Wonderful Christmas Program

The big boys' preschool class had a Christmas program this year on Dec. 15, along with the other preschool classes. They boys did a wonderful job and I can't believe how much they participated; actions and everything! They sang Angels We Have Heard on High, He is the King, Away in a Manger, and the whole group sang Joy to the World. We really enjoyed watching and they really did a great job. Mom & Dad were very proud. Luckily the icy cold weather didn't stop the program from happening that day!

About the Syrup

So, the syrup event did actually happen in our kitchen. Both Patrick and Beth thought it was just a story & didn't know it actually happened here at home...well, it did.

Tips for Surviving Kitchen Disasters

Mmmm, don't we all love pancakes...especially with plenty of Mrs. Butterworth's Thick & Rich Syrup. Popular around our house. Here are some excellent tips I want to remember for future reference:

1) Keep track of all people in your house who may leave caps open or loose and follow them closely retracing every step.
2) Assist in holding the 1.89 liter syrup bottle if anyone younger wants to pour their own syrup onto their pancakes.
3) If a cap on a 1.89 liter bottle of syrup happens to become unattached from its resting position, quickly invert the bottle to its normal resting position and make every attempt to halt the flow of syrup over the edge of plates with now floating pancake pieces. How?
- hopefully the plate with pancake on it is more of a salad plate, then you can quickly get a dinner sized plate and place it underneath the syrup filled plate such that any excess can now run onto the larger plate.
- hopefully you also use plastic placemats which are another holding reservoir for flowing goo.
4) It is then safe to proceed with actual cleanup once the disaster is under control. Wash the placemat, reclaim the floating pancake pieces for another plate, and pour the excess syrup from the original plate into a container - still ok to keep.

Following these steps, you can actually clean up approximately 1+ liter of syrup with only two papertowels, that's right 2 papertowels. And this is how a mom can tackle problem solving skills as early as breakfast on any given day.

What a wonderful experience!

Baby it's cold outside

I'm just up getting ready for work today...looks like my paper-thin scrubs are going to feel super nice as I walk my 1/4 to 1/2 mile from the car to the hospital...it's 1 degree outside! Yikes!

God is My Superhero

Jacob, Leyton, & Nathaniel were sitting at the table today doing a Christmas craft while I was baking some cookies. The craft was a Nativity Mobile. We started talking about all Jesus did for us and that God sent him, etc. It was nice. Then the thoughts started coming out...from Jacob's little head.
Jacob said, "Mom, God is a superhero."
I said, "Oh, that's a good thought. I think you're right. Does he have a lot of powers?"
Jacob's reply, "Yeah, and I think he has A LOT of bug spray, too."

A Nice Quiet Evening at Home?

Yeah, right! Tonight's after dinner family activity was...3 boys having a contest seeing who could jump the highest when jumping off the couch followed by a "spinning contest" where they simply spun in circles as long as they could before the dizziness took over. We did ban the sprinting contest from the fireplace to the end of the kitchen - well, obvious safety reasons with running in the house. It all ended with a discussion of who got the most wet with sweat - all wanting second opinions to see if they were the "most wet." Now that is what I call a great family evening. Leah's main activity was sitting/standing on the other couch watching leaps and bounds, preparing for her future participation by simply squatting & bobbing her head. Wonderful, wonderful. 8:15pm - the house is quiet - five sleepers - that's right, Patrick, too.

Now that's what I call a great day...

This morning I took the kids to the mall to see The Doo-Dads sing. We had a great time. We grabbed a quick lunch & headed out. Leyton's comment summed the day up for us.
"Mom, I didn't know we were going to get to see The Doo-dads, eat chips, AND see a fire truck!"
(the fire truck was in the parking lot when we left)

Happy 3rd Birthday, Jacob! (12/12)

What a great day we had for Jacob. We went to Chuck E. Cheese and all had a great time. That was Jacob's pick for what he wanted to do for his big day (and his brothers were very glad to join in). Also, Grandma Donna & Grandpa Jerry came to visit which is always nice. Hard to believe he's three already. With his recent growth spurt, he has just really shot up and is becoming quite the little boy. Very smiley all the time, yet we have only one volume level worked out with him - LOUD. That's ok, he sure gets his point across. He loves being part of the big boys crowd, but also enjoys time with Leah and often tells her how much he loves her. He can definitely hold his own with most things. He loves books, especially all the Five Little Monkeys books, and has recently been pretending to be "baby dinosaur" (not sure where that came from). He still loves fire trucks, dump trucks, trains, sports, and all that boy stuff. 100% boy, that's for sure. We love you, Jacob, and hope your birthday was the best yet.

Concern for Santa

This morning Jacob and I were visiting and he came across a Santa cap that I think was given to the kids a couple of years ago. He said, "Mom, this is Santa's hat...we should give it back to him, case he needs it."
I said, "Oh, you're right. That's a great idea. He probably misses it. That's very nice of you."
Jacob replied, "Yeah, 'cause he might be sad. Maybe he left it here."
I guess we'll find a way to get that back to Santa very soon.

Writing, Writing, and More Writing

Leyton & Nathaniel absolutely love writing these days. They'll pick up something with writing on it, and just copy whatever they see. They also ask a lot of times how to write different words. I have to say, though, that one of my favorite things that Leyton has been writing is, "To Mom." It's so sweet because he'll draw something, like snowmen today, or a "machine" that they like to call some of their random drawings, and then he'll write "To Mom" on it and give it to me with a big smile. I just love it and it always makes me smile. Always amazing to see their worlds become larger and larger with each new thing they learn.

Little Readers

Well, we have 2 little readers in the last week! I had bought some Bob books from Lissy's recommendation, and they have worked out pretty well. We've had them for a while, and they didn't have a lot of interest at first, but last week, they really wanted to work on them. Leyton is a little farther ahead right now, but Nathaniel is working hard too. Leyton just sounds out the words and quickly makes the connection from the sounds to the word. Nathaniel is doing great at sounding the words out, he just needs a little more help in the connection between "c - a - t" to a smooth "cat". But, no pressure, I know they'll get it. We are all just proud for the progress they've made.

Funky Mama, Live!

Well, I guess I should have known such a plan would backfire on me! On Wednesday, Funky Mama was singing at a museum while the big boys were at preschool. I thought it would be a good opportunity to do something fun with Jacob and Leah on their own. So, I thought this would be a great venue, 10am, perfect timing before picking up the boys from school.

We went to the show and had a great time. Afterwards, we actually went up to say hi to her (it was really our first time to see her on her own versus at a festival or something). Anyway, very interestingly, we were waiting to buy a CD and she looked at us and said, "Oh, I almost didn't recognize you guys without all of your 'Jim gear.'" She was referring to the big boys, the Hawaiian shirts, the guitars, etc., that accompany us to every Jim Cosgrove show we go to. It actually caught me off guard as I didn't know she'd recognize us anyway, and especially without the Jim-fanatic sons of ours. Although, Jacob is a big fan as well, but hasn't come out of his shell quite as much yet to where he stands in the crowd & plays guitar the whole time. Anyway, it was cute and nice of her to mention that she recognized us.

