My baby is growing up

Yesterday was just a beautiful day. Nathan is such a happy little man when we are outside. I found myself listening to the Christian radio station (in the backround) just admiring his contentment with the flowers (weeds) in our yard and the simple pleasure of finding a discarded ball from one of his older brothers. I smiled at his "she loves me/she loves me not" action with the dandelions. The clip is nothing exciting, just a moment of Nathan contently playing outside. I couldn't help but marvel at the simpleness of it. I am surely enjoying the fact that he is growing up into toddlerhood. :)

Awards at AWANA - David and Caleb

Last night was awards night for the AWANA club. Both David and Caleb finished their books and received awards. Here are a couple of pictures and videos.

This was David's 3rd year as a Spark, and he finished all 3 books so he got the Sparks highest award. He was the only one to get it - he was so proud (so were we). Completing 3 Sparks books you learn and review 68 Bible verses. So that is a lot of God's word going in that little brain.

Caleb finished his Cubbie book and got his ribbon and cubbie bear stuffed animal as well as all his vest patches. A Cubbie book has approx. 20 short verses. It is quite an accomplishment for a 3-4 year old!


My favorite part about the night was a compliment David got from a parent of a fellow Sparkie. There is a shy girl in David's class whose family we know well. :) I guess on the way to church she told her parents that she was sad that David wasn't going to be in Sparks next year. (after 3 years you graduate to the next club level - TNT) When they asked why she was sad, she said it was because David had been an encouragement to her. He helped her feel encouraged during game time to participate and not be scared and now who will encourage her to play?


I was thankful they told me that. David really has a great caring and sensitive spirit underneath all that 7 year old busy body (and busy mouth). I was happy for Emma that David encouraged her and I was happy for David to see her need and fill it.

Caleb's New (Old) Bike

We pulled out the old training wheel bike and Caleb showed interest. The tire had a hole in it so it needed a new tire and tube.

I decided I would take care of this since it should be a relatively simple task right? (and Johns "honey do"this list is already long) Well,I was wrong about the simple part.

I go to Walmart. They have the tire size but not in stock right now. Target only carries the 12 inch and the 16 inch, not the 14 inch tires. Toys R Us only has the tube not the tire. So now it is 10:30 (I left at 8 AM) and I am mad we have not found a tire to fit and my 2 youngest have been dragged into the toy section of the store and have to have been told repeatedly that we are not here to buy toys, just a bike tire.

I find a bike store named Michael's Cycles and hooray they have 1 tire 14 inches and the tube! Only problem the store is next to McDonald's and it is now lunch time. Sorry, once again I get to be mean mom and say No.

I drive home the baby falls asleep - now I will get no nap out of him ARGHH. No problem I look back and Caleb is asleep too - but he hasn't peed since 8 am so you know what that means. sigh. (it is 12 30 at this point)

I get the garage open find the ratchet (is that the right tool?) that fits. I get the nuts/ bolts whatever they are, off both training wheels. I figure out how to get the back wheel off. I need a Philips screw driver for one part, a socket set for another and a wrench for yet another. No wonder john has so many tools. Goodness sake people!

I push, pull, and plead with the old tire to come off the wheel. Sucess! I get the new tube on and spend30 minutes trying to get the new tire on the wheel.

Now I know why mechanics swear so much. Jeepers! Ok finally I get that done. oh crap the air nozzle is no longer lined up with hole in the wheel for the nozzle. ok everyone still sleeping? Yup. Get the nozzle aligned.

Now how do these pieces go back together again?
Get the wheel back on.
Get the training wheels back on.
Chain falls off the pedals - AARRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!

Take off training wheels, take off wheel cover, reinstall chain. Tighten nut/bolt (whatever that thing is). Kids still sleeping? Yup. Put wheel cover back on, training wheels back on. Put back back in van - drive to BP for air.

Kids wake up hungry and crying - too late now I have spent over an hour with this tire and it is going to get air and you will ride it!

Go to air pump. Put air hose up to nozzle - nozzle in tire is burried again ARGHHHH.

Run in store buy candy for kids. HA not kidding - go back to air nozzle.
Get crow bar from tire changing area in van. Pry tire over enough to stick nozzle back thru hole. Fill with air.
Put bike back in van.
Drive home feeling invincible. I am woman hear me roar!
Feed kids lunch at 2 pm.

Caleb's Hunger Strike

The vomits are over - everything has been washed and disinfected. We are back in business.

We walked to church because it was really nice outside. We have a big breakfast of pancakes and sausage and make it there by 8:30AM. A record for us.

