The Latest Art

Jonathan has become quite enamored with drawing as of late.  I think it is because he is finding he has an increasing ability to draw recognizable items.  He is also very interested in writing about them or having me help him write about them.  One piece of art, that didn't get photographed before water was spilled on it, had a monster truck drawn with the words, "our pet that is a hermit crab likes monster trucks." Anyone else's pet hermit crabs like monster trucks?

One self portrait (left), and one portrait of me... hence the "MOM" written on the top corner.  I asked about what happened to my arm.  To which he replied: "it's just kind of weird, Mom.  Next time I'll make your hand look not so big."   There is also a blueberry, papaya, and something else in my stomach.

A mutant camel... with 3 humps.  Jonathan had a little help from Caleb with the coloring.  Caleb has started to request certain things be drawn by Jonathan so he can color them.

Date Night #2

Rewind six months to the request by Jonathan for a "family date night" and the subsequent outing.  Back to now: family date night #2.  It was a repeat of the first one in many ways because we weren't especially creative this time, and last time was such a wonderful success.

Battle

After thirty minutes of battle in regards to pooping on the toilet, Caleb informed me: "I'm just going to poop in the bath."  Oh, my boy.  I love him and want to scream all in the same moment.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Attempt #2.  Much better success with the ballgame this time, but I think it might have been due to Bruce and Sam's presence (Jamie's cousins).  And, the fact that Bruce loves to get treats... cotton candy, carmel corn... What boys wouldn't love lots of attention from three men and lots of treats?

Before they left for the game, Jonathan and Caleb were arguing about who liked Bruce more.  They did manage to agree that they could both like him.

Same Kind of Different As Me.

Read this book: Same Kind of Different As Me.

The end.

"Business" for Caleb

After our year of chaos, the time has come to potty train the young one.  I didn't speak to one mother or father who thought that potty training would be a good idea in the midst of boxes and all of our moving... so, here we are, settled in this new place.  Ready to potty train Caleb.  So far, not so bad.  I have rather low expectations so maybe that is why I am pleasantly surprised.  He is a rather spirited one in a way completely different from his brother so I had no idea how things would go.

Grassy

We had our first pet.  Grassy, the grasshopper, was welcomed into our home on Saturday after his bad luck of landing on Jonathan's bike.  He was quickly captured by two very curious boys and put in a bucket.  Soon, he was in a tank we had previously used for tadpoles and had been given the name of "Grassy".  The boys had the best time with Grassy.  They put him in the trailer of the John Tractor and took him for a walk (while in the tank), they fed him grass, they talked to him.  After a bit of prodding and talk of Grassy's poor chances of survival in a tank, the boys took him to a local park and let him go.

We are going to get some hermit crabs this week.  Pets in tanks with no fur that require minimal food are our speed at the moment.

Waterfall

In discussing his "class" from church, he mentioned that there was a new girl there last Sunday.  I asked about her name.

Jonathan: "I don't know her name, but she had kind of wavy hair.  You know like a waterfall down to here (points at his chin) and then the water shoots straight up.  That's what her hair did right here (points at his chin, again)."

Last week when Jonathan went to preschool, Caleb was ready to go with him.   "I go to peeeschool too!!  I big, too!"

And so it begins...

It has been the boys and I.  Every weekday since Jonathan was a baby (with the exception of a short little stint for two hours on Fridays for Jonathan when he was two).  Last week was the first day of preschool for my big four year old.  He was so excited.  He got dressed at rapid speed that morning, and we were very early for the nine o'clock start as he couldn't wait to leave.  He loved his first day, and he informed me that he made a new friend named Ben.

I have been a bit nostalgic about the past in the face of this start to a new phase in life.  However, I love to see him blossoming into a confident little guy with an eagerness for new things and meeting new people.  A year ago, I would have bet money that he would be the kid who never said a word in class.  He still won't be the talkative one, but he will gladly share when asked and has come into his own in the last year.  I love the chance to be the one he talks to about the new things he experiences outside of our home.  I love that he is meeting children who come from different backgrounds than he does, who will think differently than he does.  There is still nostalgia about my little man not being very little anymore, but loving is also about letting go.  Onward we go... praying like crazy all the way.