I heard her mentioning which CD to get to another mom, based on the kids' ages. So at our turn, I said, "So, for age 2, you think this one would be best?" And her reply, "Well, I say that, however for the experienced music listeners in your household, I'd go with this other one." It was pretty funny. I am sure that we'll be at many more of her shows. I ended up buying two CDs: Grandma's House and Moo Juice and they are both great - I really actually enjoy listening to them, too!

Anyway, so for the backfire part...the CD's were meant to be gifts, but Jacob would not release "Grandma's House" from his grip, so I told him it was an early birthday gift from Grandma. We then went to pick up Leyton and Nathaniel. They immediately saw Jacob holding the CD...uh oh...the questions (screaming) began and before we made it to the car, we literally had tears on both their faces that they missed the big event. Wow, I didn't know it would be that bad, but maybe I should have known. They now insist that I need to take them (without Jacob and Leah) to see Funky Mama for their special trip. They pretty much screamed all the way home and after we were home, it took most of the afternoon to help them accept that things were going to be ok and they would get to hear the music and we would all be happy. Whew, what a day!

Observant Leah

It is so enjoyable to see Leah's world really starting to make sense to her. She's been so observant lately. Oftentimes she'll see one of the boys' blankies, and she'll pick one up and always deliver it to the rightful owner. She knows all of them apart. Also, the other day Jacob was playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos in the basement. She saw him playing and then she was across the room for awhile. While there, she found a marble that goes with the game and took it right over to him and gave it to him. It's just some of those little things, obviously not rocket science events, but just things that show she's paying attention. Very neat to watch.

She's also becoming quite a dancer. The boys like to spin in circles a lot when they dance, so you can guess what Leah likes to do when she dances. She'll step around a bit and then she just starts turning in circles when the music is on. It's so cute and she's so proud about it. I remember when each of the boys started dancing and I don't think the images will leave my mind. It is so fun watching them moving and grooving.

Monsters at the Grocery Store!

Yesterday I went to the grocery store with Leyton, Nathaniel, and Jacob to pick up just a couple of items. We were somewhat in a hurry, but everyone was keeping up. We walked past the meat and seafood counter, and the boys noticed the lobster tank. They quickly asked what they were and why they were there. Then the big boys wanted to walk back and take another peek. Jacob, though, didn't decide he needed a peek until after we were pretty much past them and he called out, "Mom, I want to see the monsters, too!"

After a quick explanation, he understood there were actually no monsters at the grocery store. I'm sure the butchers got a kick out of our conversation; I know I did.

Sweetheart of the Day

Nathaniel was my sweetheart of the day. He was just so sweet to his brothers and to Leah, I just enjoyed seeing it so much. He also really helped me out. He was a great assistance with the oil spill of 2008 and just with keeping peace in the house in general. Tonight, also, when I was tired and trying to get the kids to help me out with picking up and staying peaceful while I made dinner, he really made my day. I was in the kitchen and he came in and said, "Mom, I know what would help. How 'bout if I give you a kiss and a hug. Would that help you out?" Oh, Nathaniel, more than you know. I told him how sweet it was and that I loved it. He told me that he loved me and that he thought that was what I needed. Thank you!

Leah walking, walking, walking

Leah has figured out she can walk faster than crawl now and it's very cute to watch her just toddle around the house all day. Cute as ever for all spectators to enjoy.

Ideas for the day: patience, reconsideration of buying in bulk

Oh what a morning. We were off to a pretty good start I would say in that everyone was pretty happy. The kids were playing, and I took a minute to change Leah's diaper. Jacob wanted a granola bar, which are in a box on a reachable shelf in the laundry room. I told him that he could get one. In a moment, he was calling, "Mom, I need help. Mommy, can you help me?" He wasn't frantic or injured, just wanting help. I assured him I would be there soon. I finished with Leah & took the diaper to the trash & stopped to see what Jacob was up to. I could not have predicted what had occurred. He was standing behind the laundry room door basically trapped, but safe. Trapped by what? Well, it somehow happened that the value purchase I made at Costco not too long ago had come back to haunt me! It was a bottle/jug - 4.73 liter bottle/jug - of vegetable oil which some how lost its cap and was now poured out all over my laundry room floor! Yikes! I'm sure he didn't mean for it to happen, but it was still quite the ordeal to handle. I had to get him out without stepping in the 1/4-1/2 inch of oil on the floor, clean it up, and keep everyone else out while doing so. Leah, however, was VERY curious and wanted to come in the room and see what I was up to and/or be held. So, she sat and cried every time I tried to put her further out of the way. Nathaniel responded & helped me get towels & even said, "To the rescue, Mom" when he ran to get more towels for me. I managed to get up all the oil I could (there may still be a bit under the washer & dryer - we have to check on that), mop the floor in there as well as the kitchen floor as there were a few shiny little footprints throughout the kitchen at this point. The next step - laundering the towels! I'm hoping that my process worked well enough to get the towels clean and the washer & dryer oil-free. I washed everything in Dawn 3 times and then ran the washer with Dawn as just an empty load. In retrospect, no complaints, just completely not the morning I expected. I remind myself, though, that worse things could happen! No one was injured or lost and it all worked out okay. Who needs all that oil anyway! Ha, ha.

Cute Vocabulary

Jacob was eating some leftover birthday cake today from Patrick's birthday yesterday: "Mmm, this is DELICIOUS."

Today we went to the mall for a bit to play since it was cold & rainy. I felt like buying a new bottle or two of bubble bath so we went to Bath & Body Works. The boys goofed around, as usual, looking, smelling, touching all the bottles. When we waited in line to pay, they were smelling all the different votives and Leyton & Nathaniel were saying, "Oooh, this one is DELIGHTFUL." "Oh, this one is also DELIGHTFUL." I had to chuckle & enjoy the moment - truly delightful.

Thoughts from the last week

The last week has been somewhat of a whirlwind. Between Uncle Larry passing away at only 51 years, us traveling to the funeral and back, and then reviewing some conversations in my mind, it's another one of those days when I just feel very fortunate, blessed, lucky, you name it. Life is short and it reminds me to keep my priorities straight. These thoughts have focused primarily on family and my children.

I guess one thing sticking in my mind is from talking with Lissy about children and large families. It was mentioned to her about how maybe others may have a different perspective on family size, which is obvious to me daily whenever I go anywhere. But, she told me about some comments she heard from a cousin last week which was basically saying why have a lot of kids, maybe it's kind of crazy, and "it's not like everyone's farming anymore (i.e. don't need to raise 10 farm-hands like in days past)." In any event, I was surprised to hear these comments were made, yet it did make me look at simply the difference in perspective as to how a parent sees his/her children. I would suppose some think of their children as maybe an expected next step after marriage, or maybe a possession, or maybe a burden, I don't really know. But, if on the other hand, you think of your children as miracles, blessings, eternal optimism, gifts - why then would you not want as many as God sends? Yes, it can be tiring and very challenging to raise your children to be the best people they can be, but as far as work goes, it's a very fulfilling type of work that offers repayment many times over with each smile, each "I love you", each milestone, each simple day. Not much can compete with that.

