The Absence of Solitude

Ethan's Final Concert

Last week Ethan had his last band and choir concert for elementary school. He performed well in both and has enjoyed being involved in both activities. Ethan is so excited about junior high (how is it possible that I will have a child in middle school!) and is looking forward to continuing in band playing the clarinet. He is a natural when it comes to music, much like Allen. If only I could get Ethan to practice more and Allen to actually perform!

 One of the songs they learned was "Hey Jude" by the Beatles. Here is a snippet:

 

 

The Boys

I received the comment from my sister on my last post that I better not put up a Wordless Wednesday post today. So today is a random post of things going on with the boys.

If I had posted a Wordless Wednesday post, this would have been my picture:

I might jinx myself by saying this so often, but Aaron is a really good baby! He is more alert, looking around, responding to our voices, and has started to be more generous in giving us smiles. Which are so big and cute that they melt this momma's heart.

 

Oh, Simon! This kid is just crazy and he is also my most imaginative child. So imagination and crazy can make for some pretty funny/frustrating days.

He watched Spy Kids last weekend and now has become a spy. He even made a laptop to receive his next assignments and to report to his spy boss, John. He asks me to help come up with his missions and so far he has cleaned the house of monsters under the beds, locked all doors and windows so Mr. Boogity can't get in, had to call the Ghostbusters to remove a ghoul, made sure Jillian was safe while I showered, and gone on several top secret missions that he can't tell me about. Yesterday, at the store he kept asking for a watch because, "All spies have watches, Mom."

Two more Simon quotes/stories: He was playing a game with Jillian and I overheard him say to her after gettting a little frustrated, "Watch and learn, man! Watch and learn!"

On Sunday during Sacrament meeting at church, Simon was getting to be a little out of sorts. I took him out to the foyer and after a few minutes asked him if he would like to go back in and sit quietly. He looked up at me and said in his best Animal voice, "In Control." I nearly died; I wanted to laugh but held it together.

 

Ethan is always on the go. With scouts, piano, band, friends, school, etc. it can be hard to get any pictures of him. I need to be better about that. His pace will only pick up in the next few weeks with concerts and end of year activities. He is such a good kid helping with the younger ones, helping me and Allen, and overall just being a kind, loving kid. He loves school and is really looking forward to middle school while I am scared silly about him starting middle school. I just pray he has a good experience and doesn't end up hating it as much as I did. He is also really, really looking forward to summer with cousins. He misses everyone like crazy and can't wait! Oh, and can you tell he has suddenly become a Syracuse fan? Nana made him the bag while she was here and he was SO excited to show it to his friends.

 

So there is a quick update on the boys. Was that good enough Jenny? Tomorrow I will update on Lauren and Jillian.

Five on Friday

1. A hint of a smile.

2. A self potrait of Simon.

 

3. Nana playing peek-a-boo with a picture taking Lauren. 

 

4. Sibling adoration.

 

5. Aaron only two days old and leaving the hospital with Mom.

Wordless Wednesday

Blue & Gold

Ethan had his Cub Scout Blue and Gold banquet this week. Each of the boys had to make a cake for dessert. Ethan decided he wanted to make a Lego cake. In years past, I have made the cake when it is really supposed to be just the scout making it, so this year I actually made Ethan do it. The only part I helped with was the frosting the two cupcakes.

Ethan is working on his Weblos badge this year. At the pack meeting he received three achievement pins. He is excited about completing the Weblos requirements so he can move into Boy Scouts.

Sledding

Last weekend we finally got our first significant amount of snow. It was just enough to go sledding. Since the weekend was busy, I took the kids on Monday because they were out of school for MLK day. We had so much fun! We broke two of our sleds hitting the "moguls" the kids built and we stayed out way, way longer than I ever expected.

Simon did an amazing job this year. He would go down all by himself, get up at the bottom of the hill and yell, "That was AWESOME!" and climb right back up the hill to do it all over again. I was so surprised!

The first run down that Jillian had resulted in a lot of snow in her face (see Wordless Wednesday photo) and it took her a little while to want to try it again. And once she decided she do it again, she would only go down with Ethan and loved it every time.

I was glad we got in a sledding day because by Tuesday the snow had melted! Hopefully we will get more snow soon so we can try out snow-shoeing at the local nature park. It's just been a crazy mild winter here.

