Brotherhood

Monday night, Titus and Eli are in dinosaur pjs.  Teams are selected, Dino PJ'ed vs. Isaac.  Epic wrestling battle unfolds: twists off the costume trunk, flips on the floor, jumps off the bed.  And giggles, so many giggles!

7am, Titus wakes everyone up.  Boys go right into wrestling.  

7:25am, "Isaac, time to eat!" I yell from the kitchen.  

"But, Mom, can I still play?!" he asks, exasperated. 

"If you hurry, but we have to go to school, Buddy." I yell back. 

Through out the day Eli and Titus play together, eat together, hurt each other, and wait till the moment where I say, "Time to get Isaac."  

3:25pm, Titus and Eli look into the elementary school's window, trying to get a glimpse of Isaac for pick-up.  Isaac sees them and starts to make silly faces at them.  While they wait, Eli and Titus run in the small court yard, and jump for excitement when the side-door opens.

"Isaac!  It's me, Eli!  I miss you!" shouts Eli, with Titus saying at the same time, "Isaac! Isaac!"  All the of the boys do a weird group hug/wrestle move on each other.  They then go into running around the courtyard together. 

3:35pm, on the walk past the school Isaac asks if we can play some more, and so we head into the front field.

Words cannot describe the fun we have.  Pure joy as we run across the grassy plain, tackle each other, tackle each other some more, and then some more tackling/wrestling/tickling/rolling--yeah, some crying.  Okay, a lot of crying.  But they don't want to stop tackling/wrestling/tickling/rolling, no matter how many "owies" they get! 

4:20pm, Isaac is looking at Titus' and Eli's artwork laying on the kitchen table done earlier that day.  Isaac sees Eli's attempt to make a letter "A."  He gets really excited, then starts to teach Eli about the letter "F" and instructs Eli to make the letter "F"!  Isaac also shows Eli how spell Eli's name.  It is exciting stuff! 

5:00pm, The boys are unsure about the dinner, but since they are starving they start to dig in.  Then begin to scarf it down!  Apparently a simple cream cheese sauce with ground beef, on bow-tie pasta is a hit!  

Oreos are for dessert, with some candy from the ward's (church) Trunk-or-Treat.  

The rest of the evening is filled with cleaning up the toys, watching a bit of Cars 2, getting ready for bed, and more wrestling.  

................

Today was a good day.  It really was. 

I'm starting to get this whole "single parent/stay at home mom" thing. 

It's been wonderful to see our boys start to really mesh together.  Really become good friend.  And really play together. 

................

When we were in Alabama for the summer (THIS summer, of 2012) we spent A LOT of time at the pool.  The boys got to know some great kids, who really took these boys in.  

During one our days at the pool, 3 kids were helping me with the boys, and started talking about the boys, saying, 

Boy 1, "Wow, they're going be best friends!"

Boy 2, "Yeah, they're gonna be like, 'Hey, you wanna sleep over?  Oh, yeah!  You already sleep here!'" 

Girl 1, "They're lucky."

I agree.  

"Birthday" Song Raises Hopes Too High

   On October 19th, around 11am in the morning, Mommy Shannon sang to her two toddler sons primary age songs.  Songs which she thought would be fun to help her sons get familiar with, but instead... well, read it in her own words:

   "I didn't know what I was doing, especially to Eli's emotions.  I sang the 'Happy Birthday to You' song to him and after I finished Eli asked, 'Now cake!'"

   Mommy Shannon had a few pieces of Isaac's birthday cake still frozen in the freezer, she brought a piece out, and let the two little boys eat it.

   "After that, it just started getting worse.  Eli kept insisting that it was his birthday, kept looking at LEGO inserts trying to figure out which toy he should get... I don't know what to do now."

   Indeed, according to the sources, Eli has already picked out the red Ninjago motorcycle and believes that anytime they go to the store it is to make his birthday purchase.

   "Today in the car I tell them we are going to the store to pick up eggs.  Eli says, 'Store? Sure!' and then a few minutes later, 'Um, LEGOs?'  I answer, 'Yes, we have LEGOs at home.'  Eli was completely distraught when we arrived at the store and he realized we weren't getting him a toy."