I read once & found it interesting when a father said that he can run through a park in the morning and others will wave at him and even though they may never participate in the running or similar exercise, it seems people still appreciate and support what he's doing. However, he said, why isn't the same true if he's walking through the park with five of his children? Interesting point.

Officially Off to the Races

Well, Leah is officially walking all over. She's been walking steps here and there for the past 3 or so weeks, but last Wed./Thurs. I feel like she's officially walking. She's cute when she's sitting in the middle of the room and just gets up and starts walking to me. What's also very cute is the huge cheering section she has in her brothers. It gives her the biggest grin and she does those early walking steps (you know kind of like Frankenstein, with the legs not bending much, but much cuter). Hard to believe how different it is to see her walking. Makes me think back to each of the kids' first steps. I know with Leyton & Nathaniel, we were so excited about the progress and just so eager for it to happen. As each child is so special and the time flies, I feel with Leah, that Patrick & I both were in no hurry for this day to come. A whole new phase. He says, "Leah, can I still hold you when you walk?" Daddy's little princess for sure. Time really does fly; we enjoy each phase but are in no hurrry for anything to pass too quickly.

Old Fashioned Lunch

Today was a lunch from my childhood - Leyton wanted a potpie, and Nathaniel & Jacob ate grilled cheese. When I took Leyton's potpie from the freezer, I carved an "L" on the top of it...I remember whenever we ate potpies as kids, we always put our initial on the top crust so we could track whose was whose in the oven. Nathaniel & Jacob decided they wanted grilled cheese, so I made those, which were also a popular lunch choice. Then as they were eating, Leyton told me he likes the potpie crust the best - isn't that a great part?! Then Nathaniel said he also like the crust best (on his sandwich). I just listened to the conversation. Then Nathaniel said, "The crust is good and if you eat it, it helps you be able to whistle." Now that's the other memory from my childhood. I asked Nathaniel how he knew that: "Grandpa told me." Dad always told us that as kids that if we ate the crust of the bread, it would help us whistle. You know, I ate plenty of crust because of this tip, but to this day, I've never been able to whistle. Go figure.

Happy Halloween!

We had a great time on Halloween & the weather was beautiful. Our 3 firefighters and little dalmatian were cute and got plenty of candy. Leah is REALLY enjoying chocolate these days!

Jacob's Ailment

Jacob woke up this morning after a great night of sleep and came into the kitchen to tell me, "Mom, my nose is 'fussy'. Can I have some medicine?"

I'll have to check with Sudafed to see if they cover fussy noses along with stuffy ones.

"Are you my mother?"

Jacob has been Mr. Lovey-Dovey lately. He tells me several times a day, "I love you, Mommy. I love you so much." I don't mind that no matter how often it's said. He has also been thinking a lot about the Dr. Seuss book Are You My Mother? He'll ask me in his same sweet lovey-dovey voice, "Are you my mother, Mommy?" "Mom, are you my mother?" Then if Patrick is home, he turns to him and says, "Daddy, are you my son?" Very cute to hear him trying to figure out the different words for Mom. Hopefully with all the terms for the name, I want him to always think of love.

A few more Pumpkin Patch Pictures...

Pumpkin Patch Pictures

Ahh, the group pic is my favorite...I actually have about 15 more that you can put together for an idea of what the motions were like when I tried to get just one picture with everyone looking at the camera...this is the closest I came! They're sporting their new tie dye shirts that Christine & Brian brought back for them from their honeymoon.

What is a zillion?

The boys always ask about high numbers and wonder what number is the biggest. They'll ask, "Mom, is 80-thousand-million-200, is that the biggest number?" and other variations of this question. I found a TV program called, "How Much is a Million?" & thought I'd let them watch it. It compares a million, billion, trillion, and zillion by telling how far that number of children would reach if they were stacked up, how much water would be necessary for that many goldfish, how long it takes to count to that number, etc. So they watched this on Saturday morning and after, Nathaniel asked, "Mom, what is a zillion? I have never heard of that. What is it?" I started to plan my explanation, when his Dora & Diego kicked in and he continued, "they must be trying to talk Spanish."

Cheerful Helper

I was emptying the dishwasher this morning and Nathaniel, Jacob, & Leyton were all helping. Nathaniel had a pile of about 6 multi-colored little Gerber bowls and he put the stack upside down on his head and said, "Caps, caps for sale, 50 cents a cap!"

Cute referral to his book called Caps for Sale, a story he enjoys very much, where a peddler walks through town with 17 caps stacked on his head trying to sell them. Enjoyable little story especially when the silly monkeys get involved.

The Sweetest Words

When I was laying by Leyton at bedtime, he said, "Mom, you're the best mom in the whole world."

Now who wouldn't love to hear that?! Goodnight my sweet boy, I love you more than you know.

More Music Enjoyment

The boys continue to pick up new songs all the time. Lately, we've been listening to one of Dierks Bentley's other CD's - Modern Day Drifter - when we're in the car. The two favorite songs lately have been "Cab of My Truck" and "Good Man Like Me." It is very entertaining to watch them sing (you have to watch in the rearview mirror of the car; if you look back, they tell you not to look or not to sing, etc.). Jacob sits in the back and strums his imaginary guitar on his chest & sings quite a few lyrics. Leyton sits and looks all serious when he sings all the parts he knows. I put some of the lyrics below & highlighted & italicized parts that they at least try to sing (even though they don't always know what they're singing about). My favorite part to see Jacob sing is the "beat up bag of red man chew." Leyton is so serious it's like he's studying the lyrics when the song is on. Then at the end of the song, he says, "Get out of my way Cadillac, big white's comin' through." Now this is probably their favorite part. They yell this in such a funny way & they also call it a "Cadillock."

This has led to a whole new exploration when we're driving - always looking for Cadillacs. I have to point them all out. It's very amusing. Nathaniel has also figured out that we should say about ourselves, "Get out of my way, Cadillock, my big Gray (or silver) is comin' through." One of our neighbors has a Cadillac Escalade and I've told them that it's a Cadillac. So today, Nathaniel was wondering if he was home. I told him I wasn't sure & asked if their car was home. He said, "Well, yeah, the Cadillock is home."

With "Good Man Like Me," Jacob probably sings the most. He calls this the baby, baby song. Seeing my two-, almost three-year-old singing, "Where you gonna find a good man like me" is really just a kick. Very cute.

I'm not sure if this is as funny to read about, but it sure is amusing as live entertainment.

