"Time" for another special day

As mentioned before, I try once a week to keep one child home from school with me for one-on-one time. Last week was Joseph's turn for a "special day." I also try very hard, on special days, to let the child direct our activities. In other words, within reason, I play with them at whatever they want. I think I've also mentioned before that the boys both got a kitchen timer for Christmas, and they love them.

So, on Joe's special day, we came home from taking the other kids to school and he timed how long it took me to clean the kitchen. Then he timed how long it took me to get a toy he requested off the shelf. He timed how long it took us to go upstairs, and how long it took each of us to put on our shoes. He wanted to time how long it took me to go to the bathroom, but I told him I needed privacy. So he shut the door, stood right outside, and timed me anyway. He timed how long it took us to go downstairs again, then timed how long it took us to go down the three stairs from the porch to the yard. We played a quarter of football, and he timed each play, stopping the timer between plays and anytime he needed to change the score. He timed how long it took him to drink a glass of water, do math problems, and play Connect Four. He timed how long he napped.

In short, on Joseph's special day, we had a really good "time."

Way Back When-esday

I'm guessing this picture is from around August 2007. This was the period of time after our summer babysitter left but before Will and Helen started a regular bedtime of 7pm. It was one of our first real tests of having to handle all four kids together at critical times--like bedtime. Here, Cort was reading the boys a bedtime story and holding the babies at the same time. In some ways, it seems like yesterday that this picture was taken. But in other ways, we have become so adept (usually) at handling all four kids that I can hardly remember what it was like to struggle to figure out how to do it.

Three kids is so easy!

I know people with one child that think it's soooo hard. I don't begrudge them that belief. They are wrong, but I don't begrudge them. It's all a matter of perspective. Those same people will have another child, think handling two children at the same time is an unrivaled feat, and scoff at all those parents of one child have it soooo easy.

This morning, Helen had surgery (a second set of ear tubes and an adenoidectomy) so I had to take her to the surgery center at 5:30am. Cort stayed home to get Charlie, Joseph, and Will off to school. Cort and I were exchanging emails while I was in the waiting room and Helen was in surgery. From the timing of the emails, I could tell that he had managed to get all three boys up, dressed and ready, and on the way to school in less than half an hour. I thought that was pretty good, so I commented on it. Cort's answer? "Three kids is easy."

I agree. It is.

Getting old

Today is my birthday. I wasn't really feeling too old until yesterday. The boys had a birthday party for a classmate that was going to prevent them from watching one of the NFL playoff games. So Cort told them he would tape it for them. Joseph said, "No, Daddy, tape is when you stick two things together. I want you to record it."

Makes my Monday

Helen and Will are 20 months old.  And they can set the table.  That should make any parent's day, and it certainly makes mine.

Christmas, revisited.

Okay, okay. I have been well aware that we need to post pictures from Christmas on the blog. A certain grandparent keeps reminding me. A grandparent who was actually there and witnessed the whole holiday. A grandparent who apparently thinks these posts write themselves, while our kids cook dinner and change their own diapers.

We did have a very merry Christmas. The kids are at nice ages. The boys are really into Christmas and are true believers. The little ones don't get it yet but still enjoyed it -- and they aren't quite to the age where they get upset when they open a present just to have it taken away so they can open another one (I remember that being a little tough on the boys at age 3).

The boys have been in the Christmas spirit all month. On Christmas Eve we baked cookies for Santa and had a nice chili dinner (although it wasn't the least bit chilly in Houston - Cort and I are still trying to get used to the weather for Houston Christmases). It was all very casual, although the little kids wore holiday outfits even though they weren't going anywhere - it was the only opportunity for them to wear them. After dinner the boys decided they wanted to go caroling, so they sang for three of our neighbors. Then we headed off to church with the boys and Gransan (leaving Grandad at home with the little ones in bed). After church it was bedtime and waiting for Santa to come!

Helen in her Christmas dress

Our best attempt at a traditional Christmas pic in front of the tree

The boys caroling. This is at our next-door-neighbor's house, who had the good fortune of being treated to singing of all 12 of the days of Christmas.

Reading "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" at bedtime

On Christmas morning, we checked out what Santa brought, had some biscuits, and opened presents. Santa brought the boys bicycles, which they initially walked right past in favor of the small plastic NFL helmets he also brought. The bikes did not garner the excitement we had hoped, but later in the day they became more popular.


Joseph reading the gift tag before opening so he would know who the present was from

The boys both got new Rockets jerseys and new Astros jerseys

Uncle Rick got them recorders. Thanks Uncle Rick.

Helen got a new purse

Believe it or not, one of the favorite gifts. For months they have loved to play -- and fight over -- Mom's kitchen timer. Now they each have their own.

