Magic Moments

So long, January! You will not be missed! I'm not one to normally dislike January. Usually I declare January our month of hibernation and we lay low....we eat soup, drink hot cocoa, stay home and be cozy. However, this January has felt like we were living in a black hole. We were sick for the first half of the month. We are enduring the deep freeze with frigid temps that minnesota is famous for, we wake up at 7:30 every morning and it's STILL dark, and we all have a case of the winter blues. The only thing January gets credit for is the fact that I read four novels and 1 non fiction book which is sadly more than I've probably read in 3 years combined. Mostly I am ready for this month to be over. Spring is still a long way off.  It's so far in the future that I don't even allow myself to think about it, but February sounds better than Jaunary. I hope it brings sunshine, longer days, and a renewed spirit! Although we have not enjoyed this month, Tom is in the "...

For Christmas, Aiden asked Santa to bring him Captain Hook's Skull Island Play Set. Of course, Santa delivered and Aiden has spent hours playing Peter Pan and Captain Hook. Santa must have miscalculated and made too many Island Play Sets because the day after Christmas all the left overs went on clearance. I suppose the stores needed to make room for Peter Pan's Skull Rock Play Set...a completely different toy in the mind of a 4 year old. Aiden spied this toy right away and has been talking about it since....for about 2 weeks, but that is a long time in the life of a 4 year old. And to be honest, it's a long time for a Mama to hear about it too. I had told Aiden maybe it could be a birthday present. I tucked it away in my mind as maybe something for Valentine's Day. To be honest, it was hard to see why we needed the Skull Rock Play Set when we already had the Skull Island Play Set, Peter Pan's Tree House, and Bucky...Jake's Ship from Jake and the Neverland pira...

Sage is learning to pray. By pray I mean he can fold his hands. Sage sitting with his hands folded is probably the cutest thing I have ever seen and it lasts about 2 seconds before he continues to try and leap off the bed. It's a start, right? A step in the right direction to say the least. We pray that our home is a place where his heart warms to God and that his prayers develop into the prayers of a wise man after God's own heart. Take 1 Take 2 Take 3 And he's off!

Stories (Prince Caspian in the Chronicles of Narnia) and snacks Stories and snuggles Do they look like they are getting sleepy and ready for bed?  Hah! I think not. Despite my best efforts, those little boys never calm down for bed.

I love the age when babies seem to have developmental explosions! It seems as if my children never sleep when their minds are developing, but watching the learning curve during the day makes up for the frequent wakings at night...and I do mean frequent. Sage's communication skills are expanding!!! I get so frustrated when he wants something and I can't figure out what it is, so any form of communicating is welcome around here. Sometimes I don't think he is paying any attention to me when I sign with him, or for him, or show him how to do things. But then, lo and behold, he'll use the new sign I taught him or do something by himself. I've always thought his receptive language was well developed....and I still think that. He is able to follow simple commands (if he chooses...he's a toddler people, with a mind of his own!). Today he started using some signs without being prompted!! He still gets some signs confused, and he think the sign for "all done" is...

Peter Pan was a gift from Grandmommy and he and Aiden are fast friends. Can you believe that this little boy is going to Kindergarten in the Fall? If I sent him away to school I'd miss out on moments like these. Now why would I want to do that? I just can't be old enough to have a Kindergartner, nor can I be grown up enough to make decisions about a course of education for my child. Why, oh why, can't he be 4 years old forever?

We don't play sissy games in this house. There are no tea parties, dollies, or fancy things. We play games for real men...games like Knights and swords and fighting.  And, since I'm the number one source of entertainment around here, I've learned to put away the fancy things and join in on a good games of Knights. I've even learned appropriate things for a Knight to say. The games, which always make me laugh, go something like this: My Knight, Sir Bucket Head, has waged many battles against Aiden's Knight, Sir Feather Hat. They battle to the death for control of the Stately Castle with their loyal Horses, Friendly and Nice, by their side.  Sir Bucket Head (which is appropriately named as you can see from the picture) said to Sir Feather Hat (spoken in my most knightly voice): "If you don't leave my castle at once I will have you beheaded!" Sir Feather Hat's response had me rolling with laughter. In Aiden's deepest voice he said: "Wh...