It was awfully quiet...

This is how I found the boys when I went to investigate why it was so quiet.

The big kids told Tommy that he'd made Noah look like a pilgrim.

Easter Morning Pictures 2011

Tommy likes to squeeze Noah's neck...(the big kids are quick to rescue poor Noah from the clenches of Tommy!)

Tommy still says (and even said it today), "Noah grow up, him wrestle me!"
Love how Noah is affectionately holding Tommy's leg in these photos...
Charlie loves how Noah likes to rub his back when he lays in bed with us in the morning.
I love how Noah is so quick to giggle when I kiss him roughly on the cheek and 'squiggy' him with my nose and lips. He cracks up and gets us all laughing at him!

Little Brothers after Saturday Evening Easter Service

Noah loves his big bro, Tommy!
Tommy still says about Noah a few times each week, "Him so cute!"
Noah is our biggest drooler! Tommy is the only one of our kiddos who actually spit up milk and needed a bib for drool and burp cloth for milk spit ups. Noah is just a drooler...don't think he's spit up even once!

Colgan Brothers in stripe shirts, March 2011

The boys are semi-matching in their stripe polos and khaki pants. I try to get a quick picture as we head out to church. Is it possible to get all the boys looking at the same time? Maybe...
Yes!

More Matching Brothers Pictures

Tommy newly three years old and Noah newly seven months old:

These expressions are ones I see a lot from both boys. One thing I've been meaning to jot down for memories' sake is Tommy's quote about Noah when he was about four months old and really drooling...."Mom, me press right here, him DRIP on me!" It was as if Tom thought that pushing his brother in a certain spot caused him to drip (Tommy's word). He still doesn't know that "drip" is really called drool. I don't want to tell him! His word for it is so much cuter!

Matching Brothers on March 18, 2011

Tommy just turned three and Noah is now seven months old! Tommy ADORES his brother, as do all the kids, and tells me often, "Mommy, me LOVE Noah!" and "Him so cute!"

Our HIL-arious tree...

Not to be mistaken for a scrawny leaning tower of Pisa...the tree seems to slump right more and more each day! It is definitely not sturdy by any stretch of the imagination!

Here are Tommy and Fletcher in their matching Reindeer sweatshirts from Gammy. Fletcher and I were privileged to meet Twilight, a real reindeer from Siberia who was a very rare white reindeer. Not albino, just white fur and even white fuzz on his beautiful antlers. So special. We weren't expecting to meet a reindeer on our quick rollerblading excursion!
Tommy in his super cutie, super warm doggie with antlers jammies from Gammy. He is holding his "fire dogs" (dalmation puppies) that Gammy gave him this year for the first Advent gift (the tradition she does for the kids each year).

Brothers Bonding

Tommy assumes that Noah will love Star Wars as much as he and big bro Fletcher. "Noah, you grow up, you watch Dar Vader, me!!!" (translated: When you grow up, Noah, you can watch Darth Vader with me.)

Tommy showing Noah how Jabba the Hut's trap works. Batman demonstrates the fall into the pit. Noah can wear Tommy's Christmas outfit from Gammy. She was so cute and got these for Tommy when he was almost nine months old. Noah just turned three months, and the outfit is working for him just fine! I loved that Gammy got this for Tommy to wear to church for his Christmas outfit....I called her and asked, "Did you know they were jammies?" She was shocked and said, "No! I thought it was his Christmas outfit." Well, Tommy sported those jammies to church every weekend in December and lots of days in between because we loved them so much. Now Noah gets to wear them, too. LOVE hand-me-downs!!! Especially ones with great memories attached with them!

Funny Tommy quotes from Nov.13, 2010

When I asked Tommy if he had "pee pee coming," he replied, "No. Pee pee sleepin'- my penis."

When we visited a barn today, Tommy walked up to the chicken coop poking his nose through the wire to greet the hens and said, "Hi ah cockadoodles!" "Cockadoo!"

When he saw the Polish hen in the next coop, he said, "Ahhh, MOHAWK! Silly!" (the Polish hen's head was covered with flopping hair!)

When I was sitting at the kitchen table holding Noah on my knee facing out towards the den, Tommy came over and got down on Noah's level. He put his face right up to Noah's and said, "Noah, see me. Me good guy!" and then kissed the top of his head. (ahhh, I melted!)

Then later Tommy was pretending Noah needed saving..."Help Noah! Tommy save the day!"

Picture of the little brothers taken in mid-October:

Picture taken end of August:
October:

One of Tommy's most frequent statements to Noah (probably averaging three times daily throughout the month of November), "Noah, you grow up, you watch Batman, ME!" Tommy always says this statement with his face less than an inch from Noah's, his nose almost touching Noah's nose. He always ends the statement with his mouth wide open in a very exuberant expression of excitement for he knows this must be a super exciting thought for his little brother to anticipate being big enough to enjoy such a special activity with his beloved older brother! Tommy acts as if Noah is counting the days already until he is old enough (brave enough) to be allowed to watch such a fun big kid show.

Tommy's statement is translated: "Noah, when you grow up you will be able to watch Batman with me!"

End of September with the yellow aspen leaves:

A new brother game...

The other day the kids and I were at the kitchen table doing school. Suddenly, Tommy's loud requests for our attention prevented us from continuing. I heard him (practically) shouting, "DIE! Die!" I was puzzled because I'd never heard him say that word before, and it seemed to be a request. I must have looked confused because Fletcher piped up, "Oh, he just wants me to play our game with him." What? I didn't really press the issue because I needed to continue on with their schoolwork, so I told Tommy not yet but that Fletcher could play in a few minutes when school was over. Well, I rolled when I saw what the game was that Tommy named, "Die!" They both grab throw pillows off the couch and rush at each other trying to knock the other down. Modern day knights, my boys? I bet you can't guess who normally gets bowled over! It wouldn't be the big kid now, would it?! How funny that the little guy actually requests/demands this game!

Like brother, like brother

Of course, Tommy adores balls ("bawh" in tommy language!) Fletcher was the EXACT same way at this age (almost 2) but really hasn't outgrown it! This has been the year of sports for Fletcher. We have LOVED the Upward Sports program through our church which is very encouraging for beginners and most pleasant for parents. We love the laidback attitude of the program and have been so pleased that all three of our big kids have been able to try new things this past year. Fletcher and Sarah excelled in the soccer program last spring, Fletcher thrived in the flag football season this fall and is just starting Upward basketball now in December. Both Sarah and Paris have just started the Upward cheerleading season and LOVE it! They can not wait until they get their cheerleading uniforms next week!