Revisions.

This morning I asked Ashley to recount to me her conversation with Coleman in the car. Just making sure I had gotten it right.

She said, " I told him that he would have to marry a girl." I then probe, "and then what."

To which she replied, " and the woman would have babies and he would be a dad."

The way she said woman made me nearly laugh out loud. Pretty sure I've never heard her use that word like that.

Visitors.

We had visitors from Sioux Falls. Actually some still live in Sioux Falls (Sherri and Dave Bair), another in Ohio - Molly, with her new baby Lexie (Dave and Sherri's daughter), and Kelsie and Rosie (2 other daughters) and Brandon, Rosie's husband, live in Rexburg. It was a surprise visit and it made my entire day. maybe week. it was great.

and I didn't take a single photo.

I have seriously kicked myself over and over again for this one. What was I thinking?? I was sure enjoying the moment I guess. Visiting and snuggling miss lexie. But AHHH, a photo would have been nice.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by! Y'all are the best. And you guys in Rexburg, we promise to call you more often!

Tidbits.

Coleman told my mom a few days ago " I gonna run away from preschool". Um, where did this come from? Let's hope he doesn't revisit that thought.



When I picked him up on Monday, "that weird girl is still in my class mom". Coleman, we don't call people weird, that is not nice. "Mom, she a girl and I a boy and I not like girls any more." I continue to talk with him about how he does too like girls - his sister, and such. I also tell him how we love everyone and treat everyone nicely. Not sure where the "weird" came from. I am hoping it was just a word he used because he is into this girl and boy thing and please oh please lets hope he only uses that word around me.



Coleman and Ashley in the backseat.

Cole: I not yike girls anymore.

Ashley: Yes you do. Mom is a girl.

Cole: No she not. Mom is mom.

Ashley: And she is a girl.

Cole: No, she a kim.

Ashley: well one day you will marry a girl.

Cole: uh uh.

Ashley: yes you will and she will have babies and then you will be a dad.

Transitioning

Yesterday when it was time to get ready for school.

Mom: Coleman, let's get ready for school.

Coleman: i'm gonna hide in a box.

Mom: you're what?

Coleman: I'm gonna hide in a box then my teachers not fine me.

Mom: Coleman, that is not nice. School is going to be fun.

He allows me to get him ready. I do his hair and he runs off while I do the other boys hair. WHen I am done I cannot find Coleman anywhere. I instantly go downstairs and check "the boxes" (Josh brought home 2 computer server boxes that were quite the hit). He is not in them.

I finally find him - in Ashley's room with the door locked.

Mom: knocks on the door and says Coleman, time to come out. Its time to go to school.

Coleman: in a minute. i playing right now.

I use the key, unlock the door and we head to the van.

I am sad. I so want him to LOVE it. And I know it will take time, but I just am not wanting to be patient about that. He cries as I leave him. I'm feeling just a teensy bit like a mean mama.

Today:

He is way tired (up lots in the night) and I am thinking it is going to be a horrible day! But, he eats all his breakfast, gets dressed without complaint, picks up his lunch box when it is time, and walks to the van. When we arrive to school he is a little hesitant. He grabs on to my hand and wants me to stay. He has 20 minutes of free time before school actually starts - some of the staff is supervising and there are some aides. They talk to him and call him by name, but this doesn't matter. I find him a good book and get him situated at a table and he looks up to me and says "bye mom."

no tears today. (until he sees me when I come to pick him up!)

I think we're going to make it and I think maybe, just maybe he is starting to like it.

Three Years Old.

Warning: proud mama writing here. Little bit of bias going on.

My baby is three. No longer really a baby I guess, although he will always be my baby. He is loved by all in this family. Everyone wants to sit by him, play with him talk to him. The big kids never appear jealous of him. They try their hardest to not laugh at him when he says silly things or things he shouldn't. They are so excited he is going to school and they want to hear all about his day as soon they see him. They feel sad when he is sick. They spend time with him. Play games he likes. Read to him. Ride bikes with him. Watch Barney with him. Try to make him happy when he is sad. It is really fun to see them care so much about him.

