Out of the mouth of babes...I mean Jbird!!!

As Jbird was sitting in his room for a time out, he said 'he is the meanest brother in the whole world, the absolute meanest brother in the whole world'.

Jbird asked if he could have dessert. I told him he could have 2 cookies, which he replied "two in each hand?"

We delivered a few goodies and Christmas cards to some friends. Jbird was excited to get out and go up to the doors to drop off the treats. At the first house, he rang the door bell and when Mr. Jim came to the door, Jbird said "trick or treat" (instead of Merry Christmas).

"Mom, my head is tired'

JB wanted to try sitting in a regular chair for dinner. Of course it did not go well and as I was buckling him into his chair, he started babbling. Jbird said, 'mom, JB just told you that you were mean'. I laughed as I thought to myself, probably...

The other day when everthing was coated with ice, he looked at the grass and said "this snow looks like frosted mini wheats'

B was talking about braces the other day (the kind you get on your teeth) and Jbird said "Evan use to have bracelets in his mouth"

In exasperation the other day, Jbird said "for carin' out loud" (instead of crying out loud). Of course B was quick to correct that one.

Transplanted

I have been transplanted. Back to my ol' stomping grounds of North Dakota. The land of snow drifts. The snow and wind came last night. I would shovel and 15 minutes later, you could not see where you had just been. When you walk down your driveway and in one spot the snow is 1 inch deep and the next step it is 18 inches. Yet oh so beautiful.

I kicked the boys out of the house and into all the new snow. Even fresh air for 10 minutes. They quickly undug the shovels.

(notice the sandbox turned into shed for the winter...)

Being a middle unit, it can be hard to find places to put all the snow from the driveway.

Jbird got a hair cut the other day. When we left the house the next day, I made him wear a hat. Every time he gets a haircut, it takes about 2 weeks for it to start looking good. Right out of the shower it is so curly and looks wonderful but if the curl relaxes at all, it is a mess. When he was sitting in my friends' chair getting it cut, he begged her to cut it short like she did for B. I was able to hold it off again. He has the most amazing color/highlights in his hair. I can't picture my Jbird without his longer hair or curls.

Today some friends came over to play (three girls ages 3-7). It is so nice when the kids start getting old enough that they can just take off and play and not run back to us every 5 minutes for something. They attempted to leave just before lunch be we talked them into sandwiches and they stayed another 2.5 hours. We even made snow icecream. Not the best thing when it is 10 degrees outside but the snow was so perfect for it.

JB had therapy today. Our goal this week is to work on the 'b' sound. He still has about 10 sounds (vowels and consonants) in his arsenal. The last couple of days he has been really good about using the sign for 'me/mine' and the sound 'p'.

Our current sleeping arrangements!

B and Jbird neither one minded spicy stuff when they were little. So, as we were eating chips and salsa the other day, JB wanted in on the action. We gave him a chip and then watched as he dipped it into the salsa. He took a bite and about 10 seconds later his little hand covered his eyes and then moved over his mouth and his eyes then got really big. It was too cute.

The other night I was tired and JR was already in bed. The older two were watching a Christmas movie so I set out to take a bath. I told the boys when the movie was over if they would turn everything off and then head upstairs. (B is really into getting more 'responsibility'.) I was very pleased when they followed directions. They were sound asleep in their beds when I got out of the bath. So fun watching them grow up and gain more independence, although they already have a lot, being wired that way. Sure makes being a parent to them easy in lots of respects.


Most nights Jbird ends up in bed with us and on the rare occasion B will also wake up and come join us. I have never encouraged them crawling into bed with us, especially when really young, but most nights there seems to be a game of musical beds going on. I will wake up one night and be getting kicked, so instead of carrying one of them back to their own bed, I will go crawl into an empty bed in the boys room. Sometimes the boys will lay in our bed and read before going to bed and if one of us does not carry them to their room, you never know who will end up where. At this stage and being the age that they are, I know it won't last forever, so I sort of don't mind. Unless it is one of those nights where they are constantly moving and kicking the covers off. (I sleep with a down comforter on our bed every night, not because I am cold, I just like the weight of it. It was a habit I continued through nine months of pregnancy, even in the middle of summer).

