The boys love playing in the basement.  The laundry is down there, and there is also one finished room that we very loosely dub "the guest room."  It has a pull out sofa, a table and closet piled high and stuffed full of my sewing and craft stuff, and then everything else that doesn't have a place gets dumped down there, too.  Because there is soooo much to get into, I hesitate to send the boys down there on their own, but when I need a break and they've already exhasuted the backyard, I unlock the gate on the stairs and shove them down.  And they love it.  Their imaginations go wild down there. 

One afternoon in particular, they were having quite the adventures.  Samuel came up several times to ask me if I wanted to see the spider web he was making.  He would check in every few minutes to tell me it was getting bigger and bigger.  Oh boy.  "It sounds pretty cool, Sam, I just hope you're not doing anything naughty.  I will come see it as soon as the dishwasher is empty."  But after a while, he stopped asking, so I figured I could get a bit more done before needing to investigate.

Later, Owen came up to go potty, and told me, "Sam is the best fireman, he puts out all the fires so strong!"  A while later, I heard Sam explaining to O, "When you rescue things from the fire, you put them over your shoulders like this," and then they both came upstairs out of breath and hollering about rescuing the dogs from the burning building.  I got them to hold still long enough for a picture on my phone before they had to "go back to see if there were any survivors." 

Once the fire was safely put out, and the heroes had saved the day, there were some "ghostes" that needed to be "killed."  Not one to intrude, I didn't feel the need to explain that ghosts are already dead.

So a good while later, I heard screams of terror.  Followed by sobbing and more screaming.  I booked it, this was the real deal, something was seriously wrong.  As I was running down the stairs, Sam was running up to get me, panting, "Mom!!!  Owen's stuck!!!!!"  By the time I made it down, maybe 17 seconds after the screaming started, O was full blown out of control terrified.  "I'm stuck, I'm stuck, I'm stuck, the ghost is going to get me!!!!"  Yes, he was stuck.  In the "spider web" which turned out to be a roll of yarn wrapped around every single thing in that horific basement, from one end to the other.  Owen had gotten his legs caught, and every time he moved, it got a bit tighter.  It was also connected to one of my clothes drying racks, which had a jacket hanging on it, and moved and shook each time he tried to get free.  Once I got him unstuck, Owen practically jumped into my arms, grabbed around my neck, and didn't let go until we were safely upstairs.  He was seriously shaken up about this!!  He calmed down quickly, though, and then had lots and lots to say about the event.  He talked about it the rest of the day.  And every time we've gone into the basement since.  He points to to drying rack and says, "That's where the ghost was, he was going to get me."

These two boys crack me up.  They are so so fun.  I love how bright and full of life they are.  When they're not yelling at each other or beating each other up, they sure are good little buddies.  

End of April, 2012

Emmett M has been getting himself around quite nicely in the past several weeks.  Even though he's still rolling to do it, he does it with purpose.  Em knows where he wants to go, and how to get there.  His favorite place is under the Jumperoo.  He has also really likes to go under his highchair, and bang on the kitchen vents. 

This little guy sure is our ray of sunshine!!

Sleeping Smoosh.

He's such a big kid.  And growing like a weed.  I can't keep up!  He was super excited to wear his new shoes and new jacket to school.

Look, they're the same size!

Oh this little monkey.  He's been doing way better the last several months, but sometimes he just needs some extra mommy love.  He was very happy to sit on the counter eating a bagel while I cleaned up the kitchen.

Will you look at this fat kid?!  We cannot get over the rolls and chub. And muffin top.  And man boobs. 

And he's finally sitting so nicely!

I heard O wake up from a nap one afternoon, but he didn't come down for a while.  I went up to get him, and found him sitting on the table at the top of the stairs.  I chuckled and asked him what he was doing.  "I just sitting here doing my George puzzle, Mom."

During their egg unit, Sam's class made edible birds nests.  He was very excited about it, and could barely hold of eating it while I took some pictures.  He had two bites then said, "Hmm, tastes kind of weird.  I bet Owen would like this.  I'll save it for him." 

