Followed by why...

So I haven't been in the best of moods lately. I'm hoping that will change once my kids are back in school tomorrow. I think next year, I'll think twice about this A track break. I'm really starting to think traditional school might not be that bad. Being the fact that the weather is nice during the three months of summer instead of crummy snow and cold and smog that keeps us locked indoors for the five weeks that we had off. But that's neither here nor there. My reason for my post was something Tanner said tonight at dinner. So, let me start again. I haven't been in the best of moods lately. So tonight at dinner, Tanner was complaining about something and I was at the end of my rope. I can't remember exactly what I said, but I finished with, "and it better be followed by a why." So he responded back to me the answer to whatever it was that I asked and very innocently ended with..."why". Tyson and I both busted up laughing and my bad mood was gone. I know this probably makes no sense. But to him, whatever he was supposed to say, needed to end with the word why. So he ended his answer with the word, why.

Pictures

I guess I haven't been crazy enough with the kids being home since Dec. 23rd...yes, we are STILL off track. Oh don't you worry, we still have a week and a half before they go back to school! So, I decided to REALLY test my patience skills by taking all four of the kids to Kiddie Kandids to update Tanner's wall picture and Jefferson's wall picture, and my group wall picture. The last sibling picture we had done that was posted in a frame was when Jefferson was two weeks old. I'd say he's done a little growing since then, (like 15lbs worth!). Anyway, that was quite the task. Not just getting there with everyone still looking decent, but trying to get Jake and Jefferson to smile...at the same time, takes a bit of work!! And that's not even taking into account, the fact that Tanner and Tyler hear the word "smile" and they get these funny little expressions that are anything but a smile. Afterward, we went to lunch with a friend and their kids. You should have seen us! We went to Sweet Tomatoes, so not only did we have the three kids, but each child HAD to have their own tray to get salad on, never mind the fact that none of them ate even half of the salad they had just dished up. I'm sure we were quite the site, unless of course you were the poor sap that was starving to death standing behind us, waiting for the procession to dish up their plates. It was fun though, and the kids enjoyed it. It mixed up our day a little. So, here are some of those pictures we had taken.

Mini Milestones...

I have no pictures, because it wasn't really something to have pictures about, but I just needed to document for posterity's sake. As dumb as this may sound to some of you, today is the first time in the eight and a half years Tyson and I have been married, that I made Sunday dinner from start to finish on my very own. That's not to say that I can't cook, I just haven't cooked Sunday dinners...ever. Oh, I've contributed in one way or another, but never cooked the entire meal. For some reason, when we first got married, Tyson just took over Sunday dinners. He came from a family that had real meat on Sundays. I didn't. My family had chicken on Sundays. Not that it isn't real meat, its just not "man" meat. We still have it occasionally, just not every Sunday. Today I made Parmesean (sp) Chicken and Potato Casserole with salad. I was so into making this meal all by myself, that not only was it cooked before Tyson got home from his Church duties, but the kitchen was cleaned up and the only evidence that I had even been in the kitchen was the lingering smell of the breaded chicken. The salad was even made. Not only was this a major event in that way, but my kids all ate everything on their plates. We gave each child a small portion of everything that was served.
For the record, I do cook the entire meal every other day of the week. :)
Like I said though, its not a major milestone, but Tyson and I were just joking around at dinner that this hasn't happened before, so I thought I'd just document it.

Six Months!

I can't believe how fast these last six months have gone! Jefferson is now sitting unassisted for big chunks of time. He still needs a pillow in back of him, but its not to keep him up, rather soften the fall when he decides he's had enough sitting time. He loves attention. It doesn't take much to get this little guy to smile, and laugh. Just tonight I was imitating the noises he was making and he thought that was the funniest thing. He's tried his mouth at rice cereal, bananas, pears, sweet potatoes and peaches. He loves his food, and has only spit out the rice cereal when I mix it with water instead of breast milk or baby food. Oh, and he doesn't like bottles that only give him water. Don't jerk him around when it comes to eating. We have our own conclusion to Pavlov's theory. I always feed Jefferson on the couch in the family room. When he wakes up from his naps, even if I think he shouldn't be hungry, if I walk over by the couch, I can not walk away from the couch without him getting mad. He lets me know that being by that couch means its time to eat. Its actually quite funny. In six months, he's rolled over enough for me to know he's okay developmentally but he could do without it. Its just not something he's interested in. He'll arch his head back so he can see what's going on, and he laughs when the kids "help" him roll over. That's Jake favorite thing to do. I know he can roll both ways, I've seen him do it, but I think now that he's sitting up, he'd rather work his ab muscles by trying to do an actual sit up. Its quite funny to watch. He'll be laying down, then all of a sudden, you'll see his little head peak up above his belly, while he's lifting his legs just a little for leverage.

When he's tired, he loves to snuggle his nose in his blanket if I place it on my shoulder. He sleeps with his blanket as close to being over his head as I'll allow it and is just the happiest little guy I've even seen. I'm so glad I get to be his mom to watch him learn and grow. I don't think you realize how fast this time goes with the first kids, but I think as you come to the end of your baby years, you start to realize it goes really fast. I'm cherishing these moments, I think, like I didn't with the other kids. That's horrible to admit, but true.
Anyway, Jefferson, here's to another crazy fun six months! I love you buddy!
I know I've mentioned this before, but I LOVE that he sucks his thumb!!