   Mommy Shannon is unsure to how to proceed from here.  Everyday the red Ninjago motorcycle is brought up by Eli, and everyday Mommy Shannon has to remind Eli (3 years) that is not his birthday and maybe he can that for Christmas.

  Will Eli ever come to terms that it is not his birthday, and that Mommy Shannon sang that song just for fun?  Will Mommy Shannon come to grips that her 3 year old son already has his heart set on a toy, and that she may need to plan for Christmas 2 months in advance?

   Only time will tell if these and other mysteries get solved.

Eli (3 yrs) finishes cake.

Eli looks through LEOG inserts, doesn't want Titus to interfere in his birthday shopping:

Yellow Lidded Bin!

So excited.  SO EXCITED!

Yesterday we arrived home from picking up Isaac and a yellow lidded bin was in our drive-way!  All clean, and new, and empty--just waiting to be filled with contents.  RECYCLABLE CONTENTS!   

That's right, people, our city approved a recycling program.  Can I get an "amen" from the crowd?!

I've always have been a tree-hugger, and I kind of kept it secret.
Living out West was liberating in so many ways, mainly realizing that having feelings like these weren't so gosh-darn traitorous: "Yes, I like the environment," and "Yeah, I kinda do think Global Warming is happening."  But the big daddy of them all: "Yup, I think it is important to converse, recycle, and be aware the impact we have on the ecosystem."
(The Southeast has a lot of good too!  I promise I see it.  How bout hospitality, real bbq, and appreciation for history?  Just sayin' cultural change was fun to be around, and eye opening for me.) 

Anyway, where we live has recycle bins around the city that I have been driving to--but it has been a little crazy in our laundry room with all the bags of plastics, cardboard, and aluminum.  Grateful to now walk out my door, see my pretty yellow lidded bin, and slam-dunk in the unsorted recyclables!

Here's to:
-yellow lidded bins, *cheers*
-being stewards over the earth, *cheers* 
-and not having to drive across town (all over town) to feel good about my actions!  *cheers*

1/4  already filled!
Pick up every two weeks may not be enough... mmm... 

We're All Checked Up!

We now have health insurance.  *sigh of relief*

We had it before, but during that time if we went we had to pay some portion--which is the norm with most insurances.  But it's really nice to have coverage, full coverage, on most things.
"Hello dentist!  Haven't seen you in 8 years,"  and  "G'day optometrist!  Haven't been to you in 4 years."


Mr. Isaac, first please. 6 years.
He's seen the dentist, has follow appointments to fill in some cavities.
His eyes have been checked, and he's pretty good!  A little far sighted, which is normal for this age.
Isaac is so cute during these appointments.  So grown up, making conversation with those working on him.  He's all about getting looked at--so much one-on-one time!

--Weight: 42 pounds... 40th percentile.
Doctor says, "He really needs to be 2 pounds heavier."
Thanks doc, didn't know that my child is super skinny.  HE EATS LIKE A BIRD!  A vegetarian bird!
Yup.  Isaac much rather have apples than french fries.

--Height: 46 inches... 60th percentile.
Doctore says, "He's tall and skinny like his mama."
Thanks doc, but really I can pack on pounds if I want to.  I eat apple slices, but yearn for crave tator tots. Alway.
Hope Isaac continues to grow! It's fun to see his 5T pants flood the floor :)



Eli man, let's look at you.  3 yrs 5 months.
He hasn't seen the dentist or optometrist.  That'll come next year, I think.   We have to really prepare him for the dentist, be put on lots of anti-biotics and such--it's a heart thing. The mouth is an awful gateway for yuckiness.

--Weight: 35.8 pounds... 70th percentile.
Doctor says nothing, but I think: OH MY GOSH I'M SO EXCITED HE'S SO HEAVY!  My heart baby is big and healthy and growing and knows how to eat.  
Blessings, blessing abound.

