slices of life, volume 4

Slices of Life, Volume 4



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 June 14, 2013

We went strawberry picking to celebrate Father's Day (an annual tradition, now that it's happened two years in a row).

Aaron plopped himself in the middle of a row and announced "I'll sit here and point to the strawberries I want you to pick, and you can pick them for me."

And Sam complied.  

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June 18, 2013

Aaron: Are you getting strong from eating your vegetables, Daddy?
Isaac: Yeah, see my muscles?
Aaron: No, where?
Isaac: Here, see it (he flexes)
Aaron: I can't see it.  It's too small.  It's miniscule.

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June 19, 2013

(Talking about what happens after you graduate 12th grade)
Me: Then you go to college and study whatever you want to be when you grow up.
Aaron: I'm going to be a teacher.
Me:  That's cool.  What are you going to teach?
Aaron: I'm going to teach kids how to be nice to each other.  And I'm going to tell them what to do.
Me: Kinda sounds like you want to be a boss instead of a teacher.
Aaron: A teacher is the boss!  That's what they do - make kids do stuff!

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June 26, 2013

There was a big bug stuck on our windshield this morning, and the boys were fascinated watching it try to hold on.
My mom started telling them about how she had a bug like that stuck on her car a few days before and Phoebe (their cousin) named the bug and was really concerned that it "got hurt" when it finally fell off.
Aaron: That bug probably died. Does Phoebe know it probably just died?
Me: No, and don't tell her. Phoebe is more sensitive and it might make her sad if she knows the bug died.
Aaron: Okay, but it died. I'm sure that bug died.
Sam (chiming in, as we head down a hill and our bug is still hanging on for dear life): Yeah, our bug is saying 'AHHHHH, I'm gonna die!!! AHHHHH! I'm gonna dieeeee!!!'
Then they both laugh hysterically.

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July 6, 2013

Aaron asked if we could fast forward a movie, so I did.  Sam protested, and I apologized, explaining:

Me: I'm sorry, Sam, I forget sometimes that you have opinions now.
Aaron: What do you mean?
Me: Well, before when Sam was a baby, you got to make all of the decisions because he didn't have any opinions.
Aaron: That felt pretty good when I made all the decisions.

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July 13, 2013

I was listing consequences for the boys if they didn't stop fooling around and go to sleep.

Me: No screen time tomorrow, no baseball game...
Sam: No hats! 

Clearly, I've been taking the wrong parenting approach.

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July 15, 2013

Aaron was describing a swingset in a friend's backyard.

Aaron: And there was a boardwalk that you climb up to get to the slide!
Isaac: That's cool.
Aaron: Do you know why it's called a boardwalk?  Because it's bored and you walk on it!
Isaac: Hmmmm....

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September 12, 2013

Aaron: Mommy, are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Me: No, I'm fairly sure no.
Aaron: Well, I'm thinking we should have a contest to find the biggest tower in Pennsylvania.  What do you think?
Isaac: Bud, we can just look up what is the tallest building.
Aaron: Look it up where?
Isaac: There's a website called Google - you can ask it any question and it will give you an answer.
Aaron: ANY QUESTION?!
Isaac (under his breath): I may have just opened a can of worms.

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September 12, 2013

I could hear Aaron taunting Sam from bed when they were supposed to be falling asleep.

Sam: I'm going to call Mommy up here if you don't go to sleep.
Aaron: Do it.
Sam : She's going to come up here and punch you in the face.

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September 16, 2013

Sam was doing a puzzle with Aaron.  Aaron put a whole row together by himself, so I congratulated him.  

Sam took a bow and said "Thank you, thank you!"  

When we all giggled, he said "oh, sorry, that was French."

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September 19, 2013

Aaron is in a phase where he's into watching home videos of himself as a baby.

Tonight, after we watched several videos of Aaron in a row, I asked Sam if he wanted to see a video of "baby Sam" next.

He scoffed at me and said emphatically, "NO!", as though I was offending him by the reminder that he was once a baby.  