This little monkey likes to pick things up with his feet.  And he's gotten his chubby foot stuck in that thing so many times.

I looked out the window and what did I see??  My four Favorites, happy as can be.  Love them.  A lot.

I try my darndest to do fun things with the boys besides just letting them play on their own all day.  Try is most certainly the operative word there.  I get frustrated, though, because more often than not my attempts end in a big unappreciated mess.  Some things do work, though.  Playdoh is always a success.  So is building a fort.  But in an act of desperation (which often comes at about 3:00 when I feel like there is no way I will ever survive 3 more hours until Erik comes home), I pulled out some vinegar, food coloring, baking soda, old Tylenol droppers, and the cutest little containers I grabbed at the dollar store for no reason other than I figured somewhere down the road I might find a use for them.  Which I never ever do.  I hate stuff.  And trinkets.  But for some reason I couldn't resist these little containers.  They've since proved themselves very useful, and are earning their keep quite nicely. 

So after a little discussion about primary and secondary colors, the boys went to town.  They both were surprised to see the baking soda fizz up when they dropped the colored vinegar.  They sat at the table for a solid 15 minutes, maybe even more, experimenting.  Emmett watched happily from the sidelines.  I got the kitchen cleaned up.  That, my friends, we would call a success.   

They think they're so funny.

It had been a long long time since we visited Colorado.  We get to see my parents pretty regularly on all their trips to Salt Lake, but it was still time for us to get back their way.  Easter weekend was a great opportunity for that.  Samuel and Owen loved every minute of playing outside and exploring.  They were huge fans of the new trampoline.  We also enjoyed a couple days of playing with the cousins: dying eggs, aebleskevar, egg hunting, etc.  I've said it a million times, but we are so blessed to have family who loves us, and we love just as much.  We always enjoy our time together!

Owen stuck in the doggie door.  He loooooved the dogs.  W told him that Benny had the blue collar and Phoebe had the red one, so O would say to each dog, "That's the blue dog or the red dog?  Oh, it's the red/blue dog, that's Benny/Feefee."

This group of pictures cracks me up.  I've looked at them so many times now, and I still can't stop myself from laughing out loud.

I don't know what it is, but it's pretty much to die for.  It has yet to grow old to any of us.  And he seriously does it all the time.

Oh, that wasn't it.  Rooster was just getting warmed up.  Here you go . . .

I love that out of anywhere to sit, my little ragamuffins choose to be right next to each other. 

Emmett is even included sometimes.

It must be because he is so ridiculously adorable. (Side note: I am writing this almost a month and a half after this picture was taken.  He looks so different now.  I can't believe how much Em has changed in that short time!)

Here are my kids in pajamas, again.  Doing who the heck knows what, again.  My filthy floor, again.  Crap all over the place, again.  And a half eaten apple on the sofa, that one's new.

Again, crazy how much has changed in a month, because this doesn't happen much anymore, but when Em first started getting himself around on the floor, he'd always get stuck on the entertainment center.  Didn't matter which way he was going, if he hit it, he'd keep trying to roll over into it, bonking his head over and over and making himself cry.  He's figured it out now.  But still kind of funny.

Not Erik's best picture, but Emmett is so so cute, smooshy cheeks, grabbing the fat foot.  I know I'm obnoxious, but I'm his mom, so I can be.

Team work.

Bigfoot!!  Sam drew this on our sidewalk and driveway one evening.  A big huge scary Bigfoot right in front of where Dad parks his car!  Then he called Erik and told him, "Dad, there's a Bigfoot at our house!  He has lots of sharp teeth and razor sharp claws.  You need to be so careful when you get home and watch out for him!"

I had to take Emmett in for nurse visit to get a couple boosters, and Sam still needed two of his Kindergarden shots.  Two birds, one stone.  Sam was not excited.  He was putting on a pretty brave front, though.  Until the nurse came in and it was time to go.  I had to drag him kicking and screaming out from under a chair, have the nurse's help to lug him onto the table, then literally lie across his upper body to pin him down.  It was ridiculous.  Mean mom that I am, I made sure to point out that his baby brother cried for 3 seconds, then stopped as soon as I picked him up.  That night, Sam was all tough again and proudly displayed his badges of honor.  Getting ready for bathtime, I had to get a photo of the matching thighs.  I think Sam's might almost be as big around as Em's.

