Ugh... NOT an April Fools Joke

A major snow storm on April first. It's no joke! Schools are all closed, but an Emergency Department nurse needs to get to work! Unfortunately, this is how Jay's commute went this morning. He was only a couple of miles from home when he slid through a stop sign and rolled his car. He is FINE, thank goodness, though a bit shaken up. The Subaru has been towed away and its fate yet determined...

Enjoying some sun

It's in the 40s here and breezy, but the sun is shining and we've managed to have some fun outdoors. Spencer loves to be outside just as much as big brother Ben and has the smile to prove it. Ben loves the 4-wheeler and likes to take me and Daddy for rides.

Spencer has been interested in taking a few steps every now and then, but last night he decided to go for it!

Winter BUGS visit the Jewetts

This photo is taken at CMMC in the Emergency Department yesterday. No, the boys did not need to go to the ED, other than to visit Daddy, but they were in the hospital getting check-ups with their pediatrician. Let me back up... Ben has had a nasty cough for a couple of weeks, and Spencer has chronically had some runny nose or other bug for weeks. Last Thursday I was out sick from work and developed a cough that was just miserable. I went to the doctor this past Thursday and ended up getting diagnosed with bronchitis and an ear infection. I figured it was time to get the boys checked out. Turns out they both have double ear infections (Spencer's was termed "angry" and "raging" by two different doctors). They also have some sinus issues and Spencer continues to have conjunctivitis. Luckily, both boys' lungs sounded good. SO, three-quarters of the Jewetts are on antibiotics and hopefully once Monday comes around we'll all be feeling better. Regardless of illness, boys continue to be goofy- and that's always a good sign.

Boys today

I actually managed to take photos of the boys AND upload & post them to the blog ON THE SAME DAY. Wowzers. And it has been a jam-packed day, so that is not small feat. I'll have to write about the day another time because this Mumma is beat and heading for bed. Enjoy the photos of our ever-growing boys...

Random March Moments:

Spencer loves to watch his big brother color & decided to try it out on his own...
Some trees after the weird rain/ice event we had. So pretty:

Love it when they nap in the car together; so cute...

Sledding today

Jay was clearing the piles and piles and piles of snow and moving things around today. This is what evolved: A big trail from the top of the garage roof to the driveway...
Ben and I tried it (one time) with the sled-- it got too slow sliding down on our snowpants. At the top, then half-way down we caught some air!!!

Snow in my face. Too fun.
Of course Jay and Ben took many runs prior to this, but I was the one who remembered the camera (big surprise there!). Spence was watching from the backpack on Daddy's back.

Outdoor Adventures

Ben wasn't totally into snowshoeing this day, so he took lots of rest breaks...
Spencer, on the other hand, relaxed a little bit too much... I kept straightening his head out, but he preferred sleeping all cock-eyed!

Birthday Boy/Valentine's Day

We went to Sugarloaf to celebrate Spencer's FIRST birthday! We had a great weekend celebrating his birthday, Ben's half-birthday, and Valentine's Day. Who knew February would be such a cool month??

Keeping busy

The boys like to go out to Tubby's for lunch

They also enjoy hanging out in the kitchen when Mum and Daddy are in there. Spencer enjoys tearing things apart, and Ben thinks it's pretty fun to 'help' him...

More outdoors pics

My first snowshoeing expedition with Spencer in the backpack. He loved it! Boy, is it hard work though...
Benjamin on the tree:

Ben loved to pull Spencer in the sled, since the ice was so nice and slick. Spencer stayed in the sled... for the most part. He enjoyed getting out to crawl around on the ice as well.

I almost missed January all together!

It's been a snowy month! Ben loves to be outside-- snowshoeing and sledding (and having snowball fights). Spencer loves it as well-- he likes the backpack and to be pulled on a sled (though he tends to try to crawl out of the sled so he can 'do it himself')...

Homemade Christmas

Ben is drawing packages to go under the trees I drew. He also put balls on the trees-- and don't forget the "hookers" (hooks) on the "balls" (ornaments)!
One day at work we got several boxes delivered with some really cool OT gadgets and tools. I was pretty excited about it all until I realized that what was sent in 4 or 5 boxes could have easily fit into one box. The rest was brown packing paper. I was amazed when I took the paper and folded it all up-- to see how much was there. I decided to bring it home and use it for wrapping paper this Christmas. The past couple of Christmases I've cut brown shopping bags for paper, but this packing paper is better-- not as thick, plus it's convenient in one long piece. So I collected the paper and after wrapping every single one of our gifts in the recycled paper, Ben helped me decorate. It was a lot of fun and I love the fact that we didn't buy any wrapping paper this year.

Here are our gifts under the tree...
And Ben made a star for the top of the tree since he didn't like to see it bare.

B drew this tree all by himself (I only helped with the star).

Lights, Camera, Action!

Benjamin likes to get into Daddy's sparing gear- here he is!
Spencer loves Christmas lights. I fear that every day Spencer and I have more and more in common. This includes his... shall we say "spunky" personality. He is one determined little boy- if he has something in his sights, watch out-- because nothing is getting in that boy's way. He's also, um, loud. Good thing he's so stinking cute. Oh, and he has four teeth now. All the better to chew on strings of lights...

In the kitchen

Benjamin made chocolate chip cookies last week.
And here the boys are watching our homemade pizza bake:

Our Christmas Tree

First Snow!

Very rarely have I seen Benjamin as excited as he was this morning when he woke up and saw the snow. He jumped around the house and kept asking if he could go outside and play after breakfast (then he tried to negotiate with me: wondering if he could go outside while I cooked breakfast). He ate three bites and was bundled up and out there before 8am. He's still out there almost 2 hours later. Little brother is just waking up from a nap and will soon be bundled up and outside for the first snow of the year. :) Happy times for little Jewett Boys.

Jewett Family Photos

We had our first family photo session this Fall! You can check out some of our photos on Deb's blog site-- this is our "sneak peek". I encourage you ALL to comment on Deb's site about our photos: tell us which ones are your favorites. Deb is running a promotional deal for her October clients (Jewetts included!), and the more people that comment on her blog site, the closer we are to earning a few free photo prints. Please, comment and let us know what you think. Each day my favorite changes, but I do love the black and white of Ben w/the mushroom, and Spencer playing peek-a-boo is pretty sweet. :) Check it out and leave a comment on Deb's blog site. Thanks for your help... We have until November 19th to collect comments.

Halloween

Here is Ben (AKA Optimus Prime) at his cousins' house just before heading out to Trick-or-Treat. Man, it was COLD Halloween night. Ben had a great time and Spencer hung out at cousins' house with Nana & Pops...
Earlier in the day Ben and Spencer helped me carve a pumpkin...

Both boys have been doing well this Fall, though Spencer is just getting over a sinus infection that had him feverish and down-and-out for almost a week. We finally took him to the doctor on Friday and now that he's on antibiotics seems to be feeling better. Poor guy was not a happy camper for quite a while. Ben had a cold, but other than the runny nose and cough at night, he didn't let it slow him down at all.

New Year's Day 2009
Ben in a tiara and Grammie with the party hat makes me smile.
I've been trying to formulate an eloquent statement that is fitting to the passing of my Grammie. But words are failing me right now and all I can say is that I will miss her deeply. She was an amazing and caring woman and I was blessed to have her for so long.
Love you Grammie. Rest in peace.