Took some quick photos of the boys having a lunch outside.

Took some quick photos of the boys having a lunch outside. Looking through them later, I thought it was funny how in most of the pictures they're both looking the same way or sharing the same expression.

Nate likes water.

Nate likes water.

On the weekend Nate "baptized" his stuffed horse with water... on our bed.

Later that day, as I was outside deep frying (homemade fish and chips), I began to notice him placing pails of water a couple feet away from me, as the collection silently amassed, I asked him what he was doing. "Getting water ready in case you catch on fire." Thanks, Nate.

James likes to eat.

James likes to eat.

On Friday James ate so much and with such ferocity that I had flashbacks of eating at my parents place with my teenage brother. It also prompted Sara to start an honest discussion about the best strategy to divide food equitably so that every member of the family could get enough food to eat. (There was an unspoken understanding that just making more food until James had enough to eat wasn't a viable option.) James is barely one.

On Saturday we caught James on multiple occasions trying to eat dirt from the potted plants. With a fork.

On Sunday James came and offered me his hand. I took it assuming he might want help walking. I was wrong. He began pulling me across the living room, and then the dining room, right up to his high chair. "Ah, you want to eat?" I begin rummaging around the kitchen. The next time I look back, James has procured some plastic food from somewhere and has placed it on a plastic plate at the base of his high chair, and is poking at it with a plastic fork. Okay. I get the picture!

James and the foam sword.

James and the foam sword.

I was helping out with Sunday School yesterday.

I was helping out with Sunday School yesterday. It was Palm Sunday, so lots of "Hosanna"s. We had just finished singing a song with it in it for the kids, and one of the girl's stops and goes, "But, seriously, who's Anna?"

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First Sargent Sundae run of the year (the Sunday before last).

First Sargent Sundae run of the year (the Sunday before last).

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James turns 1!

James turns 1!

Nate turns 3!

Nate turns 3!

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Very proud of my new 3 year old! He continues to amaze me.

Just found another plastic bb (courtesy of Geoff as stocking stuffers) from our first Christmas at our place (2008).

Just found another plastic bb (courtesy of Geoff as stocking stuffers) from our first Christmas at our place (2008). They were for toy guns and subsequently shot all over our place Christmas morning. The boys still randomly find them from time to time, but we're down to 2 to 3 per year now.

I was kicking around the soccer ball with Nate.

I was kicking around the soccer ball with Nate. He was running past me and I tried to pass the ball to him, but he didn't see it coming and tripped over the ball and went flying. Not skipping a beat, Nate gets up and informs me that's what soccer players do, and then requests me to kick the ball to him a couple times, at which point he purposefully falls over saying that's how you play soccer. I'm unclear on whether he's just that smooth at adapting to his own pitfalls, or if he's actually seen a professional soccer game.

Nate, "There was a bug in the bathroom, but it ran away, because I had such big muscles.

Nate, "There was a bug in the bathroom, but it ran away, because I had such big muscles... and I was so strong and healthy."

Sara's trying to get Nate properly dressed to go to the park, "Nate, you need to be fast, because it's getting late."

Sara's trying to get Nate properly dressed to go to the park, "Nate, you need to be fast, because it's getting late."

Nate runs away from Sara in his underwear and starts rapidly running in and out of the bedrooms yelling, "I'm being fast!"

...next time we'll be more specific.

Is very happy to be celebrating his little "pi" baby's first birthday.

Is very happy to be celebrating his little "pi" baby's first birthday. We gave him a little toy drum set (not sure what we were thinking). Nate was very keen to point out (repeatedly) that because the box it came in featured a picture with two boys on it, the drum set should therefore be shared.

Nate, "Dad can you take my picture?"

Nate, "Dad can you take my picture?"

Take picture.

"Nate, why are you grimacing?"

Take second picture.

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Spring Melt

Spring Melt

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This winter's snow fort a couple weeks ago. Complete with built in "kitchen". Now a puddle and a distant memory.

This winter's snow fort a couple weeks ago. Complete with built in "kitchen". Now a puddle and a distant memory.

Playing with Duplo.

Playing with Duplo.

This is a pretty sweet photo set.

This is a pretty sweet photo set.
http://www.retronaut.co/2012/02/skateboarding-new-york-1960s/

Nate, "My pink crayon broke"

Nate, "My pink crayon broke"
(a couple seconds later)
"Mum, this crayon needs to go to heaven."

Sara, "No Nate, crayons don't go to heaven."

Nate is not convinced.

I try to help, "Nate, crayons don't have a spirit."

Nate tries to argue that perhaps this particular crayon had a spirit..

6:00 My alarm goes off.

6:00 My alarm goes off.
6:01 Nate wakes up.
6:06 We both go downstairs. Nate sees the Valentine's Day stuff I have out for Sara and asks about it.
6:07 I explain Valentine's Day to Nate.
6:10 Nate announces he's tired of Valentine's Day.

This morning as I was crouched on the floor trying to get my boots on to go to work, James was happily climbing all...

This morning as I was crouched on the floor trying to get my boots on to go to work, James was happily climbing all over me. Nate, wanting some attention too, grabbed the boot I hadn't put on yet, and ran away with it laughing. I joked around with Nate briefly pretending to be upset and then asked him to bring the boot back, which he did promptly, tossing it to the floor at my feet and on it's side. James, who had been standing holding on to me the whole time jabbering happily, sees the boot, drops quickly down onto all fours, rights the boot so it's standing properly, looks at Nate and gives him a series of deep growls. I have my own body guard!

Last week:

Last week:
Me, "Sara, I love you."
Sara, "I love you, Jon."
Nate excitedly, "I love pizza!"

Last night, Nate wanted to drink from the tap in the bathroom.

Last night, Nate wanted to drink from the tap in the bathroom. He was already tucked in bed and had a full sippy cup, so Sara said no. When she came out of the room and explained the situation (he was quite devastated and still complaining). I let her know that I had promised to let him drink from the tap after he went on the potty, so I went back into his room and let him go get a drink. As we're walking to the tap, Nate says very solemnly, "I don't know why Mom is so mean to me." Oh the indiscernible and systematic injustice that poor child receives...

Taking advantage of the +5 degree weather in February.

Taking advantage of the +5 degree weather in February.

Nate gives himself a haircut.

Nate gives himself a haircut.

Nate drew a picture of himself (without any guidance), but (mistakenly?) made the hair really long. He wanted to give himself a haircut. So, I cut out the picture and let him cut "his" hair.