Nathan's started walking (and climbing some more)

My little baby boy started walking last week! I love when they first start walking and they have their little fists straight up in the air trying to keep their balance. He's so proud of himself! And having a houseful to cheer him on doesn't hurt his ego either...

He's loving to flush the toilet and unroll the toilet paper and he's getting himself into some curious places...

I did NOT put him here, he opened the drawer and climbed in himself.

Nathan is Gracie's partner-in-crime...

Speaking of Gracie, my sweet little angel-faced baby girl... she's been mrs. sticky-fingers lately when it comes to candy. I have a stash of candy in my dresser drawer that is probably 2 years old and Gracie has found it. A few days ago, I found her with about 6 fun-dips stuck under her pillow with a pair of scissors to open them at a later time. I put them back and explained to her in my mommy voice that it was not OK to take things that aren't hers and told her not to do it again. "OK, mommy"- famous last words... and so at naptime the next day, as I came up to tuck her in, she was looking VERY guilty. Yep, the same candy was stuck under her pillow again along with the same pair of scissors. I did the same routine and tried to convince her that it was not in her best interest to take things from other people. Did you ever try to reason with a 3-year-old? In her mind, I'm sure it went something like this... "if I can just endure mommy's speech for a bit longer, I can sneak back into her room and grab them and maybe I can just be a little faster about getting them open this time..."

So, the third offense was when she was supposed to be sitting on her bed for her bad attitude and refusal to apologize to her friend. She obviously snuck out of bed and made it back, but the wrappers were still unopened. By now, most parents would just throw the candy away to be sure she can't get them again, but I know by now after 4 kids who were all this age, that it would be defeating my purpose (to train her to obey and use her self-control). One thing that I have learned during parenting is that the "cat" has to be smarter than the "mouse" (or at least more creative). So, I set my mousetraps. Yeah, that's right REAL mousetraps... strategically set up around the candy in the drawer. It wasn't so much to hurt her, but just scare her from going in the drawer. I was actually hoping it wouldn't catch her fingers, but things don't always work as I planned. In fact, the next morning Caleb was the one to find the candy under her pillow once again. I was dumbfounded! How did she get the candy?? I checked the drawer and both of the mousetraps were still set! I couldn't believe she'd be that careful just to get candy that she wasn't even going to open... I can't even set the things without them going off on my own fingers... I wanted to see how she did it, so I had her put the candy back herself just to see, and she did. She reached right over the traps as if they weren't there and put the candy back!!

For the past week and all through this incident, Grace has had a progressively bad (and getting worse) attitude. This was not really a candy issue, but a "are you really going to make me obey you?" attitude and it manifested itself in taking the candy. I believe I have found the solution. She hasn't touched the candy for the last day and a half and has a GREAT attitude!! I will try to explain in a future blog, but for now, I have to cook dinner :) ta, ta, for now!!

The big 3-8

That's right, Paul turned 38 last weekend!! Although he looks much younger sporting his new laptop backpack...
I love you, Paul. Thanks for sharing the last 11 and a half years of your life with me!!

Cousin Levi's birthday

Levi, Paul's nephew, had his first birthday party yesterday!! We really enjoy getting together with the family and seeing the babies together. We, once again, took their "look how they've grown" pic. Grandma and Grandpa bought them matching outfits just for the picture. Each on is very mobile now, so it's getting harder to get them so sit still for pictures together.

Levi, Jay and Nathan

Grandma Connie, Grandpa Les
Jay, Levi and Nathan

Grandma and Grandpa with all of the grandkids.

ALOHA!

This weekend, we had a surprise Luau for my parent's 50th wedding Anniversary. 50 Years!!! Wow, do you realize how few people actually make it to 50 years together anymore? I admire my parents for that and they have been a wonderful example for me.

My dad is not so keen on parties, so it had to be a surprise... and it sure was!! My parent's were expecting to go out to dinner with my brother Bryan and his wife. The luau was all set up at my sister's house, so Bryan drove to her house to "drop off Sydney (his daughter) for my sister to babysit". The driveway had luau signs by the street and cars lining the driveway, so by the time they drove the quarter mile to the back of the house, they knew something was up. They were greeted with a "Congratualtions Harold and Betty" sign. We had to practically pry my dad out of the car with a crowbar, but once he made the grand entrance, I think he felt at home with all of the family and friends.

My sister gets all the credit as the master mind behind the planning. She did a great job and worked hard at it.

Tiki torches, good food, and Luau music... put it all together and you get a very fun and memorable night!

Nathan's First Birthday

Nathan's First Birthday was on the 16th of this month. I can't believe my baby is a year old already! We celebrated Caleb and Nathan's birthday together with family earlier in the month. He got to dig into his own mini cake (made with whole wheat flour and sucanat instead of white sugar... yeah, I know I'm weird) and loved it of course. Good to the last crumb!

For his actual birthday, Paul took a half day at work and we met him for a picnic lunch. The kids love meeting daddy for lunch at a park and it makes daddy feel like he can be part of their special day. We usually bring some sort of dessert that we can stick candles into and sing "Happy Birthday". I brought cinnamon rolls, but forgot the candle, so we improvised with a used lollypop stick from one of the kids. (Believe me, until he's old enough to read this blog, he'll never know the difference). We told him to blow and he did, though there wasn't much of a flame to blow out and he gnawed away on his roll.

After lunch, we went to the Dupage Children's Museum in downtown Naperville. I hadn't been there since Caleb and Seth were little, and I had forgotten how much fun it was. Penny pincher that I am, all of the kids got in for free via some coupons that we received with a summer reading program. I am still amazed that they actually charge for the adult to get into a children's museum. Duh, like they'd let any kid in without a parent?? Ahh, well, I guess I played as much as any of the kids, so fair is fair...