stinkable

If only I could record everything my kids say!  Especially Levi lately, he's full of one-liners.  The other day when he was headed into the bathroom to take care of business he said, "It might be stinkable in there!"  Lately he's been saying, "Okaaayyy, what are we doing here now?" (Even when we're at home.)  I think it was Sunday morning he told me I looked really pretty, and I thought I might melt.  :)  Many times when I tell him to do something I get a cheery, "Okay, yes, Mom!" And, when I've been going outside to work in the yard lately, he asks what work he can do.

Tuesday evening was Libertas' spring showcase concert.  Caleb and Logan sang in about four different songs, and recited a Bible verse.  Some of the skit type stuff that other classes did struggled with the sound, but the musical numbers were great!  "America the Beautiful" at the end of the concert with all the classes plus the band was neat!  And, my nephew Nathan's class sang a fun "Nifty Fifty States" song.  Always interesting to watch my kids up front.  There were plenty of times it looked like Caleb was just moving his mouth and not actually singing the words, but he was really into it!  :)  Logan was much more refined and by-the-book.  They were very happy to whip out their kazoo's during one of the songs.  :)  At one point early on Mike had fed Jackson a bottle.  He was burping him and made a comment that he would probably burp then since it was really quiet.  I was watching him and saw the look on his face, said, "He's working on one.", grabbed the burp cloth, and what do you know, a super loud burp/spit-up came, and everyone around us got a good laugh.  :)

We've been chipping away at some of the yard work around here.  So much to do after last year's project!  Trying to focus on one thing at a time and not get overwhelmed with the big picture.  This week Mike got our new lamppost installed, and I love it!  I moved the lovely clematis from the old lamppost to the new one and it's looking quite sad right now; I sure hope it perks up.  I also split off part to move over by the little spot by the garage (which I got a trellis for and Mike helped me attach it to the wall last night), but that's not looking too hot either.  We'll see.  A couple weeks ago some friends of ours gave us some plants they were getting rid of, so I planted them in the flower bed around the dining room windows.  Doing this work on a budget!!  :)  It's hard to find a large chunk of time to work on things, but at least Jackson will be content in his stroller or on a blanket for a little while here and there.  Getting the lawn mowed this year is going to be a little tricky once Mike gets busier at work.  I've been looking at video baby monitors so that I could mow while Jackson is napping, but $$$...  Last year our mowing was almost cut in half thanks to thing being tore up from the project, but now with the new grass we have even more than before!  Yikes.  Once the boys are old enough we're going to buy each of them a walk behind and let them have at it...  :)

spring!

It's spring now!  Of course, one weekend there was snow on the ground and the next weekend we were running around in shorts - and not because we're crazy northern people, it was actually warm enough.  :)

Last Friday was my birthday, and I had a very nice day.  The weather was gorgeous, the boys and I went for donuts with my friend Amy and her girls, Caleb and Logan went to a friend's house for the afternoon, we went out for supper as a family, and then headed over to my parent's to see my niece's from WV who were there with a church group (and, of course, my mom still had a cake with candles for me).

A couple things to note from that day: when the boys came downstairs they each immediately wished me a happy birthday, and then the next thing Levi said after seeing me in capri pants was, "So, are those shorts or what??"  Ha!  And when he came to the table for breakfast he said, "Okay, where's the cake??"  He cracks me up.  (After hanging out with Amy and her girls this morning, I said something to Levi about being pretty quiet while we were there, his response was, "Oh, I'm just not used to girls."  Also, last week we hid the paddling spoon!  Mike had brought it upstairs one night just in case and accidentally left it there.  The next day it was needed so I went looking for it and couldn't find it.  Levi managed not to say anything to me, but it came out that evening that Levi had seen where Mike left it, took it and put it behind his dresser to hide it.  Stinker!

