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?