Cab Of My Truck
Written by Mark Nesler, Brett Beavers & Dierks Bentley
Cracked winshield, that I super-glued
Crumpled up cans and a beat up bag of red man chew
Fix a flat, Johnny Cash box set
Half a dozen parking tickets that i aint paid yet
And sitten on that cloth bench seat
I got my shot gun girl right next to me

CHORUS
Four wheel turnin', Two hearts burnin'
We go runnin wild
Gonna make a million memories...

Sliden' rear back window
So it's an easy reach to where my cooler keeps 'em
iced down cold
Roll of duck tape, WD-40
Ain't nothin too loose or licked too tight for a man like me
I might take it slow, 30 through town
But on a back dirt road
Girl, i put the hammer down

REPEAT CHORUS


Good Man Like Me
Written by Del McCoury
Now that old car, it ain't gonna last
You ride around all day, I buy the gas
The more I work, the more you spend
Tell me honey baby when will this all end

CHORUS
Her bags are packed, my nerves are racked
She's got a one-way ticket, ain't comin' back
Oh baby, babyWhere you gonna find a good man like me

Take a look at this house turned upside-down
I hung the clothes on the line, they blowed down to the ground
I try to eat my own cookin' but its awful bland
I'm tellin' you right now things are out of hand

REPEAT CHORUS TWICE
Where you gonna find a good man like me

Family Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

We enjoyed a family trip to the Pumpkin Patch this weekend & tried out a new one in Lawrence: Schaake's Pumpkin Patch. We had a wonderful time. It was sunny and about 75 degrees, with a good breeze. This pumpkin patch was a very nice size with plenty of activities & a bonus of FREE admission for the whole family. Jacob wasn't in the mood for a hayride, so I took Leyton, Nathaniel, and Leah on the hayride out to the pumpkin patch. Leyton & Nathaniel picked the biggest pumpkins we could handle without much help to carry them. Leah got a small cute one. Somehow we managed without a stroller or baby carrier to get myself, three kids, and three pumpkins (the ones the boys picked were a pretty good size) back onto the wagon to ride back to the farm site. There were also farm animals to see on the ride out and back, so that was a fun part, too.

Meanwhile, Jacob and Patrick walked out to a closer patch & Jacob picked a "white" (very unripe, light green) pumpkin right off the vine. He was very selective and determined with his selection from what I'm told. HE wanted to choose it, HE wanted to pick it up, and HE wanted to carry it all the way back to the farm site. I shouldn't be surprised with my independent little guy. He's very proud of his pumpkin, which now sits on the front porch. It was also cute today that each time we went outside or left the house, he said, "Mom, I'm going to go check on my pumpkin, ok, Mom?" We kept good track of it today and I am wondering if he'll check on it again tomorrow. It's so cute.

After pumpkin selection, the kids played in the straw maze, straw "romp" areas, slides, swingsets & more. I was able to get some pictures, but I'll have to post those later. We ended up with a range of sizes with our four pumpkins & they added up to about 45 pounds. I'm going to have to do some recipe investigation to see what I can make after Halloween! I know I'll roast/toast the seeds and I'll make at least one pumpkin pie - so yummy with the fresh pumpkin. I guess maybe pumpkin bread? I know I've had pumpkin soup before, too, that was good. We'll see!

Leah's 12 Month Stats

We visited the doctor today and she's doing great. She came in at 29 3/4 inches long (75th percentile), 21lb 3.2oz (55th percentile), and 17 7/8 inch head circumference (70th percentile). So, she's right on track. The milestones she met for 12 months were waving, saying "Mom" & "Dad" for us appropriately (still not the best "MOM" - more like "MMMM-om" occasionally - not often enough for me?!), clapping, standing unassisted for a few seconds, and holding something in each hand & banging them together. Enjoy the simple things in life. She's a cutie.

One thing that's changed & wasn't a doctor's office thing, but she is really starting to want to go to her dad more. I usually get the kids pretty strongly the whole first year, then the second year they start branching out more to Dad. It's definitely starting. I like to call her an "equal opportunity daughter," though, because she often reaches from one of us to the other. Then she transfers for a quick minute, & then usually wants back to Mom. I'll take that anytime!

Happy Birthday, Leah!

WOW, can't believe the day has come already. Little Leah turned one on Saturday. What a great day. We actually celebrated her birthday Sunday since we had a wedding to attend on Saturday. Today we went to mass, came home & had a nice lunch of spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, steamed vegetables, and then CAKE and ICE CREAM! Well, unfortunately, Leah didn't get any ice cream - milk allergy = Hives (we actually even let her try a few bites at Red Robin on Friday night, & when we got home her belly & all were covered with hives). Oh well, she'll take the cake! She did enjoy her cake today. She also enjoyed her new gifts: we gave her a rocker, and from some family she received a cute outfit, cute sweater, a Care Bear, and some fabric hand-crafted books. It really was a fun day. Her brothers sure enjoyed opening the presents to "help" her! Ha, ha.

This year has gone by so quickly and she changed so much; hard to believe it's been a year since our little pink, 7lb 5oz, little one arrived. She's such a happy girl and is really understanding a lot now. Sometimes it really seems like she says words, too. She'll say words that sound like "hello," "get up," and "diaper." Obviously not 100% clear, but she says them at appropriate times & it does sound like the words. She also answers yes & no often when you ask her a question. Not quite walking, but definitely standing & moving along well. I'm sure the walking will be here soon.

Photo Fun

The Silver Lining(S) Right When I Needed Them...

The setting: Last night was one of the toughest nights at home that I can remember. I worked that day and Patrick was working through the evening also. Jacob wasn't feeling well (we've had all four children go through a cold in the last four weeks...Jacob was the last and actually the worst) and Leyton & Nathaniel were really challenging me with lots of screaming, wanting things "NOW!", etc., and really just wanting to catch up with Mom after I was gone all day. Leah was doing well, just also needing to catch up with me. Jacob was wanting me to hold him on the couch mostly & not hold anyone else. I can understand that. In any event, by the time I tried to get some food for them for dinner and get to the store to pick up some medicine for Jacob, I was just super worn out & needless to say, the evening was not going very easily.

In the midst of the constant ping pong battle of trying to help everyone with what they needed, my first silver lining appeared. Leah has been pulling herself up plenty using chairs, couches, etc., but decided to try something new. She was sitting in the middle of the floor a couple of times, and ended up standing herself up on her own, without pulling up on anything. There she stood in the middle of the room, waving her hands with her cutest little proud grin for all to see. Perfect 10! Then the boys, of course, took a break to notice her accomplishments and did their great cheering section action for her. It was like everything stopped to enjoy the moment. Thank you, Leah! I needed that smile!

