"Into your heart, heart beat again...in a boys' dream"

We spend a lot of time (and money) at Costco these days. Even three little boys eat way more than you'd expect. Case in point? H-P had an ENTIRE ham and cheese sandwich for lunch today (cut into small pieces, but the full size) and a side of grapes! He's 10 months old, folks and can put it away like a champ. 

Anyway, the last time we took the boys to the big C, the firefighters were also getting their weekly (monthly?) groceries. The two guys who had to stay back with the truck asked Buck and Thunder if they'd like to sit in the truck while RKZ unloaded the groceries and I took pictures. Yeah! for firemen! They were so nice and the boys were over-the-moon excited. I love when life resembles small town America. Even here in not-so-small America. 

"This February shouldn't be so scary" :)

In true Bridgette form (real name alert!), I have finally gotten to a critical mass in terms of my poor 3 year old having nothing to do all day along with a fairly clingy 10 month old. So, I have signed Thunder up for just about every activity in the book. Also, we have been making a weekly pilgrimage to Disneyland. Here, Thunder shows that he is an awesome gymnast. He even got compliments from the teacher on his first day! 

 H-P at California Adventure sometime last week.

 I take my own food to D-land now. We don't buy anything and ride about 5 "kiddy rides." It's better to have 2 adults if Buck comes because he can do the older rides too.

 rare shot of me.

 The boys on the balloon ride in Bug Land. They both loved it!

Thunder with Mater and Lightening McQueen. He loves these guys but was shy about meeting them (again). I love how kids are able to believe so much and it's new each time.

In "today" news, we wore jackets to drop off this morning. It said "43 F"(6C) on my car gauge. I thought that it was pretty cold and so did the boys! Of course, Buck still wore shorts to school - because he can - I broke my own rule and wore ugg boots to keep my toes warm. :)

"So Let's Set the world on FIRE - we can grow brighter than the sun!"

A few pictures of our actual Valentine's day (What? I have a few days left of Feb!) 

 I made heart pancakes for the boys - with a pancake of the first letter of their names. Buck was not impressed with his letter - but he still ate the pancakes!

 After school, the boys opened their respective piles of Valentines and weeded out even more candy from their friends. I've decided that from Halloween to Easter, there is a steady supply of candy waiting to be devoured at our house now. It's crazy. Buck doesn't really care, so it lasts forever. But Thunder would eat an entire pile in one sitting if we let him.

 In other news, H-P is basically crawling. It's that awkward "drag your fat legs around" kind of thing while he waits to walk. Here, my cousin S-dog, tries to lead him to crawl for the camera. She has been helping me with the kids once or twice a week so that I can do basic things like shop for groceries and make a pilgrimage to the doctor every other week.

Thunder spends a lot of time trying to "help" H-P do things that H-P can already do. I'm sure you can imagine how well that goes over. H-P has his own mind and I'm emotionally preparing for the mini battles that will soon be taking place between my beloved youngest boys.

"Love you like a love song, baby!"

We have been so busy (thank goodness) lately, that I haven't had time to blog at all - but I have had time to take pictures!! So, that means more entries as our lives calm a bit. I will be going back in time to write about Valentines' day and subsequent days. First, a quick trip to Disneyland: 

Thunder on the ferris wheel. I spent a quick few hours with just Thunder H-P in the sunshine. 

H-P looking large on his own horse. He loved the ride! 

I have started to go to our city's mom's group with T and H-P. It gives T a chance to make friends his own age. Our first meeting was a Valentine's day party where the kids made Valentines for each other. We had nothing, but Thunder had a blast and was able to have his own bag of Valentine's on the actual day. 

You can see that it was a treat-fest. Here, he looks through his Valentine's bag. He loved it. 

More tomorrow about the rest of this crazy holiday! 

"Take me out to the ballgame!"

Today is Opening Day for Buck's Little League (VPLL). He is on the Mighty Brewers!! It's his first year of "Coach Pitch" (no more t-ball), so we're all excited to see how the game goes today! 

 Very professional uniforms - they even have last names on the back and hats!!

 Buck is on a team with 2 friends from school: Sammy & Seamus. This is the boys on the float! 

 H-P enjoying his breakfast. We had to be at the parade at 6 am

 Opening day is a big deal in our little town. The High school Marching band leads it. 

 The High School team

 Every team had a float (so fun). This is Buck's. RKZ and Thunder also road up there!

 Jim Abbot spoke to the kids. He was a pitcher for the Angels and Yankees and he only has one hand!! So impressive! 

"This is the still the place that we all call home.."

This weekend was packed. I turned 42 on Saturday (yeah, old me!!) and H-P was baptized on Sunday (also the birthday of She-dog and my brother, Superman M). H was baptized by the same Priest who has baptized all three of our boys. He is a good friend of ours and also like a spiritual older brother. We are so grateful for Fr. J. He gave H-P an extra helping of Chrism oil at the anointing and H-P smelled amazing all day. Of course, Thunder was like, "What is that greasy stuff all over H-P?" It was funny. Our one sadness was that the Joads and The Duke and Duchess couldn't be there. That poor 3rd child!But H-P had a great time. 

Fr. J and H-P 

 Our Huntington Beach parish - this will always be our "home" parish, even though we go to Mass other places.

 Fr. J has all of the baptismal families process in. I'm sure that lady in red will appreciate being on my blog.

 HP was drinking a bottle throughout the entire ceremony. He looked like some partying college kid. It had us all laughing.

 Buck sitting alone in the front row. Thunder decided to sit with auntie H9H in the next row.

 We always ask for "full immersion" of our babies for baptism, so HP is basically naked (and drinking) in this picture. Signs of his future, I'm sure :)

 HP's Godparent is officially our niece, SDJ. Her father, Superman M also stood in to give a hand.

 Our baby is so big, that water was "displaced" all over the floor (and my favorite shoes) during the baptism. Here, you can see SDJ and I trying to get HP not to cry.

 Notice the waterfall coming out of the font (and my demonic self flinching away). For you architecture buffs, their is a grate below the font where the water can drain automatically into the floor. Quite cool.

 appropriately fuzzy nude shot of my newly Catholic boy.

 We're all looking at the puddle of water here. Nice, spiritual moment :)

 SDJ lighting the candle that symbolizes the new light of Christ in HP's soul.

 HP immediately went back to his bottle while the other babies were anointed with holy oil.

 HP only stopped drinking to look at Fr. J when he anointed him. The crowd laughed. My boys...

 "Welcome newest members of the Church!" Welcome Zoe (our friend's baby who was also baptized)

 I dressed the boys alike for the baptism in hopes of this one picture. Can't get Thunder to look at the camera for some reason!

 HP always know where the camera is. I love that baby!!

 
 After the baptism, Fr. J took HP back to the font to look at it. HP loved it!

 Cousin shots - SDJ with HP; Buck, Thunder and JeeP (who looks miserable because Thunder is "hugging" him)

 This is more like a realistic shot of the kids - SDJ looks beautiful, HP is trying to get away from Buck, so is happy and mugging for the camera. JeeP can't decide what's up and Thunder is far away from everyone.

 The family. Aunt K and Uncle G are missing because they took the pictures. This shot is us, Superman M, SDJ, Auntie H9H, JeeP, Auntie Tiny Dancer (preg) and SERVITE!

Directly after this shot, we went to breakfast and immediately after that, Buck came down with the flu. So, he's basically been throwing up for a day and 1/2. Good times. It was a lovely weekend but life goes on...