Of course, there always has to be one kid who would rather play with the box and the old car that only has three wheels left

Joseph was really into his new human body encyclopedia

Each of the kids picks out a present to give each family member. These pictures represent Charlie's gifts. He gave Will and Joseph footballs, Helen a soccer ball, Mom tickets to a basketball game, and Dad football pajamas. See a theme here?


Charlie enjoyed the baseball and basketball books from Aunt Jody and crew.

We spent the rest of Christmas day and the next few days enjoying the new toys and time with family.

The boys learned to ride their bikes Christmas afternoon.

This baseball game was a big hit

This cool puzzle of a human skeleton was the same size as the boys!

Our family loves games, and we got a couple of good new ones. Here were are playing "Great States!"

We had such a good time with the kids at Christmas, and having so many "stay home days" (as they call them) afterwards. And amazingly, it's not over. Gramma comes tomorrow, so Christmas #2 is still to come!

I didn't see him!

This morning, when I finished drying my hair and turned off the blow dryer, I realized that all four kids--who were supposed to be asleep--were screaming. The little ones were undoubtedly screaming just because the big ones were, and they weren't saying anything specific. So I stormed into the boys' room to see why they were both yelling "Mommmmyyy!" at the top of their lungs.

Me: "What is going on here?"

Joe: "Charlie bit me!"

Me (thinking: seriously, you guys are almost 5 years old and are still biting each other?): "You bit him?"

Charlie: "I said I was sorry."

Me: (thinking that I really hate dealing with this sort of thing before 7am) "Sorry doesn't cut it for biting. Why did you bite your brother?"

Charlie: "I didn't see him."

Me (thinking: really, you can't come up with anything better than that? not even going to accuse him of doing something to you?): "Charlie, that's ridiculous. You didn't see him???? Where was he?"

Charlie: (no answer)

Me: "Charlie! Where -- was -- he?"

Charlie: "In his bed."

So apparently he climbed into his brother's bed at 6am but didn't realize he would be there, and innocently closed his mouth without seeing the flesh that was between his teeth. I hate it when that happens.

Way Back When-esday

New Year's Eve 2004. Charlie and Joseph were 9 months old. We attended a party at our friends' house. The same party we attended this year and took all four kids to. It's become quite a tradition. 2004 was the first year we had babies. Now it's 2009, and we have no more babies. It's mostly welcome to have all our kids able to walk and (sort of) talk now, but it's nice to look back on the time when no one talked back to us at all!

ROAR!!! And other animals at the zoo.

We took the kids to the zoo yesterday. It's the first time we've been to the zoo in a long time, and certainly the first time we've gone since Will and Helen have been old enough to have any appreciation for the animals. Helen was very studious, and Will just said "ROAAR!" to everything -- especially the lions, but after awhile pretty much any animal would do.

We tried hard to get a picture of him roaring, but he kept sticking his hands in his mouth. When do kids get two-year molars?

We saw a family at the zoo whose son is at our kids' school. They were AMAZED that we would take all four kids to the zoo. People just don't get it. Taking four kids to the zoo -- where there is entertainment -- is infinitely better than being cooped up inside our own, boring house with all four kids. The zoo was easy, and fun.

The boys haven't been to the zoo since they've become such great readers, either, so they really enjoyed reading what continent each of the animals came from. They also read the sign saying that "standing or climbing on the railing is dangerous and illegal" then proceeded to tell a couple of people that they needed to get down. Having early readers is not always a benefit.

Checking out the elephants, which are from Asia.

Charlie with the bongo. I can't remember where bongos are from.

Joseph in front of the cheetah exhibit, before he read the sign about the railing.

We also hit a milestone. I forgot the sippy cups. So I just bought four juice boxes, and Will and Helen joined Charlie and Joseph in sitting in chairs (no high chairs) and drinking from juice box straws. We don't necessarily want either to become a habit quite yet, but knowing that it's an option when necessary is huge.

This morning Helen's teacher also told me that she is off sippy cups at school. She uses a real cup. It's about time! I swear that Charlie and Joseph were much faster in this department. Will still just turns his upside down, so sippy cups still for him. We'll still use sippy cups for both for awhile at home, but again, it's just so nice to have the option if needed.

P.S. Above pictures taken with Cort's new toy, an iphone. His post-Christmas present to himself. I have to admit it's pretty cool, and takes pretty dang decent pictures too.

Christmas break

When you have four kids under the age of five, "break" really isn't the right word. We had a wonderful Christmas, and a wonderful time hanging out with the kids during the NINE days they were out of school. We really did. But we are TIRED. Hence the lack of blog posts. We also found out over the holiday that people other than grandparents actually read this blog. Oh, the pressure!

We're sure everyone is waiting with baited breath to see us open presents, learn to ride bikes, and fight over new toys. We will resume once rested and, since the kids are back at school and we are back at work, hopefully that will be soon. (If you had told us five years ago that we would consider a full day at the office rest, we would never have believed it.) Stay tuned.