Coleman in turn loves them right back. When the big kids started school, he said to me, "I sad. I miss my buddies. They gone." When one of them is sad, he will look to me and say " why they sad? he my buddy."

He seems so grown up to me. I think it is because he talks so much better than any of my other kids did at this age. He talks in sentences and is easy to understand. His vocabulary is large and he grasps so many concepts already just by watching the big kids. He knows the ABS's, counts easily to 10, 20 with just a little help. He dresses himself, including socks & shoes. Buckles himself in his car seat. Memorizes books and songs like crazy. Knows how to pray and always wants it to be his turn. Already has a sense of humor. Seriously he already knows how to make us laugh. He will say things and use words like weird or crazy and you know he is listening to every word you say! He has the funniest facial expressions and gestures. I seriously could bear hug this kid constantly. And he is nice. On occasion he gets annoyed with the big kids and he will scream at them. Really scream. There are also times when he is not good at the sharing thing. But all in all, he is just a good little boy. I've never seen him be unkind to a friend. He may not mind all the time at home, but when he is with others he knows what he should do and the report I get is he does it.

His current favorites: (hyperlinked just in case you were curious)

airplanes, helicopters, and Hess Trucks

playing computer: Tonka Search and Rescue and Dora's Animal Adventure ( old games from his siblings that he LOVES)
books: There's a Nightmare in my Closet, various Dora books, A Mother for Choco
playing anything pretend with his sister usually per/owner, parent/baby, or school.


No words can adequately portray my feelings about him. I am sure I felt this way about my other kids, I just don't remember it as clearly. And unfortunately I wasn't good at writing in my journal. I also thinks it helps that he is the baby. There are no other babies taking my attention away from him. So I have time to notice and soak up every little thing I love about him. And there is a lot to love.

I thought I would be sad at the sight of him growing up. I thought I would never get over my longing to have newborns. I did not dream about having big kids like I dreamed about having babies. Caring for babies was cake for me. It was natural. I knew it was what I was destined to do. I will admit that I don't think I am as good at the big kid thing, but I am trying and along the way I am learning that there is a lot of fun to be had with my big kids. Coleman getting older means we can join in on some of the big kid fun. No one in diapers. No one has to be home for a nap. Attention spans are lengthening. Good times are awaiting me.

Preschool.

Coleman is going to preschool this year. I would like to say that I spent days and days researching where he should go, but I didn't. I served a boy in speech last year at Snake River Montessori School and loved the facility and staff. When I decided that Coleman should do preschool this year, that is the place I chose.

I did talk with the staff and have a tour and it didn't take much to sell me. I just love the whole Montessori philosophy.

On August 27 and 28 he had 2 short days there to just kind of get the feel for the place. I dropped him off. He shed some tears. My mom picked him up. School really started on Tuesday September 2. He helped pack his lunch ( I even let him have a character lunch box. big step for me) and was excited to go. When we arrived he said, " I just stay in car". I told him how great it was going to be and we headed inside. I helped him find his cubby so he could take off his jacket and put on his indoor shoes. He picked out his crate for his pillow and blanket to have during rest time. He picked out his spot for his lunch and then it was time for good-bye. His little lips start quivering, but his teacher took his hand and off he went. When I picked him up he was sitting at a table coloring with markers. He was fine. Until he saw me. He looked up at me and the lips started quivering. No tears. He said " you leaved me here". I said yes, but I came back just like I said I would. He continues to talk about it and say he likes it so I am hoping after a few more days he will get in the groove and love it as much as I thought he would. Unfortunately, he was sick the next 2 days, so we'll see how Monday goes. It shouldn't be totally ground zero, but it will be tough I bet. He has asked a few times if grandma can pick him up. I'm thinking he thinks its quicker when she picks him up. After all, when she picked him up he had only been there 1.5 hours, not 7!

