Our ER Visit...

Well, I knew the Monkey would visit the ER sometime! At least he waited until he was 3 years old (+ one day :o) Anyway... Silas was climbing on a ball this evening when it slipped out from under him and he fell onto the portable heater that was still on the back porch (unplugged of course!) It split his head right open in the back. Thankfully after a fairly quick visit to the ER, he is glued back together. It's the craziest, but most wonderful thing! They used "Dermaplast" or something like that to glue his head back shut. The cut was very superficial and loose enough that we didn't have to do staples (which would have required numbing shots!)

The crazy thing is that Silas was wonderful in the ER! I sure hope that he learned his lesson, because it wasn't traumatic in the least. We had fun playing together while we waited. Many thanks to our neighbors Joe and Jan for running over in a heartbeat and thanks to my parents for coming quickly to relieve my poor neighbors. It's great to feel loved and to know that God had this all planned out. Thanks be to Him that Silas is ok!

For the squimish, look away, because here is a picture of the cut. It really doesn't look too bad:



And here's my Angel smiling at the hospital (I tell you he had a blast despite being put back together!):



Tomorrow I'll have to get a picture of it glued shut to share. They had to cut his hair in that spot, so he's got a little bald spot. It just looks like a little one inch scratch now. It'll take a few days for it to heal and then the glue will begin to let loose. Modern medicine is amazing!

Happy Birthday Dear Silas!

Silas had his third birthday today! We had his party down at Grandma and Grandpa Frye's. We really wanted to campout tonight, but the rain started right about the time his party started. I don't remember sending an invite to Mother Nature, but she sent the rain anyway. It was still a great time, and the trees worked like a giant umbrella shielding us from the drizzling rain.

Silas was blessed to have 8 of his 9 grandparents attend his party. And he was very polite thanking everyone for his gifts. He's such a sincere boy anyway! And I think he genuinely loved his special day. He doesn't require a lot of frills, he just likes to be celebrated!

He woke me up this morning saying "It's my birthday ALL DAY today!" How cute! And this evening after spending some time at the pond with his daddy he said "it's a good day!" Steve was so proud. Steve says he loves that little boy so much it hurts. I can relate. I love my boys so much I tear up typing about all of the wonderful things they do and say. They make life special, that's for sure. And they give life meaning too.

Here are some pictures from Silas' special day:

Our 3 Year Old with his backpack from Grandma and his birthday balloons!

Silas opening one of his cards as Avery anxiously awaits. Silas told Avery that he would share his gifts :o)

Yummy! Birthday cake and homemade ice cream!!!

The cake Silas picked out himself!

I thought this picture was very special. Nolan being held by his Great-Grandma Shell and his Great-Grandma Frye! What a memory!

What children say...

Last night we were riding in the van. We had been out for ice cream and the boys were thirsty. Steve took them into a gas station to get drinks. When we were back on the road, out of nowhere Silas said "I love my Dad, 'cause he's my friend!" We both choked back tears at the sincerity of the statement. Silas has his daddy wrapped around his finger, and comments like that just make Steve melt!

The other day we were on our way to town when Avery and Silas had their very own conversation in the backseat. I'll try to recount it as closely as possible:

A: Silas when me and you get older we won't live together anymore.
S: What?
A: When we get older we'll live in our own houses. I'll find someone and you'll find someone, and Nolan will find someone and we'll have our own houses.
S: And Daddy will find someone? (once again...Daddy's boy!)
A: Daddy already found a girl, he found Mommy!
S: And Mommy will find a girl?
A: No Mommy found a boy, Daddy!
S: And I'll find a boy?
A: No, you'll find a girl and I'll find a girl, and Nolan will find a girl. We have to find a girl who has never been married. And we'll get married and live together forever and ever.
S: Forever and ever?
A: Yes, forever. And I'll bring my girl and we'll visit you and you can bring your girl and visit me. And we can make our own rules when we have our own houses.
S: What? (this is what Silas says when he doesn't understand)
A: You heard me! (this is what I taught Avery to say when Silas says what all the time!)

It is so much fun to listen to them talk and learn together. Sometimes they have some very genuine conversations that I know will make them the best of buds in the future. Sometimes they are immature conversations about nothing. Either way, I think that the best sound in the world is these brothers talking together. How special that God has given them one another. I feel blessed that they are in our lives!

Busy Summer!!!

As you can tell from my lack of posts, it has been a busy summer! And the crazy thing is, I couldn't tell you all the things that have made it so busy for us :o)

Of course, the 4th of July was during that time. We stayed at Randy and Deb's overnight and had a hayride and outdoor movie as well as fireworks. The boys are quite impressed with their very own drive-in movie! Thanks Grandpa! Here's a couple pictures from the 4th:

Grandpa loved that he put this sweet baby to sleep! Mommy did too :o)
Avery did lots of sparklers... He loves celebrating the 4th!
Silas played on Grandma's landscaping rocks. He's 110% boy!!!

Let's see... we also went to the fair where Avery and Silas rode rides, and Nolan loved watching. Here's a picture from the fair:



We also went to the Tractor Pull at the Decatur County Fair. The boys were wonderful and Steve and I really enjoyed watching them have a good time. Nolan even slept a good deal of the time we were there! Here is a picture of Avery and Silas watching the tractors:



And Nolan, baby Nolan, is just growing so fast. He's rapidly approaching 6 months and he's doing all the right things developmentally. Today his first tooth broke through (the bottom right) and he's working on the other bottom tooth for sure. He rolls both ways and can sort of crawl backwards. He can get up on all 4's and rock, but hasn't mastered going forward yet. And, he's still just a wonderful baby! Soon he'll be sitting up on his own. He does that for brief periods at a time with support from his arms. I'm just so proud of him and his brothers. They are the best. I'll finish with some pictures of Nolan:

Nolan loved the mirror at the doctor's office. The funny thing is that mommy was the one who went, but she got put in the pediatric room, which was ok with us!
Nolan was wearing Avery or Silas' hat, but he didn't mind having it on his head at all. He's such a handsome little boy!!!

Our Baby is Five!!!

Happy 5th Birthday Avery! I can't believe you are five already!!! You had a wonderful birthday party yesterday. We had birthday breakfast, which you picked... french toast. Then we loaded up and headed to pick up your cake from Shirley's. She made you a football and a baseball. From there Daddy drove us to a rusty old bridge that is no longer open. We got out and you and Silas walked with Daddy across it. Here is a picture. You had so much fun with this:


Then... it was off to Walmart where you picked out a new bike for your birthday. Silas picked his birthday too so that you two would have new bikes together. You picked a really cool bike that is black and gold has has pegs on the front (and training wheels on the back...hilarious!) I mean what kind of tricks do you do on a bike with training wheels??

We had your party at Grandma Debbie's house. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time! Grandma Debbie, Grandpa Randy, Grandma Darlene, Grandpa Bobby, Grandma and Grandpa Shell, Aunt Suz, Uncle Scott, Megan, Hannah, and Sarah Records all came to celebrate with us! You were wonderful and hugged everyone with a big thank you for your gifts. Here is a picture of you opening your gifts and a picture of your cake:

Happy Father's Day!

We had a wonderful Father's Day on Sunday! Although Steve didn't feel well, the boys were wonderful. After they came home from camping (where they had a blast!) we all lounged around, took naps, and went to the Brandywine School Park. Avery got to ride on the back of Steve's motorcycle, and that made Steve's Day! Steve loves his boys!

On their camping trip they got to roast marshmellows (and Avery roasted his own for the first time.) They laid in the tents, Avery in is small tent inside of the big tent, and had talking time until late at night. Then they slept all night and woke at 8 am. So sweet! When they came home they were still in their pajamas and just looked like they had been having a blast!

Happy Father's Day Steve, here's to many more wonderful celebrations!

Camping for Father's Day!

Tonight Dad took Avery and Silas camping! Tomorrow is Father's day, and Steve wanted to spend some special time with his boys! Too bad Nolan isn't quite big enough to do the tent camping thing.

We had a babysitter lined up for tonight because we were supposed to have a wedding reception to attend. Steve decided he'd rather do the camping thing, so I took Nolan to the sitters, and spent the evening with my dad for Father's Day. We went to dinner and a movie (with mom too.)

I talked with the boys tonight and they were having a blast! They fished (and caught 7 according to Avery) and rode Grandpa's new horse. They cooked hot dogs and marshmellows over a fire. And they set up a big tent (and put Avery's little tent inside it...how funny!) I can't wait to hear how the entire experience goes for them! What a fun tradition to be starting. Next year, Nolan and I are going along :) I miss them tonight!!!

And so it begins...

In preparing the blog for MOPS Social events, I decided that I would really like to keep a blog for my boys. Somewhat of a journal that they can someday look at and remember their childhood. In no way can I do posts in retrospect, but from here on out, I'd like to keep track of the big stuff (and some of the small stuff too!)

So... Avery went to a horse camp today. Silas enjoyed seeing the horses as we dropped him off too and we took pictures. Avery was wonderful for being one of the youngest and even got to be the very first to ride a horse! Here is a picture of him on his horse "Promise Bay:"


Here is a picture of Avery and Silas with "Lucky." Avery was in a group that stayed with Lucky. They really took Avery under their wings there and he was super happy to stay while we left for a while. It ended up storming so they called me to get him early. He was muddy and tired when I got him, but I'm glad we let him have the experience!

Nolan had trouble getting to bed tonight. I think he's feeling pretty poorly. He's had a bit of a runny nose and a slight cough for a couple of days. I felt bad myself early in the week, and Steve is feeling poorly tonight as well. I just pray that we all get rest so that we can all feel good again.

I plan to try to update often! I love to journal, so hopefully I will use this as my outlet and we can create a family "scrapbook" of sorts.