Balloons or shall I say ba-oons!

the boys are talking more and more these days.... repeating everything... I wonder why they talk so much!? ha... just kidding...I mean look at who they hang out with all day - M-E! :) So anyway.... they love to say "balloon"...although it often sounds like "ba-oon"!

sullivan and his ba-oon! oh he is so excited....

henry proud as can be with his new found love...ba-oons :)

So a very new thing well, as of right after thanksgiving.... the boys fell in love with balloons... they fell in love when they partied it up at their birthday bash in October... but I think the love grew deeper shortly there after :)

I typically grocery shop once a week and the boys come along.... well this is when they get their super duper treat... a fancy balloon of their choice... and of course on this day they picked gold stars.... Now I want you to know that these boys...especially Henry... walk around this house just holding on tight...occasionally looking up to make sure it is following them... and then they smile... pure happiness... oh if life were only that simple for all of us! :) These boys are easy to please.... with each week the set of balloons die... so it is time for new ones....

Thanksgiving vacation & Mom's 60th Birthday Celebration! Vegas bound!

henry poolside with his momma....

the entire family at night by our pool... the lights you see to the left behind us is down town....the lights of the strip...

some of us went to a show to celebrate mom's bday.... simply amazing!

auntie mary & uncle luke and ALL their Brennan boys! Not a girl in sight...well accept for mary :)

my sister in law, Erin & Caedmon (her son) - she is married to my younger brother John

caedmon reading one of our favorite books!

auntie mary and the boys people watching.... I can't imagine what these little brains were processing that day... oh my lord!

We took several trips to the park near our AMAZING house!

Jill (my sister), Andy, Ben, and Jack.... and YES, we were one of "those" families that took their kids to Vegas...but we didn't let them touch anything and we scrubbed them clean when we got home... ICK.

Angie (my sister in law, who is married to my older brother scott) enjoying one of our nights out with her wolves.... she just can't get enough... oh and not sure why this pictures won't flip... sorry... :(

Touring the harvest celebration at the Bellagio and yes, that is a real pumpkin!

these boys are getting heavy... can you tell? This picture was taken when we went to visit the lion cubs at MGM... the boys were just a piece of plexi-glass away from some very sweet cubs!

A hug from the Henry ... pricelss... he is such a great little hugger! He knows how to give "loves"...so sweet.

Uncle John (my brother) and Sullivan exploring down town... oh so fun!

I will add more pictures but this is a start.... My dad took most of the pictures from the trip so these are just what I could find from my camera.... I need to get his as he is a fab photographer!

We had a great trip...celebrated my mom's birthday... enjoyed tennis, golf, every kind of sport, swimming and lots of other festivities....our house was perfect...it was so fun to see everyone... we haven't all been together for a long time... all in one big house...big meals....lots of laughs... just like the old days back in good ol' walla walla! The dynamics are fun.... we're all grown up...some us with kids and those without look just that much more rested! I think I've aged 100 years in the last 15 months! I was just telling Patrick the other day that I need to invest in some really expensive eye cream! :) Don't get me wrong.... it hasn't been a bad stress.... just the most exciting year of my life.... and I've got the lines to prove it! :) If you look close that is.... well, don't look too close!

An update on things...

Oh what a week it has been. The boys have been sick...ear infections & colds...I've been playing nurse, prepping for a big presentation..keeping the house in order while Patrick has been out of town... thank God for good friends and a mother in law who have come to my rescue... from the latte drop off to the midnight rescue so I could venture to the ER with Sullivan... girls, thanks for your support! It is the little things like the "offer" to help... and then doing it...without any hesitation on your part - I thank you! The babes are hopefully on the mend... I've learned that Motrin is WAAAY better than Tylenol... by a million percent...and the house is clean! Thanks everyone -
Tonight I am actually caught up...so that is how I have had time to update the blog a bit.

oh and a special shout out to the pharmasist who helped me give a screaming sullivan his meds this morning... yeah, i looked like an incompotent mother... but it was accept help or burst into tears myself...I accepted the help :)

first haircut...a trip through the red door with my two little men!

henry sits so still! such a honey...

henry wanted to see her cut the hair.... kinda hard :) he loved the mirror!

sullivan is all ready ... sitting up straight!

this pretty much sums up sullivan's experience - he moves all the time!

this was a fabulous position... ha!

Today we took the boys to get their hair cut... they had little wispy mullets and now they look like little boys insead of babies.... too cute! Thanks Kate for an amazing first "do"!

lincoln comes to play!

avery, sydney & whitney came to play! love it!

nori turns 5! I remember the day she was born... oh how times flies....

We were lucky enough to be invited to Nori's family birthday party Saturday night. We had a marvelous time catching up with her family ... Nori is a fabulous little lady & we are so fortunate to know her :) Love ya Nori!