Change!

We bought a trampoline for the boys when C was barely 3 and K was just 1.  They loved it then, and still love it today.  The jumps have gotten much bigger, and the tricks have come a long way.  We used to play a game we called "Change."  I would pick an animal to be and I would announce what type of animal I was. When C or K was able to knock me down I had to "Change," which merely meant that I had to announce a new animal and attempt to attack them while portraying some characteristics of that animal.  For several years, this was the greatest trampoline game for them.  They would laugh hysterically when I had to change from a tiger to a pteranodon, etc.

Today I marveled at how old they are as they showed me their flips on the trampoline.  They still want me to bounce with them, but I suspect it is mostly because my weight can really help to vault them into the air even higher.  When you had a baby three months ago trampolines can be a tad disconcerting.  I had to hold my jelly belly as I was bouncing, and put some extra faith in my bladder.

Here are some videos of two flipping boys.  C is getting really close to landing his flip on two feet.

Already!?!

This afternoon we headed to my least favorite big box store for some back to school supply shopping.  The school supply aisle looked like a bomb had gone off.  The only crayons left in any sort of order were the horrible waxy Rose Art ones.  The entire Crayola section had completely exploded, there were heaps of random supplies piled around haphazardly.  I was quickly reminded why I like to avoid this store. 

On our list, each boy needed to select one single subject notebook and two two-pocket folders.  K quickly selected a very cute little puppy notebook and vacillated between some three-dimensional dinosaur folders and a Toy Story III folder with soldiers on it.  C was more hesitant.  He isn't the fastest decision maker on a good day, but today he had other things on his mind.  C told me he didn't think he could choose Toy Story because he might be too old for it, and he didn't want anyone to laugh at him.  He hasn't even started back to school yet and he already knows to think about his peers. 

They grow so fast

A will be 12 weeks old tomorrow.  Here is a short but sweet video of her first day.

A at 2 weeks

I love, love watching A wake up. These are clips of A waking, rather attempting to waken, at just 2 weeks (these were taken near the end of June).  She had a bad case of thrush on her tongue, but it cleared up pretty quickly.  The baby mouth is so fun to watch.

Safety in numbers?

In early July we took a day trip to Lake of the Woods.  The boys and Johan rode the Fish Lake to Lake of the Woods trail on their bikes with some friends.  A and I waited at Lake of the Woods for the group.  When the boys arrived they wanted to rent a paddle boat.  I am sure this is what good parents do:

Yes, that little boat is loaded up with 5 boys. They are ALL wearing life vests, and they really aren't that far from the shore.  Nikki and I (with A strapped to me in the Bjorn and Max on his leash) are running along the shore shouting instructions.  The boys are jostling for control over the steering mechanism and the prime front seats.  What this picture fails to capture is the massive amount of wind.  It turns out that paddle boating is really quite difficult on windy days.

This event became briefly scary/hilarious when the boys were blown into the docks where the big boats are kept while trying to park their paddle boat.  As the boat was being blown perilously close to several nice big boats, two of the boys (literally) jumped ship.  With A strapped to me, I could merely watch.  Nikki leaped to the rescue, boarded the vessel and unflinchingly piloted it into the headwind with aplomb.

All babies should come with...

...older brothers!  This morning I slipped out of my bed quietly, because A was sleeping in it, and got on the treadmill.  Sometime during my run C and K woke up.  Not much later A woke up.  K was quick to pick her up.  He is getting very good at comforting her with some gentle rocking.  C came to let me know that A was awake.  By the time I made it upstairs K had A propped up on the sofa and was talking to her.  She seemed content enough so I asked K if he would mind staying with her while I showered.  When I was finished with my shower this is what I found:

The boys were in their room setting up for a game of Axis and Allies.  They had laid A out on the floor and she was happy to be watching them play.  One boy would take his turn while the other would chat with A, then they would switch.  She was still content so I was able to finish getting ready while C and K entertained A.  Apparently three-month olds are much easier when they come with 9 and 7 year olds.