Catch-Up

Just in the past few weeks Jude's personality and determination has gone to new level. I am learning he is very routine-oriented. He likes to have certain stuffed animals, at ALL times...while eating, riding in car, walking around house, sleeping. Luckily he'll settle for one or two different ones, so if we misplace the special bear he'll take the brown puppy or little cow as a close second. This picture captures another routine he has gotten used to. Either after bath time or after Micah has gone potty, Jude confiscates the potty, which converts to a step stool. He pushes it over to the lights and proceeds to turn the light and fan on and off. He lets out a loud cackle when he gets the fan to go on.

Pray for me. I fear that there are many battles that lie ahead involving what he thinks needs to be part of his routine and reality.

Random, but oh-so-cute. Special time reading books with daddy before bed is cherished by this cheesy little one.

Like I said, he's cheesy.

Happy Fourth of July!

I worked during the day on the Fourth, but we celebrated on the 3rd down at my sister's place. My cousins from Ohio AND China were back to visit. It was great to be re-united with family that we rarely see. Micah and Jude had a blast riding the four wheeler, playing with kittens, getting dirty and watching their mother-yes me- bottle feed calf. I was a slobbery sticky mess after that ordeal!

While I worked on the Fourth, Jason took the boys to the Coralville parade and then BBQ'd with some friends who live near the parade route. The boys crashed before they even got home and took nice long naps for daddy. We enjoyed the rest of the evening and the next day as a family. It had been entirely too long since that had happened.

Another one of Jude's new favorite past-times involves putting a bucket or box over his head and walking around the house. It makes me nervous, but he loves it. That boy is fearless!

Micah being sweet. His sensitivity comes out in the funniest ways.

Grandma Cindy came to visit while Daddy was gone. She was a huge help and came just as I was ready to fall into a heap on the floor. The boys loved having her around, rough-housing with her, reading books, and going on walks in the awesome new collapsable wagon she got us.

The only thing they didn't like was holding still for a picture. I'm not sure that anything short of Benedryl and bribery with candy of some-fashion will make these boys hold still long enough to get a good pose.

Since neither of those are an option in my book we'll have to settle for this snap-shot.

These boys love sunglasses. Jude is slowly becoming a fan, but won't leave on the Baby Bandz my sister bought just for him. I'm not sure whose sunglasses Micah has on. I think they're his friend Claire's. We found them one day after faith family.

While we had a lot of fun over the past few weeks, the pace at which the fun happened is not sustainable. We hope to slow down a little in the coming weeks and enjoy the summer while it lasts.