A Hogwart's Celebration

Our precious Lydia has turned eight! She is always full to the brim with fun ideas for parties, but the poor girl got a mom who doesn't let her throw them often enough! So I decided to let her have free reign with this one, and she chose a Harry Potter theme. My sister Lydia made this darling invitation (she is REALLY REALLY good, and her prices are so reasonable! It was very easy and convenient, which is a big deal to me. Check out her blog--cute ideas for baby/wedding/b-day announcements, calendars, etc.), and Lydia and I planned activities around the different Hogwarts classes. The were "sorted" into houses, then attended "Charms" (making charm bracelets and necklaces for the pets) . . . "Transfiguration" (crazy monster drawings below) . . .

. . . "Potions" (making fruit smoothies), and "Defense Against the Dark Arts" (watching Harry Potter & the Prizoner of Azkaban). What a fun night! The best part was that I actually felt like a fun mom because Seth took all three other kids almost the whole time. Bless him!The girls sure seemed to have a fun time. Lyd has been very blessed with some sweet friends in this neighborhood! This silly video clip is of all the girls holding their "wands" (sticks fallen from my neighbor's tree) and their "pets."

Rock 'n' Roll Boy!

I've had some requests for more pictures of Gabe. He's such a good little guy that sometimes he gets put on the back burner. Woah, not literally! Although with my scattered brain, I wouldn't be surprised!

This video is a month old, but it shows how good he is at swinging those heavy braces around. Listen to the thump--those things REALLY HURT if he nails you!

For the past 2 weeks we've been able to take his braces off during the morning and evening so he can practice crawling. He can do a mean army pushup, and he is really good at crawling backwards. That is, he crawls, but somehow ends up a foot or two farther back than he started.

Towers of TP

Usually when I take a shower, the kids take turns running in hollering, "He hit me!" or "She won't share!" So imagine my relief when I hopped out this morning to sounds of laughter and squeals. I heard, "1-2-3-4-5-6-7! Aaaaaaahhhh!" I was naturally curious, and peeked my head out. There in the hall, Jacob and Eleni were building towers of toilet paper from the new 24-pack I bought yesterday, then knocking the towers down the stairs. Hey, at least tp can't knock holes into the wall like other things they've tried!

A Sword and a Shielt

Jacob celebrated his 4-year-old birthday this month, and was more than thrilled to get as a present his request for a "sword and a shielt." He has gone around all week saying he is Edmund (from Chronicles of Narnia). Gabe is Peter, Lydia is Susan, and Eleni is Lucy. He has no helmet, so he uses either a laundry basket or a diaper box. Picture that with his tiny head!

We just love that boy--he definitely is the one who makes us laugh the most, with his big eyes, his cute Michael Phelps-ish lisp and his dramatic way of expressing himself! His expressions are just . . . BIG. He gets really excited when he tells you things. Here's a conversation we had a while back:

Jacob at the counter as I’m making him a PBJ:
“Mommy, do you know who my imag-erry friend is?” Mom: “No. Who is it?”
Jacob: “It’s kind of like Jesus. It’s Heavenly Father!!”
Mom: “Really?”
Jacob: “Yeah, and Madi’s who lives next door, her imag-erry friend is Jesus.” Mom: “Wow! I’ll bet Heavenly Father loves being your imaginary friend. And you can talk to him when you say your prayers, ?” Jacob: “Yup.”
Mom: “And what do you do with him?”
Jacob: “Ummmm . . . . don’t know. And maybe I’ll even play football with him!”

Jacob's favorites:

Swords, shields ("shielts"), armor, "racecar" (Lightning McQueen), Thomas the Engine, Gabe ("I just want to hug him!!" every time I'm trying to get him to sleep), playing with his sisters, looking for "shielts" in the picture Book of Mormon instead of listening to the stories, hiking with Daddy, going to basketball games or swimming with Daddy, tools, building things with Daddy, order (he is amazing at organizing things--you should see the silverware drawer when he is through with it--he's borderline OCD . . . ) Primary, playing outside, baking with Mom, and making Gabe laugh, as you'll see in this video.

Artwork by Eleni

My precious Eleni. I just have to love that girl! Two days ago, Gabe was fussing in his crib, so I thought I'd finish up the dishes, then go and get him. Eleni went in to "check on him," and a minute later Jacob went in too. He came running out, shouting "Mommy, you have to see Gabe! He looks really bad." "Oh no! Is he sick? What's wrong?" "I don't know. You have to see him. Something is wrong with his face!" I went running in, and there was Gabe, with a ball-point pen lying next to him.And Eleni was the culprit. I had a very serious talk with her (she just barely missed his eye!), and she said, "I sorry, Mommy. I make a bad choice." No kidding! And yesterday she "weah yo gasses" (wore my glasses) and completely bent them up. Luckily the eye doctor fixed them for me. If she didn't do naughty things in such a sweet, cute way . . .

This is a rare picture of Lyd with her hair not in her eyes . . . I have memories of my mom coming at me with hairspray--"just let me spray a little bit on those bangs--they keep falling in your eyes!" Well, it's payback time, because Lydia spends most of her life looking at you like Cousin It. She really is a beauty underneath all that hair! :)

I was really proud of Jacob--he did his own hair, all by himself! And he can't pose without putting his hands somewhere near his face.

When you're the best of friends . . .

I have worried in the past about my kids getting along together. There's a big old gap between Lydia and Jacob, and almost none at all between Jacob & Ellers. But ever since Gabe was born, they have all suddenly become the best of pals, and I am so grateful! That's not to say that they don't squabble plenty . . . This is an idea I stole from my sister Lou--lunch in a muffin tin, and it has been a big hit. And we're having a "picnic" on Mommy's bed because it was too cold outside and Gabe was sleeping.

Eleni wakes up at the crack of dawn, every single day, and is hungry. She eats with Lydia before school (this is her waiting at the counter--"Mommy, I HUNNNGY!). She eats again whenever Jacob wakes up. And by the time I get around to eating breakfast, she says, "I sit by yooo!" meaning she wants to eat my breakfast as well. Like her mother, food is definitely her comfort!

Jacob got a big kick out of Eleni's hair. Now I have to do it every time we wash it.

Lydia is my best helper! Without being asked, she'll pick up a crying Gabriel, put her feet on his bar, and "fly" him in the air . . . until he spits up on her. Then she's done being a helper, because--ew, Mommy, that is sick!

Hold to the rod--if you can!

Seth loves a challenge. When Jacob was a baby, Seth would balance him on his feet in one hand. Gabe, with his bow-legs, is a lot tougher to balance. But both Gabe and Seth are getting pretty good! Gabe is fine--he doesn't fall, in case any of you are worried about watching this, although sometimes it does make me a bit nervous.