Just

the

two of us!

Quote: Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com

We planted a garden last summer, and while it looked promising for a good long time, ultimately, it failed. I think we got one pepper. And a few small tomatoes. But our corn never materialized. And cucumbers never surfaced. And. Wait. We had sunflowers. Yes, sunflowers.

We’re trying again this year. Actually, we are not trying. Joey is. He’s done it all — prepped the soil, dug little trenches for seeds, sprinkled them into the dirt, covered them, mulched walkways between rows, labeled and placed sticks near their respective fruits and veggies, and now, we wait. and water. and wait. and hope like heck that small animals and bugs don’t tear the whole thing apart, because Joey will just be overjoyed if his garden grows. And so will his great grandma, all the way up in Heaven, probably wearing her own straw gardening hat and admiring the work of the boy she knew for only two years.

]]> http://bravingboys.org/2010/04/10/boy-plants-a-garden/feed/ 1 http://bravingboys.org/2010/02/26/things-we-do/ http://bravingboys.org/2010/02/26/things-we-do/#comments Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:33:13 +0000 Jacki http://bravingboys.org/?p=1007

We hike, we hang, we are one with nature

and the cell phone

Nutty for Nintendo DS

I’m thinking we might not actually speak to Joey and Danny all day today. Why? Because they each got their very own Nintendo DS, and they are completely plugged in. They are lost, gone, totally tuned out.

All year long, they’ve wanted these gadgets — they’ve been pretty sure they were the only boys in the world without them, actually — and while we went back and forth and at one time even vowed we would definitely. not. buy. them. (because once they get something electronic, it’s nearly impossible for their minds to focus elsewhere), we bit the bullet and bought them. We even plan to let them play their hearts out for a day or so (it is Christmas, after all). Then we’ll set some limits. We won’t tell them that today, though, because, honestly, I don’t even think they are capable of hearing right now.

Merry Christmas, Joey and Danny — and to all you loyal readers, too!

Reindeer Boys, 2009

You haven’t been to a holiday cookie decorating party until you’ve been to the one our neighbors throw each year. WOW! They go all out. Kids get to write their names on hand-made jingle bell name tags, they each get a box filled with plain sugar cookies, gingerbread men and red, green and white individually-packaged frosting with stick for spreading. On the festive tables set up in our neighborhood clubhouse are more tools for sprucing up cookies — sprinkles, red hots, candies, tubes of gel for writing and more — oh, pretzels, too, because, of course, you’ve got to have something salty with your sweets (and let me tell you, pretzels dipped in frosting is mighty good). The kiddos are also served drinks (coffee and water for parents), and can hang out at coloring tables, too — that’s where the reindeer glasses were found by my two guys, pictured above. And their two cousins, pictured below.

Reindeer Girls, 2009

Aren’t they cute? And aren’t our neighbors so kind to put forth such effort for the little people in their lives? We think so — and we are so thankful to have been invited. Thanks Jenn, Glenn, grandparents and everyone else who makes this annual extravaganza happen.

Happy Holidays 2009!

I love Christmas. Really, I do. I mean, I’ve strung white snowflake twinkly lights and red bows on the front of our house and fashioned a pretty festive tree in our living room. Santas, stockings, a light-up little holiday house and all sorts of seasonal trinkets are scattered here, there and everywhere. My gifts are bought (and wrapped) and I’m even planning to donate blankets to a homeless shelter this year. What I won’t be doing this fine December: Mailing out holiday cards. I know I’ve done it for something like eight years, and yes, it’s kind of a tradition and all, but I’m opting out this time around. For those of you who are crushed that you won’t be receiving a glossy update of Joey and Danny, I apologize, and I offer you this digital version of my 2009 guys. Want more? There’s plenty of family moments captured on this blog (and this one, too).

Go ahead, call me lame, cheap, bah humbug, whatever. Just don’t call me a party pooper, because I really do wish you the grandest holiday ever. I’m just not dumping a lot of cash into prints, envelopes and stamps (I’m unemployed, remember!) so that the majority of you can toss the greeting in the trash (come on, you know you do!). I’m also not wrangling my kiddos into the perfect pose (this one took one point and click) and spending hours prepping a mass mailing. I’m just not. And I’m totally OK with it — I don’t actually feel like a slacker at all, which is quite an accomplishment for a Type A girl.

If you’re not convinced this is the way to spread cheer, think about it this way: No clutter on your kitchen counter, and you can come back and look at this pic whenever you want. Well, that’s my take on it, anyway.

Oh, and how can you not like the sight of two patriotic boys who proudly sport their Marine shirts whenever they get the chance?

Out-of-the-bag werewolves

I really don’t like Halloween costumes in bags. You know, those see-through packages stuffed with cheap bits of clothing and ultra hot and steamy rubber-y masks that no kid in his right mind could stand to wear for more than, like, two minutes.

What did my kids want more than anything this year?

Werewolf costumes.

In bags.

After a few attempts at talking them out of the bagged creatures, I caved and shelled out a small fortune on what ended up shedding all over my living room floor. Before our store exit, though, (envisioning a total change of plans for these get-ups), I picked up some fangs and a few tubes of make-up so I could transform their faces into masterpieces. I even bought brown hairspray for styling their locks in just the right messy manner. A perfect compromise: Joey and Danny could sport their el-cheapo (yet expensive) shirts with fake chest hair, and I’d have my creative way with their heads.

Did things pan out like I’d hoped?

Not at first.

See photo above.

Homemade vampire

But then a funny thing happened. Before Joey even said his first “trick or treat,” his mask got him all hot and bothered. So he and I made a mad dash back home, and we turned him into last year’s vampire.

See photo to the left.

Danny, however, apparently not in his right mind, made it to the bitter end in his furry contraption.

I’m not sure how things will unfold next year. I’m pretty sure I’ve got Joey on my side — no costumes in bags! — but Danny could very well present a challenge. Maybe I’ll start working on him now. I’ll remind him of what a hit he was a few years ago as a Home Depot guy (tool belt, orange apron, name tag and all). He also makes a super cute pirate and, well, I happen to think a vampire never goes out of style. If he totally balks at my nudges, I guess I can be OK with a bagged costume and mask. Just one condition: It must be a werewolf.

Model Material

Someone told me recently that Joey and Danny should be models. I don’t remember who it was, but I think it was a female person, perhaps commenting on a Facebook photo or something. I promise I’m not making this up, just so I can brag about my boys and how cute I think they are.

I was flattered by the modeling compliment, but since I have no idea who paid it (chemo brain), I can’t say I really let it sink in too much. But now that I see these guys posing for the staged shot to the right (they were showcasing some breast cancer gear for another post), maybe they could make it in the world of posing. Well, except that 8-year-old Joey, although very dramatic and animated, claims he’s too shy to get up in front of people, and 6-year-old Danny has a tendency to roll one eye and goof every chance he gets. Yea, maybe modeling isn’t in the cards.

But I do appreceiate the vote of confidence, from whoever it was who sent it my way.

Joey Drama

]]> http://bravingboys.org/2009/09/11/modeling-boys/feed/ 1 http://bravingboys.org/2009/08/24/back-to-school-boys/ http://bravingboys.org/2009/08/24/back-to-school-boys/#comments Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:36:11 +0000 Jacki http://bravingboys.org/?p=371

Danny, First Grade

Joey, Third Grade

No playing at the table, we tell our boys. Mealtime is for eating, good manners and calm behavior. We’ve been saying it for years — still, we’re not quite sure Joey and Danny get what we’re saying. Case in point: This morning.

Does it count as playing if the toy just simply sits on the head during breakfast?