You Never Know What He'll Say (or Do)

As we were leaving to go to the hospital to have a baby, Noah yelled out the door "Where'd u put the iPad?" (I thought he was going to say Love you, or Break a leg or something encouraging. We did have a good laugh.)

A few days after Piper was born, John asked if there was still a baby in my tummy. I said no and tried to explain to him that it just takes a little while for it to look normal again (or never, but whatever). He looked at me. Giggled and said, "It's pancakes."

I was nursing Piper. John looked at mean and said, "Why is she biting on you?"

I was giving Piper a bath. John came in looked in the tub and said, "Her peepee looks funny." And off he went.

When Piper was born, before we even left the delivery room, Greg kept playing the song "You're Beautiful" over and over to Piper. The song is about Christ and his love for us, but it was very sweet that he was playing it for her. On more than one occasion, when she was fussy, I turned that song on and she settled down and just listed. 

One morning at breakfast, Noah was chatting away (okay, that's every morning). He stopped, tilted his head down so I could see the top and said,"Do I have a hole in my hair up here?"

Hunter loves Piper. He calls her my baby Piper. One of the first times he held her, he looked lovingly at her and then kissed her on the head. Melt my heart!!

I was having a chat with John about not stepping on his baby sister. Hunter yells, "No! It's my baby sister."

We are not allowed to say butt in our house. But, I have had multiple conversations with Noah about the difference between butt and but. Perhaps but should be banned as well. That would solve that problem. Well, sort of... Hunter says "push the butt" instead of "push the button." He'll figure it out eventually.

Greg and the big boys went to the grocery store for me. When they came home, I looked out into the garage to see John bringing in flowers. He had the biggest grin on his face. I wish I would have and a video. It was so sweet!

John says "yes please" instead of "yes ma'am." It's just too cute to correct. And he is still being polite.

The boys were getting dressed. I asked John to put his undies on first. He insisted on putting socks on first. Noah said "mom, it's a man thing."

I dressed Piper and then said to John: "Isn't she pretty?" His reply: "No. She looks like an angel."

While on vacation, the boys were have a snack of raisins. Hunter was fussing about his raisin and had his finger up his nose about as far as he could get it. I thought maybe he had stuck one in his nose, but I couldn't tell for sure. We couldn't see anything. By the time we got back to our room, we had decided that he definitely had stuck one up there. John just happened to have a little key chain flashlight in is bag of things he brought for entertainment. I borrowed that and went in with tweezers. I pulled out a raisin, which seems to be rehydrating and growing in size. 

We were in the store and walked by a  bag of circus peanuts. Noah says, "Mom! Those are outstanding!" (Yuck!)

MiMi and Poppy got the boys The Jungle Book. John has been going around singing "the bear assess-a-knees...forget about your worries and your stripes."

John has been going around the house singing, "Daddy sang base. Momma sang dinner."

On my birthday, the boys came in one at a time bearing birthday treats. Noah and John handed them to me and said Happy Birthday! When Hunter came in with a bag of chocolate covered pomegranates and said "can you open this please?" (At least he was polite!)

June 2014

We started our summer out right...with swimming lessons. Noah and John took lessons. Piper and Hunter were so good while they sat and watched.

A little nap during lessons.

John on his first swim around the pool

Noah's first swim

This is how we roll.

Of course everyone needs goggles for swimming lessons!

He put them on himself.

And he wanted to sleep with them on.

A fun evening with a few of the cousins.

The life of the little brother: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

When one needs their teeth cleaned and has four children with them...

All snuggled up ready for bed.

Enjoying a little smoothie...really enjoying it.

The boys got invited to a super fun water party, complete with water games and donuts.

He is determined!

A little Sunday golf with daddy. (Notice the matching outfits!)

Happy girl!

A little evening golf with daddy.

One night we had a baby turkey in our yard. We got the boys up so they could see it. It even chased Noah around the yard. Very funny!

The boys named him Pine Cone.

John has quite the imagination! He drew earphones on the frog.

It's okay to ride four wheelers with jammie pants and no shirt... 

(that's Noah under there)

Or just run wild.

John taking daddy for a spin.

And then the 2 year old took over. Look out!

Piper and Grandma had a front row seat for all the craziness.

What do you do at a family reunion when it's super hot? Why swim in grassy water!

Or take a turn on the slip 'n' slide.

He's just so cute!

Daddy sent him down the slip 'n' slide. Although this looks like it could end poorly, he thought it was fun.

Just swinging with Aunt Angie.

Sweet Noah made me a special note with a little gum.

Sweet girl's 4 month picture. Love those chubby little hands and the curled up toes.

May...2014

Sweet little Hunter "reading" Good Night, Moon just a few months after his second birthday. (He's so smart!)

Noah's class got to go on a field trip to the World Bird Sanctuary. Of course, his two brothers and baby sister tagged along too. It was a little bit chilly, but they did not seem to mind!

Noah is looking through the eagle on the right.

Sweet little John in this one...of course, Noah is making sure he's doing it right.

Notice how he has to stick his little hands up there too. 

I think he might be a bit too big of the baby bathtub, but who can resist these sweet boys! Love these precious moments when they just want to be with each other and with us.

John's class hatched butterflies from cocoons. As a project, they also made caterpillars out of old egg cartons and put them in bags. When they weren't looking, the teachers attached wings to them, so they also turned to butterflies.

Milk coma. 

There are about 11 boys on our little street that are 8 or under. One family filled water balloons for the boys. They worked so carefully for about 45 minutes to fill them. Of course, the boys had them all popped in about 2 minutes. They had a really great time! 

Somehow, John ended up with orange balloon remnants in his ear. 

Sweet baby Pip, in her super cute Baby Legs!

I just can't get enough of this sweet sleeping beauty! And those cheeks!!

From time to time, when we need a little car maintenance, Uncle Brad is kind enough to get us a loaner to avoid sitting at the dealership for hours with many small children. They do not always have DVD players...and sometimes mommy can't figure out how to work them. Sometimes, desperate times call for desperate measures. 

Over Mother's Day weekend (2014, remember), one of our nephews got married in Ohio. I think this might have been our first real car trip with Piper. She did pretty well. It was fun to be with most of Greg's family and just enjoy each other.

Greg and his 3 brothers, Andrew, Ben, and Matt

When you leave your baby with Auntie Joanna, there is always a selfie on your phone when you return. 

Hunter and John watching a little TV while we all get ready for the wedding. 

One of the many advantages to older cousins: They play in the pool with your babies.

Noah was the ring bearer at the wedding. He was the most handsome one there! During the pictures, the photographer commented about how Noah was cooperating better than the groomsmen. We are so proud of our sweet boy!

Happy girl!

Boy Heaven: Field Trip to the Lego Store... With a bucket full of Legos.

"You make me Happy!"

Stroller full of sleeping babies...

...and one more in the car.

May 2014 also brought Noah's Kindergarten graduation! Hard to believe!! As last year, the preschool and Kindergarten graduation is done together and the kids do a circus. Noah was a "gator boy" (totally their idea). He and his buddy tamed alligators. We are just so proud of Noah and how he has excelled in school.

Taming the alligator.

Getting ready to drive the gator on the stage. 

Receiving his Kindergarten diploma from sweet Mrs. Ruchte.

What would a circus be without snow cones for everyone!?!

Last day of Kindergarten

Last day of 3 year old Pre-school

Just excited that his favorite playmates only have one more day of school!

Pretty smile!

3 Month Picture