Then, when it was bedtime, that was another juggling of being able to get one down at a time to make things easier step by step. I did my best to get Leah down first, then convinced Jacob to lay down in bed with a book while I took care of Leyton & Nathaniel since they seemed more tired. One down, then two, then three. My last few minutes with Jacob before he went to sleep were my next silver lining. He was laying there with his little cough and hoarse voice telling me his random evening thoughts he always has. He told me he wanted me to push him higher on the swing, that he didn't want a cat to come in his room, etc. Then, he took my arm & put it around him and he said, "Mom, I'll take care of you 'cause I will hold you; OK Mommy? Mommy, I love you so much." Wow, that just helped make everything easier to handle and helped me get through the rest of the night. Even when he wasn't feeling well, he was just the sweetest little guy. Thank you, Jacob!

All in all, the kids really are great. We all know, though, that sometimes it's a challenge, yet there's always those little positive moments that are just so precious that it makes everything seem even more worth it and that you know being with them is worth having the challenges, too. I love them so much!

Best Big Brothers

Leah must have 3 of the best big brothers. They are so encouraging to her it is unbelievable at times. I can't help but smile when they're cheering her on lately. She's been progressing a lot at standing on her own when she lets go of holding on to something. When she does, the boys will all three sit and smile, clap, and tell her, "Great job, baby girl! Yeah, Leah! You're doing a great job!" Meanwhile, she just smiles and smiles and almost starts to clap until she sort of loses her balance a bit and plops down. So neat to see all their love for each other.

Picnic Sunday

What a wonderful day we had today. We have a picnic basket that we got for a bridal shower gift that we had actually never used (in more than 10 years!). The boys have been wanting to use it, so today was the day. When we got home from mass, we packed a picnic and headed to the park. It was a beautiful sunny fall day with a nice breeze. We stayed there for a couple of hours and played, ate lunch, and played some more. What a nice day with my family! I think everyone had a great time.

New Shoes?

So, just out of curiosity, I'm starting to wonder how long new tennis shoes are supposed to last for these kids. I bought the boys new shoes in mid-August. I've noticed this week that they are literally about to wear holes in them. I think most of it is from riding their bikes & they use their auxiliary breaks = dragging their feet. Leyton's really has a bigger hole & it's just hard to believe as they are quality shoes and about 5 weeks old?! Yikes. Welcome to the real world of boys, right? We sure can be hard on things!

"Amazing"

This has been Jacob's new word this week. He's just saying it on occasion and it's very cute. One instance it comes to mind...we were on a walk & he & Leah were riding in the stroller. He asked me if his brothers were home from school yet, I told him not yet. He said, "Amaaa-zing." Just so cute since he doesn't really know for sure what it means, but likes to say it with his cute little grin.

The Next Sign of Getting Big Boys

Today marked a new day for Leyton & Nathaniel...we bunked their beds. They seem very excited. Leyton has the top bunk, Nathaniel has the lower. It is great having the extra space in their room, too! I think they'll really enjoy it.

It's funny to think about these bunk beds...they were the ones we used when I was a kid. You know, as we assembled them, I was really shocked how much shorter they seem than when I was 2-3 feet shorter. They're actually a good height. The other thing I have thought about is the "safety rail" we used as children. We never once had any trouble with it, but I had to chuckle thinking back to what it was: a long board (approx. 1x2", the length of the bed). The funny part is that there was a nail on each end that just stuck out and that was what leveraged the rail from sliding up or down the length of the bed & falling off. Amazing that it was so simple, worked so well, we were never injured, yet I can't imagine doing the same thing now. Improvising works well, though!

I Dream of Halloween

Well, at least we're getting close to being within a month of Halloween. At the store, seems like they've been ready for a month already! Oh well. A recap of past costumes:

2007: Leyton - Thomas, Nathaniel - Bob the Builder, Jacob - M&M
2006: Leyton - Thomas, Nathaniel - Thomas, Jacob - Lion
2005: Leyton - M&M, Nathaniel - M&M

A few patterns here? Well, this year, Nathaniel said he wanted to be...Bob the Builder. Leyton said he wants to be...Thomas. Jacob hasn't said. However, as some of these costumes may not be fitting anymore, I think they're all really leaning towards being firefighters now. They just got new helmets that make lots of noises, have sirens, flashing lights, etc. We'll see if things change. I don't know yet about Leah...the boys all wore the Lion costume their Halloween at this approximate age, but I can't see her as a manly lion. Aunt Bethie suggested getting a Star Wars wig and making her be Princess Leia?! Maybe we have something here.

September Moments

(dedicated to Aunt Bethie who was asking for a post, pic, or SOMETHING!)
A few moments from the past month: first day of school, playing at home, crazy imaginations...(notice the baby jumper use in a photo).

Thoughtful Lunches

The day shave been flying by around here. Just usual stuff, really, school, work, chores, etc. Grandma Donna was here a few days over the weekend...always a nice visit. But, in reviewing the last few days, I knew there were things I wanted to write about, but have just not had the spare time.

However, yesterday, Nathaniel had a pretty good idea. He told me that he thought Patrick should go to work where I work. Any guesses on the reason? It was pretty thoughtful actually. He said it was because then Patrick & I would have the same days off. I thought that was a pretty good thought concept! I think he misses Dad as September has been pretty busy for him at work.

On a lighter note, I made grilled cheese for lunch yesterday. Leyton usually wants his cut in squares, Nathaniel usually wants his cut in triangles. Even though that is the norm, I still always ask, because if I don't, it never fails that they'll tell me it wasn't the way they wanted it. So yesterday I asked Leyton how he wanted his cut. He stood there for a few minutes, looked at me, tapped his finger to his face (deep in thought), "Hmm...I think...I'll have...Hmmm. Mom, I'll have mine in squares." It sure seemed like his biggest decision of the day. Wouldn't it be nice to have all our decisions really be about such simple things? Sounds good to me!

Fun Times around the House

Imaginations running wild and I love it! This is an excerpt of the boys during my dinner preparation one day this past week....

I'm watching this live: J= Jacob= Jim C, L= Leyton=Ralph's World, N= Nathaniel=Jim Cosgrove

N: "Lyda, watch out, the shark is coming after you..." (fyi-Lyda is one of Jim Cosgrove's daughter's names)

J: "Watch out, the shark is going to eat you!"

L: "It's ok, I'm going to shoot a nail at him...nail gun sound."

N: "Somebody's coming your way (he's sneaking around). There's dinosaurs, sharks, whales, and dragons coming your way. Get out of there."

J: "Boom, boom. I'll save you."

N: "They're on top of each other, they're going to eat me!"

L: (back to reality): "Mommy, a lot of birds are flying to stay warm for the winter. I saw a skunk on the way home. (We did smell one, didn't see one, though)."

School has Begun

Well, I haven't written anything yet about school starting. It is off to a good start. The boys are enjoying their class, this year 3 mornings a week. No one even cried on the first day! That was a nice change from last year! So we're at a new school, new schedule and everything. They have told me that this school has more toys. Oh fun! They actually have their first field trip this week already. I think they have like five field trips this semester! I thought that was odd, but then I figured, well, it'll be fun for them. And, then it's less time they're feeling like they have to be doing any type of real school stuff. We really just hope they have fun & play in preschool. We have no expectations of rocket science going on there. Another nice advantage is that we get to carpool with a neighbor! Yeah. That will be a definite change of pace for me.


