A Waterfall of Giggles

No one else makes this little guy laugh as much as his brother does.

Road Trip

We'll be headed on a road trip to the east coast in a few days. Roundtrip = 42 hours in the minivan. Pray for us, friends. I'm a bit nervous about how this is going to go.

Oliver asked, "Mom, if we travel at night, which one of you is going to act nocturnal and drive the car?"

Nocturnal is apparently our word of the week.

Later in the week I was driving Oliver to my sister's house. We were going to help her pack suitcases for a flight to Ethiopia to bring her beautiful new son home. It was pouring rain and I noticed the side-vent windows of our minivan were open. "Oh geez," I said. "That wasn't my brightest move."

"What's a brightest move, Mom?" he asked.

"Your best idea."

"Do you know what is the best idea I ever had?"

"What?"

"Being with you."

And just when I didn't think I could hold an ounce more love for this beautiful boy, my sweet son, my heart grew three sizes larger. Just like that.

While my sister and her husband raced around doing last minute packing, Oliver said, "We know just how you feel. We made this trip before, right Mom? I know how my cousin feels: a little bit nervous and a lot excited. I will be able to help him when he gets home." On so many levels, this new little person in our family is going to be so good for us. We can't wait to welcome him home.

But not until we return from the aforementioned 42 hour roadtrip. Did I mention I'm hoping you'll PRAY FOR US? Yes? Thank you.

Alphabet

How can you tell when your five year-old boy is spending much of his free time with a nine year-old neighbor girl?

"Mom, could you give me another 'F' alphabet cookie?"

"Sure, why?"

"I want to spell 'BFF.'"

"Best friends forever?"

"Yeah, Mom. (whispers 'forever... forever...') That means you'll never be separated again doesn't it, Mom?

"That's right, my darling."

Nocturnal

"Mom, how do the drivers of airplanes stay up all night? Are they nocturnal?"

"No. But your brother seems to be."

Itchy

"Mom, could you please scratch that spot on my leg? Now, I might laugh - because I have a very itchy place on one of my tickle spots - but that's okay."

Room

We are no longer sleeping on mattresses on the floor, sprawled about like animals. We have a real live bed courtesy of IKEA. And real live curtains. And the boys are sleeping in their own beds. Hooray!

Underwear & Beer

My husband thinks Oliver will be embarrassed one day when we remind him of the time he spent the afternoon visiting the next-door neighbors' backyard in his Batman briefs. Perhaps. Perhaps not. It is a rather warm day after all.

I have discovered that getting through a day of baby crying during naptime and heavy-duty yardwork is made much easier when you dip into the cocktails around 11:30 a.m. As the country-western song says, "It's five o'clock somewhere."

I haven't enjoyed a nice day of sunshine, gardening and cold beer since before I was pregnant.

Ahhh. Welcome to Memorial Day Weekend at our house.

The end.

And Now We Are Five...

Oliver's fifth birthday party at Airport Bowl in Richfield, MN

Me: How old are you, Oliver?

O: I'm one whole hand!

The Governments

Oliver said this today on our walk, while I was pulling him in the wagon. He happened to not be wearing any shoes. As soon as he got to the word "governments" my eyebrows shot up. Way up.

"Mom, do the . . . Are the . . . Does the governments . . . Mom . . . Mom! Do the leaders of the governments what make all the rules for the country let kids go in their bare feets on that playground over there?"

+ + + + +

Springtime at Our House

Our sweet neighbor & her little dog, Luna

Whoa. Whoa! Somebody stop me...

Mr. Will, 14 years old & my constant companion

You must turn your head sideways to watch this movie...

think, think, think

"Oliver, it's time to get your jammies on."

"But Mom, I have so many thinks that I'm thinking in my head,
there isn't any room in there for your idea, too."

Visiting the Farm

Preschool visit to a farm today. Oliver rode a big yellow school bus. When he got back, he announced:

"I learned a whole bunch of stuff."

"What did you learn?"

"I'm going to think about it for awhile." Think. Think. Think.

"Do you remember what you learned?"

"I need more time to think." Think. Think. Think. "Moo."

"You saw a goat? A horse? A cow?"

"Yes!"

"Did you learn about milking?"

"No. Oink."

"You saw a farmer? A chicken? Pigs?"

"Yes!"

"How many did you see?"

"Around a hundred. Or maybe it was 38."

"Do you remember yet what you learned?"

"Yes. Don't step in geese poop."

*************************************************************

Later... thinking about how Mom & Dad got married because they wanted to be a family...

"Mom, when I get to be a grown up, will you help me find my own family?"

"Of course. And we will still be your family, too."

"Okay. Hey, I know! I'll get married to you! Is that okay?"

"Absolutely."

"If I forget to marry you when I'm a grown up, you remind me."

"Okay."

"How will you remember?"

"I could never forget."