Whole-Nighter

Kids.

I wish that I could say that I remember when I had the desire to stay up all night...pull an all-nighter...complete with TV and snacks.

But I don't.

In fact, when I think back on those almost all-nighters that I did in college, I want to throw up.  

Because I remember the feeling of too much caffeine and not enough sleep...combined with the last-minute writing of some paper that was due by 8:00 in the morning.

Yuck.

Carrie and William's last request before school started up this week was to have an all-nighter.  Of course, since Joshua knew that kindergarten was in his future, he jumped on board the "big boy" bus and went along for the ride.  And would you be surprised if I told you that Matthew claimed his "big boyness" too?

So we decided that last Friday night would be the night.

A good night since there was nothing going on during the day on Saturday.

This would be the last chance since school would begin on Monday.

We took an afternoon trip (skipping Matthew's nap and Joshua's rest time was my way of guaranteeing that the littles would get some sleep) to Walmart to get snacks.  They were told that they could each choose one to share, so they huddled in the middle aisle and coordinated their salty and sweet attack.  The Mt. Dew was on me.

Here is what they chose....

Carrie:  Taco Chips and Cheese

William:  Ice Cream and Hershey's Chocolate

Joshua:  Double Stuff Oreos

Matthew:  Mint Oreos

We opened Matthew's Oreos early, because I knew that he would be asking for his bed and a "nice book" early on in the "whole-nighter," as he called it.

And I was right.

Matthew was in bed by 9:30 PM.

Josh fell asleep on the couch at about 8:45 or so and slept until I took Matthew to bed.

Surprisingly, the report was that Josh made it until 1:30 AM.

I guess that "snappy nappy" was just what he needed!

I'm not sure what time William lost the battle, but when I got up at 5:30 to make Paul's lunch and start the coffee, Carrie had just closed her eyes.

This is what I found three hours later...

William had made his way to the comfort of his own bed.

Smart boy.

And Matthew?

He emerged from his bed bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

And looking for leftover Oreos!

This is how Matthew eats Oreos.

He spins the top off, gives me the half without the cream, and eats the "good side."

That's O.K.

They taste pretty good with coffee.

Mmmm...

Silly boy.

Silly Mommy.

Silly Charlie.

This is one of the kids' favorite things to do during the summer.

They tell me to get my coffee and sit on the front porch while they play.

It's a pretty good gig...except that this summer presented itself with so many hot, muggy mornings!

I'm a wimp when it comes to the heat, so I didn't accomplish much porch-sittin' this summer.

Ahhh...

Good morning, Sunshine!

I know, Matthew!  She is funny isn't she?

Carrie really isn't wanting to be out of "bed" so early, but one of Dad's requirements for pulling an all-nighter is that you don't sleep all day on Saturday.

Out of bed by 10:00 in order to be part of the family.

Joshua looks amazingly awake and refreshed!

I guess it's because his all-nighter wasn't as long as Carrie's.

The face of a boy who has joined the ranks of "Big Kid" and is proud of it!

Enjoying all-nighters (because I don't do them anymore!),

An Elephant's Memory

Facebook is a really fun thing.
I love getting on there and seeing what my family and friends are up to!
I especially love the shared laughter.
Funny things that the kids are saying.
Funny things that are happening to each of them.

Facebook is also a really easy thing.
I find it so easy to pop on there and post something.

The problem with it is that so much of what I post...the things that I want to remember the kids saying or doing...eventually scroll off my wall into the land of faded memory.

Blogging is tougher.
It takes more time, concentration, and creativity--most of which I feel like I never, ever have enough of.
But the payoff is so much greater!
I am able to save the moment and hold onto it forever.

I had to think about that this morning as I got ready to post something that the little boys had said yesterday.
I thought, "I really want to remember that they said that! I want them to know that they said that!"

So...here I am blogging after a long vacation from blogging.

I want to remember how innocent Matthew and Josh are right now.
How they say what they mean and they mean what they say.

Yesterday, Matthew decided how old I must be...or how young!
"Mommy is sixteen because she can drive a truck."

He knows that sixteen is the magical age, because Carrie is waiting patiently (sort of) for Paul and me to decide where she will be taking her driver's ed training.

He wasn't trying to flatter me.
Age means very little to him--except in terms of being a "big boy" rather than a baby.
But, nonetheless...it was very flattering.



Josh piped in.
"Mom can't be sixteen!"

"Yikes!" I'm thinking.

"Mom can't be sixteen because she is married!"

Good boy. :)



Did I mention that Josh is going to turn 6 years old on Sunday?
I get teary-eyed just thinking about that.
His entrance into the world was nothing short of miraculous.
And his presence in our lives has been nothing short of life-changing.

And speaking of life-changing...Joshua asked Jesus to be the Lord of his life on a Tuesday morning in July.
He will be baptized this Sunday...on his sixth birthday!
What could make a momma happier?

Nothing beats that.
Nothing at all.



Iced-coffee.
It has become something that Carrie and I look forward to on special occasions.
Like Saturday afternoons.
Or Monday mornings.
We found a homemade recipe that is "to-die-for!"
Here is what's left after the straining.
Imagine the fragrance of strong, black coffee filtering out of your computer screen right now.
Mmmmm...



Add yet another milestone in Joshua's short life...



That's right!
He lost his first tooth!

One more reason to smile!

Enjoying the simple things,

Ready or Not

Paul checks in with Josh every now and then.
"Are you ready to take the training wheels off yet?"
Friday afternoon Josh surprised us and said, "Yes!"

It was a very hot, very humid afternoon.
And it was sprinkling.

But, as Paul says, when the courage is there...go with it!
Now!

And off come the training wheels!




"Ready to hop on, Buddy?"




You can see in the next few pictures Paul giving Josh careful instruction and advice. I've never been close enough before to hear Paul teach the kids how to ride a bike.




He doesn't think he's patient...but he is.





He doesn't see that what he says is any big deal...but it is.






He doesn't think that what he does is all that special...but it is.





And look at the smile on his face as he watches his third trainee take to the driveway with no training wheels!



Not to mention the look of accomplishment on this precious face!

Paul told Josh on Friday afternoon that all he needed was lots of practice, so...with sweat soaking his hair and dripping down his face, he practiced and practiced after the rain on Saturday afternoon. By the time Carrie and William arrived home from camp on Sunday, he looked as if he had been riding for years.




A noble man with his trusty steed...






And here is what lot of practice will get you...





What's that, Matty?
Is it your turn?!
"Peeeeeese?"





Alright, Matty.
You can have a turn with Daddy now.




Enjoying the Journey,

Eighteen Months and Counting

When we got home from piano lessons last Wednesday, I realized what a gloriously beautiful day it was in our part of the country!

On top of it being so pretty outside, it just happened that Matthew turned 18 months old!

Hence...the recurring theme of my life...

"WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?!"

It was almost 12:30.
The kids were hungry.
I was hungry.
The thought went through my mind, "I need to take some pictures of Matthew...later. Later, after lunch. Or maybe later after nap."

Then another thought..."Don't wait!! Time certainly isn't waiting!"

So, doing something that I don't seem to be doing much of lately, I seized the moment...



Yes, he does have something in his wet, drooly little mouth.
I did bribe him with candy corn to make him sit "still" for pictures.











Hey, is that candy corn on the pumpkin?



Yep.









Maybe this will encourage me to do more than just survive.
Maybe I will join the ranks of those who really proclaim "Carpe Diem!"