Dear Boys,
For weeks leading up to your birthday party we asked you Benjamin, what kind of party you were going to have to which you would reply "Choo Choo!" in an excited tone of voice. Well, the day finally came and we had your choo choo party! You were so excited all day that you barely ate any of your food. You each had your own Chuggington shirt with your name and age on it. Mommy had purchased these shirts online and they were very cool!
Mommy and Daddy left you both with Grandma while we went to set up the VFW for your party, we also had Mommy's baby shower for you here Benjamin! This was a big day for you Ben because the day of the party was actually your birthday and you turned the big 2! Well, fine maybe that doesn't work as well when there is only one digit in your age, but this was a huge thing for Mommy and Daddy because we remember when we tried to so hard to have you, and now you're here and telling "No" to the request you clean up your toys.
So the terrible two's are upon us. Daddy hopes that maybe these two's won't be as terrible because once you turn three Benjamin, Jonathan you will be turning two so it will be like the Terrible Two's are endless! But, when the two of you finally arrived to your party Benjamin you ran right to the cake. You wanted to take the trains off of the cake and cried "Choo Choo!" when we took you away from the cake.
Before the two of you arrived though Daddy was getting worried that the cake wouldn't. The person who made the cake brought it late and it got down to the wire, but the cake arrived and thankfully it looked good enough to pass for your Chuggington cake. Chuggington was a hard theme to plan around this year because it hasn't really hit big yet as it has overseas. Grandpa Kevin actually had to buy some of the supplies online so we could have some related items!
We had cupcakes with a Chuggington picture on each one, and ten had your name Jonathan, and the other ten had Benjamin's name on them. We also had Domino's pizza! Jonathan, you're not big enough to have pizza yet so you enjoyed some of your baby fruit and you had chocolate milk for the first time! We also set up a play area with a small ball pit that Mommy and Daddy got from Toys R Us. You both had a blast inside of this and maybe some day soon we will set it up in the living room for a little while... maybe. You both had a lot of presents too! Our home is starting to look like the inside of a toy store! Where are we going to find the time for you both to play with all of these things? Daddy is sure that somewhere in the basement there might still be some toys you got for Christmas! You're both very spoiled, but as long as we can provide you with these things, then we will.
Everyone sang "Happy Birthday" twice, once to each of you. Next year however we'll have to find a way to combine both of your names into the song and have you both near the cake when this is happening. When we sang to Jonathan, Benjamin you were in that ball pit! We cut the cake, and only ended up eating the top of it. We still had the entire bottom of the cake, and it lasted for days before being thrown away. We won't focus on the waste of money factor, just that you had your Chuggington cake and even though it was late, it worked. After the party we came back home and sorted through all of your new toys and clothes. Later on we watched Alvin and the Chipmunks the movie, and Jonathan you laughed like it was the funniest movie you have ever seen.
Now both of your birthdays are over and Jonathan you're no longer a little baby, and Benjamin you're already doing big boy things, just tonight Daddy was pretending to sleep on the couch and you came over and poked me and whispered "Dada", it melted my heart! We have another big day coming up, and right now you're both fast asleep in your room. Next year the two of you will be running all over the place, and Mommy has said that you Benjamin get to pick the theme. We'll see how that turns out, but right now if things don't change we might have another "Choo Choo" party. My little boys aren't babies anymore...
NOT Coming Down With Baby Fever,
Dad.
Jonathan,
You recently had your first birthday! Daddy can't believe how fast this year has gone by. It really makes Daddy think that he has to stop and take some time to just live in the moment and not worry so much about things beyond his control. You're already a year old and Daddy can't even think of where the time went. In a few short days your big brother will be two, and before you know it the two of you will be heading off to school! So, we started to celebrate your birthday as soon as you got up. We gave you a birthday present, and Benjamin got one too so he wouldn't feel left out. Benjamin ripped open his as fast as he could and couldn't stop saying how "cool" he thought the new Cars bed set was. Jonathan, you opened up a school bus toy that Benjamin soon wanted to take over as well. Sharing is caring.
Grandma was going to make a cake for you for later on for your first birthday celebration, but her oven didn't work. Daddy took over though and was able to make a nice chocolate cake for you! Making a cake isn't as hard as it seems though, and this cake was just as good as any other so it worked out just fine in the end. While the cake was cooling off after Daddy took it out of the oven we went out to Target to pick up some last minute things.
Once we came home it was nap time for the babies and shortly after Uncle Brian and Auntie Amanda came over with Cole to start the celebrating early! Every one else started showing up to see you on your special day and you were able to open some more gifts, and then we had some cake! Grandma picked you up a small cake for yourself and we all sang "Happy Birthday" to you as you tried to grab the lit candle. My crazy little peanut did not like this cake, probably because it was too cold from being in the fridge, so you had some of Daddy's chocolate cake. It was a huge hit with everyone! Just ask anyone who had multiple pieces. It was so good that some couldn't even keep it on their plates! You had some and made a big mess out of it, and it reminded Daddy of Benjamin's first birthday party when he had chocolate cake all over his face.