Sick.

Coleman awoke Wednesday in the early am with a high fever. 102.5 to be exact. Poor little guy just looked pathetic. Good old dose of Motrin, some snuggling with mom and he was back to bed. I silently wished for a miracle. That he would awaken the next morning and be cured. No such luck. The fever was still there. He had no appetite. He just didn't feel good.

I stayed home with Coleman until noon when Josh and I switched so I could get to a few meetings I had at school. Coleman and I just snuggled on my bed all morning. Read stories. Watched Barney. Took a nap. Coleman slept for 2 hours. Luckily I came to after 45 minutes!

When he was awake, he would tell me " i have a fe-ber". When it was really bad, " i got two fe-bers". And when I asked him if he was feeling any better he looked at me and said, "my fe-bers are stuck. right here." (pointing to his forehead). Not sure if he had a headache or pointed there because that is how we take his temperature.

When I was done with school, and the big kids were home, Josh went back to work. Little Coleman went down for a nap at 2 and I finally woke him up at nearly 7! He was still tired, but the fever was gone. Yeah!

Do not celebrate prematurely. The fever departed and in its place has come a terrible sore throat that is still plaguing him today. in his words, " my mouth hurts". Doctor says its tonsillitis. Poor little guy hasn't eaten much of anything in 3 days. I hope recovery is on its way.

Not that this post needs to go on and on, but I must say just a bit about the visit to the dr. today. This kid melts my heart I tell you what. He just has the cutest expressions and the things he says. I really can't get enough of him. So, he is sitting on the floor playing with some toys when the nurse comes in to swab his throat for strep. If this had been Ashley, the cry/shriek would have begun as soon as she saw the stick. Justin would have already asked me a least 100 times if they were going to do it and would it hurt and of course there would be serious gagging from both of them. (mitchel has never had this done). But not little Coleman. I honestly sat in my chair in total amazement. He just opened his mouth as big as he could and sat perfectly still all the while she is scrubbing his lungs with that thing! I hate that thing. I mean could they cram that thing any further back? It hurts. It is gagging. I thought for sure when she left the tears would come. Nope. He just looked at me and said "that was yucky. That not feel good" And then it was back to playing. When the doctor came in and she asked what was wrong, he said "my mouth hurt." She asked if he wanted to get up on the table and he said, "no, not right now". Totally matter of fact. It made her laugh. He later did decide he would like to get on the table. He is a keeper.

in the not too distant future.

Preschool has begun, the kids are in full swing at school, Coleman turned 3 today, as well as some remaining end of summer details and Labor day details. But my friends, I am too tired to blog it. No, let me rephrase that. I could manage tonight, its just in the morning, I wouldn't be so happy :)

Not that I ever have more than a few comments from my famous crew of um 4, but just in case there are more readers than commenters (b/c commenting is hard? painful? time consuming?) I am just putting the word out that there will be some serious blogging going on this weekend. Prepare yourselves! and know that I am surviving my somewhat hectic yet totally fulfilling life.

Annual Smiley Creek Fly-In

On August 14, my dad took Justin and Mitchel on their second annual smiley creek camping trip.

Here are some of the highlights:

flying with grandaddy

landing on a grass strip just a mere 100 yards from the camping spot (a camping spot where you are not hearing the family in the next spot breathing)

campfires

ghost stories told by grandaddy

camping guests Daddy and uncle Kendall who departed for a weekend of hiking from Smiley Creek the following morning

famous breakfast at the Smiley Creek Lodge

exploring a real tee-pee

noticing the beauty of the world in which we live and photographing it all on their own from the window of the plane.










I love the fact that my boys get to spend time with their grandaddy. I love that my dad makes the effort. I love that my boys love it. I love that my kids are building relationships and creating memories that will last a lifetime.