him.

I can't get my book it's stuck!

So that's how it is (2-3-11)

When we decided to "Try" Cash out with violin lessons it was just that, a try. There were no expectations except that he have fun and if he didn't want to go again then we would leave it at that. Tonight when I said "Cash let's get ready for violin lessons." I expected his usual grumblings that I would hear no matter where we were going, I always though he hated swimming lessons, but I think really he dislikes having to "get ready" for such things. When I turned to get him started on the process a good ten minutes early he looked like this.....

And he even posed when I asked!

He had a great lesson, greeted the students before and after him enthusiastically, and proudly wore his instrument there and back.

And they say it could never be done (or maybe just I did) 2-2-11

I know there have been multiple times that I have checked in with my best girlfriends and asked about their own children. "They will like each other eventually and play together right?"

Tonight something magical must have happened because the following pictures were taken without any threats, cajoling, or bribery whatsoever! The boys both wanted the same toy, and instead of fight, they played together.

And then even baby Ryan got to wear the headphones!

Ahhhhhh, what a nice moment!

While the cats away.....the mice or mouse will play! (2-1-11)

Wow! It is February, at this time last year I remember thinking "We really need to get everything ready for the baby, just in case he comes early." Little would I know that he would be here this same month.

This morning I was truly amused when baby Ryan found he had the downstairs to himself for a bit. Cash was still sleeping and Ryan had a mission. First thing to do, get to Cash's stash of stuffed animals which fair or unfair contained many if Ryan's own animals.

Finally! He's not around to body block me.

I think it was while walking on her lunch my mom found "Sophie" the giraffe and sanitized her so baby Ryan could have her. Later we would find out Sophie was a popular teether costing around 20 bucks! Ryan fell in love with Sophie, I mean she's a teether, she squeaks, what else could you ask for? A few days ago Sophie somehow made it into "The Pile". But now.....

I heard baby laughing around the corner and had to check it out. 

He had saved Sophie and was hysterical about the whole thing. I started pretending to "Take" Sophie and he laughed even harder gripping her so tightly I would never succeed.

Cash woke up a few minutes later none the wiser............but perhaps a bit confused about where his underwear goes.

Hysterical start to our day thanks to the Berry Comedy Brothers!

Do you like Flock of Seagulls? (1-31-11)

Ever seen the wedding singer? I am reminded of this one part most mornings, and this morning was no exception, because even with the "haircut" I gave to baby Ryan, he still has locks and pieces going awry on his adorable little head. 

I think its the curl up top that really seals the deal but see what you think (pic below).

A Flock of Seagulls

We are looking for a resemblance to the man second from the right. 

And later today........ I came home to find Cash happily tied up!

No it isn't some modern day new way to parent. He and Dad have a game where he lays on a blanket and Dad rolls him up real tight like a burrito. Cash has to try and get free. This is much more Houdini like though. As long as he's smiling...... :)

Just Hanging Around (1-30-11)

I love the laziness of Sunday. Although this particular Sunday we were all still fighting colds so we may have been lazier than usual. Except baby Ryan, he doesn't stop enough to be lazy! He is always on a mission of some sorts, reminds me of myself, and my Grandfather Salinas, must be a family thing. He delights in finding ways to get into Cash's "things". We have "shoved" many things into the toys closet that we don't necessarily want baby to play with and Sunday was the perfect time for him to make his break in attempt.

Hahaha Cash will never know he is too distracted!

Distracted by what you may ask, well he takes after his father in the delight of playing games, techno-games. If he even sees Ryan (dad) grab the laptop or Itouch, or my droid, he is on his lap.

Love those lazy Sundays!