update- us

The boys keep life pretty entertaining for us.  

I am enjoying my noisy, energetic life at home.  I sleep very well at night and have gained impressive reaction time to objects flying at my head.

The boys wait by the window for RB's arrival and have his entire evening planned out the moment he steps through the door.  RB is applying for a fellowship in joint replacements and will be starting his final year of residency in July.

update- Calvin

It's almost scary how quickly this one is growing up.

Calvin has turned into quite the devoted fan

... and outdoorsman.

update- Noah

Chances are, if someone is giggling in this house, it's Noah.

He has become quite the performer this year

and is still bridging the gap between little boy/big boy.

update- Malcolm

While serving in Holland, RB was labeled "Ondeugende ogen", or mischievous  eyes.  They have been passed down to this little guy.

Malcolm is into weapons, "tackle-wrestling", and Skylanders.

He is hilarious and, somehow, always finds his way to the top of all dogpiles in this house.

update- Theo

Theo is now 18 months old.  He loves hats, trucks, and helicopters.  

 He hates posing for pictures.

"a theo-in-the-door"

Noah came up with a little tune about his baby brother called "a theo-in-the-door" (think "farmer in the dale" melody).  It's actually quite catchy.

Brief update on this little guy-
  
Theo is now, finally, starting to walk around.   

He thinks he can talk and has no problem carrying on a conversation at length- usually involving a systematic pointing at all recognizable surrounding objects.

He's proven to be a fairly good eater, though rice pudding and pizza are his foods of choice. The moment he feels he's had enough, he throws all remaining food (like bowls of cheerios and plates of pasta), so you have to keep a close eye on him.

Reading "Goodnight Moon" and ,again, throwing things are his favorite pastimes.
  
As far as I can tell, his current goals seem to be to keeping up with the big brothers  and finding out what the inside of the toilet feels like.

Oh, and Bowser is his best friend.  (not sure the feeling is mutual)

never leave home without it

you know, just in case...

the butterfly hunter

Boys seem to require a lot of field time.  While one is involved in a practice/game, the others are left to entertain themselves. It's amusing to watch what they come up with. 

Here is Noah playing hide-and-seek in an open field- always exciting.  (We're still working on the whole honesty/no cheating thing.)

Today, Noah spent almost an hour trying to catch one of the many butterflies fluttering around the soccer field sidelines.  He finally managed to capture one and raced over to show me.  Overjoyed, giggling and yelling in his high-pitched voice, he sprinted the whole length of the field.  I tried to match his enthusiasm as he unveiled his yellow winged treasure, which promptly flew away.  

"Mom!  Aren't you happy that I caught that butterfly?!"


"Yes, I'm very happy.  You tried very hard and did it.  That was awesome."


"Well, why didn't you sing a song?"


"...what?"


"Will you sing a song about it?"


"...um, okay..."

rb is a deep sleeper.

There seem to be days at time (based on call schedule and rotations) when RB and I never get a chance to sit down and talk.   Like last night- RB needed to get to bed early and I needed to go grocery shopping. So we, like our cooler, younger siblings, have to resort to texting if we feel something is worth sharing. 

Here, for instance, is the message from last night:


"...and if any part of you smells like pee this morning, it's because Malcolm wet his bed then moved in to cuddle with you before I found him.  Pretty sure it was a gallon's worth, so I doubt you escaped unscented.  xoxo"
  

a new favorite song

Malcolm is a fan of the classics.

rocks

I was working out in the yard this weekend when Malcolm came up to me and flatly said, "Dad, I ate a rock."

I must admit to not knowing how to respond initially, so I told him that that could make you sick and that he shouldn't do that anymore. He responded, "no Dad, they taste like chocolate."

Oh boy. 

these two

Random comments today from the soccer camp gold medalists: 

humble Calvin: "Actually, winning is a hobby of mine."

sweet Noah: "I'm going to live at grandpa's house and go fishing with him forever. Calvin can stay at home with grammy and learn how to quilt."

need for speed

Mal's favorite pastime- coasting downhill.

well said

Malcolm informed me the other day, "Mom, Noah has the hiccups, I have a cough, and Theo has the screams."

Yes, lately this angelic looking little boy definitely has a bad case of the screams- not crying, just screaming.   Apparently quiet/public places, like theaters, church, or grocery store lines exacerbate the problem.

lonely calvin

Overheard while driving in the car:

Calvin singing along with a favorite song: "Do you know what it feels like, being alone?"
Calvin, talking to himself, then adds a melodramatic:  "I sure do."

 sheesh.

ladies' man

Noah loves fishing, sports, bugs, and dirt as much as the next boy, but he's also proven to have a soft spot for cute little girls with missing teeth.  While at a conference/vacation with friends who happened to have such a daughter, I always knew where to find Noah.  

I'm going to have to keep an eye on this one.

Little Boy Logic

I caught Noah eating a cookie before dinner...

"Mom.  I just came to look at my cookie and I saw that it was broken, so then I was going to have to glue it, but then, it would taste like glue.  Sooo, I just had to eat it."

The Runaway Tooth by Calvin Jones

Calvin entered our local PBS station's writing contest and won first place with this story.  He gets to be on tv next month to recieve his award. 

Calvin's comment upon hearing the good news, "I'm going to be SO famous."
 

(click to enlarge)

 
  

 

Calvin, lately

 
(Calvin with his den-winning derby car, "Phoenix")

Last week, Calvin running upstairs from the basement:

"Mom, I need some really strong rope."

suspicious look from me

"And a long piece of wood... aaannndd a carrot."

confused look from me

(impatient eye rolling) "Mom, I'm making a rabbit trap."

  

armed.

Malcolm is really into weapons right now.  Here is his "crayon shooter".  

This is his bow. 

And this is how he sleeps... should we be concerned? 

Theo likes bagels.

 

especially blueberry ones

Opening Day

 

 

 Baseball season is underway- Noah is ready for anything (as long as he doesn't have to actually see it).

our little dear

 

What it sounds like when your 2 year-old uses 

your own words against you:

-- (Pounding on the door, trying to get up from the basement with two hands-full of cars while I'm busy feeding Theo) --

"Mom!  Mom!  Open the door!  Mom!  I'm stuck!...  I'm so SICK of you not listening to me.  Now open the door RIGHT NOW!"

-- (Being denied a snack) --

 "Mom, I need a granola bar."

"No, Malcolm. You can't have one right now."

"Mom, don't say those words. That's disgusting."

 

Just to make sure it gets documented somewhere, here are Malcolm's "crazy eyes" he gets when about to cause mischief... like running over RB with the camera.

cupid

Noah is all about Valentine's Day.  Eating chocolate, coloring hearts on everything, getting notes from girls, giving hugs to everyone, overdosing on sugar cookies- these are all things he would do everyday.  

This little boy has a lot of love to give.  Today he is so ready.

FEMALE ATTACKS!!!

NEWS FLASH: Four unsuspecting boys have their home invaded by a creature fitted with bows, frills, and animal prints. Appears emotionally needy and doesn't seem to respond to reason. Authorities at the scene appear to have narrowed the suspect down to something called a "girl". Quite possibly the cutest thing ever seen. No exaggeration.