Jackson rolled from back to tummy for the first time on my birthday!  Gotta keep a closer eye on him now that he's starting to move around just a little bit.  I suppose we should start figuring out what we're going to do to gate off our stairs...  For the most part Jackson has been doing well at night.  Maybe waking up 1 or 2 times just needing a pacifier, but many nights sleeping through.  And, most of the time he takes at least one longer nap during the day.  What's also really nice is that sometimes when he wakes up sooner than I'm ready, I can just open the curtains in his room and give him a toy and he'll stay content for a while playing in his crib.  This is such a big improvement for him!  There are still plenty of frustrating moments, but he really is becoming much more fun.  :)  He still only has eyes for me, his smile melts my heart every time, and I love listening to him "talk".  It's fun to watch him play with his toys  - absolutely fascinating to watch babies grow and develop!  He's mostly eating 5x/day now, and I haven't been giving him any solids anymore.  We'll try again another time.

For as much as they fight, Caleb loves his brothers and can be very kind with them.  Different times when Levi has gotten hurt while playing outside, Caleb will help him back to the house with his arm around him or holding his hand or something.  Last week when there was a morning that Levi woke up not feeling well, Caleb helped him downstairs and was sticking close by him to make sure he was okay.  This morning he held Jackson's bottle for him and loved being able to do that.  Brings joy to my heart.

I've especially been enjoying seeing how Logan has developed at school.  He's quite careful with his handwriting, and really enjoys various art projects.  He's become quite creative and has a good imagination.  I think more and more I'm seeing his similarities to me, and that's both good and bad...  :)

sprinter

I guess "sprinter" is a good name for the season we are currently in.  Not unlike other years, winter keeps hanging on a bit but we get a taste of spring here and there.  I'm not complaining too much, it would be nice to have warmer and dryer weather, but the way it's been has enabled Mike to still have Friday's off.  This week it looks like things are supposed to warm up a bit and be pretty nice by the end of the week, so I imagine they'll probably have  big planting day on the farm this Friday.  Which, of course, is my birthday.  :)  I've had my hubby home on Friday's much longer than expected, though, so I can't complain if his first one back is on my birthday.

Once the weather turns I really need to get cracking on some areas around the house.  One main flower bed that needs to be planted, and the garden.  We completely let the garden go last year with everything going on, so it'll take some effort to get that ship-shape again!  I have plenty to do in the house, though, until that time.  And, it still seems rather hard to get anything 'extra' done beyond the daily tasks around here.

We survived Spring Break and it really wasn't too bad.  The first day felt rather long, but after that the week went better.  Tuesday my mom, the boys, and I drove to Grand Ledge to visit my grandma.  I was SO HAPPY with how the boys behaved.  We had a very nice visit.  They played on the floor of her apartment for a while, and then we all took a walk.  Wednesday was rainy and cold, but my mom had an afternoon of activity planned for the "staycationers".  :)  My parents, my sister-in-law and her two boys, and me and my boys went out to lunch and then we had a shopping challenge at a dollar store, and then back to my parent's to play bingo.  We haven't really done a lot this weekend other than run a couple errands and go to church.  (And it's so nice!)

Jackson has still been hit or miss with his nighttime sleeping.  During the day he'll usually take at least one decent nap, which is so refreshing after months of 30 minute naps!  It seems like he may be having some trouble with the introduction of solid foods - more spitting up, not all that excited to eat, etc.  So, we'll continue to see how things go and he has a 6 month check-up next month anyways.

eventful

We've had a few fun events lately.  Last Thursday was Crazy Hair/Clothes Day at school.  I gave Caleb and Logan mohawks and sprayed their hair blue!  They also had fun digging through some of my old dress up clothes (I had just a few things that boys could wear).  In the evening was a celebration banquet for school that we very much enjoyed.

Saturday afternoon we went to a missions fundraising carnival at church.  Games, magic show, ice cream, balloon animals, prizes...  Caleb used some of his own money to buy a few raffle tickets and won a new light saber!  He had just been saying that he wanted another one because he broke his old one.

Sunday morning we had a very nice Easter service at church, and then dinner at my parent's house with part of my family.

