February was a busy month for us. Well, that's silly to write because every day and every month feels busy right now. But, February was exceptionally busy, because of how it started, with:

THE BIG SILVER BOWL (insert scary music here)

We use the same silver bowl when our kids throw up. Yes, kind of gross, but you don't realize until you've cleaned up the carpet, the bedding, and anything else in its path that kids don't/can't aim very well.

Ella woke up and didn't want to get out of bed (very unusual, as she usually pops up) and didn't look very good. It was a Sunday and Eric graciously agreed to stay home with her...so I took the little kids and while we were at church, she began throwing up. So, Eric was quite the busy bee while we were gone. He did mounds of laundry, tended to Ella, cleaned the kitchen, etc. Have I mentioned how much I love this man? We were steeling ourselves for the dreaded, inevitable one kid starts throwing up and 4 hours later everyone else starts thing. But it didn't. And we were so grateful. And Eric, I'm grateful that your mom did such a good job training you!

On a much lighter note, Ella turned six on February 20. We had a fun day complete with swimming party, rainbow/ballerina cake (Ella's choice), and presents. Enough for one day? Oh, no! After our guests left, we began packing for an 18 hour trip to Florida with some of Eric's cousins in St. George Island. The kids traveled very well (maybe better than their mom) and we had a great time. Memories made. Sun soaked in. We needed that Vitamin D! Kids even got a sunburn (and baby Ava looked like a little raccoon because I didn't quite get the sunscreen all the way under her eyes). You would think that after three kids I would do better, but it was chilly that day, and they started out with hoodies on...I guess it warmed up enough for them show bare arms! Oh the guilt. One of the exciting parts of the trip was when a baby shark (dead) washed up on the beach. The kids touched it and Owen (who loves sharks right now but is also terrified of them) didn't want much to do with it.

A few funny things I want to remember that the kids are saying now:

Owen: Mom, I'm happy with you.

Ava: woof, woof! meow, meow. All gah (all gone)

Ella: Mom, I really want to ride a horse. I know how. You pull the reins back to make it stop.

Mom: Well, maybe at the family reunion we can try to ride a horse.

Ella: Mom, Jesus has reins too.

Mom: (thinking) I don't really understand what you mean.

Ella: Mom, you know. (sings) "Jesus reigns"

Mom: (trying not to laugh) Oh, I see.

And then I try to explain about homophones. or is it homonyms? I was a teacher! I've lost brain cells. But ask me to sing "itsy bitsy spider." I won't miss a word!

Finally, if you don't already know, we are expecting baby #4 in August. Funny how when I was pregnant with Ella, I recorded every movement, feeling, craving, pound, food eaten, milestone, etc. Now I really am not sure how many weeks I am. But oh what a blessing. We are excited...the kids are beyond thrilled... we are enjoying our sleep now. I can't wait to smell that little milky mouth baby breath again.

I don't want to be a big boy anymore....

We finally did it. Our dirty little secret of a 3 year old still using a binky was out....after a trip to the dentist confirmed what we already knew: 4 of the most adorable little teeth were starting to stick out due to the binky. We knew it was coming...we knew we needed to get rid of it...but life was just getting in the way and mama had her reasons....like, well, Ava joined the family and you should never take away a comfort item during a change. Okay, so she's a year and half now...so I guess that doesn't count....and well, he just loves it so much...and well, he's my little boy. But, I decided it was time and bravely concocted a plan: BRIBERY! The binky fairy would come visit Owie that night and leave him a gift for being a big boy. He had to leave all his binkies in a box so she could give them to other new babies that needed them. I was nervous but he did really well. He had a little trouble settling in and lots of questions, but he was so tired that night that he did go to sleep fairly quick and that was the end. After he went to sleep, we crept into his room and left him a train roundhouse and a little train (bought from a friend whose daughter didn't play with them anymore) and a note from the binky fairy, glittered all over. In the morning I heard lots of rattling and then Owie coming downstairs with his roundhouse and his little train. It was precious. He was almost hyperventilating, he was so excited. He is still sad and misses his binkies though at nap and bedtime and last night was the most sad I have seen him yet. He said, "Mommy, I don't want to be a big boy anymore. Can't those angels bring me my binkies back?" It was with such a sad heart. It made his mommy sad. Maybe one of the reasons I hadn't pushed him before now was because I didn't want him to be a big boy either. If I was psychoanalyzing myself, that would be my diagnosis. Just because I'm a sap, I saved the binkies. Growing up is hard. On the boy AND the mother!

