Buddies

I can't believe we haven't yet posted about our new friends, Karly and Ty. They live across the street, and are 4 and 2, only a few months younger than Lily and Jonathan. The four of them are great buddies and spend hours playing together. It so nice to have built in buds! Lily summed it up when she gave Karly a big hug and said, "You are my best friend, except for Jonathan!"

































We get to see even more of them as I am going to nanny them a few days a week, with a few full time weeks coming up. Yes, I know...six months ago if you had asked me to take on a few extra kids I would have rolled over and played dead. But that's the beauty of time...and more children of your own...you adapt. Today when they showed up at 8am I accepted them without batting an eye, and we had a great day! And do I sleep well at night? Definitely.

School is making me smart

Our bedtime conversation.

Me: So, Lily-
Lily: I know what you're going to ask me, mom. You're going to ask me about school and what I did today.
Me: I'm going to be asking you those questions the rest of your life because I'm your mom and I love you.
Lily: Even when I'm grown up?
Me: Yep.
Lily: Well, when I go to college I'll be sure to call you and leave you messages.

Earlier today.

Lily: Hey mom, did you know that I've seen old men wearing earrings? Really.
Me: What do you think about that?
Lily: I think it's not consistent.
Me: You're right.

Lily begins the age of reason

Lily started preschool today. I was so excited for her...so happy for her to have this experience. Her little class (six girls and one boy) were all so wondering and shy. Of course this will wear off quickly, but today was very sweet. Especially when compared to the boisterous, chaotic kindergartners. I mean, the teacher tells the little four year olds to get in line and they look back at her with blank faces. I could go on and on, but will stop before I get too sentimental. More on school to come.

Ready to go.



















At school.

J Man

Jonathan is two and a half, but if you ask him, he is five. He has kicked it into high gear, energized by complete verbal skills and the ability to throw, run, and hit. We spend a great deal of time channeling this energy.

His imagination is also reaching great heights. In keeping with the time honored tradition of the "fish story," Jonathan related this to Lily when we picked her up from school today (and I quote).

Jonathan: See my scrape on my knee? See Wily? Wily, look at my scrape!!
Lily: I see it buddy. What happened?
J: Well, I was walkin', and this big crab came up, and bited my lil' knee, and he came up out of the water, and bit me. And I was in the sand, and there was this crab, and he got my knee. See Wily? And then he went back to the water and didn't bite me again. Well, anyway.
Lily: Good story buddy.

When, in reality, he had fallen in the school parking lot and cut it open on a rock. I mean, how boring! But a crab, with sand and water, now that's a real story! For my two year old to have grasped this concept was fascinating. We like a good story.

Thinning out (maybe).



















Saying goodbye to Lily.

Ryle Henry

Ryle turned 9 months old yesterday, and his latest developments include crawling up stairs (with someone behind ready to catch), pulling up to a stand (but not being able to dismount), and cutting some pretty impressively sized teeth. He popped out a cute little bottom tooth about a month ago, followed by a huge fang on the top, looked like a Jack o' lantern for a week, then cut a second tooth on the bottom. The other top tooth is on the verge of breaking through.

Most importantly, however, he has learned to clap and is our family cheer leader. Whenever anyone feels he or she needs a little boost, Ryle obliges by grinning hugely and clapping. Instead of "mom, watch me!" Lily and Jonathan now call for Ryle to watch as they go down the slide, jump off the box, turn a somersault (or whatever). In fact, Ryle makes a perfect one man audience, always watching, ready to clap and cheer for his siblings. I have trained him well.

The fang on top.















Pulling up. The only way to get down is to accidentally fall back on his bottom.



















Demonstrating new skills.

Family dinner

Ballet begins

I'll be home soon mom. Look how much fun I had.

Cousin love

Hmmm, Maltby Cafe

Neighborhood playground

Good burgers Pa

Happy Fourth wink

Look what I found

YES!

Watch out

Life repeats itself

June 2008
















June 2009

Family Resemblance?

Ryle meets the lake

And we're off

Before we head out of town for the next ten days or so, I wanted to write down a couple Lily stories before I forget them...

