Who is Who?

All three boys are pictured below within one week of their 3-month birthday. Who is who!?!?

Three Months

Technology

Faster than a mom in a juicebox-littered minivan, more complex than Dad's strategy for putting up his pull-up bar (that would be today's project),... technology has created a world of both wonder and worry for the typical family.

So... I have to admit - this new era of technology, especially all of the fun but readily available gadgets, kind of freaks me out. Not that I'm afraid to try it, nor do I believe there is no place for it, but I am afraid for this generation of kids (I have heard they're called the "millenians") from high school down to my sweet baby. Do they need to talk to a friend? Let's txt. Do they have a school concern? Let's email. Do they want to learn their ABCs? Let's use the App for that skill.

The following list is from my recent Parenting magazine on good guidelines to minimize technology and help this situation on the home front. I couldn't agree more!

• Treat your Facebook profile like the family home - safe and secure.


• A parental control does not double as Dad


• Create a family tech zone and tech-free zone (or my idea - try a weekly day!)


• You are the Superhero. Technology is the side-kick


• All devices should be treated equal


• Make eye contact, not iContact


• Establish electronic curfews, including adults

It's up to us, folks. Turn off the TVs and play legos. Get outside and draw on the driveway with chalk. Sing songs to a pretend microphone. Turn off your iPhone and iPod and iPad for dinnertime and cherish the memories. Make your kids talk to their teachers and not email them. And, remember, kids want to be like their parents - tune out and turn off.

Jason and I are both due for a phone upgrade and we have been procrastinating, knowing that we will likely bring home either an iPhone or Blackberry, just because that is the way the world is moving, but knowing that little gadget could have the potential to not only change both our lives but also the kiddos. For good and bad.

To me, this Facebook world and text-inducing dings can be scary. Do you respond and answer to your kids as quick as you reach to your phone to view the incoming text message? I try to but can fall victim to just that... Let's work on it, world (okay, the four of you that read this!).

I forgot to mention last week that Kyle decided to cut his own hair for the beginning of school - that's why it is so short now! Fortunately, he just got one swipe with the scissors before I caught him and finished the rest myself!

Also, fun news - Reid belly laughed several times this evening when I was tickling and talking to him. Jason and I were both there so it was that much more enjoyable for us to both be there for his first "real" laughs. and they were so precious!

Wish I would have gotten both of these on camera, but at least they're on the blog!

It's also very obvious the big boys are so happy to have a baby brother. They can't keep their hands off of him - either holding his hand, rubbing his cheeks or trying to tickle his tummy. One neat thing is that Grant typically each day will say "Mom, we are so blessed with Reid, aren't we?"

What special moments....

Blessed with Handsome Boys!

Jason and I were able to snap some photos of the boys yesterday. As much as we love Mr. Reid, we have very few photos of him as an infant compared to Grant. So, we took advantage of a lazy Saturday so I could capture these sweet ages of 6, 4, and 2 months - plus, I will have a few pictures to put in frames at our home! Thankfully, the big boys cooperated by looking at the camera and mostly giving good smiles. Reid did pretty well, too! Below are a few of my favorites - turned out pretty good for not having any fancy photo-editing software like photoshop (one of these days....)!

School notes

Feedback I have received about the boys from their first day at school:

Kyle: his teacher wrote me and said that he was a sweetheart!!!! YES! Kyle also informed me that he received a lot of kisses from Gabi during lunchtime. and so it begins....

Grant: our next door neighbor is a teacher at their school and she spoke with Grant's teacher at our local Relay for Life event. We learned through that conversation that his teacher just adores him now... you know why? The first thing he said to her as he walked in to the classroom was something along the lines of how beautiful she looked in her outfit! :) what an angel and/or suck-up!

School Begins!

We now have a First Grader and a Pre-Kindergartener in our house! They were both so very excited to start the year, and fortunately, both boys have several friends in their class (whew!). Their morning started with both up and dressed before 7:00 when we don't leave the house until 8:30 - so, yes, they were excited! We had scrambled eggs and cinnamon rolls on "You Are Special Today" plates! GO EAGLES!

God Speed

Music by the Dixie Chicks. Great song for my little boys!

sweetest face

Sweetest little face I know! It is such a joy to be your Mommy, Reid!

He has become very, very curious about his world and loves to hold his head up and look around the room. This is some tummy time - finally at the point where he enjoys it!
A simple, pretty photo of the flowers given at Reid's baby dedication.

Reid's Baby Dedication

Our church had a baby dedication on Sunday. If I heard correctly, for our relatively small congregation, there will be 31 new babies in 1 1/2 years! On this day, five little ones were dedicated to our Lord. Here is our family listening to our pastor, John Bugg.

Family photo!
We have a video of what John said as well and I may get that on here sometime in the future. We were presented a white rose (for the Mom) and a red rose (for the Dad) - symbolism I do not recall off-hand. Also, Reid received a Bible.

Picture update

A few quick pictures:

This is Anne, my brother's wife. They have moved to Oklahoma within the past year so this was our first time to celebrate with her on her birthday. The boys just adore her. This was followed up with her (and Wes) inviting the kids to come spend three days with them and our boys had a blast. I'm sure the addition of a 6 and 4 year old added a lot of noise to their typically quiet home! Reiders - we got a picture with him smiling! He never seems to show off for the camera!
Kyle in his Porsche gear. He loves these cars. Kyle, my Dad, and Jason were off to the Eskimo Joes car show, and Kyle was invited to sit in a Viper! He loved it!

Reid at bathtime! He's now enjoying them and they're a pleasant experience for me rather than him just crying!

An updated picture of my parents' house. It's coming along on schedule and they're just thrilled with it!