Lisa n Tom (n James n Joseph)

Lisa writes: Every once in a while Google Photos will send me something to torture me, like this "then and now" collage. Look that those cheeks! That hair! And how very, very tired Tom was.    Also, I'm pretty sure this is the only souvenir  Hoboken shirt in the world.

Lisa writes: James's new tricks, age 4: Cocking his head to one side and saying, "Seriously?" Starting, stopping, pausing, and checking the remaining playtime of Netflix shows and DVDs. Carrying Joseph (19 lbs) around under the arms. Riding a tricycle. Riding a little-kid-sized Razor scooter. Clearing his plate from the table. Singing "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree," but deliberately changing all the words. Joseph's new tricks, a couple days shy of 18 months: Answering "What does a dinosaur say?" with "Rahhh." Eating with a spoon. Sort of. Sitting on the potty. Climbing up on everything, and then standing up ... and then sometimes falling off. Riding his giraffe scooter. Saying, "What is that?" Handing us things he needs help with, instead of just sitting there screaming. (Although screaming still happens. See next point...) Having temper tantrums. When frustrated, he will scream, pause a few seconds ...

Lisa writes: Miss Sandy texted me this picture of Joseph with a note that she thought he might be sick; he had red cheeks (cachetes). Turns out he was just overheated, but I think this picture looks like a Vermeer.

Lisa writes: This was a surprise. I found him like this when I picked up the boys at Miss Sandy's house. Apparently she's been trying this for a few days. He hasn't actually produced anything, but she's optimistic. I'm not getting my hopes up either way -- it took his brother TWO AND A HALF YEARS to be potty trained. (And, yes, I am going to bring that up at his wedding reception.)

Lisa writes: Our Saturday schedule for the next few weeks: Sleep in a little (never enough, THANKS JOSEPH), breakfast, swim lessons, drive straight to soccer practice, go shopping. Joseph is extremely into that hanger, and James is barely into that cart.

James writes: For James's first birthday, my mom was in town and we took him to the zoo. For his second birthday, she was in town again, so we took him to the zoo again. Repeat for third. This year, my parents were in town, but it was FREEZING. We hit Chuck E. Cheese, where he won 583 tickets that he redeemed for seven tiny plastic snakes and two Tootsie Rolls, but it just wasn't the same. So when it warmed up today, we headed to the zoo. For the first time, James had a very specific itinerary: elephants, tigers, cheetahs. He begrudgingly allowed us to make a side-trip to see the pandas, but was very vocal the whole time that we were REALLY supposed to be going to see the elephants and we would DEFINITELY be going to the elephants next. They had this big cast of a T-Rex skull along with an explanatory plaque about how all the dinosaurs are dead. That seems a little gloat-y to me. Like, hey, we have live animals and, you know the one kind of animal you wish you could see ...

Too loud, too much food, would totally do it again. Pro Tip: Handicap parking hang tag works like a charm at the Lincoln Memorial. My mom took a thousand pictures and they all basically look like this.

Lisa writes: I made a cake for James's 4th birthday. I sincerely believe this to be the world's most ferocious confection.

Lisa writes: Easter Sunday. We attended Mass at the local fire station. It's the overflow location for the many Catholics who only make it out at Christmas and Easter. We like the novelty of having church in the same building as fire trucks. James talks about it for weeks afterward.  That little book Joseph is reading with such enthusiasm in his carseat? He totally stole that from another little kid and then, by cleverly SCREAMING HIS HEAD OFF IN A CROWD OF PEOPLE, managed to convince the kid's parent to say, "Don't worry about it; he can keep it." And he did. Babies would get away with murder if they only had a little more strength and coordination. We had Tom's family over for Easter lunch. Ham, scalloped potatoes, and an egg hunt. Tom cousin Julia also brought her roommate. It was the first egg hunt for both her and Joseph. I think she had a better grasp of the concept that he did.