Boooce and Stacey

Caleb and Jonathan have great affection for these two.  They understand boys, and are so kind and thoughtful towards our two.  Caleb hasn't mastered proper enunciation of his "r" sounds, yet, so Bruce is Boooce.

So, so, behind

I did not forget that I have this blog.  It isn't for lack of things "going on" that I haven't posted anything.  Quite the opposite.  And, I have so many photos to post that it seems insurmountable.

What have we been up to?
Vacation to Wisconsin
Quick visit to Iowa on the way to Wisconsin
Working on creating a new website for our church in St. Louis
Dinners with friends
Lots of bike rides with the two seater tandem for Jamie and Jonathan and my bike plus burley for Caleb and I
Nephew, Jake's, birthday party.
Work trips for Jamie

Now, school is starting for my biggest little man.  Preschool only, but I still keep thinking that I must be imagining things.  He is extremely excited.  First day is Thursday, and he was ready to head out today.

Photos and lots of updates to come.  Hopefully soon.

When the Older Teaches the Younger

Warning: Contains grossness about bowels and diapers.

Caleb learns much from his older brother, and Jonathan is wonderful many days about including Caleb in the activities and showing him how to do new things.

Our car conversation the other day showed the downside of older teaching younger.

Jonathan: Caleb, do you know what diarrhea is?  It's runny poop, Caleb.  You had runny poop last week.
Caleb: Oh.  Runny poop in my diaper.
Jonathan: Yes, runny poop is diarrhea.  Can you say, diarrhea, Caleb?
Caleb: Diarrhea.  Diarrhea.  Diarrhea.

Oh, joy.

From the Mouth of Jake

My nephew, Jake, has made some delightful comments worth noting in recent days.

First, when I watched Jake and Josh on Wednesdays there were always times when someone wasn't sharing or something of that sort.  When that someone was Caleb, he was often reprimanded with "Caleb Thomas, we need to be kind' or 'Caleb Thomas, we do not hit other people."  My sister said that Jake was irritated with her one day and said, "Mommy Thomas, I don't want to..."  Apparently the use of the middle name Thomas indicated a reprimand for Jake.

He was at our house for a couple of hours recently, and we were having a snack.  A large number of crumbs were on the floor after they were done so I was wiping them up.  He looked at me and said, "My mommy doesn't clean the floor, ever."  I laughed out loud.  Carla's house is clean, but I've heard her lament a dirty floor a time or two so I imagine Jake was recounting his version of such comments.  Kids don't let us get away with much!

Today is the Day

Notice that Day is capitalized.  Meaning it is a momentous day.  We visited dear friends from our previous home on Monday and Tuesday of this week.  In a fabulous turn of events, an overtired Caleb crawled out of the pack and play at least fifty times during bedtime on Monday evening.  The inevitable event that I was avoiding seemed to be looming.  Bye, bye crib.  Hello, big boy bed.

After observing his growing ability to climb in and out of the crib, we decided that today was the Day.  Big boy bed in.  Crib out.

At least the littlest Guild still likes to be rocked at bedtime.  I'll take it for as long as I can get it!

In The Neighborhood

It is no mystery that we have some serious love for our previous neighbors.  I have posted many times about the lovely people from our little neighborhood in our previous home.  It would seem a "pie in the sky" hope to find another lovely neighborhood.  It seems that the unlikely did occur.  No one can replace Ruth and Keith and company, but it is surely a wonderful thing to have such a homey place to call our own.

Our neighborhood had a small Fourth of July celebration that included breakfast and a kiddie parade.  What a small pleasure!!

 Jake (they joined us), Jonathan, and Caleb  in the parade

Ready, set, GO!

This Makes Two

We had a playground at our previous house that was left by the people from whom we purchased the house.  It was unstable, so Jamie and his dad spent a whole day securing it.  If you know Jamie... that playground would have survived a hurricane when he was done.

We left that sturdy gem when we sold the house last September.  We love to be outside and the house we purchased here didn't have a playground.  It is certainly not a necessity, but it is a rather helpful amenity.  Enter: construction of playground #2.  It seems silly to mention the fact that it was hot since it has been a scorching summer since late June, but it was quite hot.  And, the backyard has shade until 9am or so and then after 4pm.  No shade in the middle of the day.

The project is complete and the boys love it!  Many thanks to Bruce (Jamie's cousin) and Nate (my brother-in-law) for their help!

No photos of Nate helping as it was HOT when he showed up, and I was busy keeping track of the boys.