Today was Camoflage/Animal Print Day at school, so Caleb and Logan were excited to dress up in their camo stuff.  And, to celebrate the end of Reading Month they had ice cream at the end of the day and I was able to go help serve.  It was for all the elementary and it was fun to see all the kids.  The boys are going to have to up their game if they want to win any prizes for reading next year!

I believe it was last week Caleb and Logan got report cards sent home.  We are so proud of the reports we get!  Both behaviorally and academically they are doing well.  Sometimes we struggle with the homework, but due to attitudes (Logan) not abilities.  Thankfully I don't think he acts that way at school, I sure hope not anyways.

Jackson has been gradually doing better sleeping!!!  There was quite a stretch there that he was doing bad at night again, but for the most part he's being doing well.  The last two nights he's woken up once, but in comparison that's not too bad.  And, he's generally been taking at least once decent nap a day.  He just seems so big now!  Definitely not a little baby anymore.  He loves watching what's going on, he bee-bops around in his jumper, he "talks" a whole bunch, and I can carry him on my hip.  It does seem like his spitting-up has gotten worse, so that kinda stinks, but oh well.  Not like we haven't dealt with that before!

sick

In regards to my last post, it took Caleb the rest of the week to recover from the sickness.  :(  Logan bounced back pretty quick and was able to go back to school on Wednesday.  Mike did end up getting sick as well, but Jackson and I stayed healthy.  Phew!  I was sick in bed this past Friday, but it wasn't the same thing and thankfully passed fairly quickly.  We thought the Friday before was Mike's last Friday off for the winter, but we're both so glad he ended up having that day off yet.

We've still been able to lay pretty low and not do much, and it's been WONDERFUL.  I know I've said it before, but after the crazy 2015 we had we are really, really enjoying just being together as a family and not doing too much.  It's not that we don't do anything, we just try to be choosy and not get over-committed.  :)  Last Wednesday my friend Jen came over for an early supper (she teaches an evening class at WMU in GR), and then we were able to have Mike's mom and stepdad over for dessert to hear about their recent trip to Kenya.

Saturday morning Mike and I were able to attend a producer's event at Byron Center Meats.  It was really interesting, got us talking about the beef business, and thanks to my bro and sis-in-law taking the kids we were able to do that and have a few hours to ourselves afterwards (which we spent driving to three different Meijer's tracking down a pair of work boots for Mike...but, hey, when you have four small children, time together is time together!).

Caleb has been eating A LOT lately.  Like, third and fourth helpings of stuff.  I'm sure this is only a foreshadowing of the teenage years.  He is not allowed to grow out of his clothes before the end of the school year!!  

Logan has been getting more and more interested in art activities.  Drawing, coloring, cutting out shapes, etc.  It's fun to see what he does and hear the story behind his pictures.

Levi is still my sweetie pie, but sometimes Mike and I refer to him as Mr. Bossy Boss Man or something of the like.  He seems to think he knows best on various things.  He's always got a solution or explanation, and likes to micromanage.  :)  He still takes a good afternoon nap (and clearly needs it if it gets skipped), and goes to bed fine at night.  He's had a harder time waking up to go pick up Caleb and Logan from school.  :(

Jackson.  Oh, my little baby, Jackson.  What can I say?  My most challenging baby, yet he smiles at me and I just melt and forgot all the troubles.  Today he's actually napping decent, but I'm worried he might be coming down with something.  In the last week he had a couple good nights, but otherwise it's been 2-6x/night that he wakes up...  Not cool.  He doesn't need to eat, but cries and cries until I put the pacifier back in and re-swaddle.  He generally doesn't nap all that great, unless it's a school day and he'll be nice and sound asleep when I have to get him up to load him in his car seat to go pick up Caleb and Logan...  I just can't seem to get in a real regular routine with him, and that's a real struggle for me, but I'm doing my best to try and be flexible.  :)  Jackson loves his jumper, and he loves his big brothers.  He seems pretty strong, and when laying on his back will often try to sit up - just looks like he's doing crunches.  :)

