...just stay little...

POTD June 22, 2011: I'm not sure why I LOVE this picture so much. I think it's because it's the juxtaposition in the image that describes his personality exactly: soft, sweet, innocent and cuddly like his favorite stuffed kitty that he loves and calls "Meowous" and crazy, wild, determined, sometimes ruthless like the gun that he's pointing (probably at one of his brothers!)

{Still working on catching up on my 365 from last year...only one month left and I can start 2012. My goal was not to get behind this year - I'm already failing!}

Am I STILL 4?!

Isaac turned 4 a week ago. He was the HAPPIEST birthday boy I've ever seen. Really. EVER. He is SO happy to be 4. He asks me every morning if he's still 4. Today he said, "am I? Oh yeah. I am. I'm 4!"

Isaac at 4:

LOVES: to dress up as a super hero, ride his bike, play games, be the center of attention, fruit salad, changing his clothes 2+ times a day, motorcycles (toys and real ones), legos, riding on the tube when we go boating, to be a BIG brother, when someone is proud of him, SINGING, making people laugh, watching movies, sleeping on his pillow pet, wearing pj's all day, reading books and being read to, listening to CD's to fall asleep for naps, dessert - he asks for it almost every night, one on one attention from Mom or Dad, going on walks, playing outside

DOESN'T LIKE: waiting his turn, not being in kindergarten, anyone to tell him what to do, being a LITTLE brother, taking naps

5 WORDS THAT DESCRIBE HIM NOW: passionate, energetic, excited, funny, singing

We threw a little family-style birthday party for Isaac. Pizza and cupcakes. (side.note. just found this recipe for GlutenFree cupcakes and they were AWESOME! It made me happy that I could give Austin something good and the rest of us loved them too. Isaac was thrilled by them and Austin was over-the-moon happy he could eat a "real" cupcake!)

Isaac directed the whole party, "First we'll eat dinner then sing 'Happy Birthday'. No wait. First dinner then PRESENTS!! Then Cupcakes, and THEN sing me 'Happy Birthday'." So that is what we did.

I need to take a picture of the Spider Man movie he got. It's hilarious. I sent his picture in and they put his head on Spider Man's body. It cracks me up every time I see it. The kids love it and Isaac watches every day (OK fine, yesterday he watched it 5 times - I was canning peaches and TV time rules went out the window. But seriously 5 times? Yeah, it's THAT good! :) )

I loved how excited he was for his "Talkie Walkie Talkies"

Isaac also got a Spider Man themed birthday party with some of his little pals. His first "friend party" ever. It was time. He LOVED it. He wore his Spider Man costume. We made super hero masks.

There was Silly String - the kids sprayed webs that I drew on our windows. Some of the kids had a hard time working the cans. Landon and Austin were happy two kids didn't come so they could have the extra cans. Landon's can lasted about 30 seconds.

There were Spider Man cupcakes (SO not Gluten Free :) luckily we had some left from the day before...)

There was a pinata. I filled it with leftover goody bags from his preschool class. He was into goody bags for some reason. He wanted them in the worst way. I was glad we had extra so I didn't have to buy more candy to throw away. (don't tell my kids I throw their candy away when they're not around!)

Of course there were presents. Here's the thank-you card we're giving out. Isaac spent the afternoon making his own cards (a piece of paper he colored, then waded up and stapled into a crazy ball, shoved into an envelope taped together with green painters tape) so I thought I'd make these to go along with his cards.

For days he's been saying, "my friends are so awesome! I got the best presents!"

With all the anticipation leading up to his birthday, I was worried Isaac would somehow be let down. But I think I can safely say that this year he was NOT disappointed. Hopefully all his little dreams came true!

my THIRD boy

I was just getting caught up on my Picture.of.the.Day project and a few pics caught my eye. I love {ALL} my boys. Today, see what I love about this one:

ClAssIc IsAac: black eye {Austin threw the garage door open into Zac's face} and bruises all over his forehead

messy face {the kid can NOT keep his face clean!}

what you don't see {no pants, diaper - yes he's STILL wearing diapers - we're workin' on it, two different socks - one black, leftover from church, one of Austin's too big white ones}

He just learned to ride his "big" bike with training wheels {can you tell the bike's been through all 3 boys?!} I try to spend a half hour a day with JUST him. Today's activity - learning to use the brakes.

He is so enthusiastic. Also, he's got a great imagination. My best "pretender" so far. I love watching him play - especially listening to him talk to his toys and hearing what they "say" back to him.

