2nd Birthday - All about trains

I already posted about the boys family birthday party but of course we have to celebrate their birth multiple times!

On their actual birthday we gave them their big present from Matt and me and my parents. Every time we asked them what they wanted for their birthday they always said, "choo choos". Look what they got!

Matt even made an awesome box for it so they could run out and open it up.


We thought they would act really, really surprised but they just dove right into playing with the trains....it's been almost a week and they still haven't stopped! I'm pretty sure Ben has lost weight because he is now refusing to get in his highchair because that would mean he had to stop playing with the trains. A few of their trains were motorized. They turned them on and held them in their hands for 3 hours straight before the battery just died. I guess we won't be replacing those!



The weekend of their birthday we took them to Union Station to see a model train exhibit there. We thought they would enjoy it but didn't know they would absolutely love it! They especially liked the Thomas the Train that went electronically around the track.

Here is a pic of me and the boys at Union Station. Ben couldn't stand to sit still for 2 seconds when there were trains to be looked at. Seriously, that is what is happening in this picture.


After Union Station, we went to Crown Center because they also have a small train exhibit. We ate dinner at Fritz's - a place where they deliver your food to you on a train. Here is Ben wearing his conductors hat:



They have a cute little train outside of the restaurant that the boys loved playing in. Many of these pictures may look alike but I just love they expressions on their faces. They were so happy to be there!
"Hey ladies!"
Love that look!
Matt taught them to yell, "All aboard!". Here is Sam yelling it:
Here is Ben yelling it:
Sam tried to get in Ben's boxcar. Notice Sam trying to go unnoticed in the corner and Ben trying to push him out.
It was such a fun day! When we tried to leave Crown Center, Ben threw a temper tantrum and just kept saying, "I need choo choos!", "I don't' want to leave!".

I know that I don't mention the boys Aunt Jamie very much on the blog. But on their birthday I have to say that we are even more grateful for her and what she did for us now, two years later, than the day they were born! Without her, there would be no Ben and Sam! We owe her our whole life because they are our lives! I still think about her everyday and thank God for the miracle that happened to us.

Ben and Sam, you are such special little boys and we love seeing you grow and trying to make us laugh, talking in sentences, having conversations with us and each other, learning what you like and dislike, and just being all around good boys (but very silly!).

Poor Maggie!

This morning we were trying to get the boys to name all the different kinds of balls they like to play with. We asked, "what kind of ball do you kick?" and they would say" soccer". We asked, "what kind of ball do you throw in a basket?" and they said "basketball". Then, we asked, "what do you hit with a golf club?" and Sam said, "Maggie". Poor dog.

Just for the record, she doesn't get hit with golf clubs.

2nd Birthday Party

Last weekend we had Ben and Sam's 2nd birthday party! I feel like we just had their 1st party so I can't believe we are already having their second. I decided to just have a family party for them this year and do a big friend party next year. With so many friends and family, it's so hard to have both - but I guess I shouldn't be complaining :)

Seeing as how the boys are obsessed with Thomas the Train, we decided to have that as our theme this year. My Aunt Marlene made these adorable and absolutely delicious Thomas cupcakes for the party:


My mom and Matt's mom and my mom made Baked Potato soup and Sausage bean soup, I did sandwiches, Matt's sisters brought fruit and a yummy appetizer (thanks Brian ;) ) .

Here is Sam posing next to his Thomas table cloth. Ah, it's the little things that get them excited:
The boys in their favorite Thomas shirts that I let them both wear for the party. They love these shirts, I'm not a huge fan - so they only come out for special treats.
We practiced ahead of time blowing out the candles on their cake. I told them that if they blow out their candles they can make a wish, like, they can wish for a Thomas train table at their very own house. That was incentive enough.


Digging into the cupcakes. Last year we had to give them both a bath. This year they ate them in a pretty civilized manner and I just had to wash off their hands. They didn't want to get any on their Thomas shirt and risk me taking it off of them:

I think a pinata at their birthday party might have to start becoming a tradition. Ben and Sam are blessed with many little cousins to play with. Here they are waiting in line to whack the pinata:
Ben taking his turn. Notice it is a Frankenstein pinata.....after Halloween. Hey, I love me a deal!

Sam getting a lil sneak preview of the candy:
Alec finally broke it open!


We added a new game this year. A bean bag toss. Notice, it's a Halloween theme again :) Do I just really like Halloween or did Target have all their stuff 70% off after the holiday?

The winner of the bean bag toss, Jackson, in action!


Opening all the gifts:


The boys with two of their favorite gifts...their K-state hats and the stringy stuffing that Aunt Jamie put as a decoration in one of the presents:

It was so much fun and we were so happy our family could be there to celebrate the birth of our little miracles!

Fun with Adam

One of the boys very best friends is Adam. His dad works with Matt and I am friends with his mom, who is also a stay at home mom. She and I are always up for doing something with our boys - who are close in age-only 2 months apart.

Lately, when I have been saying we are going to see Adam the boys get super excited. I think it's because 1. they always have a good time with their buddy and 2. they know we get to go and do something fun! .

Here are just some of the things we have been up to this summer/early fall.

We went to the zoo with Adam on his birthday. Here is a picture of all the boys when they were actually contained and not running around:

They ate home-made popsicles:

Went trick-or-treating together:

They posed for a picture at the Johnson Farms pumpkin patch:

Went to a birthday party for their friend Noah. Their friends Ben and Hannah are also in the pic:

Visited Deanna Rose Farmstead. After we got home Ben kept saying, "no, no moo moo cow. You can't eat Ben's Thomas (the train) shirt"

The three musketeers holding hands:
I am so happy that Ben and Sam have such a sweet friend in Adam :)