Bath Time

The Best

I don't know that there is any thing more satisfying for me as mother then having my children all playing together happily.

It makes my heart sing.

Back to School Night

Anna's school hosted a Back to School Night and Hot Dog Roast to welcome the students back and to release the class lists.

Despite Anna's face in this picture, she was very excited to be there. 

 We ate hot dogs,

 played on the playground,

and looked really cute.

We also met Anna's new teacher, Mrs. Chambers. We are all looking forward to the first day of school next Friday.

Ben Boy

Let me introduce you to the life of the party:

This little guy will just wait until you glance his way and then flash his happy smile. He'll beckon you over with bounces and give you a sly little giggle. And then it's over. You'll be mush in his chubby little hands.

Our Benny Boy is quick to smile and even quicker to laugh. And oh, what a laugh it is. If Ben is laughing, everyone migrates to where he is. Isaac and Anna run over, Jeff comes down the stairs, Sam grins and we all drink in his contentment.

While I was teaching in Primary one week, a sister offered to hold Ben for me. She tickled and played with him and, of course, got him laughing pretty hysterically. Next thing we know, he's asleep. Yep. He actually laughed himself to sleep.

While Ben is super quick to laugh, he is also quick to cry. If he's upset it's zero to sixty in a second. If I'm more that 30 seconds getting him up from a nap it's like he's been left in his crib for days. Major hysterics, I'm telling you.

(Not a great picture, but it shows off his 'hawk so well.)

Let's talk about Ben's hair for a minute. It's crazy. He has two cowlicks which makes a wall of hair stick straight up along the back of his head. (Note to self: get a picture of those crazy swirlies.) And then there's the mohawk. His hair seems to only grow in the mohawk region. It's awesome, but with the cowlicks, Ben pretty much looks a mess 24/7. It's okay though; I kind of love it. I think the mohawk will probably go away (boo hoo), but those cowlicks are going to be a stru-ggle.

And oh, the drool. Ben has been teething for like two months straight. He goes through a lot of onesies in a day. Anything in arms reach is game for chewing. Most often it is his foot.

Ben is a mover. He's not actually not that strong and is still figuring out the whole sitting thing. But man, the kid has determination to go where he wants to go. He rolls, scoots on his back, or shimmies on his tummy to get around.

Thank goodness Ben is a cuddler. How else would we be able to soak up all his goodness?

The First Born

I've taken to calling Anna "My First Born." For some reason she loves it. Maybe it's because she revels in the fact that at one point it was just the two of us (well, three really). I miss those days too sometimes. Not only is she the original Sollis kid, she is our one and only little lady.

 Anna REALLY wants sisters, but I'm pretty sure that won't happen until some lucky ladies snatch her brothers up. In the mean time, Jeff and I are soaking up her little feminine ways and trying not to spoil our special little girl.

 Anna is such a gentle kid. She never retaliates when Isaac starts to wail on her. I have even found myself saying, "Just push him back, Anna!" (Not one of my finer mothering moments.) She just can't. It's not in her.

 Anna is fun. She is always up for anything and it a great traveler. She can go through the security line in the airport more efficiently that lots of adults and she even likes it.

Our backyard pool and sprinklers have gotten lots of use from Anna this summer. She loves the water.

Man, this girl is excited for school. She loves to try and sound out words and write them in her notebook. And she is a rhyming machine, I tell you. In the car we are either rhyming up a storm or playing I Spy With My Little Eye.

Anna's humor is, well, coming along. She loves to make up "jokes." Like, "Hey mom, here's a joke. The ice-cream is on the tree and a nose is on the tree!!!!!" But don't even try to fake laugh at her jokes because she doesn't accept that. Real laughs only. It kind of puts me in a tight spot.

Just seven days until I send my little chickie to school. I'm glad for her. She's ready. And heaven knows I'm ready. But there is no doubt that I will miss My First Born.

Sam-Sam

With twins, it is hard not to constantly compare--size, development, temperament, etc. Especially when it's so fun to do.  But the fact is they are definitely two distinct and unique little people.

 Our Samuel is calm, steady and an observer.

 He holds his bottle like a champ. Sammy is strong and can sit up on his own.

 Fans and lights are exciting and the best game ever is peek-a-boo.

 Mister blue eyes is a fuzzy blond with porcelain skin and rosy cheeks.

He has most recently discovered the joy of blowing raspberries and does not like it when I leave the room. Sam buries his head in the crook of my arm when he is tired.

You have to work hard for a laugh, but when it comes it's loud and deep-like it has been kept under pressure and explodes when released.

Sam is my youngest. When he was born I had the most distinct impression that he was sent to bless our family. Yes, I'm sure he will always have a very special bond with Ben, but I think each of rest us need Sam in our life as well. (This is quite a  meager attempt at trying to explain a complex feeling in my heart.) All I know is he is supposed to be here, in our family, right now. And thank heavens for that.

One For Isaac

 Oh man, I sure love this kid. He's my charming, mischievous, happy, not-so-good-at-listening, independent, spiderman-loving, almost-three-year-old. Life would just be too plain with out this guy in my life.

 He is loving and affectionate, always game for a good snuggle and every nap, bedtime or goodbye requires kisses and hugs.

 Sometimes our buddy has a hard time sharing, but when he "gets it" he does so gently and sweetly.

 And boy, does Isaac know how to stand out in a crowd. Chocolate brown eyes, dimples, olive skin and oozing charm have won many an adoring fan.

This one time Isaac did something really naughty (I don't remember what) and was sat on the stairs in time out. I was pretty upset with him and gave him a stern talking to. You know--extending my parental authority and all that. As I turned to leave him to think about his actions he unrepentantly started shooting imaginary Spiderman webs at my back.  It made me so mad at the time, but now I wonder what was going through his head. Maybe I was Green Goblin and he was protecting all that was right and true in his world. (Parental authority my BLEEP.) In hindsight, I was probably too hard on him. He just wanted to play. I gotta remember that more often.

Isaac refers to himself as "Buddy" ninety percent of the time. It's a good moniker for him, because that's really what he is in our family. He plays Rapunzel with Anna (often starring as the long-haired beauty himself), plays and talks with the twins, helps me with laundry and emptying the dishwasher, and wrestles with Jeff. He's a great buddy to all of us.

So glad he's mine.