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 October 10, 2013

I overheard Aaron playing with a set of dice that he had named (Jason, Jacqueline, Danny, Max and Macqueline) and he was talking them through a potential feud over which die would get to be rolled together on the next turn.  Okey doke.

Edited Octobe 15, 2013
He added a new die to the mix - Jadis.

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  October 15, 2013
I was sounding out some letters/words with Sam.

Me: What letter do you think the word "red" starts with?  Rrrrrrrrred?
Sam: R!
Me: Great job!  What about the word "green"?  Guh-reen?
Sam: Apple!
Me: Nope.

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October 18, 2013

Isaac and Aaron were discussing the gospel and the Holy Spirit. 

Isaac: God sends his spirit, the Holy Spirit, to come and live in us.
Aaron: Kind of like Chick-Fil-A?
Isaac: Not exactly...

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November 7, 2013

Isaac was describing the story of Shadrach, Mesach and Abenedgo and told Aaron about how they were required to bow down and worship the king.  If they didn't, they would be thrown into the fire.

Aaron: Wow, that is a really great consequence.

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 November 20, 2013   

We told the boys that we are expecting a new baby.

Aaron's response: Finally!...Babies are a lot of work.  Did you think about that when you ordered this one?

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 December 12, 2013

Sam: Mommy, do you want to know what is so frustrating me?  
Me: Sure.
Sam: That guy, (thumb out towards Aaron) that one right there, ran his truck into my leg!  And it hurts!

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 December 13, 2013

Aaron and Isaac were playing the Wii and Sam was trying, unsuccessfully, to get their attention.

Sam: You guys are really starting to upset me!! 

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 December 14, 2013

Aaron: Hey Daddy!  Look!  I'm playing boxing on the Wii!
Isaac: Cool, bud.  It looks fun.
Aaron: Yeah, turns out I'm really good at it.

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 December 15, 2013

Sam (crying): Daddy!  My guitar strings won't sound how I feel!

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 December 20, 2013

Watching a commercial on TV about Target,

Sam: Hey!  Target!  That's where we live!

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slices of life, volume 3

Slices of Life, Volume 3


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January 22, 2013

On our way to soccer today Aaron was asking about how to drive a car...
Me: Then you push the pedals on the floor down to either stop or go.
Aaron: So...you kind of have to be tall enough to reach them.
Me: Yup, that's why you have to be 16 to drive.
(Aaron was quiet for a minute thinking...)
Aaron: Well Daddy is a lot taller than you...so that must be why he drives too fast. Because you are only supposed to go 65, NO FASTER.
Me: Yup. Good point.

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February 14, 2013

We had just finished making Isaac's Valentine's Day present from the kids.

Aaron: "I love this present more than anything.  Even more than Jesus."

It was a coffee mug we wrote on with Sharpie.  So...we will work on his theology. 

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February 19, 2013

I was trying to open the wrapper of a cheese stick.
Me:  Ooh, this cheese stick wrapper is stuck.
Sam:  Oh, get Daddy.
Me: No, I think I can do it.
Sam:  Daddy at home.  I get him.
Me:  I got it!
Sam:  Great job, Mommy!

So glad he has so much confidence in me.
 
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February 21, 2013

We were on FaceTime with Tutu and Phoebe, and I looked over to see Sam on the phone with his shirt off.
Me: Sam, why is your shirt off?
Sam: I showing them my nibbles. 

Okay...

A few minutes later,
Me: Sam, let's put your shirt back on.
Sam: No, I been wearin it ALL day.

So instead, he sat and watched Dora while playing with his nibbles... 

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March 4, 2013

Aaron: I don't want to be called Aaron anymore.
Me: So what should we call you instead?
Aaron:  I can't tell you.  It's a secret.
Me:  I have to have something to call you.
Aaron:  Well...okay.  My favorite name is Braaron.  Can you call me Braaron? 


