Gems

Just a couple good quotes from my boys that I jotted down today:

"I don't want to kiss you right now mom." Okay, when will you kiss me? "I can next Thursday." -Dane

"I don't want my sandwich in a heart for school today, mom. I want it like my friends' sandwiches. Just one piece. That's how all my friends have it." -Dane (I'd used a cookie cutter, but I guess it's not cool enough for preschool)

"Mom, I don't feel comfortable at recess. All the girls won't stop chasing me. I didn't even do anything! I had to hide in the boy's bathroom. Then I told my teacher and all she said was 'Aw, I'm sorry.' " -Dalton

Big Bear - Conclusion

I'm sure you lost sleep wondering if Darren and the boys made it out alive, not to mention all our precious camping gear. Well, worry no longer!!! After some negotiations with the ranger and some sneaking beyond the lines by some fellow campers, they were able to return to the site to pack up and get out. 'Voluntary evacuation' - yeah, right! Darren did read online that the fire was the biggest in the nation so far this year. Seriously?

Masterpieces

My sister-in-law Rachel posted some pictures that her budding artist Ana had taken (hers were actually really good), and it prompted me to post some that I found on my camera, courtesy of Dalton Bradley. Clearly my son is Ansel Adams in embryo and I am so proud of the skills he already has as a photographer - in every aspect! lighting, content, framing, composition, color. . . Look for yourself. Any inquiries for prints or purchases should be directed to my personal email account.


subject: Dane playing Trains
title: Overexposed

subject: The bedroom

title: Where My Head Rests

(note: Check out how Dalton rearranged the letters in the alphabet on the wall so that "D" came first - since Dalton starts with "D". egocentric? perhaps)

subject: the artist himself

title: My Rennaker Nose

subject: the throne

title: What All Boys Talk About, Think About, Joke About, etc.

subject: the artist -AGAIN!

title: Mirrors - The Pretense of Reflection (I don't know why he chose that title; it makes no sense!)

Baby Love

Here's another picture of little baby Davis. (it's hard not to say 'Baby Davy' - but I will not! I must not!) He is a cutie pie, but I'm not biased or anything. He's already changing so much and as I watch him grow and then read through the older boys' baby calendars, I realize that this time I have with him as a tiny baby is so fleeting in comparison to what the future holds. I just wish I could stop time ("I'm Mr. Time! Stop Time!" -Seth Manning) and savor the present. I just feel like life keeps me hopping all the time and before I know it, my baby (my first baby, Dalton) is telling me he wants an ipod. (he really did. he said he needs it?!)

So, I just have to take a minute to bask in the love I have for my kids!

Dalton will always be my baby - he broke me in as a mommy. Dane will always be my baby - he still loves to be held and smell his blankie. Davis will always be my baby - that's all I know him as thus far, and he may be my last baby, actually. (Well, talk to me in a couple years.) But nevertheless, no matter how big they get or how obnoxious they might act - these boys are my babies. I grew them in my belly. I see them at their absolute sweetest and most innocent moments. I cheer for their triumphs and I cry for their frustrations. I am immersed in being their mother and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Big Bear

Holy Smokes!

Well, I missed out on the family camping trip. I LOVE to camp - from tent life to the s'mores to the cheesy campfire bonding. This year's trip was not to be missed; we were headed to Big Bear with a bunch of friends and their kiddos for a weekend of dirty camping fun.

But alas - I had to stay home. It was a last minute decision that boiled down to the fact that Davis (2 months old now) is really congested and sleeping in 40 degree temps would most likely give him something or lead quickly to something else. I don't want to be a hypochondriac, but seriously - why get your new baby sick when you can prevent it? Not to mention that the night before our departure the aforementioned congestion stole all my sleep as well as Davis's . This resulted in a fussy baby, a nasty migraine and voila! . . . I didn't go camping.

