Here was 2009 with best buddy Jackson
Here is 2010
Here was 2011 with all the missionary kids.
2011
And here we were today!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Early Halloween
We went to Wichita's botanical garden for "Bootanica" tonight with some friends. It rained and there were way more people than any of us introverted parents preferred, but the kids had a great time and danced in the rain anyway!
Friday, October 12, 2012
Stats
It has been a while since I gave a physical and developmental update on the boys. I try so hard to put these things in the blog so I don't forget them forever.
It seems that one or both of them do something every single day that makes me laugh or just realize they are growing up so fast.
Ben is way too smart for his own good. He picks up on so many of my little phrases and things I say. Instead of just saying "yes" to a question, he will often say "well, sure." He often says, "I have an idea." One should always proceed with great caution when you hear these little words. I was told by two people recently that he put his arm around their back, patted and said, "How are you today?" Little man!
He also has a knack for adapting the language to make words.
He told Nate, "I'm gonna tell you a secret and it's gonna be very wispy."
I can't remember exactly what he was doing, but he was knocking something over with something else and said, "Look mom! I have knockers!"
He and Nate often whack things with "whackers!"
He saw a ram with horns at the petting zoo and told Tina, "That one is horny."
He had some things hooked to his belt loops with carabiners (an interesting fashion statement) and told me he had "hookers!"
Never dull.
Nate's language is picking up rapidly and so is his need to be just like his big brother. He imitates almost anything Ben does. Ben fell flat on his face in the aisle at Walgreens and Nate cautiously got down on the floor and laid out flat!
The words we hear most are "hurt," "help me," "mine," "me," "no, no Nen (Ben)," and "Nenamen" (Benjamin). He said his first complete sentence recently, a gem - "Ben push me!"
He tries to say every word we ask of him. His pronunciation is actually pretty good. I am not sure if I am happy or too worried to be happy that the two of them can communicate better now. It seems to be causing lots of conflict.
Ben continues to be extremely picky in eating. I almost don't even want to use the word picky, because that doesn't accurately describe it. He just refuses to eat many meals. He always finds an excuse for why he doesn't want to eat. He doesn't request his favorites very often, he just goes without. I can't figure him out. We just cheer him on when he does eat and hope this ends one day. Nate is the exact opposite. He continues to eat about as much as I do at a meal. He refuses to his utensils still. He will hold up his fist and look at me as his way of asking if the given meal is finger food. Somehow, he makes even soup a finger food. We wont be giving up the bib anytime soon!
When dosing medicine the other day I thought I would weigh them because I'm not sure Ben is heavy enough for his age bracket. Ben weighed 32 pounds and Nate weighed 27! Wow, only five pounds different. Ben is 39 inches tall and Nate is 33.5 inches tall!
In all the ways they are different, they have twice as much in common. They adore each other, follow each other around, have complete conversations of which I understand almost nothing. They run and laugh and run and color and run and read together! They are best of friends...at home.
When we are with friends, Ben is easily persuaded to maintain his "big boy" status and cut Nate out. This does not go over well with me. Nate doesn't have a friend that is close to his age so he is like a third or fourth wheel a lot. But, he hangs with Ben well at home so I know he can hang with the gang of them. We are working on that :) Nate doesn't take nothin' from nobody so he tries his best, but his little legs can't keep up with the big boys.
But then sometimes we take a turn for a mess.
Never dull!
It seems that one or both of them do something every single day that makes me laugh or just realize they are growing up so fast.
Ben is way too smart for his own good. He picks up on so many of my little phrases and things I say. Instead of just saying "yes" to a question, he will often say "well, sure." He often says, "I have an idea." One should always proceed with great caution when you hear these little words. I was told by two people recently that he put his arm around their back, patted and said, "How are you today?" Little man!
He also has a knack for adapting the language to make words.
He told Nate, "I'm gonna tell you a secret and it's gonna be very wispy."
I can't remember exactly what he was doing, but he was knocking something over with something else and said, "Look mom! I have knockers!"
He and Nate often whack things with "whackers!"
He saw a ram with horns at the petting zoo and told Tina, "That one is horny."
He had some things hooked to his belt loops with carabiners (an interesting fashion statement) and told me he had "hookers!"
Never dull.
Nate's language is picking up rapidly and so is his need to be just like his big brother. He imitates almost anything Ben does. Ben fell flat on his face in the aisle at Walgreens and Nate cautiously got down on the floor and laid out flat!
The words we hear most are "hurt," "help me," "mine," "me," "no, no Nen (Ben)," and "Nenamen" (Benjamin). He said his first complete sentence recently, a gem - "Ben push me!"
He tries to say every word we ask of him. His pronunciation is actually pretty good. I am not sure if I am happy or too worried to be happy that the two of them can communicate better now. It seems to be causing lots of conflict.
Ben continues to be extremely picky in eating. I almost don't even want to use the word picky, because that doesn't accurately describe it. He just refuses to eat many meals. He always finds an excuse for why he doesn't want to eat. He doesn't request his favorites very often, he just goes without. I can't figure him out. We just cheer him on when he does eat and hope this ends one day. Nate is the exact opposite. He continues to eat about as much as I do at a meal. He refuses to his utensils still. He will hold up his fist and look at me as his way of asking if the given meal is finger food. Somehow, he makes even soup a finger food. We wont be giving up the bib anytime soon!
