Family Party

In the evening we had a family dinner party for the twins' birthday. We have family visiting from out of state, so the party was larger than usual--Ruth & Ada, Lorna, Emma, Diane, and Jim joined us for hamburgers, hot dogs, and cookies (Jake's idea). We sang "Happy Birthday" for the second time and Viva and Jake opened their presents from family.

On Monday the trio went to see the new Pixar Movie "Brave" with their mom and dad as part of their birthday fun. They were happy with their birthday parties and gifts and now they are officially five. Happy Birthday Jake! Happy Birthday Viva! We love you very, very much.

Birthday Party!

Today Viva and Jake turned five. Kara and I planned a playground party for them. She invited quite a few children because it's easy to have more guests when the party is outdoors. A good-sized group showed up to celebrate with Jake and Viva. Their cousins came--Felicity, Danarra, Matthias, and Tiernen. Their friends Patrick & Cassidy and Kiera & Chase came. And three friends from Primary (church) came--Annalise, Dawson, and Chloe. Also in attendance were the moms of the party kids with younger siblings, infant, teenage and adult cousins, and a great-aunt.

We were lucky and had the playground to ourselves! The weather wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst either. It was raining very lightly on the way over, but the rain ceased during the party. The children played on the playground equipment for quite a while then I tried out a game I found online. I divided the children into two groups--boys and girls. I put a long rope down on the ground to indicate the dividing line between the two groups. Then we gave each child two soft plastic balls. The object of the game was get all the balls on the other side of the line. I thought the boys would win rather quickly and for a short time it looked like they would, but then the girls rallied (with a little help from an older cousin and me) and stayed in the game. No one won. This game could go on for hours, so we called it a tie after fifteen minutes or so. The children enjoyed the game except for Bentley who was stressed out that the balls being used were theirs from home and they were getting dirty.

It was half-way through the party, so Kara suggested we set out the food. The black olives, pretzels, and Cheetos were very popular, the carrot sticks not so much. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to the twins and they blew out their candles. Jake did his five in one blow, but Viva wasn't doing as well so after three attempts I asked Jake to help her out. (You want to minimize the germs, right?)

The twins opened their gifts. They received lots of fun games and crafts. Then it was time for the piñata. After every child had two chances to bat at it, the piñata was still going strong. (Store purchased piñatas have a cardboard lining. It's hard for young children to break through the cardboard.) We got out the razor knife and weakened the sides before Jake and Viva had their final chance to hit it. Then I let Bentley give it few good whacks and the candy finally started falling out. I grabbed the piñata and threw the candy across a wide area.

We had perfect timing because it was 2PM and the party was officially over. The children had a fun time.

Conversations with Children

Just two funny things those kids have said recently.

A conversation with Bentley:

Bentley: Lincoln, you need to be more careful. If you lean on that it's going to tip forward and hit you in the head.
 Me: Bentley, do you really think he understands you?
Mommy: He might be a baby but he's also a person. So he does understand me!
(a few minutes later) Lincoln!! You're not listening! You're going to get hurt!


A thought from Jake, munching away on the *best* food ever, he tells me (pretzels...):

"Pretzels are gooder even than a cat eating a mouse."

Hmmmm.....

Best Day Ever!

We've had some fantastic weather this week. On Monday it was so hot (in the 70s!) that I went to the shed and hauled out the kiddie pool. The kids had a great time splashing and floating. I set the sprinkler up for them to run through. I gave them them bubble wands and bubble solution. They played and splashed and shrieked and had a fantastic summer day. Bentley went in to read after a couple of hours, but Jake and Viva stayed in the pool until I kicked them out after hearing this conversation:

Viva: "Jake your lips are blue!"

Jake: "Yours are purple!"

Tuesday was another hot day, so I filled the pool again. They children had even more fun and played even longer. Bentley got a little sunburned on his arms. "Best day ever!" is what one of the trio proclaimed. The other two concurred that it was the best afternoon: enjoying the sun, chasing bubbles, playing in the sprinkler, and floating in the small pool. Simple pleasures are the best.

