Thankful Friday

So, Ethan is four now. Of course, that means he's on to new and bigger and better things than when he was a mere three year old. This afternoon, he decided he could swing with no hands.



I'll give you two guesses who saw him and thought she could do it, too:



Ethan and Lauren are having a nice afternoon together while Josh is playing at Gaga's house. We played several games of Disney Bingo (on dvd - great game!) and countless rounds of Vehicle Matching Game. During the first game, I showed Lauren where the match was for the police car she had turned over, and I explained to Ethan that this was Lauren's first time playing, and being only 2, she needed a little help. Every game after that, Ethan would purposely "miss" a match or two (and if you know Ethan, you know he NEVER misses a match - kid has a memory like an elephant) and then help Lauren find them during her turn. Talk about a proud mommy.

Poor Josh got stung by a wasp this morning. He is such a tough kid - he didn't even cry! Later this afternoon, I asked Ethan if he was proud of how Josh reacted when that bee stung him, and Ethan said, "I don't want to tell you." I said, "Oh, because I know I was really proud of him just like I'm proud of you when you act like such a big boy." Ethan said, "Okay, I'll tell you. I was proud." :)

So, my thankful list is not exactly a bullet-point list this week but more a rambling of things that make me smile today.

A few nights ago I was getting Lauren ready for bed, and she asked where her grandma was. I said that she was in Pennsylvania. Lauren left the room and came back in with the phone in her hand and said, "I want to talk to Pennsylvania!" So, of course, we called Grandma who was happy to hear from Lauren, who is always happy to oblige a few song requests. ("Bicycle Built for Two" anyone?)

Joshua

I decided this afternoon to clean out the kids' dressers because I was tired of the boys stuffing, cramming, and crumpling their drawers full of enough items to clothe a small country while, of course, wearing the same three outfits every day. Josh, being flesh of my flesh, began waxing nostalgic for clothes he hadn't worn in quite some time. He was eyeing his fleece sweatpants (I had gotten down the winter clothes basket to put away the last few long-sleeved items I had kept in the drawer in case it dropped below 90 degrees sometime past March) and said, "Mom, I miss these pants. I love them!" I explained that he would not need them again until winter, so there was no need to take up space in the dresser with them right now. Here's the conversation that followed:

Joshua: I wish it was always summer, winter, Christmas . . . or October 10th.
Me: You wish every day was one of those?
J: Yes, because then I would get a present or at least get to wear my favorite clothes every day . . . but I wish it would never, ever be Sunday.
Me: Why?
J: So I wouldn't have to go to church. I don't like church.
Me: I think when you're a little older you'll understand more why we go and you'll like it more. Besides, you have a good time there, anyway.
Josh: Well, when I grow up I'm not going to church . . . [long pause], but I bet the woman I marry will beg me and beg me to go.

I don't know where he gets this stuff. Honestly.

By the way, he's sound asleep right now . . . in his gray fleece sweatpants.

Ethan's birthday party

Ethan's 4th birthday party went off without a hitch on Saturday. He had all of his cousins there plus a few friends, and he had a GREAT time. The cake had a small accident on the way to the car, but thankfully, it was not harmed terribly. Still tasted heavenly, and that's all that matters, right? I have to admit, after all the hard work I put into decorating it, I was a little bit sad to see it devoured so quickly!

Here's the birthday boy showing off his rapidly-developing swimming and jumping skills:





And, because Joshua HATES to be left out of pictures:



Blythe getting a little boost from dad:



Grant's pool hairdo:



What my parents' pool looks like every Saturday and Sunday afternoon:



The new bike:



Ethan and his cake, smiling dutifully for mom:



Ethan making the expression he wanted to make before mom said, "JUST smile, please" (because I'm sure you all believe that's how politely I always talk to my kids.)



