Boys love shoes too

Owen needed a pair of shoes...his feet sprouted recently and I've been cramming his toes into smallish ones a few times too many.  So, before an attempt to meet Reuel for lunch today, we stopped by the mall.  Owen knows (and loves) the drill.  He stripped off shoes and socks and happily got his feet measured.  What I didn't expect was just how eager Asher would be to join in.  He was absolutely hilarious!  As the clerk went back to retrieve a pair to try on, Owen and Asher both crawled up on the bench, Asher took his shoes off, dangled his feet over the edge and waited, silently, and very still (very unusual behavior for this child!!).  While the clerk put the shoes on Owen's feet, Asher just watched and waited for his turn, totally solemn-faced and ready.  I had been debating a pair for Asher, but wasn't committed, but since he was so eager and the clerk could hardly restrain herself, we went ahead and measured his feet.  As he saw the measuring board coming to him, he stuck his little foot out to get ready.  Then, waited totally calmly for HIS shoes to arrive.  When the box came, he stuck both feet out straight ahead and waited.  Once shod, he slid down to the floor, bent over to look at his dandy feet, belly-giggled, then ran 5 laps around the store.  Those shoes were not coming off!  He wore them home, and I caught him looking at his feet over and over on the drive home and saying 'Doos!'.  His performance would give any little girl's vanity a run for the money!!

Movies

Heavy Lifting:
http://vimeo.com/24734333

Taste of Asher:
http://vimeo.com/24734532

Putting on a play with visiting friends:
http://vimeo.com/24735422
(Some grad school friends swung through town with their 5 and 7 year olds, kids Owen is fairly familiar with after a few visits with them over the years.  They have a blast together.  They put on this show for us...I shortened it quite a bit for publishing...and the way girls play involving getting married apparently threw Owen for a loop.  A handful of times since they left Owen has come to talk to me:  "Mommy, when I grow up I want to marry you."  Well Owen, I'm already married to Daddy!  He's my special husband!  Every woman only has one husband.  If it is good for you to get married, then God will bring you just the right girl for you, and you will be so happy to love her.  Boys never marry their mommies, just the special right girl for them.  "Oh.  Okay.  But will you not go away from me and leave?  I want to always be with you."  Owen, I will always be there for you in just the way you need me.

Loveburst.) 

Summer

 Playing with Sasha, sweet dog visiting with friends from grad school.

 When left to their own devices...play with water game!  (aka Big Mess Game)

Antics

Living with my two crazy-active boys is sort of like riding the big daddy roller coaster at the amusement park everyday.  Stay on edge, because you know the big drop is coming, and once it's over, there will be at least two good aftershocks.  It is just amazing we haven't yet made a trip to the...well, I'm not going to finish that sentence.  Today Asher fell off of the arm of a couch, was spilled off of a stepladder by his brother (mad that Asher was reaching a craft taped to the wall and pulling the google eyes off of it), scraped up the back of his thigh on the hearth brick, and was involved in about a hundred wrestling maneuvers with his brother, none of which resulted in paralysis, surprisingly.  Do you think I'm an inattentive mother?  Ask Reuel, I'm not.  I may have prevented 25 more dangerous episodes during the day.  I just can't possibly stay on top of all their antics.  And, overall, they are very coordinated and agile little boys, and not nearly as accident prone as some other children I've met.  Two days ago I took it upon myself to move the couch from Asher's bedroom into Owen's because Asher had sneaked by me for the too-many'th time, climbed the couch arm, and catapulted himself head first into his crib.  This resulted consistently in him landing on the front part of his neck, with his head flexed upward, and then completing a somersault from that absolutely hair-raising, spine-tingling, will-I-be-caring-for-a-paraplegic-tomorrow position.  And then, victorious, uproarious giggling.  One can say 'no' all one wants and give a swat, but when the action is seen only as glorious accomplishment, the couch must just be moved.  Asher's favorite new word is 'UMP!', which means 'jump' and is accompanied by said motion.  He's getting pretty good.  On Saturday some wonderful friends invited us to the Museum of Science with them, and in a split second, Asher had scaled the platform containing the T-Rex dinosaur bones, ran to the middle (out of arm's reach unless I myself also scaled the platform) and proceeded to DANCE.  And giggle.  The exhibit guard gave me dirty looks and came right over, despite seeing I was doing my absolute best to retrieve him.  Perhaps there is a general lack of restraint in our home, since we let them jump on beds and the couch in the computer room.  All I can say is our house isn't *that* big, and the winter is seriously long.  Guilty.  We may be starting sit-still training (sans movie) soon, though. 

Speaking of active, Owen is doing just fantabulously on his bike.  We take bikes and head to a local trail (loop) about 1/5 mile around, and Owen goes around...and around...and around.  The first time he headed round the loop in the opposite direction, he quickly realized there was a downhill.  I hear 'MOMMMMYYY!!!' as he's sailing down, I'm yelling, 'USE YOUR BRAKES!!' and then I see him drive off onto the grass next to the path until he'd slowed enough, and continue back on the path all without stopping/falling/dismounting accompanied by, 'IT'S OK, I'M NOT SCARED ANYMORE I FIGURED IT OUT!!'  Very cute.  And nice to avoid any scraped elbows.

Lots of wading pool playtime recently.  I was awaiting the shrieks when Owen turned the hose on Asher, but he is a tough kid.  That is some cooooold water coming out of the hose, and Asher takes it like a man.  Owen does not when the favor is returned. 

For snacks on Friday, I popped a bag of popcorn for the boys to share.  I did some emailing.  Owen runs over, "Mommy, you know the popcorn seeds before the popcorn is fluffy?  You know how I'm not supposed to bite those?  Look mommy, I split one in half!!!  [Opens mouth wide]  And see, I didn't crack up even one of my teef!  Not one!"  And in a similar vein, Owen comes over looking sheepish, "Mommy, I fink I just did something dangerous, but I didn't break my head at all.  Was it dangerous or not?"  Well, what was it Owen?  [Description of belly-flopping onto couch cushion put on the floor from arm-of-couch height or something similar I can't quite remember]  Yes, I think that is very dangerous.  It's not a good idea at all, please stop that.  "But Mommy, if it's not breaking my head or my bones why can't I do it?"  Owen, why do you think you shouldn't do that?  "Oh, you don't have time to take me to the hospital today."  (He learns!)