Laraway Family

This is heard so many times throughout the day from Anthony. He LOVES Starks and has been bitten by the same bug as I that results into almost an addiction. We have to kiss him- make him know how much we love him. We have to kiss him all day. It's just those lips that are asking for it! So, Anthony got down from eating dinner (he must've seen Starks make a cute face) and had to kiss him at that moment. Then Anthony said, "He's the cutest baby in town!"

Also, yesterday we spent some time with neighbors Lena, Brianna, Jacquie, and Fabry here at the house decorating a gingerbread house and eating homemade pumpkin roll! Yahoo!!! (Or, should I say, Google!!!) It was a lot of fun. Here they are:

Randy went in to say goodnight and give kisses to the boys. Chas asked Randy to restart the Christmas music. This led Randy to say he would write a letter to Santa telling him that they are great boys. Anthony asked, "Can you do that right now?" Randy replied, "Yes. I will. And, I'll have your Mom mail it tomorrow." Anthony adds, "She's good at sewing, too." Randy agreed, "Yes, she's good at everything." Anthony declared, "You're right!"

Too cute! During prayers, the boys still remember to pray for the victims of hurricane Katrina and hurricane Rita. We also pray for all of the children in the world- especially those in Africa and India who are starving. Chas says after prayers and obvious reflection, "I love you, Mommy, for giving us food." I replied, "And I love Daddy for working so we have food to give you!"

Anthony says to me this morning, "Mommy, I wish it was Mother's Day." When I asked why, he replied, "Because then Daddy and me could surprise you with breakfast. We'd make pancakes with honey... and sugar... and syrup... and powder (sugar)." That boy is often times thinking of others. What a sweet little man.

That said, Thanksgiving was great! We spent the night before at a friend's house for dinner, and we luckily were sent home with ALL of the leftovers!!! Wow! We then spent Thanksgiving Day at home relaxing, playing outside, washing the car, watching the parade, putting up Daddy's train under the tree, and enjoying our family. Very nice, indeed. I didn't have to prepare one thing for dinner- or lunch for that matter! :)

After burning a small fire in the fireplace on Friday, we did venture out for lunch and a little shopping. Juicy Burger is the best rival to FatBurger here, and they are tasting burgers. Russ did some Christmas shopping for the boys after lunch and during naps. He LOVES it!!

The boys today are getting haircuts, and we'll be taking their Christmas pictures for our cards tonight hopefully! I can't wait. I absolutely LOVE this time of the year, and I have found it so much easier to enjoy and celebrate the spirit while being home and not working. I felt too rushed and had to fit so much in to my days off and time that it went just too quickly last year. Thank God for these MANY blessings.

Starks is 5 months, and he weighs 11# 4 ounces as of last week. His medication was changed for reflux as his liver enzymes were up a little again. Pray for him. They are stressing me (GI Dr's) and are talking about an upper GI scope into the small bowel, another US of the abdomen, and a liver biopsy. I believe I just will have the repeat liver tests done and will pray about where to go from there depending on if they come down or not. Other than that, he's rolling all over the place, loves to be on his belly, sits with his hands down, and talks ALL of the time. Very happy little guy.

Anthony is reading. Chas is reading. What the? That's right, Chas is reading. He opened the closet and read "Taboo" off the game box! Crazy. Anthony reads all he can throughout the day "in our world" as he would put it. What a wonderful new found freedom. How exciting. Anthony also tied his shoes a couple of weeks ago. He's growing up. We knew it would happen, though... no one to blame!

Anthony will also be having his birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese in Deptford, NJ while we visit family. We'll be in the area from Dec. 31st- Jan 8th. Hope to see all of you there!

Anthony was telling his usual story about "Fanthony and Maby Mazz" tonight before prayers. "Once upon a time there were two little boys named Fanthony and Maby Mazz." Chas interrupts. "No, Anthony, 3 little boys." Anthony replies, "No, two." Chas- "No 3." Anthony insists, "No, 2! Starks is still a baby and can't walk and I don't want to carry him all the time!" Anthony continues and gets to a part about 100 dragons. Fanthony takes out "his sword... NO! 100 swords." Chas interrupts, "No, Anthony just ONE." Anthony says, "100 swords." Chas says louder, "No, Anthony just ONE sword." I interrupt and tell Chas he can make the story however he wants when it's his turn. Anthony continues his story, and Chas says, "I was talking to HIM, Mommy, not you."

Halloween was spent at Paramount's Great America the Saturday before- just to start. They had "Nick or Treat" with the characters from various shows posing for pics and passing out candy. The boys loved being in costume, getting attention, and of course, riding rides! Chas made it on the 40" rides, and Anthony's one step further on the 44" rides. Too cool! Then, Halloween was started with a Halloween breakfast. Then, we headed to a Mom's house in our group. She had the deluxe version of our old swing set, a netted trampoline, and a moon bounce. I made some "mummies" for the kids, and there were lots of baked treats, too. You think they had fun?! Then, we headed to Google just before 1pm. Their party was from 2-5, and they SO do a party right! The boys went around to everyone's desk in Daddy's AdSense office and got candy. Then, we went to the main building for crafts, a moonbounce type maze, food, music, pumpkin decorating, and so many costumes! Again, they had a ball, and they loved missing their naptime for such activity! When we arrived home around 6pm, they ate a quick dinner and passed out candy to the visiting neighbors in costume. Anthony felt so good to make others happy by giving them candy. There was a frenzy of activity when the doorbell rang, and then they passed out 2 handfuls of candy to each trick-or-treater. Anthony vowed to share his own candy should we run out. He LOVED it! What a great day!

"What if Starks was in my hiney... I pooped him in the toilet... and then I flushed him?"

Anthony "out of the blue": You know what, Mommy? If I had a genie and got three wishes, I'd wish I was an astronaut, I had a rocket ship, and I was in space. Those would be my three.