Singing "Happy Birthday:"



Priceless expression when he saw his voice-altering Optimus Prime helmet:



More great loot:



And, of course, a Transformers pinata:

Transformers cake and a Slip-n-Slide

I was going to note that you should be impressed by two posts in one day, but when I uploaded these pics just now, I discovered it's actually Saturday. It's 1:13 am, and here is what I have been doing for the past 3 hours:



For those of you without 4 and 5 year old boys, that is Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots (the good Transformers) . . . or at least it's the best likeness I, whose artistic skills are already surpassed by my 5 year old, can create. I'm no Martha Stewart, but Ethan will like it. I decided to take a picture of it tonight because, if you look closely, you can see where the two cakes are sort of sloped toward each other in the middle. In the event that it collapses on itself, I wanted evidence of what it looked like before I went to bed! It's become my tradition to bake my kids' birthday cakes while they're awake (so they can "help"), but then to decorate them after they go to bed. Makes it fun to "reveal" it when they get up in the morning.

Since I'm on the computer at this ungoldy hour anyway, here are the promised pictures from the slip-n-slide this afternoon. We just bought it (for $7) yesterday, and they LOVE it. For days when we can't make it to mom's for the pool, it will suffice. Of course, Lauren wasn't interested in actually getting on the slippery part, but she did like playing with the water and even let her face get pretty wet.

Thankful Friday

Not sure how I went almost a whole week without posting. Sorry about that! You'll see why below. I'll start my thankful list with pics:



We had an awesome vbs week at church. Though exhausted, my kids loved, loved, loved it. Josh, Ethan, and Lese were all in different classes, which I think really helped them come out of their shells a bit. (Not that Ethan needed any shell-departing!) Lauren was in the nursery this year but still got to make some cute little crafts, which she loves.




We've finally made a successful switch to the "big girl bed!" We moved her almost a week ago, but it's been slow-going. After very little protesting the first night, she has gone to bed just fine every night with no crying at all. Also naps just fine in it. However, she got into an ugly little habit of waking around 3-4 am each night and coming into our room. I was so tired from vbs and from being sick with a cold that I gave in and let her into our bed after the 3rd or 4th visit each night. Finally on Wed night, I'd had all I could take and decided to "nip it in the bud!" (Totally acknowledging that it was my own fault for giving in the previous nights, thereby teaching her that her persistance would pay off.) So, Wednesday night between the hours of 4 and 6 am, guess how many times we had to take Lauren back to her bed? SEVENTEEN!! Yes, 17 times. I guess tenacity is a good quality, right? However, the reason this is on my "thankful" list today is because after taking her back to her bed 17 times Wed night, guess how many times she got up last night? ONE!!! She got up crying at around 11pm, David took her back to her bed, and she slept without waking until 7:45 this morning. :)



The boys have been "playing" Lord of the Rings Risk for over an hour. The funniest thing is they really think they're playing! They are having such a great time as they have been waiting weeks to get to look at this game. They noticed in the game closet a few weeks ago and asked if they could play it. I explained that it is an adult game and that they were not old enough to play it. So, of course, next question: "Can we just look at at?" I told them that they could take it down and look at it sometime when Lauren was napping, but we've been forgetting every day since then. So, today they remembered, and wow, are they having a blast. They keep telling me to come see how many territories they've conquered, how many orcs are dead (no, they've never seen the movie - they only know it's an orc because I told them.), and how far the dice went when they rolled them. I will have to remember to try this again sometime!

I'm definitely thankful for more than three things this week, but alas, said sleeping daughter has awakened, and I promised the kids some slip-n-slide time this afternoon. Pics to follow, I'm sure. :)

Lauren's bedtime prayer tonight

Dear God, thank you for Gaga's house and Gaga and Pops and Uncle Dan . . . and Cheetos! Amen.

Tonight is her first night in her "big girl" twin bed. As I write this, she's been in the bed for an hour and 20 minutes. Her eyes are still open (I've peeked in twice), but she has not cried. Fingers crossed.

