Some Days Are Long...

...but the years go by too fast! We are at a funny place in our home right now. Somehow Dane went from infant to baby to toddler to man child! He has been sleeping in underwear for 4 nights now and we've only had one accident! It was all his idea...he had been in pull ups and wasn't keeping them dry so I was waiting until he woke up dry for a few days before trying underwear but he had other ideas. Clearly he can tell the difference, even in his sleep! So we are pretty much diaper free with one! YIPPEE but that also means another chapter has closed...

Watching "Frosty the Snowman"...mesmerized:

 This deserves a story all it's own...see below the picture:

This is Dane's razor. He watched Cameron shave a few days ago and this has since made it into the bathroom next to Dane's toothbrush. On many mornings after breakfast Dane states that he "has to go shave." He knows the routine...fill the sink with water, splash it on his face and bust out his super stellar car razor. This morning when Cameron was shaving, Dane sat on the sink just watching and saying things like "Wo! Daddy, that's a lot of hair!" or while giggling "Daddy, you missed a spot under your nose." Man. Child. Lately he has also been running into Kale's room when I'm putting Kale down for a nap to tell him a story. Sometimes it's a spooky story about monsters and other times it's just a regular ol' made up story by Dane. At the end of the story, he says "thank you" and bows before walking out. The other day we were playing in our blanket fort and he told me that if any mosquitos come in that I need to "punch them right out of his life." Man. Child.

And Kale seems to be turning from infant to toddler to monkey boy. We had the same struggle with Dane but I think it's even worse with Kale. He climbs on everything. EVERY. THING. All. day. long. Everyone that visits says the same thing..."your boys sure like to climb." Yep. He is saying more and more words everyday. Sometimes he even says a phrase. The other day when Cameron left for work, Kale repeatedly said "Peace, Daddy." He is still mostly gibberish but I know it means something to him. He is getting frustrated because he cannot communicate like he wants so I am hoping that we see a big surge in language when he turns 2.

We are making new traditions every year around Christmas and are excited to go see Santa at a nearby mall and also make it to the Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier as a family. There is a "Polar Express" type train set up at the Chicago Botanic Gardens that I plan to take the boys to as well but not sure Cameron will be able to join (unfortunately). There are a few other area things that we are looking at doing, so stay tuned for pictures of Christmastime fun!