Clemens comics and other stories

Recently the boys have been saying some hilarious things:

When playing a game, we often say, "I'm gonna beat your pants off."  However, Max says, "I'm gonna beat you off the pants."  It is beyond funny.  I literally laugh every single time.



Today Thomas was making what I lovingly refer to as "the most obnoxious noise ever," and Daddy said something about him giving one of us an aneurysm.  Of course, the boys don't know what that means, so Jackson says, "Yeah Thomas.  You better quit that noise or you're going to give one of us an ear infection."



I used to have this fear of my kids growing into teenagers.  I think I am growing out of it.  I thought I liked them when they were babies... and I did.  I loved every moment of that time and the warm snuggles and complete need they had for me.  And now that Thomas is a toddler and he is doing all those fun toddler things and learning so much, I realize that I love this stage just as much and I get even more laughs and have more interactive fun with him.  And then there is Max and Jackson, who just get better with time.  Their personalities and all their God-given gifts and talents come out more with each passing year.  I realize more every day how cool God is by watching them.  I see why Jesus said let the children come to Him because He must have enjoyed their antics and stories as much as I do.  I wonder if He rolled His eyes at the kids He knew as much as I roll mine at Max (when Max is not looking of course, and always with a silent giggle.)  And I wonder if He listened to all the sportscaster kids with as much a swell in His heart as I have when Jackson starts announcing his life.
I am thankful my fear is dissolving and my joy is increasing in watching these kids grow up.  Each day they bring something new and cool to my life and as their mama, I am determined to enjoy the ride with them.

On the first day of presents, our family gave to us...

This year for Christmas, we decided to open our presents slowly, over a number of days.  Last year we had the kids open something the three days before Christmas, and it was so fun.  They appreciated each of those gifts and enjoyed them that day.  They were more able to remember who got them each thing.  Then, Christmas morning hit.  Santa visited, and they opened all the other gifts under the tree.  It was chaos and if I recall correctly, they later said they were bored.  I think it was more like overwhelmed.  They didn't know what to do first.  

So this year, we decided to slow it down and have Christmas morning be only for Santa's gifts, starting the opening on the 20th.  They still had things to open after Christmas morning too.  I think next year, we will start as many days early as we have gifts at that time.  We were ready to have enjoyed Christmas and the opening of gifts to be finished once the actual day had come and gone.  Of course, there are often straggler gifts since we live far away and the mailing of presents does not always happen in order for us to get them before Christmas.  That makes it even more fun though, because the boys LOVE getting anything in the mail and being able to open a present when they were not necessarily expecting anything is so fun for them.  

These gifts are from Mike's Aunt Carol and Uncle Dan and his sister Jessica and her family.  I love the pure joy of children and presents.  I am so thankful for these boys and their love of life.  

And on the second day of Christmas our family gave to us (there is more than one video for this day:):  

Thomas turns ONE year old!!

Hard to believe Thomas turned a year old on December 30th, 2014.  The year went by so fast.  Next year will probably be equally as fast, as Thomas becomes a big brother some time end of March or early April.  He is a super fun little guy, always on the move and keeping his Mama, Daddy, and big brothers on their toes. 

At this point: 

• He hams it up for the camera, at least for the first few pictures and as long as he is not already crabby/tired
• He has 6 teeth
• Still takes the paci, mostly at night
• We call him Beiber baby or Hansen sometimes, because his hair is boy band-esq
• He is full on walking, although sometimes he looks a little like a drunken sailor, especially when he gets going too fast. 
• He just walks right into things or steps on them, pushing stuff out of his way with his feet
• Eats a variety of things, but is picky about different things on different days.  He likes to feed himself, now usually only taking a few bites of whatever the offering is from me.
• He can even do apples and carrots
• He will not sit still for a book, maybe only a page or two, even if it sings or rhymes
• He loves to climb just about anything, including whatever person happens to be laying in front of the couch, his favorite place to climb up to
• He LOVES to be outside, but he is not steady enough on his feet yet that Mama loves it.
• He really doesn't have any words and he grunts more than he babbles, but he makes what I lovingly call "the most obnoxious noise ever," which is something of grunt and a scream mixed together
• His favorite toys are his stacking cups and anything he can dump or take apart
• He can steer his little walker/push toy and the firetruck we have

In his handsome clothes for an attempt a Christmas picture

The attempts...

The booster seat:  a great place to "lock him up" to get a photo

Sleepytime Elmo:  the present Santa brought him.  I have not yet caught the smile he gets on his face when Elmo's music comes on

He is also very into Tupperware lide

Birthday boy:  before shots

Birthday boy:  after shots.  He needed the paci for that business

He can eat a piece of banana as a whole now, taking his own bites, rather than me breaking it up for him

He made it so hard for me to get a picture with the blocks saying "One Year."  He kept picking them up to play with them.

Finally

Getting ready for cake

Jackson and Max told me Thomas needed an Elmo cake (the day before his birthday), I assume because Santa brought Elmo.  I figured since he has a mom who "does cake" he should get what the boys were asking for, but I took the easy way, with a plastic Elmo on top.

Attempted some fondant as practice for another cake I am probably making in May

He stuck his fingers right into the cake, but would not dive in again after that.  He is the third child that has not wanted to get cake all over himself

Night night to the birthday boy!