The White Stuff

It's official. Nathan has entered that age where everything he does is cute. 

When I walked in to the room, the whole table was dancing - 

with the exception of Hayden, who was crying he was laughing so hard. 

I think we can all agree that he 

got his groove {and his love for Oreos} from his Mamma! 

B-Lockey

This language in this video is wildly inappropriate - so I apologize in advance.

But it is still worth watching, so that you know why we now refer to Blake as "B-Lockey".

Hi-LARIOUS!

*Thanks Matt, for sharing this video! 

Twenty Thirteen in Review

I am still working on a video montage of all my videos (as opposed to just pictures) - and by "working" on it, I mean thinking about it.

I am a bit overwhelmed because I got a new computer with a new operating system (shhh- don't tell Jeff's employer that we are cheating on them with an Apple)....but in the meantime here is one I created on my phone.

I love looking back on all my pictures and realizing how fun the little things are even if we can't afford a Disney vacation or a week at the beach.

Happy New Year!

The Sweet Moments

Don't let this video fool you.

It's not all fun and games around here.

In fact if I had to title the last three weeks, the title would be "Poop."

Actually "Poop everywhere."

That would be more fitting.



A certain someone is potty training and I use the term "training"  VERY loosely.

He's making great progress actually. He's learned how to take off his diaper and go poop.

And he's also learned how to flush the potty.

It's just unfortunate that the pooping doesn't actually happen on the potty.

Making the flushing more of a formality than a necessity.



Then there is another certain someone decided it would be a good idea to change Nathan 's diaper in an effort to help me out.

Sounds like a nice enough gesture, right?

Only that particular helper is easily distracted  - so he forgot mid-diaper change what he was working on and began making a rocket out of legos.

And I probably don't have to tell you that Nathan doesn't let a lack of diaper hold him back. The result: more poop everywhere.



Then Angel pooped and someone crawled through it.



Then another boy in the family came to me distraught  because his poop had "melted." Which is now a phrase I think our family will use for all of eternity.



Anyway, all of that to say that when I caught Blake and Nathan playing in the crib the other day on video I decided to relish the sweetness of it all (not to mention the fact that it didn't involve poop). Then as  I texted the video to Jeff, I realized just how many sweet little videos I had like it so I decided to create a video montage of the  little things that happen on a daily basis.

But I hope you trust me when I say there's a lot of poop in  between these captured moments - so don't go having four boys and say I didn't warn you.

***

And because I created that whole video montage and forgot about this gold mine that I had on my phone from the SuperBowl - here is one last 12 second video. It's of Jeff and his mini-me (Hayden) fine-tuning what will be Hayden's touchdown celebration dance when he becomes an NFL "QB".

Now that he's crossed that off the list, all he has left to work on is his play calling and spiral throws.

Happy New Year!

So it’s two thousand thirteen now. It’s day two and I haven’t even made any resolutions. I might just resolve to not resolve. We went around the table the other day and asked everyone what their resolution was. Blake and Nathan were a little less vocal about their resolutions, but I think I knew what they were getting at with their lack of response.

Hayden “vows to play Aggie football one day.”

Davis “vows to make more chocolate pies.” Which should be relatively easy to achieve, since he has never actually made a chocolate pie.

Blake is finally going to figure out how to poop on the potty and his stretch goal is how to manage his temper.

And Nathan is going to quit the pacifier cold turkey in starting in February.

***

As I compiled the pictures for my second year-in-review video, I realized just how pitiful of a job I did blogging this year.

From the New Years Eve talent show – to the most dramatic birth story to date (that sounded like a Bachelor Spoiler) - to my potty training woes – to my domestic goals update – to all my pinteresting projects - I really need to catch up.

All in all, Twenty Twelve was good to us.

We watched our second son, Davis, accept Jesus into his heart and get baptized.

We completed our family on February 18^th when Baby Nathan arrived a month early and then made it official a month later when my tubes were “obliterated”.

Blake and I began the arduous task of potty training….after tackling the transition to his new BIG BOY BED.

Hayden completed the karate elite team, tested for his advanced brown belt began training to get his black belt this year.

