Love You Forever

" The baby grew and grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and he took his mother's watch and he flushed it down the toilet. Sometimes his mother wpuld say, This kid is driving me crazy!"

But at nighttime when that two year old was quiet...she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, backband forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang: 

I'll love you forever

I'll like you for always

As long as I'm living 

My baby you'll be. 

-excerpt from Love You Forever

And then...while I was actually giving him a snuggle before nap time he cracked a major fart and burst out laughing. Oh Cooper. ☺️

Random Words With Abby

Me: Wow girl, that was very loud and unexpected!

Abby: Yes well, unexpected is my last name. 

The other day she stumbled on a bouncy ball Hannah had lost. I told her she needed to return it to Hannah, the conversation continued as follows:

Abby: Actually I think I'll just go put it in my special thing drawer and hide it from Hannah. 

Me: How will that be fun? Then you will never be able to play with it!

Abby: Well I will just keep it there and wait until Hannah dies and THEN I can bring it out and play with it. 

...Ok psycho! Think you might be waiting awhile! Haha 

Some quick thoughts on Cooper...first of all though a mostly easy going kid he has this intense, stubborn, single mindedness that is, at times, exhausting. If he's pitching a fit and you pick him up to move him elsewhere to throw his tantrum he will roll his little legs up into his chest like a roly poly bug so you can't really sit or lay him down, or he stiffens up like a two by four that for some reason you can't seem to be able to stack anywhere!!

He is the easiest kid to put to sleep ever. And if he misses a nap he does great if you have him out and about or outside in general. But put him indoors at home and suddenly that missed sleep becomes magically evident. 

I am also seriously considering giving him the nickname Bear. As in Bear Grylls. The things this kid eats and doesn't even bat an eye at!  Not just tastes but actually consumes! I truly believe he'd give the hardcore outdoorsmen Bear Grylls a run for his money in the staying alive whilst consiming the weirdest and grossest fare to be found department. I forsee manly camping trips with his daddy and Uncle Shane where he's cool eating nothing but berries, raw fish and the occasional goats eye. 

He really loves to sing. Since he was tiny (tinier) he's bounced to the beat of things like the washer and dryer. And he will sing along with the girls songs or make up his own with a "la la la." 

 I hope he doesn't lose that ever because music is one of the best gifts to have I believe. You can always keep it with you. I hope he always sings!

He also has an awful lot of love to give. He is always good about checking in during his adventures for a good snuggle or hug and the kisses he makes sure to give each person at bedtime are the best. He's a pretty great little man. 

Sure am so very glad God blessed me with him for a son. 

Confidence at its finest. 

Making Banana Pancakes

As a kid I can remember Saturday mornings. My dad was in charge of Saturday morning breakfasts and it was either his scrambled eggs and really yummy skillet potatoes he'd whip up or pancakes. Most often it was pancakes. We looved us some pancakes. After making them for awhile he started the "guess the mystery spice game."  Each time he made pancakes he'd mix it up with a different ingredient and see if we'd notice and could guess. Sometimes molasses, sometimes vanilla, cinnamon etc...

I'm certain now it started in part to break the monotony of chocolate chip pancakes every. Single. Time. :)

I find myself doing the same things now for my kids. Each time I make them I try a little something different...but of course we can't steer far from the chocolate chips. That's one ingredient that's a must. How fun will it be if my kids grow up and start the same tradition with their families!? See dad. Look what you started. :)

As a side note in relation to yesterdays post...Hannah still hadn't had her pancakes yet today. Remember how I told you once I told them we were having stew no one would be hungry?? Ya. Well...not to name names but a certain oldest child is having her stew for breakfast. She's trying to wait me out. I think her logic is that if it's lunchtime I won't make her eat the stew. Ha! Jokes on her! Meanwhile, I have the delicious pancakes with secret ingredients displayed beautifully on a plate so she gets the full effect of what she's missing. She's pretending not to care...but I know better. Please. I make darn good pancakes. This she knows. ;)

Today's moments are brought to you by the letter A as in we are almost to the end of the day and the letter B...as in is it bedtime yet, and the letter C for when will the craziness end!? ...Also, the letter E for exhausted. 

Some days I wonder why I waste words. Why I even bother to use my voice. I could seriously talk like the Swedish Chef or Animal and get the same results some days. 

Rain is pouring and no one wants to be inside, and friends it is mayhem up in here. The natives are restless and are complaining of hunger.  I'll cure that in no time when I tell them we are having stew for dinner, suddenly no one will be hungry. 

Abby and I just had a "Let It Go" duet in the kitchen which rivaled the original. She plays a mean spatula. 

There's talk of the girls sleeping in a fort tonight...based on the rest of the day this may be a miracle. 

Temporary peace. 

Happy Friday to ya friends.