Two nights last week JB did not sleep well. He woke up with loud sudden screams. I went to get him and saw that B's bed was empty (he was in ours) so JB and I crawled into B's bed. Thinking JB would go right back to sleep. No, something was up and he was awake for the next 2 hours. But bless his little heart. He just sat in bed, in the dark, with me, while I slept and he played quietly. Just happy as can be by himself. The second night he did not sleep well but I was sacked out and did not hear him. JR went to get him and brought him into our bed (yes, no other kids in there). When JR and I started stirring in the morning, JR pulled the covers back to find all three of the boys in our bed. JR said "looks like a refuge camp in our bed". We both laughed at that! By the way, our bed is a queen size bed - so all three of them joining us in one night will not last for long I am sure of that!

For Christmas Jbird got a spiderman shower bath mat. Last time they were in there taking a shower, I heard them fighting over who got to stand on the dance floor and dance under the water. Too bad I could not have figured a way to video tape through the shower curtain.

For those wondering why there have been a lot of posts lately - my dad and sister seem to start giving me grief if I don't blog within 4 or 5 days. So, trying to please them!! Also getting better about keeping a running list of things to blog about with them and trying to take my camera with me more places. Probably won't be able to keep up with the one post a day for long, but who knows.

Snow fort

The other day JR helped the boys start a snow fort. They have had a great time going out and trying to make it higher. The thing is, we need some more snow (hopefully coming tomorrow) before much more progress is made. But I sure like how they have been using team work to get it built.

In that first picture, yes, that is a canoe hanging on the fence. A recent acquisition. One of the perks of JRs job is that he manages 2 different properties in a resort community. One of the properties is higher end condos and the owners have some very nice things. JR hits it off with all of them, so they pass their 'leftovers' to us for us to either use, sell or whatever we want to do with them, as long as we haul them off. This canoe is $1100 one seater canoe that is supposedly pretty fast on the river. Not the most ideal with small kids so hopefully we can sell it and get something more accomodating for the kids and our summer enjoyment.

One of the other things we recently got was this....pretty nice (although JR must be doing some work on the cabinet door). Actually if I was able to pick out a cabinet at a furniture store, this is exactly what I would buy!


And the latest thing he brought home, was actually from a friend moving that did not want to mess with moving it (I am sure JR has already started designing a box for this for whenever we move...)


The only bad thing with the fish and the elk (the one he just shot) european mount is that our ceilings are so short, that we don't really have a good spot to hang them. The bottom fish is about 32 inches.

I was going through some of B's school papers that he brought home for Christmas Break. I assume to practice handwriting, he had written a letter to Santa. As written....Dear Santa, I would like legs that have peple. I wil sav a lot uv cuces. Love B, your friend B. (Translation, I would like Legos that have people. Iw ill save a lot of cookies.)

Because I tend to stay on top of the house during the week, I find I have been lazy the last couple of weekends, in all areas. For Christmas lunch, I threw an elk roast in the crock pot, which I knew the kids would not eat. So, what did they have for Christmas lunch, our gingerbread house. (In my defense, Jose worked part of Christmas day, so we were just snacking all day and did not have an actual sit down lunch, or dinner for that matter.) I look the other way when there is a mess and am not as good about having the boys clean up. Sunday I tried something different. I gave the boys one job each (ie pick up the green cup over by the couch) and then told them to come to me for their next job. I started counting how many jobs each of them did and before long, they were hustling all throughout the house trying to out do the other one. Too bad JB is not old enough yet to fully get in on the action. And then because they still were loud and crazy, I made them run our stairs 5 times. They better sleep well tonight.

JB seems to be feeling better. Still is preferring not to talk, although at times he surprises us. But it does tell me he is one little strong willed kiddo.

Jbird has been really sweet lately. Voluntarily offering people pieces of his gum and bandaids, insisting when they refuse. He has initiated calling up/skyping some family to thank them for his Christmas gifts.

On that note, I got smart this year and kept most of Christmas consumable or things needed. The boys love the character bandaids but hate to pay an extra dollar just for a super hero on the bandaid. So, they got some in their stocking. I bought them some of their favorite treats that I normally don't buy. I bought Jbird a new pair of shoes (seems the velcro on hand me downs eventually wears out). He was so excited, he said "mom, a NEW pair of shoes". Poor kid - always getting hand me downs. Jbird is so hard on clothes, JB will probably end up getting new clothes as he grows up.

Last night the older two had a fire with JR.


JB hung out with me while he finished his dinner.

Christmas

A very lazy quiet Christmas. The boys were in their pajamas all day! Opened a few presents, played games, colored, watched movies and just hung out. I was even able to enjoy some peace and quiet while I worked a few logic problems. (Yes, I got a logic problem book for Christmas and love taxing my brain!)
Took a picture last night before the Christmas Eve service.

