Our Summer So Far

Well, no one is bored yet.  I think that is a pretty amazing accomplishment.  Here are images from our summer vacation so far:

Crazy Caleb.  Anderson is gone at Cub Scout Day Camp this week.  Without my very talkative Anderson following me around the house telling me about his plans to become a billionaire, I find myself looking around and wondering where Caleb is.  Like a typical middle child, he is quietly entertaining himself outside or in the other room. 

Clark is standing on his own.  I think he will be walking in a month or so.

Caleb turned 6 years old.  As you can see, Hulk, Luke Skywalker, and Thor joined us for his birthday celebration.

Anderson wanted to earn money for extra fireworks this year.  He earned $13 selling cookies.  Way to go Anderson!

Look, I'm in a picture!

We have a skunk living under our shed.  This is a picture of Chad being sneaky and trying not to get sprayed.  How do you get rid of a skunk without getting sprayed?  My vote is to use a handgun... but Chad isn't willing to go that route... something about laws and using guns within city limits.  It's hard being married to such an honest man!  =)

Chicken sitting:  we watched our friend's chickens for a week.  Anderson named one of them Sassy Rocket.  I think that is hilarious.  I also think it is the perfect nickname for my Anderson!

Idaho

Our trip for the summer: 10 hours to Idaho and 10 hours back.  Thank you Matt and Katherine for a wonderful time!

We learned that Clark is a great traveler.  I appreciate Chad's willingness to entertain the children in the back seat while I drive faster than he would have.=)

Anderson- Flying a Kite

My 3 year old nephew kept his kite in the air for a long time with no real effort or concern on his part.  He gave me his string to hold and I crashed his kite within 10 seconds.  Bad Aunt!

The guys on their backpacking trip.

Cousins: six boys ages 7 and under.  That, people, is a lot of energy!

Rumor has it...

     Today in church, a woman complimented me on my hair.  "Is it naturally curly?" she asked.  Before I could answer her, Caleb replied, "It's a wig."  He said it with such a straight face that she thought he was serious.  I watched as her expression changed from startled to concerned.  I laughed and assured her that it wasn't a wig, but I'm not entirely sure she believes me. 

     Anderson loves documentaries.  Today, he watched one on the computer about global warming.  When I sat down at the computer just now, I chuckled when I realized he had been taking notes.  What a cool seven year old.

Me, my wig, and my crazy boys.

7 Years Ago

As I was looking through old photos, I came across these:

These are photos of Anderson (1 year old) and Chad enjoying a powdered sugar mess.  I’m so grateful for Chad.  He has always taken time to play with our boys and listen to them.  Thank you Chad!

The Inventor

During bedtime tonight, Anderson was telling me about one of his inventions.  I am always amazed at the depth of Anderson’s imagination; he can literally talk for an hour explaining details for a go-cart he’s going to make or a summer camp he is going to run.

Tonight, he was telling me how much money he is going to make from his plans for a hovercraft-rocket.  “I just wish I didn’t have to go to school.  I wish I could stay home and think about my inventions.  I mean, my time is money right now, Mom.  I could be making millions!”

Anderson: you certainly are smart enough.  I hope you never lose that confidence or your imagination.

Baby-zilla!

It has begun.  We all knew this day would come:  Mobility.  I am proud of Anderson and Caleb; they have already shown a great deal of patience with ‘Baby-zilla' and his super-human wrecking abilities.  I am quite paranoid that Clark is going to choke on one of the lego blocks that have infiltrated the nooks and crannies of my home.  I collect stray Legos in my pockets throughout the day.  If we had girls instead of boys, what would I collect?   Polly Pocket pieces?  Beads?

A Few Facts About Each of Us.

     Caleb is a ladies’ man.  He has been for a number of years.  When Anderson tries to tease him about liking a girl, he just shrugs and says, “Yep, I like her.”  End of teasing. 

     He has kissed several girls, and often makes comments such as, “I hope ____ (insert girl’s name) likes watermelon, because I like watermelon.  When we get married, we are going to eat a lot of watermelon.”

     When I picked Caleb up from kindergarten today, he announced that he has a new friend, "Her name is Jordan.  Can we go to the store so I can buy a necklace for her?”  (See, this 5 year old already realizes that women like jewelry… this boy is a natural.)  We went home and made a necklace for Jordan.  During bedtime, he pulled it out of his backpack and proudly showed it to Chad.  During the day, I heard him say Jordan’s name a few times…. Just to hear the sound of it, I guess.

    

    Tonight, I watched as Anderson stepped up onto the toilet seat, balanced with his feet on the sides of the rim, lifted one leg and flushed with his foot.  He did this all without touching the toilet with his hands.  I was speechless.

     When you have a 5-year gap between children, you forget a few things.  I forgot that the dishwasher is the best toy in the house.  Clark will come crawling from anywhere in the house when he hears it open. 

Clark has the same gimpy crawl that Anderson and Caleb had.  Check it out: