Christmas Letter

Jonathan is really enjoying writing. He loves to copy anything he sees. He also enjoys making us cards or letters. He often just goes to his table and starts asking us how to spell words. That is how this "Letter to Jesus" came about. We were surprised and touched. He wanted to put it in an envelope right away and mail it to Jesus. After being stunned by the beauty and innocence of the moment, we explained how it could be his written prayer.

I probably shouldn't blog this -- but it made my husband so proud he called his dad (nice, hon) and I will have to use it for blackmail when David is older.

David is three. This is what happened just minutes ago.

David grabs the bottom of my shirt and starts to put his hands up my shirt.
[momma] "David! Don't put your hands in my shirt."
[david] "But, I want to touch those." (pointing at my chest)
[momma] speechless- gives Daddy 'a look'
[daddy] "David, you cannot touch girls' boobies."
[david] "Buuutt... I want to touch girluls' boobies."
[moment of silence, momma exits left stifling laughter.]
[daddy] "David, you can look at girls boobies, but you CANNOT touch them."

Math Whiz

Seth has been teaching Jonathan simple math problems. Jonathan loves it! Off and on all day, he sits around writing problems like 1+1+1+1+1=5. He also learned that if you list the problem vertically, it is easy to add larger numbers.
12
+
26
___
38

So, the other day, Seth said:
"Jonathan, you are a math whiz!"
Jonathan promptly turned to David and said:
"David, I am a math whiz. I do math and I whiz on it!"

Jokes

The boys are enjoying telling jokes. Usually they are Knock Knock Jokes that don't make any sense. As loyal, loving parents, we laugh silly and loud.
Tonight, to our amuzement, Jonathan told a joke that was quite hilarious.

"Daddy! I have some good news and some bad news."
"Okay, give me the bad news first."
"Um, ok, you are bald."
(Daddy rubs his receeding hairline) "Hmph."
"Well, what's the good news?"
"Hee, hee, you have hair in your ear!"

More Potty Training

We are not making tremendous potty training progress with David. He simply does not want to take the time to go to the potty. When asked if he peed in his pull-up, he says, "Yes!" When asked why he peed in his pull-up, he says, "Because I wanted to."

This morning, as I was getting him to go potty, I told him that he could start learning to pee standing up. (My thought- MAYBE that would make the experience more fun.) Our conversation went like this:

"David, you can start learning how to pee standing up now."
"No, I am not big enough."
"You are! You are three now. Daddy can teach you how."
"David three year olds are not big enough to do that."

Compliments for Momma

It has been about a week since this conversation. I am still thinking about the compliments, so I figure they are worthy of sharing.

Momma: "I sure have cute boys!"
David: "Momma, you are bootiful"
Jonathan: "Momma, you are like flowers and colors."

Smores

We made smores last Friday night. The boys loved it! Thomas's favorite treat is marshmallows so he was in heaven. David was fascinated by the whole process. Jonathan loved his smore: he ate it very slowly and enjoyed every bite.

Jonathan: "Smores are like money wrapped in chocolate."

Quote of the Day

Momma: "Jonathan! Why are you not following directions?"

Jonathan: "Um... my brain batteries are low."

Potty Training is a Monster

David is not really warming up to the idea of potty training. He does not like the potty at all and prefers to use his diaper or pull-up. He will readily tell you that he does not like to pee or poop in the potty. He is getting creative in response to my efforts.

Momma: "David, did you pee in your pull-up?"
David: "Nope. A monster peed in my pull-up."

Peter Pan's Influence

Today the boys were looking through toy catalogs. This is something they really enjoy and every item warrants a "Hey, Mom, let me show you my favorite."

David: "Gurrlul, Gurrrlull, Gurrrlul"
Jonathan: "Ew, Girl Stuff"
Momma: "Hey, there's nothing wrong with being a girl, you know."
Jonathan: "Girls talk too much!"
Momma: "Where did you hear that or did you come up with it yourself?"
Jonathan: "Peter Pan. I heard it from Peter Pan."

Haircuts

Today Jonathan and David got haircuts. As Jonathan got in the chair to get his haircut, the barber asked how he wanted it cut.
He replied, "I want an Army haircut."
David's hair is still a little thin but he got it as close to an Army cut as he could.

Growing Big

Tonight we had a good size dinner and then I let the boys have some ice cream for dessert.

Momma: "You guys ate so much your bellies are going to explode!"
David: "NO, We are NOT! I am going to grow big like you; and he (Jonathan) is going to grow big like you, too."