It's all about teeth...

Well, the title of this post says it all...right now in the Lang household, everything seems to be revolving around someone's teeth. Last week Ella lost her first tooth. She had been telling us that it was loose for several weeks, and sad to say, we didn't really believe her until this last month. I actually think that she finally made it loose by her constant wiggling and sheer determination to lose one. It is a big deal in Kindergarten, because you get the fame and glory of losing a tooth AND you get to take home the "Tooth Bag." So it was fairly loose, but not hanging on by a thread kind of loose (the kind of loose that Uncle Montie wanted to tie a string to my tooth and slam the door and "it would come right out"). Anyways, she and Owen were wrestling around and he put a pacifier of Ava's in his mouth, Ella pulled it out and put it in her mouth (you're thinking, lovely, germ exchange) and then he grabs it out of her mouth and the tooth came too. So all this happens and they come running in and Ella has a tooth in her hand and a little blood in her mouth. For some reason, I squealed and then burst into tears...guess I was taken aback and not quite ready...but oh the wonder, the jubiliation, the conversations. So that night, she puts the tooth in an envelope, writes a little note to the "Tooth Fry" with her cute spelling, and puts it under her pillow. I am up late and just drifting off to sleep when I jolt awake and realize: I DIDN'T DO THE TOOTH EXCHANGE! So I scrounge around for a dollar and make the switch, tiptoe out of the room and go to bed. Our kids are really good sleepers. I mean, I know friends who have kids that are always getting into bed with them, waking up for drinks, waking up to get rocked, etc. We have been very blessed in this area. But for some reason, Owen wakes up from a bad dream, and Eric goes up to check on him. So he is sitting in the chair in his room with Owen (at about 3:00 a.m.) and Ella comes running in with the dollar flying overhead, as excited as can be. I slept through all of this. I love my husband.

It has been so fun to share this momentous occasion!

Secondly, Ava is really hurting with her teeth coming in. She has been such a sweetie all these months, but she is really miserable. So we will be glad when those next 2 teeth are in. She can say "doc" for dog, mama, dada, and sometimes she sounds like she's saying ELLAAAAAAA! She is quite the climber and gets around holding on to everything. (no walking yet) She seems to be growing up SO fast!!

Owie will be surprised this Friday: Eric is taking him to see Thomas the Train and ride on a train. He may pass out with excitement. It's been really chilly in the mornings, so I hope it's not too "brrry" and he says. I love all those little sayings.

Oh, and the cat lost a tooth too. Huh?????

Milestones

I guess that's what life is, isn't it?....a series of milestones that when put together...make up a whole string of weeks, months, and years. The last few years of ours can tend to be a bit of a blur: 3 kids in 4 1/2 years, 2 new businesses, a puppy, building a house. But every once in a while, the blur clears a little and I can spend a moment reflecting....sniff sniff. Our milestones in the last few weeks and the coming ones are big ones! Ella started Kindergarten, Owen turned 3 today!! and Ava will be 1 in just 15 days. So, mama is feeling a little sentimental these days. But oh they are good days!! In between the scraped knee, the before dinner meltdown, the occasional fighting over toys, there are so many good moments. Just wanted to share a few from recently and today....

Owen to Ella: "You shut the door on my feelings!" after she closed the playroom door before he could get out and apparently, hurt his feelings. He is so sweet and sensitive.

Ella at the mall for school shopping: "Where is the kids' apartment?" (department)

Ella: Mom, I promise I'll still be your little girl even if I grow up. I want to live with you guys forever! (me laughing now)

Ava is crawling and pulling up to stand and such a joy to us all. Always happy and smiling, except when her Daddy leaves the room...many tears...

Candyland today with Ella. Owen crying on the first day of her Kindergarten because he didn't want to "wose" (lose) Sissy. Ella looking so big and confident and saying, "Bye, Mom" and Mom was trying to swallow the lump in her throat when leaving the school on the first day. Ava patting my back when she hugs me. Those are my precious moments!! My prayer is that I can remember those moments when there are kids hanging on my leg, a dirty diaper is leaking on my shirt like today, or I am stressing about nothing that matters.

