quick change of weather

here are some picks from last week and this week. the changing of seasons happens pretty fast around here--

still sporting their winter sleepwear

christian curling up in his 'crib'

suddenly too warm for a shirt!

boys with their toys! lovin the sunshine!

last day of school

transitioning to summer

this week we went from rainy and cold to hot and humid. summer always seems to sneak up on us like that in PA. Christian had his last day of school at Good Sam. I think it was more of a milestone in my mind than his. he gave his teachers big hugs, but had no sadness in walking away. i suppose that's a good thing. i also suppose he doesn't have a frame of reference for 'last day of anything'. it was such a great year for him with such positive experiences, learning to be more independant, love structure, and grow socially and emotionally. he is continually amazing us (still) with his memory and capacity to retain information, and his appreciation and affinity for language. we had the plumber in this week and when i told him he was coming, he said, "oh, george smiley?"
yes. that is his name. and no, he hasn't been here in months.
dave said yesterday c hurt himself outside (they were spreading mulch together with their father/son work gloves they got for xmas :) ) and told dave that it was really "hurtiful".
we went to isaac's 1st bday party and C was fascinated with the treadmill in their basement (riding and sliding on it). he kept saying, "i really love that conveyor belt!"
Both boys have had runny noses all week, and to our surprise, Kyren now knows how to blow his nose. How did i get so lucky as to have TWO boys who learned how to do that early on?? it's a beautiful thing. one of those things you would never in a million years predict you'd get excited about someday. but it really was one of the highlights of the week for me! i was so proud of him :). ... and then so sad for him when thursday night he was up screaming for hours with an ear infection. poor baby. he is such a trooper. ......... and so incredibly cute!!! this morning he dragged his blankie around the house, playing with it, lying on it, using it as a little 'magic carpet', and scooching himself along the floor on it. giddily laughing to himself all the way!
he and C have a grand ol' time when they eat together in their high chairs, side-by-side, 3 meals a day. K tries to grab C's feet, and they scream and laugh and carry on. it is hilarious. i am starting to see more and more how much fun they are going to have together, being so close in age. K just adores C, and follows him around like a puppy. C is learning (slowly) how to share and be patient with someone who has no understanding of boundaries. when he's not screeching at the top of his lungs at him, or pushing him out of the way, he can often be found chasing him down the hall, hugging him (sometimes a little too hard), and delighting in entertaining his little bro. i find it fascinating, and a bit unsettling as their primary caregiver, how much they both love to wrestle.
Kyren is now signing please, and thank you. and understanding everything we tell him to do. He's still taking 2 naps a day, sometimes needing to go back to bed before 9, other days not til 10 or 11.
We are excited about summer-- swimming, the beach, the lake, the longer days, and all the fun in the sun to be had as a family and with good friends. my only fear is that kyren has NO fear... about anything. especially water. he loves it, in all forms, and it will be fun as well as scary to see how he does at the pool...
mandatory life jackets are in our near future, i believe.

the cutest thing ever...

kyren LOVES books. he brings them to us all the time, shoves them in our faces, and then plops himself down in our laps. if we aren't able to sit and read with him, he cries until we do. let's just say he's incredibly communicative for someone who doesn't talk!
this is just about the cutest thing i've ever seen. he refuses to mimic us with sounds (most of the time), and even with all of the other signs we've taught him, he's been slow to catch on. but the MINUTE i taught him the sign for book, he loved it, and has been using it appropriately for the past 3 days. perhaps he takes after his father more than we realize. mr. strong, silent type who loves to read.
his brother on the other hand, takes a little more after his mama-- whipped cream and strawberries for breakfast-- and a little tactile play-w/-your-food session.

p.s. kyren IS consistantly signing now (more, all done, blow kisses, eat, and sometimes milk), and attempting to imitate certain sounds. he also roars on command when you ask him what a lion says. but in terms of those words he was starting to use back in december (cheese, all done, 'nana) are still in regression mode. he will point to mama and dada if you ask him to identify us, but rarely addresses either of us 'by name'. i do know one thing-- his language, when it does come, will be the most exciting thing in the world to me! for now, he gets by on cuteness alone!!

