What the Kids Look Like Now

Dad pushing the boys like a madman. What's not to like about this scenario?

When Howie plays dinosaurs he really means it. Notice the straining blood vessels and intense roaring going on. It's a sight to behold (and of course hear).

The boys and their good friend Caroline

Mom, do you mind? Even in my crib?

The closet is a fabulous place to hide

Honking the horn on this tricycle at Grandma and Grandpa's is the best part of my day

Howie, Justice, and cousin Pax visit Tanners Apple Orchard in Illinois. The apple cider! The apple cider donuts! The pumpkins! The goats! It's just too much fun!

It's so hard to get a pic where they are both standing still and looking mostly normal... even if part of Howie's head is cut off!

A Funny Conversation

Context: Howie is fascinated by watching live music. He loves hearing music at home too but enjoys it even more when he can watch people play, and he wants to learn himself. To that end we're hoping to enroll him in suzuki music lessons. Suzuki is a method of teaching music that even very young children can learn- they are taught to play by ear first and then read music later. I don't know how many instruments you can learn through suzuki, but I know violin and piano are commonly taught. Hence the purpose of this conversation.

Me: Howie, would you rather learn violin or piano?

Howie: Saxophone.

Me: That's not a choice, Howie. You have to be bigger to play the saxophone. Would you rather learn violin or piano?

Howie: Guitar.

Me: You have to have long fingers like daddy to play the guitar. Would you rather play the violin or piano?

Howie: Saxophone.

Me: (Seriously?) Howie, violin or piano?

Howie: Drums.

Me: Howie, violin or piano?

Howie: Guitar.

Me: (SERIOUSLY?) Howie, you have to be bigger to play the guitar. Violin or piano?

Howie: Saxophone.

Me: (How am I not getting through here???) Howie, you can only pick violin or piano right now. Violin or piano?

Howie: Violin.

There we go. Took about a million tries to get what I was looking for.

Howie & His Buddies

Howie has been playing outside like a madman over the past several months. It's been so much fun for me to watch him learn how to ride his little bike (yes, a girl's bike that cost $10 on craigslist to which we added the spoke beads that I always wanted when I was a kid... that's definitely living vicariously through my child) and run around with his little pals and pretend. I love it! It just reminds me how much he is growing and changing because when we moved here he wasn't even walking yet! Yesterday some of them were playing duck duck goose and Howie apparently thought he was the perpetual goose because he basically got up and ran anytime anyone was the goose. I love listening in on their little conversations too. (Howie to one of his lady friends: "You're a princess. I'm a man-princess." etc.) I'm so grateful that God has provided such good friends for Howie in this season of our lives!

(P.S.- I wish you could see Howie's pants better in that picture- they're old man plaid skinny pants. They're so funny.)

Look What I'm Wearing

It's so cold outside today!! Yay!! I woke up this morning, it was 71 inside our apartment, and I had to put on a sweatshirt. I've been dreaming about wearing sweatshirts and sweaters and scarves over the long summer, especially when it was back to 90 last week... I'm sooo over summer (at least for now... by December I'll be blogging about how bad I want summer to come back). Now it's down to 69 in our apartment and I can't wait to pull out some warm jams for the boys to wear to bed and think about that space heater down in the basement!! YAY!! I almost made some hot chocolate last night I was so euphoric about fall coming. This might be a wee bit premature since it will probably warm back up for a while, but for now I can just be glad for what's coming. Until after Christmas, when summer can come back.

Oh, How Things Change

That was then...

This is now...

Newest Obsessions: finding electrical cords to pull on, pulling books off the shelf to thumb through and occasionally rip pages out (including Mama's Bible... oops), pulling down the floor lamp in the living room, eating random items on the floor (yuck), laughing hilariously at big brother, standing up and shrieking like a maniac

What?

Josh: Howie, what's your favorite animal in the zoo?

Howie: The poo.

On The Move

It's official... this guy is mobile! He's crawling and doing headstands and trying to figure out how to stand up. It's so funny to me how different he is from Howie at that age! Justice is already creating the need for way more babyproofing than Howie ever has in his whole life. I'm so curious to see how he continues to develop and what kinds of things he'll enjoy. So far his favorite things are taking whatever Howie is playing with (much to Howie's frustration, usually) and exploring dusty corners of the house. Makes for LOTS of sharing/kindness conversations and I've also developed a new zeal for cleaning!! Yay!!