Mom, make my hair like Seth's today

OK, buddy...
Have a good day at preschool.

More Lily

And here is Shelly's beautiful Elise...

The sock becometh

Jacob took this picture of me knitting this sock at my request because for some reason I wanted to document how insane I am for undertaking such a project. It will be a miracle if I finish it.

Monumental if I can complete the pair.

As long as we're on pictures that Jake took--here's one he took without me knowing of Alex and I in the rain on Saturday. (By the way, there was no wailing or gnashing of teeth because soccer was rained-out. I thought I would at least get a little whine after my attempt at reverse psychology by saying he couldn't go to soccer today....alas.)

And just for you, Amy, these may not be the greatest pictures, but they're both RAW.

Another masterpiece

This is Alex's drawing of a power boat, a power plane, and a power car; complete with sunshine and blue sky:

Batman, Spiderman, and Playing with Fire

Here are some pictures of the kids...

I love this one of Alex wearing Batman and checking out the insignia. The cowboy boots really set it off nicely, don't you think?

Carter brought over this Spiderman toy that sings the Spiderman song and dances. Don't ask me what it is about Spidrman. Alex has not watched a single movie or episode, but somewhere in his DNA it states that Spiderman is to be worshipped. Alex got Lily "up" from her nap this afternoon...meaning he went into her room, turned on the light, and started playing in her closet. That is where he found these "pinkies". He was kind enough to give one to Lily as well, who hasn't taken one for months. So here are my two big kids with their "pinkies".


I actually forgot how quiet it keeps them. Do you think I can get a 4-year old back on a pinkie?

Google

Have you ever googled your name? I just did, and this is what came up...

식품명의 영문명- [ Translate this page ]
Bracken, raw. 고수. Coriander. 고추, 꽈리고추. Pepper, green young .... Beka squid, raw. 꼴뚜기, 자건품. Beka squid, boiled and dried. 꼴뚜기, 젓 ...www.foodinfo.pe.kr/dictionary/sub/nutri_ga.htm - 154k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

I don't know what a Beka squid is, but I'd sure love to see my namesake boiled and dried.
Probably tastes like chicken.

Today

Is it not an absolutely stellar day today? Completely gorgeous! I think it's probably 85 degrees with a slight breeze...and you know what that means? The kids can play outside! It's perfect weather. The stuff perfect childhoods are made of.

And can I just say that I live in such an awesome neighborhood? All of Alex's friends are so great. I think about that sometimes when I ponder the circumstances that brought us here. Totally random. We're not the kind of people who say; "Hey, let's buy this house that makes no sense for us!" But, we did. And after just a couple of short years of wondering if I was completely out of my mind, I'm finally at peace with it, and suddenly everything has fallen into place. I think Alex benefits most from the move. His friends are so good for him in so many ways. And I just love it when they all come over and for an hour or so my house is totally full. That's just pure goodness. (And I'm only being partly sarcastic.) I love how Carter comes in, removes his boots, puts them away, and hangs his hat...in the same place...every time.



And how Jordan literally strikes a pose to freeze when I tell him to freeze for a picture.



And, I think most of all, I love the multitudes and multitudes of pictures I have from this summer, just like this one, of good friends eating Popsicles.

That's just really, really good stuff.

Lily

I post so many blogs about Alex because he's at the age where he's starting a lot of fun things, but in my zeal for him I fail to adequately document Lily's young life. You know, she's really taking off on that walking thing. She can also say "Happy Birthday". It sounds like "happybday". All one word.

We took Lily to the park this Saturday to take pictures and we learned that she absolutely loves slides and has no fear. She can climb clear to the top and loves to slide back down on her tummy. It is the dang cutest thing I've ever seen.

Here are some pictures of my favorite daughter:

Soccer...take 2

Well, it was a better game this week. They had team pictures before the game and not a one of them wanted to take pictures. They should be good when we get them back. I eventually got Alex to stand still for pictures by making funny faces behind the camera. I actually think his might turn out cute.

The game itself started out promising. The other team was late getting there so our guys got to go out on the field and practice shooting goals. Eventually a little scrimmage broke out and they were all having fun...that's right, ALL of them. We don't even get that at practice. It was so fun to watch them having...fun.

Pay no mind to the shin guards on the outside of the socks...we get there however we can.

Once the game started they were good for about one quarter. After that I think a combination of heat and the fact that they had been there an hour early for pictures started to wear on them. Pretty much the only kid we could get to play consistantly was our little 5-year old ringer.

This isn't him. This is Alex thoroughly melting down.complete melt-down.

This is Alex being dragged off the field for hitting his team-mates.

I just had to throw in another pointing picture. In this one I'm telling them which goal is ours after half-time.
Kiddie pile-up.

These are the things I just have to remember

Alex asked me when we would be getting more paper cups for the bathroom.
I said:
"Maybe we'll get some at the store"
"Will they be pink ones or blue ones?"
"Well, what do you want?"
"hmmmmm... Razmataz. With clouds."
Thank you Crayola for your more than creative team of color namers.

Thankful

I am feeling so thankful lately for good friends. I realize that many moms raise their kids without nearly the support I have in my life, and I am just so thankful for friends and family who have done it before or are doing it now with grace, love, and patience. I'm just feeling surrounded by love and good examples lately, and I really wanted to take the time to acknowledge it. So, those of you out there who give me advice and listen to me vent without judgement, I say a big Thank You!

