Double Trouble

Don't they look so innocent? These two stinkers can get into some trouble together.

My Monkey Loves Bananas

Time Flies

I was looking through some old pictures and came across this one. It is one of my favorites. I can't believe how much they have grown. I feel like I just blinked and Levi has lost those chubby cheeks and fat little hands. Sweet boys!

Good Gum

Levi's World

Levi smashed his finger in something a week or so ago. The nail is looking rough and I'm pretty sure it's going to fall off. Today, I was clipping his nails and clipped "the nail" a bit and something sort of oozed out. I know...see what I live with? Levi proceeded to sniff his finger and then say in his Levi voice, "Momma, my finger smells like a dead frog (thoughtful pause), that's burnt".

Later in the morning, I'm sitting on the couch schooling the older two boys when I hear Caleb screaming upstairs. I wait and eventually Levi comes down and starts telling me the series of events that led to Caleb whaling. After a few minutes of rambling, I told him to cut to the chase and tell me what he did to make Caleb cry. "I punched him in the face."

Sarah Belle

Oh my goodness! I thought that our family was complete with 4 little boys, but we were missing this bundle of love! Sarah has been so much fun. She is very loved by her brothers and I even think that daddy is starting to come around:) Having a little girl is certainly special. She is a momma's girl for now. She wants momma most of the time. She is a great sleeper and a great eater (as evidenced by her belly). She started walking 1 month ago and now she runs everywhere she wants to go. Her favorite thing to do at the moment is play in the potty. With having 4 brothers, I don't think that I have to tell you that most of the time it isn't flushed. Lovely. She loves her blanket and books. I love when she looks at me and makes whimper sounds like she is trying to tell me something. She is so precious and I'm looking forward to all of the fun things that we will do together!

Baby Caleb

He'll always be my baby boy. That's what I tell him. Caleb is so snuggly and sweet. He always has his thumb in his mouth. I totally baby him. He is more sensitive than the other boys and has the saddest face he makes when his feelings are hurt. He is very quiet in public. I am usually asked if he is my shy one. Well, let me tell you...when he is at home, he is the LOUDEST of them all. His squeals and screams would rival any female on the planet. He can't help it! He just can't contain himself.

Caleb is usually the first one up in the mornings and is ready for "brepast". He LOVES poptarts. Levi is his buddy. They share a room and play together in the mornings while we have school downstairs. He loves cars. It is really the only thing that he plays with. He even likes to look at car magazines. When we are driving down the road he will point out a Mustang or a Camaro.

Caleb tends to be a stinker when left unsupervised. He and Levi dumped out a can of gasoline in the yard a few weeks ago because they were going to "build a fire". Fortunately, no matches were found and in the end they just rubbed sticks together. Caleb and his cousin Joshua threw rocks at my van and broke one of the windows last fall...$500 worth of damage! Today I walked out of the room for a second and he got a knife out of the dishwasher and was heading for the living room. I never did figure out what he was planning to do with it! He has drawn some beautiful pencil drawings on the wall in the hallway upstairs:) He is a mess!

It is fun to think that he will always be my baby boy. Even though he is not the caboose, he is the youngest of the brothers and that makes him special!

V-Day

Levi made me breakfast for Valentine's Day. He brought me 2 poptarts and 2 club crackers. The note just says Levi...spelled ELVI. He told me that he wanted to bring me something to drink but he didn't want to spill it. Look how proud he is of himself!

Levi the Destroyer

This pictures makes me laugh because this is SOOO Levi. He is always dressed up like a ninja or a super hero. If this boys gets still he is asleep. (He reminds me of his papa:) I don't think that there is another kid as laid back as Levi. When he was a baby, he just sat in his bouncy seat and never made a peep. He had the cutest little chubby cheeks. He didn't really talk until he was 3. I remember dropping him off at preschool and telling them that he was potty trained, could ride a bike without training wheels, but he didn't talk, so good luck:)

Levi is just sandwiched in the middle of all of his siblings and I do worry that he gets pushed aside sometimes. He is so compliant and sweet. He works so hard on his school work. He is in PreK and has begun reading short words. He loves to color and play with his big brothers' Legos, much to their displeasure.

Levi LOVES to wrestle with his brothers. Let me tell you, he is tough! When he gets just a little bit more coordination, Jackson and Aaron are through! Right now, they sometimes gang up on him and he will just snap. He wrinkles his nose and draws up his lips, almost like how an animal shows his sharp teeth. When the boys see that...they hit the road!

We sometimes affectionately call Levi "pig pen". It really is unbelievable how he can get so dirty. Words can't describe it....

I just love this little boy and how sweet he is. He gives the best hugs and kisses.

A-Rod

Aaron...this boy makes me laugh everyday. He has a quick wit and loads of charm. I LOVE his cackly laugh. He adores his older brother. The other day during our grammar lesson, I asked him to write an adjective that described his older brother. He wrote "cool". They share a room and I love to hear them talking away after the lights are out.

Aaron is so generous and has such a big heart. He is super protective of his little sister. The other day we were in a store that had a play area for the little kids so their parents could shop in peace. I put the younger 3 in there and told Jackson and Aaron to keep an eye on them. A few minutes later, Aaron comes over to tell me that a little boy pushed Sarah. I told him that it was ok and that he was just a baby, too. Just keep an eye on her, I said. A few more minutes lapsed and again he was at my side. This time he said, "Mom, that little boy is REALLY making me angry. He just keeps on bothering Sarah!" He has since mentioned the incident a few times...it really got him fired up! Don't mess with his baby sister! I'm thinking that this will be great during the dating years:)

Aaron's favorite thing to do is play the Wii. He has already mastered a few of the games that he has. He "unlocked" every level, or whatever! He is great at sports and really enjoys playing kick ball in the cul de sac with the neighbors. He is in first grade, but he has surged ahead in math and reading and is doing second grade levels in both subjects. I don't think he wants me to know, but he really likes to read.

Life is so much fun with Aaron around...I do love that boy. He is really such a joy and I'm so glad that I'm his mommy:)

Firsts...

I've been wanting to start a blog for a while now. I love to read blogs for a variety of reasons. I like getting ideas for decorating, recipes, and homeschooling from women who are walking the same road that I am. I visit some blogs for photography tips and others for spiritual encouragement. I personally wanted to start a blog to help me remember day to day life with my sweet children. I know that I'll blink and they'll be grown. I'm not good with baby books and photo albums. Here's hoping I'll be good with updating my blog! Here we go....

I thought that my first post should be about my first born, Jackson. What a bundle of 9 year old joy he is! I love to brag about how he brings me breakfast in bed a few times a week. He makes better coffee than I do. He is so responsible and so smart. He is just a good kid. He loves gadgets and I have to empty his pockets before I wash his clothes because there is always a compass, pocketknife, or bullet of some sort in there. He loves to read and has just about finished the Narnia series in addition to his regular school reading. He is a Lego lovin' fool and likes to dress up as army guys and cowboys. He also can put away some food! He eats all things, but is particularly fond of sweets. (I wonder where he gets that from?) He is extremely competitive and likes to be in charge. I love him more than words can express!