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My 30th birthday - CJ chose Applebee's

And Chad is such a good dad because on his recent trip back to Duke University to watch basketball games, he took these pictures for his son.

Today started out with CJ waking me up around six-ish because he just really needed some Fresca (something Nana got him hooked on).

So then I got to clean out Mac's dog run in the pouring rain because he chewed up his roof (don't ask me how) and was making so much noise that Trey wouldn't take his morning nap. That's always fun.

Then we picked up Chad at the airport because he's finally home. And CJ insisted on eating at Applebees for lunch because "he needed a steak."

"You've never had steak," I said.

"That's why we need to go to Applebees, so I can try a steak." He replied with all the impatience of a 15 year-old. Duh.

Then I ran some errands ALONE which was nice seeing as I've done every ounce of Christmas shopping with two kids in tow.

Then I was presented with a Krispy Kreme donut with candles on it.
 I look at these three people
and realize I'm in an amazing place for being 30.   Tonight I was rocking Trey to sleep he turned his fat little face into mine and gave me big, wet 11 month-old kisses. Then he snuggled his blankie while laying on my shoulder and went to sleep. The best ever.

We've been busy

making gingerbread houses with the neighbors,

watching Christmas movies,
playing in the snow,



And constantly being reminded by Mac that he loves me which is good since Chad's been out of town since I don't remember when.

CJ's new favorite thing is eating on a tray. He was sick a while ago so I propped him up on the big chair and let him have his lunch on it. Now it's the only way he wants to eat. And because he fell on a toy garbage truck and got a black eye, then fell on the neighbor's doll house and cut the inside of his mouth, he gets to eat on the tray in the playroom with a movie from the library.

CJ delivered neighbor presents and all along the way sang me Christmas songs. Then he said, "Mom, I love Christmas. I just love delivering things at Christmas. And getting things, too."

Today at Costco, a garbage man sat by us and CJ went right over to this guys side and started grilling him with questions.

"Do you recycle? What color is your truck? Is it smelly? Do you drive or ride on the back? Is it in the parking lot? It's fun, huh?" Then, "I love garbage like you. I'm going to be a garbage truck worker like you - only I want to be the guy on the back throwing in the trash, not the driver."

It was a good day.

B r O t H e R s

There is nothing I have found more fulfilling than watching my two boys interact. Never once has CJ hit, pushed, hurt or done anything even remotely mean to Trey. In fact, he is quick to share toys with him instead of take them away.

Anything CJ is doing Trey wants to do, too. He laughs when CJ laughs.

This is CJ's new favorite game. He knows offense and defense. He takes turns catching and tackling. He wants me to wear the helmet because "he so tough." He's right.

Tonight CJ and I made apple crisp with real whipped cream. We ate half of it right out of the dish.

My mom came to visit again last week.

And as usual, the boys and I made out like bandits. For me, a pair of super cute black knee-high boots that were so super cute we went back for the brown ones, too. We ate out lots and let CJ pick some of the restaurants. These included Panda, Sizzler (you can keep going back and back and back!) and of course, the Costco run.

I had a quick project to get done.

My shadow didn't want to cooperate so I let him destroy my desk and roll around in all his glory.

A trash can and his doggy,

I made CJ a trash can costume for Halloween and he is one happy boy!

2:17 a.m.
"Mommy, I had a dream you were driving a garbage truck," I hear from the depths of darkness inside my room.

2:21 a.m.
Back to bed after laying down with CJ for one primary song.

4:01 a.m.
Back to bed after another feeding and bouncing Trey back to sleep in the bouncy chair because he woke up sad.

6:14 a.m.
I hear a whisper in my ear.  "Mommy, I have a secret for you. Can we go to McDonalds after school?"

Happy Birthday Chad

CJ has started saying to people, "My name's CJ, what color are your garbage cans?"

Then he'll point out the tiny recycle sign on everything in our fridge/pantry/purse. Like, if I'm pouring him cereal I get, "Oh, lookie there! A recycle sign on the lid!" Numerous times throughout the day he'll walk towards me with his eyebrows raised in excitement, his finger tapping on some new item (pop can, water bottle, baby food container.)

So the other day I took him to the recycle center for a tour and he loved it! And the best part was after the main tour when he told a garbage truck driver that he wanted his job when he's big so he got to honk the horn, start it up and dump the "empty" recepticle. Except it wasn't empty. There was trash in it. CJ panicked. And started picking it up. Before I could stop him he was running towards me in a mad frenzie for a recycle bin. Holding someones used. toilet. paper. rolls.

So on any given day, we have about four different "trash stations" at our house:

It comes in handy for discipline because, and I'm serious, "If you don't knock it off right now, you won't be able to take out the garbage on trash day" is THE threat of all threats. And it usually works.