So I'm here at home missing my boys. I've already called about 8 times (yes, we actually get reception up there!) Dane puked twice on the drive up then pooped in his underwear - either because he was too busy playing or has no idea where to put it. But things have settled down and they're having a blast. (Darren is too, I'm SURE!)

This afternoon they all headed into town to do the alpine slides and buy a new toothbrush for Darren. He just loves to brush. (actually, I neglected to pack his - oops!) He called me when they got back to the campground to say that the Rangers won't let them back bcuz of a fire threatening the area. Darren said they saw the beginnings of it yesterday when they pulled in, but it wasn't a problem because of the winds, blah blah blah. But now they're being evacuated? Scary.

And yet all I can think about is all our stuff! Do we ditch it? Am I selfish?

Well, I'm checking the Big Bear webcam and forest fire updates to make sure my men make it home alive.

And now Davis is telling me to get off the dang computer in his sooo subtle way.

Davis

The first day of School - Again, already

Here Dalton is headed off to 1st grade, and so excited about it!

Actually - me, too ;)

Check out the little bag in his hand - as we were making his lunch and snack he decided that he wanted to take an apple to his teacher. He wrapped it all up in tissue paper and put it in this flowery bag. I guess she loved it; he told me later that she called him "beautiful boy", which, needless to say, he loved.

And then there was Dane . . . pretty bitter that he doesn't start preschool for another week.

And then the bitterness showed its true colors - so sad! He was rather bummed that he's home with mom still. He did sport his froggy backpack full of cars, though, as we took Dalton in. I think it made him feel pretty big.

Thanks to Harry

All kids do funny/weird things, and mine are certainly no exception. Dane has recently gone through a 'Harry Potter' phase - not that he's read the books, obviously, but we've listened to the first 2 books on CD in the car and he's seen the first couple movies. And with the new movie and book release last month I suppose he's heard the name thrown around a lot. Well, now he's all about Harry.

He came home from Arizona with glasses and a wand from grandma. He asks to be called Harry and wants to wear solid colored shirts (which he calls 'closed shirts') with unbuttoned plaid shirts ('open shirts') on top. We can even tip our hats in thanks to Harry for nudging along the recent potty training (all Potter fans will remember that Peeves does call him Harry "Potty", right?) because . . . well, Harry Potter doesn't wear diapers.(duh)

So - the other day we were playing with Davis and some of his toys. After a while Davis went down for his nap and I found Dane rediscovering some old friends (aka baby toys). He was Harry Potter clad, so I -of course- got out the camera and had him demonstrate how to play with a classic: rings around a post (I do believe that's the official name).

Here's the vid. Enjoy, and pay particular attention to how he tries not to move his head or look down. This does give the effect of blindness or mild retardation, but I think he does it because he's afraid his glasses will fall off. My mom says I was a weird kid growing up, and I never really knew what she meant until . . .

FYI -you'll need to mute the music from the slide show. Just click on the sound symbol.

Finally - some new pictures!

M.I.A.

I've slipped from reality into that other dimension called "new motherhood", except sadly, I am not a NEW mother. Still, the whole survival mode thing is very real and has pared my priorities down to what Dalton refers to as Bear Grylls (Man vs. Wild) most important things: 1. water, 2. food, 3. shelter, 4. a way home. Okay, so #3 & #4 aren't truly relevant (although 'shelter' is debatable - as any mother of young kids can attest; however, I might more aptly call it 'hideout' or 'sane time away' or something like that) Anyway, the heirarchy of needs is dominating my daily ativities - and it's mostly the needs of my munchkins that get met most readily.

We've achieved the 4 week mark and I can feel the clouds parting and the sunshine of normal (albeit altered normal) life peeking back in. I've done the park a couple times, the grocery store, and target, but I did turn down the beach today (not without my husband). O-blah-dee O-blah-dah, Life goes on! Shockingly, it doesn't slow down and wait for you to catch up. So here we go.

And yeah, I'll post some more pictures soon. yeah, yeah.