Gum

The other day, the ice cream truck came through our neighborhood. I let Jonathan and David pick out their ice creams and I got one to share with Thomas. David choose an ice cream sandwich. Jonathan got a spongebob popsicle, complete with bubble gum eye balls. We pulled the eyeballs out (which was very exciting, I might add) and Jonathan decided David could have one of his pieces of bubble gum AFTER Jonathan was done with the popsicle. This was a big deal because, of course, David made record time consuming his regular size ice cream sandwich, while Jonathan slowly enjoyed his popsicle.
Anyway, getting to the point of this story...
I decided to remind David about Bubble gum and how to enjoy it.

Momma: "Now, David, remember, this is CHEWING gum. You don't swallow it. You chew it and when you are done with it, you spit it out."
(No reaction from David- who was running around in the front yard.)
Momma: "DAVID, chew it, then SPIT IT OUT."

I went back to sharing my ice cream with Thomas. I was caught totally off guard when David ran over to me, and SPIT his chewing gum in my direction.
He followed my direction, quite literally.
There was nothing to do but chuckle to myself.

Kindergarten

Jonathan enjoys working on activity books. This includes things like number or ABC dot to dots, mazes, Find the Differences in the picutres. Today he started working on a new book which was all about letters. In it there were dot to dot ABCs, pictures where you were to circle only the lowercase letters, pictures were you had to find the hidden uppercase letters, places to practice writing letters, and mazes where you had to go the route of the letter pairs (upper case with matching lowercase). Jonathan went through the whole book first asking me what he had to do on each page. Then, he got right to work.
After a while, he made this (quite adorable) comment:

"I feel like my mind is in Kindergarten."

Busy

David doesn't know the meaning of the word "Busy." He thinks he does, though. He says "busy" in a determined way. I cannot figure out what he means when he says this. In the past he has said over and over, "Momma, I'm busy. I'm busy Momma." This is usually said in desparation. He never seems to be doing much but sometimes he has been running around at the time. I have asked him, 'David, are you dizzy?' Which is followed by a "No, momma, I am BUSY."
Tonight the meaning of the word to David was even more elusive to me.
We were at a neighborhood park. David ran up to me a couple of times saying he was his belly was BUSY.
David: "Momma, my belly is busy."
Momma: "Your belly is busy?"
David: Yes, my belly is BUSY."
Momma: "David does your belly hurt?"
David: "No momma, my belly IS BUSY."
Momma: (Noticing he was a bit out of breath) "David, is your belly tired?"
David: "NO, MOMMA, my belly is BIIIIIISY!" (David runs back to play.)

Chatty

Jonathan: "Oh, Maaaa, I found a webble wobble but it is a girl one."
Momma: "Oh Jonathan... do you not like girls?"
Jonathan: "Girls chat too much. They are too chatty."
Momma: (laughter) "You are probaby right."

Confused

So, today, I, Momma, got quite confused on what day it was. I knew it was Tuesday but I thought my Wednesday activities were happening. I fed the kids an early dinner and prepared them for the fact that our babysitter was coming. I was headed 2 houses down to a Pampered Chef party. I munched a half a hot dog and looked forward to the yummy Pamered Chef food. When it got close to time, the older boys went on the front porch to wait for our babysitter. After a bit, I decided to bring Thomas out in the front, also. The boys got their bikes out and were riding around in the driveway. The babysitter was to be there at 6:15. She is usally early. When it got to be 6:20, I was surprised. But, as it approached 6:30 and there was no sign of her, I was concerned. My concern was only outweighed by the confusion I felt when there were no cars down the street and no sign that anyone was at the house of the party. I gave my friend a quick call and no one answered. I was really confused. Finally, I got out my laptop and checked the E-vite that was sent out. The party wasn't for Tuesday, it was for Wednesday.

Momma: Jonathan, I am so confused. I thought the party was tonight but it is tomorrow. Jessica [our babysitter] isn't coming tonight.
Jonathan: She isn't?
Momma: I just got it all confused. Have you ever gotten confused?
Jonathan: Nope! But, maybe I will when I am older.

The power of Jonathan's Pinch

David: "Momma! Momma! Jonathan put a hole in my arm."
Momma: "What?"
David: "Jonathan pinched a hole in my arm."
Jonathan: (Laughter) "There is no hole in your arm."
David: "YES, there IS."
[Momma inspects the arm.]
Momma: (stifling laughter) "Oh David, there is a scratch on your arm. Jonathan..."

More "when I grow up"

(Momma) "David, are you going to be a Daddy when you grow up?"
(David) "NO! My daaaad is Daddy."

(Momma) "Jonathan, What do you want to be when you grow up?"
(Jonathan) "I don't want to grow up. I want to be a kid when I grow up. I want to be just like Peter Pan."

When I grow up

David:

"Momma, when I grow up I am going to be an elephant and I will blow down this house. Then you will have to go to Mimi's house. That will be funny."

Happy

Last night at dinner, Jonathan had a very pensive look as he said:

"Momma, sometimes I forget to smile when I am happy...other people don't know that I am happy."