Wednesday was cooler, which was okay because I needed a break from so much fun. Thursday was cloudy in the morning, but by late afternoon it was a scorcher again. (If you're used to 60s, high 70s seems quite hot!) The children asked for the pool again. After Lincoln's nap he joined the trio, but we totally ruined his fun by taking him through the sprinkler. He hated it and would not return to play in the pool. :-(

Music at the Library

Every summer we try to attend at least a few of the music on the lawn performances at the library. The first one we've made it to this year was yesterday. A solo musician was playing guitar and singing songs he'd written himself. He was pretty good, but it really doesn't matter what type of music is playing, the children just want to run up and down the hill. We could go to the library any day and run up and down the hill, but the children like the crowds. There's an energy in the air when you're in a large group. Add music to the group energy and you have even more fun.

Mark came over and joined us for a few minutes on his lunch break. His office is just a block from the library. I had him take a photo on his phone of the children amongst the crowd. It's our "Where's Waldo?" photo. Good lucking finding them. They are together, but very small figures so unless you can enlarge the photo you won't see them. Jake and Bentley are waving and Viva is wearing a pink jacket and lilac leggings.

Band-aid Lost

Yesterday I took Jake and Bentley out for a bike ride. We had a great time. I was surprised how well Jake kept up with Bentley and I because his bike only has 12" tires. We started and ended our bike ride at a playground area. When we finished the ride I watched Jake play on the play equipment while Bentley did a few loops around the play area on his bike.

As Jake came down the slide his new band-aid slipped off his thumb. Jake was sure he lost it at the end of the slide so he started digging in the wood chips to find it. He had no luck. I told Jake it was okay that the band-aid was lost because he couldn't put it back on his thumb since it was dirty now. Jake would not give up his search. He insisted I join him. I didn't. He searched for ten minutes all the while howling/chanting "Band-aid! Band-aid!" He continued his chant the entire drive home. His mom put him in time-out upstairs after listening to him for a few minutes. Jake is relentless.

Today I took the children to the library where they have outdoor music on Thursdays. While Jake was sitting down on the blanket he found his lost band-aid. There it was stuck to the bottom of his shoe. He thought that was pretty funny.

After the library fun I took the children to get a free slice of bread at Great Harvest. (I bought a loaf of bread, so the slices weren't really free.) Jake was chowing down on his red, white & blue bread when it slipped out of his hand and fell on the floor. I scooped it up and told him he couldn't finish it because it was dirty. He started getting worked up about my edict and I flash-backed to the band-aid episode. I checked out the floor where the bread had fallen. It looked clean enough, so I handed the bread back to Jake.

Baby Faces

I know Lincoln has more posts than his siblings... but... he's smaller!  He does more new tricks!  :)

And he makes cute faces.  Check this one out.

Sunday Walk & Bike

On Sunday I wanted to go for a walk, so I invited Mark and asked the trio if they wanted to join us. All three signed on when they learned that they could bike. They love to go off the home property and bike on different paths and streets. It was a good time except for when Viva went full speed down a fairly sharp decline. At the top of the hill I said if you don't know how to do hills, you might want to walk down this one. Bentley took the hill slowly. Jake jumped off his bike and walked. Viva tried pedaling down the hill. OUCH! We need to work on her braking skills. And judgment.

 

1 month to 1 year!

Just one more month until baby Lincoln turns 1!  Can I still call him a baby, even though he now toddles?  :)

He is charming (and a bit quirky).

He likes to jabber.  I think he might have some words, I just don't know what they are!  Beyond "hi ya", "hi", "mommy", and "daddy".  I think I heard "no" the other day but I'm going to pretend I didn't. Today he MAY have been saying "soft", over and over, while head butting the cat.  Or maybe I'm just assigning that word based on context?  :)  Either way, he likes to talk.  He had a 5 minute conversation with his Dad on the phone earlier this week, and was talking (and leaving space for Matt to reply) the whole time!  