We took an infant (and his three older brothers) on a plain, train, automobile, and to every park at Disney World and Universal Studios. (And loved it). Babies are the ticket to a free second ride without waiting in line. I thought you should know that.

We made the switch to become a single income family when I quit my job in September. And while I miss the paycheck and the me-time, I am definitely getting into the groove of things.

We cheered Davis and his little league baseball team all the way to the playoffs. And without Davis’ mad bubble blowing lessons in the dugout, his team would have been just another team in the playoffs blowing small bubbles.

I watched one of my best friends find true love and tie the knot. Oh Happy Day!

Jeff shot his first deer and the family spent the next two months eating deer jerky, deer chili, deer sausage, deer spaghetti, etc. etc. etc.

We sold almost all of our tables on Craigslist and began refinishing furniture projects for a more homey – home.

We survived the world NOT ending, but ate really good the week before, you know,  just in case.

Hayden caught us in the act – of playing Santa this year. Thank goodness Jeff is still able to think on his toes and we were able to keep the magic alive another year. Either that, or Hayden is one heck of an actor.

So long twenty twelve.

Hello twenty thirteen.

Be kind to us, please.

The annual year-in-review video is below. It turned out decent even though I lost about three months of pictures when a son who will go un-named dropped my computer rendering my hard drive useless. Maybe he should vow to never drop my computer again instead of becoming an Aggie quarterback.

Oops. I hope I didn't give him away.

(Thanks to Jeff for finding the song and saving me fourteen hours of listening to itunes).



2011 year in review here.

The Cupcake Monster

Mistake #1: Thinking that the cupcakes ON TOP of the fridge would be safe from the not yet two year old.

Mistake #2: Deciding to finish folding the load of laundry before checking on Blake in the other room, who had become eerily quiet.

Notice how he's already mastered the art of playing it cool - and not acting guilty. He totally tries to deflect the situation when he realizes that he's been caught by starting up a casual conversation.

He's all, "MMMMM! ........MMMMM!.........GOOD!.......... CUPCAKE!"

All his grand plan to take away from the facts of the situation that he moved a chair across the entire kitchen, climbed on top of the counter to access cupcakes ON TOP OF THE REFRIGERATOR!

And then DEVOURED them.

I just know that if he had more words in his vocabulary, I am sure he would have tried to distact me even more. "Hey mom - quick question speaking of cupcakes...do you like buttercream frosting or cream cheese frosting better?"

The Best Medicine

Ever since I saw this video of the baby who laughs hysterically at torn paper and this video of the baby who cracks up at nose blowing, it's been on my to-do list to get a video of Blake belly laughing at something random. One night a couple of months ago, after attempting to explain to Jeff the hilariousness of these two videos, I finally just grabbed some paper and started ripping it in Blake's face.

He didn't laugh. He just furrowed his brow and stared at me. The exact same way Jeff was doing across the room.

Then I faked blowing my nose.

Nothing.

Blowing my nose while ripping paper? Funny, right?

More blank stares.

It's not that he doesn't laugh, he does. He laughs all the time. But I've had zero luck getting anything on camera because as soon as I start to get the camera out, he stops laughing.

So you can imagine my surprise when I came home from taking Hayden to Tae Kwon Do tonight, and was shown this video.



Apparently, it's hilarious to get a ball thrown in your face. 

I think that just about sums up what it is like to be the third boy in the family.

One Hundred Thirty Four: Let Them Be Little

As I said before, this whole professional newborn photo shoot was a new experience for me. I am so excited that my friends and family gifted me with the photographer gift card at the baby shower. It is one of my favorite gifts EVER. So timeless.

And based on all of the whining / bribing / random posing that was involved in the twenty minute Christmas-card-photo-shoot a few weeks later with Kellie, I know I made the right call by inviting the big boys for only a fraction of the newborn shoot.

p.s. I love the song that I set the slide show to...probably because I let him "sleep in the middle" more than I should. :)  

Eighty Six: Guest Blog

Guest Blogger – Jeff

A couple of weeks ago, I had to “work” from home because Hayden was running a fever for an extended period of time and couldn’t go to school. After taking him to the doctor and getting him antibiotics to fight an infection, I put him in my bed and let him watch cartoons all day while I went to “work” in the living room.