Happy Birthday, dear Jake

All of the grandchildren on my side of the family have fall birthdays.  Jake gets to start the fun on September 3rd.  This year was that little cutie's golden birthday, and we got to celebrate last weekend.

 After three tries, we will call this one: good enough.  It is real.  Our kids like to move, not sit still for photos.  They will smile, just never at the same time or looking in the same direction.  Grampie and Grammie are patient.

Aunt Tammy

We stopped part way both on the "going" and the "return" trips from vacation.  Jamie's family excels in hospitality, and Marc and Tammy hosted us both evenings.  It was so gracious of them, as their lives are never calm with three kiddos and a busy life.  The kids all cuddled up to Aunt Tammy for a little story time one evening while we were there.

Rest of Vacation

We enjoyed lazy days just playing outside and running around.

 We enjoyed hiking on some paths through the farm property.  Caleb was enthralled with his rain boots so he often chose those for his hiking footwear. 

 My boys... and the great outdoors

We also took the opportunity to have a fire under the stars.  Really under the stars as there were no lights to be seen for miles and miles.  The kids loved the chocolate and marshmallow extravaganza.

 Zach, chilling with "raffie"

 Supervising the roasting process

 Our family does love smores!

 The kiddos

 Water fights

We rented kayaks for a short trip around part of the lake.  The kids did quite well, and so did the parents.  I love doing things like that, so this mamma enjoyed herself a good deal.

 Enjoying the water

The Krugers

Vacation

What's not to love about vacation?  Rest, no working, time together, fun activities, good food...
We spent a week in Wisconsin at a farm house owned by the family I nannied for briefly after college.  It was quiet (oh so quiet!!), the weather was wonderful, and we enjoyed some time with good friends.
The farm was just minutes from Lake Geneva, so we enjoyed a day at the beach.

 Let's bury Daddy!

 Buried in the sand

The mammas... Katherine and I have been good friends for a long time.  Since before we were mammas :+)

Repair Shop

We opened a repair shop on our front porch the other day.  

Summer Outfit

On one less oppressively hot day in August (it was still 80 degrees), Jonathan came out wearing this outfit.  He commented that he was a little chilly... this is the result.

We got several smiles/interesting looks as we walked around the neighborhood.

Quick Stop

We stopped for a short visit to see my parents before we left for our vacation. 

Caleb told me today: "Gampie wikes me.  Gammie wikes me."

Birdhouses

We painted birdhouses.  The painting was up to the boys and I, but we called in Daddy to drill a hole in them for a hanging hook.  Thus far, the birds haven't been enthralled with our creations.  Possibly a bit too bright?  Birds or no birds... the painting was a whee of a time.

Boating Debute

After being in my hometown this summer and seeing a family of seven embark on a kayaking trip with children the ages of my children, we decided to take our inaugural "family boat ride".  It was a great success.  We had fun, no one ended up in the lake, and we enjoyed it enough to do it again with a kayak on vacation last week.

 The boys.

 The boys + the mamma

All about the paddles

Random Summer Fun

I do not have a love affair with the heat.  In fact, northern Minnesota or Wisconsin sound more appealing by the year.  Generally, I cannot complain, though.  I like change, I like colder weather, I like snow, I like most anything between twenty degrees and ninety degrees.  We spent a decent amount of time at the pool and at a local park this summer trying to beat the heat.  The park is in the shade with a water feature, and since we had countless 100 degree days it was a great outdoor play area.  

Jake and Josh joined us on several occasions for summer fun...

 The difference in the pool and the park are noticeable: the children leave the pool with only a slight smell of chlorine to show for it.  They leave the park with more mud that I thought possible.

 Can you say, mud?

 Caleb dumped a bucket with muddy water on Jake... nice.

The three mess monsters after a slight rinse job at the water fountain.  I took mine home and sprayed them off with the hose in the backyard before I let them into the house.  The socks were thrown away.