--Height: 39 inches... 50th percentile.
Doctore says nothing, but I think:  I really don't care if he's shorter.  Just so happy he's healthy. 



Now Titus!  2 yrs 3 months.
And there is no way I am taking this crazy baby to an eye doctor or teeth doctor.  He's gonna have to chill out lots before we take him.

--Weight: 27.8 pounds... 50th percentile.
Doctor says nothing, but I start to compare him to Eli.  Yeah, Eli's got you by almost 10 pounds! 

--Height: 35.5 inches... 70th percentile.
Doctore says nothing, but I think, "Dude, you are tall!  You're going to out grow all of your brothers!"
Especially Eli.  Wow, they are neck and neck with height.



Miss Shannon, me?  26 yrs 9 months.
My eyes have been checked, and how I know my new prescription!
Hope to get me some reading glasses soon.  Afternoon headaches: go. a. way.
My teeth were looked at and they're pretty good considering.  It's been since 2004 that I've had my teeth looked at.  Yup, 3 babies since then; and pregnancies are the death of healthy teeth.  I have a few cavities, but nothing bad at all.  We have a plan to fix 'em up, and I'm excited!

--Weight:  Yeah right.  I'm not telling.
It was less than I thought (thanks to all the biking), so as soon as we got home I eat a whole batch of cookies. Yum!  Then sickness from too much sugar.  It was worth it.

--Height: still 5 feet and 6.5 inches!
Hope to stay that way for a long, long time.  Anyone seen my calcium pills?



The Matt Man!  29 yrs 1 month.
He's been going to so many appointments on the bases he's been at.  Getting all looked over, teeth fixed, eyes examined.
Gettin' good stuff like free glasses never hurts!

--Weight: 180 pounds... love ya babe! ;)

--Height: 5 feet 11.75 inches
He's grown 3 inches since the 6th grade, can you believe that?  He was a giant in the 5th grade.



That's us!  We've been enjoying being fully covered by insurance.  
Thanks, military!

Titus: Two and Trazy!

Yeah, I couldn't think of a good "t" adjective that really fits Titus.  He isn't "terrible," nor is he a "terror."  He's just "t-razy"!!

This last month I've been compiling pictures of some of his trazy-2-year moments.
I don't know if I've had a kid like this before.

Isaac at two: an ANGEL!
Eli at two: so EMOTIONAL!
Titus at two: a force of happy DESTRUCTION!

Shall I show you some of the pictures?
Well, okay then, I will!


Gave himself a black eye during a tantrum!
(Pulled the chair on top of himself.  Smooth.)

Knocked over my laps, on two different occasion.  

The last was fatal, and I didn't get a picture.  

The lamp smashed into too many pieces... sad.

How bout the time when he opened the vacuum, and spilled its contents?

Or the time he completely mutilated the boys' favorite search book, Spiderman?

And then all those bathtub trips!! Agh!  

Left:  Fell off the hammock--face first.

Right: Threw cake in the air, which landed everywhere.

I must do this almost everyday.  Pull our "island" infront of the fridge so Mr. Titus won't open it and beg for food; and in cases where I don't listen to him, grab food/drink as he pleases. 

Then the "art work," goodness gracious.  

1) He took finger paint into his room and "painted" the puzzle boxes, and he spilled on the floor... just a bit! 

2) Crayon on the wall.  Need I say more? 

There are actually a ton more that I can list.

- dropping a workout weight onto the tile, which chips the tile--in 3 places!

- Grabbing the syringe of Motrin out of my hand, then squirting it out all over the bathroom wall.

- Taking off his diaper at night, leaving it by the toilet, putting his pants back on, and going back to sleep.

- Taking his diaper off when he feels like it is too big. (YES!  We have started potty-training)

I'll stop there, how 'bout.  Don't want him to read this when he's older and think that he was insane and hard to raise, now would I? :) 

Here's the thing about Titus, he always wants to be doing something.  

The more interesting and destructive, the better.   

Titus thinking, "I'm just going to go into the kitchen with my bubbles.  

You stay there, Dad, I have things to investigate!