On the way home, Caleb asks to go to the BP. We agree, but not for food, only a drink. The 3 blocks we walk to get there from church Caleb complains how he wants something to eat and drink. We say no, only a drink, we will get Gatorade. Each child picks a Gatorade.

We get to the checkout and Caleb starts crying. "I wanted something to eat!" After our mini-scene we get him out the door and I carry him all they way home crying about not getting anything to eat.

Still fuming when we get in the front door, he exclaims to me: "I am NOT going to eat any of our snacks or anything else until I go back to the BP!"

I am not concerned about this, annoyed yes, concerned no. Not this kid. There is NO WAY this kid will last on a hunger strike - not this one.

I call his bluff. (I just went to the store and have a TON of goodies) I pull out the snack bin. I bring it right over to him and start rifling thru.

"Fruit Snacks?"
"NO"
"Teddy Grahams?"
"NO"
"Rits Bits?"
"NO"
Macaroni and cheese crackers?"
"NO" Hesitated a little on that one
"Nutrigrain bar?"
"NO" arms crossed reiterate hunger strike intention.

Over walks David. He eye spies the bin.
"Hey, can I have some macaroni and cheese crackers?"
"SURE"
I tell you it wasn't 8 seconds and Caleb caves. Hunger strike over.

Vomit and More Vomit

I should have known better. A Chuck E Cheese day has now translated to a day of vomit. Caleb was first on Monday night. Until Wednesday afternoon he couldn't even keep 1 ounce of water or anything down. Since he hadn't kept anything down for 2 whole days, I took him in. ( my grandma called - Is it the Swine flu?) - No Grams - not the swine flu.

Same thing the Dr always says - virus - go home give him rest.

The longer I am a mom the more I wonder "why do we even go to the doctor?" These guys give you the wrong info half the time and the other half they tell you what mom already knew!

(I go because I have a grandma who will chew my ear off if I don't - truth be told)

Nathan has it now only he keeps swallowing his vomit. GROSS!

In an effort to end this entry on a funny note, here is a great picture my mother in law sent me regarding the swine flu - which I REPEAT we do NOT have:

how it all started:

Nathan's Baby Teeth and a Trip to Chuck E Cheese

Nathan has 4 teeth to go before his baby teeth are complete. Well, they are all coming in at the same time. Poor kid. He is a drool/booger mess and to top it off he got a bloody nose today to boot. Poor guy tripped on the shoes and fell right on a buckle. If I even look at him funny, he knows I am comin' to wipe his nose. I can't imagine I would like that much either.

As I was working my nursery shift at church today, one of my former high school Sunday school students brought in his 2nd baby (a chubby bubba of a boy). It was so weird to sign him in and care for a baby of a former high school student. I felt so OLD - but indeed that crew of "kids" we taught are now in their mid to late 20's. (This particular student-turned-dad, we watched play high school basketball! - weird ) His son was just like my David as a baby. Huge head and super roly poly body and all smiles. It was a joy to have him in my arms.

While feeding this little one his bottle, I was thinking about Nathan getting his last 4 teeth and that indeed the baby stage is soon going to be distant memory. I smile at the thought that I will soon be the nursery worker who has no kids nursery age! The light at the end of the tunnel is not only visible it is getting brighter and bigger by the minute!

After church we went out to eat. We had 2 elderly couples approach us and tell us our kids were cute and well mannered. I know they were taking a moment to remember what it was like to eat out with their kids when they were little (the kids are probably Seniors themselves , judging by the age of the couples). I smiled and tried to just enjoy the moment with my three little men eating food that was prepared by someone else.

Then we did the ultimate mom of young kids activity. Chuck E Cheese. (we met cousins Zach and Samantha there) Caleb had 20 birthday tokens to burn and we weren't about to waste them. I smiled at the fact that David was old enough to be on his own and that Caleb was with dad and Nathan was with me. As I was helping Nathan play a game, I saw a couple walk by the mall window and peak in. They obviously were past the Chuck E Cheese stage of life. They smiled in at the crazy activity beyond the window.

Okay God. That was 3 times you whispered to me enjoy them now. They grow so fast. I am hearing you. These are the good ol' days and soon they will no longer be my little boys. They will be men.

Caleb Reads His 1st Book

I have been working with Caleb (and Olivia) on letter recognition and sounds for some time now. I decided to pull out the Hooked on Phonics CD game and play a few rounds of letter sounds with Caleb. He passed the 1st 3 games and I began to think - Maybe this kid could read the 1st Hooked on Phonics book!

I assure you he has never seen this book before. I had him sound it out 1 time before I grabbed the camcorder. I am amazed! He is 2 days past his 4th birthday!