Creativity

A few months ago was Easter. And as do most families we dyed Easter eggs with the kids (I can't find the pictures of that. Oh well!). We all had such a good time. A few days later it was time to peel the eggs and make deviled eggs. The kids were so dissapointed and wanted to keep their creation. That obviously wasn't possible so they asked if they could keep the shells. So we kept the shells and let them make collages with them! Such creative children. 

Here are some of the shells. 

Colt really enjoyed touching and smashing the shells. 

He also enjoyed covering the entire paper in rubber cement. Hehe

This is his end result. Hahah. I love that he enjoyed the process so much. 

Saffryn and Pierce had big visions for their egg shells. 

Here is Saffryn's pictures:

Here is Pierce's:

He even wrote it out himself! 

These kids are so awesome. I love their creativity and their sense of humor!

Easter

This year for Easter we visited my mom and papa Steve! I am just now realizing I didn't get very many pictures. Shoot. Oh well. Here are a few I have. 

We had such a good time!!!

Two Years

My little man is two!!!!

Stats:

He has bright blue eyes and light blonde hair. He has freckles on his nose. He wears size 3T clothes and size 9 shoes. He weighs 32lbs 95% in weight and was 96% for height. Big boy!!!

Milestones:

His language has exploded!!! His vocabulary has expanded and his pronunciation is getting better all the time. He can run so fast and jump with both feet. He can throw balls (and lots of other toys) far and hard. He has started counting and recognizes a few colors. He can help clean up and sings the clean up song while he does it! 

Personality:

He is so strong willed. He doesn't settle for anything less than exactly what he wants. He is feisty and happy to have a show down with anyone. The other side of the coin is he is really lovey. He loves hugs and kisses and asks for them on a regular basis. He loves being held and payed attention. He is absolutely sure he is 10 years old and can do everything just as well as his older siblings. It infuriates him when it turns out he isn't able to keep up. He is very smart and catches on to things easily.

Tantrums:

I am so happy to report that his tantrums are getting more manageable. Notice I didn't say less frequent. Hah. But when he starts throwing a tantrum about something I can actually reason with him and help him calm down a lot more quickly. It is wonderful!!!! 

Likes and dislikes:

He likes to color and draw. He likes to throw balls. He likes cars. He is now very opinionated about what he wears and picks out his clothes every day. He loves having his car window open. If he is fussing about something I roll it down and he settles right down. He loves playing with his siblings. He likes being outside. He loves rockets and rocket "bideos". He hates being told no. He dislikes not being able to do something. He is a picky eater and feeds Crash his food often. 

Sleep:

He sleeps through the night. He shares a room with his brothers right now and he loves that. He takes one nap in the afternoon. He sleeps with his blue blanket, his car blanket and a tigger stuffed animal. 

Misc:

He is a busy boy. He is still very clingy to momma. He is loud! He is a very needy child and not easy going at all. He is really funny. He wants to do everything himself. 

I see this a LOT!!! He loves to come hug my legs and cry begging to be picked up. 

I also see this look a lot. Hahaha!!!

A few more pics of Max:

He is full of spunk. He is full of life. He is never boring. 

A picture of Max in utero and Max at 2. Incredible!!!!

Oh baby boy! You are a handful. We all adore you and your feisty ways. 

Wild Boy

Last week Colt and Pierce were playing downstairs together while I was upstairs making dinner. Pierce casually comes upstairs and then I think I hear Colt crying. I thought maybe he had gotten locked in his room so I asked Pierce if Colt is crying. He says yes. I ask him to go get him out. He gives me a funny look and says, "He is not in his room." I get weirded out because of his body language and ask Saffryn to go let Colt out of his room (I was stirring dinner and really thought he was just locked in). Saffryn willingly goes down and comes back up and says, "mom, he isn't in his room he is just lying on the floor screaming."

Me to Pierce, "What happened?"

Pierce: "Well he jumped off the pool table and hurt himself."

Me: "WHAT. And you just left him down there?!??"

Pierce matter of factly: "well he was screaming and crying and I didn't want to be around that."

Sheesh!!! 

I go get him and he refuses to put any weight on it and can't calm down. Poor baby boy!

Here he is at the ER

Long story short the soonest we could see a pediatric orthopedic doctor was a week later. They wanted his swelling to go down before they treated it. So we had several days of this:

He also scooted on his butt or crawled with his foot up in the air. Poor kid. Lots of down time made for a very wiggly and unhappy boy. 

Saffryn drew a picture of what happened. Enjoy

Colt jumping off the pool table. Notice the arrow pointing down and the arrow pointing to where the story goes next :)

Then he was lying on the floor screaming. 

Then mom came and picked him up. 

Then he sat on the chair with his foot up. 

Haha!!!

We finally got to go to the doctor and it turns out it was fractured in two different places. He gets (has) to wear this boot for the next five weeks while it heals. Then, we get a recheck to see how it is doing. 

He is so happy to have the boot on. Not only does it give him some freedom and mobility it is making his foot feel much better. 

Oh what an adventure these boys are :)

Village

I'm sure you have heard the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child." Well truer words have never been spoken. So many times I have benefitted from people around me. They share wisdom, laughs and a helping hand. 

I have been at my wits end this week with my sweet little Colt. He has been so defiant and unruly. It has been exhausting. Last night I called my mom and said as much. And I asked her WHAT DO I DO?!?!? She encouraged me to have a small one on one time with him and just talk to him. He needs to be seen and heard. Oh. Right. Why didn't I think of that. :)

After dinner Dan watched the other three and I took my boy out for ice cream. 

He was SO excited. 

We talked for a little while then this conversation happened. 

Me: "Things are kind of hard right now aren't they?"

C very thoughtfully "Yea. Sometimes I miss it. And I am sad about it. Not always just sometimes."

Me: "It's okay to feel sad. What do you miss?"

C obviously stumped and trying to find a word to use. 

Me: "Do you miss our old house?"

C kind of sadly: "Ya. Do you know we used to have bunk beds?"

Me: "Do you miss having your own space?"

C using his hands to show me: "Pierce was here and I slept here."

Me: "And it is hard that you don't have that anymore. Sometime I feel sad about it, too. It's normal to feel sad. Even though it's kind of hard right now we are all in this together. We are a family and we will be with each other forever. If you feel sad about it again you can tell me you feel sad and ask for a hug."

C nodded his head and was obviously satisfied with the conversation. He then started chatting about the song on the radio. 

My sweet boy. This has been such a hard time for all of us. Moving can be so hard. 

So thankful for my village who helps me raise my children. Thank you momma for seeing into my boy's heart and guiding me to be a better mother!