You know when something happens and you think to yourself to remember that moment so you can put it on your blog only to forget it by the time you sit down at the computer.  Okay, well most of you may not have a blog but I’m sure you can imagine as it’s the same feeling when you walk into a room and can’t remember why you are there in the first place.  Levi gives me these moments all the time to share but I can never remember them!  Everyday is a blur and these little moments just blend in.  Today I’m trying to recall some moments with Levi so they don’t get too blurry to remember.

Levi is a funny boy, a crazy character, a little pill, and so horribly ornery while being super sweet too!  He is my handful!!  He can count past 10, but I’m not sure how high because he purposely messes up the numbers most of the time!  In moments he doesn’t think I’m listening or watching I will hear him count in order but when I ask him to count he says, “1, 6, 7, 8, 9″.  If I’m counting backwards, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, to make a point and get Nathan to do something before I get to 1 Levi can be heard in the background saying, “6, 7, 8 , 9, 10″.  

He wants to take his clothes and diaper off all the time.  He will disappear to the basement and reappear with only a shirt on!  I’ll tell him “you are a pill” to which I get “I not pill mama”.  

Levi the leaper!  He climbs and he jumps.  Doesn’t matter how high he will think about jumping off of it.  He climbs to the fourth step and jumps from our stairs.  I had to discourage him from trying the fifth and sixth steps the other day.  I painted our patio furniture a few weeks ago and he jumped off each item, including the table, multiple times while they were sitting in the grass.  He hops to get from place to place and thinks it’s a reasonable mode of transportation.  Even this morning he jumps and tell me “mama, that jump big!” after leaping off the ottoman.    

He does the ‘I’m so cute’ look usually with a sly smile attached to his face when he’s doing something he knows he shouldn’t do.  He will look me in the eye, give me the smile, and then do the act which will get him in trouble.  The other day he wanted some more candy at my parents house.  He’d already had enough so my mom told him he could take 4 home to his house and share with Nathan.  He went and got a baggie and together he and my mom counted our the chocolate kisses.  One, two, three, four….this was followed by a slight pause, a glance at mommy, and a quick sly smile before he quickly stuck his hand back in the candy bowl and put two more in his bag.  A pill I tell you!!  

Our biggest problem right now is he is a hitter.  He likes to hit Nathan mostly, daddy sometimes for fun, and mommy to get attention.  He learned really quickly with mommy one evening.  I had put the kid in time out over and over for hitting and one evening when leaving the park while I was buckling him into his carseat he slapped me across the face.  I returned the favor, which I think shocked him to pieces, and since then he’s learned not to hit mommy.  He will hit with his hands, toys, metal trains, etc.  Sometimes his hitting turns into throwing of toys – mainly trains at Nathan.  He doesn’t hit other kids or adults which is a big blessing…and I hope never will!  Poor Nathan takes the brunt of Levi’s arm.  He’s getting better but it’s been a slow process.

I love the talking stage that Levi is in right now.  He copies EVERYTHING Nathan says and it’s fun listening to him put together sentences.  Today in the car he asked to go to my mom’s house.  I explained how he would get to go in two days and play there.  I asked if that sounded ok and he responded with “Oh!  Yea!  Sure!  Great!”  Made me laugh.  :)

What Levi loves most in this world right now:  his ya-ya (blankie), his blanket, his mama, his brother, (and daddy when mommy’s not around), playing outside “back yard”, pointing out things he sees or places he knows (“dare Nathan school” “dare ice cream store” “let go coffee donut”), eating sweets – mainly candy and cake (he had 4 pieces of cake yesterday and 6 mini cinnamon bites at a gathering – the cake was gluten free and made with coconut flour if that helps any), singing songs at bedtime with mommy, nuggling on mommy’s lap watching cartoons (snuggling), fruit, playing trains, jumping, and running away from mommy in public locations but as soon as he sees someone he doesn’t know or mommy is out of sight he gets scared and usually comes back.  :) 

I wish more of these moments stuck with Levi stuck with me.  Maybe it’s my mommy brain forgetting things so quickly, or the fact we are usually moving at 90mph trying to get things done, or that with two kids you just can’t keep up with both of them and all the cute/ornery/funny things they do.  Part of my reason for doing this blog is really for myself and my memories one day.  I know these little moments I may remember now for a few days will eventually blur away as life continues on.  Hopefully this blog will be my reminder of the times that flew by in a blur.  

Look how much Nathan has changed in one year!

First day of preschool – August

Last day of preschool – May

Nathan’s preschool career has been winding down over the past week.  Yesterday was Nathan’s official graduation ceremony at school and today was his last day!  Now he’s ready to “do whatever I want all the time” as we move into summer.  

The graduation ceremony yesterday was cute and adorable.  The kids sang several songs, received their diplomas, and we all watched a photo slideshow that included sappy music hoping to make us all cry.  :)  

 

 

My Mother’s Day started out with a beautiful and fun hike up the Castle Rock.  The boys LOVED it and still talk about it everyday and are asking to do it again.

The boys were ready to hike with sunglasses and walking sticks.

The boys enjoyed seeing some birds and a few rabbits on the way up.  Nathan hiked up and down the entire way on his own and Levi only needed to be carried a little bit each direction, usually after a tumble.  The view from the top is always exciting to see.  Nathan loved how the Castle Rock is made up of lots of little tiny rocks stuck together and was continuously pointing out Pikes Peak.

