don't tell daddy...

I SEE CURLS!!!!!!!

Today's booger report

The boys are doing a little bit better today. They are still hacking like crazy. Still gross. 

Their fevers are gone, or almost gone, and they seem to have more energy. (Though every now and then one of them stops playing and whines "I Waaaaaant you mommy! I'm siiiiiiick! Sit by me!")

Everybody slept great- even me!  Eldon wanted to go visit the cows at 730 this morning. I think I can put him off until I am done with this post!  

 They got out the bikes in the basement this morning- first time all week. 

 The hats are their crash helmets. "Like in The Little Rascals." 

(guess peter should have been wearing one!)

Marcus is sporting that lovely chapped upper lip that looks like a mustache.

Almost happy!

Don't miss today's post on Weak and Loved: Sick kids: is there an up side?

sickies :(

Pete has another ear infection.

That makes five in five months!

He has an appointment with a specialist ... maybe tubes are in his future.

It's not really slowing him down though.

That's boogers and mud on him, above.

What a boy.

Below, playing with cars today.

Marcus, on the other hand, is not at all himself.

His fever went away this morning, but it is back now. :(

Yesterday- asleepy shortly after 7.

Before bed he said,

"“My body is tricking me! It says it wants to watch Batman, but it says it is tired and needs to sleep, but I really just want to watch Batman! I don’t like it!”

Same conundrum today...

"I don't like to be sick!"

He's in quarintine for bible study today. 

Poor guy!

As of this afternoon: Eldon is down, too. Whatever this is makes them wilt, FAST. He has a fever and is laying around pathetic. He joined Marcus in quarantine.

Of course, Marcus seems almost better now that it is evening!

Love these guys.

Brown county today!

Sunday Morning

Peter sleeps through Sunday school, but the rest of them go, walking together, without me. Proud.

 Marcus’ pants are a little too high and he didn’t put on socks, but I don’t make him change. Seth is still fussing with his belt, and I notice his collar is tucked inside his shirt. I fix it and send him off, handsome.

Marcus and Eldon want to hold hands this morning, so they walk slowly. The others joke, “Lorraine will hold hands with Aggie, and Seth will take care of Seth this time, ok mommy?”

 The “big three” run ahead and wait at the stopping place. They turn around to see the “slow-pokes” and call to them, “hurry you guys! Run, run!” They run, holding hands, and I am sure someone is going to trip, sure it will be Eldon as he is dragged by Marcus, but he doesn’t.

Lorraine and Aggie are wearing spring clothes: skirts with a beautiful light blue color. Your joy and your clothes match the fresh air and the blooms of spring.

The horse is grazing across the street. The little ones catch up, finally, so Aggie and Seth run ahead. Lorraine bends down, and smiles at their smallness. She takes Eldon’s hand and becomes a “slow poke,” for their sakes.

I breathe in the morning air from the porch, smiling like a fool with my hand on my heart. This day.. these kids… it’s all so beautiful.

Mother Marcus

This is Marcus, sleeping...

lumpy.

He's incubating his angry birds.

Aw, mommy marcus!

Day with the girls

My day with the girls.

It was awesome.

Of course.

Here's just one reason:

the photoshoot.

I told them to smile and Aggie kept making weird faces.

Which she thought was HILARIOUS, of course.

Do it again mommy! Let me see!
HAHAHAHAHA!

Do it again mommy! Let me see!

HAHAHAHAHA!

Do it again mommy! Let me see!

HAHAHAHAHA!

 I love that Aggie smile!!!!

Thank you God for girls' night!

butterflies coming soon...

We got these in the mail last week!

This was a great Christmas gift!

Butterflies coming soon!

(We hope!)

Need some fresh ideas for your kids?

See Mom Tips You can Use

and check out what I've pinned on Pinterest!

(Maybe you will actually do something I've filed under "super cool stuff I'll probably never do!")

the love of Aggie

A song from Aggie. She loves YOU! :)

blocks

I got to play blocks with this kid today.

I love him, boogers and drool and all.

I love that he's getting it.

Check out this tower:

Definitely advanced for an 18 month old.

I love how excited he gets when he sees my tower

He feels like the first  boy in the world to come up with the clever idea to

KNOCK IT DOWN!

Wasn't that a HILARIOUS idea mommy!?!?!?!

hmmmm

 Should I stop him... or take a picture?

Spring swing

Pete.
Covered in cracker crumbs
The smell of spring
And grace.

Today is beautiful. We are breathing it in.

sugar has consequences!

"Seth, what do you want to do with Grant when he comes over?"

(I'm still not sure what boys DO when they have parties...)

"I don't know."

So we shop, and I found this on clearance. $2.50.

"Really mama!? OK! You are the COOLEST mama EVER!""

So they did it in the boys' room, so that the others wouldn't have their hands in it.

Soon, they decided to share.

Yep. Sugar has consequences!

HAPPY CHILDREN! :)

snowy day!

snow buddies :)

Hot coco

kindred mechanics and pizza king

We went to Pizza King tonight. (aka "The Train Place.")

It was crazy. Wow, that's a lot of kids!

But Peter made his "Choo Choo" face, so that was cool.

I never get tired of that face!

I feel like I am hosting a sleepover for two.. future engineers or mechanics or something. By future, I mean the near future. They may only be in kindergarten... but they should be qualified engineers or at least electricians within 2 years.

One of the jokes I heard tonight:
"What did the circuit board say to the wire?"



They have discussed small engines. And wiring.
They used Seth's circuit board to MAKE their own night light for tonight.

Now they are playing Legos. Quietly. And I am sure they are building something amazing.