Yes, JB just got his very own cowboy hat and he loves it. It is so fun to watch him walk. I realized who he reminds me of...ET, the way he shuffles around. As we were cleaning up the trash from presents, I asked him to put something in the trash. He picked it up and went straight to the trash. Now, though, everytime he picks up anything, he shuffles straight to the trash. Sure hope he does not throw anything important away and it goes unnoticed.
Jbird has really enjoyed coloring the last couple of days. He will have me color one half of the picture as he colors the other half. He stays in the lines very, very well for a 3 year old. He sticks his little tongue out when he is concentrating. He told me at one point that I was not doing a good job staying in the lines!
With very little on the calendar the next 7 days, looking forward to just hanging.
Hope you all had a blessed Christmas and celebrated Jesus' birthday!

A crisp, cold morning. I love it when you can see all the ice crystals....

B got out of school on Wednesday (22nd) and goes back on the 3rd. After thinking for weeks about what to do for his teachers, I think I have stumbled upon the perfect gift that we will give every year now. I have discovered a bread machine cinnamon roll recipe which is so very good. One recipe makes about 12 rolls that are 5-6 inches in diameter (and our family of 5 can devour them before lunch time - so yummy). I thought no better gift than a homemade breakfast treat for the teachers on their first day of Christmas break. They all loved the idea and so easy to make! Here is a picture of his teacher's gift to the students.


I love the foot and hands to make the reindeer!

This past weekend the cub/boy scouts had a sledding event. Boy, it was cold, probably in the teens. But you know the scouts, always prepared. So we bundled up and went out. Here is how JB enjoyed the day.


I was thankful that they had a big wool blanket that I could throw on top of him. He just laid in the sled taking it all in. (I don't know if this is true with all scouts, probably, but starting with the boy scouts, in 4th grade I believe, they camp out once a month, regardless of the weather. They were camping out at the sledding hill that night, so they had fire pits, hot chocolate, chili, etc for all of us. I have been really impressed with the organization as a whole. I sure hope that B will stick with it, for all the many wonderful things they learn (service, discipline, preparedness, etc)

The frustrations on the speech front with JB are growing! We spent about 20 minutes this morning trying to get him to say 'p'. Something I know he can say. Either he is regressing or his will is almost stronger than mom's and he is not even 2 yet.. I sure don't want to think about him regressing but I certainly don't want to think about dealing with that will. Looking forward to his next speech session to see what the therapist thinks.

Took JB to the doc the other day. Just has not been 100% and come to find out, he had a terrible ear infection. The doctor could not believe how calm he was about it when she was pulling on his ear. Maybe he has a high pain tolerance.

Going to candlelight Christmas service tonight, then will come home and open one present (yes, several have now been gotten into - not sure why but how it makes me mad.) Hopefully it will be warm enough tomorrow to maybe go sledding or the boys have been wanting to go ice skating. Don't even have plans for a Christmas dinner, maybe just pick something up from the store tonight on the way home from church. After Thanksgiving, when the boys did not eat much of what I fixed, not going to spend lots of time cooking anything 'special' at this point. Maybe in a few years or so, when they have a greater appetite.

one more video

This video did not post on the last one.....

Videos

Finally got some videos posted. Probably 3-4 minutes total......

Here is a short clip of B playing the instrument during the Christmas program. Notice the concentration and his foot tapping.

I just loved watching them do this song. Cracked me up watching how B counts with his fingers and then how he would mouth on the 'side' words....

The sun was out earlier this week, so Jbird, JB and I took our first 'walk'. JB loved it. (By the way, I know my child needs another haircut, I know he looks like a girl and I know his cousins want to put a dress on him, but I don't care. I love those curls and I am keeping them as long as I can. I can't imagine my Jbird without them.)

Christmas program

Tuesday was B's Christmas music program. I got smart ths time and took the video camera AND tripod. That way my hands were free to tend to the other two. Here are a few pictures. (Still trying to remember how I download my videos ....)


To my surprise, for one of the songs, B came forward and played an instrument. It was the only instrument played during the song (besides piano). He told me he volunteered to do it. He was so cute, when he started playing it (not sure what IT is called), you could see him focusing so hard on getting the beat. He did great the whole song...never lost the beat.

Sick but on the mend

We continue to be healthy, except the occasional cough and runny nose! Praise God!
This was the last statement made on the previous post. Guess what, the next day the school called me and told me B had a fever and I needed to pick him up. Jbird also had a fever and Joseph had a cough. It was a quiet weekend. All day Saturday Jbird laid on the couch, not talking, just dozing. I was thankful Sunday morning to see him being chatty again. I went to the store and stocked up on Advil and orange juice. Pumped them full of it all weekend. Seems to have helped! I have managed to stay healthy, which is awesome :-).