These two little boys have blessed my life and fulfilled one of my biggest dreams of being a mom.  I couldn’t love any two kids more!  I pray that God will continue to lead me to help raise these boys into men who to love and honor Him in all they do.

Matt’s parents came to visit a few weeks ago and brought our awesome nephew Will!  Nathan and will are 9 months apart in age and get along better than any two kids I’ve ever seen!  Not a single fight between the two of the all weekend.  Amazing!!!  

We had lots of fun together!  We took it easy Saturday with library story time, time at the playground, a picnic lunch, and going out to dinner.  Sunday we ventured to the zoo!  The weather was nice but still a little cool for lots of outdoor time.

 

Will is the easiest kid ever and we always have so much fun having him around.  It means the world to me that he is so excited and willing to come stay with us.  We only see him two or three times a year so it warms my heart that he feels comfortable enough with Matt’s parents and us to make the trek to Colorado for the weekend!!  

 

While dad was away, the boys and I played.

Matt went turkey hunting two weekends ago so the boys and I spent some great time together.  With warm and beautiful weather we spent lots of time outside playing at various parks.  Three parks in three days!  Levi is a dare devil so I get to chase him around so he doesn’t kill himself.    Matt forgot to leave info regarding where he was going and staying so Levi sent him this look over the phone.  Don’t want to mess with him.The weekend would not have been complete without some train playing time.  I came down with a horrible headache and Net was able to come to the rescue and help me with the boys one evening by taking us out to dinner.  It was a nice break to have someone above the age of 5 to visit with.  :)  Four days of fun was topped off when Matt came home with a turkey, which made Nathan very happy as he LOVES to eat turkey!

We didn’t teach this!  Promise!  But, we don’t stop it either.  :)

Levi has used his middle finger on his right hand to point since the beginning of time.  We still find it amusing to watch him flip the bird here and there.  Have to find humor in the small things.  There will come a day that his middle finger won’t be so cute.  

 

To wrap up Nathan’s birthday week of fun we celebrated on Saturday with a family party!  My grandparents from Nebraska were in town and got to experience the joys of a young boy birthday party.

Nathan asked for dinosaur decorations but train activities.  So, I put on my thinking cap (searching Google and Pinterest of course) for great ideas.

With everyone helping, we put on a fantastic party!!

Nathan came in to see a volcano tunnel with train tracks on the ground leading around the house.  The boys put on cardboard trains and chugged along the tracks to various rooms in the house where I had different trains/tracks set up to play with.  We own more trains and track than any household should so we just brought some of our gigantic collection over to my parents.  The boys, especially Levi, LOVED the tracks and ran (literally) those tracks dozens of times throughout the party!

It was great that I made 3 cardboard box trains so the adults could get in on the fun too!

Nathan helped pick out all the dinosaur decorations and accessories!  The dinosaur hats were fun for the boys.

Aunt Mikki and Uncle Ryan were put in charge of many items including naming the food.  We had Cretaceous Cruchies (chips), Triceratoppings (toppings for the hot dogs), etc..  It was so fun!

After dinner we enjoyed opening presents, cake, and a pinata.  Nathan has been great about having a little brother helper wanting to open his present, blow out his candles, and play with his new toys.  He’s been very patient and okay with Levi’s help!

The most exciting part of the evening was when Nathan found his gift from Net and Griz.  He had to follow some scavenger hunt clues and the gift was hiding in the garage.

Here’s his reaction…priceless….

“My very own Jeep!!!!” 

Nathan took Levi around for a spin in his new Jeep!  Nathan’s driving reminded us all of how the car looks when Aunt Mikki drives a stick shift.  :)  Stop….Go….Stop….Go!  Levi may have a little minor whip lash from all the jerking.  :)  They both loved the Jeep, or as Levi called it “the wagon”.

On the 15th Nathan knew it was his birthday so we had a small celebration with just the four of us complete with cupcakes and a few presents. 

What kid doesn’t love some cash?

 

 

Saturday Nathan, my mom, and I had a special date at the movies.  We took Nathan to see The Crood’s.  He LOVED it and is still saying, “da, da, daaa” quoting the little sloth character Belt.  

Monday morning Matt took Nathan to Village Inn for a breakfast date.  Nathan said he ate “sausage, pancakes, and syrup”.  I’m pretty sure he ate his body weight in syrup.  :)  Must have been a wonderful morning because after gymnastics and lunch I found him in him room during quiet time like this:

Nathan celebrated his birthday at school today.  He got to pick one of his favorite books, which I read to the class, and then served treats to all this classmates.  Nathan picked Press Here, which is an interactive book that the kids loved.  Nathan was so excited about his special day at school and to finally be 5 like so many of his friends!!

Nathan’s birthday events will come to a close this Saturday with a family party/celebration!  Levi has been asking and even getting upset that we have not gone to Net’s house for the party yet.  He says, “Net’s house happy birthday cake” and each day when I tell him no not today he says it in an angrier tone until I can distract him with something else.  It’s not like he understands waiting until Saturday!  Better be some good cake or Levi will be very disappointed.  :)