Link in a bumper car...alone!

Harrison's first swim meet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2XF5-NQWC4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Nasty carpet and surprising strength

See that HUGE roll of carpet sticking out of my trash can? If you were to look closer, you'd see it's actually one big roll folded in half. And even if you weren't to look close you'd notice the plume of filth that rose from it at the least disturbance. And you might notice some wasp nests attached to it (you know, right by the mystery substance stains).

That thing was sitting up in the rafters of our very nasty garage. And spring is coming. And my boys can't stay out of nasty places--in fact, they prefer them. So guess what I did this morning....

Keep in mind, I literally can not remember the last time I worked out. I have one active group of muscles that I maintain by lugging Link on my right hip. Everything withered away long ago. I got that thing in that dumpster all. by. my. self. And it was heavy. Muscle-spasming-while-it's-suspended-over-your-head heavy.

The take away here? I am hilariously stubborn about weird things. I can't stand to have a trash day go by where we haven't filled our trash cans to the brim because we have so much weird crap that was left in the house we recently moved into and are remodeling. So there is the battle I chose to fight this morning.

Now to see if the trash guys will actually take it...

Turns out...

Well, I'm not going to spend tons of time trying to catch up on all the LIFE I didn't chronicle, but... we did happen to acquire a gorgeous little human being a while ago. Lincoln is now almost 18 months old and perfect in almost every way. None of us remember life without him, and he pretty much rules the roost.  Here the boys are on the way down to Diamond Caverns last week. 

We also were so happy to take the boys with us on a little trip to Washington D.C. a few weeks ago. SO FUN! Highlights of the trip included getting reacquainted with our adorable nieces Aniya, Lizzie, Paige, and Amber, seeing the Star Spangled Banner, dinosaur bones, a space shuttle, and the Hope Diamond, and talking with the boys about all kinds of exciting American history.

And this is what happens when  you leave your sons in the care of your husband while you attend a Time Out for Women in Indianapolis...they end up touching pig lungs and having the time of their lives, as is apparent from the picture. He's a good dad.

Shhh...

Move along, there's nothing to see here. Just a sheepish mom trying to get back into the habit of recording her life. Because it's a good life. But seriously, don't freak out (she says to the vast enormity of the internet that isn't paying attention to her anyway). If I'm going to do this again, I just needed to start somewhere and write SOMETHING. 

I'm setting a new goal to do a little blogging and meditating daily. So....if this is legit, I'll do this again tomorrow. Maybe even include a little pic or something. Forget that, we're baby-stepping here, people.

What's in a name? That which we call a rose...

As long as I've known Truman to talk, he has called Harrison by the name of "Ya-ya." That's cool. Tru isn't the leader in the toddler-speech field and actually hasn't even mastered the shortened (let alone full-length) version of his own name.

So, I'm used to the Ya-ya thing. Not exactly a fan, but what IS one to do? And truth be told, I've caught myself even using the misnomer every now and then. The other night though, Truman really took it to the next level as he asked for help getting the last firefly out of his jar. I was just close enough to catch: "You do it, Ya-ya James, you do it."


What do you think--does he look like a Ya-ya James?

Speaking of Mr. Harrison James, he is getting quite the reputation in the neighborhood. His literal girl-next-door BFF Chloe was over the other day watching me give Dan a haircut. She obviously hadn't seen this do-it-yourself approach before and was eyeing me pretty intensely. When I switched guards on the clippers she wanted to know why I needed to do that. With H-man around, I don't have to trouble myself with trivial explanations of that sort; he's on it. He jumped right in, explaining that the guards were different sizes and changed how short or long I cut the hair. Chloe listened to the pretty much spot-on answer to her query, then sighed and solemnly said to me, "He knows everything."


Of course he does--he's Ya-ya James.

These are the days of our lives

I can't believe it's already September. The boy's birthdays are looming and the flames of time are hungry: before my eyes they're licking away the baby fat and all things infant. Tonight we went for a picnic at Backbone State Park. It was a new kind of family outing for us. Dan and I went one way, grilling and staying close to the food, and the boys did their own thing. Of course, this isn't the first time they've played on their own. It just felt different. Like a family without a baby. We haven't had that sensation in a while.

