To be 4...

Greta and her sweet friend, Cianna.

Sweet dude

Yes, he really does love to read his Bible.

Surgery

Yesterday was a big day for Josiah.  He was born with a skin tag on his ear and yesterday he underwent surgery to get it removed.  The surgeon kept telling me what a simple surgery it was but funny how a simple surgery turns into this huge, exhausting day!

I took this picture a few days ago for a "before" shot.  Sometimes when I would look at him I would think it was so obvious and then I would not think about it for days.

 It was so sweet to me to hear my kids thoughts on his little "deformity".  Aaron has always said he didn't want us to remove it because he likes it.  He thinks it's cute and has always called it his antenna or his radio connection.  When Greta was saying goodbye to Josiah she kissed his ear and said, "Good-bye ear tag, I love you."  Even though it was a pretty small thing, I love how they loved and accepted him just they way he was. It was us adults who insisted on getting it removed.  :)

Our day started very early yesterday and poor little man could not have anything to eat or drink.  I slept terribly that night, dreaming I was starving my poor child.

I think around 18 months is the worst for taking kids to the doc.  All my kids hated anyone strange touching them.  Josiah certainly did not disappoint in that department.  He flipped out at every new person that came into the room.  He hated his gown and slippers.  Here is a happy moment of me getting his clothes off, he was enjoying having his own tv remote.

A very nice nurse gave him the perfect distraction toy.

Tired and hungry. 

So happy to have Steve with me.

The nurses gave him something to calm him before they took him from us.  They called it "happy juice".  It was so funny to watch it take affect on his little body.

Happy juice in full effect

 Sweet boy post-op.  He was so sleepy and had a bit of a hard time coming out of the anesthesia.

We stopped at the Twin Kiss on the way home and he CHOWED.  Cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate shake, he couldn't get enough!  

I'm so grateful that our day went well and happy to have it over with.  He will just have a little scar once the incision heals up.

Chess for breakfast, chess for lunch

Nice Bod

Love these 2

Another shot that I snapped through the screen of the window.

Pretty sure this breaks all the car washing rules...

Snapped these through my kitchen window.  What a hoot this kid is.

Out of the Mouths...

After being married to Steve for almost 16 years, I can thank Aaron for helping me finally understand a side of Steve a bit more.  Steve has always been extremely literal.  Of course that comes in very handy when you are doing many important things.  He's a detailed guy and he doesn't miss a beat.  He communicates well because he means what he says.  But to be honest, I've often found it a bit maddening.  Many times I've thought he was just being obnoxious.  Like, who really cares if I mean the ceiling or the roof, the wheel or the tire, aren't they the same thing?  If I was telling him that something was wrong with the wheel of the van he would listen, look confused and say, "Don't you mean the tire?"  I would respond with a sarcastic "whatever" and he would respond with a "well, say what you mean."

This has played itself out in a million little ways in our marriage as you can only imagine.  So anyway...on to Aaron.

Little Mr. is much like his father in many ways and being literal is one of them.  It's funny because I'm certain that Steve hasn't taught it to Aaron, it's just how both their brains work.  So the other day I sat down beside him to read and after looking at my jeans I said out loud, "Oh bummer, I'm getting a hole in my knee."

Aaron's response: "Mom, you aren't getting a hole in your knee, you are getting a hole in your jeans, on  your knee."

I just smiled, and laughed hard.  And thanked God for making my husband and my son just the way they are.

Clingy

This little dude has spent a lot of time on my hip lately.  He's got a couple of more teeth to come in.

Mulch

I'm so grateful that Steve likes to get an early start on the mulch.  It's nice to have it done and enjoy the beauty and cleanliness that it brings.  The kids love when we get mulch, they love to play in it and a couple of them even like to help!

Some big belly is getting too big for his Hawks t-shirt!

Back Flip

Morgan figured out how to flip Greta.  They have so much fun doing this.

Dancing girl

Little Greta loves to dance.  The other day she was having a great time to the tune of Claudia's piano practice.

Happy Reader

He asked me to take his picture.  That rarely happens.

Weeding Partners

Easter

Easter creeped up on me this year.  I feel like I just put my Christmas tree away.  It also seemed way too cold for it this year!

Our cinnamon roll bunnies made their appearance yet again

My husband amazes me sometimes.  He literally rolled out of bed and I told him I needed him to write clues for the kids to find their baskets.  He had all these funny rhyming clues within minutes.  This clue of Claudia's was the toughest one.  In case you don't know what OMD stands for...it's "oh my darlings".  The answer was hidden in the clementines.

 We spend Sunday at my parents and the kids found eggs in the rain and cold.  They didn't seem to care.

Trading candy.  Who do you think got what they wanted here??