This kid is bouncing around the house with excitement for school to be over.
Hannah… not so much… but maybe after her hard day of getting punched in the stomach and hit in the face, she’ll look forward to summer break more.
Me – I’m excited. Yes, it’s hard in it’s own way… but I’m ready for no homework, no packed lunches, no rushing to the bus. Plus, I’ll have my 2 best helpers home.
It was quite a week for Max and Tru… lots of ups and downs. Mostly we’re all trying to work with Tru so he won’t hit everyone he walks by. He’s also really good at pinching and biting. I’ve never had a child who does such things with regularity. Sigh… He will learn… hopefully. Luckily he has a lot of good things going for him, so we still love him to pieces. We appreciate the hugs and loves he briefly shares.
But – on the up-n-up…
Animals! We put all our tiny waterproof animals in with the bath toys. Tru’s favorites… the elephant, the cow, the zebra, and the panda… all black-n-white animals. He also likes “Melmo”. They boys had fun lining all the animals up for a photo. Bathtime is generally one of the happiest times of the day for Tru. He loves the water… and splashing.
Bubbles! When it warmed up we headed outside to blow some bubbles. Max and Tru squealed with delight over the flying, sparkly bubbles. Tru just spilled his quickly, of course (stubborn baby who refuses help!). But Max did well and is finally able to blow the bubbles.
The Phone! Max and Tru love to talk with people on the phone. Mostly Tru listens and waves. Max sometimes goes on and on and on to Jimmy about the happenings of the day. Jimmy never knows the context so I translate for Max. He gets very serious facial expressions when speaking. I think in this photo he was telling Jimmy about the bees outside when we watered the flowers.
The top of the Fridge! Silly photo… but we are building quite the stash of weapons on top of the fridge. Anything that becomes a consistent weapon that the boys don’t control well, ends up there. We’ve got a noodle light saber, a toy light saber, a yo-yo, and a plastic elephant. Sometimes things end up there because the boys are fighting over it, but all of these were weapons of some sort. Sigh… boys!
Quiet Time! Max and Tru are funny about nap and quiet time. Max knows he’ll get a cup of hot chocolate and a snack so he asks to go to quiet time frequently. Tru asks to take a nap really early some days. This photo of Max and his blanket on the couch was during a relaxed quiet time when I let him watch a movie (so I could take a real nap!). Doesn’t he look happy!?
~ It’s the most exciting day of the week for Tru – Garbage & Recycle day. He wants the window open. It’s freezing cold … like 30 degrees cold. There is a touch of snow on the ground. The birds are singing. The tulips are so close to blooming.
~ Abe couldn’t contain his excitement for his field trip to Hogle Zoo today. Though it’s sunny, the high is only 55. He wore sunglasses, a winter hat, gloves, and coat. Welcome to Spring in Utah!
~ This is what happens when you ask Hannah to clear the table after a pizza party. That soda is safe and secure and very much so labeled!
~ Have I mentioned that Tru loves dish gloves? One day he got them both on and went straight to the piano. I’m not sure that’s the best technique… but funny.
~ When Hannah loves a dinner she says, “I wish I could take a picture of this, it looks so good.” And sometimes she does take a photo. Maybe we should have taco soup in homemade bread bowls for supper. Yummy on this chilly day.
~ My sweet friend Diana mailed me this hat. Isn’t it fun?! This was me all winter… raggy hair… not much makeup… trying to feel well in this pregnancy. A happy hat helps.
~ Don’t want to leave Max out of this post.
~ Hannah loves MILK. I love that she can pour her own drinks.
Truman was so busy playing basketball that he almost missed the garbage truck this morning. No worries – he made it just in time to see it across the street. Phew! He is a very busy baby with lots to do.
I have to give little Tru credit for doing a superb job going to nursery today. He did really well and only cried at the very end when all the parents were picking up but dad wasn’t there yet. I hope, hope, hope he continues to like it and he won’t start having withdrawls from mom/dad. He’s such a cute little bug.
