Haydn's favorite knock knock joke.

Haydn: Knock! Knock!
You: Who's there?
Haydn: I'm a pileup.
You: (say it out loud)

Now laugh out loud! HAHAHAHAHA

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Check it out! Stu's a famous sidekick!

When we were in Sunriver the place we stayed in had a spiral staircase. It was of course totally dangerous and loved by all. One morning Alek was being his usual unruly self. As he ran down the stairs he slipped down the last few steps but was somehow able to catch and stabilize himself at the very end. With the last of the panic still present in his eyes and a hint of a tentative grin beginning to form he exhaled loudly and said, "whoa, my heart skimped a pump!" If only he knew how many times he has made my heart skimp a pump!

Yes, that's the snake he caught. He nurtured and loved it for a couple of weeks and then we released it back into the wild.

Just before school started, we took a quick trip to Sunriver. Now I get why so many people take an annual trip there. We did so much and it was all a blast. Hiking, biking, swimming. Oh, and the hot tub on the back patio was a super big bonus! No obligations to anyone it was truly what a vacation should be. I was completely at peace with the world and so in love with my little family.

Like a Ninja, I am stealthfully creeping back into blogging.

Happy Memorial Day

So apparently not the most exciting of all holidays. Especially since it's raining, Stu is working and Cairan got to go to OMSI with a friend. I sat down to check my email...of course oblivious to whatever else might be happening around me. When I finally tuned in and heard running water I figured I'd better investigate and this is what I find. My very innovative children turned the sink into an indoor pool! Too bad I couldn't capture on film the far reaching effects. At least Haydn had a suit on. The other two were skinny dipping!

The really funny thing is that if I had only looked over my right shoulder, they were only about 20 feet from me...I guess I was in a zone!

It's been awhile, I know. All these great things keep passing me by, but this one I can't resist writing....Several days ago, we were just pulling into the driveway and I said, "get out of the car Jonah." He comes back with, "why does every people keep calling me Jonah?" Haydn explains, "people call you Jonah because that's the name mommy gave you." Jonah replies with conviction, "Wew, that's a stupid name and I hate it! My name is Dangerous Monkey!"

And that is who he has been for the last little while.

He cracks me up!

Yesterday was Jonah's birthday. I can't believe my baby is 4, sniff, sniff! The only thing he wanted was a Darth Vader costume....how could I resist? It's about 6 sizes too big but he's worn it all day today. A few minutes ago he came down and stood looking menacingly at me through his black mask. I couldn't resist asking, "Hey, does Darth Vader kiss his Mommy?" He took of his mask considering seriously my question. "Um, well, Darth Vader hates girls." He said with a smirk on his face. Then he went on about Luke Skywalker and how he tries to kill Darth Vader because he doesn't know he's his father (it's amazing the things the youngest of 4 boys learns from his brothers). He kept talking about Darth Sidious (who was that again?). I waited patiently and then asked again, "but does Darth Vader kiss his Mommy?" He stalled again talking about light sabers and other aspects of Star Wars that a mere novice like me would never remember. On and on, really, how much knowledge of Star Wars can a 4 year old who has never seen any of the movies have!?! I interupted this time and said, "you still haven't answered my question. Does Darth Vader kiss his Mommy?" "Um...Weeeelll....guess what," he stammered. I really couldn't wait to hear his answer. "The other Darth Vader doesn't like girls. But this Darth Vader - he points to himself - does!" he then ran to me, threw his arms around me and gave me three big kisses! I guess it's not so bad being Mommy to one of the most notorious villains of all time!

Gender seems to be a huge issue in our house these days. Just the other day I got to explain the word "gay" to Haydn. Jonah keeps informing everyone he sees, stranger or no, that,"girls don't have penises!" And just tonight Alek comes in my room for one more good-night kiss followed by, "you're the best mom in the whole world...I love you so much...I can't wait to live with you again." I reply, " I love you too, now get back in bed!" He is headed back to his room, turns around and asks, "um, mom, when we live again, will I still be a boy or will I be a girl?" I love the things they come up with!

Ask yourself this...have I really lived, if I haven't yet experienced the thunder that is 40 stock cars racing past me!?! Thanks Mom and Dad for the experience!

I'm back!

The other night I knelt by Jonah's bed to talk to him before he went to sleep. He got on his knees took my face in his hands and kissed me on my forehead, my chin, my nose and both of my cheeks. He pulled away and said decidedly, "now you have super-powers." Yes!!! Just what I wanted for Christmas...I'll let you know exactly which powers I actually have as soon as I figure out how to be faster than a speeding 6 year old and leap tall piles of laundy in a single bound. Gotta go....."it's clobberin' time!"

As we all kneel down for family prayer we hold hands and as someone prays my kids do this thing where they squeeze my hand three times . Each squeeze represents one word ....I-love-you. The other day Alek squeezed my hand only two times. As soon as we had said our amens, he quickly questioned whether I know why he only squeezed twice. To his delight I had no idea. He enthusiastically informed me that two squeezes means, "You Rock"! Thanks Alek!

I love watching my boys play soccer! However; after a season of 6 practices a week and 3 games every Saturday, following the third final game and the third end of season party, I throw a little party of my own. I pack up all the shin guards and purple shirts and do the "no more soccer until next year!" dance.

Check out my Slide Show!

Yesterday I fixed omelets for breakfast. Alek was very excited and was already indulging himself when Cairan came down to eat. Through a mouth full of mish-mashed ham, cheese and eggs Alek exclaimed, "We're having vomits for breakfast!" You're all invited to breakfast next time we have vomits!

Jonah is a riot! He has more personality than his little body can contain. We saw this chalk drawing at a soccer game one day and he decided it was him. He promptly and strategically placed himself on the ground to prove it to us. Note the wrist guards. Those are not any ordinary wrist guards....they're his "fire hands" of course! He is at such a fun age. You know, when they can fully communicate but their word and phrase choices are often quite comical. He is always explaining to us that, "little kids don't like that". Most often referring to salad however if he can work it in at other times he will try using that as a reason to get out of going somewhere or doing something he doesn't want to. Just the other day Stu gave Haydn a drink of Jonah's Propel. Jonah quickly responded in protest by explaining to Stu that "my drinks don't like to share people. Drinks don't share people" Just today Stu was helping him change his shirt when he shrieked, "you made my teeth eat my tongue!" Like I said, Jonah is a riot! We sure love having him around!

Hope you had a happy Halloween!

The other day I was sitting on the couch reading a book to my boys. As it related to the story we were reading, I stopped and asked them, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" I was especially curious about Alek as he never really talks about it. I looked to him for his answer and he said emphatically, "I want to be me!" I am so glad he enjoys who he is because I wouldn't want him to be anybody else either.