Kids' Stories: Summer 2012--Sept 2012

Eli starts to name the trees around the house and neighborhood. "Mommy tree, Daddy tree, Eli tree, Titus tree, Isaac tree. All friends!"

September 2012

It's time to blow Isaac's birthday candles out. Titus jumps the gun and does it for Isaac--twice. Titus was then moved to the other side of the table.

September 2012

"Wow," says Isaac, "this ice cream makes my teeth hurt... It also gives my head get a earthbreak.

"Do earthbreaks happen in warm places or cold places?"

September 2012

Isaac, "Eli, Grammie teaches kindergarten kids--"

Eli, "R2D2?"

Isaac, "No, Eli, not R2D2--"

Eli, "C-3PO?"

Isaac, "No, she doesn't teach about C-3PO!"

September 2012

"Come on, Titus!" yells Isaac, while playing.

Titus responds, "No, I Tiny!"

September 2012

Matt is on his bike, and I'm pulling Isaac on the trailer bike. Matt begins to bump Isaac's back tire with his front tire. Isaac starts to peddle really fast, then starts to (pretend) throw anti-personnel weapons at Matt, yelling: "Grenade! [throw] Claymore! [throw] Flashbang! [throw]"

August 2012

Matt gives the boys his homemade mac-n-cheese.

Isaac says, "Dad you make pretty good mac-n-cheese, and Mom makes the best chocolate chip muffins in the whole world!"

September 2012

Titus is pretty determined to do everything for himself. This includes putting a new diaper on himself and buckling himself in his set belt. When he wants to do something by himself, he screams: "I HELP!!" (However when it comes to ice cream feeding, I can assist him.)

August 2012

Me and Eli are in a public restroom stall together. He uses the restroom, then I have to go. I try to hide myself, but he spots me, and asks: "Mom, you pee broke? You have bum?"

August 2012

When Eli gets home he usually exclaims: "I so hot!" and strips down naked.

Or he'll take his clothes of in his room, come to me in the kitchen, show off his curves (with hands on hips), and smile and says: "I naked boy!"

Summer 2012

Every time we bike to school we pass a tree that Isaac calls the "Avatar tree."

Today on our way back from biking I hear Eli yell, "Avatar tree!"

And Titus yell, "Apple Juice-tar tree!"

August 2012

Eli says, "I'm Darth Vader!" And shots his arm vertical up above his head.

Eli says, "I'm Darth Mal!" And shots his both is arms out horizontal.

Summer 2012

Isaac asks, "Do I just have 5 days left of Kindergarten?"

I say, "Nope, 180 days more days."

Isaac laughs, and says, "You're just kidding! Right?"

I say, "No... I'm not."

Isaac says, "What? Is that a lot of days, like this?" And he hold his hands out wide to indicate a distance/time length.

I say, "More or less like that."

As I leave the room, Isaac asks again, "Are you just kidding about that though?"

August 2012

I dunk Eli a bit under water, then some more, and finally push all the way to the bottom of the pool and bring him back up.
With water all over his face, and a huge smile, he shouts/grunts: "AWESOME!"
July 2012

A teenage boy jumps high out the the pool. Isaac exclaims: "Wow! Look at that human!"
July 2012

Titus lets out a full sound toot.
"See that?!" he exclaims.
July 2012

Eli looks at the evening sky, points, and says, "I wanna go there."
I ask, "You want to go to the moon?"
He sighs, "Yeah..."
Summer 2012 

Titus likes to point to the tree filled sky and yell, "Spiderman!"

