Symphony Concert in the Park

Last summer we decided to brave keeping the boys up past their bedtimes for the first time ever. We were nervous. In the months after starting to sleep through the night, their routine was very precious to us. Now that we'd had a taste of sleeping normally again, we were reluctant to try anything that might screw that up. But with some prompting from friends, we risked it. We took the boys to their first ever concert in the park held by the Austin Symphony Orchestra just south of downtown.

And they loved it.

That same summer series kicked off again a few weeks ago. Last night the woodwinds played, and we were there to enjoy it.

Joseph immediately ran up to the stage with his buddies Connor, Dorian & Roman.

Hi, Mom!

Luke hung back with Ethan and got a few snuggles from Nina while he took in the scene at his own pace.





Joseph's best dance move, jumping.



My attempt at getting a cute shot of Luke with the Austin skyline. Ha! Grapes took priority.

Me, hanging out with my handsome, hungry men

I love this man. Happy Father's Day, Greg.

Hugfest on the dance floor. Joseph cozied up to the little blond girl in the pink dress, this kid and his father.



Luke did a little dancing, but he was much more interested in running up and down the hill that makes up the concert park. And tossing balls with Daddy.


Joseph thinks there needs to be less ball-throwing...


...and more dancing!

It worked. Briefly.

The floor has lighted tiles. Joseph was enthralled.




Charlie thought it was pretty cool too.



A bunch of the kids felt like the middle of the dance floor was a good place to lie down and take a leisurely break. I stood by the side, resisting my helicopter parenting urges, just hoping that no one would fall on him. Amazingly, I didn't see one kiddo get clobbered or cry the entire night.


Ah, the symphony. Where the mosh pit is so much more considerate.

This was as good a time as any to take a quick pretzel break for Joseph and a sitting break for Mommy. The temperature wasn't bad once the sun set, but look at poor Joseph's flushed cheeks! He was partying hard out there and loving every minute of it.


And then right back into the action!


It was a great Father's Day weekend, action-packed and full of fun. As challenging and exhausting as daddy-hood can be sometimes, days like this really make you appreciate the awesomeness that is parenthood. Hope you had a great one too!

The boys are 2 and 2 weeks.

Joseph & Luke's 2nd Birthday Party

This party was brought to you by the letters J & L and the number 2!

Cupprimo cupcakes. Mmmmm.

The boys woke up from their naps, thrilled to see the Elmo balloons waiting for them. Lots of screams - "Eeeeeeellllllmooooooo!" - with frantic pointing to make sure we were all seeing the same thing. Yeeessss, Elmo!

But being my children, what really excited them was the food.

Luke in a state of stunned euphoria

As Greg likes to say, these boys could eat for the U.S.A. If it ever becomes an Olympic sport, we're bound to medal. They ate their weights in tomatoes and fruit and relished every second of it.

Quality assurance team

Around 3 in the afternoon, our guests began to arrive...


...and rip the house apart. :)




Now would be a good time for the (non-pregnant) moms to grab a beer, sit back and bear witness to the destruction. There's really nothing else to be done when a dozen 2-year-olds are set loose in a house full of Other People's Toys.


I tried and failed to get a shot with my big boys, but they were a bit distracted.



Mimi & MAC! came to help us celebrate - and Mimi to cook and clean and prep and generally manage the chaos. Thanks, Mimi!



Since last year's EPIC birthday song meltdown, Luke has been scarred. When he hears the song, he screams, comes running, and clings to me like his life depends on it. Poor kiddo. Joseph is usually fine unless he sees his brother panic and thinks there's something to panic about. We've been working on it, singing it to him loud and often. When we're at other parties, I always make sure he's in my arms before the song begins and that we have a quick exit strategy just in case.

So here, the moment of truth...





Not bad, I'd say. As soon as Mommy stopped singing, he was a-okay. I'm trying not to take it personally.

Joseph watching calmly as his brother pitches a surprisingly manageable fit

Perhaps it was all a ploy to get the cupcake that much faster.

The boys' first cupcakes

They approve.

And so did everyone else

Convincing Mimi to share her fruit - she did

After most people left, the hardcore partiers started a mosh pit. It was positively encouraged.



Joseph and Luke had such a fun time. We were sorry to see everyone go, but it did take it's toll.

Pooped

After a night of sound sleep, it was time to bust into the presents. A group of friends went in together to get the boys a Learning Tower...

New perspective and higher trouble-making potential

...providing life-saving sustenance to my starving boys.

MMmmm, tomatoes

Practicing his alphabet

Big boys use big boy spoons

Composing original tunes with MAC!

The boys had a GREAT time at their party and so did we. Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate!

My babies are TWO!

Wedding Week-end Away

Since they were born, I've never spent a day away from the boys. I haven't been ready to spend a day away from them. But the time finally came.

My good friend Terra, who I've known since we were about 13, got married this week-end in Dallas!


I couldn't be happier for her. Jason is a great guy and obviously head-over-heels for Terra. It was a sweet wedding and so nice to catch up with her entire family, many of whom I hadn't seen in, oh, 15 years!

**And since I'm doing a sneaky post-dated publish on this one, I can spill the beans (since she already has to all her friends and family). She's also PREGNANT! I'm sure she & Jason will be great parents to their lucky little one. I could not be happier for them!**




Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

My absence meant that Greg was home alone with the boys for 28 hours. He was understandably a little nervous at this thought. He'd never spent a whole day alone with them, much less got them up, fed, clothed, entertained, napped, bathed and back to bed all solo. It is no easy task.

But I'm happy to report everything went fantastically! Not that I had any doubts or anything, but I know how tough it can be. I called a few times to make sure everyone was surviving. They were not only alive but having a great time!


Greg put the phone up to each of their ears during my calls so I got to talk to the boys, reminding them to behave and take it easy on their old man. :) And to tell them how much I love and missed them.


Apparently, they'd sit there, perfectly still with the phone up to their ears. Greg was sure they knew it was me. They'd have big smiles on their faces when they heard my voice and kept wanting to hear more after the other one was done. Made for some very long one-sided conversations, but it was too cute to resist.


When I finally got home (traffic on I35 is a beast!), I was greeted with huge smiles and hugs and lots & lots of kisses. Love it!


My sweet boys are almost 14.5 months old.