The boys this week: Mr. Literal....aka, Braydon. He is so funny and take things seriously when you. He is also concerned when people say incorrect things. For example: at dinner Caleb is telling a story about "Bevo-Cow" Braydon listens to the story for a bit and then can no longer take it so he says "Caleb, it is not Bevo-Cow it is just Bevo". Caleb, "no, it is Bevo-Cow". B, "No, Caleb it is a cow and his name is Bevo". Caleb "well I like Bevo-Cow" B, "mom can you PLEASE tell him it is not a Bevo-Cow!!" and we all remember the Phoenix conversation they had a few months ago in the backseat. C "Braydon, I live in Phx" B- "I know Caleb" C- "well I live in Scottdale, Phx" B- (sounding very annoyed at the "obvious" conversation Caleb was having with him) "I know Caleb, me too" C- "the same one? the same Scottsdale?" B- (shouting with frustration) "yes, Caleb the same one, THE SAME HOUSE!" Next conversation is with me and B and he has his back to me and is looking at a figurine we have of a mom with a baby boy, no faces, just hair and generic clothing. I say "is that you and me B?" B, "no". Me, "yeah it is, sometimes I look at it and I think of you when you were a baby, sometimes it reminds me of Caleb when he was a baby and sometimes it makes me think of Austin; right now I am thinking about you when you were that little, I loved that.." (I am cut off by him) B, "mom, this isn't me...I didn't grow hair when I was in your belly; only Caleb came out with hair...,so I am pretty sure this is Caleb." ............and there you have it. When he draws pictures of ppl he gives them knees, two big circles on their legs. When you ask "B, why knees"? He says (like it is soooo obvious) "so I know how long to make the shorts. Boys shorts go longer than the knees and girl shorts are shorter". Fair enough! For the last two weeks B has been building train tracks all over the living room. Under chairs, around table legs, under bridges, you name it these tracks can get there. He other favorite thing to do is play "Angry Birds" on the ipad. This is Rob's game that B has watched enough to know how to play and now enjoys it more than most of his own games. The best was the other day when he was sitting on the couch playing, Rob and I are in the chairs next to him and we hear the IPad announce "New Hightest Score" yep, our 4.5 year old is getting better game scores than Rob!! Caleb has been CRACKING us up lately with his little self!! He has the best phrases and loves to make the family laugh. The other day we were all sitting at the dinner table and though I don't remember what he said he had all 5 of us Belly laughing! He is a riot. I had noticed his hair looking a little gagged and I thought to myself, yikes I better stop cutting the kids hair. Next day or two I thought it was just another angle but again it looked rough so I was committed to taking them to the barber for the next few cuts or until I watched a YouTube video on how to cut hair. The next morning things were out of hand he was missing a big chunk in the front and I knew I didnt do that. (we have been practicing every morning combing our hair to the side) so after breakfast when he said he couldnt find the sissors I asked "why?" He says "to cut my hair". me, "Caleb why scissors? You need to use the comb!" Caleb "well sometimes they (his hairs) dont go down so I just cut them!"..... Caleb's new request is to "play fun" with Rob. That is nothing specific but he is just wants to "play fun" then if they start playing and it is not what he had in mind he will tell Rob, "this is not how you play fun dad". Austin is 18mos old almost and is tortured by not having the vocabulary he wants. he is getting so frustrated when he wants things that he is throwing one fit after another. I actually dont know who is more tortured, me or him! His best friend is Devo and when he is tired in the evening (and can not have his blanket or pacifier unless he is in bed) he goes over to the dog bed where Devo is and lays with her. Generally she is curled up and he lays right in the middle with his head on her belly, Hit or miss if she response but if she does it is with a lick to the head or to spread out and give him more room. Snack time Austin goes and sits with the dogs and does a bite for bite routine. Amazingly they dont snatch it out his hands, they wait as he gives one dog a bite, then himself and then the other dog a bite. He also has access to the cereal so it is not an unusual thing to see him go to the cupboard get a handful of Cheerios and go give it to the dogs. They are good friends! Austin also has a new obsession with the laundry. I dont know if it is cause he can reach the buttons or if it is that he can open it or what but it is such an obsession I feel I may want to add a segment to the blog called "What I found in the Laundry this week" If the segment were to exist I would add for the last week of August: 3 dominos in the dryer, playdough in the washer, and 6 shoes in the dryer. Needless to say those caught my attention right away with all the noise. This afternoon when I was in the shower he pushed open the bathroom door and was carrying the lent tray...and it was empty. I threw on clothes and it was exactly what I had suspected. Grey dust, dog hair, lent and one more domino everywhere. He had taken out the lent tray and carried it/ shook it all over the house! Wasnt planning on Vacuming again today but there we were.

