Happy St. Patrick's Day

May the sounds of happy music and the lilt of Irish laughter, fill your heart with gladness that stays forever after.  Happy St. Patrick's Day from the McCollums.

Oh Happy Day!

There was a gorgeous break in our weather today.  It's been freezing here this winter and the snow hasn't melted like it had other winters.  And temperatures are supposed to plunge again tomorrow night and snow again.  But today, on my 37th birthday, the weather and the boys held and it was beautiful.

While Ryan slept, Thomas and I enjoyed making a birthday cake together.

Licking the bowl

Before embarking on a mini tour of Newburgh that involved hitting up as many places as we could that give out free birthday treats, the three of us loaded up on a nutritious snack of yogurt.

First, we ventured to Sonic for free birthday tots.  On our way, we put down the car windows since it was a balmy 57 degrees.  I went a little slower since the windows were down.  Thomas asked if I was stopping.  I told him I cannot stop in the middle of the road because people will ask what the heck I am doing stopping in the middle of the road?!  He replied, "We're picking up some junk!"  This is a direct reference to our town's bulk trash pick up day, which is when people put their "junk" out by the curb and we (and others) cruise around looking for treasures.  Priceless.

Healthy addition to the menu

After refueling, we headed to our old standby, Wal-Mart, to pick up a few things.  Thomas, ever the great older brother, insisted on pushing Ryan around.

Once inside, I told Thomas we needed to buy toilet paper.  He bolted down the aisle to that section and was attracted to one brand in particular.  He looked at the package and said to me, "Mama?  Is this one for bears?"

After successfully checking out of Wal-Mart without any crying or whining from any of the three of us, we headed to Starbucks for a free birthday latte.  Thomas is very interested in coffee lately and begged me to order him one.  I think that I have delayed him for 13 more years.  I told him that he has to be big like Amanda and be able to drive a car.  Seems worth it now, check back when he's 16.

Nap times almost coincided today, but again, Ryan's teeth may have played a part in his early waking.  Despite this, we got dinner off without too much of a hitch.  But it was dessert that was the real treat.

Ryan's dessert?

Yummy card!

So while I won't win wildest birthday bash or most exotic birthday trip, it was a wonderful and happy day.  We'll see if we can top it next month for Dad's 38th birthday. 

Views

The view out our living room window at dusk is great,

But not nearly as good as the view looking in.

The viewpoints of these boys fascinate, frustrate and often entertain me. 

We had a wonderful time venturing down to the American Natural History Museum in New York City with Mama's friend Melanie, Thomas' friend Bronwen and Ryan's friend Hugh.   The dinosaur bones, stuffed animals and movies were mildly entertaining for a three and a half year old and a seven month old.  But both our boys trudged through the museum for a couple of hours.

All four buckled up and rearing to go!

Reality: Touching a real dino bone;  Thomas' view: This makes a very fine seasaw!

"Ok, what's next?"

Dino egg

Humongous turtle fossil suspended from ceiling

A first date for Thomas and Bronwen?  They watched this movie three times while the babies ate.

Reality: Megaloceros-the biggest deer to ever live;  Mama's view: And I thought the deer in our yard were meddlesome!

Grrrr! like a bear.

Thomas's take on what the sign reads: "This says they're died."

Reality: Huge mollusk; Thomas'  view: This would make lots of clam chowder!

Tuckered out on the way home.

Mama: Did you have fun at the museum, Thomas?
Thomas: No.
Mama: Why not?
Thomas: It was too....(a good pause)....crowded.
Mama: Too crowded?
Thomas: I wanna go to another museum.
Mama: You do?
Thomas: Yeah.  A museum with toys.  Lots of toys.
Mama: Ok, bud.  We'll see if we can find a museum with lots of toys.

*Translation: I liked the adventure, but the fossils are a little too obscure, the animals don't even move and are "died," and I really just want to run around and play with lots and lots of toys.

I wonder what poor Ryan's view is on all the madness and fun that follows everywhere we go.

Thomas' view: I love you Ryan so much, I want him to wear one of my prized possessions, my adult-sized hockey helmet.
Mama's view: Oh dear Lord.  Please, Thomas, be careful with his head!
Ryan's view: Helmet?  What helmet?

Dad's view: Wouldn't it be funny to get Ryan naked and then call Mama down here to freak her out?
Mama's view: At least he's naked and I don't need to take his clothes off for bathtime, but did you consider he will likely get cold and pee on this rug?
Ryan's view: Yeah!  Naked as a jay bird!

Thomas' view: Ryan is on the bed, not being toted around by Mama.  I think that's free license to wrestle and tackle.
Mama's view: Be careful with him!
Ryan's view: Uh, I love you more than anything, Thomas, so why are you crushing my legs?  I was having a nice little photo shoot with Mama here.

Mama: I win by giving you these trivial little things to play with so I can cook dinner or put away groceries.
Ryan: I win when you give me these trivial little things to play with so that I can shake them, put them in my mouth and yank on them.

So many views, so little time to post about them!