Bed time discussions

Here is just a sampling of the some of the interesting conversations we have with Alex:

Alex:
"Why is tomorrow Auntie Toots's birthday?" (He calls my sister Auntie Toots.)
"Because September 13th is the day she was born. Just like you were born on Nov. 4th."
"Oh. When is Heavenly Father's birthday?"
"Now, that I don't know."
"Oh. What kind of cake will he have at his birthday?"
"Hmm, I don't know that either."
"Oh. When we die can we ask him?"
"Yes, but let's not die for a long long time, OK?"
"Ok. When we die will we have dark brown skin?"
"I don't think so. Does Olivia have dark brown skin?"
"Yes."
"Is she going to die?"
"No."

Jake:
"Maybe he thinks we'll all die from melanoma."

I'm not sure, but I think the dark brown skin comment comes from the fact that we just watched Testament on Sunday and there are a lot of pseudo South-Americans in the movie and they got to see Jesus, so he must have made that connection somehow.

Sick Day

Lily woke up with a fever this morning, and it was, shall I just say...really really sad. She woke up looking like this...

And a sadder girl you never did see. In reality, the hardest part of the day was the point at which she started to feel better but still couldn't be more than 2 inches away from mom or her blanket, else she would collapse and melt into a giant pile of 14 month old agony. And to think, just yesterday we were at church and she was walking up a storm. I thought that by today she would be walking all over the place, but it seems as if she will wait to feel better before she starts running races with Alex.

In other news: The boys came over today with a pile of scrap-wood and announced that they needed nails, glue, and paint, as they were making skim boards. We can add this to the ever-growing list of ways that Alex is just like his Old Man:

Here are the boys making their first skim boards.

I know they don't look very, I don't know, skimmy, but not a bad try. I think these are, in fact, negatives of a homemade skim board.

Before I get reported to some government agency designed to protect children from their grossly neglegent parents, let me clarify that I did not provide them with nails or a hammer. Only paint.

Which may or may not have contained lead.

I know he looks sad, but he was so cute.

And apparently I do a lot of pointing at the ball...



And that's all I got for now.

It is a proud day at our house. Our budding athlete who has been begging to play soccer for neigh unto a year had his first soccer game today...

It was quite the ordeal getting him to even put on his soccer shoes today. For a kid who has worn nothing but crocs for a solid year, putting on thick soccer socks and velcro-enclosed shoes; well, we might as well have put him in a straight jacket. Then we couldn't find his shin-guards, so Jake had to make an 11th hour emergency run to Big 5 for shin guards so he could even play. Then, right before we were about to leave he tore off his shirt and proclaimed that he was too hot and was changing shirts.

Now, if I may digress...

I realize soccer is a fall sport, and fall typically brings to mind a chill to the air possibly to the point of seeing ones breath; however, in our fair city it remains upwards of 100 degrees well into September and still in the 90s in October. So, why, may I ask, do they put these children in uniforms that a) come down to their wrists and ankles, they are so big, and b) cover up any remaining exposed skin by which moisture can evaporate with quarter-inch thick socks that reach past their knees? I'm just saying.

So, I finally got him to agree to wear his uniform by threatening to give Carter his uniform because there wouldn't be enough players if he didn't play. That got him going...there is no way on this earth he is going to let his best friend in the whole world get out there and play in his uniform. That is unthinkable.

The game itself was pretty predictable. About half of our team played and the other half cried on the sidelines. Truthfully, it was very fun. Alex would go out onto the field if I went with him, and only with the promise of popcorn at Wingers after the game. Among other bribes were...a soccer net if he goes after the ball, a shopping spree with Gma Cukoo (for which he asked for a baseball and a bat...do you think he's done with soccer?) and basically the "what do you want? You can have anything in this world if you just go out there and play" bribe. Funny, I didn't think I was that kind of mom, but I guess when it comes down to it I am. Guess I'll have to squelch that tendancy.

Wow, I just keep on rambeling. Truthfully it was very very fun. We didn't expect much from the boys during this first game, and a few of them really surprized us. They will just get more willing to play as the season goes on.

And now, just in case this blog isn't long enough, here are some pictures:

which I can't post for some reason, so I'll try to post them on another blog...

Time warp

Seriously, what happened between here...
and here...?

My baby went to pre-school today and had a marvolous time. I just can't fathom that he's big enough for this milestone. I am so proud and anxious to see him progress and move forward, and at the same time spinning because time has gone by so fast. It is the age old emotion. Ever since the days when Olga's son built his first fire and clubbed his first small animal, mothers have wrestled with the conflicting emotions of overwhelming pride and heart-wrenching sadness. What happened to our adorable babies who would never sleep throught the night or use the potty? THey are now wearing backpacks and going to preschool??? I will tell you what Olga whispers to me from the dust; savor every moment now. I want to remember every word, every song, every question, no matter how repetitive. Because before I know it he will be in Kindergarten, and I just don't know if I can take it.

Here is Seth telling us about the letter "S".

I swear he is.

And here are Seth and Alex climbing the wall...the rock wall that is. (they climbed the other kind of wall, too but I didn't get pictures)
Alex looking way too big, despite the oversized backpack.
Alex and Frankie playing on the swings old-school.

It really was awfully fun. I just hope Alex can follow the minimum rule of not hurting other kids...not because he's mean, but just because he has to be physical sometimes. It was really great to hear about that particular rule and then walk in on hime slugging Seth time and time again. (Who, incidentally, didn't mind in the least. I'm sure he was planning his next attack.)