A picture summary of the past months

Since I'm soooo far behind on posts and know I'll never catch up, here is a quick look at the last few months in pictures and brief snippets:

The amazing snow (in my opinion, a result of Isaac's faithful prayers each day since around the first of the year - praying specifically for enough snow to make a snowman.) We had so much fun building snowmen and an igloo, which stayed for several days!

The time that Isaac and Luke have had at home on their own has led to a sweet friendship - Isaac really wants to help his little brother learn to ride a tricycle.

We were so excited that one of Caedmon's art projects was selected (only 4 of 50ish kindergarteners at his school) to be exhibited in the downtown library's art show.  Each school in the ISD had a display.  Caedmon had been so enthusiastic about his collage anyway, so it was really neat to see his work honored!

We had a super fun few days at the farm over spring break.  My boys were ready to do some fishing, and really did a great job managing the rods and reels on their own.

Isaac has no qualms with holding the fish.  

We celebrated Easter day at home this year - the boys looked so handsome in their special church clothes!

Luke celebrated his second birthday!  He has grown up so much, blessing our hearts every day with his funny, sweet personality.

Isaac had such a great year in preschool!  He was so proud to show us his classroom and work at open house.  He really made some sweet friendships and had an amazing teacher; we were delighted to see him flourish and blossom!  Now he's ready to start kindergarten!

From the mouths of babes

A post from October, 2014, that I never published:

Our days are never, never dull.  I would venture to say that each day is a bit more interesting than the last as these boys grow.  Although that comes with a fair amount of challenges, there are so many times that I laugh out loud (or if it's necessary to conceal my humor, bubble over inside.)  The way these guys take in the world, process it, and verbalize what they've seen is so precious.

We recently discovered a bow and arrow toy on the dollar aisle at Target.  Caedmon had some money that he'd earned and knew that was the perfect thing for us to take home.  For days afterwards, he would wander around in search of his "bow and arrow sticks."  Meaning, the arrows.  On the other hand, Isaac seemed to have trouble keeping up with the "bone," the thing that shoots the bow and arrow sticks.

Caedmon had a big growth spurt and was ready for a bigger bicycle earlier this summer.  We helped him make a plan and chart to do extra jobs around the house to earn money to buy that new bike.  We were so proud of him, he worked really hard and saved his money and finally had enough for a bigger bike.  We bought the bicycle ahead of time and the morning after he had earned his last dollar, we had it set up in the living room for him to find.  He inspected it all over and was very impressed with the bike's "stabilizer leg," a clever description for the kick stand.

The bigger boys have become eager to have bedtime stories shared while they're settling into bed at night.  We've shared many of our childhood stories and made up quite a few along the way, but recently encouraged them to tell their own stories.  Caedmon plunged right into a story about his current favorite subject, ocean animals, telling a bedtime story about Whaley the whale shark who got separated from his family.  Whaley asked Dol the Dolphin, then Ah the Octopus, then Puff the Puffin, and so on, naming a host of ocean creatures, if they knew where his family was.  After getting only "no's" in response, Whaley finally asked "Stick" the remora who said, "Yes, I know where they are, I am stuck to them right now!"  I thought that was quite a witty ending to his story!

On a recent trip to Costco, Isaac was looking ahead as I shopped and saw something interesting, and asked if we could get one of those "continent balls."  He and Caedmon both use that descriptor of globes.

Isaac also tickles us frequently with his thoughts.  I was washing his ears at bath time this week and he asked, "How did those bees' wax get in my ears?"  I would want to know how bees snuck wax into my ears, too!

He has had some truly sincere and heartfelt prayers for one so young - and also quite honest.  He worded his gratefulness for our food this way recently: "Thank you for all the wonderful creatures you made.  For us to eat."