Toms...

apparently these are back "in"

I'm thinking I need a pair.

Wouldn't they look just sweet with a pair of dark jeans?

Like I maybe even "tried" to get myself together before going out?

and while I'm at it. what do you think about a pair of these for a special little miss?

pick out your favorite here.

The Tale of One Boy's Naptime

Drayson is an amazing sleeper.

Always has been (and here's me knocking on wood that he always will be).

He sleeps in a cage (well not really--but he is still in his crib...easier to keep the animals contained that way you know).

So everyday after we put Caleb on the bus we start to prepare for the nap. I say as we are walking back to the house: "When we get home it's gonna be naptime"

He says: "Ohhh. Tuddle? (cuddle)"

Me: "For a little while"

Then I "tuddle" him which consists of him snuggling up on my lap and me humming to him.

Me: "Ready?"

Him: "Uh huh"

I carry him to his room. He shuts off his light.

Then he says: "Mr. Loud on" (which really sounds more like "missher" Loud)

Mr. Loud is the sound spa/white noise machine. Do you have one of these? I love ours. We never had one with Caleb, but as soon as we had Drays we decided to get one because well, Caleb was a noisy 4 year old and we lived in a small house. We got a second one for Kearyn's nursery when she was born because well, Caleb + Drayson was really noisy and we still live in the same small house.

For the record, Drayson came up with this name all on his own. And it was actually Chip (who is especially gifted in decoding baby/toddler speak) that figured out what he was saying.

So after he turns Missher Loud on. He lays his 'lovie' on his pillow and then lays his head on top of Lovie. I put his blanket on him and he folds his hands so we can pray. It sounds a little like this.

Me: Dear Jesus/Him: Dear Jeshush

Me: Thank You for our day/Him: Day

Me: Thank You for our family/Him: Fam-ly

Me: Thank You for our food/Him: Food

Me: Let Drayson take a good nap/Him: Good Nap

Me: We love you Jesus/Him: Love you Jeshush

And everyone said: AMEN!

He removes Lovie from behind his head so that he can 'tuddle' him. Drays says "Nighty-night" in his cutest sing-songiest way. And then I repeat. He says "LOVE YOU!' all loud like. And I repeat of course.

I walk out & shut the door. And for the next two 1/2 hours I only have one baby to tend to. And if Kearyn's being an especially good girl, she takes her nap at the same time. And then I get to be....

ahhh, blissfully by myself.

Fillin' Up the Bucket

The other day I was driving with all 3 of my kiddos and my sister's little guy Parker in the car. It was Caleb's birthday and we had just had a great time playing at the park and eating spudnuts.

I said that I might mow the front lawn while the boys played and Kearyn napped.

And then this (over Kearyn's baby babble and Drayson & Parker's unintelligible 2 year old conversation):

Caleb said "I think Daddy would be happy if you mowed the lawn because then he wouldn't have to do it and he could rest. You would be filling up his bucket."

Say again?

"That's what my teacher calls it. When you do something nice for someone it fills up their bucket."

I smiled the goofiest grin while happy tears dripped down my cheeks.

How did I get so lucky to have this sweet little guy in my life?

And the greatest part. He is learning. And from a great teacher at that. I can't wait to see what the rest of the school year brings.

And in the meantime? I'll try to remember and fill up a few more buckets. Cause it really does feel good.

To My Big 6 Year Old

Dear Caleb,

I cannot believe that you are going to make me into the mama of a six year old tomorrow. At this very moment you are sleeping next to me on the couch where you fell dead asleep before we even had time to tuck you in and say your prayers. And I should probably have Daddy put you into your bed now, but the truth is I love having you right here next to me.

It is so refreshing to see how at ease you are in your own skin. You are just so good with who you are. And that makes me so happy. You are luuuvvving Kindergarten and making so many friends. All your classmates seem to be drawn to you and you are so good to all of them. You are so excited to learn new things and I love watching you accomplish things you didn't know you could do. Oh, how your face lights up and I can just see how proud you are.

You love being a big brother. Mostly, I think, because it means you will always have someone to boss around. You and Drayson love to torture and wrestle each other, but I see the way you watch out for him and want to teach him new things. And you are so helpful with Kearyn, always talking to her and telling her how pretty she is and making her giggle. They are so very lucky to have a big brother like you who will always stand up for them and be on their side.

Thank you for putting up with me, teaching me, and loving me. I couldn't be more proud to be your mom.

Is anyone out there?

...still reading this blog??

If you are, I apologize.
First for the lack of regular posting. Second for the lameness of the irregular postings.
Remember when I used to be fun & witty?
Or deep & thoughful?
Or was it just me thinking I was these things?

This is me vowing to get back into the swing of things.
No more summer vacation blog break for me.
My problem is that when I actually have time to write, I have sadly forgotten all the *great* things I was going to say.
I blame the children. I think they have stolen my brain (kinda like aliens from another planet might do. If I believed in that sort of thing). Though I did see this special on TV the other day that made some pretty convincing arguments....

Anywho, where were we? (see about the brain stealing?)
Maybe it's that I'm sharing my funny with facebook now.
Kinda of like when you only had one kid and they got all your attention, love, patience, etc?
Then you had two, then three.
And often times I think to myself: "I can't believe that I thought one kid was hard"
But parenting is all relative.
And motherhood is a merry-go-round of emotional instability.

My kids are so sweet. Stop hitting your brother.
She is such a good baby. You kids are driving me up a wall.
I love being a mom. Let's plan a childless vacation.

And the scary thing is how all these thoughts can run through your mind in such a short time frame. Looking back on some of those posts right after Kearyn's birth has put things in perspective for me. I truly did not think that I would ever not be in pain, be able to parent three kids, leave the house again without assistance, not cry when Chip left for school in the morning.

But here I am. 4 months post partum and I'm doing it.
And some days I do it well, and some days I don't.
But we all seem to be moving forward and thriving for the most part.

A Big Week

We sent this strapping young man off to Kindergarten on Monday. He is luuuving it! I think he would go all day if they let him (maybe I should enquire about that, maybe then he wouldn't torture Drayson all morning for lack of better things to do). He is excited to start hockey in a couple weeks. Loves his baby sister to pieces.

The sweetest gal in the whole world is now 4 months old

{13lbs 2oz (50%), 24 1/2" (50%)}

She is giggling and smiling (especially at Daddy and the boys). Rolling from tummy to back. And basically just looking as adorable as possible in all things girly that I put her in.

And Drayson, you ask. Well, he's just being his usual cute Buggy self. And he's real mad that he can't ride the school bus with Caleb (not that you could tell from this picture). His favorite thing to do is talk on the phone, so you may want to think twice about calling over here :) And he is up and moving on Caleb's old pair of roller hockey skates-watch out world.