It still seems crazy that we lifted our house and dug a basement.  And, I still think over the headaches and money, and wonder whether it was worth it, and then I listen to Mike playing a rousing game of balloon volleyball or freeze tag with the boys down there while I feed Jackson upstairs and I know it was.  :)

wash

We have been very blessed in that our children have always had great Sunday School teachers.  Levi is nearing the end of his time in the 2's & 3's class, and he has such a sweet and very devoted teacher, Miss Stephanie.  She does all sorts of activities to get the kids engaged in that week's lesson.  Yesterday the story was Mary pouring expensive perfume on Jesus' feet, and they talked about ways to show love.  Each child was sent home with a small vial of "perfume" (water) in a special little box - Levi poured it on my feet and it was just the sweetest, cutest thing.  It was cold, and he had to refill in between feet, but it was pretty neat.  :)

Three out of the four boys are sick.  Fever and coughing.  Logan came down with it yesterday, so he didn't go to school at all today; and I got a call at lunchtime to come get Caleb.  Their first school absence!  Levi woke up with it this morning as well.  Jackson had his 4 month visit to the doctor this morning.  He's healthy and growing!  He is 15 lb 9 oz, which is 49th percentile; and 27" long, which is 98th percentile!!  :)  He did get a few shots today, and took them like a champ.  Stopped crying pretty quickly.

Caleb and Logan don't have school anyways tomorrow, so hopefully one more day to recover and kick this bug will be enough so that they can go back to school on Wednesday!

marching on

Last Friday Caleb and Logan had a friend from school over for the day so that his mom could take his older siblings skiing.  Since the three of them together make up half of the boys in the Kindergarten class, I figured we might as well invite the others over for a while as well.  So, one of the other boys was able to make it and come for a couple hours.  So glad we got some snow and they could play outside!  They had a blast sledding behind the tractor and exploring in the woods.  

This past Monday, right after school, we split for Frankenmuth to spend the night at Zehnder's and play at their indoor waterpark.  (This trip is very much looked forward to and talked about for the entire year.)  It went well with the six of us, but I am glad we did only one night.  :)  Sleeping arrangements were Caleb and Logan on the pull-out couch.  Mike and Levi in one bed, me in another, and Jackson in a portacrib right next to me.  In the waterpark was a little challenging since they totally outnumber us, but we just had to trust that Caleb and Logan have vastly improved in their swimming, and that there are lots of lifeguards watching.  It started snowing like crazy on Tuesday, and our drive home took TWICE as long as it should have.  I was very relieved when we arrived home safe and sound.

Yesterday Jackson hit the 4 month mark!  For all the squawking and fussing he does he's a super smiley guy, and that smile melts my heart every time.  He hasn't been sleeping the best overnight, but I haven't had to actually feed him in the night, just get up and give him his pacifier.  So, not great but could be worse.  He's still not a good napper.  I keep holding out hope...  Last week I had some luck getting him to sleep in his car seat - he would do his usual 30 minutes or so in his crib, then when he would wake up I would put him in his car seat, rock him for a while and he'd eventually fall back asleep for a while.  Hasn't been working anymore, though.  This afternoon I didn't have anything real pressing to do, so I just snuggled him so that he would get a nap in.  Love doing that when I can, but obviously I can't do that all the time so he's got to learn how to nap in his crib!  Doing my best to be flexible and go with the flow, but it's really hard for me to not know what kind of schedule to expect each day.  :)  He eats 5 or 6 times a day.  I suppose I'll probably start some cereal soon.  Jackson loves to watch his brothers.  I wonder what kind of trouble he's going to get into with them...  Most of the time, if I'm within range, his eyes are glued on me.  I love it!  He's pretty vocal, and I just love baby noises!  It's a little sad that he's growing so fast, but it's so much fun having him become more interactive.  He's wearing 6 month sized clothes, but some of them are getting tight.  

I certainly have my 'days', but I am crazy about my boys and am loving my role as 'mom' more than ever!