At Long Last...

...the DS has arrived. We made Carter and Owen earn money to pay for 1/2 of a DS, which I ordered over a month ago. It's been a long wait, but they have been pretty patient are enjoying it now.

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Corey bought them Lego Indiana Jones. I don't have a picture of him playing, but I think he's had as much playing time as the boys.

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Even the little man is getting in on the action. Toys made for his age group do not hold his interest at all!!

A New Generation of Superhero

I may have lost one Superhero, but I have gained a new one, so our family is still well protected from evil-doers.

A Baby No More

My baby is in a big boy bed now. After a couple attempts to escape, he has now figured out that he has to stay there when it is night-night time. He actually likes napping and bedtime most of the time, so it hasn't been too difficult of an adjustment for him. The second night he did get up and climb over the baby gate we have in his door 3 times, but ever since, it's been smooth sailing.

Birthday in Fremont

Owen spent his "actual birthday" in Fremont, where Grandma Harms made this sweet frog cake. Our cousins were visiting from Indiana, so the boys had a great time playing all weekend. We even skipped school today, so they could get a little extra cousin time.

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Everyone wanted to eat an eye, so Grandma made a couple extras.

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Owen bought a remote control helicopter with birthday money from Grandma and Grandpa Harms. It was a hit. It was on the charger or being flown pretty much the whole time we were there.

Human Ink Pad

Thankfully, this was washable ink as it ended up on my couch, Lewis' clothes, my clothes and the floor.

Six Candles

Six things about my six-year-old.

1. He's Artistic.

2. He's Dramatic.

3. He's a Perfectionist.

4. He likes to Look Good. Yes, he cares about his hair and clothes.

5. He has a Contagious Laugh.

6. He can bring both Great Joy and Great Angst to this mama in a very short time span.

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Grandma and Grandpa Nelson, Uncle Keith, Aunt Tomi and Baby Lucas all came last night for a little party. Owen and Keith made some clay sculptures; one of Owen's favorite activities.

A Walk in the Park

I love my boys! We spent the morning at Brookside (one of my favorite parks). We played on the old fire truck, walked through the woods and jumped from the swings. It was a good spring break day. I did have to get them out of the house early - before the neighborhood was bustling with children. Once they start playing with their friends, a trip to the park with mom doesn't sound as appealing.

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Focused Driver

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As always, my children play on top of the park equipment. Why go through the tunnel when you can go across the top?

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Where Did My Superhero Go?

This is my latest column for the local paper.

It all started with the Boy Wonder. In the fall of 2005, my mom made Batman and Robin costumes for my two boys. The two-year-old became smitten with Robin. I remember the morning I was awakened at the crack of dawn to my son, standing right next to my bed, his little towhead inches from my face.

“I waked up. Can I be Robin?” he asked to me with those bright blue eyes shining.

At that moment, I had no idea what was in store for me. That for the next two years, this child would live his life as a super hero. After Robin, it was Superman, Spiderman, Zorro, Flash, J’onn J’onzz, Hulk…if there was a cartoon about him, we had the costume.

Grandma, the seamstress, was a busy woman, sewing alter-egos for her grandson. I’m sure at some point in her life she had dreams of sewing frilly little dresses for granddaughters (especially since her own daughter was not the frilly dress type), but God chose to bless her with all male grandchildren, so she traded in her lace and bows for capes and masks.

We went to the grocery store as Superman, Lowe’s as Batman and the park as Zorro. It was even common to find him asleep in a cape and mask, after he had been tucked in bed in regular p.j.s. The only place I did not let Owen go in costume was church. I’m confident God wouldn’t have cared, but it just didn’t seem right to me.

I remember having women a couple decades my senior come up to me and smile with that knowing smile and say things like, “Oh, I remember that age. My son was always flying off the couch in a cape. Enjoy it. My superhero is 23 now.”

In my mind, my super hero would never grow out of it. He would be flying off the furniture and saving the world from the bad guys forever. And for two solid years, that’s just what he did. Then, one day, he decided to dress in the human clothes in his closet. And eventually, he started wearing boy clothes more often than superhero clothes. Now, it’s a rare day that he dresses in costume; though I can’t bring myself to box them up and put them away.

The other morning, as he was getting ready for school, he said, “Mom, why do you always make me wear these Spiderman shirts. It makes people think I like Spiderman, and I don’t like Spiderman.”

What? Did I hear that right? What happened to my web flinging wall climber? He can’t be growing up. Other people’s kids grow up. Mine aren’t supposed to.

I now realize I am destined to become one of those nice ladies who relives the past as they see young moms buying groceries with their super heroes in tow. I will say things like, ‘Enjoy it while it lasts. They grow up so fast.’ And other phrases that so easily rattle off the tongue of people who have been there.

And I’m sure those young moms will smile at me, but in their minds they will think just as I did, “What a nice lady, but she’s wrong about my son. He will always be a super hero. Only other people’s kids grow up.”

Super Cute

Lewis and I went to visit his new cousin earlier this week. Lucas is adorable, though Lewis still doesn't show much interest. It's hard to believe that my boys were once that small!!

Holy Bible - Corey Harms Paraphrase

Corey has started reading portions of scripture to the boys before bed to show them how big God is. The other night, he read the part in Isaiah where it talks about Isaiah seeing the Lord. Chapter 6 verse 5 says "Woe to me!" he said. "I am ruined! I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."

Carter asked him what that meant.

He paraphrased the verse - "Oh crap! I'm in big trouble!"

The boys got a kick out of that. Especially since "crap" is on the list of words they aren't allowed to say. Their dad always keeps life entertaining.