Quote of the Day.

"I love soup so much I'm almost a Souperhero!" ~ Owen


This one came from Oliver the other day:

"MOM! MOM! Help me!! Owen's chasing me with the Window Wax and he's gonna shoot me with it!" "Window Wax?" I inquired. "Yea, that blue stuff in your bathroom for cleaning! He's got it and he's gonna get me!"

Rock 'n roll!

Three weeks ago Elliott rolled over all the way. Today, at 5 months 1 week he pushed up on all fours and started rocking! He did it all day long and wore himself out. The little dude will be crawling soon I guess. Oh no! I'm scared.

LEGO Mania!

The Os received some LEGO sets for Christmas. We finally got them out and worked on them. The boys put them together with minimal help from mom.

They grow up so fast....

Following in his family's footsteps, Elliott is quickly becoming a voracious reater. Get it? LOL

Elliott is 5 months old.

Zzzzzz

Oliver and Owen had their friends Austin and Steven sleep over for the first time a couple of weekends ago. They couldn't agree on a movie, so the little brothers watched Monsters, Inc. upstairs on the TV while the big brothers watched Hercules downstairs on the portable DVD player. They had a good time.

Here's a picture of Elliott in his new big boy carseat. It wasn't cheap, but as you can see he sleeps really well in it so it was worth it!

Around the house.

We got a bit of snow nearly two weeks ago. Owen was jazzed to build a snowman "all by himself." If you look closely you'll see it. It's more of a snowball-man! What a nut. Yet look how proud he was to pose beside it and have his picture taken.

Brian doesn't often pick up the camera any more. I guess he figures I do such a great job... ;)

But he couldn't resist taking this one. I could just eat that baby up!

Elliott has a new trick. He can roll over now! He did it for the first time right at 4.5 months.

(Click the photo to enlarge.)

Owen has a new trick too! He crossed the monkey bars for the first time a couple of days ago. I didn't have my camera, darn it! Later that night he asked, "Mom, were you impressed that I crossed the monkey bars?" I cracked up and answered, "I'm impressed you used the word impressed!"

Martin Luther King!

Both kindergarten classes performed a song praising MLK Jr at last Friday's assembly. Oliver is in the center wearing the red and gray stripes.

Oliver's snow scene he made at school. I love how happy his snowman looks. The tree was added at Owen's request once we got home.

Elliott at 4 months.

Elliott has started eating solids. Sometimes he likes them, sometimes he doesn't. Brian was feeding him sweet potatoes here. Yum!

Here's Elliott with his Taggies puppy he got for Christmas from Auntie Aimee and Uncle Ben.

And here's Elliott by the month for the first four months of his life. They don't stay tiny for long!

Christmas Day Photos

The much anticipated Playmobil Zoo.

This is the boys' tree decorated with their own things.
I think they had too much sugar!

Watching the snow fall.
It was a wonderful surprise.

"My bowling set!"

"Chocolate!"

Elliott's Santa stuff.

Christmas Cheer

On Friday, Dec 21st I shared a special moment with Owen. It was a rare occasion -- Oliver was at a friend's house and Elliott was napping. I offered hot chocolate to him. He took it and said we needed to sit by the fire to have the hot chocolate and "get warm on this cold day." We sat and he asked where my hot chocolate was. I replied that I didn't make any for myself. He responded, "Make some for yourself, Mama. I want you to have hot chocolate with me by the fire." How could I refuse? It made me happy to sit with him and share in the moment.


Christmas was different for us this year. On the 23rd, we participated in a Baby Blessing/Welcoming Ceremony for Brian's cousin Vanessa's new baby, Leon. It was a beautiful ceremony filled with the warm emotions that a new life brings to a family. I was allowed to photograph the event which pleased me greatly. Here are a couple of my favorites.


On the 24th, the boys opened family gifts, we attended a Christmas Eve function at my friend Tricia's church where her daughter Ashley gave a solo performance of Away in a Manger and Brian made pizza for dinner. Christmas Day brought lots of fun from Saint Nick. Brian made killer waffles with his new waffle iron. After breakfast, I napped with Elliott (Sweet!), the boys watched Flushed Away and played and played and played with their new toys.

My friend's daughter singing her solo at church.

The boys knew they looked awesome in their neckties.

They're mine, aren't they?

Hey, we clean up pretty well!

Hoo-wee! The man's still got it!!

Winter Break

The last day of school was quite eventful. Owen's preschool gave a short performance for the parents (and a few of the siblings). Oliver was my photographer and I videoed. It was cute. How can a bunch of 3 and 4 year-olds not be? But... well, let's just say I'm glad Brian didn't bother taking off work for the "performance." After school we met two of Owen's preschool friends and almost all of Oliver's kindergarten class at McDonald's. It was complete insanity! Evidently everyone else had the same idea because there were about 100 kids packed into that play structure. It reminded me of how the naked mole rats climb all over one another. *shiver*

Last Sunday we went to church. (Yes, you read that correctly.) Brian would really like to get the kids involved in church because he says they have no morals and need the fear of God put into them. I suppose I could take offense but I guess if it helps improve their behavior then I'm all for it. I was quite surprised when the boys went to the front for the Children's Message since it was our first visit. I was a little worried when one of the pastors whipped out a Superman toy that we have in our house. I wondered "Uh-oh, where is this going? Please don't say anything boys!" The pastor asked about Superman's superpowers and we hear Oliver school her on all things Super. Then she started talking about God's power and asked the kids what kinds of things God might be able to do. We hear Oliver yet again say, "Like if the whole world exploded he could put it back together again." It was sweet. We were surprised during the sermon when the pastor used Oliver's words when talking about God's power and the broad-sweeping claims that holiday carol lyrics contain.

Happy Brothers

Oliver and Owen wanted to wear their footed pjs too.

Elliott finds his brothers very entertaining.

Oliver and his buddies from kindergarten at a school social function last Friday night. The kids played animal Bingo, had popcorn and juice.

Boy Crazy

I had NINE boys in my house at one point today. Whew! I wish I had taken a picture to capture the craziness that ensued, but I was busy protecting the baby from being trampled. Three of the boys belonged to my friend Vanessa who is in town visiting from Australia. It was great to talk with her again and wonderful to see her kids. The two you see here are Owen and his friend Jacob.