Thankful Friday

• For those unfortunate readers who may have never ventured to Deep South, this is honeysuckle. I grew up pulling out the little stem and sucking the sweet juice from these blossoms. Like every mother, after giving birth I developed an over-active imagination by which I can almost visualize every germ that could possibly be resting on the stem of this honeysuckle blossom just waiting for the chance to hop into my beloved child's defenseless body. Somehow I have been able to overcome this and allow my kids to enjoy the same sweet nectar that I enjoyed as a child. So far, all they have is a cold.
• The wonderful time I had in Jacksonville with my great friends. (Yes, I realize my thankful entries are not parallel in structure today.)
• Making banana pudding with my kids. The boys cut the bananas for me, and Lauren layered the 'nilla wafers in the pan. (Of course, it went something like this: one cookie for the pudding, two cookies for Lauren, one cookie for the pudding . . .)
• A cartoon version of _The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe_. I have been dying to introduce the boys to Narnia, but the recent live-action movies are a little too intense for a 4 and 5 year old. I think they're just about old enough for the books to hold their attention, but in the meantime I discovered the very non-intense cartoon version, which they already love.
• Playing hide-and-seek with a 2 year old. I love how she can't find me even when I'm crouched under a giant blanket in the middle of the living room (a blanket that wasn't there 30 seconds before) even when my feet are sticking out. And, of course, how when it's her turn, she invariably hides in the spot that I hid during my last turn . . . and then gigles with glee when I find her.

Cute girls at the beach

No, I don't mean me, Yella, and E . . . of course, I'm referring to our little girls, Lauren, Madelaine, and Kate. Lauren and I just back tonight from a whirlwind trip to Jacksonville to visit two of my closest friends from law school, Daniella (or Danniela if she prefers to remain cloaked in her shroud of mystery!) and Elisabeth. As it happens, we all have daughters aged 2 or 3, so it was such a treat to be able to get together with our little girls and play and take them to the beach. (Yes, my boys got shafted and had to stay home.) Here are a few highlight pics:

Lauren and Kate:


Maddie:


Kate digging:


Lauren playing in the sand:


Maddie having a blast in the water:


Mommies and daughters:


Lauren and Kate getting cups of water from brave Aunt E:


Maddie and Kate:


Lauren and I, unfortunately, did not get to spend much time there. We arrived Sunday evening around 8:45, and Kate was already in bed. Lauren and Maddie hit it off and became fast friends, despite a few quarrels over who would get to sit in the coveted Dora chair. Monday morning we went to the beach and then brought the girls home for a much-needed bath and nap. Last night we went to eat at a nice outdoor mall area, where the girls saw some cool fish and turtles in a little pond and then got to indulge in ice cream from Marble Slab. Of course, Yella (short for Daniella for those not-quite-lightning-speed-thinkers out there who haven't figured that out yet), E, and I sat up talking until 1am the first night and 2am the second, so I am utterly exhausted. But, I figure when you see a person only 1 or 2 times a year, you might as well suck the best out of every minute you have, right? Here's hoping all of you have friends worth losing sleep for. :)

Thankful Friday

- Boys who played (quietly!) in their room for almost an hour after waking up this morning so that mommy could sleep. According to Josh, they played a matching game, Guess Who, put together two floor puzzles, and of course, built the brilliant architectural display you see above. Thank you, sons.
- Parents who have a swimming pool and live only 10 minutes away. (It's 94 degrees today; we will be there soon, mom!)
- Good friends. I saw several this week and was reminded how much I love and need my friends.
- That Lauren and I get to go to Jacksonville to see two other good friends and their little daughters in a few days for some good mommy/daughter/friend time.
- A husband who loves me despite my, um, shall we say temper? (I know, I know - that sounds a little shocking since I seem like I'd just be such a peach to live with, right?)

Ethan officially became a swimmer today!

He's been dog-paddling short distances for a couple of weeks now, but today he took the plunge and jumped off the diving board with no floaties. He can jump in and swim to the ladder with no problem and can swim the width of the pool. I'm so proud!! Of course, I didn't have my camera or my video camera with me today . . . darn, I guess that means we'll have to swim again tomorrow so I can show everyone! ;)

Not to be outdone in the swimming achievement category, Josh decided to try doing a flip off the diving board today. About 30 tries later, and he's just about got it! :)

Who needs cable with these kids for entertainment?