The Olders thought it was be hilarious to put their hats on the Youngest.  Watching all three interact, laughing, enjoying each other.  One of my favorite things for sure.

Jumbo Bumbo.

Samuel has been riding his little bike for about 10 months now without training wheels.  We all got a bit tired of the tires popping and the chain always falling off, and decided it was time to get him a bike that fit much better than the 10".  Why does my baby have to become such a big kid so fast?

This baby of ours had been teething since his 6 month check-up in February.  We watched his swollen bottom gums for what seemed like ages.  Finally the first one broke through in the middle of March.  (It's so teeny tiny in the picture; bottom right, Em's left.)

Another miserable week later, tooth number two broke through.  It's so funny to see those chompers in his little mouth.  Emmett did not want to show me when I got the camera out.  But I'm still showing you the pictures.  Because he's cute regardless.

Also of note, Emmett's coloring has always been a bit different from Samuel and Owen . . . he has more of the olive Briggs complexion, not the fair Jensen/Nielsen genes.  But I've also looked at him often times and wondered if his face, especially nose, was a bit orange-tinted?  Seeing these pictures, it's glaringly obvious to me that Em is orange.  Is that weird? 

March 16, 2012

Some friends of ours who lived just a couple houses down, moved a bit further south almost a year ago.  They found a home to update and remodel with a horse lot and several acres of land.  There has been a standing invitation to visit for a while now.  We had a day off of school and decided to go with some other friends, too.  It is such a hassle to do anything or go anywhere with all three boys.  I am so glad I sucked it up this time and went.  Samuel and Owen really enjoyed getting out and doing something, especially with friends.  Emmett was a great sport, hanging out in my hip sling most of the time.  And I really enjoyed a little break from the norm and some social interaction with grown ups! 

So, our friends have a horse, a pony, a goat, chickens, and ducklings.  Owen was most excited about the ducklings, and kept finding his way over there, again and again.  Samuel hopped right on to the pony and "yeehaw"-ed his way around their land.  After a few pony rides, he was anxious to try out the horse.  Owen begged to get on the pony, so I put him on.  When I saw his face, I thought for sure he was going to ask to get off.  He kept that same serious, almost concerned expression, but did not want to get off.  When the ride was done, he jumped off with a huge grin and said, "I want to go again!"  Funny kid.  So he had a few more pony rides, too.  Then he and Sam went on the horse.  I even climbed my big butt up and took each of the boys for a little ride. 

At one point in the afternoon, I heard Samuel yell, "Mom!!!  Owen's going into the chicken coooooop!"  By the time I got there, all the chickens were backed up into a corner, and sure enough, there was Chicken Owen, strutting around like he owned the place.

Emmett was not really a fan of the wind, and he was definitely not a fan of the cowboy hat!

Sam got handed a duckling first, while O sat there, hands cupped, begging, "I'm ready to hold a duck now, I'm ready I'm ready!"

It really was such a fun afternoon!  I am so glad for kind and generous friends.  The boys have talked about it several times since.  I think we will have to go back again soon.  

Usually Samuel and Owen love bathtime together.  They can get a little out of control, and there is always a small squabble or two, but for sharing such a small space with limited things to do, I am always impressed with how well they get along in there and for how long.  But that doesn't stop them from enjoying the rare occasion when they get the tub to themselves. 

Samuel is such a fish.  We have to remind him often that the tub is not a pool.  He has zero inhibitions about diving, rolling around, and counting how long he can hold his breath.

Owen is a little more timid about the water, and is just recently starting to put his face in and lie all the way back on his own.  One afternoon while Sam was at a friend's and Emmett was napping, Owen played in that tub for an hour!!  I finally dragged him out, afraid he might dissolve if I left him much longer.  O would've stayed in there all day if I let him.