Another blog

I feel like I should be blogging everyday; I don't want to forget anything.  My attempts to capture the little moments in life and to greater appreciate them.

Seth and Levi like to color and doodle, make books etc.  And what do I do with all these little books and pictures? I save them for a while, but then inevitably I throw them away, because I abhor clutter.  I'm giving myself a new goal to at least take a picture of what they have created before I throw it away... so far I've taken one picture :) Here's one of Seth's many poetry books that  he has entitled "The Owl And The Cat." (He loves the poem, "The Owl and the Pussy Cat.")

I know, blue sand.. cool huh?  The only problem is after long hours of practically swimming in their sandbox my kids emerge as smurfs.  This particular day I couldn't wipe the sand off of them, and instead of having blue sand all over my house I opted to spray them down with a hose... they didn't like the power washing, and the sand still wouldn't come off so I fill up the pool and hope that it will wash off with a soak.  Jeff comes home to one kid naked, one in underwear, and one fully dressed -- all drenched and STILL sandy.  Me? I have my hands on my head waiting for Jeff to save me -- or at least get some towels.  It was pretty hilarious.

Freedom. The straps of responsibility are finally loosening.  Three kids are a lot of work; that's why days like this are wonderful -- Sethy made his bed without the slightest encouragement.  It may not look like much to you, but it's a wonderful sight to me... and this is as well:

The same morning Levi dressed himself :) -- I love his twisted shorts.

AND the same morning Raya began mooing when she was playing with "calfie" -- ok that isn't really lightening any work of load, but it sure was cute!

Yesterday was a nice day -- beautiful weather, farmer's market, picnic, swimming, concert.  And this little girl is so cute.  I didn't want to take my camera so I had to snap a picture of her before we left.

Oh, and she's been doing a lot of this lately:

She took her first step today!

Also, today Seth finished up swimming lessons and will now be moving to the bigger pool.  He's doing great.  I finally brought my camera to one of the library programs today... it was firefighter's read and the boys dressed up as firefighters (unfortunately they took off their costumes before I could get a picture).  The fire captain really likes the boys and was delighted when he saw them in gear.  I love our community and how close knit we can become.  

Levi's on a roll.

"Ok Levi, please eat your lunch."
"I took you and I threw you in the trash."
"Levi, what has Daddy talked to you about putting people in the trash?"
"Uh- I didn't, I put you in the keen-pool."


Oh this child.  When he doesn't like something you say he retaliates by stating: "I took those words and I threw them in the rushing river!" or "I took those words and I threw them in the trash." -- lately it's been the people themselves that are going in the trash and not the words. And of course there are the hand motions that go along with this... an extended arm reaching toward you and then the big finale fist jolt to the floor.

A conversation with Levi.

"I have bumble bees in my ears."
"Really?"
"Yah, They're stuck!"
... (sad face) "They are trapped in the beehive.  And then I get them out with my saute!" 

Progress

We're getting it done... slowly but surely.  There have been a couple of nights when we have painted until 10:30 at night! I think we'll just slowly finish the rest of the house on the weekends....

Raya's new do.  I'm having a hard time subjecting Raya to the torture of rubber bands... so for now I think we'll stick with clips (as presented in the picture above); isn't she cute??

I should really add these pictures with my last post. He is such a character.  

Here is Levi being a wolf, he came out of his room with his pillow over his head howling.

Levi's Version of "The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock."

The wise man built his house upon the rock,
The wise man built his house upon the rock,
The wise man built his house upon the rock,
And he was eaten by a frog.

BUT, because he was wearing a hat he got out of the frog's mouth,
And he poked the frog and put the frog into his mouth!
... and he was a wise mannnnn.....


Also, Levi likes to remind us frequently that "Keaney is a Spanish word for Kooney."  I have no idea where he comes up with this stuff.  And there is this mysterious Mr. "Keamey" that pops up in some of his discussions.

That's right

She's so cool ...

And she turned 10 months today.  I can hardly believe it, I don't want to actually.  I love my babies, I love the relationship between newborns and mothers.  It's a lot of sacrificing, loving, crying (both of us), and I don't think I'll ever be so close to my child again.  It's a special time the first year... and Raya's already showing signs of independence.

She's pulling her self up! She's climbing, pushing, moving, even standing for a few seconds at a time.  She's fearless and I think she'll be walking before she's one.

Raya likes to sit on her knees a lot, and I find it incredibly cute! Look at those legs! 

Look at this face.  Can you tell she's playful?  This is her favorite toy at the moment, she likes to crawl while holding this soft ball in her mouth. other things ... She likes to sing, dance, perform, loves the itsy-bitsy spider and we are clothes in a washing machine rhymes, likes giving high-fives (especially to Jeff), blows kisses.  She likes to practice signs that she knows like "milk" and "more," she's dramatic, melts in your lap, likes to wrestle, likes to giggle, says "mama," "baby," "dada." She has 7 teeth now. Loves flipping through pages of books and squeals in frustration when she can't turn a page.

Oh Raya, we love you.

finally.

Finally I found a book that I really enjoy.  (It has been a while).

I love the voice, style, imagery.  Love the perspective.  His prose is fast and adventurous.

Kudos to Jeff for recommending it to me.

Summertime and the livin's easy

I love summertime, the days are long and packed full of activities. For the Record's sake... things we have gone to and haven't taken pictures of... mainly the library programs:
-Mayor read to the children
-Pirate show; children comedy act.  Really funny, Seth was taken by surprise that someone was allowed to be so loud and so silly.
-Police officers read to the children;  Seth and Levi got to sit in the back of a cop car.  They were pretty smug about it.
-Pullman theater group came and sang some headlines of musicals they've done over the last few years.  It was quite an imaginative experience for the boys -- they've never seen pretending go to such lengths and were spellbound by the musical solos from... Wizard of Oz, Cat in the Hat, Guys and Dolls, Annie get your gun and Gypsy.
-Concert in the Park with the Pullman Concert Band ... we had a picnic

Above pictures are at the aquatic center... it has been so nice.  I love Pullman summers!

"Get the dark off." -- Levi's description of fireworks.

This week went by way too fast.

Jeff and I left the boys at Grandma and Grandpa's house after the strongman competition on Sunday and  were reunited with them on Wednesday.  I wont lie, it was so hard to leave those two little boys!!! First time I've been away from them over night .. besides when I have been in the hospital having a baby.  Anyways,  Dan and Jane brought the boys and stayed through the fourth of July weekend :)

It wasn't really his birthday -- but it was a good excuse to eat cake. (Apparently he didn't have a cake for his birthday this year).

Our project at the moment. Jeff and I have teased that one of these weekends, when Dan and Jane come to visit, will not be a work weekend.. but then I thought about it, when isn't a weekend a work weekend?  Seriously.  Well, each one of those little circles are nails that were popping out and were first, hammered and second, applied with caulk.  The whole house is speckled. Now to paint...  

Raya didn't really like the fireworks....

I CUT LEVI'S HAIR!!  It was pretty sad cutting those cute blonde curls.... probably the last time he'll ever have blonde hair again.  But he insisted that he wanted "spikey" hair. 

Before the cut. (sigh)

firemen.

Relaxing... well, wresting three kids, at Sunnyside park.  Getting ready for the fireworks.

We had a very enjoyable weekend. I love fourth of July in Pullman, the fireworks were great this year!