Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Weekend Review

 

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Well, I am simply exhausted from all of the catering-to-Brian I did this weekend.

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(Joseph’s face when Brian praised the card he made him:)

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Any chance we can declare a Mothers-Day-Part-2 for next weekend people?

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Or…hold up!  My half birthday is on Friday!  Can that be a thing that is celebrated?  With lots of naps and no laundry/dishes/diapers?

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Exhaustion aside, it was a(nother) beautiful weekend!

Friday Brian took a vacation day and we hiked Multnomah Falls with his Mama.

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(Green!!!)

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The answer to the question: “Wait…where is Isaac??”:

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Brian wearing one of our babies is the most attractive thing I’ve seen in a long time.

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(note: I originally said “sexiest”, but then remembered that my dad reads my blog.) 

(So I substituted it with “most attractive”.)

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(but I meant “sexiest”) 

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(when does it be okay to say “sexy” or “sexiest” in front of your dad?  ever?) 

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The big boys and I made it about half way to the top, at which point their “I’m hungry-tired-my legs hurt-knees hurt-feet hurt” comments culminated with Isaac falling and scraping his knee / dropping his granola bar on the ground.

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Oh yes, and he handled a “pretty leaf” which the rest of the world calls “poison oak.” (luckily, I had wet wipes)

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So, we headed back to the lodge, and Brian, Samuel, and Maureen continued to the summit.

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(Dear boys, you are welcome for moving back to Oregon.  Love, Mama)

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Honestly, I didn’t really mind heading back down the trail and having some time to chat with my big boys without the (adorable) distraction of Samuel. 

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There was a truly lovely moment when the boys and I sat on a bench along the trail and rested a while, letting the mist from the waterfall spray our face,

while I attempted to explain photosynthesis to Joseph per his request. 

(I don’t mean photosynthesis.)

(I mean the thing where plants take in carbon dioxide and put out oxygen.  I don’t know what that’s called?)

(Haha!  I just googled it and it turns out it IS called photosynthesis!)

(I dropped out of college to get married.)

 

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And Samuel gave me a WONDERFUL, long, hard hug when he got back down!

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The rest of the weekend involved a whole-family-nap, church, and a lovely dinner on the porch at my inlaws.

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And Brian didn’t have to strap in a single kid, change a diaper, wipe a booty, fix a meal, or brush a tooth (besides his own), the whole time!

…just like usual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Just kidding Brian!)

(Almost 100%!)

Friday, June 14, 2013

Video Friday- Isaac edition

 

 

A little video of a conversation that I had with Isaac the other day, to brighten your weekend:

(if I were you- I would watch it in HD)

(catch Isaac’s eye roll I mentioned in the last post?)

 

 

Also, a Happy 28th Birthday to Brian!

 

(Birthday AND fathers day in one weekend!  Heaven for him!  Lots of work for me!)

 

In case you are wondering, this is what birthday mornings look like at our house:

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I love you, honey!  Happy Birthday- I am so thankful that you were born, and that you married me, and that you keep agreeing to have these adorable children and then listen to me complain about them!

And… thank you for saying that you like your hashbrowns burnt this morning!

kissy!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

What You Need to Know

 

 

About Isaac:

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-  Despite his almost daily questioning, he remains just three years old.

 

- Drives Joseph nuts like no one else can. It’s like he was designed specifically to make his brother crazy!!

 

-  He has a fused tooth.  A fused EXTRA tooth.  Well, not exactly fused, but I forget what it is called when one root splits into two teeth as it grows.  (can you help me out in the comments, Maureen? My mother-in-law is a dental hygienist)  So it looks like one of his teeth is rotated and crooked, but it is actually a part of his other tooth, and then he has the rest of his other teeth behind it.

It’s confusing to explain…here’s a picture of it up close

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We sometimes call him snaggle-tooth.  Lovingly!

 

-  He has no sideburns.

 

- If his hair were to get long enough, it would still curl in the back.

 

- He weighs 6 pounds less than Joseph.

 

- Wears size 5 clothes to fit his broad shoulders.  Shoes are size 12 extra wide.

 

- He is EXTREMLY strong.

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- Favorite phrase: “Stinking baby…(fill in the blank)”  For example (the most popular):  “You are a stinking baby head!”

 

- Recently dropped naps like a hot potato.

 

- Thinks its funny to “moon” people.

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- Adds a “why” to the end of his questions.  Example (this is asked frequently):  “Why Santa only come in Winter? Why?”

 

- His voice is loud and raspy.  When he first started talking a lot, we thought maybe he had a cold?  Sore throat?  Why is his voice all scratchy?  But, it turns out that is just how he talks.

His volume is either a TEN or a whisper.

 

- Sometimes, when he is talking, he just looks up as far as his eyes can roll upwards.  It is hilarious, and I have a video that demonstrates it a little that I will post on Friday.