Great-Grandma is a favorite.  She's a captive audience and he knows it!  She's also engaging, which I'm sure helps.  :)  He has long conversations with her, and brings her toys and books.  In particular the shape sorter.  They've spent hours on it together.  :)  

He's getting tooth #9!  I can see it.  I'm hoping that's why he's been throwing his food instead of eating it, and why he's kept me up the last three nights.  Either that or he's turning into a serious night owl... which is not impossible based on his genes.

He is fast!  And inquisitive.  And normally cheerful.  He'll play by himself, but he also definitely finds his siblings entertaining.

In the interest of being non-biased I should disclose he's a bit rough on books.  I'm sure it's just a phase.

He looks good in green:

And last, but not least... he is a great soccer player.  He kicks kicks kicks his ball around.  When he can get it away from his brothers, that is!

Happy 11 months, big guy!

Jake's Crayon Art

Although the kids don't read the blog (yet)... they must have a sense about things.  And Jake must know he hasn't had any art featured on the blog recently!  Which is because he doesn't do as much art as his sister and brother, not because he has been neglected by his sweet mother.  

Anyway.  This week he has been doing some crayon sketching.  He favors clean simple lines in his art.  A minimalist.  I like it, I wish it would extend over to his toy collecting habits.  :)

A farm house.  With a moon.  And a cool backwards J in Jake (which I am not concerned about!).

A boy.  And his bike.

Viva's Mosaic and 3d Art

Genevieve has been quite the artist lately!  She is very creative.  Although she enjoys drawing she is also more into exploring other forms of art than her brothers have been to date.  Last month she got out some construction paper, scissors, and tape.  An hour later she brought me the above masterpiece - a Mommy and Baby Kangaroo with trees, all cut out and taped back together.  The Mom even has a pouch!  I was quite impressed with this creativity particularly because it was an entirely original product/idea on her part.

Yesterday she made me this.  Now, granted... it was not quite the time intensive masterpiece as the above work of art.  But it is also creative:

What is it?  Obviously, it's a volcano with lava ready to spew out of it.

:)

I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

It's Good to Have a Brother

A common theme of my posts, I know... :)

Every morning for the past few weeks Bentley has been heading into the nursery and reading to Lincoln when he wakes up.  Normally it's a few chapters from whatever book Bentley is currently reading.  Lincoln sits in his crib, gnaws on his pacifier, and listens.  Until he is done listening.  And then the baby monitor lights up... when I head to rescue baby, Bentley protests: "Don't take him!  I want to finish the book!" (regardless of the fact that may take another half an hour....).  Cute cute cute.

Jake is also a good older brother, but he's not quite as dedicated to Lincoln as Bentley.  I think it's the age gap - he's just enough younger to be not quite as mature yet.  Bentley is 100% good humored with his little brother, wrestles with him, reads to him, talks to him in goofy baby voices... Jake, on the other hand, is about 70% good humor and 30% frogs and puppy tails.  It will be so fun to see their relationships deepen and mature as they grow!

Just like Bentley and Jake are great big brothers, Lincoln is a great little brother.  Here's some proof, Lincoln earning his keep giving one of his big brothers a ride:

Don't worry, Lincoln also gives rides to Jake.  And Jake and Bentley both give rides to Lincoln.  Mostly, I think, because they have been reminded (firmly) that the ride on car is LINCOLN'S toy, and they are not to be playing with it.  So they find a way around the restriction - play WITH Lincoln on it!  It's cute, so I let it slide...

Hi ho, hi ho... back to the pool we go

 Swimming seems so much easier when it's warm out.... :)  Since the swimming pool is not outside (duh!) I'm not sure exactly WHY this is, I guess it's a simple as the lack of clothes over the boys swim gear and the bulky coats to cart along.