I was about to get in bed but thought I'd better write down some of the things the kids (mostly Joshua) have said lately that have kept me rolling. And, what better place to write it than here for all of you to share?

On Wednesday Ethan got his first chance to spend the night at Gaga's house by himself. (Well, without his brother or sister . . . obviously, I don't mean literally by himself. Even I wouldn't let him do that until he's at least 5 or 6!) Joshua, mind you, has done this countless times, but this was Ethan's first time. I let him go partly because he's been wanting a turn, partly because he doesn't like going to small group (he loves social gatherings about as much as his daddy does), and partly because Joshua needs to learn to deal with being the one NOT getting to do something on occassion. (Josh has never been one to see the glass half full when someone else has a glass that might possibly, conceivably, potentially EVER contain more than his.) Joshua was quite convinced that this turn of events was utterly unfair and that he "never" gets to go to Gaga's house. He talked ALL night about what he thought Ethan was probably doing and what time Ethan would be going to bed and whether Ethan might be getting to swim, and whether Gaga was buying Ethan a pony and making him her sole heir, etc, etc. So, Thursday morning we woke up (with him in our bed since spending the night with mom is always the consolation prize for not getting to spend the night with Gaga), and I asked him what he wanted for breakfast -
Joshua: "I wish we had dino egg oatmeal."
Me: "I know, but we don't."
J: "I bet Ethan is getting dino egg oatmeal at Gaga's house."
Me: "He might be."
J: "It's not fair. We NEVER have dino egg."
Me: "That's not true. We buy it sometimes."
J: "But Ethan gets to have it today!"
Me: "Well, would you like to sit here and be sad that we don't have dino egg oatmeal or go find something else to eat?:
J: "Find something else . . . but, I can SEE Ethan eating the dino eggs in my head!"
Who says only girls can be drama queens?

When I picked Ethan up on Thursday, I told him that I was so glad to see him because I missed him. He said, "I missed you, too, mommmy." I replied, "You did?" He amended his answer and said, "Actually, I didn't." Of course, you didn't. My name becomes "Mommy who?" when my kids catch a glimpse of Gaga's house!

Yesterday, I took Joshua by the Tae Kwan Do academy because I'm thinking about signing him (and maybe Ethan) up for some lessons. As we were leaving, I was explaining to Josh how the whole belt system works . . . you know, passing on my expertise in the area of martial arts. So, I explained that you start with white and then as you get better, you take tests, and if you pass you move on to yellow, green, etc. Joshua said, "So, if you pass the test, the belt changes color?!"

He is also so imaginative. This morning he took the box from my new crock pot (my old one died a slow and painful death) and stuck it on the handle of my mop and announced it was a "boxsicle." He then told me not to throw away the box because he was going to make something out of it. I left him in the kitchen with the box and the mop, and a few minutes later, I heard, "Mom, help, I'm stuck!" I hollered that I would be there in a minute (because you know, I'm on my way to a mom of the year award for how safe I keep my kids and all), and he said, "My head is on the dirty mop." I entered the kitchen and found him in the crockpot box (no, it was not very large - it's not like it was a big screen tv or something) with the broom stuck through it and his head pressed against the sponge part of the mop, with the handle part sticking through the bottom of the box, which was turned on its side. (Are you getting this? There will be a quiz at the end.) He had taken paper cups and glued them to the bottom of the box (which was on the side now), and somehow this was supposed to be . . . are you ready? . . . a cat. I can't even summon up all of my creative brain cells (all 1 1/2 of them, that is) and imagine how that could possibly be a cat, but of course, Joshua saw it.

And, lastly, since Lauren is never one to be left out of anything about things kids say . . . we were standing in the checkout line at Barnes & Noble today waiting to pay for a book. It was for me (thank you, MOPS, for the gift card), and Lauren said - in her loudest of voices - "I want a book, too." I said, "No, you don't need a book right now." She announces - still in her loudest voice - "Because books are for the potty!" Thanks, kid.