Jonathan's latest passion is locking himself in the bathroom and pretending he can't get out. Before we discovered he could actually unlock the door himself, we attempted standing outside the door and talking him out-while he threw fits inside. One of the times, Luke, Donna (who was visiting), and I were standing in the hall while Jonathan went through his routine on the other side of the locked door. Suddenly Lily's door opened and she poked her head out, saying, "What's all the commotion?"

For Mother's Day we went to Pizza Hut (whoopie) and the kids got balloons. As we walked to the car we told them to hold on tight to the strings. Lily said, "But if I let go, the balloon will go to heaven, and God will catch it for me. Then I can get it back when I die!"

First time solids-not a fan

An expert

Swinging

New dress!

Just bought Lily a few of these for summer! Isn't she cute?

It rains a lot here!

A rainy day

What happens when I turn my back

Dinner

Oo la la

Posing

When your kids make you laugh

It's so fun when your toddler goes from saying one word to speaking full sentences in the space of a few weeks. This afternoon, after another episode of the wake up from your nap and do your business and then let mom come in to get you and nearly pass out from the smell, we had a heart to heart chat.
Me: Jonathan, you're a big boy. Big boys put poop in the potty. That's what Jonathan should do.
Jonathan (faking surprise): Whoaa...fun idea!
Me: Don't pretend this is the first time I've told you this.
Jonathan (faking innocence): What mommy?
Me: Put your poop in the potty!
Jonathan (deciding to give up the charade and just be honest): No. I like to put it here. Right here in my diaper. (Pat, pat).

And a Lily story...Breakfast time is usually pretty hairy...Luke is already gone for work and I try to juggle making and serving breakfast for two little people while feeding the baby and what not. Feeling like a good mommy, I served Lily a plate of perfectly cooked eggs and toast. She took one look and said, "Mommy, didn't you have any concept that I wanted pancakes today?"

Two with Conviction

It's my birthday!

We're still here, trying to take pictures when we can, but as you can imagine, we always seem to have our hands full. It was my birthday today, so last night we made a nice Sabbath/birthday dinner and celebrated together. Today we went to church and then dropped off all three kiddos with Bray and Kajsa and had a nice sushi dinner. After quick naps we drove up to the Mau's house and celebrated Jeff's and my birthday. Fun times! Can't wait for more if spring would only come! (We woke up to Christmas snowflakes this morning!)

Bath time

And for those who don't have facebook...a truly priceless moment

Our big boy

I took Jonathan for his first real haircut today. He's had several haircuts at home, but they haven't gone well. Despite suckers, ice cream, movies, etc., he still has to be held screaming while we trim away. So I was sort of worried about taking him somewhere to get it cut. I shouldn't have been! We had a long talk beforehand, and he got up in the chair and sat quietly for the entire time with a look of solemn wonder on his face. He clutched the granola bar in his hand but never took a bite. So proud of my big boy!!

Lily's Latest

Daffodowndilly
by A.A. Milne

She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,
She wore her greenest gown;
She turned to the south wind
And curtsied up and down.
She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
"Winter is dead."

Lily turns four!

Ryle's Baptism

We're still here!

Long time no blog. We had a baby, spent three weeks with family over the holidays, and have now settled back into life with three kiddos under the age of four. Exciting news items include searching for a new car (our beloved Subaru was totalled four days after Ryle was born), Jonathan in the throes of early potty training, and checking out preschools for Lily. Also, her birthday is next week and we will finally be able to truthfully say "she's four" when asked by staring strangers how old our kids are. Now if she would just grow a foot taller and Jonathan would turn two, we would be golden.

More news includes Jonathan's verbal skills-we have sadly left the "dog" stage behind (I didn't think I would miss it, but I do) and he is talking with hundreds of words and in sentences such as, "Ineejuice...Iwanmilk...Ineehep" and so on. And Ryle, Ryle is as sweet and easy going as they come. He smiles frequently. He patiently accepts wet "nummies" (kisses) from JB. He loves for Lily to "sing." We love him.

I'll sum it up with this tidbit: Lily came up and caressed Ryle as I was holding him. She looked at him lovingly and said, "Aren't you the sweetest baby? Mommy, he's the sweetest baby ever." Then turning away, she sadly added, "Too bad he smells like barf." Okay then.