Sisters, Supermom and Sunshine in Sacramento

Last week my two little sisters (Andrea and Emily) drove out with their 3 kids and my mom to visit us. What a fun-filled chaotic week. The great thing about my family is that you can do everything or nothing and still have a great time. All of the cousins had so much fun together. The first day they did a lot of chalk coloring outside, riding bikes, waving to the garbageman (a favorite pastime my boys introduced to their cousins), playing on the swing set, eating plums, and going to the hotel to swim in the cool pool and warm up in the hot tub.

On Wednesday we all dressed in orange (easier to keep track of our kiddos) and went to 6 Flags. It was perfect weather. Our kids' favorite amusements were the animal shows. Caleb and his 20 mo. cousin, Jonas, seemed especially into the pirate, seal, and sea otter show. We all thought the shark tunnel was really amazing. Emily's kiddos, Conner and Mikayla were totally into the thrill of the roller coaster. Since roller coasters do two of Daniel's biggest "no nos", going fast, and going up high, we separated for a little while and had fun at the killer whale and dolphin show. While we were watching the cougars, someone came by and taunted them with a nearly life-size leopard stuffed animal. The cougars went crazy and were trying to bite at the fence and run around looking for a way out. My boys loved it. Caleb was on Nate's shoulders and kept whacking him on the head and shrieking in delight. Liam said his favorite ride was the jumping frogs and the swings. (I rode it with him and I thought they were fun too). Grandma was heaven sent (as usual). She was the extra set of arms and legs that we needed to keep up with our rascals, and much of the time was a designated photographer, stroller controller, and babysitter (watching the babies that were still too small to ride the rides). It was a really fun day but why does 6 Flags close at 6 PM in a warm sunny place like CA? Honestly, the kids might only have lasted one more hour before they all had to sleep walk to the car--but one more hour would have been fun. I guess that's a good sign. We all left tired, but with smiles on our faces.

After driving back to our home we had pizza and celebrated Caleb's first birthday. His brothers and cousins would have been more than willing to show him what he was supposed to do with a chocolate poky puppy cake. Instead, he preferred to try and stay clean--weird. I guess he must have been too worn out by all of the fun at the park.

On Thursday we enjoyed a laid back morning playing at home. Then we picnicked at Livermore Park. It is so fun! There is a big built-in waterfall for the kids to play under and the water is circulated down into a little stream with a drain at the bottom. The kids spent hours floating things down the stream (anything from boats to flip flops), chasing each other with buckets of water or squirt guns, sitting and splashing, and running under the waterfall. Livermore Park is one of our family favorites and it was so fun to share it with our cousins. On the way home we stopped for some ice cream while Andrea and Emily hit the outlets to do a little shopping. For dinner we all went to the Spaghetti Factory. The kids were rowdy, but considering how hard we'd been playing I think they all did pretty well. We did joke that the bus boys were all drawing straws for who had to clean up after our mob left. (It was probably good for his sanity that Nathan had to work late and had us just pick something up for him!

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Friday, we went to Old Sacramento. We had to go to the candy shop that lets you eats candy for free while you are in their store (you only pay for what you take out with you). Then we checked out the train tracks and the river boat, took lots of pictures, and ended up at the Train Museum. All of the cousins loved climbing aboard the big trains. One of the engineers was especially kind to take pictures with our group. We sang "Choo Choo" (the song we all learned from Supermom and have now taught to our kids) to him for his trouble. He smiled--but I wonder if his hearing aid was turned down!?? Caleb's birthday presents got opened that night--not really by him, but who could blame 2 five-year-olds and 2 three-year-olds for wanting to help! Grandma and Grandpa got him a flip the flap Bible board book (very cute-a great one to bring to church), little boats that will be perfect for our next outing to Livermore park, a ball popping spinny toy that makes Caleb giggle, a new outfit and a little soft stable with animals from IKEA. Caleb instantly loved the animals, but the three-piece stable took two of us an hour to figure out (laugh if you want, but I'm convinced instructions from IKEA are meant to be a big joke on the consumer). Now Caleb loves trying to crawl inside with the animals--he manages to get his head in the door but so far he can't get the rest in. All of the cousins got PEZ treats and Star Wars action figures from Grandma. Along with shirts from the train museum. Wow! What a load. We are so spoiled.

