What We Do When Biggie Is Away

 With Owen gone all week at Camp Gigi/Papa, I was looking forward to some quality time with just Nosy and Jones.  Our pace slowed way down with just two boys to play with.  So, what exactly did we do?  Let me tell you...

We took turns feeding Jonah...

...and taking pictures of each other while feeding Jonah.

We *attempted* to take care of our new baby flowers by giving them lots of drinks.

Seems like we spent more time digging in the dirt.

 Afterwards, we had to wash our baby.

Date Day!!!!

Noah and I went to see Cars 2.  Just the two of us.  We bought popcorn (all for me!), and Noah got to choose any candy he wanted.  He chose plain M&Ms.  In a box.  But he only wanted them if he could save half to give to O when he got home from Gigi's.  Oh, and could I save half my popcorn for O too?  Precious Boy. 

Then we wandered around the mall for awhile, picking up a few things on clearance for next summer.  We split some nuggets and a fruit cup for lunch.  And we got special drinks at Sonic.  One of my best dates ever!  There was even a lot of super sweet hand holding involved. :-)

We gave Jonesy some fun rides in the swing.

And introduced him to some new old favorite toys.    That Boy catches on quick!

I also played about a million games of basketball.  I even learned how to make the especially tricky 12 and 13 point shots.  I have a great coach!  When I wasn't one of the players in the basketball tournament, I helped keep score.  For example: "I had 21 points and I scored 2 3-ers, 4 12-ers and 31 13-ers.  What's my score now?"  Nothing like a little mental math to keep me on my toes!

We missed O like crazy, but we made the most of it and thoroughly enjoyed our time as just the three of us.

Jonah Gets Emotional over Frozen Yogurt

FroYo for a Lego*

So one other eventful thing happened while O was at Camp Gigi/Papa.  We had our first tiny object stuck in a nostril.  Honestly, with three boys and a plethora of tiny tempting things around the house, I am surprised this experiment hasn't been tried before.

I was on the computer.  Jones was in bed and Noah was happily relaxing after our busy day.  Soon I hear, "Mommy!  I found a Lego under the couch!"  Well, that's great news, but sadly, not that unusual.  Then the screaming started.  Hysterical screaming with some loud snorts mixed in.  I ran to find my very distraught kiddo rolling around on the living room floor.  He was in.con.solable.  It took me a few minutes to even decipher the screaming, hiccupy words coming from my spazzing kid's mouth.  "It's in my nose...my NOSE!!!"  Uh-oh.  The newly discovered Lego found its way into Noah's nose.  He was so upset that I could barely peer into his tiny nostril.  Unfortunately, I could see neither hide nor hair of the Lego.  Mix that news with the fact that he was still snorting and sniffling, surely moving the Lego even further up into his nasal passage.  I immediately called our pediatrician who informed me that if the Lego could not be visualized, a trip to the ER was in our future.  Great.

I pulled Noah up on my lap to try to comfort him.  Gradually his sobs turned into hiccupy whimpers.  I was finally able to get a description of the missing Lego and impart on him the importance of not snorting with all his might.  Man, I did not want to head to the ER, alone, with a tired, crabby Jones and a scared 4 year old.  Not to mention the cost of a trip to the ER.  I prayed and prayed and prayed while I rocked Nosy.  When he had calmed down enough, I laid him on the floor and took a peek up his nose.  I think all the snot from crying had helped lube up his nasal cavity.  I could now see the Lego!  A grey round piece.  Maybe, just maybe, I could get it out myself?  I was scared to try though.  What if I pushed it up further? 

I called my parents for advice.  (Remember Gigi was taking care of 5 cousins all alone.  No need to worry her!)  They rushed right over to offer moral support and to stay with Jonah if an ER trip was necessary.  I decided to try one time.  If I didn't get it right away, we were hospital bound for sure. 

