Funny things...

Tal is growing. Everyday I see it as he struggles between the little boy he was and the bigger boy he's becoming. In the crosshairs of this growth come some pretty funny moments...here are a few...

Last Saturday Andy took Naomi on a little date. While they were gone...
Mom: Tal, should I mow the lawn?
Tal: Mom, sometimes you need a day off...I'll watch all the kids for you
Mom: Yes!

While we were watching Where the Red Fern Grows...
Tal: (With tears in his eyes and a little crumpled chin) Mom, sometimes when I see things that are sad it makes me sad.

After I sucessfully unclogged the toilet:
Tal: Mom, you are the best toilet-fixer in the world...well other than those other guys who fix toilets.

The other day Tal got in trouble for something. His punishment was to put his bike ramp away - he wailed the entire time. A couple of days later:
Tal: Mom, the other day when I was crying you didn't give me a hug and tell me it was okay.
Mom: (Big oops moment)

And my favorite. A couple weeks ago the kids were fighting I got mad at Tal - thinking he was the instigator - only to find out he hadn't done anything wrong. As I was wallowing in my shame...
Mom: Tal, do you think I'm a good mom?
Tal: Of course (said in a tone like, duh)
The funny thing is - he was so convincing it actually did make me feel better!

I love this - I don't need positive self-affirmation when Tal's around. On Sunday Andy was harrasing me about something...
Mom: I know what I need. Tal, Do you think I'm a great mom?
Tal: Yes! Like the best in the whole world
Mom: (Smirking in Dad's general direction)
Dad: ...

Wicket

So, we did it. We made the plunge and did something we said we'd never do (the first sign that we would indeed do it)...we got a puppy! I was visiting an out-of-town friend at her moms - who had just gotten an adorable little Shih Tzu. We thought he was so sweet and when she mentioned that her mom might not be able to keep him I casually said she should let me know if he needed a new home. I didn't actually think her mom would be ready to let him go, nor did I think there was anyway Andy would go for it...well, I was wrong on both counts. He is a wonderful little guy who the kids are totally taken with. There were a couple of rocky weeks in the beginning but somehow the little guy has worked his way into my heart too!

By the way, he is named Wicket after the Eewok...not to be confused with Wicca (the cult) or Wicked (the play).


This picture cemented Wicket's place in our home - can you tell how much she loves him?



Little Rascal

Calvin turned 2!

Somehow I have lost all of my pictures from Calvin's Birthday :( But just so he knows how much I love him - here are a few of my favorite things about him:

I love to watch him run - the way he catapults his whole body towards his objective

I love how he's teaching us what it means to be a boy. Into everything, making messes, loads of energy...phew!

I love the way he plays doggie - his way of getting mom to stop and pet him :)

I love to watch his mind work. He is such a little engineer - even though he can't communicate I feel like I can see the wheels turning!

I love how much he loves Naomi. I never anticipated the connection he would have to her - I thought he'd stick to his brother - but he adores his sister!

I love that even with all the frustration he is feeling at his lack of communication I can still glimpse what a sweet, sweet boy he is.

Calvin has such a good heart - I felt this the moment I first held him. What a joy to have in our home!

Naomi Turned 4!

Naomi turned 4 in June. I can't believe how fast time is flying. She has really blossomed into a fun girl. Here are a few of my favorite things.

• I love the way she gets really serious when she is talking about something important. Her eyes get big and her expressions get really exagerated.
  
• I love the way she will sit and hold her baby sister while she cries. Tal and Calvin will abandon the baby when she starts to cry but Naomi will just sit there and try to soothe her.
  
• I love how she can make anything girlie (remember "cinderella hulk") but isn't afraid to get dirty or wrestle with her brothers.
  
• I love how enthusiastic she is about her new adventures even though she is afraid "no one will be her friend"
  
• I love how she tries to make people happy.
  
• I love how much love she has to give. She will sit and pet the dog for hours just happy to have found an outlet for her affection.

She is a beautiful girl and we are so lucky to have her in our family! She decided she wanted a My Little Pony party - which lets be honest, was just as much fun for me as it was for her!

Birthday girl!


That's her "Cutie Mark" on her cheek - pretty cute!


The little ponies!


Making "pony tails" which were really just barrettes with their choice of ribbon that they could wear for the pony races!

Naomi's Dance Recital

Naomi was so excited to have her first dance recital in May. She loves dance class and waits excitedly for it every week. Her class danced to Somewhere Over the Rainbow - it was great!

Dad remembered the most important part of any performance...flowers!

During rehearsal - not sure they are rehearsing the same thing but they are only 4 :)

Ava, Brooklyn and Naomi.

The boys even made it through - what troopers!

Not sure anyone else will love this like I love it but here it is anyway :)

New House

Yep, for those of you keeping tabs on us through the blog we have moved. Why we decided that the right time to relocate our family was during the same six months we had a baby, got a new job, and adopted our first puppy is beyond me - but nonetheless here is a long awaited peek at the new pad.

The Big 3-0!

That's right - I turned 30 this year. No big deal - right? I didn't think so until a couple of days before the big day when Andy and I were driving to the store - this is how the conversation went:

A: You're going to be THIRTY??!! (Said with a great look of disgust/outrage)

L: Uh, yeah - you're just figuring this out?

A: I can't believe you're going to be thirty. (Tone of disbelief/resignation)

L: What's the big deal? You've been thirty for a couple of years.
A: Yes, but it's okay for me to be thirty. It's NOT okay for me to married to a thirty-year-old...that's so old.

Wow. Really, I told him he better start shopping for a newer model because like it or not I am (gasp) getting older :) I think he's over it now that the shock has worn off :)

Last candles at Dairy Queen or Freudian slip??