I think Gloria Naylor said it best, “Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes.”
The older I get, the more grateful I become for my father, and miss the simple times from when I was a child–playing ‘monster’, getting superman rides, and good times like that.
I know my Dad loves me, and would give me the world if he could. And in many ways he has.
Love you dad. Hope your birthday is fantastic.
In our lives right now.
I love these shots, they remind me of the creativity, and comfort and happiness and love that these boys bring to my life. Just a normal afternoon. Building with Legos.
Here is Truman wearing his ‘Army of Helaman’ headband from Family Home Evening the night before, that he created, then wore for a about a week,everywhere we went.
I love his little Bare footed feet…
Truman is just now becoming enthralled with Legos, he loves to building something, take it apart, use the same pieces and build something else. I am constantly emptying out lego pieces from his car seat, his pants pockets, and the dryer. He love to build with them.
And Tucker. He’s always loved, Legos, maybe that’s part of the reason why Truman loves them so much. Tucker loves to build this:
It is the same thing he has been building for a few years now. At first they were robots, and now they are rockets, controlled by robots.
Man, I love these boys, and love these afternoons of building and rebuilding with Legos. Who would have thought a perfect afternoon would consist of this? Not me. But now I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I wish our home was always filled with laughter and love.
But it’s not.
Sometimes I see this face…
or this one.
And sometimes even this one…
But so is life.
I think they’re still cute kiddos, even when they’re not happy.
I still feel like I am 16, just graduating from high school, and then I will see a pic with me and these 3 cute things…..
And I think, what? When did this all happen? I am too young at heart to be the mommy of these three darling boys.
But it’s true. I’m an oldie.
I hope I am oldie but a goodie…if not, I am having a good time 🙂
And I trying to be realistic about the fact I have THREE children…and I continue on with life.
But still in the back of my mind, I think, ‘When did this all happen?’
He is risen! He is risen!
Tell it out with joyful voice.
He has burst his three days’ prison;
Let the whole wide earth rejoice.
Death is conquered; man is free.
Christ has won the victory.
Come with high and holy hymning;
Chant our Lord’s triumphant lay.
Not one darksome cloud is dimming
Yonder glorious morning ray,
Breaking o’er the purple east,
Symbol of our Easter feast.
He is risen! He is risen!
He hath opened heaven’s gate.
We are free from sin’s dark prison,
Risen to a holier state.
And a brighter Easter beam
On our longing eyes shall stream.
Text: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818–1895
May you and your family have a wonderful Easter celebration.
In our Primary, instead of a Birthday Present on our children’s birthday, they give them a dollar with this note:
At first Truman was a little confused, and to be honest, a little upset.
He wanted to buy a powerranger. And was kind of confused why someone would give him money, and then he had to give it all away.
But then we began to think of ideas of what we could do with the money, we made a list.
He got more excited, and made his choice, take it to Chuck E. Cheese on his birthday. And give to someone who doesn’t have any tokens.
After this decision was made, he was really excited!
The night of his birthday came, and off the boys went…after they had been there for a few minutes, Toph noticed a little boy looking around for tokens… under all the machines, and quietly pointed him out to Truman. Toph described him as the little boy without sleeves. Truman ran right up and gave him the money.
Afterwords he told me it felt really good.
Then the following Sunday at Primary, he stood up to tell about his birthday dollar experience, his words: ‘I took money to Chuck E. Cheese. I found a little boy who had no money. He didn’t even have enough money for sleeves. And I gave it to him. And it made me happy.’
( I laughed out loud about the no sleeves part!) It was such good experience, and I am grateful he had the opportunity to give in the way he wanted. And now we have decided to keep that list, and do more of the good deeds listed, on a more regular basis.
More of the Elliot I love (because I love babyness and he doesn’t care how many pictures I take of him!)…
His innocence…
Little feet…
Little hands…
Trying to sit up…
Sweet eyes…
A new trick of Blowing Bubbles…
His baby rolls…
That he is patient when be loved…
And over loved…
What a good little guy.
