Summer!

A couple signs of summer...

 A driveway FULL of bikes, trikes and scooters,

 Lots of time outside (and for Cros that means lots of time in the stroller!)

Ice cream cones!!

And of course, packing up for Summer Project. I wish I had a picture of our van...8 weeks of gear for a baby and two toddlers. I suppose Tim and I brought some clothes and games too:) Anyways, we are in Colorado for the AIA Project and I will post some pictures soon:)

Ring Bearer

Tim officiated a wedding the other weekend for Matthew Johnson and Rachel Flowers, two people we have gotten to know through Cru. Matthew is a student at UND that Tim has the privilege of discipling, and Rachel interned with us this past year. They also asked Carter to be their ring bearer and he was excited about this task for weeks before the big day!

   Carter bonded with the flower girl and had to "drag" her down the aisle with him:)

Looking good! Carter really likes getting dressed up. He kind of strutted around in his suit and got pretty excited when people told him he was handsome.

 I had no idea how he would do but he walked down the aisle with confidence and excitement! 

Kairos Time

I read an article a couple of months ago that has stayed with me. It was funny, insightful and hit me right where I am at in the midst of motherhood. The author describes two different types of time, chronos and kairos:

"Chronos is the hard, slow passing time we parents often live in.
Then there's Kairos time. Kairos is God's time. It's time outside of time. It's metaphysical time. It's those magical moments in which time stands still. I have a few of those moments each day. And I cherish them."

It is a crazy, wild journey raising three young boys and sometimes life happens so quickly that I miss the kairos moments. 
But the other day, I walked into the room and saw the three amigos...having a little brother bonding time! And I even got the camera out in time to capture it:)
I'm praying I'd have eyes to see all the blessings in each day and give thanks to God, the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17)!

Big Weekend...

 #1 Nana and Papa came to town!

 #2 We celebrated Crosby's dedication at church

 #3 The boys got backyard hair cuts

 #4 Carter learned to ride a bike and Cooper started to get the hang of their new scooter

#5 Cooper moved into his Big Boy Bed!!

I'm pleasantly surprised at how well he is doing! I figured he might abuse the new found freedom or the two of them might start a rebellion but so far, so good:)

Fighting Over Girls...Already!

 Carter and Coops are best of friends and also intense competitors. I never thought at ages 2 and 3 they would be fighting over girls but it has happened! The other weekend we were at a lunch at church and Cooper was in his high chair playing peek-a-boo with an older girl. Carter finished his meal, got down and went over the girl and started holding her hand. Cooper got very upset and when he finished his meal he ran over and grabbed her other hand. I was afraid they were going to rip with poor 3 year old in half! She did seem to sort of like the attention. 

Then the other day, Kimmy, our friend and babysitter came over to play. As we were all walking to the park Carter asked Kimmy if she would marry him. Wow. Then Cooper jumped in a shouted, "ME TOO!!!!" The conversation proceeded:

Kimmy: Well, do you have a ring Carter?

Carter: No. How would I get one?

Kimmy: You'd have to sell some toys.

Carter: Oh, ok, nevermind!

Not quite Romeo yet:)

Tattoos and Mohawks

We had yet another stir crazy morning the other day. Crosby finally fell asleep for his morning nap and we needed a plan...quickly! Not sure whose idea it was but we landed on tattoos and mohawks for our morning fun. The boys got into it. The neighborhood was scared. Booya!

My favorite part of the day though was when we went to the park in the afternoon. Carter had chosen a snake tattoo that he put on his belly. As we passed a lady on our way, Carter asked her if she wanted to see his tattoo. She said yes with some hesitation. Then he pulls up his shirt and launches into a sermon on the bad snake in the garden with Adam and Eve! Hillarious. She looked quite startled:)

3x the Craziness, 3x the Fun!

  They hug a lot, laugh a lot, fight a lot, play a lot...

 I guess Cros is mostly just along for the ride at this point. Things will really heat up when he starts moving and shaking!

 But for now, the boys are rough and tough and wrestle all day long while Cros just rolls out of harms way (or right into it and then I play referee). 

 I sort of wonder if Cros is thinking, "Will you put that camera down and SAVE ME??!!"

Crosby is 7 Months!

Crosby Charles-can I just say that we love you?! You are so sweet and smiley, you laugh so easily, you put up with so much craziness even though you can't join in yet (yet being the key word)! You cut your first 2 teeth this past month and I'm guessing more are on the way. You have also started to say "Da Da". It's pretty sweet listening to you talk and coo and giggle.

 Look at those sweet smiles! 

 I promise you that I watch out for you and tell your brothers to get off of you! They mean well but don't realize you can't defend yourself yet:)

 There we go-that was a little sweeter:) Look at those thighs...we think you might be our lineman but if you don't want to play football I'll be okay with that!

 I also promise that I won't dress you the same as your brothers forever...

But while you are young I can't resist!! 

Carter is 3 Years + 9 Months!

 What a month! You demolished our bedroom dresser, asked Kimmy, (our friend and babysitter) to marry you, and have all the sudden desired some "privacy please" while you are going to the bathroom! And wowza you keep us so entertained with the things you say!!

Carterisms from the past month:

-"Can I get dressed all by myself? I want to show you how handsome I am!"

-"Can we go find ADELE and tell her she makes great music?!"

-"Mom, our God is the FAMOUS, GREAT, God!!"

-Yelling across the street: "HEY MAILMAN! WHAT IS YOUR NAME? My name is Carter. Thanks for doing the mail!!"

-I was wearing a shirt with some beading and his eyes got big and he put his hands on my shirt and said, "Wow, mom! I LOVE the twiggles on your shirt!" Hmmmm, not sure where that one came from!

-I overheard this conversation the other day:

Carter: "Cooper you are my best friend. I love you soooooo much! Can I have that toy you have?"

Cooper: "No"

Carter: "No? What?" It was like he was soooo surprised his flattery didn't win Cooper over!!

-"Mom, the leaves just got winded away!" I like that replacement for blown away....so clever!

Cooper is 2 Years + 3 Months!

Cooper, Cooper, Coopity, Coop John! You are so fun, sweet, wild, energetic and adventurous. I've said this month after month but we need to keep our eyes on you AT ALL TIMES! You like to sneak off and get into all sorts of trouble. Here are a couple of highlights from the past month:

-You keep putting your finger in people's faces and say, "eat my finger". No idea why or where you got that from!

-When we were frantically trying to get Cros to take a bottle one night you disappeared. I noticed the silence and absence so I went to find you and you had your head in the toilet trying to lap water...ugh!

-Almost every night when dad asks who we should pray for you yell, "Mimi, Grandpa, Papa and Nana!!!"

-Your favorite game right now is "Mimi, Grandpa, Nana, Papa". You and Carter ask me every day to get in the van and pretend to go see the grandparents. Most of the dials and knobs have been ripped off so I don't let you play as often anymore but man, you LOVE that game!

-You love your green blanket but for some reason you call it your blue blanket (bu banket). Probably because Carter's blanket is blue and he calls it his blue blanket...random but cute.

-You also have started to disappear when you need to take a dump! TMI?

-When you run you go all out with your head forward and both arms back. It looks like you could take off like an airplane or eat cement!

-You love a good debate. Most things that Carter suggests you say "no" to or suggest something different. We often overhear a good "yes", "no", "yes", "NO" battle between you and Carter.