Spelling

Josiah came up to me a couple minutes ago and said he knew how to spell energy. I said, "Really, how?" He said "First an N then an R and then a G! N-R-G!" And then he ran around the living room to demonstrate. :)

Mr. Chatty Micah

In the last post I mentioned that the boys like to talk on the phone and now I have a video for you to witness it yourself. Several times in the last few days Micah has brought my phone to me and asked me to call someone for him to talk to. And he has been having real conversations, too! Anyway, here is a video of him talking the other day. Maybe you wont think its as cute as I do, but I think something about this is just so adorable!

No School, No School! La, la, la, la, la!

Ahh, fall break. What a wonderful time of the year. Ok, so I guess right now I think that anytime when we don't have school is a wonderful time of the year! But seriously, the boys and I had a lot of fun getting to stay home all day and not have anything in particular to do. Josiah got to stay in his jammie shirt all day (he made sure to tell John about that at dinner!) and we all got to watch some Veggietales and eat popcorn after nap. It was great!! You know, as frustrating as it can be sometimes to stay home all day, I'll be honest and tell you, I sure do miss getting to do that! I normally feel like there is just not enough time to do everything. I mean, I ALWAYS feel like there isn't enough time for everything, but especially since I've been working. When I'm not at work there are so many errands to run, dishes and clothes to wash, floors to vacuum (I wont even mention the last time I dusted...mostly because I don't remember!), not to mention lessons to plan, papers to grade--oh, and somewhere in the midst of that I have to play with my kids so that they know how important they are to me and how much I love them, love them, love them! So what usually happens is that no matter what I'm doing, part of me feels like I need to be doing something else. It's crazy and of course I'm pregnant, hormonal and that doesn't really help! But ANYWAY...I'm enjoying our break. I'm enjoying spending all day with the boys and getting to nap with them (REALLY like the napping part!). I like getting to experience all of the silly, crazy, wacky parts of their personalities. I'm looking forward to the rest of our week together!

So, here is a video I took a couple of weeks ago. I don't know how you all feel about the videos, but the boys think it is SUPER COOL to get on the computer and watch videos of themselves. I can't even tell you how many times we have watched the videos that are posted on this blog--A LOT! :) Just kidding...I'm having trouble with youtube. You'll have to check back later for the video. Ok, so youtube decided it likes me after all. Here's the video:


I've discovered that one of the benefits of having kids is they automatically come with a personal answering system. Josiah likes to answer the home phone...but sometimes he forgets to say "Hello." We're still working on the technicalities there. So, if you call us and hear the phone pick up, but its just silence, go ahead and say, "Hello, Josiah." I bet he'd take it in stride. As you know with cell phones you can set specific rings for specific people. On my phone John has his very own Cyndi Lauper song that plays when he calls (he loves my taste in music...ha-ha). Both the boys know what "Daddy's ring" is and will answer my cell phone (if they can find it) when he calls. This is what happened today. I was outside with Josiah helping him find a lost toy when all of a sudden Micah appears at the sliding door and says, "I'm talking Daddy" and then he wouldn't give me the phone! I guess it's kind of like "finder's keepers"--he who answers the phone gets to talk. At least John knows he's loved since we all fight for the phone to get to talk to him!

Well, the least I can do at this point is share a picture of the boys. This was about a week ago. Karen bought the boys matching Buzz jackets and it was finally cool enough outside to wear them. Check them out cheezin' together with their awesome jackets on:

Baby's First Picture

Here it is! Our little alien baby picture, taken this morning. The boys came with us and Josiah thought it was pretty cool that he could see the baby's heart beating. He kept asking if the baby could see him through the screen! :) Cute. Micah thought the big, colorful, bouncy birth balls were much more interesting than the ultrasound. Guess that's not too surprising! AND, the ultrasound lady knows what gender the baby is, but none of the rest of us do. Although I've got to say it's very tempting to ask when you know that she is sitting there and SHE knows...Surprises!! And now, without further ado, the baby!

So, I was listening to a song tonight that made me realize how lucky I am to be a part of this "strange little band of characters" that is my family. I wouldn't trade these days, these years of my life for anything because these people, these boys that God has blessed me with, are so incredibly wonderful and sweet and fun and funNY and original and amazing. I love to spend time with my boys--the big one and the small ones, too! They are the sunshine of my life. And I am so honored to have another little one growing inside me--another character to add to our troupe. I love being a part of these people's lives! To watch them live and grow and discover and LAUGH. I love to laugh them! These days, this craziness that is being a mom and having little kids, are so precious and fleeting. Each second is a treasure trove of memories, and I only hope I will make the most of them!

"I will build for all times
A house of memories just for you and I
There you'll find rooms inside
Filled with laughter, joy
And your mommy's pride
Around the table and down the hall
We'll chase each other
Till the laughter makes us fall
In the evening, we'll lay our heads down
And thank God for these memories."
-from "House of Memories" by Ten Shekel Shirt

Kids? What kids?

John and I have spent the last 36 hours child-free. Whoa. John's parent's took the boys, not only out of our house, but out of the state to Georgia for cousin Justin's birthday party. FREEDOM!! Ha-ha. But we have gotten a lot of things done! We've been surprised at how much easier it is to focus on something, sit down and complete a project, start to finish, when there aren't two little ones to corral, feed, read to, play with, discipline, change, clean, and all of that other stuff! So, while I hope that Micah and Josiah have had a great time playing with gramma and grampa and cousins and all, it sure has been nice to knock a few (six!) things off our to-do list!

You know that whole "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" thing...apparently that starts early...Josiah and I were talking the other day about a little girl (can't remember the exact conversation) and he asked me a question about her. In my explanation I was telling him that all humans are like that. He said, "But mommy, that's not a human, it's a 'she'" We girls are a category all on our own!

The boys have this little truck toy that they can ride around the house and push Flinstone-style. Micah has been using it recently to do one of two things: go to Wal-Mart or go to work. And when he goes to Wal-Mart he takes his "man bag" (ok, it's an old purse of mine, but John would rather us call it something else) and when he goes to work he puts on his hard hat and takes his lunch box. It's so cute! And he always comes and says, "Bye, Mommy. I'm going to _______. See you later! I love you! Later tater!" It's really cute!