Trips with Three

I have been trying to force myself to go out at least once a week with all three, as I can't forever avoid those "wow, you have your hands full" comments and looks and need to face reality. Or maybe it's because both Trader Joe's and Costco have early closing times and are no longer open by the time I put the older two down to bed. But if this is what car rides with three looks like on a 15 minute car ride, tomorrow's 4 1/2 hour car ride (with a potty-trained child) will be a real treat. :)

 

 Here's to hoping they all look like Callum tomorrow afternoon :)

If you give a toddler his swimsuit...

... he's going to want to play in the water with his brother.

Watching the sprinkler move will remind him that he can move the sprinkler...

So he and his brother will water the grass.

Watching the water hit stationary targets, he will then try his aim on moving ones...

until he gets distracted by an airplane and points it out to his Mom.

This will cause his Mommy to look up to the sky, where she won't see an airplane, but she will see the storm clouds gathering. And she'll send the whole family indoors.

And if you send him indoors, he's going to shiver a bit because it's cold. He will look down and see he's wearing a swimsuit, and want to play with some more water...




... and get his brother wet.

Sunday Mornings and the Fashion Sense of a Four Year Old

It started out with cowboy boots. I saw him putting them on over his barefeet and told him he had to wear socks so his feet wouldn't get "stinky".

From downstairs, I could hear his Daddy telling him five minutes later that he couldn't wear boots with shorts. It just didn't work. Long pants yes. Shorts no. Put on his sandals instead.

 I guess I'm so used to seeing him run around like that during the other 6 days of the week, I've become immune.

I head upstairs to get the baby to load him in the car seat. There is my four year old in tube socks and sandals. It brings a smile to my face as I remember my high school English teacher. I tell Joel that his son has his fashion sense. Must be a "homeschooled" thing (a running joke that we've had for the past week-- and really, 6+ years... please don't take offense if you were homeschooled) ;)  He hasn't noticed Liam. Remarks that even a homeschooled boy knows that boots don't go with shorts.

Then he turns and sees Liam. Tells Liam that people don't wear socks with sandals. Liam remarks that socks keep his feet from stinking. I smile. Joel says that feet don't stink when they wear sandals. I quietly remark in my mind that yes, Keens do in fact stink after they get wet with feet in them, before they get a good washing. Just ask Laura. Or my parents. Joel tells Liam he must take off the socks. Liam leaves the room.

Aiden comes into the room a couple minutes later. I hear Liam call out that he helped Liam get dressed. Aiden's wearing his winter snow coat. Joel looks at Aiden and tells him its already almost 80 outside and he doesn't need a coat. Liam comes into the room and says that Aiden wanted his coat, so he helped him put it on. I wonder how he got the coat out of the closet, and am impressed that he helped Aiden put it on and zip it up. I remark my thoughts. Liam replies that it's because he's a big boy now, because he's four. I agree he is getting big.

Liam heads out of the room. Joel tries to take off Aiden's coat, while avoiding the banana that Aiden is currently smashing in his tight little grip. Aiden refuses to take off his coat or even the hood. Joel sighs and goes back to fixing his tie.

Liam comes back into the room, proudly telling his Daddy that he took off his socks, and is ready for church. I take a side glance, do a double take and smile. I think Joel gives up and states out loud that he gets his fashion sense from his mom's side of the family. I think it's really his Aunt Katie. ;)

Let's just say he got quite a few comments from people at church today about his tie and belt buckle. And don't worry, in this 86 degree, humid day, Aiden's jacket didn't last too long. :)

Signs You are Loved

You know you are loved, when your pack-n-play bassinet (yes, Mommy is lazy and 2ft is the most ideal location of separation during the night nursing sessions) is filled with items such as (from L to R)...

- "Pug". Your son's favorite stuffed animal from a friend in Sarasota, and usually an essential item in his bed at night.
- A bottle of milk. Most likely retrieved by little hands from the refrigerator before it could be bagged and frozen.
- Alphabet Blanket. Again, another essential that has been transferred from crib to bed. Given by a dear friend on our eldest son's 1st birthday.
- A toy pig. Thrown into the crib by a little hand to keep one company in case they were to get bored.
- A wet washcloth. Yes, this one may be kind of strange, but to say Aiden loves wet washcloths would be a huge understatement. If I don't get him one in the beginning of the day, guarantee I will have to watch out that he isn't climbing up the hall closet shelves to retrieve one himself. Kind of like a security blanket, he carries it everywhere. Yes, it's nothing like hearing a fellow customer at TJ tell you, "honey, your son dropped his little blank... um, I mean washcloth?!" as your son is hysterically beginning to point behind you with his usual verbal grunts.
- A book. Gotta start him young and train him right on loving his construction vehicles. :)

Not sure who gave what (though I have strong suspicions), but this is how he was a couple of mornings ago when I went upstairs an hour after I put him down for a nap. I'm a bit thankful the book isn't too near his head, as that was carried around by the younger son just a couple hours before, who tends to chuck things into the bassinet (since it's above eye level). They may smother him sometimes, but they definitely love him! We are so very blessed.

For Auntie Katie

Somehow my sister always seems to pick out the perfect cards. Liam wasn't sure what to think of it at first...

 
and afterwards, wasn't even sure of all it was saying (and didn't get the "inside jokes" about filaments and 100 watt birthdays), but still seemed to not stop laughing at the card. I love Aiden's reaction. He can't figure out why his brother is laughing so hard-- although today when he was pushing the button, he too was laughing and dancing. :)

Happy Birthday Liam!

Our Liam turned 4 today! He has been looking forward to his birthday for the past couple of weeks and was so thrilled when the day finally came. We celebrated with chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast (spelling out the number 4), a Daddy date to Home Depot where he made a tool box, and his favorite meal for dinner... gyoza and rice, along with a monster cookie that Grandma had made him (though he still expects a monster cake from his Mommy... something he has been asking for since January). Then he opened up presents that our parents had left behind, as well as one that the neighbor brought over this afternoon. At the end, Joel brought out knight outfits for him and Aiden. Joel and Liam have been talking about knights for quite some time, after Joel finished reading Raising a Modern Day Knight, so Liam had been looking forward to getting his knight armor as he becomes a knight in his words and actions.