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March 18, 2013

Sam and I were cleaning up the pieces from his Busytown board game.  I was counting the pieces as he put them in the bag...
Me:  One, two, three, four...
(Sam finds the fifth and sixth piece and puts them in)
Sam:  Cinco, seis...
 

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March 26, 2013

This morning Sam walked into the kitchen, climbed up at the table, and said:
"I need my coffee."
I said, "Sammy, you don't drink coffee. Coffee is for grown ups."
He stopped, thought for a minute, and said:
"Then I need a parrot."
Oh, okay then.

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March 26, 2013

Sam : "I need an iPad....how about that one?"  And points at Tutu's iPad, which she was using at that moment.  "Tutu, you want two dollars?"
Tutu : "No, do you have like 500 dollars?"
Sam : "Uh, let me check..."  And proceeded to lift up his shirt, checked in his belly button... "No, not in there!"  Shoves a hand in his diaper... "Not in there!"  Turns to Tutu, "How about three tickles?"

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March 27, 2013

Sam was sitting on the step (in time out), staring out the open front door.

Sam:  "Hello, birdie.  I'm sad.  Mommy say 'NO throwing, you sit on the step!'.  I sad....what that birdie?...what you say, birdie?....birdie, I can't hear you....I CAN'T HEAR YOU BIRDIE!  WHAT DID YOU SAY?!  BIRDIE, I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!"

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 April 3, 2013

Me: Sam, what do you want to do today?
Sam:  How 'bout...some yaundry and bacuumin'?

That translates to laundry and vacuuming.  I THOUGHT YOU'D NEVER ASK.

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 April 25, 2013

Sam: Knock, knock.
Me: Who's there?
Sam: Anita.
Me: Anita who?
Sam:  Mooooooooo.

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slices of life, volume 2

 Slices of Life, volume 2

November 2, 2011

Tonight Aaron called for me to come upstairs after he was already in his bed for about an hour.
Me: What do you need?
Aaron: I need you to dry the tears on my cheeks that I crieded.

Oon the one hand, how do you say no to that? 
On the other, you seriously called me upstairs for that?

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July 10, 2012

Aaron was sitting with his shirt up and his torso exposed. I asked him what he was doing, and he said, "Just gettin' my nibbles." (read: nipples)
Oh okay. Carry on.

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Aaron informed me halfway through an episode of Sesame Street that this was "not the perfect one for him".

************************************************************************************************************** August 29, 2012

Sam's Daily To Do List:

1) Play with every toy Aaron wants to play with, while he is playing with it - refuse the same toy once Aaron has given in or moved on.
2) Knock down every tower, structure, puzzle or configuration Aaron is working on.
3) Jump off every piece of furniture in the house - at least once, but several times is preferable, especially if injury is the result of the initial attempt.
4) Refuse all food offered on your own plate and only eat off of the plates of other family members - ideally, steal food off of Aaron's plate whenever possible.
5) Wrestle during any moments not filled by the previously mentioned tasks - preferably unsuspecting opponents, but anyone resting anywhere near horizontal is fair game.

************************************************************************************************************** August 31, 2012

While watching a tv show about talent shows...
 
Aaron: Is it my birthday soon?
Me: Yes.
Aaron: Maybe that's my talent.
Me: Having birthdays?
Aaron: Yes...and birthday parties.

Aim high, bud.

************************************************************************************************************** October 24, 2012

Aaron was playing with trains and was frustrated that Sam kept messing up the track.

Aaron: Sam, can you go play in Tutu's house?
Sam: [silence - keeps playing]
Aaron: Sam, do you want to go see Tutu for a little bit? Sam? Sam, can you go play in Tutu's house? Sam?
Sam: [silence]
Aaron: Sammy, go see Tutu. Go see her. Sam, do you want to see Tutu? Come on, Sam, go play with Tutu.
Sam: [silence - still playing trains]
Aaron: Sam, let me ask you - do you have any desire to go see Tutu right now?
Sam: No.

