Just V

Now that school has begun it's going to be just me and the litte guy in the am, until I pick E up just in time for lunch. I'm so glad to be able to have the one on one time. He really does play so well on his own for the most part. I will have to be more intentional about playing with him and not just getting things checked off my to do list.


He loves being sneaky when we are outside and climbing onto the lawn mower. He does really well at making the "vroom" noises.




















He's been into wearing our shoes around the house. Why is this so stinkin' cute?

He was staring at his reflection of the cupboard handle and talking to himself.

This was a super long day, and he hung in there with only one 30min. nap in the car, until 9pm when we finally climbed in the car to go home.

First Day of School

Also in other firsts, I finally cut E's hair. First time ever. Don't gasp, this picture is just for records, I did not cut it like this, i just couldn't hold the comb straight and the scissors and take the picture. I got some tips from a hairdresser and just trimmed it a bit. I don't know if anyone would even notice.

My husband gets up early and works so hard for us. He has a Master's degree but he chooses to dig in dirt and do hard labor to provide for his family. So, when he gets up at 5am and checks on his children before he leaves, it should just add to my feelings of gratuity...right? Most of the time it does. But this morning at 5:45am I heard the shouts of a 19mo old and I had to dig deep for those feelings. I know he didn't wake him up. V was sitting up when he peeked in, but V saw him and that was the end of it. He (V) has been in a rare mood ever since. So far he thrown several tantrums, hit, and unrolled the entire roll of toilet paper. Here's a peek of his morning.

Just to be fair, here he is Saturday night having a snack and in the best of moods.

*for some reason I don't see a comment option after I post this! how sad as I love comments....you can always email me :)

The New Thing

I have to watch him like a hawk when we are upstairs. Or we have the following situation.


"Yes. I have my brother and sister's toothbrushes."


"What are you going to do about it?"


When I go to take them he throws them and screams. Every time. Perhaps I need to nip this in the bud? Those blue eyes make it hard sometimes. Also I heard him in there yesterday and went and got him out and closed the door. Later E tells me that when she went to the bathroom she opened the toilet and found two hairsprays floating. "But I got them out." Hand washing immediately occurred as well as cleansing of the bottles.

The Dancing Never Stops in this House

Listen to the lyrics when he is laying his head down. He's a genius at literal interpretive dance.

This and that

Time will go by and I won't realize how much has happened since my last post. Not necessarily tons, but more than I thought.


This chapeau was what my mom called her "splurge" as part of V's Easter basket.


J had his "Race For Education" on Friday. He ran/walked 16 laps this year. He ran fastest when he could see me :)


This is also the morning that V decided to take a header off of the front stoop. However, he was so brave. He stopped crying so quickly and sat very still without a peep while I cleaned the wound and put on his band aid.


We are almost done with E's dance class. Actually last week was her last class and this weekend is her recital.


I think practicing their smiles and making faces in the mirror is half the fun.

It's a hit!

SAFE!!

Yes, it's baseball season here and J is enjoying his team. His coach this year is not as "laid back" shall we say as last year. He is actually a great coach, serious and firm but always encouraging the kids as well. He reminds them to take care of their own stuff, doesn't let them pout when they are losing, and promotes goods sportsmanship. All great things for our son to have reinforced.

Another cool thing is that his team was invited (if we bought tickets and we did) to our local minor game to be on the field with the players, have a ball signed, be there during the national anthem and while the team handed their coach a big check for a fundraiser they did. Exciting right? Yes, well I completely had the time wrong and we missed it. I was so mad at myself. J did get a bit upset at one point, but I don't think he really understood the big deal in the first place. I know it wasn't the dodgers or anything but still, for a little guy a cool thing and I blew it big time. I was definitely more bummed then he was.

At the game.

As you can see he got over it and we had a good time. His coach even got him a ball with the team name on it.

This grumpy Gus was the reason we did not stay until the end for the fireworks. But I actually had been under the weather for a couple days, and we had opening ceremonies in the am and J's first game in the middle of the day, so it was a good decision to head home.

If you sit under a tree....

a bird just might poop on your head.



But doesn't he clean up well?

Baby Launch

around here

Let's first talk about this guy. He's walking. Officially walking, and very independent about it. Don't try holding his hand, he's not having that. He loves following his brother and sister around, books, balls, animals and anything soft. He says: ba (ball), mum(that's me), da, (daddy), la (light), saaaa (soft...this is what i think) and lots of ahhhs, for hugs and feeling anything soft.


He likes to do this


and this.


J couldn't be left out.


Den took E to dance last night and afterwards they went out to dinner for a date.


Again, boys could not be left out.


dance dance!

The past week

V is continuing to take more and more steps. His latest accomplishment his standing up all by himself, without help of people or furniture. He'll take a few steps and then decide he's rather go fast by crawling.


Contemplating a tumble



J made dinner. I'm hoping to do this more often. He picked the meal out of a kids cookbook that we found at the library and we made it together. I enjoy cooking but the hardest part for me is deciding what to make with out feeling like it's the same old thing. Having the kids do that part is huge for me. E will have her turn too.


He chose an "accordion sandwich". It was yummy and we had some tomato soup with it. He was quite proud of himself.


Valentine's from Grandma Linda.


E's preschool class went swimming last Wed. It was a bit steamy being a indoor pool.


On uncle Michael's back at market.


Checking out his new truck, a Vday gift from Grandma and Grandpa.

a few days

Why does he look so interested?




because he got to chase Zeke!


the puppy was afraid of V...but V was not the least bit afraid of him.



We are also playing with the containers now.


saturday was at the farm, this is a timer shot from a stump...and i am super bundled up


the trail


Den wanted to take the kids to the "big hill" for sledding, but when the got there, too much snow had melted. They were such good sports and settled for this mini one that was mostly just wet.


the three e's, they are all 5 now


we also celebrated my beautiful SIL's bday, which is really on Wed.


and they of course there is always some snuggling going on