Jacob & Leah are also enjoying the time with Mom. At first Jacob kept saying he wanted to play at school, but has taken well to the idea of being "Mom's big helper." He has been very happy and has actually been helping me out. He's great at helping me at the store, or picking up toys, etc. We've spent some of the time running errands, some time at the gym, and some time playing or going for a walk. All fun things for the three of us to do. I love being with all four of the kids, but it is nice on occasion to have some time with the two little ones while the big boys are off having their own fun. Always a way to find moments to cherish & moments I don't want to miss!

Leah will be ready for CAKE!

Well, my fourth child, my SWEET little princess (keyword being sweet), will definitely be ready for birthday cake. She has become SO interested in table food lately. Forget any more baby food, which is fine with me. I baked cookies tonight and she definitely knows she likes them. I have given in & given her a bite or two before and she makes it very clear she remembers that those are yummy. She almost gets frantic & yells & reaches until you give in. Well, I figure if she were our first child, I'm sure we wouldn't have given in before she turned one. You know, that's like a magical day when all of a sudden junk food is ok? Well, I guess some reality has sunk in, too. At least I don't go overboard...tonight she enjoyed one fingertip bite of cookie dough and 1/2 of a warm chocolate chip cookie. I think the birthday cake will go over well. Looking forward to it...a few more weeks!

Cute Sleepy Goodnight Kiss

Leyton & Nathaniel used to always "wipe off" their kisses that I gave them, just to be silly. Then in the past several months, Leyton, especially, has started to, as he says, wipe the kiss, motion it to his mouth and say that it was going into his belly to save for later. Cute. Tonight I put them to bed & Leyton was almost asleep. His eyes were closed & I gave him one last kiss. I thought he may be asleep, but then I saw him wipe his cheek, and proceed to swallow the kiss for later. A great end to a great day with my family.

A Couple of Hours with Aunt Bethie

Monday night Patrick was working and I went to a meeting for church for a couple hours. Aunt Bethie to the rescue. As I sometimes capture little funny conversations among the kids, Beth had that chance on Monday. She told me this after she went home:

"...the kids were good. when i first put leah down, i sat at the top of the stairs for a few minutes and enjoyed listening to the boys' conversations...hilarious. nathaniel kept saying that you were never going to be home, maybe tomorrow; leyton kept confirming that you would be home; nathaniel told leyton aunt bethie can't stay that long (until morning) because she doesn't have her jammies.

earlier in the night when i came to the main floor with leah for a little bit after she climbed up from down-down, when the boys came up the stairs, i heard nathaniel encouraging leyton to ask me if they could watch something - do you think aunt bethie knows how to work the dvd/vcr (one of those was mentioned); leyton came over and said nathaniel wanted me to ask you if we could watch...i didn't want to ask you aunt bethie..."

I told her this is just the kind of thing that's funny to just sit back & watch/listen to. I love their conversations. Then her other story was with Jacob & the search for a missing toothbrush:

"jakey and his missing toothbrush...it went something like this...
(J) i want my other toothbrush
(B) where is it
(J) behind the couch
(B) i can't find it?
(J) (in a very similar tone as my previous response) yes you can

repeat above sequence...it was hard not to crack up laughing the first time he said, "Yes you can." he was up in the bathroom waiting with a little truck or something, driving it along the countertop"

"Not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin"

This is Jacob's new favorite phrase. If you ask him any question for which the answer is "no," he'll say with a cute little smile, "No, not by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin." And then he giggles & giggles.

Too Cute to Pass Up

Here's Jacob really enjoying goofing around a week or so ago. Cute or what?

What Leah is up to

Or shall we say where has she been going? Up the stairs, both on the steps & on the outside of the bannister on the edge of the stairs - already figured that out, too. She can also commonly be found around the kitchen table searching for left over Cheerios, etc.

She's also really starting to make a lot of sounds. Yesterday I gave her a banana & she said, "na-na." She'll also say, "Ugh" which is cute. Lots of shaking her head side to side when you tell her, "No." Still saying, "Da-da." What's missing? STILL NO "MA-MA!"

Oh well, at least her eyes still really light up when she sees me! What a doll. Growing too fast. Hard to believe she'll be one in about 6 1/2 weeks!

The other thing I notice so much is how interested she is in cups. She'll swipe any cup she can find...especially Jacob's (who by the way, is really enjoying that he has a little one around to push around & pick on). But, there can be three cups on the floor & she'll always go for the one Jacob has been using that day - it's like she knows it's his & that it must have something good in it. I don't know how good, though, as Jacob pretty much always drinks rice milk.

One last thing is that she is the happiest girl right up until she goes to bed. She just doesn't get fussy. She'll play and play and play, and then literally you pick her up to take her to bed and the first step into her room, she starts rubbing her eyes & is ready for the bedtime routine. It is so cute.

Our little princess is doing great!

The Answer I've Been Looking For!

Tonight Nathaniel solved my problems...
"Mom, I need a stuff room."
He went on to describe: "You know, a place to put my stuff. Then it could all be put away and we could keep our house really nice & clean."

Ah ha! That is it! We do need a stuff room. That's exactly what we need!

5am Conversation with Nathaniel

We had a thunderstorm this morning & Nathaniel came in our room to lay by me. He was talking sweet & sounding completely awake. These were his comments:
"Mom, I hope the lifeguard isn't outside."
(Me: "Oh, she's not, she's at home sleeping I'm sure.")
"Mom, the light bulbs almost came on with that big lightning."
(Me: "Really?" Then there was a lull in the thunder & lightning for a moment.)
"Mom, isn't that nice of Jesus to take away the thunder for a little bit so we can have some quiet time?"
("Yes, it is.")
"Mom, does it rain all over the world?"
("Yes.")
"Even in California?" ("Yes.") "Even in Mexico?" ("Yes.")
"Oh."

True Dedication

Last night we were coming inside for the night and Jacob was already in. He was in the bathroom, actually, with one of our big flower watering cans. I peeked in and found he was working very diligently. He had a small medicine cup (like the ones that come on top of a bottle of children's Tylenol or something) and he was filling it about half full and dumping it into the big watering can. I asked him, "Jacob, what are you up to?" He said, "I'm filling up this sprayer thing." He just kept dumping that water, about 1 1/2 tsp per load, into the can.

Day of Major Milestones

Today I thought about and enjoyed the fact that each child hit a milestone. I would call that a great day! First, all three boys had dentist appointments. This was Jacob's first appointment. He is typically pretty brave and independent, but as his big brothers sat and tried to avoid their turn in the exam chair, Jacob proudly and maturely left the area where I was to sit in a chair in the next room with the hygienist who would clean his teeth as he sat there & didn't move a muscle. I was very proud of him. I couldn't believe how well he did.

