"This is SPIDER-MAN! And Spider-Man is a HERO! Because Spider-Man obeys JESUS!"

Happy Snow Day!

But Mom, I don't need to wear a coat because I like the cold air. Because the cold air is frrresh. Because it goes in my mouth and it makes me feel so frrresh. And I like to feel so frrresh in my tummy. 

"You know what, Mom? Sometimes your heart breaks."
What?
"Sometimes your heart breaks..... Like, when you lift something really heavy and it goes down and squishes you and your heart breaks."

Twins?

I've always thought Bethy reminded me of her cousin Kenley as a baby. I was cruising down memory lane on Keri's blog and I couldn't get past this crazy picture of Kenley. I don't know, is it just me?

Happy December!

This is my promise to catch up on the blog soon, but for now, a picture for Auntie Becca.

Practicing for Christmas. (Thank you Auntie Keri!)  Now I just need to find some shiny red shoes....

Came downstairs this morning -

"Hi Mom! We just had a few chocolate chips."

In the most nonchalant voices ever...

"Mom, do you know what my gorilla's name is?  Seek Ye First!"

Bethy - 8 Months

Baby Girl turned 8 months old on November 1st

The highlights this month include:

At the beginning of the month, she got her first 4 teeth in about 10 days. As usual, she wasn't even bothered or grumpy that week.

She's pulling herself up and has started to learn how to climb stairs. We think she'll be an early walker because she can really get where she wants to go using her walker downstairs... She follows me all over in that thing.

Bethy is at the tough stage where she's exploring and getting into everything, but doesn't understand the concept of "no" yet.

I'm counting "Mama" as her first word this month, even if it is just a noise right now. She'll get anything she wants if she keeps up that kind of schmoozing!

James the Train

"Look Mom, James the train is going camping!"

It was all fun and games until I accidentally stepped on James the train with his camper. James the boy took James the train "to a different camping spot because there are mean people at this one".   :-/

First Word???

Do you think this counts?

Baby Girl taught herself to clap a couple days ago. 

Now she can crawl, clap, and blow bubbles. Genius!

Three Doctor Appointments

Last week, I took all the kids in for their 4-year, 3-year, and 6 month (she's behind!) doctor appointments. I've taken the boys with me to Bethy's appointments and it was no big deal so I figured we could knock out these check-ups pretty quickly.

James woke up nervous about getting shots that day. That morning, he was moping around saying that he didn't want shots and asking why he had to get them. When I told him that we had to get shots to keep us from getting sick, he gave me the James scowl and said, "No, Mom, you're kidding me. JESUS heals us when we're sick. I don't need shots."

I had no words....

All went well with the appointments until it was time to leave.

James -
Weight:  32 lb 8 oz
Height:  3' 2"
4 shots

Nate -
Weight:  35 lb 2 oz
Height:  2' 11.5"
3 shots

Bethy -
Weight:  15 lb 8 oz
Height:  26.5"
4 shots

I didn't fully comprehend 11 shots with 3 kids, 1 of me, and 1 completely unsympathetic nurse. Nate went first and took it like a man. James cried but then sat in the chair and did pretty well. Bethy did the usual can't-breathe cry then found her thumb and was as sweet as ever.

As we went to leave, James decided that his legs hurt too bad to walk and he started howling. I sat him down and gave him the "I know it hurts, be a man" pep-talk. It didn't work. While Nate went skipping down the hall, I drug James - who was stiff-legged, moving a half-inch at a time, and bawling - out of the office.

Oh, and on top of all that, I couldn't stop laughing at the whole scene. Like, a serious case of the giggles. So much so that it kind of looked like I was crying. I definitely wasn't crying, but maybe it got me a little more sympathy from the kind folks in the waiting room!

And THAT, my friends, is why I vow to never schedule 3 kids doctor visits at the same time EVER again.  :-)

Rescue!

Recently, the boys have come up with new entertainment. Every time Bethy spits up, I hear "RESCUE! RESCUE!". The boys run into the kitchen yelling: "Mom! We have a rescue! Bethy spit up!" They both grab a wash cloth and race back to clean up Bethy's mess. When they're done cleaning up, they come back and report: "I'm a hero!" and "We had a big rescue to do." and that they "Saved the day!"

Bethy is learning to pull herself up:

And fall down:

Nate's 3rd Birthday

The Naterator turned 3 years old on October 25th.
 

He chose a Diego theme for his birthday... Or "Diablo" if you're my mother.  ;-) ... So I've had "Go, Diego, Go. Vamos Diego, Vamos. Al rescate amigo, to the rescue my friend..." stuck in my head for about 5 days straight.

I was up late decorating...

Nate shared one of his present-openings with James. We got him a Mac truck from cars and Patchwork Hiro from Thomas. The toys had to take a few time outs that day because they caused brothers to not love each other.

Muscles

Poor Beps.

Nate got some mail from Great Grandma and Grandpa Johnson.

Grandma met us for frozen yogurt that afternoon.

And we had Nate's family party that evening.

I feel really stupid, but this was the first year I've actually pipped frosting on the cupcakes - and they looked SO much better. I thought using a piping bag was really hard and only for professionals, like Keri. But who would have thought that it was insanely simple and easy!

The boys stayed up way too late that night playing with their new toys.

We all love the Naterator. He makes us laugh, shake our heads, and get creative with everything. Life is fun for Nate and he is a hilarious jokester in our house. He is also so sweet and genuine. Just last night, it was late and I was frustrated that he left his "baby Seahawks" downstairs. When I told him he could go get it as fast as he could run, he threw his pudgy arms around my neck and said: "Thank you! Thank you! Mom, I love you FOREVER!"

Happy 3rd Birthday Natester!

Devour

1. to swallow or eat up hungrily, voraciously, or ravenously.
2. to consume destructively, recklessly, or wantonly.

Oh! They would put me in the zoo, if they could see what I can do.