Jonathan, you are a year older now. My little guy is getting bigger and might even be bigger than his big brother soon. The good news is we don't have to buy formula anymore because now you can have milk! You have to take the good with the bad, so while you might not be my little tiny baby anymore, we will save some money in the process! In a few days we will be celebrating your birthday again, but this time we will be celebrating Benjamin's as well. Then we will have a big party for the two of you with balloons and Chuggington banners! Benjamin would call it a "Choo choo" party! It's going to be great!
So Daddy guesses it's only a matter of time now before you start walking and running all over the house. You're going to be running side by side with Benjamin and both of you are going to be giving Mommy and Daddy a run for their money. Anything that is not nailed down or held down my something else is in trouble! The future tag team champs will be in full force once you discover you know how to walk Jonathan. You already stand still without any assistance. This was a very fast year. It feels like just yesterday we were discovering you would be joining us, and Daddy had picked your name because of a certain actor that he loves. But, no matter how big you get, or how old you are, you will always be my crazy little peanut!
Love Always,
Dad
Boys,
It only seemed appropriate to write to you about the movie we have now literally watched over ten times. Rio, a movie about a blue macaw named Blu, who is taken to Rio de Janeiro to try and mate with another macaw named Jewel. They get birdnapped and then the adventure begins! And, Daddy could literally tell you everything there is to know about this movie down to every last line. At first boys you both watched "Cars" and then one night Daddy put this in the Blu-ray player and it's been Rio ever since, or as Benjamin calls it "Blu". Benjamin, you even know right where to go in the dvd rack to find the movie!
Jonathan you love the movie just as much, if not more then Benjamin does. There are certain parts of the movie that just make you smile and crack up. You like the two birds Nico and Pedro. You like Pedro more and whenever he sings you crack on up. Mommy and Daddy even call you the "Samba Master" because of how much you laugh when he sings that he's the Samba Master. You even like the part where the bad bird Nigel sings about why he's such a bad guy!
The first night we watched Rio Daddy knew that this would probably be a movie we would watch over and over again because as soon as it was over, Benjamin, you ran around the house repeating "Blu flew" over and over again. You have a toy that we must have got from McDonalds of Blu on a skateboard. Then Daddy went out and bought you both two stuffed animals of Pedro and Blu. Benjamin you haven't taken a liking to yours yet, which is fine with Jonathan because he loves them both!
Daddy is sure we will watch the movie until it wears out or the disc breaks, then it will be back to the store to buy it again. The good thing is this movie keeps you both calm and occupied, and you both love it very much. So for now we will keep watching Rio, or "Blu" until something else comes along and captures your attention like this movie has done. Daddy is thinking something along the lines of Pirates of the Caribbean (when you're both much much older), but that's just wishful thinking.
Love Always,
Dad
Boys,
Today was Labor Day and both Mommy and Daddy had the day off from work! Daddy decided yesterday that we should have a cook out today and invite members of our family over to enjoy one of the last days of summer. Daddy doesn't enjoy summer very much, so while some are sad that it is ending in a few weeks, Daddy is excited! Fall is almost here! The best season of the year! But, that is not what this letter is about! Today started off with Mommy taking you Ben out to the store to pick up some last minute things. Jonathan you stood home with Dad and had your bottle before taking a nice (overdue) nap. It wasn't long after you and Mommy came home Ben, that the rest of the special visitors started showing up. Uncle Steve and Auntie Sam showed up first, then everyone else started showing up as well.
We had hamburgers, Italian sausage, hot dogs, corn on the cob, and linguica patties. Mommy at first gave Daddy a hard time for cooking all the hamburgers at once, but they didn't last very long and in no time they were all gone! Nana and Grandpa brought over some chips and soda, Grandma brought over some home grown tomatoes and cucumbers, Auntie Cyndi brought over some paper plates, and Auntie Sam made a nice delicious cake/pudding trifile! Everybody took part in making this day very special for all of us. It was nice to have our loved ones over and even better that the day went without any drama!
Auntie Amber showed up with Cousin Jordyn and he was able to join in on the fun too, well as much as he could because he's still a little tiny baby! It's always fun to have him around though as Daddy is sure the three of you are going be close friends growing up together. Jordyn was tired and got to take a nap in your crib Jonathan, he kept it warm for you! Benjamin you took full advantage of being outside, running around the lawn, pretending to do some lawn work, pushing your Car (instead of riding inside of it), and then even trying to run to the street to see the real cars (something you better grow out of!).