Right, well, that cleared things up.

************************************************************************************************************** November 9, 2012

Poor Aaron is sick and has a fever.
In an attempt to get him to take his medicine, my mom asked him what he thought would be a good reward for taking the medicine without crying.

Aaron: Um, maybe a trip to Ikea?

And, my work here is done.

************************************************************************************************************** January 17, 2013

Me: If you two can't be kind to one another, I'm going to have to separate you.
Aaron: Oh, Mommy, did you think of that yourself?
Me: ...yes...
Aaron: Well, that's what Mrs. M says too. Good job.

Mrs. M is his preschool teacher.
Apparently, I've earned Aaron's seal of parenting approval. Milestone.

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Sam

(Backdated and posted to the date it was written: July 12, 2012)


So, Sam.

Where do I even begin?

Well, he's 18 months old now.  How?  I'm not sure.  The past year FLEW by, while at the same time, it's hard to believe that this crazy, personality-filled little person is only 1.5 years old.  He's an enigma, our Sam.

What has he done in the last year?
What hasn't he done, might be a better way to phrase it.

He started crawling at six months.
Walking by ten months.
Straight up running ever since.
Sam has a LOT of energy and indefatigable need to be moving at.all.times.  He's so physically adept - he picks up physical skills quickly, usually from just watching someone once or twice.  He's already jumping off of things, climbing onto high places and generally exploring his world in a way that frightens me on a daily basis.  

His first word was around 14 months old, when he started saying..."iPad".  Of course. 

Added to his repetoire since then:

car
truck
ball
block
col-col (color/crayon)
cheese
various letters of the alphabet
various numbers
A-in (Aaron)
and his all purpose word "Buh buh buh", which really means whatever he wants in that particular moment.

So he's not very verbal, in the technical sense.  But he has absolutely NO problem with getting his opinions across.  He is...shall we say, 

(And that's where it ended.  It's probably just as well.  Sam, at eighteen months was, shall we say...a challenging toddler.  But, as is always the case with hindsight, it was worth it.  And I am SO glad that our memories hold onto the good and release the bad.  Once he started talking in full sentences, Sam turned into the most fun, sweetest, cutest little kid I've ever met (aside from my other children, of course).  But really, we often say that Sam spent the first two years trying to communicate and once he was able, it was like night and day.  We love you, Sammy!)

slices of life, volume 1

(I began this post back in July 2010.  I only had one child, so I'm not quite sure what I was doing with all my time, but anyway...

It will be the first in a new series.  I've been compiling funny little snippets of conversation from the boys over the past four (WHAT?) years and I'm going to post them, mixed with photos from the same time period.  I think these are the things we won't want to forget, the stories that will be remember as family lore, told and retold on vacations.  At least I hope so.

Without further ado...)



Slices of Life, Volume 1

We begin in July of 2010, when Aaron really started putting sentences together and coming up with independent thoughts.  And he was (is) hilarious.   

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 July 2010

Me: Aaron, can you pass me that puzzle piece?

(A minute passes)

Me: Aaron, can you please pass me that puzzle piece?

(Another minute passes)

Me: Aaron, please pass me that puzzle piece now.

Aaron: Have patience, mama, have patience.

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July 2010

Me (snuggling Aaron before bed): Can I have a kiss?

Aaron (offers me his cheek): Mmmmmwah.

Me: How about with your lips?

Aaron (puckers up and moves in for the kill): Mmmmmm...

Me (feeling something cold and slimy, I open my eyes): That's your tongue, not your lips!

Aaron (giggling madly): Togue, no yip! 

This lovely interaction went on for a few months until he figured out what a kiss was.  Nice.

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October 2010

(Aaron is leaning precariously off the edge of the couch.)

Aaron:  Mommy, say be careful (in a sing song voice)

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October 2010

Phrases that Aaron says a LOT:

Hey, Mommy, are you awright?