It was nice. We creek-stomped in absolutely frigid water. The boys were oblivious to the temperature and enjoyed every dirty, slimy moment.

It's just not FAIR!

Yesterday, while doing errands, we drove past a big colorful daycare. Kids were out playing on some very basic park equipment. Unfortunately, our errand left us standing across the street from this fenced in oasis and Harrison and Truman's big blue eyes zeroed in on it. They'd like to go play too. (Of course, we'd just been to the park, but that didn't seem to matter.) I carefully explained what a daycare was, and that they didn't have to go to one because Mom and Dad make sure one of us can stay with them. Oh, the disappointment and resentment! Truman didn't have the vocabulary, but Harrison did. "It's just not FAIR, Mom!" As soon as we were inside, he carefully arranged himself in his most pouty stance and made sure I noted it several times.

What am I supposed to do with THAT?

I spy with my little eye....

We just hit another milestone that breaks my heart a little bit. Recently, Harrison started going crossed-eyed so I took him into the optometrist. The doctor announced that Harrison had the worst far-sightedness he'd seen in 16 years of practice. SO, we got some pretty thick little glasses and he's been adjusting to them for the last day-and-a-half. He's a trooper and takes the whole thing very seriously.

Somehow, as a mom, it's just upsetting to know that he's struggled for that long, unable to perceive the world in the way he should. I'm really happy that we're able to fix that for him. But then, on the other side, is how I feel everytime I look at him in his new glasses. They magnify his eyes dramatically, and it makes him seem like an entirely different person. He seems more vulnerable and I want to protect him every way possible. He confided to my sister Katy that his glasses aren't cool, and I find myself faced with what I'm sure every parent has to deal with, but just a little bit earlier than I thought I'd have to. It's not that I want to fix him; I just want to make this world perfect and safe so that it can't hurt him, you know?

Anyway, I'm sure I'm getting just way too emotional about a rite of passage that tons of us have gone through. Here are some pics of my little star rocking his new specs.

Politics as Usual

When I was in the 4th grade, our school held a mock presidential election: Bush vs. Dukakis. Though we all know who won in real life, at West Burlington Elementary School, it was not cool to vote Bush. Josh Gahn and Nick Anderson wouldn't let me play four square when they learned of my political leanings. I became a closet conservative. But no more! The boys got their first taste of practicing self expression today.

We rocked a TEA (Taxed Enough Already) party armed with signs. It was a lot of fun, and it really felt good to come together with so many other people with concerns like ours. The turnout was great, and people couldn't get enough of Harrison and Truman in their ball and chains. They were definitely the camera's favorite.

After trying out various little flares, rockets, sparklers, poppers, etc., Truman decided the snakes were his favorite. He deemed them worthy enough for him to attempt to say, "Nake, nake!"

We also played on the beach and enjoyed an airshow, and I put Harrison to bed early so that he can go out late with Mom and Dad to ride the Ferris Wheel and catch the fireworks. I love this country. I love our heritage. God bless America!

Aaah!

So, we're moving in a week and I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off. (I feel like a Patton every time I say that.) We're heading to Iowa where my parents are, and I'll be teaching there this fall. I hadn't really realized how long it's been since my last post, so I'll try to get some pictures on tomorrow. With all the packing, I found a paper I got for Mother's Day that I wanted to memorialize here so that I can toss the real thing. Here it is:

My Mom Test
by Harrison Gilbert

What is something Mom always says to you?
Please.

What makes Mom happy?
When I brush my teeth.

What was your mom like as a kid?
She was a little mom.

How does your mom make you laugh?
She wrestles me and tickles me.

How old is your mom?
Five.

How tall is your mom?
Five.

What is her favorite thing to do?
Play with her boys.

What does your mom do when you're not around?
She settles down.

What is your mom really good at?
Exercising.

What is your mom not really good at?
Ironing clothes.

What does your mom do for a job?
She goes to school.

What is your mom's favorite food?
Corn on the cob.

If your mom was a cartoon character, what would she be?
A dino.

How are you and your mom the same?
We both love corn on the cob.

How do you know your mom loves you?
Because I'm special.

I think I'll like to read this in about thirteen years when he's not being as cute. But I really did have a wonderful Mother's Day.

