Good Morning

For months now, I think since before the baby was born, the boys love to come to us when they wake up.  Weekdays are a little different because their dad is already up and occasionally they stay in their room to look out the window, but on the weekends we end up all in bed for a few minutes before they get bored.  (Or argue.)  I'd love to have a day to sleep in but I also love that they come in, I'll be sad when they stop I'm sure.  Wouldn't that be awesome if they still did it as teenagers?  We'd need a bigger bed.

Toddler Playtime

Our toddler is very imaginative and I love seeing the creative ways he plays. The pancake he's eating as I type this has been a rocket, a train, a bouncy seat, a space train, and a mystery bandit train. (Those last 2 reference 2 different kids shows.)

It's especially fun when he's playing freely and alone (while big brother is at school).  And making up characters and stories.  I guess I don't have pictures of that exactly, but here's a couple fun ones of him playing when big brother was at school on Thursday.

This is a zebra bird (he's flapping the string-wings). It says "tweet tweet".


This is a hot air balloon. He asked specifically for the semi-circle magnets which are part of a set that isn't usually on the fridge.

Wednesday

Last Wednesday we went to Virginia for my sister-in-law's naturalization ceremony.  It was a neat experience and I'm so glad we were there with her.  It was also her 4th wedding anniversary so that's fun.
I tried getting a picture that included both my mother-in-law and my toddler, but it was tricky.


We took advantage of being down there on a weekday to visit a tulip farm.  I super loved it and super love all my tulips!
Our toddler was (is) sick and I kept asking if I could carry him but he wanted to hold my hand and walk.

Yes, he has a decent amount of leaf in his mouth.
My beautiful mama!

Yesterday + Firstborn

My preschooler randomly started this conversation yesterday morning.  He didn't even go to school the day before but I guess it was on him mind.

Preschooler: Sometimes I don't like to tell you what happens at school.
Me: What do you mean?
P: I don't know.
M: Do you mean ... (I list several varied guesses)
P: The first one.
M: Something happened that you didn't like?
P: Yes.
M: What?
P: I don't want to tell you about it.

A while later I ask again and he says "somebody got hurt" and then tells me 2 names.
M: How did they get hurt?
P: I don't know.
M: ... on the playground?
P: On the sidewalk, they ran and fell.

He's a sensitive little boy ♥

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Wednesday we picked tulips and yesterday he took one to each of his teachers.  I asked what he'd say when he gave them to them and tried to give him ideas but he insisted "I don't really talk at school."
M: You don't talk at school?  What about in speech?
P: I only talk on Tuesdays.  Not Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays.
Then he added: Brandon talks every day.

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Recently I decorated some red, white, and blue (stars and stripes) cookies for my sister-in-law.  Our preschooler wanted to do it too.  The white and blue were low so we combined them.  He did great!  (1 stripes, 3 stars, 4 suns)


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Yesterday was class picture day at school.  When he got home he said "It's picture day!" and ran to get his camera.  So we took pictures.

Banana

He first had banana on Conference Sunday (April 3rd). I sat next to him with one and his look told me he wanted some too.

A couple of days later he enjoyed some again and after a few minutes I took some pictures but he'd basically moved on to just wanting his very banana fingers.


And after another couple days I took a video.


We're making a very slow entry into solid foods. He loves it but it's just been a little bit of banana every few days.

Toddler Videos

April 15th
He sprayed himself in the face about a million times today.


March 12th
The book Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site. (This one's kind of long.)


February 22nd
ABCs and other fun stuff.

5 Months

He's getting so big, he's growing from a baby into a little boy and I love it but it's happening way too fast!

He's so fun, happy, has a big personality, loves his brothers, loves smiling and playing, and must be included in everything!

He's had banana a few times and loves it. He's just started rolling to his tummy, but not that often and he doesn't quite get all the way up. (I don't lay him on his back a ton besides to sleep so he doesn't get a lot of opportunity.)

He's started nursing to sleep occasionally (besides the middle of the night) and letting me hold him to get him to sleep and I wish I could hold him forever but I can't. It helps me appreciate when he falls asleep at church and I get to keep holding him!

5th Birthday!

It's policy in our county schools to not allow kids to share food on their birthday. So I'm glad we found something else for him to take.  They had maracas at the party store (for Cinco de Mayo) which we thought would be fun.  The teacher sent me a video of them singing happy birthday to him with them.  He loved watching the video with me and tells me they sang 3 or 4 more songs with the maracas.

His birthday was on a Saturday this year so his party was on the same day.

In the morning he had Miniastics, which is what they call their intro-to-gymnastics-for-preschoolers class at the Y.  He's been doing it every Saturday since early March and it'll be over in a couple more weeks.  He loves it :)  (The first class he went with his dad and I stayed home; when he got home he ran up to me and said "I did 74 jumps!") See these pics of his awesome gymnastics skills!


From there he and I picked up the birthday balloons we'd ordered for him.  He'd selected stoplight colored decorations including a big 5-shaped balloon which I thought went nicely with the math theme.  Here he is playing tablet games while we get ready for his party.


Hot Cup's family arrived a little early (and mine a little late due to car trouble) so there was a bit of time for fun and games before dinner.  For dinner Hot Cup smoked some pork and I managed a few sides.


Then he opened his gifts.  We'd taken him bike shopping a few weeks ago.


Lots of people did the pogo jumper including my parents. How did I not think to take everyone's picture/video?!

And last we had cake and ice cream!  I made the cake and Hot Cup made homemade orange and mint ice creams into chocolate covered ice cream balls.  I'm so glad he enjoyed his math cake :)  :)

Birthday Invite

We went outside to take a picture of him for his party invite (it was a just family party but I always do a photo invite).  He's so much fun :)


Here it is! (He loves math! He asked for a math cake so I used the same theme in the invite.)


I thanked him for cooperating for the picture and he said when he turns 6 he's going to make this face:

March

I was surprised to learn that my dad's brother passed unexpectedly early in the month. He's a wonderful man and will be sorely missed. He's the first of my uncles and aunts to go. Look at these adorable pictures! My dad's the youngest. The one in the middle is the one who died. (They have a big sister too.)


Hot Cup planted flowers last fall and they're so fun and beautiful!


Yay for playing, sleeping, and eating outside!



Our oldest working on a craft at the maple syrup festival, and the two boys at the maple syrup presentation.


The hat wouldn't stay up because it was folded down to fit into his backpack; when I asked him to hold it up for a picture he solved that issue.


Our preschooler continues to love school of course. His bedtime book of choice has been a nursery rhyme book I got for my 2nd Christmas; I'll hear him randomly recite some of them.

Our toddler fell asleep in the arms of his nursery leaders twice.  They partially divide the room with the accordion door and put him down; he sleeps for over an hour.  I say this a lot lately but he's talking so much!!  He's very polite and articulate.

Our toddler's photography.


Adorableness is always happening!



I love cuddles.


With daddy.


Looking at babies with his brothers. Both of them love their baby, but the oldest is especially attentive.


Also in March, we celebrated our 7th anniversary!