Fall Fun

The boys have suddenly developed a keen interest in the seasons. I will frequently hear them discussing their favorite things (ie, games, books, movies...etc), only to hear them add in "season." For some reason, it just makes me giggle to hear two four-year olds discussing the weather. For the past several mornings, it's been Jack Frost. They'll look outside their window to see if Jack Frost came, and if there is, indeed, frost, Dex will start claiming that he saw Jack Frost and that he's a really nice guy. Yesterday, the story got a bit more developed, as he and Jack Frost are apparently becoming pretty close ("real good buddies," as Dex would call it). Once again, just a little something that keeps me smiling in the morning.

They're also becoming better and better at problem solving. Don't get me wrong, I still wind up playing the role of referee on many an occasion... but, it's a delight to hear them work things out for themselves. On one recent occasion, a playmate was visiting who didn't want to play any of the toys/games that the boys were playing. I watched Jaxon go grab a few different board games, and showing his pal the pictures on one of the games, said, "See? This is a fun game! The kids on the box are having fun, so you'll have fun, too! It's not a bad game, it's a really, really fun game!" Apparently, this argument was persuasive enough for his friend, because within seconds they were playing and laughing again.

Shea is becoming such a handful! I turn around for five seconds and I swear every toy bin or box has been dumped on the ground. She is fast and she is efficient and since her ultimate goal is the cover the entire living room floor with toys, I find it's a losing battle on most occasions. She is still very much into her storybooks, almost obsessively. I'm not complaining, though. I love the fact that she likes to cuddle and look at books. I just wish she was more capable of understanding that her brothers also have needs, as does her mommy! :) I think what delights me most about Shea, these days, however, continues to be her relationship with her brothers. She asks for them constantly, follows them everywhere and wants to do exactly what they're doing almost all the time. When they're involved with a game or toy she's not big enough to play, she'll sneak up on them, quickly steal a game piece and run away as fast as she can, giggling the whole way. Sometimes, they are not at all amused. But, other times, they'll happily chase after her, which is exactly what she wants, and the three of them will run around the room chasing each other and giggling, inevitably landing in a big pile on the floor. It's great.

How can you not love fall? Striped tights and big hats.... love it!

Dex

Jax

Dexter's fake pouty-face

Shea's fake mad face

Trying to be mad and not laugh... hee hee

Okay, Mom, not amused... stop taking my photo

The boys, listening to their Star Wars pandora station... Dex, looking at magazines... Jax, working on puzzles and licking my batter-filled whisk. Yay for afternoons!

Included in Shea's baby obsession is a love for all things "mommy" and "daddy." For a good two weeks, she carried these mommy and daddy figures around the house. Too cute.

Jaxon, striking a pose with his new spiderman gloves for Halloween.

Ooh! I've been webbed!

The kids with Don and Mary

We had a visit from the Miedemas one evening, which was great. The kids played so nicely and the grown-ups actually got in some good visiting! Here's Haley, showing Dexter how nicely she can write.

Jax and Taylor

The six kiddos spent much of their time romping around the living room. Totally fun.

Look at all those blondies!!

Circus Day and Pony Play

We have had an excellent week-end of family life and are adoring this whole new phase of no more week-ends at work for D.R. Yipee!! We kicked the week-end off with our first pro sporting event with the boys. They sat all the way through an entire Timberwolves game and loved every second of it. It was an absolute blast for all of us. The boys were thrilled to cheer with every basket that was made, giggled and searched for Crunch (the mascot) and howled their little wolf-howls every time the Cavaliers shot a free throw. It was awesome.

Saturday was filled with Halloween excitement and it was terrific. We had a little Spiderman (Jaxon), an astronaut (Dexter) and a bumblee bee (Shea). I'll post photos sometime before next Halloween. We were so happy to have a visit from our friends, the Miedemas, who used to live in student housing and the boys were thrilled to death to have pals to trick-or-treat with. They were even happier that we got several more visits after bath time, which meant they got to stay up late and goof around. It was a sugar- and fun-filled night or fun.

Today we enjoyed the Vikings/Packers game with D.R.'s sis and family. The grown-ups got to cheer on the Vikings while the four boys played SO well. Shea seemed a little concerned with the full house, but was fine as long as she was within five inches of me. Oh, Shea!!

Below are photos from the boys' circus. They worked so hard on making signs, tickets and perfecting their performance. They have since added several acts, but I have not brought back the Big Top. I think that might have to be a one-time deal. :) Dex-left, Jax-right

The boys made their own puffy paint, but used it all up on their first few letters... so we resorted to good old fashioned tempera paint for the rest of the sign. They didn't seem to mind!

We worked so hard on that big top! It took a while to figure out how we would hang it, but the final result was one that we were very pleased with. Here's Jaxon, showing off the tent.

Shea thought playing under the Big Top was definitely all that.

The final product

The boys rehearse for the big show.

The boys and their pals, Lily and Audrey. Shea was napping!

Dexter

Our third little dare devil.

On this particular day, the chairs were a horse and the boys were cowboys. Shea followed suit very quickly.

Dex-left, Jax- right

Jax, riding while talking on his cell phone. What a multi-tasker!

The building blocks of fun

The Brothers (and Sister) Blue

It's been a great week. I feel like there are times in parenting when everything seems to be a battle. Then, there are times like this week, when things just seem to fall into place. The kids have been so sweet with each other. The boys are best of friends and proud protectors of their little sister. Our days are filled with adventures.... even this morning when I faced a seven block walk home from the auto shop after dropping off our car, with two dawdling boys and a wiggly toddler, in 20-some degree weather, in the freezing rain, with pants wet to our knees... was actually, dare I say, FUN. We tasted raindrops, examined mud puddles, walked in a circle of intertwined fingers and held on to stop signs for dear life (apparently, they were the only thing saving us from deadly, yet imaginary, tornadoes)... it was hilarious and I loved just about every second of it.

Shea has had a tougher week. We're suspecting an ear infection. Luckily, her big brothers are a good distraction for her...

Here are a few of our recent highlights...

Dex-left, Jax-right, helping make a fruit salad for supper. Naturally, they filled up on fruit and ate practically none of their actual dinner. Naturally.

Jaxon, modeling their new iron-on space police t-shirts.

Shea is constantly trying to hug, tackle, tickle or kiss the boys. It's sweet and goofy... and the boys tolerate it pretty well, for the most part!

The boys and M, doing a fantastic job of taking turns on the laptop.

After seeing my pigtails one morning, Dex announced he wanted his hair to be just like mine. It cracked me up, but he persisted, so for the rest of the day, this is what my dear little boys looked like! :) A taste of Shea's tough little toddler attitude... she's becoming quite demanding!

We had a lot of fun playing with the camera one afternoon. All three kids were playing in blue clothes... Here's Jax

This was a dress of mine when I was little. I'm thinking it would be a great Alice in Wonderland costume for Shea. Maybe she'll still be able to squeeze into in next year? We'll see...

Bat Baby strikes again!

Bat Dex and Jaxon express some creativity...

I found the boys trying to trap Shea in a "spiderweb." My first thought was her safety... my second was that it was one of the funniest things I'd ever seen! So, before confiscating the ball of yarn I had to snap a few photos.

I'm pretty sure this is Dex...

This is definitely Dex and Shea

Jaxon- left, Dexter-right, Shea- totally tangled!

Dexter