This photo is just funny to me though it doesn’t really describe the rest of this post about our family. I came home from my primary meeting this afternoon to this… Boys watching Night at the Museum (super Sunday movie! NOT!), popcorn, Max with his backpack, and Tru wanting goggles on. Too funny.
What I really wanted to mention was the sweet hearts my kids had today. Children are so pure and good (a bazillion times better than I am as their rotten grouchy mother on some days!).
During Sacrament Meeting Hannah wrote down her testimony in cursive and wanted to go up to share it. She decided in the end that she was too nervous to be up in front of everyone so I told her we could have a family testimony meeting. She liked that idea.
During Sharing Time, our Primary president was doing a lesson about Jesus as our Savior… and used an example of being covered in muddy dirt… and then being washed clean with water. After, I looked over at Abe and he looked like he was going to cry. I summoned him over to me to make sure he was okay. I wondered if the boy next to him had hurt him… or if he had gotten in trouble for something. Instead, he said that he was just so happy and had tears in his eyes. Later we talked about how the Holy Ghost testified to him that what he was learning about Jesus was true. It was about the sweetest thing to see him so touched and emotional… a big change from the struggle he’s had the past month.
Later during a short FHE, we had a testimony meeting with the fam. It is so neat to hear each other say the things we know are true. Abe wanted help to feel more confident but ended up saying most of it and doing a great job. He had little tears in his eyes. Cute. Hannah had practiced hers since she had written it out. It’s so neat to see kid’s grow in their love of God. She gets extra teary when I am teary saying my testimony. Then we gave Max a turn. He just plunged right in and said, “Testimony. Jesus Died.”… and then we helped him from there. We learned today in a primary song about Jesus dying so we could live again. Even his 3-year-old heart and mind were touched in Primary. So good.
Anyhoo… just wanted to acknowledge the good things my tots are doing. So much of the day I am hounding them about all the little things they need to correct. I need to step back and see the Good they feel and do.
I was looking at photos from April and thought we had some classic shots of the kid’s talents:
~ Hannah learned to blow bubbles with gum this month.
~ Tru has a long tongue that does lots of tricks.
~ Abe came home from school and was pleased as punch that he could put his foot behind his head. And he thinks his only talent is playing the wii!
~ Cross-eyed Hannah who wasn’t to be outdone by Abe’s leg behind the head talent.
~ Hannah hanging upside down. I think we have a family of monkeys!
~ Tru and Max making cookies by themselves?
~ Max sure enjoys playing ball. He’s awesome at making cool facial expressions.
~ Abe’s Art Week Painting titled “Going on a walk”. Mom, dad, and Abe. I LOVE it!!!
~ Here’s a video of Max and Truman sharing their talent to Rrrroarrrr like a lion:
Good work on the talents kids! Keep ’em coming.
Our friends the Haynies told us how they would have a short talent spot every week at FHE which gave each child a time to shine. They would recite poems, tell a joke, do a handstand, spin around, tell something they learned at school, etc. I love that idea. It would help our kids realize that they do lots of little things well and that talents aren’t just about music/sports/dancing, etc.
Little Truman celebrated being alive 18 months by attending a well-check at the doc’s. Oh JOY for him! He wasn’t pleased with the 4 shots or the doc poking around. He did enjoy the sucker and long nap afterwards.
We keep thinking that Truman is getting chubby, but his stats would indicate otherwise:
Length: 34″ = 90%
Weight: 23.4 lbs = 10%
Head Circ: 48 cm = 50%
He is a healthy eater and loves his green veggies. I love watching him snarf down a healthy supper. He also loves ‘Tandy’ though.
I planned on trimming Tru’s hair and attempting a nice photo shoot. That wasn’t happenin’ today. He woke up with a huge scratch on his forehead (trimmed nails – Check!). He also has a large healing wound on his chin from a mishap with the rocking chair over Conference weekend. So, here’s cute Tru as his 18-month self. I love the look on his face. It’s a common one. He loves to throw the ball down from the swing set.
This one should be titled, “The Boy On a Mission”. I love the determined look on his face and evident in his body language when running.
Here’s his 4-step mission.