The first thing we did was pray over Noah.  Please let this work, Lord!  Then I told Noah that if he lay super still and let me get the Lego out, Daddy and I would trade that Lego for frozen yogurt after dinner.  Ooooo!  His eyes lit up at that!  I am not a fan of bribing my kids, but in this case, a little incentive to be still could not hurt.  Mom and Dad held Noah down and I went after it, armed with tweezers.  And guess what guys?!  First try, I nabbed that pesky Lego and it slipped right out!  Praise the Lord!  We all collapsed with relief.  Thank God it worked!!! 

So after dinner, we headed out to Yogurt Cup for some delicious dessert...and a heart to heart about keeping tiny objects out of our noses.  Noah never could tell me why or how the Lego ended up in his nose to begin with, but I betcha it never happens again!

*Jeremy said to tell y'all that if this were his Pulitzer Prize winning article, he would entitle it FroYo for a Lego No-no.*

Stuck

In Daddy's drawers.  At least they were clean! 

I know he looks distressed in the pic, but he actually thought he was hilarious.

Jones at the Game

Jonah loves going to baseball games!  What's not to love?  Endless adoring attention from grandparents and team moms.  The Little Guy has picked up on some skills too. He can throw a ball into the air and hit it with a bat before it hits the ground!  Pretty impressive for a 12 month old! 

Backblogs

Just in time for half birthdays, I have finally published O and Nosy's posts for their last birthdays.  I am so overwhelmingly behind!!!!!  Hoping to gradually get more consistent with the blogging.  I miss it.
O Is Six
Noah is Four

One

Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby.

1 Million Party Pics

Jonesy's first birthday party was to be a low-key affair.  Lots of crazy cousins.  Cake and a few snacks.  Balloons.  Maybe a fun craft.

The decor consisted of a few handmade decorations and balloons.

Jonah's 12 month picture. 

I have a picture of each of the boys in the same overalls with the same duck right around the same age.  It's so fun to compare their sweet faces!

The big boys drew posters for Jones.

Owen's is of Jonah holding a ton of red (Jonah's favorite color) balloons.  Owen also makes an appearance in the picture.  He's teeny tiny in the bottom corner with a telescope peering into outer space.

Nosy's picture if of a super huge cake and Owen (with curly hair) and Noah holding gifts for tiny Jones.  He drew hot tamales and blue jelly beans around the cake because Noah is sure those are Jonah's very favorite candies.

Look at the darling cakes!!  My great friend Danielle made the cakes especially for Jonah.  They turned out perfectly!!

(The cake-eating/smashing deserves an entire post of its own!  Coming soon.)

Craft time!  We bought visors for each cousin and a million stickers for decorations.  Such concentration going on!

Clayton, O and Ally

Maddie and Nosy

Will and Mia

All the kiddos with their finished masterpieces!  They are armed with bubble wands that O and Noah and I covered with even more stickers.  Next they were ready to go outside to play in the water!

Julianne, Mimi and Gongi

Mommy and Daddy with the Birthday Boy

It was about this time that I woke the poor baby from a sweet, sound sleep so he could attend his own party.  He was not happy!

Elliot loved the balloons!

So did Jonesy!

A few of the splashers. While the kids were busy outside, I helped Jonah open his gifts.

So excited about all his thoughtful presents.

Jonah with Gramps and Yaya.

Getting some Papa love.

Loving on Gigi and ready to go back to bed.

What a great time we had celebrating Jonesy!  Thanks to everyone for being here!

Party Day!

It's Party Day!

It's Party Day!

Hip-hip-hooray!

It's Party Day!

We are all so excited to celebrate Jonesy with our family. I can't wait to see his skillz in cake smashing!

Spring Pictures

My good friend Stephanie was expecting Tiny Girl #2 (who has since been born and is so precious!!). She knew of a great new place to take family pics, so we headed off to Frisco to check it out. Sadly, we chose the absolute windiest day in the history of the world, so the number of photos that actually turned out (without crazy hair, blurriness from camera shake, wind-blown clothes) were very few. Oh well. A few turned out:

I loved the new placed so much that I persuaded another great family to make the drive. It was well worth it! We got so many wonderful shots!

Thanks, Guys, for the privilege of photographing your families! It was so much fun!