The other day at nap time: he INSISTED on going to bed inside a web. We made one with a blanet and pillows. he INSISTED on wearing the mask. he fell asleep, I snapped a picture, and then took the mask off his mouth and nose. He is strong-willed and very insistent. I get nervous for his teenage years (seriously, I think about it daily!) I'm constantly trying to think of ways to make him think what I need him to do is HIS idea.

We went to ride Fire Trucks the other night at the fire station's Fire Prepardeness Fair. The boys loved it. Isaac had a great time. He snuggled with his dad on top of the fire engine during our ride. I carried him for a while in line when he got SCARED when "Scruff the Crime Dog" ( a guy in suit) came to give him a high five. {He's hopelessly scared of dogs.}

_____

There is just something so sweet and endearing about the little things they do. I LOVE my boys. Really. Boys. They're great.

The end of the Birthday Gauntlet

I know less is more - but with a kid like Isaac, it's just impossible to only choose one or two pictures... so you might as well have been here with us while we celebrated his THIRD birthday.

----

Since it was Labor Day weekend, my parents were able to come up {with their boat :) } and spend it with us. What a fun weekend. We spent Saturday on the boat with KFC and other munchies. Boating is this family's favorite thing to do. {a boat is definitly on our wish list!!} We love it cuz we're all together and there's something for everyone - the littles (and me) love to just ride, going fast. The big kids love the Water Rocket and swimming. Cam got to water ski - I love to ski too but I'm picky about the temperature. The water's gotta be warm. It's just so so relaxing and fun.

We had Isaac's b.day party a day early, on Sunday. He loved opening the presents. But... he REALLY loved the wrapping paper. When he saw it, as I not so stealthly handed it to Cameron so he could go wrap, he jumped up and down and shouted something about his Toy "Stoy" party, so excited.


We had to light the candles twice - he was so excited to blow them out he didn't want to wait for us to sing Happy Birthday.

If one of your presents falls into the cupcakes... no big deal, just lick it off.

We played with his new presents.

Then we watched a movie with "Toy Story" popcorn bowls. Sometime during the movie I looked around for Isaac.

He was just eating another cupcake.

But when I realized he had licked the frosting off ALL the rest of the cupcakes he thought he was in trouble. These pictures describe my life with him completely - at least a few times a day. I imagine him thinking - "if I close my eyes I can't hear her ranting/yelling/lecturing/saying no. oh good she turned away for a second. hurry and do it before she sees me."

The next day Cameron took Isaac and my dad on a motorcycle ride. Then it was off to Smoky Mountain for a free birthday pizza and sad goodbye to Grandma, Grandpa, and Alina.

-

Isaac went to his first (and last - a story for another post. Bottom line he just wasn't ready for it) day of Preschool the next day. They celebrated his birthday, there too.

-

I love this boy. He is my greatest challenge and greatest joy. I'm still learning how to relate to him. The more I've tried to embrace who he is and channel his endless curiosity and independance the more fun he's become. He comes out fighting but as soon as he feels understood and accepted the fight stops and hugs start. He is loving and happy and hillarious. He reminds me, everyday, to think before I {yell} speak, and stay calm. He is teaching me to be a better person.

This family just wouldn't be the same without you, little dude. And as I walk through the house and find your trail in every room, I think about the ways you make me laugh, how dynamic you are, how you stick to your guns, and how exciting you make our lives. Happy, happy birthday~

JUST BECAUSE

...I love this picture...

{we had a great 4th of July/going away party for Cameron. it was good to spend the day together as a family}

... and I love this quote...

"The power of unconditional love. I mean, there is no power on earth like unconditional love. And I think that if you offered that to your child, I mean, you're 90 percent of the way home. There may be days when you don't feel like it - it's not uncritical love; that's a different animal - but to know you can always come back, that is huge in life. That takes you a long, long way. And I would say that every parent out there that can extend that to their child at an early age, it's going to make for a better human being." Warren Buffet - when asked how he became a multi-billionare.

a little somethin' to let ya know we're alive

From the curly blonde hair to the clothes that never match (cuz he wants to get dressed him"belf") to the swiming suit he wears at least part of every day to the rain or snow boots he insists on wearing because he doesn't want to take the time to put on actual shoes... we LOVE this kid

-

...and if you've been wondering... life has not slowed down like I thought it would when school let out. there is just always something going on. We've been having a lot of fun. Despite the fact that lots of our time is spent driving (just today we drove 2.5 hours + the time it took to get from place to place just to go to Target, Winco, and take a walk through a park) and (it seems like) the rest of it is spent on laundry, we're doing what we can to make the best of our summer... One of these days I'd really like to not drive to Boise and not have laundry to do so I can post some pictures of: rodeo, mini-golf, hanging out, swimming, traveling, biking, visitors, preschool graduation, last day of school, zoo... but for now enjoy this POTD

C.O.N.V.E.R.S.A.T.I.O.N.S

A {GLIMPSE} of our LiVeS through some INTERESTING recent conversations....

*** I went into Landon's room to make sure he was awake and getting ready for school. (I had just rolled out of bed, myself)

L: "Mom. On Zach and Cody Cody said, 'don't say my mom is pretty! You should see what she looks like in the morning!!' I understand what he was talking about now."

*** Background info: we've been watching the "LIFE" series on Discovery - the kids love it and they're learning a lot about animals, including mating rituals. I recently talked to Landon about "where babies come from". I used his health book and told him how the parts fit together and what they do. Nothing more than that - he didn't ask and I didn't tell, except to say that only a husband and wife can have a baby (I guess I need to clarify and say only a husband and wife SHOULD have a baby)....

After looking at our sea monkeys Landon asked if they mate. I told him I was pretty sure they did. Austin asked Landon, "what does that mean? Mate?"

L: "It means when two animals get married, they hold tails so they can lay eggs or have babies"

***Austin, while patting my stomach: "Huh? I don't get it. You don't have a baby in there anymore. Why is it still so big?" [I'd like to know the answer to that too!]

***At Walmart, after asking for at least one thing on every other aisle we'd been on.

A: "Mom! Popsicles! Please, Please, PLLLLEASE..."

M: "no. sorry. everytime I get that kind you guys leave them on the counter to turn them back into juice. They leak all over. I'd rather just buy you juice."

A: "mom. please?"

Random Walmart Customer: "yeah mom. please."

[Is she kidding? I give her a look that I hope says, "thanks but I don't need your help here."]

A: "Mom! Please? I love these kind."

[now it's a bit of a power struggle and I've already given in at least 5 other times earlier in the store and I really feel like I can't give in.]

M: "No Austin."

Random Walmart Customer: "They're just popsicles."

[seriously??!]

A: "Yeah just popsicles, PLEAAAASE."

M: "Austin. If you didn't ask for something on EVERY aisle I might be able to get them for you. I've already got a ton of stuff just because you asked for it. You can't get everything you want. Stop asking and come on. NOW."

[Dear Random Walmart Lady: while I appreciate that they were only 2 dollar popsicles - multiply that by 3 kids' 10 "2 dollar desires" per shopping trip and add that to how many times I go to the store a week and there you go - I can't afford it. Plus, my kids are really not neglected. In fact they are quite indulged. I don't think they need to be indulged ALL the time. Please just mind your own business.... feels good to get that off my chest!]

***At the pediatricians office for an ENT referal for Landon.

Doc: "looks like he might have some sinus problems that would benefit from ENT. They just drill out the sinus' to make them bigger. Nasty, painful surgery I wouldn't want it."

later after the doctor leaves the room, Landon's eyes fill up with tears.

L: "I don't want surgery!! It's going to hurt. I'm going to have holes in my face!!"

M: "Landon we don't know you need that. The doctor was just saying it was a possibility. He was trying to say you're breathing problems can be fixed. It would be great if you could breath through your nose. But the ENT might know a better way than surgery."

L: "But he said!!! And even he wouldn't want it. And every one will see the holes in my face..."

[uh, hello? doctor? why would you say that? just wondering]

***M: Austin put that lotion on your itchies but don't get any on my bed, k?

Isaac [said in that sing song playground mockery voice]: ha ha I just got lotion on your bed!! [that kid is a R-A-S-C-A-L sometimes. lotion on my dry clean only bedspread and pillow sham... I swear he did it just because I told Austin not to. grrrr...]

*** after looking at the bank account...

Cameron: $200.00 at Costco, huh?

Me: "two kids in diapers, wipes, laundry detergent, turkey sausage [the only protein Austin's not allergic to and will eat in the mornings] fruit, soy milk, string cheese. Believe me, there's a lot of other stuff I'd rather spend the money on too!"

***while eating breakfast after fighting ALL morning:

L: "Austin I love ya"

A: "I love ya too Landon"

a little {SuNShiNe}

This boy can carry a tune. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear him sing. He often walks around the house singing away [just like his Dad!]. His favorite song right now is "You are My Sunshine". We sing it to Ella when she cries.

Other favorite songs right {now} are: I am a Child of God, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam, Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee, Follow the Prophet