While I “work”, I prefer to listen to music so I tuned in to my favorite rock station 89.7 PowerFM. And just my luck, the first song playing was my favorite song (now my second favorite which will make more sense later). It was “Whatever You’re Doing (Something Heavenly)” by Sanctus Real. And as I listened, I thought, “I should go find the chords and lyrics and learn how to play it.”

SIDE NOTE – links are attached at the bottom if you want to check out the songs and comments I reference at the end

So I quickly went to my favorite guitar tab site and found it. Next I went to YouTube and found the video. I listened to it over and over again while practicing (I am not very musical so it takes me a very long time to put the music and rhythm of playing a guitar together with lyrics).

After a good 20 to 30 minutes, I took a break from the song, and noticed a YouTube link to another Sanctus Real song that I’ve never heard before called “Lead Me.” I clicked on it… I listened… and before the first chorus was over, I found myself struggling to hold back the tears. This song hit home… hard. It was like Matt Hammitt, the lead singer, wrote this song so that it might become my prayer.

After listening (and praying/crying) a few times, I clicked the next YouTube link… it was Matt and Sarah Hammitt talking about their personal story and the meaning behind the song “Lead Me.” And if the song wasn’t already enough to get choked up about, the parallels in their lives to mine and Lisa’s lives made my knees wobbly… sheesh!!! By this time, I am more emotional than a woman 37 weeks into pregnancy. I won’t give any names, but I saw this pregnant lady one time sitting on the couch with Sponge Bob playing on the TV in the background break into tears and laughter at the same time for no reason… but I digress.

I couldn’t wait for Lisa to get home. I forced her to sit down and listen to the song. I prefaced it by telling her the song has become my prayer. But I still kept my expectations low for a reaction (if you know anything about Lisa, you know that she is completely indifferent to music… she seriously has no desire to listen to music EVER… I am not exaggerating… even if you tell her to listen to the words, something in her brain physically prevents her from doing it… if you ask her to sing the first song that comes to her head, she’ll sing “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas"). But this time, she was speechless… and both of our eyes were filled with tears. I played the other clip too… she cried some more and all she said was, “Will you learn that song for me?”

So I did… enjoy (if you have an auto-tuner, now is the time to hold it up to your speakers).



I dedicate this to my wife, Lisa and sons, Hayden, Davis, and Blake. I pray that I’ll be the Husband and Father that God has called me to be in your lives. Love - Jeff

Now if you want to see what it is really suppossed to sound like, you can click the links below:

“Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)”

“Lead Me”

Story Behind “Lead Me”

Retaliation

Today is April First, Two Thousand & Nine.

I felt this was the appropriate year to teach my sweet Hayden the joy of April Fool's Day. Last night I snuck into his room after lights were out so we could talk privately.

Always quite the chatterbox after 8pm, he loved the surprise.

We plotted and schemed for a full thirty minutes about the seemingly endless possibilities of how we could trick poor-unsuspecting Dad. We giggled about all the scenarios that would play out the following day.

This evening after dinner, we put our plan into motion. Hayden came up with a brilliant trick! We would put a hole in a cup and trick Dad into drinking out of it. If all went as planned, water would go everywhere!

Sounds simple enough...

Except I didn't have any disposable cups. And I didn't want to ruin my brand new super cute cups from Target.

So I had to improvise.

I grabbed one of the kids old Halloween cups and whispered to Hayden "he'll never suspect anything".

Hayden hasn't quite mastered the skill of whispering...and Jeff doesn't typically drink out of the children's cups, so you'll notice he wasn't as "unsuspecting" as we'd hoped. But he was a good sport and played along.

All was well, as I crossed How To Trick Someone On April Fool's Day off of Hayden's incredibly long life lesson list.



Later that evening, as the kids jumped tirelessly on the trampoline, Jeff lured Hayden inside. Poor Hayden didn't see it coming and walked right into his Dad's trap. As he strolled through the partially open back door, a bowl of water poured out on top of him.

Next lesson on the list: How Not To Cry When You Realize What Comes Around Goes Around.