I adore the Boone accent.

Boone is in the back seat. "Mommy, Wincoln is not seeping."

I messed with him. "He's not sheeping?"

"No! Seeping! He not aseep."

"He's not a sheep?"

"Noo! I'm not TALKING 'bout dat!! ...Wincoln is awake. His eyes are not cwosed."

Next sentence, buzzing his tongue (spitting) "I'm twying to get da bubbles outta my mouf." (?)

Do they have Kara's in the Caribbean?

Woke up to find a box of Kara's Cupcakes missing....assumed the huz took the last two (I'd set aside for myself) to work.  I'd deal with him later. Later I found it empty in the giant cardboard space ship the boys have turned into their new bed.  The 2 and 4 year olds are now grounded from sweets, movies, toys, and anything fun today.  They have been sneaking food into their beds early in the morning all week and I'm running out of ideas!!!!

Sigh...at least all this quiet time in their room, reading books will finally give me chance to pack for the BAHAMAS!  Three days from now I'll be on my way with my awesome sis in law to soak in the sun, and do nothing but sit on a beach for, umbrella drink in hand. Six days of not having to wear my mommy hat? Yes please!

How old is this kid?

Lincoln is in the other room shouting information at me. 

He's giving me a play by play of his and daddy's smoothie making.

"Mom! Mom! Moooommm! Acknowledge me please!"

"How do you know what 'acknowledge' means?" I shouted back.

"Mom, it means listen to me and respond!!!"

He's only four right? Did I miss a few years?  

"Mom, you're really pretty.  I wanna marry you and be your sweetheart."  

"Daddy is my sweetheart. But you can be my little sweetheart until you meet yours."  

"Okay.  But when I grow up big I'll go find my own real woman."

Up to no good

Being parents to three boys, we knew the time would come.  It has arrived.

A couple months back, Auntie Katy was in town and had been staying in Grandma and Grandpa's guest room. Lincoln and Boone were "napping" in said guest room. About 45 minutes after I kissed their precious heads and tucked their little bodies under the blankets, the door creaked open and Lincoln announced with a questionable expression, "Good morning, mom."

Warning.  Whenever he greets me this way I know he hasn't slept, but only waited what he assumes has been approximately 2 hours, or a decent nap. He paused in the doorway, darkness from the room behind him. Something was wrong, but what could it be? He looked as though he might have a slight bruise on his eyelid and partial cheekbone. Hmm.  If only.

Then I saw it. It hit me like a bag of bricks. Boone. Guilt in the eyes. Wait, what else was on his eyes? Oh, that would be Auntie Katy's MAC waterproof eyeliner and mascara. Scribbled on hair, cheeks, stomach, ears. I turned on the light, fearing what I knew I was about to discover. Walls, carpet, furniture, curtains, clothes all got a liquid makeover (his sound asleep infant brother was the only thing left untouched). Foundation smeared in the carpet, pink lip stain on his shirt and eyelids. Katy and I stood, there trying to pick up our jaws that were now lying on a pile of pressed powder. I've discovered one of the most difficult things about parenting is keeping a straight face while trying to discipline. Why did I start laughing immediately after the shock set in? Probably so I wouldn't burst into tears.

Ok, fast forward a few months to yesterday. Kids took a pretty good nap at Guppy and Papa's house. I should have realized something was up when, hearing their sweet little voices, I wasn't immediately welcomed to them wandering down the hall asking for food. They must be talking to one another, playing innocently together, right? There wasn't anything in that room that they could get into, right? Oh, Phoebe, why are you still so naive?

Slowly but surely they made their way out to the living room were Johnny and I had been enjoying the peace and quiet of three sleeping babes. Blissfully unaware.

Hang on, I didn't give you those long cardboard tube remnants.

"Hey, boys? Where did you get those?" Two deer in headlights...I knew it.

Well Guppy, I owe you two large Costco Christmas wrapping paper spools. Make that three. Poor Johnny tried so hard to hide the I-am-laughing-because-that-shouldn't-be-funny-but-it-really-is face. Especially when Boone, confused by seeing dads "joy" in what he expected to be a certain spankable offense, told him, "Don't worry dad. There are three 'swords.' One for you too!"

Let's catch up...

I've been very behind on my blogging but I recently found a few notes I've jotted down. Here are a few highlights from the past few months.