The boys this week

I am a lucky woman to have four great men in my house! And all four of them have their own personalities!! I will leave Rob out of this conversation because it is a blog about the boys but we all know how amazing he is and how wonderfully he provides for our family! So that will have me starting with the next oldest. Braydon! This kid is so fun to be around, he is always willing to help out with his brothers, this morning Caleb couldn't pour the full milk jug and B was right there saying "I can help you Caleb". He takes mental notes on everything that happens in his life, you may think something went unnoticed but not if B is around. Rob and I are putting his to bed the other night and he says "mom, are you guys gonna stay up?" me- "Yes B we are". B- "Can I stay up too?" me- "nope, sorry. When you are 30years old like me and Dad you can stay up late and watch TV". B- "well probably more like when I am 11years old". Me- "why 11years?" B- "Cause cousin Molly (who had visited months ago) got to stay up with you and Dad and she is 11. So I will stay up when I am 11." I was shocked that he had taken noticed, created the equation that would allow him to get what he wanted and then presented it months later.....way to go my little four year old!! He amazes me everyday with how much he is growing and understanding! I want time to slow down!!!! I am with them all the time and still I am missing so much, they are growing up before my eyes. Caleb is a little softy! He loves people and hates to see anyone upset. Rob was rough-housing with me and I did a pretend cry, Caleb jumped up from the breakfast table and brought me a blanket to snuggle! It was soo sweet. Austin hurt himself the other day and again Caleb brought a blanket and pacifier! ....I shouldn't leave the other two out of this as far as being thoughtful and loving...Caleb got his Molluscum burned off (again) and of course he was crying and screaming when it was happening, Austin started sympathy crying and buried his face in my shoulder. Braydon was patting him on the back saying "Caleb, you are doing such a good job! Good job Caleb!"....they are all very thoughtful. Caleb is also becoming more social! He is chatting up a storm! he is less in B's shadow and more on his own socially than before!! We have also been having conversations about "privacy", needing "private time", and keeping our "privates covered". Well Caleb is taking this matter very seriously but with all the new information coming it is a bit confusing. A scream from the bedroom last week, "mom, mom!" me- "what Caleb?" as I turn the corner into his bedroom where the scream is originating, Austin standing in the doorway and Caleb standing naked with his swimsuit just barely covering his junk. Caleb- "MOM!, Ausin almost saw my PRIVACY!!"... Austin is a MESS! He is climbing, jumping, running, spinning, you name it! He loves standing on the arm of the couch and falling onto the cushions (of course this is not allowed), The other day he stood on the back on the arm chairs and did a free fall onto the floor (covered in cushions). I almost had a heart attack while he was laughing in TimeOut. He has been on top of the bunk bed, dinning room table, sofas, counter tops, dresser.....The list goes on. And it only happens when I leave the room! I start dinner or go to the bathroom and that is his clue to start climbing and he is off! Aside from the climbing Austin is a great snuggler! When he wakes up early from a nap you can lay with him on the couch for 20-40minutes and he just snuggles and rubs his blanket on his cheeks! Some of my favorite times with him right now. He is also incredibly animated! He makes the funniest faces and gets the whole family laughing! He is the best final addition to our family I could have asked for. My men are my life and what a great life I have!!