I know there will be many more milestones to come..they are wonderful and they hurt at the same time. Thankful that we are so blessed.

The Funnies

I'm living with them.  The funnies, that is.  My two big kids are keeping me in stitches these days. A lot of these conversations occur in the van as we're driving.  Like yesterday, when Ella said out of the blue,  "Mom, is it fun to drive?"

me:  "Yes, especially when you first start, when you are a teenager."

Ella:  "Does it tickle your tummy?"

me:  "Oh, do you mean does it make you nervous?  Well, maybe a little at first."

Ella:  "Well, when I'm a teenager, I'll drive Ava & Owen to school, and you and Daddy can get some rest."

Huh?

I laughed all the way home.  This girl has got some big plans.

I also love all the cute words they say, and I know I'll forget, so here are a few of them.

Owen:  Mommy, I need my cumbrella!  (umbrella)

Ella:  Mom, I got the pingernail polish for you. 

Owen:  It's too necky.  (don't know what that means, but something like too uncomfortable)

Owen:  I don't want to wose you (lose you)!  (hates anyone leaving)

Owen:  Daddy, you're a good daddy.  I wub you soo much. (Eric is crying now)

These are good times.

All in a Day's Work

Just for fun (and someday I can look back and laugh) I thought I'd jot down what I did today...did I get anything accomplished?

got up at 5:00 a.m.  nursed Ava.  back to sleep.  got up again at 7:00 a.m.  got ready.  cuddled with Ella.  fixed breakfast for Ella & Owen, fixed rice cereal for Ava.  Fed Ava.  Got Owen out of bed/changed diaper.  Got Owen & Ava dressed.  Took Owen potty.  Fixed Ella's hair.  Put clean sheets on my bed and Ella's bed.  Put Ava down for a nap.  Did 2 loads of laundry.  Cleaned kitchen and loaded dishwasher.  Ate a waffle.    (I already need a nap about now)  Took Owen potty.  Fixed lunch for kids.  Got Ava and nursed her.  got kids ready & loaded up for school.  Took Ella to school.  Took Owen potty. changed Ava.  fed Ava some pears for lunch.  Put Owen down for a nap which he didn't take.  Downloaded 500 pictures into my Kodak gallery.  Did another load of laundry.  Took Owen potty.  Loaded up kids  and got Ella from school.  Fixed the kids a snack. Fed Ava a bottle.  Put Ava down for a nap.  Turned a cartoon on for the kids.  Started dinner.  Folded some laundry.  Downloaded more pictures.  Took Owen potty.  Let Owen choose some underwear (first time).  Hopeful for a few minutes until he pooped in the Lightning McQueen underwear.  Clean up the mess on the potty and in the underwear.  YUCK!  Reorganized the playroom shelves.  Starting reorganizing the attic.  Finished dinner.  Served

 dinner on the patio.  Cleaned up dinner.  Fed Ava some more pears.  Started baths.  Loaded dishwasher.  Cleaned up the potty on the floor (he went by himself but couldn't get shoes off). Gave kids a bath.  Put laundry away.  Nursed Ava.  Gave kids vitamins.  Watched daddy wrestle match with kids.  Brushed teeth, read a book, put Ava down.  Dowloaded more pics.  Visited with Eric.  Started the dishwasher.  Had a snack...... and now I'm done (as in headed for bed!!).

O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A

OK!  So that's what I've been hearing a lot of around here lately.  Every hour.  Sometimes every half hour.  And more than not, about every 5 minutes.  From my 5 year old.  She sings.  A lot.  And I have to admit, she's pretty good.  She is so fun to watch and listen to right now, because things are starting to connect in her head, like:  tying shoes, directions (north, south), other states (will this become embarrassing soon when she can name more states than her mother?), months of the year, what makes it rain, etc. etc. etc.  I could go on and on.    She also told me today that she sure didn't want to break my special bowl from China.  I realized then that she was carrying my china sugar bowl across the kitchen.  I busted out laughing.

And she's not the only one making me laugh around here....Owen protesting as I was getting him dressed this morning:  "Oh man!  You messed up my hair!  Now it's all tangled!"  He also told me how he cried lots of tears when I went to "Zonas"  (Arizona last week).  What a sweetie!

And little Ava.  Just pure joy.  Happy, loving and cuddly.  

Thankful to God for these sweet babies and days like today!