JB is loving being up on his feet and dancing. He goes around and around in circles. Really cute when he finds the Santa hat and then seeks out any musical tunes he can find.

Jbird is starting to mimic older brother more and more. He is even starting to pick up on some of B's pickiness when it comes to food. JB on the other hand just throws the food he does not like or when he has had enough. I will tell him no, he will catch my eye and slyly push more food off his tray! Amazing how you don't have to teach a child to be defiant.

We were recently listening to the story of Samson in the bible. (The lightbulb went off.) I asked Jbird if he knew why Samson was so strong. He told me because he had long hair. I reiterated how Samson got his strength from his long hair and then reminded Jbird about how strong I think he is with his long hair! I just am not looking forward to the day he wants to cut his curls. They just make Jbird J!

Tomorrow is B's music program at school. Maybe I can get some video and post all the snippets from the last week or two that I have been taping.

Laying low

Lots of hanging at home time this week. Actually our schedule has opened up that Wed is the only day we have a standing appt. And that is just fine with me. Probably a good thing B is in school and I have to take him, otherwise I would never leave the house.

I have not found any more nativity figures in JBs diaper (which was put there by older brother). Last night was the second time I put JB down for a late afternoon nap (4:30) and he slept all night. 14 hours - he must be in a growth spurt. If I could somehow get the older two to follow suit. They so need the sleep. Every one got great reports from the dentist. It appears that B's bottom teeth are starting to loosen up a bit. It was mentioned that he might need some spacers to allow his teeth to come in, we will look at that further at our next appt.

My revamped laundry schedule is working awesome. To my surprise, I am only doing about 4-5 loads a week and that includes towels and sheets. (I guess as the kids get bigger the clothes will get bigger) I have decided to break down the whole house so that just about everything gets monthly attention. Every week day I have about 3 'chores' to do, that probably take no more than an hour. I figured the hardest month will be this first month, since I am tackling some things for the first time. But if I can make it work for me, should really help out and take it a step further of feeling like I am even more on top of my house. Would also be nice to head into each weekend without feeling like I have a lot of stuff to do around the house and can just enjoy all the kids being home.

I love listening to Christmas music. If I could figure out a cost effective way to pipe it through the whole house all day long I would. I put in a CD this morning and the boys went crazy. Dancing around the house and singing along. Yeah - they are going to love (Christmas) music as much as I do! Have considered pulling out the keyboard again to see if any of them might take an interest to it. Sure would love it if any of them were musically inclined!

We continue to be healthy, except the occasional cough and runny nose! Praise God!

Christmas stuff

Our tree fell over the other day. No one seems to know how it happened. I had laid my Christmas stockings under the tree and when the tree fell over, a candy cane landed on top of some of the stockings, the candy cane got wet and now the stockings have red stain spots on them. Not to mention the handmade stockings were made mostly of red fabric, which ran too. Oh well, it will remind me each year to make sure the tree is secure.

JB was fussy recently. Could not figure it out, then finally checked his diaper to see if he was dirty. I found several of the nativity figures inside his diaper. It seems that older brother had selected a few to put down the back of his diaper and of course, JB could not reach them. I would have been cranky too if I had Mary and a shephard boy in my diaper.

The cutting of the pinewood derby car has begun. Will be interesting to see the final outcome. B wants to put lots of things on it, but he just does not get the concept of the more things attached to the car, more likely the slower it will be.

This past weekend we went to the local festival of lights. Saw the Grinch at the library. My boys obviously did not know who the grinch was, so brought the book home. Have checked out a few chapter books for B. He is really enjoying reading right now and I love reading the books to him. Won't be long before he is reading full chapters to us.

This next week is my last week for bible study. Then my days will really free up. Wednesday will be our only weekday where we have anything planned. Hopefully that means lots of hanging out with the kids. We head to the dentist on Monday. Sure am interested in talking with him about B's teeth. They are a very tight bunch. Don't see anyway a permanent tooth will have room to come in (not that he has lost one yet...)

Decorating the tree

We pulled out some popcorn to eat as we decorated the tree and guess who camped out there.....


The work in progress....


The presents have already been tampered with. I don't know why it so bothers me when people spoil surprises. Guess it is time to put them all up until 24th.
J and JB got into a baby powder fight. Now I remember why I always try to close to top when I am done with it. Of course they both thought it was hilarious!

JB is walking up a storm today. Seems to be more on his feet than his knees. And he has kept his shoes on!