Forms of nature: May 2016

Today is May 4th. This week marks the half birthdays of both of my sons. I'm going to take advantage of the tiny extra bit of motivation this fact provides to finally finish this birthday update post on which I've been procrastinating for...well six months now.

The update will begin back in the fall, when this guy turned 4

and this guy turned 2

We threw a small party with an epic theme

Any amount of work that went into it was completely made worth it by this expression I caught on camera. The face he made when he realized (after we had finished singing happy birthday to his big brother) that he got his very own cake, candles, and birthday song. Unadulterated Joy.

Sheesh. Six months ago feels like an eternity, and they each have changed by leaps and bounds. Also, I'm very tired and ready for bed. So the rest of this post will be heavy on pics and light on text, just the way y'all like it.

You ask what this guy has been up to?

Working. Fixing Things. Begging for screwdrivers, hammers, saws (no, not the toy ones, the real ones) all. day. long.

Everybody who knows this kid realizes that he is destined to become a mechanic or engineer because of the innate passion and interest he has in fixing things, taking things apart, and understanding how they work.

When I can manage to pry him away from his tools, he is happy to help with chores

and always loves cooking and baking with Mommy.

He's also doing other 2 year old things, like learning to use the potty

and you know, learning to play guitar (thanks Auntie E and Uncle J!)

He spends a large portion of his time wrestling with his dad and brother

practicing somersaults and headstands

and being tickled by his brother

We tried the big boy bed...

and failed the big boy bed (for now...)

We still thoroughly enjoy our bedtime stories

and our after bath cuddles

And I still can't resist watching him sleep.

He looks so peaceful here. I need these moments to balance the moments during the day that I regret ever having brought another two-year-old into this world. This guy is a pistol, a spitfire, a tiny, hurtling bundle of mischief and orneriness.

I love him so.

And now I know you're wondering what his big brother has been up to.

He's also been helping with chores

playing guitar (no, not really)

learning to read (yes, really!)

showing off 'battle scars' and hulk muscles

bonding with his cousin

and keeping his mother safe from ghosts, zombies, Doc Ock, goblins and the like

Where his little brother is tiny and coordinated, he is huge and clumsy. Where his brother is stubborn and ornery, he is obliging and compliant (ok, well in comparison at least). Where his brother is sometimes reserved, he remains with limitless love of interacting with ANYONE who can hold any kind of conversation. He continues to be full of boundless energy and wild and crazy 'all boy-ness', but he also has a real appreciation for finer details and beauty, and he's just as happy doing a fun craft as he is racing like the Flash around the playground.

I'm loving that he and his brother are finally starting to play together.

Proudly showing off Lego creations that are daily being produced around here.

Jumping in leaf piles.

Playing ghostbusters

Trips to the park

The other day I was looking out the patio window, and realized that I am truly a mother of boys.

And I am often surprised by how much I love it.

Sure I fall into bed at the end of the night, exhausted after a day of chasing them around, picking up lightsabers, feeding insatiable appetites, shooting bad guys and the like.

But I can't imagine life without these two high-energy wacky little boys.