Benjamin you even got to play with your older cousin Kali! You chased her around the lawn, and she was one of the lucky people that got to chase you as you tried to make your way down the driveway. Auntie Cyndi and Grandma took the two of you for a walk in your wagon, and Uncle Scott did not want to go along for the walk! You guys both enjoyed the Trifle that Auntie Sam had made... Jonathan you especially as when it was all gone you cried for more! Auntie Sam didn't have a chance to see the two of you eating it as she had to leave early for work.
The two of you got to eat at the awesome picnic table that Grandpa Kevin made. We missed him today, but hopefully we will get to see him one day this week! As things started to slow down and everyone was getting tired the two of you went down for your afternoon naps. Of course the two of you did not go down without a fight! You both took turns crying and whining not wanting to go to sleep, but eventually you guys gave up the fight and went to sleep.
This is the last Labor Day that you Jonathan won't be able to run all around, just thinking of the fun we are going to have next year trying to chase the both of you from running down the drive way is great. You'll be walking way before next year though so maybe Daddy shouldn't be thinking that far ahead.
Later on that night the two of you got to watch RIO for the hundreth time. When that was over it was bed time! Daddy's three day weekend has come to an end and as sad as he is to see it go, he couldn't have thought of a better way to spend the last day then with the two of you and the rest of the people that make our family a special one. Happy Labor Day!
Love Always,
Dad
Dear Boys,
For weeks leading up to your birthday party we asked you Benjamin, what kind of party you were going to have to which you would reply "Choo Choo!" in an excited tone of voice. Well, the day finally came and we had your choo choo party! You were so excited all day that you barely ate any of your food. You each had your own Chuggington shirt with your name and age on it. Mommy had purchased these shirts online and they were very cool! 
Mommy and Daddy left you both with Grandma while we went to set up the VFW for your party, we also had Mommy's baby shower for you here Benjamin! This was a big day for you Ben because the day of the party was actually your birthday and you turned the big 2! Well, fine maybe that doesn't work as well when there is only one digit in your age, but this was a huge thing for Mommy and Daddy because we remember when we tried to so hard to have you, and now you're here and telling "No" to the request you clean up your toys. 
So the terrible two's are upon us. Daddy hopes that maybe these two's won't be as terrible because once you turn three Benjamin, Jonathan you will be turning two so it will be like the Terrible Two's are endless! But, when the two of you finally arrived to your party Benjamin you ran right to the cake. You wanted to take the trains off of the cake and cried "Choo Choo!" when we took you away from the cake. 
Before the two of you arrived though Daddy was getting worried that the cake wouldn't. The person who made the cake brought it late and it got down to the wire, but the cake arrived and thankfully it looked good enough to pass for your Chuggington cake. Chuggington was a hard theme to plan around this year because it hasn't really hit big yet as it has overseas. Grandpa Kevin actually had to buy some of the supplies online so we could have some related items! 
We had cupcakes with a Chuggington picture on each one, and ten had your name Jonathan, and the other ten had Benjamin's name on them. We also had Domino's pizza! Jonathan, you're not big enough to have pizza yet so you enjoyed some of your baby fruit and you had chocolate milk for the first time! We also set up a play area with a small ball pit that Mommy and Daddy got from Toys R Us. You both had a blast inside of this and maybe some day soon we will set it up in the living room for a little while... maybe. You both had a lot of presents too! Our home is starting to look like the inside of a toy store! Where are we going to find the time for you both to play with all of these things? Daddy is sure that somewhere in the basement there might still be some toys you got for Christmas! You're both very spoiled, but as long as we can provide you with these things, then we will. 
Everyone sang "Happy Birthday" twice, once to each of you. Next year however we'll have to find a way to combine both of your names into the song and have you both near the cake when this is happening. When we sang to Jonathan, Benjamin you were in that ball pit! We cut the cake, and only ended up eating the top of it. We still had the entire bottom of the cake, and it lasted for days before being thrown away. We won't focus on the waste of money factor, just that you had your Chuggington cake and even though it was late, it worked. After the party we came back home and sorted through all of your new toys and clothes. Later on we watched Alvin and the Chipmunks the movie, and Jonathan you laughed like it was the funniest movie you have ever seen. 
Now both of your birthdays are over and Jonathan you're no longer a little baby, and Benjamin you're already doing big boy things, just tonight Daddy was pretending to sleep on the couch and you came over and poked me and whispered "Dada", it melted my heart! We have another big day coming up, and right now you're both fast asleep in your room. Next year the two of you will be running all over the place, and Mommy has said that you Benjamin get to pick the theme. We'll see how that turns out, but right now if things don't change we might have another "Choo Choo" party. My little boys aren't babies anymore...
