I could just eat 'em up!

They keep us in stitches with the things that come out of their mouths! All kids have their cute little things they say. In fact, my friend Meredith’s post about the things her son says inspired me to make my little list. Kyle can say almost anything Barrett can say and tries to, so they share a lot of phrases, but there are a few that are characteristically either “Barrett” or “Kyle” sayings.

Barrett has quite the country accent. I don’t know where he gets this. I think I speak well… The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain…yup, I talk good! I blame my husband.
Barrett says:
“I need Hayelp” – I need help
“I lib in Farbersbeel, Taysus” – I live in Farmersville, Texas
“Look at wut I beelt” – Look at what I built
“Baffuses for two boys” – this means he wants Kyle to take a bath with him

Kyle and Barrett whispering secrets at the Onion Shed in "Farbersbeel"

Kyle loves saying the word “bumblebee” with extreme emphasis on the “b” sounds. I have to admit it is kinda fun to say that way. And he sounds so cute saying it!
Kyle also says:
“Uh oh, daddy-O!” – he loves saying this over and over. I, of course, think he’s a genius for making up a rhyme at 18 months!
“Riiiee Der!” – means right there and always with much enthusiasm
“apple pie” – means pineapple. He has never had apple pie. Again he puts extreme emphasis on the “p”s.

Both, they get each other going saying:
“Pappadeaux” – they love this word and say it over and over. It does kinda just roll off the tongue and make you smile after you say a few times fast.
“I like trucks, I always will” – they sway and sing this song from a dollar store video they watch at Grandma’s

ETA: thought of another one... "Tay Wamo" - means Tony Romo, as in the Dallas Cowboys QB. They use this to refer to themselves or any man seen wearing a baseball hat backwards. Very funny when we're out in public and they excitedly shout and point at some random passerby.

Trucks and Boats

A Dream Weekend for my two favorite boys! For Memorial weekend, I took the boys to visit a Fire Station before heading to Grandma's and Papa's house.

The boys loved the fire station so much! I think this will be something we will have to repeat. I have to say to the mommies that the Richardson Fire Station #5 is very nice--the firemen, the grounds (there's a duck/fish pond pretty enough for photos!)

Over the weekend, we saw some friends we haven't seen in a while, Jason and Kristi. It was so good to catch up. They went out on the boat with us on one of the outings before we headed over to a lakeside bar and grill for some live music and a little dancing.

Barrett and Kyle both love to ride on the boat. They love to point out all the other boats (and wave runners) they see. Barrett likes to 'drive' so Papa calls him "Captain".

These. are. the. moments.

Kyle jamming to the tunes

Duck. Duck. Goose.

We went to Third Monday Trade Days in McKinney yesterday. What a fun day of looking and walking and buying and tasting. Among other things, we came home with 2 ducklings. Barrett named his duckling “Goose” which is so him. You may recall from a previous post he named a turtle “Mr. Froggie”. Kyle’s duckling is named “Duck Duck”. When they get big enough to survive on their own we will release them into our pond.


Duck Duck and Goose

















Duck, duck, goose?

How you doin'?

What's that? You love the way babies' heads smell? Oh, you must be getting a whiff of my pineapple juice hair gel I used after breakfast! It's my own creation. I simply eat all the pineapple in the bowl, then pour the remaining juice on my hair and rub it in really good. I find it helps me pick up the ladies...I mean it makes the ladies pick me up. Except mom, I don't think she likes pineapple. Maybe she would prefer maple syrup. I'll try that and let you know how it goes.

FORT

I just found this going through stuff I need to print. love that booty sticking out (and the little boy attached to it).

(In my best Wolf Brand Chili voice) Neighbor, how long has it been since you built a fort in your living room with your kids? dramatic pause. Well that's too long.

It's been too long for me too.

Mother's Day Mini Session with MY kids!!

It's what I wanted for Mother's Day! To get some time to photograph my own kids. I must have wanted the same thing last year because this is the Second Annual Starr Family Mother's Day Mini Session! That makes it a tradition! We went downtown for these...Our town has so many cool old buildings. Kyle wasn't feeling love for the camera today. Barrett however was being his typical self - ham.

Yes, that would

be the air guitar.

Happy Mother's Day!!

We, the men of your life (Kyle, Barrett, and your husband Cody), interupt this regularly scheduled blog for a special Happy Mother's Day edition of The Little Things.

Since today is Mother's Day, your day, we need to thank you for all the wonderful things you do for us and for the special mommy that you are. Since it's your day off we felt it was necessary to Shanghai your blog for the day and handle the laborious task of blogging.

Since the boys are dying to type I had better hand over the keyboard to them and let them have their say... I love you. Cody

Mommy,

We love you so much and appreciate everything you do. Since you love lists we thought it would be appropriate to give you a top ten list of reasons why you are the best mommy in the world.