Then, after we came home, the big boys decided they wanted their training wheels off their bikes. Not hard to guess where this is going...they both accomplished riding with no training wheels today! I was so proud of them. At first I think they had quite a bit of doubt, but they worked on it all afternoon and have pretty much mastered it. Leyton is probably the best at it right now as Nathaniel was a bit more tired & lost interest a little easier. But, they both did it and did an awesome job. After dinner, we went around the block, even. I was so excited for them that they did so well. Leyton even managed several turns, bumps in the road, and fairly steep hills for the first day. He seemed so proud. Nathaniel did great too, but I think another day or two & he'll really be even better. He was getting a bit frustrated when he'd stop peddling in the midst of riding (without enough energy going to coast) - he'd fall over, as expected, but really didn't like that! It was cute. That's always a big day, isn't it? Seeing them ride off on their own and appreciating all the pride they show and the pride I have in being a small part of it. It is always so exciting being a part of their accomplishments.

And my little Leah. She is on the go for sure. She was in the basement and decided it was time for her first complete trip up the stairs on her own. She'd crawled up a few steps lately, but today was the first time she made it up all of them. She was so steady & happy. She didn't stumble or falter a bit, but just climbed & smiled the whole way. I stood behind her & she had the biggest grin when she got to the top. Even more cute was that her brothers were there at the top smiling at her & cheering her on. Too cute. This week she's also been starting to stand for brief moments on her own. No rush, Leah, I don't need her to walk too soon. I just enjoy her being little. Each stage is so neat.

Deanna Rose Farmstead

Tuesday the weather was just perfect. Sunny, not too hot or humid, and it seemed just right for a trip to the Deanna Rose Farmstead. We hadn't been there this year at all, and so we went on an impromptu trip and had so much fun. We arrived around 10am and were actually there until after 2pm, which for us, was a long time. The boys enjoyed watching the bunnies chase each other, the ducks walk around, and so much more. Jacob & Nathaniel brushed a baby calf's hair, all three of them fed baby goats bottles of milk, they fed bigger goats some food, rode pedal tractors, and played on the playground. Leah really got her eyes full, too, by just watching everything going on. She didn't fuss about anything at all. It was so much fun. Nathaniel also went on a pony ride. The only problem with that was you have to be 3 to ride & of course Jacob wanted to, but was not old enough. Leyton thought maybe he'd ride next time. They actually wanted to go back the next day. We've been there several times before, but this time just seemed like they had so much fun. It is such a neat place & unbelievably, pretty much free. We didn't fish (mostly because I'm a wimp when it comes to worms, hooks, and handling fish) or ride the hay ride, but maybe next time. I was so glad we went.

Memory of the Day

So I guess it follows Murphy's Law that as soon as we opt to replace most of our kitchen appliances, it would happen that the main one we did NOT replace (dishwasher - since we'd replaced it since we've lived here) decides to break on us! Yikes. A week and a half ago on a Sunday was our dishwasher's last run and boy have we missed it! Last night, though, we did order a new one that will be in on Saturday. I can't wait.

In the mean time, as I wash the dishes, I come to my memory of the day:
the house Grandma Rita used to live in had a ceramic sink in the kitchen & she did not have a dishwasher (yes I realize I'm spoiled today as we didn't always have a d/w as a kid). I remember how she used to wash the dishes & it was always, well, shall I say, with a purpose. We used to pretend to wash like her & swish, splash, push around the dishes in the sink. It always made this noise & it made us laugh like the silly kids we were.

Excellent Reporting

I had to laugh today when the boys went to play downstairs & I was cleaning up lunch in the kitchen. Nathaniel came upstairs to give me a great report on what was going on downstairs:
"Mom, this came off (he was holding the handle from the basement toilet), Jake is taking his diaper off, and no one is encouraging him."

I appreciated the thorough and step-by-step nature of the comment. Always good to know if someone was encouraging someone else to do something out of the norm, too. It actually turns out that Nathaniel used the restroom and then Jacob was attempting to do the same! YEAH!

Washington Town & Country Fair

We had a great time at the fair. Well, aside from Jacob's very odd and very severe allergic reaction on the first day of the 5 day event! Long story short, he went from sneezing to hives to eyes swelling shut to a quick dose of Benadryl which really helped. He almost got a shot of epinephrine from first aid!

Anyway, the fair was great. We rode many rides: ferris wheel, roller coaster, swings, kiddie rides (dogs, cars, carousel, etc.), Tilt-a-whirl, etc. Lots of great names for the rides, too. We also got to see the bull riding, motocross, tractor pull, a magician, a large cat exhibit/show (with tigers), a dog show, Huey Lewis & the News, Tracy Lawrence, other live music, kids pedal tractor pull, farm animals, and other children's exhibits, etc., etc. The kids really liked the motocross event - I think it was their favorite. Leah didn't really care about the fair, so she went a little & stayed the rest of the time with Grandma.

We were also able to visit some with Grandma Rita, Uncle Dave & Aunt Jill, Uncle Greg & Aunt Debbi, Uncle Ben & Aunt Rachel. We really kept busy! Grandma & Grandpa had a full house, but it was a lot of fun.

Signs of Brotherly Love?

Signs of brotherly love can resemble anything from a hug, to a shove, to an act of sharing, and many other things. The boys do actually get along very well. Sometimes I'm amazed at just how thoughtful they can be. Then, there's the other side of brotherly love - those things they just do to each other as most kids do, that I just don't know how often to intervene. Leyton has been showing this most lately.
Example:
Background: Leyton & Nathaniel are running or riding their bikes for a while, Jacob & Leah are in the stroller as we walk around the block. All the boys now decide they want to run. Jacob desperately wants to be in the front at all times - hard to guess where this is going?

Crisis coming: Well, the big boys are obviously faster at these ages and Jacob gets devastated easily given he can't keep up along with the fact that it's about 90 degrees and they're already tired from the day anyway. So, he screams, and screams..."I want to be first, I want to be first."

Resolution (if there is one): Leyton stops running and says, "OK, you can be first." Wow, can it be this easy? I think, oh what a sweet boy. Jacob takes off running to get ahead. Just as he catches up, I am about to say, "Leyton, how swee-" Then Leyton turns to run again to get back in front.

Crisis returns: Jacob stops again and resumes screaming at the top of his lungs & crying. "I want to be first."

Resolution: (see resolution above, then repeat crisis...repeat, repeat)

Ugh. No easy way to win this one for anyone! Just chalk it up to brotherhood I guess. It reminds me of when I was a kid & Lissy & I walked home from school with Uncle Todd - long story with details of dirty bobby socks, being in 2nd grade & carrying an 8th grade uncle's bookbag home, having to race the whole way to set a new record, eating A LOT of plain ketchup to avoid wasting food, etc., etc.

