He Has NO Shame :)

Yep, boys are what we do best! :)

We're are so excited to meet this little fella in 5 months! 

A Few Christmas Morning Snap- Shots

Merry Christmas 2010!

Little C

Little C,
Oh the goof ball of the world - how I love you! You turned 8 last week and I just can't believe it. You wanted to have a swim party so that's exactly what we did. You love the water, outdoors, anything that keeps you movin'.
Right now your dream is to have a show like ICARLY and to have hair like Justin Bieber. :) You love to make people laugh and I must admit you are hilarious. You want muscles like Taylor Lautner and you are constantly coming up to me flexing, saying, "Mom, feel the steel" or "Mom, count my stomach muscles"... funny.
You were truly born for your role in our family. You love your little brothers so much. You get excited at all the new things they learn to do, you play with them, and you watch out for them. Thank you.
You transition to change so well. I am not quite sure how you do it. You like to joke around and entertain your family, but you also have softer side. A sensitive side that understands things way beyond an 8 year olds capacity. You're amazing.
You have decided to be baptized and we couldn't be more proud. Last week you told me how you felt the spirit while taking the sacrament and it warmed my heart. You are so good. Thank you for great example.
We couldn't love you more,
Mom and The Beloved

Not in the Handbook

"Wow, you have your hands full."

If I had a dollar or even a quarter for how many times I heard that a week, I would have to start paying taxes from the income received.

It's interesting what comments seem perfectly acceptable to people. I know I've innocently dealt out my fair share of obnoxious statements and questions. I use the word innocent because unless someone has been in your current situation, how would they know the words flowing from their lips are being received as completely annoying or  perfectly inappropriate?

So, I forgive them -

and then I have to forgive myself for being so petty.

What I really need to do is wash away the responses that pop into my brain but luckily don't project forth out of my mouth.

I think I may start carrying around beautiful homemade badges in my purse that state -I was OBSERVANT today - and hand them right on over to the gracious commenter.

Why is it okay to comment about something so personal as someones children? Pregnancy? Marriage?

(I mean, tell me the good stuff like - my children are fricken adorable and my spouse and I are the cutest couple alive :), but delete the other tacky uncomfortable stuff.)

Weird. People are weird.

Why not tell me  -

"Wow, you have really bad dandruff."

At least there's an easy cure for that.

But you would never dream of uttering those words because it's rude, and you probably can already decipher that I look at my head everyday - and it is rather obvious to me that I suffer from a dry scalp.

-Strangers in the grocery store,

I know I have my hands full. Guess what, they're going to be fuller around May 19th - can you believe it? :) -

I am going to have so many badges to make.

Yes, I am the mother of Spirited Children. 

Especially spirited toddlers. I used to have those thoughts, "Why doesn't that mother control her child?" or "All that child needs is a good spanking." 

Silly me.

Little C was a pretty mellow baby/toddler and I felt like I had things down splendidly in the mothering department and then I had #2 and #3. Trust me, my mothering didn't change a bit... these newer little humans who came into my home were born with a vigor and an intensity for life that leaves a mother exhausted and cursing the authors of most parenting books for having no idea what they are talking about.

I love my little boys.

They are zestful, opinionated, assertive, compelling, and energetic - aka:  loud, argumentative, stubborn, impatient, and busy  -

but, so am I.

They are also sweethearts. They give the best kisses and hugs and always say please and thank you. They love their family fiercely, which is more important to me than a little tantrum at a store or a meal they've refused to eat. They know how to pray and they know their Heavenly Father loves them.

What could be more perfect than that?

Here's our little toothpaste bandit...

he can't seem to keep his chubby perfect fingers out of that drawer.

One evening, I had already fed my children, The Beloved was working late, and I told the kids to play downstairs. I was in the process of eating my dinner alone. I just needed some quiet time to not think, not be the boss, and enjoy my meal. Well, Little C and Lou could not comprehend my desire to be without their company. I gave them plenty of warnings to go downstairs and give me a few moments to finish my dinner... but they would not listen.

I finally threatened them with, "If you come back upstairs again I will throw you in the shower with your clothes on."

For some reason they didn't believe me :).

Following through can be exhausting, but usually I am quite dependable.

I don't really think the shower method could be considered a form of punishment in our home.

We all laughed so hard - it felt like it was planned fun.

I needed a little fun that evening.

Sure, having spirited children can leave me feeling like -dare I say - I have my hands full.

But it also makes life sweet and supplies me with such rich precious memories -

It's worth it.

We've Become -

The Art Specimens:

When Lou had his photo taken he was adorned in his Spider man garb of course, and he couldn't have been happier with the finished product.

Little C posing for his profile picture - we are still awaiting the outcome.

Me - in all of my forlorn glory.

The Beloved did a accurate job drawing his adoring spouse... but I somehow find myself looking somewhat in relation to:

He also did a study of my hands and feet -

I must say I have never found them more attractive in my whole life. :)

So - the photo below is obviously not a family member - but I wish she was because she looks awesome. I just had to post this picture because I thought it turned out so well. It was only the second time The Beloved had used pastel paints for one of his projects and I couldn't be more impressed.