At the end of the week I realized that there were 6 kids here, just like when I was growing up. Somehow, my mom managed to keep all 6 of her crazy bunch alive (and amazingly happy most of the time) without all the extra hands that we had here. She is Supermom and now Super Grandma. I'm so glad that Super Dad (Grandpa) let her come play with us. I love my sisters so much. I watch them and learn how to be a better mom and person. I am so glad they thought I'd be worth the trip...or at least my cute kids or at least CA is! (I know it's not a fun car ride with little kids.) The only things that might have made it even more fun would be for Heather (my older sister, now living in Germany) to join us and for the dads to take the kids for a day. Maybe next time! As Daniel and Liam waved bye from the fence, they turned to me and said, "Mommy we miss our cousins." (The cousins had only driven as far as our next door neighbors' at that point.) They also wanted to know when we could drive to the mountains to go to Grandma's house. What a week! Let's do it again soon.

I Don't Want to Go to Heaven

Yesterday, while we were eating lunch Daniel said to me, "Mom, I don't want to go to Heaven." I thought someone had possibly said something to him about death, but I couldn't think of anyone with reason. He did just start a 4 week long preschool last week. Maybe someone in his class. So I asked him why he didn't want to go to Heaven. Daniel's answer was surprising, "I am scared to be up high! I might look down or fall." I had to laugh a little to myself about his response, but to my Daniel, a fear of heights is very real. I explained to him that when we go to live with Heavenly Father that he takes away all of our fears and hurt. I'm not sure he quite believed me when I told him that with Heavenly Father he would no longer be scared of heights. He also told me he would miss me if I wasn't there yet. (Good thing he said yet.) I told him I'd beat him there and that I'd be so excited for him to be there with me. Kids are a huge motivation to do what's right. I guess it's good Daniel is thinking about Heaven-- we should all contemplate what that eternity will mean to us and our loved ones.

#1 Piranha or Puppy?

When Liam turned one we made a Very Hungry Caterpillar cake for him, which fit him quite well but was also the subject of the quilt that Grandma Bohman made for him. Now that Caleb is turning one we thought we'd borrow an idea from Grandma Bohman's quilt again. Caleb's has the Poky Little Puppy on it. My choice does not infer that Caleb is slow in any way, although he has taken a little longer to walk than my other two (which is fine by me!). Actually, I think the poky puppy fits more because of his exploration, tendency to put everything into his mouth, and if we're being honest, his attraction to the water in the toilet. A few months ago I considered making him a piranha cake-a nick name he'd acquired (luckily he isn't biting me so much anymore--how do you make a cute piranha cake?).

It's funny how the only time you really want your little ones to make a mess, they don't want to. But if you're late for an appointment or church, or practically any other day, they manage to smear all of their meal into their hair, behind their ears, on their clothes, and create a mine field with any they're not wearing. I made Caleb's pokey puppy cake chocolate to maximize the messy photo op. (After all, you only turn one once.) I stripped him down to his diaper and put him on a plastic tablecloth with his cake...ready for the ooey gooey mess. I don't know if Caleb thought it was really a puppy and therefore not all that appetizing, or if he'd ODed on pizza, or perhaps he was just too tired and distracted from having so much fun with cousins. At first it looked like he was petting the cake. Then I tried to give him a little piece to get him interested. He had a little taste, but that was it--he wasn't diving in for more. (He is my son so turning down chocolate in any form isn't normal behavior.) I broke off another piece which he accidentally stuck his foot in. He really didn't like the sensation of cake and frosting on his foot, he even tried to clean it off. With the cake right in front of him he straightened his legs and crawled over it, careful not to touch it! I sat him down by it about three times! In the end he did get a bit messy, mostly through accidental encounters and a little help from me. After we plopped him in the sink for a bath his brothers entered the crime scene and wondered why I got after them for doing exactly what I was telling Caleb to do. (Unfortunately, they weren't worried about the cake on their feet as they walked out of the kitchen.) It was actually quite funny.