 

Finally a Christmas Post

We had a quiet Christmas at home. The excitement could hardly be contained but the children all went to sleep quickly and Santa was able to make quick work of putting out everything. We also had a little elf join us this year in helping. It was pretty special to let Ethan be a part of the magic this year. He got to do everyone's stockings (except his) and then we sent him off to bed so he would still be surprised by everything else in the morning. 

Ethan has finally joined the ranks of pre-teens and teens everywhere by owning his first ipod shuffle. He began loading it with music right after breakfast. He kept whispering "thank-you" to me every time he passed me throughout the day, so as to not let the littles in on "his secret" of knowing who really gave him the gift. I did have have to tell him a few times (and still do) to take out the earphones so he can hear me talking to him and also that if I can hear the music clearly then it is way too loud. It's been fun though and he has really enjoyed it. He also got some new legos that were assembled so quickly, I didn't even get a picture of him putting them together. 

 

This Christmas was the year of crafts for Lauren. She wanted an art kit and craft items from Santa. Well, she got those and it seems like everyone else got the message too. She has been crafting up a storm the last couple of weeks...beads, boondoggle, stamps, shrinky dinks, stencils, friendship bracelets, etc. She now has her own plastic tote under her bed filled with all her crafting supplies. She LOVES it. Her other favorite gifts were a Cats Cradle book and string to learn all the fun string games like I used to play and several new pairs of earrings that are now switched out often. 

 

Like I said in my previous post, Simon's favorite gift has been the Lincoln Logs. They are pulled out several times a day. He was so excited about all the gum in his stocking and it was gone before we knew it. He made sure to leave a carrot on the plate for Santa's reindeer and was a little upset that the whole thing wasn't gone. Simon was also super excited to get a Lego Ninjago so he can now battle with Ethan. The six year age gap between Simon and Ethan makes it hard for them to play the same things so it's fun to see them playing together with the Lincoln Logs, Legos, and the hockey set they received from Aunt Kim and Uncle Sean.

Jillian is all about babydolls. The doll carrier and stroller was broken earlier this year by the kids pushing each other around in it. So Jillian received a new stroller and carrier for her babies. As soon as she opened the Cabbage Patch doll from Nana & Papa she ran to put in the carrier and said, "Shhh. Baby sleeping." She pushes the stroller around all day long! The candy in her stocking was also a huge hit and we found most of the wrappers in her doll carrier before breakfast. 

We were also able to go to church that afternoon to remember what this season is all about. I love it when Christmas falls on a Sunday. I think it makes it even more special and meaningful. Overall, it was a simple, fun day full of suprises for everyone. 

Two Pictures

We had a nice Christmas and hope you did as well. We are enjoying our new toys and each other so until I have a few more free moments to post more about it, here are two pictures with opposite reactions:

 

One from the Naughty List with her sack of coal found in her stocking. 

And one from the Nice List when he got something he really wanted...something to detect when the naughty ones go in his room. 

Be back soon....

 

P.S. The coal was just gum but she really thought it was when she saw the sack. She made the Nice List too!

Five on Friday

1. Ethan had his band and choir concert this week. Since these kids just started playing their instruments in September, I was prepared for some interesting musical sounds. I was pleasantly surprised to hear actual, good songs from them. Ethan is doing really well with the clarinet and has almost all the ribbons he can earn this year for his songs. 

2. Simon is so excited for his birthday. He is seriously counting down the days and has some big plans for the weekend. The new movie, Chipwrecked is his number one priority! One other little thing about this kid- He has given Jillian a new nickname that I am adamantly against and keep telling him he can't call her that: BEAN-O. It's his take on our other nickname for her: Jilli-bean. 

Here is a recent self portrait of Simon I discovered:

3. I have completely procrastinated my Christmas shopping this year. I am afraid I will be like my mother on so many Christmas Eve mornings out finishing up. Although, I have my list and I hope to get it done before that, you know like by the 23rd. :)

4. Tonight we are going to look at Christmas lights, watch the Polar Express and drink hot chocolate. When I mentioned the plan to the kids this morning, they were all so excited. I love that they look forward to things like this as much as I do and it always makes the planning feel like it was worth it. 

5. I am always amazed at how much the language skills of each of my children improve once I take the pacifier away. Jillian's speech and vocabulary (and my ability to understand her) have sky-rocketed in the last few weeks. However, with her new found words she is becoming quite the little bossy pants around here. 

Have a great weekend!

 

Wordless Wednesday