The Stuffed Animal Brigade

Caroline's crib is entirely covered in stuffed animals, but she is fairly selective in what she brings out with her when she gets up, choosing one or two toys per day.  The boys, on the other hand, have an ever-growing collection that must come with them in its entirety each time they emerge from bed.  

Daniel's entourage includes (again, I apologize for our lack of creativity in the name department): Monkey, Carrot, Horsie, Mickey Mouse, and Ribbit the pink frog.

Daniel

 Max's menagerie is: Puppy, Broccoli, Horsie, Goofy, and Pink Monkey

Max

Earlier this month, I went to a baby shower for my friend Sam.  I had forgotten to hide the wrapped gift when the kids came out to play and Caroline instantly decided the present was for her.  I told her, no, it was for Sam.

"Remember Junior?"
"Oh, Junior"
"Remember Junior's mommy, Sam?"
"Junior mommy Sam"
"Junior's mommy Sam has a baby in her tummy"
"Oh! Junior mommy Sam baby tummy"
"Yes, and that present is for the baby"
"My present"

There was no reasoning with her, obviously.  So, I snuck some stuffed animals from the bin in the living room into the back of the house, pulled out some gift bags, and put them in.  Then I noticed the cool hats my friend Jill had gotten them for their birthday, but it had been too warm for them to wear.  So I tossed those in the bags too.  The kids were ecstatic to get their presents and, hilariously, were thrilled with the same stuffed animals they've had for months (Caroline added "kitty" to the group in her crib), or in some cases, for YEARS.

And they loved their new hats:

Monster Max (and Puppy)

Doggy Daniel offers his paci

Caroline took a picture in her fancy, purple owl hat, but it somehow deleted itself from my phone.  This past weekend, Grandpa brought them some new teddy bears that have joined the group, though Daniel has decided his teddy (yes, they are all named "Teddybear") should sleep in Caroline's bed and just visit him while he's awake.

Max

Caroline's Teddybear has "pink tights!"

Daniel's Teddybear is dancing

Here they all lined up in the kids' high chairs to say hello

In other news:  Last week, I had a bunch of late nights.  During one of them, while the boys were playing ball with Daddy in the dining room, Daniel decided the most fun would be to hide out in the plastic tub, while Max decided to line up all the balls to wait for their turn.