Bayley dresses himself now. One Saturday morning he came down in this dress-up outfit and said, "Aren't I handsome?"

Did we tell y'all that the boys broke the glass on our patio table? They are fun, aren't they?

In his NOSE!!

I have no idea what it was Hayden thought to shove up his nose yesterday. Chewed up napkin or toilet paper is my guess. Jeff's money is on a crayon wrapper. But either way, it was a lot of junk.

He stands there, a finger knuckle deep in his nostril and says "Mommy, hurt"

"I bet, baby. Get your finger out of there. Do you need to blow it?" Now, he can't blow, it's more of a pinchy wipe thing I do. So when I get my fingers on the bridge of his nose I realize...it's full. "Did you stick something in your nose?"

"Yeah."

"Well, let me see it." So I pull a wad of gooey paper from his nose and say a thankful prayer that Bayley never thought to do this. And then his finger is back in his nose. "Is there more?" I ask tipping his head back. Sure enough.

I get the tweezers and go in. Another huge wad and he says, "All done."

Except you see, I'm not sure. This is Hayden. And while most people would stop after jamming one nostril, if they thought to try it at all, he does nothing by halves. So I catch him and peek in the other side. Wouldn't you know.

I get the obvios peices, but he's still digging so I know there is more. With the help of a pillow and a MagLight I find still more jammed in each side. I swear, he would have had less packing for a nose job.

What is with this kid!?!

Zoo Lights

I love to drive around looking at holiday lights. The boys do too, I think. I tell myself they do as I make extra loops here and there. Anyway...I got my fill at the zoo. They put up all kinds of light exhibits -- gingerbread house, carousel, river, swinging monkeys -- and we just walk around, making the zoo loop. We got there right at dusk, and kept the boys warm in the wagon under a quilt. They loved it. And Hayden is always asking "Go Zoo Lights?" now. Almost as much as "Go Grandma's House?"

Bayley feeding Amigo a carrot. My mission for this weekend will be to get Sos to smile for a picture. Can;t have him the only one un-blogged :)

Nookie, Hayden & Jamer

Bayley & Lilli

And me without my camera

Of all people, I left my camera at home. So of course the boys were extra cute. Bayley has been wanting to play ina pi;le of leaves for weeks now, but it; sbeen so rainy up this way that hasn't been possible. But what do Gram-Mo and Pop-Pop have in their back yard? You guessed it. They jumped in the pile, swam in the leaves, had leaf showers. All with no pictures. Well, Gram-mo took a picture. But we all know that will be on her camera for the next year.

The boys visited twice with Grandma Evie, but again, no pictures. Imagine it, Hayden had her wrapped around his little finger in one giggle. At lunch today he led her by the hand to the ice cream machine.

There was even a visit with Grandma Ellie, who watched Hayden run about the room wide eyed. "He's fast!" That's the understatement of the decade.

ThAt DiD iT!

Hayden is officially grounded. In addition to the normal Hayden wildness tonight he

• dumped out an entire box of croutons
• rubbed Nutella into the floor
• broke a huge decorator mirror (5 ft by 4 ft)

So no privilidges for him. No phone. No trips to the mall. No going anywhere except school.

I know. But time outs don't work for this kid.

Before Pictures

Better Homes & Gardens is sending a photographer to get a shot of me for the magazine. Since a main ingredient for my recipe is seasonal - blackberries - the photographer suggested a picture with me and the ruggies. Great, except I gained 50 pounds this year and they refuse to let me cut their hair. I guess this will be our 'BEFORE' picture.