Hope Hill Visit

We had a great time this morning visiting Hope Hill -- tho i didn't get a picture of the 'highlight' (Christian finally being big enough to pedal the tractor/loader)-- i managed to snap a few good ones of the boys enjoying French Creek Park with Auntie J. Between the two of us adults, we managed to keep both boys from hurting themselves (Kyren has absolutely no fear of anything!)

enjoying the outdoors

This week's weather has been truly unbelievable! We spent as much time as we could outside, enjoying our yard...

Mr. Receptive Language...

loving my new camera

kyren is enamored with the new fire truck. he uses it like a walker, chugging down the driveway and back.

he is so proud to be a 'big boy' driver.

he somehow finds a way to climb in, turn around, get his feet in the right place, and GO!

meanwhile, C is trying desperately to use the ladders to put out tree fires.

he's also getting creative with his sliding techniques...

he wanted me to take his picture next to the 'snow bushes' that tickle his tummy.

his shirt says, "what happens at grandma's stays at grandmas".

(this shirt also stays at grandma's)

gettin clean after a day out in the sunshine (and plenty of dirt)...

i love that they are both in this shot.

they had the best time together in that bath... every time C would splash, K would laugh hysterically. Love it!!!

from generation to generation...

i had the rare privilege of growing up with all 4 of my grandparents living locally and engaged in my life. i realized as i got older how much of a gift this was (and continues to be, with 2 of them still actively involved).

little did i know how sweet it would be to watch my own children interact with not only their own grandparents (all of whom they adore), but also with the great grands, on my side.

i have been enjoying using my new camera that i got for mothers' day (thanks, kids!) this week-- taking advantage of all of the outdoor shots i can get in the gorgeous weather... i didn't even realize that i was snapping pics of generations interacting together until i looked at the roll later.

i seriously think this is the picture of the year-- soon to be 97 year old Gramma Peg pulling newly 3 year old Christian (that's a century when you add them together) in the wagon. she totally initiated this herself, and walked him the length of the driveway and back, without breaking a sweat! She's one incredible lady!

And here is Grampy helping Christian to see how long it takes for a stick to wash downstream. I love how buddy-buddy they are.

Kyren adoring Poppy, and playing games with him at the dinner table.

Passing down the love from one to the next...

i am so thankful that there are multiple generations influencing our family.

friends?

Kyren adores Christian.

Christian often adores Kyren.

But rare is the moment that they adore each other at the same time!

Even rare-er is the moment i am able to capture the moment of mutual adoration!!

while this isn't the most quality of photographs, it is going to always be one that warms my heart--

because it is, what you could call the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

It was the morning of Christian's 3rd birthday, and we were having an early lunch.

I turned on the "photobooth" on the computer, and they both loved watching themselves on 'live camera'.

i moved their chairs closer to each other so they could both be in the frame.

whenever C's tray is within reach (or even remotely close to him) K tries to reach for it.

usually this results in C screaming in horror and defense of his food, drink and personal space.

but in this (did i mention rare?) moment, they reached for each other.

and the result was nothing less than magical, at least to me.

may you learn early on, boys, that reaching for each other is always better than pulling (or pushing) away.

may you grow in your brotherly affection as the years go by, and may you reach for each other in good times and bad.

for God has gifted you each to be the other's best friend.

i'm so thankful i get to watch it all unfold.

i love being your mom.

~Mother's Day 2011~

A Birthday Wish come true

Every time we drive past the train tracks in town, Christian asks if we remember when we went on our Fathers' Day train ride. . . followed by "When can we go again?"

What better birthday present (at his Dinosaur Train Party) than some homemade (by daddy) train tickets to the Strasburg Railroad??

The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and the birthday boy had a fabulous time!

Kyren liked it for a while, but was really frustrated that he wasn't allowed to wander around to his heart's content (ie, out the door and down the steps of the moving train car). So it was a little hard to capture his joy on film-- but we know it was somewhere deep down inside, to be celebrating the birthday of his big brother!