Growing, growing, growing

Kennon is growing like a little weed.  He is beginning to show signs of the pudgy little rolls I love so much on baby legs and arms which is a true sign of a healthy baby in my eyes.  He smiles and rolls from his belly to his back.  It is such a joy to see him changing and growing.

Kids of Character - Smoking Kills

Recently, on a rare occasion when only Brayden was in the car with me we were out running errands when we passed a woman in another car who was smoking.  The conversation went like this:

Brayden: "Mom, that lady is smoking.  Smoking is bad.  It kills."

Me:  "You're right.  Smoking is a very bad choice and the effects can kill you, but how do you know this."

Brayden: "Well, moooommmm, you told me that Papa K used to smoke and that his dog Sami died.  I just figured Papa's smoking killed Sami."

Me:  (after long pause to avoid laughing out loud) It didn't happen just like that, but you are right to some degree.  Smoking does kill.

Kids - their minds are so literal yet so very creative all in the same instant.

Summer Fun

We kicked off the summer fun with a quick trip to St. Louis.  It was really a Trader Joe's road trip for my mom, sister and I disguised as a special outting for the boys to Grant's Farm.  We bought TJ's out, had a great (hot) time at Grant's Farm and took the boys swimming.  The boys were attacked by the goats at Grant's Farm.  Now that we talk to others we realize those wild goats attack everyone.  Talk about being overserved.  Those goats drink from bottles all stinkin day and then still attack all the unassuming toddlers.  I think the bottom half of my shirt was consumed by a couple of them too.  Hogs!

I should note too Kennon was barely three weeks old and a real trooper. 

Mother's Day

I'm learning quickly that being mom to three boys under the age of five is a challenge, but certainly a challenge I am capable of taking on.....hopefully with style, grace and patience.  I just pray I teach them all the core values - faith, honesty, responsibility, hard work, compassion...the list goes on.  Each day offers an abundance of opportunities for me to help my boys grow into wonderful men.  I am so very thankful for each of them and their unique personalities.

Flowers in bloom

We are enjoying a fun filled summer and somehow managing to give the flowers a drink often enough that they are still pretty. This is a big accomplishment for us. Gardening and flowers are addictive. I'm learning to control my addiciton to stop by the greenhouse once a week to avoid having a completely overgrown flowerbed. Silly as it may sound I treasure the perinnials that originated in my grandparent's yards decades ago.

Fun on the Farm

One of our absolute favorite activities in the summer is hanging out at Nannie and Papa's on the farm.  It is always anyone's guess what we might be caught learning and doing while there.  We sit in the barn and relax and visit, jump on round bales, watch the garden grow, play on the tire swing, bale hay, feed cattle, ride the tractor and four wheelers, have cookouts and the list goes on. 

Brayden and Grayson love going on adventures in their JD Gator.  They haul sticks for Nannie and hay for Papa. 

Side note - for anyone who may be wondering - no, you cannot buy a shirt like the one my dad is wearing above.  It is a one-of-a-kind hand made number you can not find anywhere.  It is priceless.  Pricelessly hillbilly-esque, that is.  Joking aside, those cut off shirts are a sign of summer around my parents house.  Summer just wouldn't be the same without them.  Dad works in the hot sun most of the day and these beauties provide some much needed ventilation.  It amazes me how the simplest things sometimes become the "traditions" we cherish most.  These shirts are one of Dad's hallmarks.

Thank Heaven for Nannie B

This post is long past due as a very small tribute to my mom (also known affectionaly as Nannie B to her - now four - grandkids). We were very blessed for Nannie B to move in with us for two full weeks after Kennon was born. Having her here was like a dream. Her presence gave me the opportunity to focus on the baby and spend time with the older boys as we adjusted to life as a family of five. Brian's schedule was busier than ever those two weeks and his appearances at home seemed rare which made Nanny B's help even more valuable.


The picture above captured a rare moment when Nannie B was just relaxing while cuddling baby Kennon. The rest of the time she was busy doing laundry, shuttling Brayden and Grayson to and from school and their other activities. She also served as cook, housekeeper, laundress, nanny, shuttle driver, gardener, counselor, errand girl, recycling advisor, lactation consultant and - like any job - many other duties as assigned. We appreciated her help beyond words, but most of all we appreciated her loving company.

Thanks, mom, for being you. No one else could live life the way you do. I've said it before and I'll document it here again - if I am half the mom (and someday a friend) to my boys as you are to me I will proud.