To celebrate our 10th anniversary, my family watched the boys for two weeks while Justin and I spent the time in Bali, Indonesia.

How could you not love a place that is tropical year-round? We booked the trip when Chicago was still as cold as ice, and we just wanted a place to be warm. Well, we got it! Even though we arrived during Bali's winter (no mangos or avocados could be found on the island), the weather was wonderful and reminiscent of the days we lived in Florida.

We met some fantastic Balanese as well as others from around the world; we learned to appreciate air conditioning and mosquito-free accomodations; and we were amazed at the number of motor bikes on the road that carried families of four! We couldn't get enough of the ladies on the beach who peeled pineapples in minutes and without touching the fruit; how the adolescent boys came out of the woodwork at sunset to play soccer on the sand; how DVDs and CDs are readily-available for 70 cents/each; and how everyone's smile is as bright and usually filed (a Hindu tradition) as can be!

If we could spare an extra 40 hours for the round-trip flight, we'd be there again in a heart-beat! ---SM

Born a cowboy,
Grant rocked his horse sooner than he could balance on the toy.

For months he had ridden into the stationary sunset
While Kellen hadn't dreamt of his own saddle-up yet.

Whenever Grant strode toward the pasture,
Kellen headed in the other direction, much faster.

Whenever Grant went for a ride,
Kellen would stop mid-stride

To watch, with those blue orbs, mesmerized,
While his brother galloped and giggled---not the least bit terrorized

By the stuffed beast that sounded off with a whinny and neigh
"This," thought Kellen, "is not mere horseplay."

And so he took his time, without accepting a single suggestion
To mount, even a tame horse, with his mother's protection.

But Yesterday!
Yesterday was a momentous day.

Yesterday the range celebrated a conversion
Finding a new rider who shouted, "yee-haw," only in baby version.

And the moral of this horse tale of course is:
Never rush to a good thing; just hold your horses!---SM

I love watching the boys bite things like cereal bars, banannas, and other soft items. They seem like big boys already! ---SM

"Out, out, out, out, out," says Kellen. ---SM

Grant's new favorite toy gets him boogy-ing to the alphabet. --JM

After too many months without "green," Chicago has finally invited spring to stay in the past few weeks. I have been so excited about the notion, that I added some very cheesy, but colorful and "springy," butterflies to the slide show below! (Justin preferred the butterflies go away, but you know, I'm the poster around here.)---SM

Grant is beginning to take an interest in walking a little bit more these days. He manages about two steps on his own, but he sure has a lot of fun letting me trail him around! ---SM

We are involved in some ordinary tasks today: laundry, eating, sleeping, the usual, yet a few moments have already stood out above the rest:

1. The boys have realized their nursery armoire is perfect in so many ways: it facilitates their need to "open, close" "open, close" doors, and it makes for the perfect hiding spot among all of the clean, folded blankets.



2. Stair climbing. It's always a competition. Who will beat who up the stairs? Grant won today.




2. Grant woke up first from his nap, so he ate lunch first today. Regardless of his full belly, he turned into a scavenger as soon as Kellen sat down to eat in the high chair. Grant would steal a few morsels from Kellen's tray, then, like a little fox, he'd lay down beneath the tray and chew his mouthful before coming up for more.




3. Kellen's bi-ped cruising is so funny to watch. He rarely walks without something in his hands or mouth and he will only crawl if he falls. Then, he's right back up on his feet again. ---SM