I've heard it said that you can't know joy without knowing pain. There'd be know way to appreciate the high without the low. Maybe that's why we have seasons. All I know is, this world can be simply breathtaking. And I love being reminded of the millions of miracles around me as I watch the earth wake up again. It just does something to my spirit. If you had spied on my 30 minute commute home on Friday, you would have noted my wind-whipped hair and the fact that my hand was sticking out of my sunroof for the duration.

But that's nothing compared to what I get to see when I get home. Here are some of my favorites:

--I was the sole disciplinarian for Tru today, and that doesn't happen a ton. The boy has a rebellious streak a mile wide, so it didn't take long for him to find his way to a time out. Afterward, I picked him up and was trying to extoll the virtues of not screaming like one is on fire while stealing toys from one's brother, and I couldn't get two words out before he would solemnly plant a firm kiss on my lips. I'd try again to finish the lecture, but no go--more kisses. It became comical pretty quickly--I think he was honestly trying to shut Mommy up by kissing her into submission. And it worked.

--Now that it's warm, the boys have a new favorite activity. The barren, dirty alley. They'll amuse themselves for a while on the second story deck, digging in the rock box and pushing the tractors around, but eventually they beg to "dig, dig, dig!" Apparently, little boys come programmed knowing that digging in a sandbox of rocks is good, but REAL digging is sitting on your heels in the dirt, stirring stuff up just enough to create little dustclouds around you and coat you with a nice thin film of grime. As completely opposite in disposition as my boys can be, they are united on this front. Dirt is king.

--Putting Harrison to bed has a fun perk. After I read or tell him a story, he immediately returns the favor. His stories tend to go in little trends for a couple of weeks until something stimulates him to make major changes. The current story line always begins with Big John and involves getting stuck in the mud. The stories vary a lot, night to night, but lately you can count on those elements. But the best part is after his story. Then he asks me if I'd like to know a secret. I always do. He won't ever tell until my ear is brushing his face, and then I get lots of warm, loud breaths, lots of gibberish I can't make out, and then a few random words like "apple" and "banana" and he pulls back with a huge smile. I assure him that's a great secret, and then I tell him a secret back.

--Dan is the man. He puts a lot of guys to shame. In the last couple of weeks, he not only found these two tiny ceiling fans and lights on clearance for a steal, but he somehow managed to get up into our attic and pull wires and . . . stuff (don't really know all the details here) . . . and put up ceiling fans in the boys' bedrooms that hadn't been set up for any fixtures in the ceilings at all. It amazes my to think of all the skills he's picked up since we got married. But my favorite part of that story is how he shopped around and found fixtures for a fraction of what they should have been. Have I been rubbing off or what?

I'm a chronic prodigal

I swear, half of my posts are apologies regarding how long it's been since my last post. No apology this time. If you're still bothering to check, then you obviously had enough faith to get you through that last lapse and can't be hatin' on me that much.

So--Happy Easter! We had an egg-cellent time today (honestly, I know they say puns are the lowest form of humor, but it seems to me that very witty people use them), and I'm putting up a kind of tediously long little vid for the grandparents, or anyone else who wants a glimpse of our Easter morning.



I hadn't talked to Harrison much before this season about the crucifixion or atonement, and thought that now would be a good time to start. Christmas is much easier--kids get birth. But I don't think he fully got that one. I tried talking to my little 3-year-old Sunbeam class today, but death, much less one on a cross for us, was a little out of their grasp. I kept getting interrupted with questions like, "What is 'killed'?" But even though I can't explain it to them yet, I hope my boys grow up with an understanding and gratitude for what we are celebrating today.

The family that swims together....

ummm, swims together? True enough, I guess. Last week we joined the Y and I'm already starting to forget what life was like Before the Y (B.Y.). We're settling into a nice little routine. B.Y., when I got home from work, we would have had dinner, done a little couponing, and then read and played till bedtime. Please, that's for amateurs. Now, we throw some nourishment into our bodies and rush to the gym. The boys can't get enough of playing with the other kids, Mom and Dad can't get enough of getting a good workout in, and then (this is the best part for all involved) we get to go swimming! So fun. The only part I'm trying to get the kinks worked out of is the post-pool stuff. Handling Truman when he's dry and clothed can be difficult. He squirms like no other. It comes in handy when he's sticky from jelly or peanut butter--at least you won't drop him. Now try taking his clothes off, get him wet and soapy, and see what I have to deal with in the shower room. It's given me a better understanding of the old expression about greased pigs.