Sometime in October: I allowed the boys to pick out a movie to watch after their naps today while I got dinner ready. Lincoln wanted to watch "real people Peter Pan" on Netflix, however Boone wanted Veggie Tales. I said, "Ok, Boone, how about a compromise?" Boone: "YES! I wanna watch Compromise!" Lincoln: "Noo! I don't like that movie. Mom, I REALLY don't wanna watch Compromise."

We always joke the Boone talks like Elmer Fudd, which gave me the idea.

Most kids, before jumping off the cliff (bed) into the water (carpet) count "1, 2, 3"...not Boone. I think he feels bad for the other numbers. What I hear is "FOUR, FIVE, SIX!! Splash!!"

I often tell each of my boys that they "are my favorite {insert name}." Boone just crawled into my lap, looked up at me dearly, smiled and sighed, "Mom, you're my favorite Boone in the whole world." 

Lincoln told me he really wants to go on a plane. I asked him where he'd like to go on the plane. "Um...to Home Depot."

On the counter, helping make Link's Birthday breakfast

Mint chocolate chip pancakes (his birthday breakfast request)

11/09/11: Hey! Who's brilliant idea was it to schedule a 4 year old's check up on his actual birthday? Oh, right...mine. Happy Birthday, have three shots! But, he was so brave and didn't even cry. I'm even more proud that we got his weight up to the 25th %tile! Hudson is 4 months today and a whopping 11lbs 5oz. I love my "little" men. After Lincoln received his shots, Boone, who was just a tagalong that day, climbed into the chair, lifted his sleeve and proclaimed "MY turn!" I informed him he wasn't getting any shots today. Brows furrowed, lower lip began to quiver, and he began sobbing. "But mom, I reawy want my shots...just wike Wincoln did! Pweeease?"

Notice the socks?

With the ammount of "Why?" questions I hear each day, I realize I could save myself lots of time and just skip ahead and give him a final, sometimes exaggerated reason.  E.g. Lincoln isn't a big eater. Over this past year we have had many discussions about why nutrition is so important and that we must continue to eat daily. My side of the dialogue is usually something to the effect of, "Because if you don't eat, your body won't grow." "Because then you'll never outgrow your carseat." "Because food is important to keep us strong and healthy." "Because I don't want to take you to the hospital!!!" "Because I don't want them to stick a big iv needle in your arm." "BECAUSE IT'LL HURT!" "sigh...Because if they don't you might starve!" "Because then you could die!!" He usually gives up there.  

Lincoln, being a sometimes bossy, big brother, was informing Boone that he needed to finish his post nap snack of cheese and crackers "or else...(sigh)...you will die!!" Sure, THESE things sink in.

Thanksgiving: Boone wanted "baby Moses" from the nativity to watch the Chinese checkers game.

Late November: Papa is laying on the floor next to baby Hudson who is laying on a blanket. Lincoln walks up, lays down next to them both, places his head on Hudson's belly and whispers "Oh my precious baby."

12/9/11:  Lincoln: Mom, little girls don't have babies in their bellies because if they did, it'd be too heavy for them and they'd just fall over.

The boys slept over at Guppy and Papas on my birthday eve. When we came the next morning
to meet them for breakfast, they greeted me with a very exuberant "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

12/17/11:  I asked Lincoln to please bring me a clean diaper for Hudson. He did it so quickly and obediently. I looked at him with much adoration and exclaimed, "Wow! What an obedient attitude! I am so proud of you! What a wonderful helper." He looked at me with a big closed lipped smile, tilted his head and took a gentleman's bow (one arm behind and one in front.)

"Ice skating" with daddy at the rink his company built.

1/4/12:  I just told Lincoln he needed to hurry so please "Hustle your bustle. Wait, boys don't wear bustles. Nevermind." He responded, "Nope, but I sure can hustle my MUSCLES!"

1/9/12:  The boys were being mischievous and when I turned around to asked "Who did that? You know better." Boone looked at me shamefully and Lincoln quickly explained, "No mom. It wasn't me, it was Boone (points at Boone). This guy right here (pats Boone's shoulder.)"

Someone got big boy underwear! 1-12-12

Whenever Hudson is doing something cute Boone shouts "Mom! Come quick! Wook at your baby! He's so cute! Uh oh! Bay Husson dwipped (spit up)!  Eww, he dwipped awot."

Hudson 6 months old! Little peanut is not quite 14 lbs yet.