Bravery

For enduring his first haircut, Mitchell gets a gold star for bravery. I was bracing for dramatics but, with truck in hand, Mitch did not shed a single tear. What a big boy!

Here's Mitchell sporting a dapper 'do and enjoying a post-cut lollipop with his big brother.

First Snow

After last winter, the thought of snow still makes me a little sick to my stomach. But alas, the fist snow has fallen, and while it was a paltry two inches, Owen was way excited to get outside. Ear and bronchial infections be damned, these boys had fun parading around.

Mitch Mourns Bowie

Happy New Year

Gone are the days of champagne toasts at midnight. This year we rang in 2016 around 7pm with noisemakers and these two party animals. And if that doesn't sound like fun, the Linker crew plus a visiting Grandma were all fighting virus number two of the 2014-2015 winter season. Nothing quite says Happy New Year like gastrointestinal distress.

The end of the year was a festive, albeit snotty, flurry of activity. We had a fun Thanksgiving trip to California where we enjoyed family time and then it was back to Rhode Island to get ready for the holidays. Here are a few cute pictures.

California bound

Owen helping Grandma with her luggage

Mitch and Bubbie

Merry Christmas!

I don't know about you but my pants are tight and I'm about ready to get moving on those resolutions. Wishing everyone a healthy, happy and "skinny" 2016!

Two Thoughts

My initial reaction when I saw this was - adorable! I then had two thoughts. First, Owen is my son. Obviously. Second, food is a peculiar choice for a kid who turns up his nose at childhood staples of pasta, pizza and grilled cheese. Last night he requested "black (chocolate) munchkins" for dinner. Okay, technically donut holes are food...I guess.

A Walk in the Woods

Losing My Marbles

This is Owen proudly showing off his full jar of marbles. Parenting can be a pretty tough gig. Especially when your kid is going through a lengthy - I won't do anything you ask me to do - phase. 

After the appearance of significantly more grays (on my head and Steve's beard) and much trial and error, we finally found something that seems to motivate "he who will not go potty." Owen gets marbles for good behavior - listening, sharing, not having tantrums, staying in bed, etc. Once the jar is full, he gets a reward. 

Owen's marble jar recently reached max capacity after being especially kind to Mitchell, and this weekend we're going to see the new Peanuts movie. I just hope he likes Charlie Brown and the gang as much as I did when I was a peanut. Get it?  

And what did Owen do that was so kind, you ask? At this point, I honestly can't remember but I do know that he made sure to get extra candy for his baby brother while we were trick-or-treating. Little Mitchell was content in his stroller while Owen, the nice ghost, roamed the neighborhood scavenging for goodies. It was seriously the best night of his entire life.

The Boo Brothers - Halloween 2015