outdoors in indiana

We had a couple of warm days this week, so we got to spend some time outdoors after a long, long winter. Henry was all over the place, so happy to have a taste of freedom. Down to the fenced area, up to the sidewalk to watch his brothers draw with their chalk, back down to the fenced area, back up, then down the alley for a little neighborhood adventure. Don't worry, I was right behind him. He went all the way to the end of the block, and would have kept going if I hadn't turned him around and pointed him back toward home.

And now there's snow on the ground again, just in time for Liam's first soccer practice of the season. Hopefully it'll warm up a little before Max starts practice next week!

guess it was worth a try

Liam may have thought this would actually work:

liam takes a survey

[All spelling original]

Some things that make me a LITTLE angry are:

my brother piking on me.

Some things that make me VERY angry are:

when he gets me in trodle.

Some things that make me BOILING MAD are:

when my bother dos't stop.

Are you sensing a theme here? Read on for the back side.

When I am angry it is important that I find some safe ways to deal with my anger. Instead of screaming or punching I will:

Tell my mom.

And if that does not work, I will:

?

That has to be the most ominous question mark I've ever seen.

a boy and his dog

Whatcha doing? Reading?
Sounds fun! Can I help?

Please? I'll get real close so
I can see all the words!

No? Then I guess I'll just chew on
your shoe until you pay attention to me.
And you will pay attention to me.

goofballs

the reader

Liam has always loved to read (or be read to), but he's really getting into it lately. He finished his school challenge to read 100 books during the school year, and now he's more than halfway to the 200 mark. He reads at night when he's falling asleep. He reads in the morning before breakfast. He reads when I want him to do something for me. I'm sure this is all sounding very familiar to my mom, and possibly to Barb, too. Right now, he's really into the Magic Tree House books. It's so much fun to watch him devour them and then tell me all about the latest adventure of Jack and Annie.

thoughtful

Is he thinking about kindergarten round-up, which is in three weeks? Dreaming up a path for world peace? Probably not. But for a second there, he sure looked sweet. Glad I happened to have the camera handy!

jabber jaws

Henry has finally reached his vocabulary explosion! He's adding new words every day now, and just in time -- the pediatrician told us he would need speech therapy if he didn't have 15-20 words by 18 months. Well, he's 18 months today, and he has met and passed the 20-word threshold this week. I stopped keeping track after the first 20, but if you're interested, here they are:

1. mama
2. dada
3. uh oh
4. ball
5. dog
6. cat
7. light
8. bye bye
9. boo (as in peekaboo)
10. banana
11. go
12. baby
13. hey
14. no
15. yes
16. shoe
17. Max
18. boom
19. shoot
20. Greta (one of the cats)

He can also point to his nose, ears, eyes, and shoes with a fair amount of success. And he definitely understands what we're saying. The other day, I was shopping with all three boys. I slipped some marshmallows into the cart when they weren't looking (for hot chocolate), but eagle-eyed Liam spotted them immediately, so Liam and Max bent over the sides of the cart to peer in at what else I might have added. "You boys sure are nosy!" I said. And Henry pointed at my face and said, "There!"