Mud puddles...

Note to self: It's probably not a bad idea to get the kids some rain boots. They're drawn to mud puddles like magnets.

With that aside, I have to admit that I love to watch them as they play in them. What a wonderful childish indulgence to jump (splash, sit, lay - whatever the case may be) in a mud puddle! So simple. Such joy!

2nd note to self: Try playing in a mud puddle yourself the next time you spot one. It just might be as much fun as it looks! It's always good to lighten up a little ;)

Jaden's cell phone

Chris happened to bring out a go phone I bought when I broke my phone during the hurricane. I had given it to him to use since he let me get a new phone with his upgrade. Anna was very interested in the phone. She is 6 going on 16, I swear. I'm not sure who she thinks she's going to be able to call (she's never gotten a friend's phone number) but she wants to make calls and text - the whole bit. Well, that ain't gonna happen. So, if she needs to call 9-1-1 she can but that's about it for now.
In typical first-born, older-and-more-privileged-than-you fashion she proceeded to "rub it in" to Jaden and it wasn't long before the fights and crying started over the phone (we've had that phone since September - I don't know why he even got it out). Luckily, when we stopped in Big Lots the next day we happened upon a display of refurbished cell phones for like 8 bucks! So, now Jaden has his own cell phone. I can't give you his number so you can call him because there isn't a plan on this phone either.
I have no idea how old these phones are but I don't know why anyone would buy them to use for real. They suck! But they make a great "fake" real cell phone.
He is sooo happy about it. He carried it around non-stop for like 4 days. He and Anna just sort of wandered around "talking" on their phones. It was very cute. One day Anna woke up early and took both of their phones for some reason. When Jaden came out his first words were "where my cell phone at?"

The baby bottles just aren't enough

hee, hee!

This was an empty bottle. Of all the indulgences I do give them I promise this wasn't one of them. I didn't let him down Diet Dr. Pepper! Maybe a sip here and there...

I made the mistake of letting Anna and Jaden drink the last little bit out of the Sprite bottle earlier and he paid attention. He may not say a lot but he sure doesn't miss a beat!

A mini-adventure in a simple walk around the block. Who knew?

We've been trying to get out a little more often for walks - especially since Leo is getting sooo fat!

Luke ususally decides that it is his turn to walk the dog and takes this responsibility very seriously...

Until, we come to the mailboxes! As soon as he spots the mailboxes all bets are off and the leash is quickly tossed to the ground while his fat little legs move as fast as he can make them toward the beautiful, metal treasure.

I am tempted to one day just sit and see how long he can occupy himself at the mailboxes. He gets such a kick out of them!

After, I coax him away from the mailboxes with the hopes of maybe seeing some cows I realize that the sunblock is missing. Hmmm....where could it have gone to? Oh, yeah, the mailboxes! I run over and get the sunblock of out the package box and we're back on track. Until Luke spots a pipe sticking out of the ground....

He tried to stick the sunblock can in there but I guess it didn't fit.

A little further down the road he finds a stick! It is for this reason that Chris has nick-named him "little Judy" after my mother. It seems like where ever she goes (and I do mean WHERE-ever) she finds treasures, a.k.a "junk" that she has to pick up.

Just a wee bit farther down the road and they spot a fire hydrant! Yay! Down goes the stick while they explore.
Ok, so, they're done with the fire hydrant (nothing to open and close or twist or stick stuff into)... and he's got the stick back! Hmmm....how am I going to get rid of this thing!

Oooo...more mailboxes. Good opportunity to "lose" the stick.
What is so fun about mailboxes? Even Jaden is interested.
Ahh...puddles! What is better than a puddle of water?
The end :)

Boys will be boys, so I'm learning

The heat is officially here in Texas! High 80's to 90's are a regular occurrence now and the heat index has already been at 100 degrees! Our focus (well, mostly MY focus) now is on how to keep everyone cool and occupied. There will certainly be days when it is just too hot to be outside for long or the mosquitoes will be too vicious but today was a nice day and I decided to break out the sprinkler. I don't even want to try to estimate what my water bill will be this summer - Jaden has learned how to turn on the spicket himself :) - but whatever it is it will surely be less than the cost of me losing my sanity. When they are cooped up in the house too long the boys become destructive. They have way too much energy and need a release. They start jumping on the furniture, throwing anything and everything, and literally bouncing off the walls (and into them). Fortunately, we have a bonus room with lots of toys that will be our retreat on the too hot to be outside days if we don't have another air conditioned space to go to but until at least Friday that is a problem. The air conditioner is broken up there and there is just one little window that faces the direct sun in the afternoon so it gets really, really hot!
I can't blame the kids for breaking it at least :)

Thank goodness for water sprinklers and baby pools!
Jaden is figuring out how this thing works. He's got his hand on Blue's ear and it doesn't take him long to figure out he can direct the flow of the water...

Poor Luke! He's at Jaden's mercy. I have to be on constant watch of those two. It can wear a person out! Good thing Luke is pretty resilient. He was very uncomfortable last night and I thought he might be getting an ear infection. Maybe he just had water in his ear...

All that little brother tormenting can make a kid thirsty!

My silly Jaden

This is play doh. He was putting it on his nose - not "in"his nose as this looks! It just cracked him up :)

Baby "g"

Finally - Luke's one year pics!

Warning: there are a lot of pictures here. I loved them all and had to share.

I also wanted to make a note of his stats at one year:

He is 32 1/2 inches tall (above the 95th percentile).

He is 28 pounds 7 ounces (above the 95th percentile).

And for what it's worth his head is 50 cm.

One more thing...He is awesome! He is a beautiful, beautiful little boy :)