Thomas's First Steps

Thomas took his first steps yesterday (on his 14 month milestone: 6/21).

With a HUGE smile on his face, he let go of the coffee table and took 2 steps to Momma. The day before he let go of what he was holding onto and stood by himself for a few seconds.

Messing it Up

Momma had just put out the sprinker to water the lawn.

David:
"Momma, why are you messing up the grass?"

My Eyeball

David - 4/19/06

"Momma, I got a piece of my eyeball."
"What David?"
"I got a piece of my eyeball in my hand."
...
"Oh, David, that is just eye goop."
"Oh, I got... eye goop in my hand."

Bootiful

Daddy was just home for a visit. He taught the boys to compliment Momma.

Today--

David: Momma, you are bootiful.
Momma: Oh David, that's so nice.
David: But, your clothes aren't bootiful.
Momma: Not my clothes?
David: Mmmm... Your hair is bootiful.
David: YOU are bootiful!

Booby Covers

Jonathan went to play at Noelle's house today. It wasn't planned but it worked out that he would head home with her and Momma would pick him up later in the afternoon. Noelle's mom called to share this funny Jonathan quote with me. On the way to Noelle's house, both Noelle and Jonathan were given Magna-doodles to draw on. Noelle proceeded to tell Jonathan that she had drawn Ariel from the Little Mermaid.

Noelle: Look! I drew Ariel.
Jonathan: You forgot the Booby covers.
Noelle: What?
Jonathan: You forgot her booby covers!

According to Noelle's mom, Noelle had no idea what Jonathan was trying to tell her. Though they talked about it for a minute or two more, she gave up on trying to figure it out.

Jonathan - 5 and already thinking about booby covers!! (Quite funny and quite a shock to Momma)

Kindergarten

This week, Momma got Jonathan registered for Kindergarten. This has prompted a lot of talk about being in Kindergarten. And, this only adds momentum to Jonathan's growing enthusiasm about being 5 and being big. Still, the following caught Momma a little off-guard.

Jonathan: I will be in Kindergarten now that I am five, right?
Momma: Yes, after the summer, you will start Kindergarten.
Jonathan: And, after I am in kindergarten...is that when I am a teenager?
Momma: (chuckle) No, you aren't a teenager until you are 13.
Jonathan: 13? 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13. 13? oh, okay.

Loving Our Enemies

Yesterday the boys and Momma played in the backyard. While Thomas enjoyed the baby swing, Momma, Jonathan, and David chased each other around with water bottles.

There was lots of running and laughing with Jonathan yelling:
Attack, attack!!
Chicken, Chicken, Chicken!

Jonathan: Momma, you are my enemy.
Momma: Ok, you better watch out!
Jonathan: Hey, did you know that God says to love our enemies?
Momma: Yes, Jonathan, you are right- we should love our enemies.
Jonathan: OK! I am loving you AAAAANNNND attacking you!!!

Macaroni and Cheese and Beans

Tonight we had Macaroni and Cheese, Pinto Beans and Biscuits for dinner.

Thomas:
Thomas's favorite food is macaroni. He has not been eating the last few days because he has had a stomach virus. He has only wanted to drink- with one exception. He is willing to eat macaroni. He inhaled it tonight when we had macaroni and cheese. It was funny. He ate like he was starving and I hadn't been offering him food.

David:
David's favorite food is beans. This has been true since he was 1. Tonight right after we sat down to eat, David let me know he was VERY excited about having beans.
David: "When I grow up, I am going to be a bean. I will be in Bean Movie. Ha!"

(Apparently, he must be really fond of the Veggie Tales "Lord of the Beans" movie, too.)

Almost 5

Both Jonathan and David are almost 5. What? Well, Jonathan tells everyone that he is almost 5. He is so excited that his birthday is coming up that he can hardly contain himself. He talks about it all the time. And now- David is talking about being 5, too.

David: "I am two. Mmmm... I am ahmost five"

Mr. Incredible Owen

Jonathan was outside playing today and showing Momma lots of "tricks." He was trying to climb up the side of a swingset when he realized he wasn't quite strong enough to do what he wanted:

"Momma, I wish I was Mr. Incredible. I want to be Mr. Incredible but still be a part of my family. Then, I could be so strong and I could climb up anywhere."

