Homemade toys

I definitely wouldn't consider myself a crafty person, but the boys (and the rain) are challenging me to be more creative these days. Calvin has been begging for some yarn to use in crafts. We bought some, but now what? Hmmm.....we tried making a necklace yesterday.

Here was the 4-year-old braiding process. Now if he can just get "right" and "left" down, it will be really simple. He says "right to the middle, left to the middle, etc." but he doesn't know right from left. Soon enough.

I also rigged up this rattle for Jack...I mean Luke. The beans make it really loud, so of course Jack loves it!

When Dan comes home, these attempts to entertain are not necessary. The boys shift into a super content and happy gear. These videos were both taken while I was tutoring last night. Love to see these  happy naked boys when I come down stairs!

Mu-Zay-Um

It was cold and rainy today, so we (and the rest of Durham) took the boys to the museum...or mu-zay-um if you are Calvin. I loved getting to enjoy the boys more with Dan there. Fun to just watch them play instead of corral.

Luke loved these KEVA and Lego tile blocks...or maybe just the opportunity to be out of the carrier...a rarity at the museum.

I've been plotting how to create a space for a lego wall in our house....Jack would be in heaven!

Cal would be, too. He was pretty proud of this "rocket ship."  He counted all 29 floors...that's if you count: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29!

Naked Running

I can't remember how getting naked was first associated with going on a run, but it is now a necessity for the boys. Pure fun....except when Jack wants to be the leader and Calvin passes him...which is all the time this week. Here was a purely fun minute of naked running with no vying for position.

My favorite is Jack's pumping left arm and stationary right arm...established when he was just a little bruiser! 

And their little naked bodies, of course!

The chatter surrounding these runs is quite entertaining as well. Calvin will ask Jack to "meet him at the bridge" when they first start. My friend Zoe is and I meet at the neighborhood bridge to run, so they think everyone has to do that, I guess.

Crafty Obsession

Calvin has spent at least 4 hours at the table cutting and pasting this week. It is getting a little concerning. He has blown through 6 glue sticks...

Jack has gotten in on the action a bit, too. He loves it, just not to the same level.  I think he'd be just as happy with a stick of disappearing purple glue and a piece of blank paper, though. 

We now have about 25 of these foam people littering....I mean enhancing the decor....of our house. Actually, they are pretty sweet. Calvin and Jack are sleeping with them, and Luke likes the ones that the boys are willing to share.

Jack has a new interest himself...this truck puzzle. He wants put it together multiple times a day.

For this picture of his work, he decided that he needed to stand "over he-yar." Ok, buddy. Love that little guy.

Luke's new trick is being a bit mobile. I'm still not quite sure how he accomplishes it, but he's been scooting from his little blanket in the living room to the dining room and pinning himself in the chairs.

Snuggle

Though I was not happy that Luke wouldn't sleep at 11:00 last night, this sure was like gold....


















Today in the car we looked back to find this. We love those boys and it melts my heart to see them being sweet to each other.

Booga-Booga-Booga!

Luke is pretty easy to get laughing these days. A tickle is a sure bet, waving fingers while he's nursing has got a pretty good chance, and apparently "boogas" from across the table is a winner as well!  

We had a super bowl party, and Calvin and Jack loved it. This song capped on the night before bed. We called the event a football party.  Shortly after our friends left, Calvin was asking for a hockey party. I think he's just going to go down the list. According to this song, Jack might prefer a baseball party.

Luke arms

Luke flails his arms when he is happy. Which includes anytime he sees Jack, Cal, or Dan after being apart. Or anytime he receives direct attention. And often just because he really likes the toy he is playing with while alone on the blanket. Such a joy! Here is a play-by-play of Luke getting excited while watching Jack play.

These happy moments were slightly tempered while Luke was cutting his first 2 teeth this week, but not much. Such a little joy!

A little glimpse

I was going to say a little glimpse into the chaos, but it really wasn't.  Amanda's visit with Mac, Corrie, and Davey was just sweet. Mac was sweet. Corrie was sweet. Calvin was sweet. Jack was sweet. And Luke and Davey (of course!) were sweet.  And of course my time with Amanda was sweet. Our time together was everything we might have expected....lots of food prep, mediation, and clean-up.  But it was refreshing. Somehow restful and encouraging.

I know that this is the Lord. He gave us a gift and showed all of us a little glimpse of Himself in our time together....peace, though there is so much to suggest we should feel otherwise.  Though there was much screeching, crying, and misbehaving, I think every person felt loved.  Yes, the adults, but the kids as well. Calvin and Mac, as the oldest held Corrie's hand leading her to the garage to put her shoes on. Mac shared his treasured blue trash can toys and gave everyone else rides on the car. Corrie and Jack were just generally happy....Corrie excitedly waving her hands with all the fun activity, and Jack doing his little happy hop/dance.

 I am so thankful for our friends and our time together.

Amanda and I were talking about how complicated it was for us to do something like go to the park or a walk at Duke Forest when it was only Calvin and Mac (both tucked away in carriers.)  It felt complicated then and now....in a fun way.

Dan had some extra weight to tow around getting the mail the other day when he got home from work.

5 bedroom house

Dan has started the process of applying for fellowship programs for when he finishes his residency in about a year and a half. The cramped living arrangements in a few of the potential places have made me wonder if the our boys would ever sleep well again, but this visit with my friend Amanda and her 3 kids is giving me hope. 

Between the two of us, we have 6 kids (Calvin 4, Mac 3, Jack 2, Corrie 2, Luke 8 mo, and Davey 6 weeks).  Yesterday during nap time, all 6 slept! I am actually just counting this as a gift. I would call 4/6 victory...especially if a few key players were included in the 4...uh-hum Jack) Here is how it has worked so far...

Jack in his room

Mac in Luke's/guest room

Corrie in laundry room

Calvin in my room

Luke in my closet

Davey with Amanda/Luke's crib

Maybe the key factor in all of this is having the kids exhausted from playing. Today we played at the museum...

Last night, Dan took a turn showing off (I mean helping) with the kids. 

After Dan graduates, I'm thinking we might be able to list our house as a 5 bedroom instead of 3. Really, given the amount of time Luke and Jack spent in a drawer in the master bathroom, maybe even 6!

Dunkin Donuts

We needed to get out this morning...or maybe I just needed to. Hockey joined us for the treat, which made it even better! Calvin ate through a whole donut in 2 minutes. Jack savored his and got chocolate all over his face. Though I have given Luke nearly every food off my plate, I decided against the donut. I'd like him to remain excited about pears and apricots for a little while longer...