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- Squinty eyed cheesy smiles when he knows he is doing something naughty or when he is making you laugh.

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-  Swings his arms dramatically when he runs-   or when he stomps off to his room for a time-out! (with a pronounced scowl)

 

- On a related note: He is known to disassemble all of his brother’s Lego characters when he really wants to make him mad. 

His retort, for all acts naughty-towards-Joseph, is always, “That’s what happens!”

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- Crocs on the wrong feet 98% of the time. (You would think it would at least be closer to 50%?)

 

- Easy to please.  He is mostly happy to go along with whatever you want, or his brother wants, and meets most things with an enthusiastic “Yeah!  Great idea!”

Even when he gets mad and throws a quick screaming fit, he is quick to recover and be cheerful again!  No pouting or moodiness.

 

- When you are disciplining him, you cannot show a hint of a smile.  Not a hint!  Or else he will smile and then giggle and it is over!  Even if he is crying and seeming repentant, his mischievous giggle is only a mama-mouth-twitch away!

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- My quickest child to show remorse.

 

- Laughs when Joseph gets scolded.

 

- Cries when Joseph gets punished.

 

- Tells me a million times a day, “You’re CUTE, Mama!”

 

- Always up for a hug or snuggle.  As long as it will only take a minute!

 

- He is SO funny!  A very advanced sense of humor- he makes me laugh every day.  Like when he randomly starts walking/talking “like a robot” or “like a zombie”, something that no one has ever taught him!

 

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- Don’t wrestle with him unless you want to get hurt. 

 

-  Shouts “Canonball!” while jumping off of anything, or catapulting into your lap, or…

 

 

- Our resident bug killer.  If I see a spider/ant/fly/beetle, I call Isaac!

 

- Doesn’t care if he has blankets on to sleep or not.  But, after he is asleep, he will curl into a little cold ball before too long and needs his Mama to cover him back up.

 

- Loves his star blankie.  No stuffed animals, the pillow is optional, star blankie is a must.

 

- Lotion him up before bed or else he has lizard skin on his legs.

 

- Loves almost EVERY food I can think of.  Pesto, pepperoncini, mozzarella balls, spinach salad with goat cheese, nothing is too adventurous!

The only foods that he DOESN’T like so far are: hot sauce, jalapenos, and tomatoes.

 

- Eats more than me most days.  Expect him to put away 5+ large pancakes, or three bowl of macaroni.

 

- Confuses the words “macaroni” and “oatmeal”

 

- Still refers to stockings as “walkie-stockings”

 

- And corn on the cob as “corn dog”

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- Quick to think of others.  If you offer him something he will immediately ask for “one for Joseph too!”

 

- Almost anything you ask him to do for you will be met with a cheerful “okay!”

 

- Spontaneously helpful. (unloading groceries, bringing me dishes, switching the laundry…)

 

- Likes his pancakes whole, his waffles in strips.  But will eat them anyways if you forget.

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- Takes his hamburgers just like his brother.

 

- Crusts on or off, just give him the sandwich already!!

 

- Prefers peanut butter and honey, but will choose jelly if that is what Joseph is having.

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- Loves Samuel sooooo much!  Almost to death.  (They have a closely supervised relationship)

 

- Likes to have his forehead or back tickled lightly at bedtime.

 

- Cannot be trusted around toothpaste

 

- Or in any room alone for more than 10 minutes.

 

- Still can barely sit through a 20 minute program.

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- Loves monster trucks. (asks to watch them on Brian’s “competer” constantly)

 

- Loves his Mama!  He told me today that he loves me “more than cupcakes!!”

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- A delightful soul to have in our house.  (Did you remember that Isaac means “laughter?”)

 

- My sunshine!

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- Oh how I love him!!

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Weekend Recap

 

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Oh my!  What a lovely weekend it was.

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One for the record books!

(or, you know, this blog.)

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Anyone else wish that their husbands could somehow get paid to be your helper/companion full time?

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It started out with a surprisingly pleasant dinner at Red Robin, where the boys used some gift certificates they “earned” from swimming lessons.

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We ate outside, and the boys were able to play while we waited for the food.

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Then, to the park for ice cream and playground time

 

 

Saturday, I woke up to this cute little profile next to me,

(and an arm that was asleep from holding him for hours)

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And later we met my cousin halfway between our houses- at a lovely little campground/day use area. 

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Our moms used to force us to visit here when we were little so that they could look at wildflowers.  Just what every pre-teen wants to do, yes? 

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FYI: Warm summer forest is one of my favorite smells of all time. 

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To top it off Sunday, we had church, rest time, a walk through another woods nearby, and then Brian and I staying up way too late talking about the future of our little family.

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I love weekends!  Especially weekends in OREGON.

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and I love my family.  (even when the children drive me absolutely crazy- like…today)

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I am so blessed!

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