One of My Favorite Things

Cooking dinner with some Jack Johnson playing on Pandora while Judah's napping and the big boys are outside riding bikes (Yes, it's 100 degrees here, but they have to burn their energy!).  Love it!

Incident Reports

I'm not sure if I should just be amazed that I have never had to sign an incident report for Luke or concerned that I have had to sign so many for the other two.  I had to fill out two incident reports for Eli at school, both because he had cut his thumb on safety scissors.  Not even sure how that is possible, but the first time it was bad enough he almost cut the pad of his thumb off.  It stopped him from sucking his thumb, so it was really a good thing in the long run.

Today when I picked up Judah from the nursery at the YMCA I had to sign an incident report because another child pinched his face and made him bleed and he also fell and hit his head and had to have an ice pack.  Right after that we went to the library where the first thing he did was dive head first into a movie display.  When I got to the checkout counter the lady behind the desk said, "Wow, if he had done that here I would have had to fill out an incident report."  I just smiled and said nothing.  She obviously didn't connect the earlier screams with us.

So, along with the rather large bruise on his back where he fell off the top of the ladder to the fort and the busted chin from swimming Saturday he has two more nasty marks on his face.  I'm going to have to start explaining things when I go in public if we keep this up!

Judah, Judah!

Look at this sweetness.  I know you won't believe me when I tell you that this child is a pistol!

Most of the time when he has his tongue out, it's directed at me and is blowing out a portion of his dinner.

And then he'll smile sweetly so I won't be mad.

Or he'll snuggle up next to his brother so the cuteness will overwhelm me.

Or pose in a sleepy way so I blame it on, "He's just tired."

Right before he goes back to this.

"What??  My brothers do it. Why can't I?"

"I can do whatever my brothers do because I'm just as big as them.  See?"

Today alone he has eaten two crayons and a couple of markers, climbed on the middle of the kitchen table numerous times, dumped out half of a 32 oz. carton of chicken broth on the kitchen floor, and flooded the bathroom floor (after he chewed on a bar of soap).  All this was squeezed in between spending over half the morning at the YMCA and napping most of the afternoon.  That really isn't so bad compared to the day he jerked his diaper out from under himself and ended up with poop on his nose, eyebrows and forehead (not to mention all over his and my hands).  At any given moment, if not being carefully watched, he will snatch a knife from the dishwasher, a full drink from the table or pull open the hot oven door.  When this child reaches his second birthday, it won't be because he hasn't lived adventurously.  But if he does not learn very quickly that telling Mama "NO!!" is his riskiest behavior and extremely hazardous to his health, whether or not he'll make it to his second birthday might be in question. 

It truly is God's plan to make one year olds terribly cute. Sigh.....I think I need to go kiss his cheeks.  He's just so cute!

A Butterfly Experience

For Christmas, Raeanna gave the boys a butterfly garden.  It came with a coupon for caterpillars that we "grew" in our garden.  The boys (and I) loved it!  I'm finally getting around to posting this, even though we did this in February.

Our baby caterpillars.  Every single day you could see them getting fatter.

 Once they got fat enough they went into their chrysalises.

 They grew for about ten days...

 And then became beautiful butterflies!

 Once it warmed up a bit, we released them in our yard.

A (bit long) video of us watching one of the butterflies coming out of its cocoon.  It's been since February, so it's crazy to see how much Luke has grown up in four months!

Luke, Eli and Judah just watched Barney and then Calliou.  I think we all just lost about a billion brain cells apiece. 

May, In Moments

It seems like our lives have been in a whirlwind since Christmas, but especially the months of April and May.  We have had lots of fun and made some special memories:

Luke's Mother's Day Tea

(This was such a special time.  You could see all over his little face that he knew he was loved, and he was proud of his mama.)

Eli's Mother's Day Tea

(Once he realized that Mama was in the building, he would have nothing to do with his teachers or friends.  We left school early that day.)

 The next morning I left for a trip with my parents and sisters in Puerto Rico. It was beautiful.

 At the top of a lookout tower.

 Daddy had a little trouble figuring out how to work my camera, and this was the result.  We're not a very patient bunch.

 We hiked down a trail in the rain forest to a waterfall.

 And even though it was worth it, the hike back up was...intense.

 There were these crazy iguanas at our resort that would do a belly flop out of the trees into the pool.

 In the meantime, Judah is growing like a weed and figuring out all kinds of ways to get into trouble. I have to shut just about every door in the house these days to keep him contained.

 Luke's preschool graduation was this week.  He is thrilled that he will be in kindergarten next year. I have mixed emotions!

Luke with his friends Maggie and Haley.  (Yes, this Haley.)

Luke with his best school bud, Cole.

Luke and Eli were signed up for soccer.  Luke had a great time playing, and Eli says he'll just wait and play next year.



So, vacations are done, parties are done, school is done, soccer is done, MOPS is done and Mama is DONE!  I'm going to go lay on the couch with my boys.



Eli is Four

Eli had his birthday week last week.  We celebrated with family last Sunday, with friends at school Wednesday and at home on Thursday, his actual birthday.  I still can't believe he's already four.  It almost seems as though he has morphed into a big boy overnight.  He has started asking more intuitive questions, understanding more abstract concepts, quit sucking his thumb. (He had a little help with that.  He nearly cut the pad of his thumb off with scissors at school, and the result was that he wasn't able to suck his thumb.  Extreme measures, but I am grateful.)  He is still most happy at home with his family and doesn't easily venture too far away from Mama's side, but I know he will all too quickly grow out of that, so I'm not rushing it.

I know I say it about each one of my children, but there is just something about this child.  He had my heart from the very beginning.  I often wonder who he takes after.  His daddy and I are both so even keel.  He is so passionate.  He feels hurt, sadness, anger, weariness so intensely.  He feels happiness, contentment, excitement, love so intensely.  He is loyal and devoted, kind and generous.  He often shares and offers encouragement without prompting.  He protects his brothers and his mama and daddy when he thinks we might need it.  Sometimes I think I want to protect him and his little heart because I know he gives so intentionally.  If he gives his affection, he meant to.  I want to tell him to protect himself from those I know will not appreciate what he is offering.  Instead, I know I need to simply learn from him. 

I love you, Eli!  You make me smile every day.  You keep me on my toes and make me a better mom every day.  I love who you are and the part you play in this family.  Thank you for the way you love us.  Happy four year old birthday. 

 And while he did get some great birthday gifts, who needs toys when Daddy has an air compressor?