Splash

Little. Big.

It seems like not so long ago my boys had just met!

And now they are best buddies and Max is almost 2!

Where does the time go?!

New Vocabulary

Liam: "Mom, look at this cool Lego blaster I made!"

Me: "Good job, Liam!"

Liam: "Yeah, it's a blasterpiece. It's like a masterpiece, but it's a blaster. So...it's a blasterpiece."

Hobbies

The boys have been busy since we're stuck inside. Liam as been occupied with the love of his life: Star Wars. Last night he decided that we should watch "The Empire Strikes Back", so we had a little snowed-in movie night.

This is the "Star Wars shelf" he created in his room, far out of Max's destructive reach!

And Max has been busy with his love as well...eating.

And eating. And eating.

The kid is always "hun-gee"!

Ah, Spring

Just a few days ago we were playing outside with sweatshirts on.

We went to the park.

We walked down to the water.

Then, it started to snow. Again.

Ok, a little snow is acceptable.

It's even kind of pretty...

Ok. I take that back.

It is pretty.

Until you have to shovel it.

Guess whose dad has a snow day...!

"Weather" you like it or not...

Just yesterday the boys were playing outside...

Splashing in puddles...

And today we've got snow...again!

Can't wait for the warm weather to stick around!

Monday, Monday

Ahhhhhhhhh...finally, after many long days of work, I have a day off! I do have a dentist appointment later on, but that will hopefully be quick. It's been an exhausting week, and we are all looking forward to the weekend when we'll be going up to Florence. I can't wait! I told Liam we were going and he got very excited before stopping and thinking for a minute. "Do we have to go to a funeral?" he asked. No, buddy...no funerals this time. Poor kid! It will be great to take a regular trip north, and I'm sure everyone feels the same way!

Trouble

Ahhh...this look says it all. Trouble.

Adorable...but definitely trouble!

Has he just pooped in the tub? Possibly.

Has he decided to dump all the shampoo in the water? Maybe.

Is he refusing to have his hair washed? Always.

Oh, Maxwell...

Visit from the Great Grands!

Grandpa Richie and Grandma Karen came to visit us yesterday!

We played outside, read some books and had a great time!

The boys love to read, so they were more than happy to each have their own personal "book reader" for a bit!

And here is proof that window clings stick to any glass-like surface!

Thanks for visiting, Gramps and Gram! See you soon!

Wittle Kid Wednesday

We've been watching videos of the kids when they were "small" today. Hope this makes you smile! Now, we're off for a day outside!

My Good Kid

Liam and I went up north for Grandma Mitchell's funeral on Monday. He was SO good for the entire day. I was very proud of him. He brought Star Wars legos to play with, colored with his aunties, and was just very quiet and very well behaved all day. The funeral was very nice and we had a good day just visiting with family.

Agnes C. Mitchell, 93, of Iron Mountain passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at the Golden Living Center in Florence surrounded by her family.



She was born February 2, 1918 in Iron Mountain, daughter of the late Joseph and Mary (Yelland) Rihtarshich. Agnes married Ellsworth Buzzo in 1936 and he preceded her in death in 1940. She then married Earl A. Mitchell in 1945 and preceded her in death in 1993. Agnes worked in a sewing factory for a short time and also owned and managed the Vagabond Motel in Paradise, MI with her husband Earl for 12 years. They moved to Iron Mountain in 1980. She enjoyed shopping, going to the casino and spending time with family and friends.


Agnes is survived by two daughters, Arlene Smith of Spread Eagle and Joanne (George) Nanninga of Iron Mountain; a son, Michael (Nancy) Mitchell of Paradise; grandchildren, Howard (Pam) Smith of Spread Eagle, Doris Smith of Aurora, Kathy (Doug) Koch of Wisconsin Rapids, George (Sue) Nanninga Jr.of Aurora, Joseph Nanninga of Iron Mountain, Julie (Steve) Limback of Aurora, Ralph Mitchell of Paradise, Chester Mitchell of Petoskey, MI and Kena McEachern of Eben Junction, MI; great grandchildren, Jennifer (Aaron) Renquin, Kimberly and Sarah Smith, Sheila Annear, Heather and Adam Olson, and Steve Nanninga ;great-great grandchildren, Josh, Jessica, Liam, Maxwell, David, Desi and Jared; brother-in-law, Art Mitchell; a sister-in-law, Joan Mitchell; friends, Faye, Cookie, June and Sonny; and many nieces and nephews.