When dosing medicine the other day I thought I would weigh them because I'm not sure Ben is heavy enough for his age bracket. Ben weighed 32 pounds and Nate weighed 27! Wow, only five pounds different. Ben is 39 inches tall and Nate is 33.5 inches tall!
In all the ways they are different, they have twice as much in common. They adore each other, follow each other around, have complete conversations of which I understand almost nothing. They run and laugh and run and color and run and read together! They are best of friends...at home.
When we are with friends, Ben is easily persuaded to maintain his "big boy" status and cut Nate out. This does not go over well with me. Nate doesn't have a friend that is close to his age so he is like a third or fourth wheel a lot. But, he hangs with Ben well at home so I know he can hang with the gang of them. We are working on that :) Nate doesn't take nothin' from nobody so he tries his best, but his little legs can't keep up with the big boys.
We can produce a masterpiece a minute.
Blowing the paint around.
But then sometimes we take a turn for a mess.
We love watching bread bowls bake.
Preparing a zucchini lasagna is as artful as baking desserts, Fun!
But that day this happened while I was baking.
Never dull!
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Petting Zoo
We braved the 40 degree morning (way colder with the wind) to pet some farm animals with friends and had a great time!
Impossible to get three boys looking and smiling simultaneously.
Petting a baby pig.
Petting a little goat.
Petting a duck.
Petting a baby chicken.
Petting a bigger goat.
Petting a bunny.
Fascinated with the llama.
Ben said, "Me and Jackson are farmers!"
Nate did not like the goats chasing him. Susie to the rescue.
Waiting for a pony ride!
Nate stayed close to his popcorn.
Ben's ride!
Love that face.
Shivering to the car.
Group pic.
Bouncy house slide.
We cranked up the heat and ate our sack lunch in the van.
See ya again in the spring!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Great Value vs. Blue Bell
I love ice cream. I love it so much that I have very particular preferences about my ice cream. Not just anything does the trick. I don't like "chunks" in my ice cream - cookie dough...gross. I like it just a little melty - the best way to achieve this is lots of stirring, something my sisters despised me for growing up.
While I can be super picky, I also just love ice cream. So, if say a Great Value ice cream sandwich is offered, I will gladly eat it. Something is better than nothing.
My ultimate favorite is Blue Bell's dutch chocolate with a couple of spoons full of peanut butter, mixed and mixed until it is all one creamy delicious mixture. Heaven!
Heaven to me is like my perfect bowl of ice cream. This world that we live in is like a Great Value ice cream sandwich. It has its good parts, but it is nothing like Blue Bell.
I am not sure why Heaven has been on my mind so much these last few months. A while back of pastor friend of ours posted about this song on facebook.
While I can be super picky, I also just love ice cream. So, if say a Great Value ice cream sandwich is offered, I will gladly eat it. Something is better than nothing.
My ultimate favorite is Blue Bell's dutch chocolate with a couple of spoons full of peanut butter, mixed and mixed until it is all one creamy delicious mixture. Heaven!
Heaven to me is like my perfect bowl of ice cream. This world that we live in is like a Great Value ice cream sandwich. It has its good parts, but it is nothing like Blue Bell.
I am not sure why Heaven has been on my mind so much these last few months. A while back of pastor friend of ours posted about this song on facebook.
All of the comments to our friend on facebook were something like "Don't think about leaving us Pastor. We need you!" I had also been thinking so much about that song and I was shocked at the responses from all this guys' "friends." I wanted to give a hearty "Amen" but I would have been the only one so I held back my comment. But I haven't forgotten it.
I remember being a little girl, young in my faith, and telling God (hahaha) that I would love to join Him in heaven one day, but I would prefer to meet my grandchildren...wait, be old enough to see my grandchildren grow up...oh wait, maybe great grandchildren would be nice too...and I wanted to die before my loving husband. That's all. As I have matured in my faith, I find myself often thinking "Come, Lord Jesus." I look at my calendar, I look into the eyes of my beautiful children, I enjoy laughter with my friends, and yet I still think anytime is a good time for the Lord to return.
If I had to choose between giving up the Great Value ice cream sandwich in order to receive the Blue Bell dutch chocolate, I know what I would choose every time!
All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong
lyrics from "Where I Belong"
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Apple Picking
Today we went apple picking with some friends at a local orchard about 30 miles outside of Wichita. It happens to be owned by people that are involved with World Impact and know quite a few people that we know. That never happens to us here! The couple that owned the orchard was so kind and we had a blast.
(Thanks Nana and Grandpa for the adorable matching vests that the boys were sporting on our adventure today!)
Apple picking or apple eating?!
They loved getting under the limbs.
Farmer Nate.
Ben called this "the cave."
Getting the boys into the tiny spaces to get the good ones.
Nadia said, "I stuck!" Ben helped her out.
"Mom, I fell. But my apple's ok!"
After all that picking, we needed to enjoy it. Ben requested cinnamon apple muffins. Amazing!
And we made some apple dumplins for dessert after dinner.
Taking a few pics in the afternoon light by the window. Just for fun.
Rocking the fauxhawk. Loving his shadow on the wall.
Sweet boy.
That smile gets me every time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)