How did that train get in the picture again? THOMAS!!!

Well, here's another picture of our family - with adopted son Thomas the Tank Engine, of course! We surprised the boys with another trip to Strasburg, PA, for a "Day Out with Thomas" and had another great time. Both the boys loved it and Benjamin was in full "talking mode" and naming the train, tracks, signals, and everything the whole time we were there. It was so much fun! We plan to go back next year and stay at the "Red Caboose Motel" down the street from the Strasburg Railroad, where your room is a converted railroad car. The boys will love it!

Air Free Danny

Danny blissing out to "Veggie Tales" songs on my laptop.
Too bad the image he's so enthralled in is just the laser optic designs on my Media Player! And it keeps him busy for hours...hmmmm......should I worry?

Well, I'M counting it as his first sentence!

Here's darling Benjamin after his latest Mommy haircut...doesn't he look handsome? The only way I could get him to sit still long enough for a picture was to put on Sponge Bob Squarepants, so that explains the confused look on his face!

Anyway, today was a big day! While we were riding in the car, Danny said he needed more juice in his cup and Benjamin must have realized he wanted juice as well because he started looking around for it. When he couldn't find it, he said, "Cup...juice...mine?" I guess technically that's his first question, but I was so thrilled my little genius put 3 words together already. SO smart! :) Wait until he sees Thomas the Tank Engine in Strasburg on Sunday!!! Tee hee...

Isms for today

Dannyisms of the week:

Mommy:  Do you like tuna?
Danny: I don’t like two-nuts, I like peanuts!

Hey, I’m dot com-ming! (while trying to get his computer game to work)

Benja-minimalism:

     Train clock! (which we hear every hour when the train goes off!)

Back-ards (while walking backwards or pushing trains backwards – is he smart or WHAT?)

Oh, and by the way,

     Happy birthday, Maggie and evan!!

…and George has viral bronchitis and has been laid up for a week…just wanted to pass that along (

Crazy tired

Well, you'd never know it to look at this adorable two from pictures on Wednesday, but they are dead tired today. I think Danny is still catching up on some "healing" rest and recovering from starting school this week. Right now, he's just laying in bed watching TV and not in any hurry to go anywhere. Poor Benjamin is teething like crazy and cut two teeth this week (lower incisors I think - the ones next to the middle teeth that have been overdue to come in for almost a year!) Along with teething, or maybe because of it, he's got a killer diaper rash that is made worse because he's pooping 5 or 6 times a day. He comes running to me after he poops crying "boo-boo, boo-boo!", so I know it hurts so bad. I have been giving him baths to let him sit in the warm water and covering it with diaper cream, but haven't been able to stop it yet.

So - it's been an eventful week for the family in Ellicott City! Wish us luck!

Maybe it's time for Hines Ward to retire?

Well, believe it or not, this is Danny in an actual cast at 9:45pm Tuesday night. First day at school - fell off a pole at the playground. They sent him home with a bandaid since he didn't have any scratches....but after a 2 hour nap in the car while I carpooled around, he was in such pain from his "boo-boo" I took him to the Urgent Care center and - voila! - he has two buckle fractures in the distal radius and ulna (forearm bones). Unbelievable! We call the orthopedic guy tomorrow to get a real cast to replace this fiberglass one he got for tonight. Maybe football isn't his gig?