Fun with Mimi

My mom came last week, and the boys loved spending time with her. Seth and Joel even started saying "Mimi." The little boys can also say "fish," "bye-bye," and they shake their head for "no." They nap pretty consistently every day at 11. Their naps last about an hour or an hour and a half. They have started fighting over toys. When one little boy wants a toy that the other has, he will purse his lips and point at what he wants and say "Mmmmm." It's really funny. They both do the same thing. Hopefully I can catch that on video soon.

Joel on left

Date with Nathaniel

Time trials at swim practice

Joel on left

Joel

Joel has been feeding himself oatmeal for about a week. Seth is doing better. I still think he prefers if I do it for him.

Mother's Day

We had a great Mother's Day weekend. I was spoiled by the boys and loved every minute of it. We went out for an early dinner Saturday night. We spent a lot of the weekend outside because the weather was fabulous. Sunday morning Nathaniel and I went to pick up some breakfast. Nathaniel made me some precious things at school.

Seth is about to do something naughty . . .

Yes, Seth pulled Joel over.

Enjoying an outdoor lunch.

The Little Gym

The little boys got to start their gymnastics classes the same week that Nathaniel started his swim team. They LOVED it. My friend Ginny is helping me take them each week, which makes it even possible. We each chase after one, and get a workout. Joel is in blue in the pictures and Seth in green.

Seth wants to know how this works . . . He is Will's son.

Talking and Growing

Last week (or a week and half or so ago) the little boys started saying "Mama." I was so excited and thrilled! Joel said it first, and Seth a few days later. Joel is louder than Seth, so his is a loud "Mama." Seth was a very quiet "Mama" but so sweet. Probably 3 or 4 days after that, "Dada" finally had a name. One night they started saying "Dada" while I was putting them to bed. When I called Will in to listen, they would stop.

Nathaniel tried out for a made a neighborhood swim team. He had to swim 25 yrds (from one end of the pool to the other) without stopping or holding onto the side or lane rope. I was a little (or a lot) nervous for him. We had tried it before, and he could backstroke from one end of the pool to the other. His freestyle was not as good. One the day of try-outs, the coach asked the kids who were lined up on one end of the pool who wanted to go first. Nathaniel raised his hand and said "Me, me!" So he went in one lane while 2 other swimmers went in other lanes. He backstroked across the pool just fine and made the team. I was relieved. On the way home, he asked what it meant that he made the team. He said "I didn't put the team together, or anything." I chuckled. Being 6 is so fun.

The first week of practice (this week) has been rough. It's everyday after school for 45 minutes. He has struggled with the endurance and the strokes, but he hasn't complained. He even has blisters on his toes from pushing off on the bottom of the pool. Today is his last day for the week, and he's done really well.

A few recent pictures. Last week he had an early release day, so it was nice to have all 3 brothers home together. We even tried a little coloring at the table. It was fun until Joel tried to eat the colors then wanted to stand on the table.

Nathaniel snuggling with Joel

And snuggling with Seth

Another funny Seth and Joel story: Seth sometimes sleeps longer than Joel (usually never the other way around). If I go in to pick up Joel from a nap and Seth is still sleeping, I guess I say "Shhhh" very quietly. One day I came in to get Joel and he was pointing at Seth saying "SHHHH" in a loud whisper. This just goes to show they watch everything I do. It's happened a few more times, and each time I go in to pick Joel up he is pointing at sleeping Seth saying "Shhh." Hilarious.