I love Caleb so much. He is so sweet. He is generally very even tempered and happy. He loves to try to play alongside his big brothers especially on their train track (at least until he gets sent packing for messing up their game or gets tackled one too many times). Caleb has a fun-loving smile. He also likes to clap. He is an explorer, especially outside. When anyone new comes near him he acts shy by snuggling into me and holding on like a little spider monkey. Although there are times I'd like a little break, his hugs melt my heart. He's still not very interested in walking, but seems very excited to pull himself up on things. He's the first of our boys that's necessitated using the plastic teething protectors along the crib rail. They do work, but not in the way intended. Caleb uses his teeth to pry them off and then he lays down in his crib and chews on them. Whatever works I guess. Caleb has a tender heart. If his brothers are playing loud and rough or if he hears someone else crying it is very upsetting to him. I love his giggle and so do his brothers (we all love to tickle him). He gets really excited when he sees animals (anything from Nathan's fish to animals as the zoo.) At the end of our prayers Caleb likes to add his "Amen" (sometimes it's clearer than others) to the rest of the family's. He likes a gentle push in the swing but he looks terrified when Daniel swings him. He doesn't like being thrown up in the air or swung around. He loves to dig with his hands in the sand or dirt--or flowers if I'm not looking. He has grown so much in the past year. I can't imagine our family without him. I am so lucky to be his Mommy. I love you Caleb.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

What a week....so far! On Monday, the boys and I went to Six Flags to celebrate a friend's birthday (Happy Birthday Elijah!). We had a great time. Daniel especially loved the whale and dolphin shows as well as visiting the lions, giraffes, tigers, elephants, and reptiles. We did get Daniel on a few rides, despite his fear of heights and speed. Before each ride started he got the operator's attention and kindly (and desperately) asked, "Could you please go slow?" That's our Daniel. After many reassurances he enjoyed driving a safari jeep past camels and around some desert tortoises. Daniel mustered up enough courage to enjoy Harold the Helicopter (although he kept swatting Liam's hands away from the up/down controls). We sort of tricked him into the Bertie the Bus ride (he didn't know it went up off the ground and around in a circle), but once he was on he did very well. Daniel rode Thomas the Tank Engine 4 times. (During one of the rides I heard one of Daniel's friends say, "This is so boring!" --which could be translated as "Daniel gives it a 10!") Daniel took home a map of the park (he loves maps just like his Daddy) and has been entertained for the past few days telling us about all of the animals that missed that we can go see next time.

Liam was, as always, more adventurous. He not only enjoyed all of the kiddy rides, he also asked to ride a spinny gorilla ride with me. It turned out to be one that goes so fast that both riders are squeezed together like Siamese twins, joined at the hip, taking up one seat instead of the original two. As it started Liam had both of his hands up in the air. As it continued to speed up his hands got closer and closer to the bar until he was holding on for dear life. He looked a little sick and the ride seemed to last forever, but at the end he gave me two thumbs up and giant smile. I am impressed by his bravery (although I don't think he'll ask to go on it again). Liam also really enjoyed watching and impersonating the penguins.

Caleb is always happy to be outside. It was the perfect day for it, slightly overcast with no rain and a slight breeze (high 70s). I carried him in the backpack all day. I think the animal shows were a bit too loud for him. He did seem to like watching the elephant giving rides, and the giraffes. He loved when I let him play in the water and crawl on the ground underneath the jungle gym. He entertained himself by trying to catch my pony tail and pull it out. Then I would catch his hands and nibble them and he would giggle hysterically and start all over again. He didn't sleep the whole time (we stayed until 5:30 or 6)! I think Caleb is always afraid he'll miss something if he dozes off. Finally, he let his head nod as we walked back to the parking lot.

We had so much fun, but this is one tired Mommy.

On Tuesday I paid the price. Although I didn't hurt carrying Caleb all over the park, I must have worn my back out. I merely reached out to play with Caleb like always and my back went out. It isn't as bad as it has been in the past, but Tylenol with Codine is a necessity.

On Tuesday night I went to bed and woke up at 2 AM to Caleb whimpering. I went in to check on him and found him with a temperature of 104.5. We gave him some Tylenol and I did my best to hold him (not easy with a bad back). He threw up twice (both times on Mommy). He didn't have a good Wednesday until about 10:30 PM when something kicked in and he decided to crawl around and be wiggly like he usually is (earlier in the day). Today (Thursday) he still has a mild fever and an advise nurse talked me into taking him in. The doctor confirmed my opinion that it is just a virus that will likely last another day or so.

After the appointment, Liam managed to stuff the toilet with sufficient toilet paper to get it to overflow, covering the whole bathroom floor all the way to the hall, before he came to tell me. Naturally, Caleb thought the bathroom had become a water resort just for him to splash and play in. He was not a happy camper when I made his brothers stand guard at the door to prevent his re entrance. It took a lot of plunging and two loads worth of towels to get the bathroom into recovery.