A conversation between Lauren and her Leggos

"I can make a big wall. And you all have to talk to me in Spanish!"
[babble, babble - apparently coming from the leggos]
"Hey, that's not Spanish!"
[more babble]
"To find out, go to pbskids dot org!"

I suppose this is the part where I confess that I let her watch pbs in my bed for half an hour every morning so I can squeeze in 30 more minutes of shut-eye. At least I know she has good retention skills, right?

What a weekend!

This picture pretty much sums up our weekend. (Is that a lot of goggles or what?) It was basically a four-day swimming and eating binge. Starting on Friday afternoon, we spent four days going to my parents' house at 4-5 in the afternoon and not leaving until between 8 and 9 at night. Of course, we somehow managed to get a meal out of my mom each of those nights . . . and when I say "we," I mean me, David and the kids as well as my brother, his wife, and their four kids! Yes, mom finally announced last night that Cafe Mom is closed for awhile. ;) What a great time the kids had, though . . . swimming in the rain, swimming in the dark, eating watermelon in the backyard, eating popsicles in the pool . . . they were in summertime heaven!

On Saturday we managed to squeeze in another activity before swim-time. We took the kids to a place near hear called Westville. It's basically a town preserved and frozen in time from the 1850's. There was a re-enactment of a Creek Indian war at one point - here are Joshua and Ethan with a few of the "soldiers:"



The kids got to help make candles in a big cauldron of hot wax (does anyone else think that sounds like an insane thing for ME to let MY kids do after the recent Tylenol and dresser incidents?!), watch someone operate a giant pedal-operated loom, see a blacksmith work, and see a meal cooked over an open fire in the kitchen of one of the old houses. Here are the oldest three on the judge's bench in the old courthouse (Lauren's actually up there, too; you just can't see her):





Tired Ethan riding on Uncle Dan's shoulders:



This woman showed us the Singer House and told us about life back in the day:

Thankful Friday

• the white sand of the Gulf Coast and being able to share it with people I love
• kids who aren't afraid to try new foods
• a husband who lets me take trips, knowing how much I love to travel
• kids who love to watch "Little House on the Prairie" with me
• my big brother, whose birthday is tomorrow
• the fact that I may be getting old, but I'm not as old as he is!
• long weekends

Beach Trip 2008 (Warning: picture overload!)

Every year my mom, my aunt Bobbie, my cousins (Jessica and Jackie) and I take the kids to the beach. It is always a blast, and this year was no exception. The kids loved, loved, loved it, as you can see from this Baywatch shot. :)



Joshua and Lesey took to the water like fish; they rode waves, swam through waves, swam underwater, got knocked down and dragged around . . . and loved every minute of it.













Josh also spent his days digging giant holes in the sand.





Ethan liked playing in the surf where it just went around his ankles and knees. He really loved it, but he didn't like it if we took him out where it got deep. I am going to try to post a video link later; in most of the videos, Ethan is running from away from a wave and laughing.












Lauren did not like the water AT ALL. Little miss scared-of-her-own-shadow (and, I do mean that literally as she freaks out over her shadow as we walk to the car after small group every Wed. night!) loved digging in the sand and jumping in the holes Joshua made, but let a drop of ocean touch her feet, and you'd think she was being drawn and quartered.











On Saturday night we went to eat at the Old Florida Fish House so Joshua could get the crab claws he loves so much. (Remember this is the kid who chooses Red Lobster for his b'day dinner every year.)





We ran into Lauren Roberts while we were there and were able to get an entire group photo for the first time! Of course, by then the kids were awfully tired of sitting and smiling.



On Monday we went to a great little shopping area in Rosemary beach to get ice cream cones and walk around a bit. We also found a cute kids' shop where each of the kids picked out a webkinz. Josh and Ethan both chose Tigers, Lauren chose a chihuahua (aptly named Taco), and Lesey chose a Panda.









Since this was all after a long morning at the beach, Lauren was a bit tired.



Also for perhaps the first time ever . . . proof that I, too, was at the beach. :)