Grumpy

Simultaneously grumpy

In an alley in Ballard, WA

Kyle and I tried to turn Aidan's frown up side down.

While we worked on older brother...

. ...little brother copied his lead.

The dispute was over time and attention with their

dad who had been away from them for a week.

Flowers for no reason

This is what makes a good husband great.

He gives me early spring when I just can't wait any longer.

Hubby, I love you for that.

Purple flowers

One big grand appeal?

Or a cluster to make a bold statement?

This year there will be a garden journal.

Honest Aidan

When asking for Aidan's participation in the evening toy pick up activity Kyle and I never know what we will get from him. Will he blame Ethan for making a mess? Will Aidan claim how tired his arms are from writing at school or pick up two items with a promise to do more tomorrow. Tonight Aidan dished up no excuses. Only honesty. He helped and I thank him for it.



" Aidan, you have been so delightful today. Thank you for helping mom when I asked. You sat still while we put on shoes for school, and you helped Ethan put on his jacket. I really like it when you are a nice boy..."



" ummm, except for when I stuck my tongue out at you while you were in the bathroom."

Notice

NOTICE:
Unattended children
will be SOLD!

Crankie babies at their cutest

Aidan

Eight months.

Ethan

Ten months

UNO

While Ethan served time on the potty Aidan mastered the game UNO.

-Thanks Grandma

He'll challenge anyone who walks through our front door. Grandma talked to Aidan about what happens to fibbers and why they end up playing alone. It's hard for me as a parent to rob Aidan of his innocent four year old competitive spirit.

This picture is of Aidan and I playing together. Notice how he happily serves the draw four card and proceeds to draw four for me. Then reminds me each step of the way that once you get served a draw four, you also loose a turn. Gee, he gets to go again?

Confused I asked to call Grandma to have the rules explained.

Aidan exclaims

" No, no! Not grandma, DO NOT call Grandma."

" Why don't you want me to call Grandma Aidan? I need the rules explained"

Looking down he whispers

" ..because I do not want Grandma to know I was fibbing."

"Fibbing? No, not you A."

"Mom, if you want to play again I will play it right this time and share the draw fours with you."

Whew, four year old's still tell the truth these days.

UNO!

Family Tree

Big boy now

Ethan a year ago.

Ethan today.

At least the sun came out

1st bad day of the new decade.

Broken glass, frozen potting soil and other mishaps.

It's over now,

thank goodness.

Look to see

Number one or number two?

Ethan on the potty

Hey BABY,

Rock that potty. You make us proud.

Kisses,

Mama, Papa and A

Potty Time

Dear Ethan,

Today is a success.

We began the potty training process.

You gave it a try every hour.

Only three soiled pairs of pants.

Way to go little bro!!!

Thanks for trying,

Mama

You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.

- Franklin P. Jones

Toots in water

Toot!

Boys and bodily functions are all the rage at our house.

Welcome 2010

Two things are noted as of this morning. I made a total of 69 posts in 2009. Get your head out of the gutter folks - that's our house number. Coincidence? Perhaps but I made of note of that.

Ethan ran around half naked saying

"too tight, too tight"

while zipping up his pants.

Was his comment a foreshadow of a big year ahead?

Last night while nested in the arms of my hubby I got all excited about everything 2010 has to offer. New ideas for the garden, more delicious meals together, crafting our way to the end of the year with materials we already own, and more knowledge about everything.

My challenge for 2010 is to be mindful of all we have and to be grateful for it everyday. Our dinner discussions will be as much about what makes us happy as what we have learned and can share with one another.

While dressing Aidan into his day clothes. He said
" mom I love you more than the red bird that flew to our tree on Christmas day".

"Our tree" is a Japanese cherry tree that sits in the front of our house. It brings seasonal interest to my office view (our front family room is considered my office - that's where I fold laundry on the cute green paisley couch). We lay under the cherry tree to cloud watch and picnic as the school bus goes by. This year we set out pine cone bird feeders on it created by A and E. On Christmas day, a cardinal came for a visit. The package on the bird seeds said it would attract three kinds of birds. Cardinals were the more rare variety mentioned. When I purchased the mix in my heart I was holding out for that cardinal. The incident on Christmas day brought to light how life really works.

All we can do is prepare for the best and hope it will happen. Whether it happens or not is really out of our control. But to make it happen we must do something about attracting the Secret in our favor. It was a good lesson for the boys. I know they will get this message in a deeper sense soon. Our family lives by it.
Do our best and the best might just happen.