Bathtime at our house! Kyle and Reid, in "their" bathtub, were just laughing and laughing.

Reiders was playing around and in a JOLLY mood this day. Seems he is pretty hit or miss on his personality. With three teeth arriving within 24 hours of turning 8 months, he was a grump for a bit. Not this day!!! Must be the Pistol Pete shirt!

Jason blessed me with some sweet, loving, pretty (and wild!) boys!

Family Photo: January 31, 2012

REID's FEATURES. They are so sweet. And so little. But not so little, really. Kyle's birthday! He got a new bicycle, riding gloves, license tag (us), PowerRangers costume, helmet, shoes and windpants (my folks).

School party! So "official" with his birthday crown.

This picture with Kyle might be a framer. I just adore my five year old!

I think Kyle had a great day today! He did suffer a case of "it's my birthday, therefore, I don't really have to listen to or do whatever others ask me to do since I get to do whatever I want all day" which made being his mom a bit challenging. I attempted to be a bit more patient but I was very ready for bedtime tonight! :) He was loud and crazy and happy and excited today. Just like a 5 year old should be, probably!

Happiest of birthdays, my sweet little man!

Miss Catey is the best dog ever! She just loves on and protects all of our boys, especially Reid, and handles his fur-tugging!

Just a picture to capture Reid's first snow!
Jason and Grant building their first Pinewood Derby car!

Pinewood Derby Day

Kyle's birthday is next week, and Grant's is 3 weeks later. This year, they are having a joint party because so many of their friends are similar. Plus, easier for us and family that drives in.

I asked Kyle yesterday what kind of party he thought he would want and his answer was immediate, "I want all of my friends to dress up like what they would want to be when they grow up."

Pretty cute and creative! Too bad the party is at a gym and that theme isn't happening... on to Lego Star Wars!

This is where I am sitting right now. On our kitchen floor as Kyle has fallen asleep on the tile floor. He came home from school and asked to take a nap (red flag!!) and then threw up at 3:00. Poor thing can't quit crying, is so scared, and wants his Mommy next to him (as does Reid in the other room!). Say a prayer he gets over this tummy bug quickly.

Family night at Walmart a few nights ago - we had two carts, and Jason's cart ended up being much cuter than mine! This is what he was able to look at throughout most of the store! :)

Some of my special friends! I never get to post social pictures on here so it's about time to have one with some of my girls! It was fun for the five couples to mingle without the kiddos.

Jason took Grant to Cub Scouts last night (where they learned briefly how to map, and then also about the Food pyramid (which is apparently different than the one I learned!)) and so I was home with Kyle and Reid. We've been giving Reid his baths in our master tub in his baby tub since it is easier because G and K usually just take their showers down here where we can keep an eye on them. So, I was bathing Reid and Kyle showered. He got out of the shower and started laughing...

Within a few seconds, he had literally spanked my upper bottom area. I have lost a few pounds, just enough to have a baggy waistband and was showing a bit of my bottom while I was sitting. So, he spanked it.

I calmly yet a bit loudly turned around and said, "Kyle, what are you doing?" not really mad, but just suprised... and then he told me that he was just trying to get ready to be a Daddy, and that when he spanked himself, it wasn't quite the same "slap" sound. :)

Grant and Kyle are delirious when we check on them before going to bed. Last night, we decided they could come sleep with us. I go in to Kyle's room to wake him up and after having a funny conversation, I ask if he will be okay on the stairs since he is still sleepy. Looks at me and nearly screams, "Stairs! What stairs? Stairs? Where?" all sad and confused, like that word is the worst thing ever. We finally make it downstairs, and one step on to our bedroom carpet he lays on the ground and goes back to sleep. We eventually moved him but he was out!

Grant is woken up, and has his pointer fingers pressed firmly against his eyelids, fingers facing each other, and starts saying loudly "Dad? Dad! Where are you? I can't see you! Dad!" :)

If only I could ever sleep that hard.... :)

January

It has been nearly three weeks since I last posted?!? What on earth? When did I become "that" blogger who says one thing but doesn't follow through? I guess now... and life happens, and sick babies, and holidays, and some fun, too!

Our Oklahoma State Cowboys defeated Stanford in an overtime game. Below, Richetti Jones, is one of our family's favorite players. I had briefly met him three years ago, and then in the fall, at a Harry Potter movie, we are waiting in the theater lobby when this HUGE guy walks up and gives Jason "a man hug" and starts chatting away. Did not recognize him. Richetti has gotten so much bigger the past three years. SUCH a nice guy; Jason always talks positively about him as a person, not just a football player. So, needless to say, his post-game interview on TV was interesting to us, and then when he flashed this huge smile, I took a picture of the screen, even as Jason is going "no, no, no." Our school system didn't start back for this semester until the second week of January. We took the opportunity to go visit a few places when other kids were already back at school to avoid the crowds. The boys and I headed to Leonardos Warehouse in Enid. We were the ONLY ones on their outdoor play area (in the 60's this day) so it was perfect. Below are just some of my favorite pictures of the boys this day. I especially love the one of Grant and Kyle pushing Reid - they did this for about 15 minutes and were making Reid laugh the whole time.

