Camera Down

My camera is broke. I miss it. I have realized I take a lot of pictures, almost every day at home.  The boys being cute, or Violette dancing around and then striking a random pose is nice to capture.  It works, just no flash and sadly the winter lends way to a lack of natural light and therefore leaves dark, grainy pictures.

Tom and I talked, discussed and decided to embark on an exciting adventure.  This adventure (I’m referring to it as this otherwise I just get overwhelmed and start to panic with fear of the unknown) will consume a lot of our time.  Closets will be cleaned, lots of stuff purged, you know, work.  As far as details go, until things are final I will leave it as it is. 

There seems to be a lull in exciting things going on around here.  Noelle continues to enjoy her inaugural year of school, making friends and expanding her little mind.  I volunteer once a week in the library, serving as her class’s librarian.  I am able to meet her classmates and be involved with the school.  I really enjoy the energy of 26 kindergarteners and their fidgety ways.

Max starts up his own extra curricular activity tomorrow. The local community center is offering basketball for three and four year olds.  Max is stoked and seems to like bragging to his sisters that he will be the soul basketball player in our house.  Although, his outbursts are continuing, some days draining all patience from me.  Other days they are nonexistent.  Max has become a gentle and compassionate big brother to Zane.  He wrestles him down with great ease, displaying genuine tenderness and love while encouraging some typical brotherly behavior.  They laugh and giggle and bring smiles to my face.

Slender and tall, our Violette keeps us on our toes.  She can throw down a wicked tantrum.  Screams expel from her throat that are high pitched and shrill.  As soon as we pick her up to put her in time out she turns it off in a dramatic fashion.  She wraps her little arms around us and says, “I stopped.  I love you.  I’m sorry”.  Oh, she can play us well!  When not being dramatic she loves herself some makeup.  She will put her hands on her hips and say, “I need to put makeup on” as she runs into her room and shuts the door.  A few minutes later out emerges a little clown.  Bright eye shadow is plastered all over and she is beaming with pride.  “I look beautiful” she will state in a matter of fact way.  If you try to remove the hag like makeup she puts up a big fight. 

Oh my baby boy is growing.  He’s tall.  I mean really tall for a mere 14 months.  2t clothing fits him perfectly.  He plays me.  He plays me like a fiddle at night.  This boy can scream and he does until he gets, “boooob” as he calls it.  The screaming wakes up all the children and I give in.  This isn’t a one time a night thing, but 4 to 5 times a night.  He knows that I’ll give in!  His vocabulary is expanding too.  Boob is a favorite word, one I’m not so found of as he bellows is out, in public and yanks at my shirt.  Others that have been added to his vocab are up, cup, love you, down, stuck, car, are you (meaning, where are you).  The older children encourage him by asking him to repeat words.  This is helping a lot.  Hence learning the word, “boob”.  Zane can give a devilishly handsome smile and knows just when to flash it, when I’m at my wits end.  Chubby and snuggly, I’ll keep him my baby forever.

That’s all for now.  We’ll keep on keeping on, as I try to wrangle the troops.