Excitement Brewing

This next week is the much anticipated annual trip to Grandma & Grandpa's for the Washington Town & Country Fair. The fair always begins the first Wednesday in August and runs through Sunday. Usually it's about late August or early September when the questions begin:
"Mom, when can we go to Grandma's to go to the fair?" This lasts for the next several months. Believe it or not, we've made it to August again! YEAH! They really enjoy the fair. So much to see: tractor pulls, bull riding, moto-cross, Agri-land (small farm animals, corn & soy beans & wheat to play in, etc.), greased pig contests, rides, etc., etc. It's actually a great fair. Hopefully Grandma & Grandpa are ready for the troops to invade their home! It'll be a full house as the whole family will be there - all Kansas and Texas troops. I'm sure all 8 grandchildren in one house will be quite a hustle & bustle time! We haven't seen the Grahams since about February, so it will be a lot of fun to see them as well.

The other funny thing is that typically, when the kids know a trip to Grandma's is coming up, they prepare WELL in advance - they're usually packed at least 48 hours prior to departure. This time, no different. It's been a challenge, though, as Leyton packed his bags late Friday or early Saturday - including every pair of underwear he has. So, as we get dressed these days, we have to politely ask him to unpack a pair & then reassure him we'll have plenty of time to do more laundry & still pack adequately.

Oh they joys. It will be a fun trip!

Fun in the Backyard

Overheard this week...

Jacob..."Mom, look, it's a June Bug!"
(I had no idea he knew what this was...he was correct; then he stomped on it)

Nathaniel..."Mom, I'm reading books to Jacob. We're reading a lot of books."
(This was after he sat and paged through a few books with Jacob & reciting what he has memorized the stories to be...very accurate & cute)

Two New Family Members this Week!

We welcomed two new members to the extended family this week! On Sunday, July 20, our niece Sarah & her husband Winston welcomed a son, Landon MacArthur Jimenez, to the family. Landon joins big brothers (Winston's sons) Nick & Josh. Then yesterday, July 24, Patrick's brother Scott & his wife Tracy welcomed their fifth child to the family: Hayden Rose. Hayden joins siblings Katie, Megan, Taylor & Adam. Exciting week for the Robinsons.

Moments I'm Very Glad I didn't Miss

Today (and yesterday) was one of those days. We were super busy with appointments & running around. No fun to go over most of those details, but worth mentioning how happy I am I didn't miss a few little moments.

Leah's simple life: She had 9 month pictures taken today. It was so sweet to see the simplicity of what it takes for such a youngster to be happy. She laughed, grinned, crawled around, and explored and seemed to be having such a great time. This led to some absolutely adorable pictures!

Nathaniel's Kindness & Ingenuity: He was really being my big boy today. Helping me out, being patient, etc. Tonight, though, we walked to the park and the big boys rode their bikes. They usually don't want to ride back home, though. That was the case tonight. I told Leyton I'd pick his up later & we'd just leave it there for now. Then I caught a glimpse of Nathaniel in front of the stroller. He had his bike & helmet, and Leyton's bike & helmet. He was trying to hook Leyton's helmet around the handlebars and connect it to his bike so he could ride & pull Leyton's home for him...sweet. However, he couldn't get it worked out. I just watched & enjoyed his thoughtfulness. Then he said, "Oh, I just can't get my idea to work." We talked about it & I had to let him know what a great idea it was and how sweet it was to help.

Leyton's Sweet Laughter: I was tired by bath time tonight. The usual routine is that we often get LOTS of water out of the bath tub. Tonight was no exception, but I just let it go a bit. I was in the hallway putting Leah's PJ's on. Leyton & Nathaniel were squirting water at each other with empty shampoo bottles. The best part was Leyton in there having such a great time...laughing, laughing, laughing. It was the sweetest laughter to hear at the end of a long busy day. I needed that!

Jacob's Goodnight: The big boys were in bed, Jacob was next, Leah would be last (rather reversed tonight). I was laying by Jacob and telling him goodnight, and of course he said, "Few more minutes, Mom." I gave him a few more minutes & then figured I better get Leah to bed. I was getting ready to leave & he lay there tired & whispered, "I love you so, Mom." Perfect ending!

So I guess in a nutshell:
- 3 well-child visits yesterday, and another HVAC visitor to give us as estimate for our house, along with a lot of housework to do: $90 copays, too many thousands for a furnace & heat pump

- Spending four hours at the mall, me & the kids, taking pictures, returning pants, playing a little: $125

- Waiting a whole extra hour beyond our two-hour window for the delivery of our new refrigerator: I think they owe me!

- Spending all this time with my four sweet kids: PRICELESS!

Leah's 9 Month Stats

19lb 3.2 oz (~60th percentile)
28 1/4 inches long (75th percentile)
17 5/8 inches head circumference (75th percentile)

First tooth about two weeks ago
LOVING to try to eat anything and everything she can get her hands on
Favorite babyfood: the meats! (really, unbelievably!)
Pulling herself up to stand all around the house
Starting to make raspy sounds along with her Da-da-da-da's
Starting to let other people hold her besides Mom & some Dad (like Aunt Bethy! - thanks for the input, Beth!)
Very content baby!

Growing Up!

I've been noticing lately how much it seems like Leyton & Nathaniel are growing up & maturing. Leyton has been so patient and loving to everyone. Nathaniel has been so willing to help with stuff around the house and also to give up something he has if someone else really wants it. Yesterday Leyton was playing with his trains in the basement. He played & played and knew it was going to be time to head up for bath. I set the timer & told them when it was up, we'd go upstairs. The timer rang and everyone but Leyton was upstairs. I called for him & got the answer, "In a minute." I figured I'd go check on him. I was so pleasantly surprised when I found that he was still down there because he was cleaning up all the toys and putting them away without even the least request from me. I was so happy to see him doing that so nicely. Nathaniel has been helping me clean a lot and like when his brothers want something, like to unlock the mailbox for example, Nathaniel will say, "That's ok, Mom, I can do it next time. Jacob can have this turn." It sure makes me so proud of them! I of course then really think about things too much and let my thoughts wander the future. Time just flies so quickly. I can't imagine when they're going to be in school every day. Life will never be the same! They'll never have as much time at home as they do now and I need to enjoy every moment!

Jacob & his picture

Tonight Jacob was on the couch near his picture that hangs on the wall. I watched his conversation with the picture:
"Hi Jacob. How are you doing? Can you talk?...No. Can you smile?...Yes. Bye, Jacob!" Then I got a cute grin from him.

Sack of Topatoes

We've been reading a story where a dad lifts his little boy and puts him over his shoulder & calls him a sack of potatoes. I did this to Jacob the other day & I called him a sack of potatoes. He said, "Mom, I'm not a sack of topatoes." It was so cute I almost didn't want to tell him we were really talking about potatoes.

Great End to a Hard Day's Work

Oh the good ol' days - watermelon in the summer (updated by the cultivation of SEEDLESS watermelon). Patrick talked them into eating watermelon this way for the first time instead of cutting it in chunks. I think they enjoyed it. This was the end to a full Sunday and after the successful construction of...their very own STAGE for live concerts by our very own crew. Now the fun will really begin!