Mama and Dada took a weekend trip to NYC to see Justin Timberlake perform at the Meadowlands, leaving the boys with Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Greg. Everyone had a great time and we were very happy to return to our happy boys! Theo had a fever Thursday night through Saturday morning, but luckily slept great Friday night and woke up happy and cooler so we could leave with a clear mind. Thanks Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Greg for being here and taking such great care of our boys!

Auntie Tara came over with baby Zoey this morning, and the boys enjoyed feeding her and reading to her.

Fun around the house

The boys have been enjoying their strollers, putting everything but their doll in it, and also the Bleisenberg mailbox and postcards.

The boys both do great not wearing diapers, but both sometimes ask for diapers, at least with us. They report that Mindy says "no diapers!" so she uses them only sometimes, for naps only. Theo still doesn't like pooping in the potty and has to be reminded to use the potty but Beckett is happy to poop in the potty and pee whenever he needs to in the potty. His accidents have been when he is very tired or out of sorts, usually right before lunch time, and he feels very bad when he has an accident. When we're at home all day or just going somewhere we can walk or ride in the stroller, I don't use diapers unless they insist. Underwear seems to be close enough to diapers that they have more accidents, so I try to make them go commando if possible. When we're in the car for a while I put them in diapers and we use disposables from time to time when we're traveling or it seems more convenient. We're usually washing 10-12 diapers every three days. I'm so proud of their awesome potty progress!

Visit to Creekside Meadows Farm

I've been looking for a good local supplier of meat on and off for a while. This afternoon we took a trip out to Creekside Meadows Farm in New Woodstock, in Madison County (just east of Onondaga). The boys took a nap in the car on the way there (yea!) and we had a fun and exciting tour of the farm when we arrived. When we first arrived our tour was delayed because Trisha, the owner, had bought a new calf today and her son Cameron was attempting to persuade the calf out of the trailer and into a small pen they made for him. The sheepdogs were less than helpful in herding the calf. At one point the whole ruckus got within 10 feet of the boys.

Then right when Trish was taking us across the street to see the cows, I looked behind her and saw pigs running across the road. She and Cameron then spent 20 minutes trying to herd the pigs back to their pen.

We had time to commune with Maggie, the dairy cow who is surreptitiously nursing a beef calf. I love it.

After a stare-down she approached us and let me rub her nose and behind her ears. She mooed rather balefully as we left.

The chickens in their enclosure.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Beckett and Theo are practicing to fill the void left by the breakup of the Jonas brothers.

VIsit with the Moys

Today Theo, Mama and Grandma Joanie enjoyed a wonderful visit with Peg and Ed Moy. Peg and Ed were neighbors at our house on Warren Road and both Peg and her daughter Margie cared for Mama when she was very little. They are very special to all of us and it was awesome to bring a smile to Peg's face. Theo was a great sport, charming everyone, playing quietly with his trucks (sometimes on Ed's legs) while the grownups were talking, and spending lots of time showing Peg pictures and smiling at her.

Halloween

Grandpa Stu and Grandma Joanie kindly stayed last night beyond their regular Thursday childcare duties to help with Halloween. We get a lot of trick-or-treaters at our house and the idea of getting dinner on the table, answering the door for trick-or-treaters, getting the kids dressed in their costumes, and then taking them out to a few houses by myself (Jeff had trial team practice) seemed overwhelming. Jeff ended up staying for dinner and doing a few houses with us and Grandpa Stu. Grandma Joanie stayed home to hold down the fort.

Getting ready to go. Hearing the doorbell and eagerly awaiting the kids on the other side.

First house, our neighbors the Roots.

Enjoying the fruits of their labors. Beckett was very generous sharing his lollipop with Theo and Mama.