Events This Week 4/7/06

David:
1) David has learned to pedal his tricycle this week. We got David a tricycle of his very own for his 2nd birthday in September of last year. It was the kind with a push bar behind it. Since then, all he has wanted to do is push the tricycle around. He did not want to try to pedal and he definitely did not want someone to push him. Now it is Spring (and somewhat warm in Western Washington) and he wants to be big and ride his bike. He is VERY excited to be pedaling. It was a fight to get him to understand that he has to wear his helmet while riding his bike. We had a few fits while we were working that out. But, now he will ask for his helmet before he rides. It is all quite adorable.
2) David has learned the proper etiquette for interrupting. When I am on the phone, David says, "Excuse me Momma. 12389W. Excuse me, Momma. 12389W." (He is mimicking Jonathan who has learned to say Excuse me and count to 10 when he wants my attention.)
3) Speaking of "W"... this is David's Favorite letter (and "number"). He throws a W in whenever he can. Tonight he said, "I play for W minutes." I also informed him that "Owen" has a W in it and he laughed, "Hee Hee Hee."

Jonathan:
Jonathan is having his 1st real sleepover tonight. He has stayed with friends before but he was with his brother (and it was to give Momma and Daddy a night away). This is his first night away with a friend for a "sleepover." He was pretty excited about it. (And, apparently Momma was more nervous than him... when I called "to confirm when he was coming home," he was not longing for home but rather finishing a late movie.)

Thomas:
1) This week Thomas gave up the Army low crawl. He crawls mostly on his hands and knees now. He is fast! And, he is pulling up to standing more and more. However, he cannot figure out how to sit down once he is standing.
2) Thomas loves to mimic others when he can. Unfortunately this means he gets in fun screaming/squealing conversations with David. He had fun copying me nod my head tonight.

Innocent and Two

For the last few days I have watched David have fun with pillows. He would just say, "weeeee" and then land on the pillows. Or, he would go, "Ahhhhh" and throw himself on the couch. This was a lot of fun for him. And, he used lots and lots of sound effects for each landing. Many times the events were preceeded by, "Momma, watch this."
Imagine his surprise today when he tried one of his stunts without the pillows. With a smile on his face, he looked back behind himself and then free-fell onto the floor. His smile faded upon impact. He landed hard. It was painful to watch but adorably funny. I was right there next to him so I wrapped my arm around him (trying to stifle my laughter). His big blue eyes looked up at me and he said, "I hurt myself." It was a priceless two-year old moment.

Events this Week 3/29/06

Thomas:
Thomas has figured out that it is fun to hand Momma something and then take it back. For example, if I (Momma) hold out my hand, he will hand me his cracker. He is quick to take it right back! He likes this game and repeats it over and over. The other game he likes isn't so fun for Momma. He takes something that he wants (like his pacifier) and drops it. Then he says, "Uh oh" and waits for me to get it for him.

David:
David is starting to learn his colors. His favorite color (and the one he recognized first) is Red. (Roll Tide!) He is very excited about learning his colors. Tonight as he was getting on his PJs, he pointed to the different colors on the pants saying, "This is red. This is blue." He also was quick to point out an orange truck today. When asked tonight what color truck Daddy should get one day, David said Orange. (I had an immediate image of a truck adorned with VOLS paraphernalia...it was so frightening!) (Jonathan wants Daddy to have a Green truck)

Jonathan:
Perhaps the most heart-wrenching thing that Jonathan did this week is also very touching. There was a picture in the paper of some troops that had just come home. The picture was all of the soldiers standing in formation, with one little boy to the side holding a sign that said "Welcome Home Daddy." Jonathan asked me about the picture and then insisted on making a sign for Daddy. I tried to emphasize that Daddy was not getting ready to come home. It didn't matter. He had me write out the words and he copied them and colored his sign. I did convince him that we couldn't leave it on our kitchen table until Daddy comes home. (Right now it is on our refrigerator.)

My Favorite

We have a picture of Daddy on our refrigerator down low so the boys can look at him all the time. We talk about Daddy all the time. I had a great conversation today with David.
(M) "David, who's that?"
(D) "My Daddy."
(D) "My Favorite."
(M) "Is he your favorite person?"
(D) "No, not person...Daddy."
(M) "Are you a person?"
(D) "I am David right now."

David Talks Constantly

David's vocabulary is coming along. He talks constantly and loves to repeat anything he hears.

Here are a few David quotes from today (which are only effective if you can imagine the two-year old dialect):

(D) You know what I want to be when I grow up?
(M) What's that David?
(D) I want to be Jonnie when I grow up. I want to be Jonathan.

(M) David, come here please.
(D) Only ef I half to.
(M) (pause) David, you have to.
(D) Okay.

When we grow up

Momma: What do you want to be when you grow up?
David: A firedman
Jonathan: A builder who is in charge
Thomas: Daaa Bbbb AAAhhhh

David's Job

Jonathan: "Momma, I know what David should do when he grows up."
Momma: "What's that?"
Jonathan: "He should copy what people say and write it in Magazines."
Momma: "Do you think he would be good at that?"
Jonathan: "YES! Because he is alllllllways copying me."

Jonathan Quote

Jonathan: "Momma, why don't you play with us?" "You are always either cleaning or taking care of us."