Barrett and Kyle's Top Ten List of Why Mommy is the Greatest

10. You capture all the little moments of our life through words and your wonderful photos!
9. Your awesome dance moves that you show us when we dance in the kitchen
8. You teach us right from wrong and the coolest game ever - The Cleanup Game.
7. Your hugs and kisses make our boo-boos better (and we sure have A LOT of them!)
6. You're smart (you married daddy didn't you? ;) )
5. Two words - 'Fruit Mommy!'
4. For reading us bedtime stories (even if it is the same book you've read 1000 times)
3. For teaching us how to cook.. er.. or are you teaching us how to 'wear' food?
2. Your tickles make us bust a gut laughing!
1. Your unending love, patience, and care are what us growing boys need!

We love you Mommy,

Barrett and Kyle

Lists...I love 'em!

I love lists. If you look back at the humble beginnings of this blog you’ll find a few lists in lieu of journaling. I have been known to make lists of lists I want to make. I have typical lists like grocery lists and to-do lists. But I also have lists titled:
Baby Names
Traditions
Party Ideas
Favorite Quotes
Things For Which I Am Grateful
Scrapbook Ideas
Things I Want to Do With My Kids While They’re Still Kids
Blog Topics
Photos I Want to Take
Books I Want to Read
Songs I Want on My Ipod

And on and on. Some are mental lists. Some are written. Lists are definitely on my Happy List!

I have been working on one of the aforementioned lists recently--The Things I Want to Do with My Kids While They’re Still Kids List. A magazine article in an in-flight magazine got me started. I tossed out many of those, but kept a few and kept the basic premise and began to add some ideas of my own. Some are little things, some are big. Here’s the list I have come up with so far in no particular order.

1. Make a time capsule and bury it—put in things like photos, newspaper, mix cd, letter to future selves, etc.
2. Volunteer
3. Go puddle jumping
4. Visit some of the classic Pro Baseball stadiums & see games—Wrigley, Fenway, Yankee
5. Track heights on door jamb
6. Camp out in the backyard
7. Go fishing
8. Make snow angels/snowman
9. Read chapter books at bedtime (kid classics)
10. Let the kids help make breakfast on Mother’s/Father’s Day
11. Swim with the dolphins (discoverycove.com)
12. See a drive-in movie
13. Roll down a hill
14. Bottle up lightning bugs
15. Go to DisneyWorld
16. Plant a garden
17. Build a giant sandcastle
18. Stargazing
19. Tour Museums—Art and Science
20. Send out a message in a bottle
21. Jump in a leaf pile
22. Play in a fountain fully clothed while onlookers gasp
23. Cut our own real Christmas tree

This list probably says a lot about my parenting style and values. Most of them are pretty simple things, but in the hustle and bustle of today's super busy kid, I want to make sure they don't miss out on these things if they want to do them.

I would love to hear your ideas for additions to this list--please share!!

My Bowl Runneth Over

It’s been raining all morning and I have a ton of work to do but the boys made pancakes this morning! And what a mess it was but I enjoyed every second of it. There was batter dripping down the cabinets, in Barrett’s hair thanks to Kyle, and all over Daddy’s chair (which the boys used to stand on – hehe!) It would have been much easier and quicker and neater to just make the pancakes myself, but I wouldn’t have had this precious time with my guys. They loved wearing the aprons Gigi got them and they even insisted on doing the dishes (read: playing with water in the sink) after they stirred the batter!
Last week, Barrett made meatloaf…well, he stirred it, pat it and marked it with a B. I put it in the oven. He was so excited that we were putting crushed Fritos in it that they ended up going all over the place. No worries. I am finding that my little sous-chefs make cooking much more fun. And yet this is time together that I don’t feel is wasted even though we didn’t drive across town to the zoo. As they get older, I look forward to the conversations we will have while belly-up to the counter or kitchen sink.
I wouldn’t change a thing about this imperfect perfect morning!

Mi computadora esta estupido

It thinks I speak spanish! Sometimes. Usually it waits until I’m into something way over my head, installing new software, or trying to change some setting in some menu I have no business being anywhere near-THEN, it whips out the Espanol! And before I know it I am saying Si and Acceptar and Finalizar to who knows what! As if computer problems weren’t frustrating enough - I have to deal with them in Spanish!?! Am I on Candid Camera?

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Okay, so we had our little fiesta on Tres de Mayo, so what! We were just happy to have an excuse to have fajitas and margaritas with some amigos! Heather, Chris, Blake and baby Emma came over and we hung out on the porch while the kids played on the playset. Good times...

Kyle wanted some of the veggies he saw daddy chopping. Even the onions! He actually ate them raw and liked them!