In any case, we're back to swimming!  I want proficient little fish before the kids head off to Mexico in the fall, so we're doing two "summer intensive" swim units.

Bentley has made great strides.  He can swim about 10 feet on his own and is working on learning the crawl stroke right now.

Jake and Viva are making progress.  They are working on their "water comfort" and are just starting to push off from the wall, towards someone.  I'm hopeful they will make big jumps forward because once you realize you can tread water it's easy to gain confidence (in my 29 year old opinion - I understand the 4 year olds don't feel the same way necessarily!).

Lincoln has a bedroom!

The past few weeks I've been working on creating a bedroom for Lincoln.  His crib has been set up in the middle of our "craft room", because there was no room to put it anywhere against the wall/set up any furniture for him in there (too many craft supplies in the hope of someday doing them)!  So I figured that with Lincoln's little brother on the way it was time to make some room for kids in the room.  :)

We moved stuff around (and are still busy finding new homes for all of it, so fun... ), and Matt did some painting!  Two walls are green (they were all green to start) and two walls are blue.  We think this is probably the most painted room in the house.  We found evidence of two shades of brown, a dark green, and a yellow under the current green.

We gave Lincoln one of the big lazy boy rocker chairs, and some new curtains.  Next up?  A bit more furniture, and maybe something for the pretty (but empty) walls.  Finding space in the closet for him will take a bit more time...

The next project?  When Lincoln's older siblings how easy it is to paint they started getting ideas about THEIR room.  They favor a John Deere green that has a hint of lime in it.  Hmmmmm.... we're still negotiating on that one!

2012 3 Baron's Fair

I think we have a tradition!  The kids headed out to check out the 3 Baron's Fair with their Dad this past weekend, and had a blast.  This is at least the 3rd year they have attended?  They all managed to get some sun (I think they were there for 4 hours?!), and came back chattering about the good times and scheming to find someone to take them back THIS weekend.  We'll see how that goes.  :)

The highlight was the living chess game, but they also enjoyed some food, booth wandering, and a few games.

Lincoln passed on it this year (he had a cough and we didn't want him outside that long), but I'm sure he'll join in the fun next year!

Bentley's Bird & Thunder Art

Isn't this a beautiful pencil drawing?  Disregard the wrinkles.  I'm afraid Lincoln may have gotten ahold of the picture once or twice... :)

Bentley went out adventuring with Grandma a couple of months ago, and when they came home he raced inside to grab his paper and pencils.  He told me that he was inspired by a bird he saw while they were driving, and he needed to draw his picture based on what he saw right away!  There was no thunder and lightening in the sky, but an artist is allowed to make some dramatic enhancements to reality, right?!  :)

I love it!

He Walks!

Lincoln walks!  I am a bit slow in documenting this, as it actually occurred on May 17th - 2 days after he turned 10 months old.  I told him he gets the blue ribbon for earliest walker to date in the family, I'm not sure if he was dutifully impressed with himself for that reason though.

He is, however, clearly pleased with his new mode of getting around!  Here he is catching the vision:

Grandma crawls, Lincoln walks.  That's the unofficial subtitle.  And yes, he was a sweet little guy.  He walked for the grandparents too - mere hours before they got on a plane!  What timing.

Just a few minutes later, he was really cruising!

Impressive, right?!  Why is he holding balls and drum sticks?  Because I tricked him into walking.  I knew he could, but he didn't believe me.  But when he had something in his hands he was distracted from sitting back down and walked instead!

He can walk without balls and sticks now, although he does sometimes walk with his hands held straight out in front of him (like they're holding onto an imaginary walker... !).  Or, even better, I love it when he walks and throws his hands way up high towards the sky.  This, of course, sometimes results in a lack of balance and a land on a cushioned diaper butt.  :)  This morning Bentley told me Lincoln was RUNNING to catch up to him.  I didn't see it but I'd believe it!

Lincoln, and his siblings, and loving his new transportation skills.  So fun!