Question: how many jellybeans does it take.....

to turn little boys into big boys?

Answer: as many as it takes!

G is on Spring Break from teaching so we decided to seize the opportunity to officially potty train the boys - it's not exactly a 'break' in any sense of the word but it has definitely been a time of family bonding! There have only been a handful of accidents in the past three days but there have been countless jellybeans eaten, that's for sure!

"Be Free"

The four of us took Cotty and Clemie on a field trip to the vet for their booster shots (finally!!! - it's only been about 3 years.) The cats were meowing their usual chorus of woe from the back to which the boys responded with "it's okay". Such compassion, right? Haha, well, they were prompted by us to say that but I think they could have possibly meant it. :) This is the release of the kitties back at home...

xo
cortnie

school boys

The boys started going to "school" this month. It's a toddler class they go to on Tuesday mornings for four glorious hours. Glorious because they like being there, learning new things, making new friends, and super duper glorious for their mama who has pledged to do only fun things during this time that she has all to herself. No housework allowed.

For my boys

Today I received my first tattoo. When I say "first" I mean pre-meditated well thought out very personal design, not the chinese character I flippantly decided to get on a whim at 19 years old after debating for three long minutes. What can I say, it was 1995.



Above is the image that first inspired the tattoo idea and below are the words that give it meaning:



"You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable."

- excerpt from The Prophet by Khalil Gibran



And here are the two reasons I wanted to get this tattoo in the first place:

P.S. Mom, don't be mad. :-)

Trying to keep Liam in a good mood pre-surgery...

Parents and Children

On June 12, we were pleased to take part in a dedication service for all the children in our Unitarian Universalist church. I wrote a meditation song for the service and Cortnie and I played guitar and keyboard and sang the song for part of the ceremony. The parents brought the children to the front, and Reverend Deni led us through the dedication.

During the ceremony, Deni shared the following wisdom selected from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran:

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said,
"Speak to us of Children." And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

After the service we all gathered outside to watch the children as they planted little carob seeds given to them by one of the elder women in the congregation.* It was a special and happy celebration.


*A mystery has since ensued when the pots with the newly planted seeds were found overturned and emptied in the playard of the church a week later. No one knows for sure but the roosters and chickens that live in the surrounding fields are the prime suspects. ;)

Downward Doggie

Liam is a natural little yogi - He is often crawling around at full speed when all the sudden he stops and busts out into downward dog pose. Must be all that yoga I did with him and his brother in utero. ;)

1st Haircuts!

If you've ever tried giving a moving target a non-crazy haircut you know that it's virtually impossible. I found this out a few months ago while attempting the feat on two very curious and squirmy babies. It was time to get some proper haircuts, so we strolled over to our neighborhood salon where my good friend Sara worked her magic. There was no protesting, crying, or squirming whatsoever! Liam seemed thoroughly amused while Augie was lulled into sleepiness.



Augie wanted to keep his 60's shag affect...





While Liam opted for a shorter look...





Bellissimo!

Skeleton Crew

They couldn't wait until dark, so they wore their outfits all day.

Liam's first laugh!

In spite of being at the Dr.'s and missing a nap, Liam was inspired to laugh for the first time!
Both boys are doing great and growing fast - they both weigh in at about 14.5lbs. They also got their second round of vaccinations of which I stayed in the room to witness this time. Not fun but we all survived!