Here, Tutu, dis for you. (while handing her something...usually a toy)

Oh, I miss you Bubber. (the only person he admits to missing)

Oh, _____, whey awe you?  (whatever he is looking for)

I yuv you.  (translation: I love you - generally requires prompting)

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January 2011

(While seeing me get ready to nurse Sam one evening.)

Mommy, what HAVE you got there???

(A few days later, after lengthy discussions about how Baby Sam drinks milk from Mommy and not milk from a cup, Aaron was again watching me nurse Sam.)

Is Baby Sam eating an apple?

I don't think he gets it.

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February 2011

(Tutu was showing Aaron how to play a certain game on the iPad.)

Tutu:  If you press here, the screen will get bigger.

Aaron: Okay, Tutu, if you say so.  (in a sing song voice)

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February 2011

Aaron: Aaron is getting REAWWY HUNGWY MOMMY.  REAWWY HUNGWY.  Let's eat cereal bar, PLEASE, Mommy. 

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February 2011

Aaron:  Mommy, what shape is dis?

Mommy:  I don't know.  What shape is that Aaron?

Aaron:  It's a heart!  Aw, how sweet.  What a sweet heart.  Is that such a sweet heart, Mommy?

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March 2011

Mommy:  Aaron, no whining.  You will not get what you want if you ask for it while whining.

Aaron:  Aaron cannot whine, Mommy.  And yet, Aaron is whining.

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April 2011

Aaron and I were doing a United States puzzle that has only the state capitals on the board, so you have to know what capitals match which states in order to put the pieces in correctly.

Mommy:  Hmmm, Jackson....what state's capital is Jackson?

Aaron: Dat's Mississippi, Mommy. 

Mommy:  Oh.  Hmmm, which one is Mississippi?  (kind of talking to myself, since my geography skills are not so good.)

Aaron:  It's dis one, Mommy (and picks it out of the pile of 30 states left.)

Mommy got schooled by a two year old on US geography.  Mommy who has a degree and certification to be a history teacher.  Whoops.

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July 2011


On the first day of potty training, Aaron is sitting on the potty, waiting for something to happen.
Suddenly, he yells "Did it work??!?!"  
We laughed and so now that's what he asks us everytime he goes.  Classic.


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a saturday morning

A few weeks ago, we spent a Saturday morning eating donuts, yard sale-ing, playing piano, doing puzzles and enjoying our little family.

Here's some pictures of Daddy and his littlest piano student. 
 

At first, Aaron could not be enticed into some family piano time.  Instead, he was doing puzzles.

Meanwhile, Sammy was jamming.

 I'm clearly saving these photos for when Sam's on American Idol Season 30.  HA.

Eventually, Aaron abandoned his puzzles and made his way over to where the action was.

 I love how intent they both are here.  What lucky boys to have such a talented Daddy.

 Some more head pats.  Who needs a puppy when you have a baby brother?

All three playing.  It's a real shame you can't hear the dulcet tones.

Then, I decided to take some photos of Sam, since he had just turned four months old a few days before.

Anytime Sam sits in the Bumbo, two unfortunate things happen:

1.  He poops.  That's probably TMI.  But seriously, gross.  Because, and this may or may not surprise you, the laws of physics do not apply in a Bumbo.  GROSS.

2.  Aaron tries to sit on Sam.  I can't figure out why.  I'll say, "Aaron, we do not sit on Baby Sam."  And he'll say "Maybe just on his feet, Mommy."  

I'll say, "No, you may sit next to his feet, but not ON his feet."  And he'll say "Oh okay."  

And then try to sit right on him.  

 

But don't feel too bad for Sam...the time of reckoning is coming.  Sam's on track to outweigh Aaron in a few months and I'm sure he'll pay him back ten fold.

See, he's already getting a few good pushes in.  Play nice, boys!

Here's to Happy Family Saturdays!

old school giggles

We were looking through some old videos today. I probably blogged this before, but man, it gets me every time. Maybe I should post this on You Tube so we can meet the 'Charlie Bit My Finger' kids.