Summer 2012

Eli LOVES the Imperial March from Star Wars (Darth Vadar song). He sings it all the time! But today I hear him putting his own special words to the tune--words that are about his day, and what things are going on in his life.
July 7, 2012

I serve some homemade mac-n-cheese. The boys eat it up! But Isaac remarks, "Wow, Mom, this is really good. But Dad makes it better."
July 7, 2012

Titus' singing sound more like a cat. Each note has it's own special "meow!" sound.
Summer 2012

Grammie (my mom) hoses down a smoldering fire, and huge smoke clouds form. Isaac exclaims, "Wow! That's like World War 2! That was a big war."
June 2012

Eli tells me, in a very hurt voice, "Ant, eat me, E-i. Owie!"
June 2012

Isaac is looking at the pool and says, "I wish I could walk on water like Jesus... Hey! Did you know nijas can walk on water with special shoes?"
June 2012

I'm getting Eil ready for the night and it is time to brush his teeth. He tells me how I should do the brushing by saying: "Eee, Ahh, Ugh." So I brush his teeth, and we do an "eee," then an "ahh," and I think we are done. I take the toothbrush away and Eli says, "No! Ugh!" (meaning tounge, which I forgot to do).
June 2012 
I'm getting the boys down for bed and tell them to pick out a song to sing after "I am a Child of God." Unanimously "Darth Vadar Song" is chosen.
June 2012

Isaac looks at my very hair legs and says in a very worried voice, "Mom, why are there splinters all over your legs?!"
Summer 2012

When Titus thinks he has done something pretty awesome, like stand with one leg sticking out in front, he says: "See?! Look e'me!"
Summer 2012

Isaac is sitting on Nana's couch in a blanket. He tells me, "Mom, I'm hot."
I say, "Take the blanket off."
He says, "I'm not hot on the outside, just in the inside."
I think for a minute, then come this conclusion, "Isaac, do you want a popsicle?"
Isaac, "Yes!"
Summer 2012

Marbles on Hardwood Floors

As I pack mine and the boys' suitcases, getting ready to head back home from our weekend trip to Bama, the sound of marbles being rolled on hardwood floors fills my parents' home.  Along with laughter, small feet running, and cooperative dialog. 



I know these boys completely overwhelm me, sometimes saying that I wish they were just a little bit farther apart...
... But I'm so very grateful they have each other, and that I'm their mother. 

What's life without a bit of chaos?!



Family Photos... From May?

Yup.  Family photos from May!  So I'm a little behind.

Matt's family all got together in Las Vegas for a cousin's wedding.  (She's from Vegas--it was not a "Vegas wedding.")  We had a lot of fun that weekend, hanging out together and staying in nice hotels!  And since this was the last time we were all going to be together for a while before Matt and I moved Georgia we took family photos.

Getting all coordinated was a bit of work, and finding a good spot to place us all took some creativity, but it all turned out well!

Titus, silly, only wanted to be held by his Nana!   

The anchors of the family:
Mr. Darren and Mrs. Deanne

Look at these sweet little boys.
Also, Matt did give Titus a mow-hawk for the pictures.  Thanks, Babe.  

Siblings and spouses, unite!
Caitlin, Marcie, Tyson, Matt, Shannon, Chase, Jenese 

A Fantastic 4!

We 3 In-Laws...
... Just waiting on the 4th to be added, Caitlin ;)

Hammock Time!

I know.  Where have I been the last week?  Well, just around, I guess...

... and enjoying our new hammock!  Can I get a "heck yes!" from the crowd?!

Oh, what a wonderful addition to our yard.  When Matt first looked at this property he said, "We have to get a hammock."  I didn't get his enthusiasm at first, but was willing to go for the purchase.

We found one on clearance, hung it up, and it was an instant hit!  And now I can't imagine life without it.  Relaxing with trees!  What could be better than that?

Oh, right boys, wrestling with trees.
Take a look at the fun they've been having just this week:

(And for realz, we could hang up 6 more hammocks.  These oak trees are amazing.)

Look at that face!  Melt my heart, why don't you, Eli? 

Happy Isaac.
Secure on the hammock.

Sad Isaac.
Hammocks are tricky things, aren't they?  Flip you right over, if you're not careful.

Oh, and thanks Dad for the cold pizza for our Sunday morning snack before 11am church. 

Yeah, shirtless in October!  

Hard headed boys.  Literally. 

Love the faces, guys. 

Our backyard, looking from the side street.

Below:  my attempt to a full shot of the side of the house and backyard.

Awe, Daddy time is precious. 

Yes, Eli is playing a harmonica.