A teacher appreciation door decorator….
Know anyone who is hiring?
🙂
For months, Truman has insisted on having a superhero party, and we began preparing before the big day we called ‘superhero training’!
We purchased this ‘red ranger’ superhero pinata months ago, and Truman was anxious to get it ‘stuffed’
Truman helped me make a list of who he wanted to invite, make the invitations, and deliver them.
And choose out the most important ‘heroes’ to come to the party
I made capes with each of the kids first initial on the back. (Wish I would have gotten a picture of all of them. There were 19 in all.)
The night before the party, we were finishing up getting the yard ready, when I came in to bathe the boys…it was then that I discovered our water main had cracked, and our basement had flooded. Awesome.
Recently my neighbor and I have been talking about life, and how in most crisis, if we stop and ask ourselves a simple question, it gives us a greater perspective on things, ‘Is it a real problem or just an inconvience?’ Luckily we’d just had this conversation, and it kept me grounded. I realize it was just that… an inconvience.
So anyways, back to the Party,
While everyone was gathering, Toph passed out the capes, and we played a riveting game of ‘Super, Super, Hero’ (duck, duck, goose).
Once most the guests had arrived, we welcomed everyone to superhero training, and had Roll Call.
Showed our muscles,
One thing superheroes are good at is working together as a team. The guest practiced working together by moving balls from one box to another.
The kids got their boxes, decorated them with pictures of themselves, and they were ready for ‘superhero training’
We divided into small groups and rotated through different stations.
*Spin Art
-Superheroes use their eyes, watch how things change.
-Superheroes are good at making choices, choosing 2 colors.
*Listening Game
-Superheroes use their ears to listen.
-Superheroes follow instructions.
*Masks
-Superheroes don’t want anyone knowing their secret identity!
-Superheroes are creative.
*Good Choices Game
-superheroes practice making good choices.
-Superheroes take turns.
*Sandbox
-superheroes exercise their body, and keep it strong.
(I think at one point there was more than 20 kids in the sandbox at one time….Definetly a good investment that sandbox was! The kids love it.)
Here are a few shots of the kids in their superhero garb:
Once we all learned how to be good superheroes, we headed to the front for Pinata.
A quick group shot, (which doesn’t have everyone in it!)
Then we ate cake and ice-cream (My mom made the cupcakes and cake for me. I had planned on doing it the night before, but instead was dealing with the awesome-ness of a flooded basement :)Thanks again Mom!)
and opened presents.
Then back to the sandbox for more good dirty fun 🙂
As you can see the day wouldn’t have been nearly as fun if I hadn’t had TONS of helping hands.
Thanks again to lots of family and friends for their help!
And Happy Birthday to our own little hero, Truester!
This post is a documentation of the day of Trumans Birth, celebrating his fourth birthday day.
Truman’s choice for special birthday breakfast? Birthday Oatmeal. What is it with these silly boys, we used to have a tradition of birthday doughnuts, but one birthday we let them have a choice, and now they’re going all healthy on me. Who ever heard of a little kid choosing birthday oatmeal over doughnuts? 🙂
Birthdays are days you get to choose whatever you want to do on them. All. Day. Long.
Truman chose to, watch PBS Kids
Play PBS Kids games on the computer
Talked to many loved ones
Played board games
Couldn’t wait for dad to get home to open his presents, so we did one with video chat on the computer
When dad got home we open presents
And played them
Got a birthday nap in
Then headed to Chuck E. Cheese’s (with Dad and Tuck. Mom and Elliot still are avoiding the germs 🙂 )
Eat a Birthday hot dog
Play Games
Ride Rides
Earn Tickets
and Head Home for some Birthday Cake and New Jammies.
Tucker said a prayer on Trumans’ birthday that just made me smile, ‘please bless Truman to have the best birthday known to mankind.’
I think it was pretty great for him, I would dare to even state the best birthday known to mankind.