This pic has nothing to do with us swimming (did anyone need that to be said?), but I thought I'd throw in what happened the last time we put the camera on a timer. I'll be sad when our whole family can't fit in that chair.

A contest!

Okay, I've never done a contest on my blog before, but if anyone is still reading (I know you are Flee!), there is a prize involved.

My brilliant friend Brit (aka Hunter's mom) is a recent inventor/entrepreneur and has started her own website/webstore for this product:

Is that adorable sweet thing wearing a baby eye mask? Why, yes she is. Brit kind of accidentally discovered that Baby Paisley slept much better while travelling when her eyes where covered (it started when her headband slid down) and the rest is history. She's had all kinds of boutiques pick this up and it's catching like wildfire. Anyway, since I'm lucky enough to be super BFFs with this millionaire-in-the-making, I have been authorized to give away one Baby Lilac eye mask to whomever I choose. So leave a great comment. Check out her selection here at www.babylilac.com (note these aren't just for little girls--or even little people--I guess you could pick an adult size if you so desired). Feel free to spread the word; I think these are genius. And hot.

Missin' me some Menards

I'm super bummed to not be in Iowa right now just because of this cool deal Menards is doing. Go here to check out all the details, but I'm a super fan of mail in rebates. If you can afford to put the money up front and actually remember to do the rebate, then you can get some cool stuff for free. Check it out, my mid-west friends!

I Love Primary

Once every week the boys and I like to take Jen to work. It makes our day a little shorter and we get to spend more time with her. This afternoon as we were driving to pick Jen up Harrison told me that he loved primary. I asked him if it was because of all of the kids there or the songs he gets to sing. He replied "No. I love my teacher." The great part about this story is that Jen is Harrison's primary teacher.

So funny

Okay, so a super old friend of mine from church girl's camp just got back in touch through the blog (Holla, Colista!). And I was checking out her blog and found this vid that about made me pee my pants. So funny.

Pink is for girls/A peeping Tru

So, today's science experiment involved static and Daddy and the boys decided they needed to purchase some supplies. Harrison dipped into his birthday money that he's been holding onto and splurged on a pack of balloons. How sweet is that? What I love even more is that it led to the following coversation this evening:

H-man: Do you want the pink balloon, Mom? Pink is for girls.

Jen: (surprised) Who told you that? (I really haven't categorized things like that for him yet.)

H-man: Leah.

Jen: Oh. Well, what color do you want?

H-man: (smiling that "I know I'm being funny" smile) Pink.

******
Dan is really sweet about trying to fill me in on things that I missed while I'm away. Today he told me one that I've been trying to picture all night. I bought some clearanced Christmas Peeps last night as a filler (couponing strategy) and Dan and Truman stumbled upon them this afternoon. Tru just kind of pondered it a moment, unsure, until he saw Dan take a bite of his. The sheer surprise, joy, and ecstasy that then crossed his face were, as Dan described it, an unparalled new emotional height for the Trumantor. I think we can all remember the bliss we felt the first time we realized that someone actually had the genius to cover a sugary marshmallow with yet another layer of sugar. Aah, I wish that had been captured on camera. I remember a neighbor telling me that Truman "smiled from his toes" and he still does.

Weird science

Is it Thursday already? How quickly the time flies when I skip blogging! I admit, I'm two day's off my new year's res, but I am undeterred. I think I can, I think I can....

Anyway, I'm making this post quick because we're busy here tonight. For Christmas Harrison received a My First Science Book from his great aunt Tricia, my uncle Scott, and my cousins Michaela, Anna, and Nick. Super sweet of them, and we hadn't really taken a look at it till yesterday. Well, look out, cause it's all H-man wants to do. He did all kinds of experiments and projects with Daddy today (fishing with magnets was a hit) and he had picked out precisely what he wanted to work on when Tru went to bed tonight. So we've been doing some fun shadow work and he's up there experimenting some more and Dan is reading Charlie Bone and I'm kind of feeling left out. So back to the lab. I'll try to get some pics for tomorrow's post!