1. Retrieve mini lacrosse stick.
2. Run to garden to dig in the dirt. Realize it’s not working too swell.
3. Run back to get a different tool.
4. Put the lacrosse stick back in the toy box.
Tru will get to experience Nursery on Sunday. I hope he loves it! I’m sure Jimmy hopes so too as he’s the one who has to wander halls for 2 hours while I’m in Primary.
A few notes about Tru:
~ has a great vocabulary. We’re surprised how many words Tru knows. Our other boys haven’t been big talkers. I still think Tru might take after those great orators with the same names… Gerald (my dad) and Truman Madsen.
~ is so cute when he has to say sorry to Max. He gives a huge and sincere hug.
~ loves wearing dish gloves.
~ adores his daddy.
~ It’s an understatement to say he LOVES playing outside.
~ has hazelish-grey eyes
~ likes Super Why!
~ sucks on his tag on his blankie… stinks to high-heaven, but he loves that thing.
We love Truman!
1. It’s garbage day! Which means this truck drives by twice… once on each side of the street.
And every other week we get the recycle truck too. It’s a pure delight for Truman.
He spends most of Wednesday mornings perched at the window on his tippy toes (or on my lap)
waiting for the trucks to drive by. If we’re upstairs he keeps his ears open listening for trucks
and then he runs to the window when he hears one.
2. It’s pizza day for school lunch.
We always know we don’t have to make home lunches (yay!).
And the kids love having pizza at school.
I haven’t been very diligent at recording family and kid life the past … oh… like 3 months. I keep thinking I’ll start way back when and catch up… but sigh… my energy runs low. So, we’ll just plug along and keep trying to record those moments of delight.
Today is a letter writing day…
Dear Truman…
You enjoyed today. After all, you got to play outside in the sunshine and being “side” makes you glad. Your delight is evident when you are pushed on the swing… we hear those cute squeals. You especially love when Abe pushes you because he does all sorts of silly things to make you laugh.
I do need to apologize, Tru, for the toy box episode. I heard you yelping for help from across the yard. I came running and found you head first in the toy box, feeling quite trapped. Having my camera readily available I squeezed in a quickie photo before I rescued you. It was way too cute and I knew you’d be okay. And you were.
As for the dirt pile… I’m not sure what to do about this. We have a wee little patch of dirt in our garden box and you gravitate to it constantly. You love to throw dirt, put dirt in a bucket, draw with a stick in the dirt. I’m not sure whether to embrace it and let you have fun and then put you in the bath… or ban this activity all together. I’m not sure our garden seeds would fare very well with you digging them up though. Can’t you just like grass?
Now, Tru… it must be noted that you are such a funny eater. This is a good thing. It just baffles me because the other kids didn’t enjoy all the same foods as you do. For example, you love tomatoes. Tonight for dinner we cut up half the tomato for you to snack on. You gobbled it up in a moment, and then started grabbing the sliced ones meant for hamburgers. Then you gobbled up pickles… and hot dogs… and grapes… and “beer” (root beer, that is). Yes, I’m sorry that at age 1 you know and love all those foods. This is what happens when you are child #4. You get all the goods. As for all the “tandy” you ate today at the grocery store… I’m glad it kept you happy, but we may have to ban that along with the dirt.
Do you see how cute you are Truman? We love every bit of you.
Love, love, love you! Mom
Do you see this … the current weather conditions? Yes, we’ll take it. I looked at the outside thermostat and got the boys ready pronto (pronto=30 minutes later). We headed outside to enjoy some sunshine. Tru was beyond delighted. Max was excited until he decided “I cold”… and “There’s snakes” (which really turned out to be dried up worms… ha-ha!). In the end… the boys found the one teeny tiny dirt spot in the flower bed and had a fun time digging in the dirt with sticks. They laughed and laughed and laughed and got very dirty. Boys! Alas… no photos because I forgot my camera and I was trying to be an attentive mother and not leave them in the front yard alone. But… my mind took a photo of boys in brightly colored clothes and hats laughing and having a wonderful time in the sunshine and dirt. Today we’re attempting to REJOICE in the simple and delightful.