She was also preceded in death by two brothers, John and Joe Rihtarshich and a sister, Mary Jakovich and a son-in-law, Howard Smith.


Visitation will be on Monday from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain. The funeral service will follow at 1:00pm at the funeral home. Fr. Greg Veneklase will officiate. Burial will be in Iron Mountain Cemetery Park.

Maxwell Everett, Jedi Knight

Max's daddy is particularly proud of these lightsaber photos!

Max has been doing a lot of training lately!

Whew! Time for a break!

Hello!

Miss You, Gram!

My great grandmother passed away last night at the age of 93. I told Liam about it soon after I found out and he smiled and said, "Now she is in heaven with Grandpa Howard!" I think he was happy to think that Grandpa Howard had a friend up there! We'll miss you, Gram! (Especially sneaking things into your purse every Christmas!)

Exploring

Deeper

I haven't been able to get this song out of my head!
Music and lyrics by the very talented Amber Farrington.

Lullabye

From Aaron:

Every night before I put my sons to bed I try to sing them a song. I am not Pavarotti, but I do well enough for a two year old and a four year old. Throughout the years I have sung them a variety of songs from "Rainbow Connection" to "When the River Meets the Sea". Each song talks about big things in a way that makes them simple for children to understand, and I believe that is what I enjoy about them. This evening was no different, except for the fact that Daddy felt the need to conduct an encore performance. The song was more for my benefit than theirs. It was sung to honor someone who would have loved them as much as she loved their father.


My sons are fortunate to be a part of two very loving families. Great-grandparents, great-aunts and uncles, distant cousins, and a variety of other relatives are a constant part of my boys' lives. As blessed as they are, however, I never got to introduce them to my Aunt Peg. Peggy loved children and children loved Peggy. Little kids instinctively knew that she was the one who would shower them with the most attention and indulge them more than anyone else in the room. When I told her that I was getting married, she told me that she couldn't wait to hold my children and see me be a father.

Peggy was not able to attend my wedding, nor did she ever meet my children. Six years ago today she passed away quietly in her sleep. The official cause of her death was a heart deffect, but it would be an egregious error to think there was anything wrong with her heart. As her godson I can attest that Peggy's capacity for love was limitless. She was the constant cheerleader in your life who felt that every little accomplishment was a reason to celebrate. Peggy could make your worst day your best just by smiing and giving you a hug. Her thoughts were always about those she loved, and her actions reflected that.

After my mother, no woman has had as big of an impact on my life as my Aunt Peg. I miss her every day, but especially this day. Tonight, I sat next to Liam on his bed and held Max in my arms. We had just finished "Tell Me Why" and "When the River Meets the Sea". As we sat in the darkness, I felt the need to sing one of Peggy's favorite songs. She told me that once that "Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)" by Billy Joel always made her cry, both because of its subject and its simple beauty.

When I had finished singing the song, I looked down to see Liam had fallen asleep. Max tucked his head tightly against my chest and let out a deep sigh that told me that he was finished as well. It is a rare occasion for him to fall asleep anywhere but his bed, and I felt little motivation to put him down. I sat in silence for a long time with my boys, content in that serene moment. It's what my Aunt Peggy would have done, and it was the least I could do to thank her for helping me put my boys to sleep tonight.

The Tortoise & the Pair

These two are so cute together! Sure, they fight, but they really are such good brothers. Liam give Max spontaneous kisses and hugs and says, "I love you, Maxwell!" about 1,000 times a day. Max shows similar devotion to his brother and follows him around like a shadow.

I'm keeping them both home forever and they can never get any bigger than this. The end.

Good Morning!

Some pearls of wisdom from Liam this morning:

"Mom, a choice is a choice. And an idea is an idea."

"Mom, if you see something with your eyes but it's not really there, then it's an illusion."

Makeshift Bedtime

Liam was playing and watching a bedtime show upstairs last night. We told him to come down after his show and get ready for bed. He should have come down around 7:30, but when Aaron and I finally realized that he hadn't come down it was already 8:00. I went to check on him and found him sleeping on a bean bag chair covered with his bearskin rug! Aaron carried him downstairs and he opened his eyes sleepily and said, "I made a really cool bed upstairs!" He promptly fell asleep in his actual bed and we had to smile at his cuteness!