Kyle was able to sit in a cockpit, pet a snake, saw wood, and dress up as a fireman.

Grant (barely) touched the snake and really enjoyed the wood shop.

Mom had another birthday on the 6th. I made her favorite - German Chocolate - and then we hired a babysitter so the six adults could go out... only to get there and have the babysitter call because Grant had thrown up. Jason and I came home but (yea!) there was no more sickness.

Kyle always asks for me to take his picture with Reid... so here is another...

Reid is up and rocking. No crawling yet (7 1/2 months). His brothers didn't crawl until right after 9 months so I am not anxiously waiting!

Family photo with our camera's timer. This shot: everyone is looking!

This shot: much more flattering of my cheeks and "other" cheeks.

logo!

Jason is now officially the sole dentist in his office. We haven't created a logo yet for a few reasons but we now have one, thanks to Catherine Dodson Hoyle (circle of life, friends). For those who don't know, Catherine was my "mom" in the Theta house, I ate lunches at her parents' house after church in college, and this is what she does now professionally, although she is technically a stay-at-home mommy to three beautiful kids!

Here's our logo. Having our last name is important in a town our size, and we thought the image of teeth was also important for immediate recognition. After lots and lots of color combos, this is where we ended up - Jason will defend the purple with "purple is the color of dentistry."

We love!

Heil family

The news of the cruise ship crash several days ago just made my stomach get tied in knots, especially knowing first-hand the joy and care-freeness (is that a word?) of taking such a trip.

I didn't have a clue that there was a personal connection. My cousin's lifelong friend is missing her aunt and uncle. DARN IT! Their family has created a blog to keep people informed. The link is here. http://heilfamilyupdate.wordpress.com/

I don't know them. But it reminds you that everyone has a story and family and life to live - cherish the time you have with your family and friends!

Don't Carpe Diem

Below is an excerpt from an article, found here, that my Aunt K sent me. Good advice for all of my young mom friends out there!

There are two different types of time. Chronos time is what we live in. It's regular time, it's one minute at a time, it's staring down the clock till bedtime time, it's ten excruciating minutes in the Target line time, it's four screaming minutes in time out time, it's two hours till daddy gets home time. Chronos is the hard, slow passing time we parents often live in.
Then there's Kairos time. Kairos is God's time. It's time outside of time. It's metaphysical time. It's those magical moments in which time stands still. I have a few of those moments each day. And I cherish them.
Like when I actually stop what I'm doing and really look at Tish. I notice how perfectly smooth and brownish her skin is. I notice the perfect curves of her teeny elf mouth and her asianish brown eyes, and I breathe in her soft Tishy smell. In these moments, I see that her mouth is moving but I can't hear her because all I can think is -- This is the first time I've really seen Tish all day, and my God -- she is so beautiful. Kairos.
Like when I'm stuck in chronos time in the grocery line and I'm haggard and annoyed and angry at the slow check-out clerk. And then I look at my cart and I'm transported out of chronos. And suddenly I notice the piles and piles of healthy food I'll feed my children to grow their bodies and minds and I remember that most of the world's mamas would kill for this opportunity. This chance to stand in a grocery line with enough money to pay. And I just stare at my cart. At the abundance. The bounty. Thank you, God. Kairos.
Or when I curl up in my cozy bed with Theo asleep at my feet and Craig asleep by my side and I listen to them both breathing. And for a moment, I think- how did a girl like me get so lucky? To go to bed each night surrounded by this breath, this love, this peace, this warmth? Kairos.
These kairos moments leave as fast as they come- but I mark them. I say the word kairos in my head each time I leave chronos. And at the end of the day, I don't remember exactly what my kairos moments were, but I remember I had them. And that makes the pain of the daily parenting climb worth it.
If I had a couple Kairos moments during the day, I call it a success.
Carpe a couple of Kairoses a day.
Good enough for me.

OSU WINS...and so does Ben!

Our Oklahoma State Cowboys won the Fiesta Bowl, in overtime, yesterday with a score of 41-38! They defeated Stanford, and the win marks the first BCS win for the Pokes. Today, the team arrived at the airport so we went to greet them! Here are a few pictures from the fun! One of the OKC news reporters/cameramen got the boys on video and they were on a few broadcasts tonight, which they loved! and Ben wins! :) My college dorm friend from Drummond Hall, pledge sister, and "twin" (the same "mom/big" in the Theta house) married her sweetie, Ben, in November. Jana lives in Arkansas and is a teacher. I made the 7ish hour drive there and back in one day to go to her wedding. Jana was and is and will be a great friend to my family and me. Every Christmas, she mails my boys books. She was always there at special events for all of us as we reached our milestones in life. She and Ben came to visit Stillwater last year so we had met the lucky guy before. Jason really wanted to go but that didn't work out. I was so happy to have spent this day celebrating her and her great husband! Plus, I was able to see Amanda, another college friend, who lives in Virginia! Ironically, I have seen her more than any of my local friends the most in the past 15 months, except Erryn. :)