My heart is "beeping" fast!

Yesterday, the baby, you know, the one who just turned 6....he ran up (and down) a half mile hill.  We live at the bottom of this hill and walk/jog/run it quite often but Kimber has never run the whole way.  Yesterday HE DID IT.  Of course this morning, there was much complaining about his legs hurting.  Lactic acid discussion ensued. 

I will fully admit that I don't do baby talk, I take this job of raising self sufficient humans seriously and have tried hard to talk to these kids like the people they are....BUT......I just can't fix K's term for his heart beating.....beeping.  While laying on the driveway after his sprint he just had to let me feel his "heart beeping".

This is probably my favorite incorrect word usage of his....it also allows me to keep savoring one of the few morsels of his littleness for a little while longer,  he is so independent and aware and OLDER than his 6 years in so many ways, I will keep "heart beeping" for a little while longer.

Within 10 minutes of our arrival back home from our run, Matthew took his first over the handlebar dismount....with minimal drama I might add.  I think he was pretty close to crying but my well disguised worry masquerading as AWE tricked him.  He got a little banged up and sported some bruises on his ribs for a few days but was back on his bike within 15 minutes or so.

The BABY is 6!!!

6!  6!  6!  The baby is 6 TODAY!

This 6-year old of mine has been counting down the days to his birthday for at least a month.  I am not sure I have ever seen a kid more excited about a birthday. 

This baby of mine still loves his mama fiercely and thankfully still needs snuggles most days.  He can build the coolest creations from his Lego collection.  He will scarf down any type of berry brought into this house.  He has become quite the mathematician and is making great strides in his reading.  I am convinced that at least half the facts he knows about the animal kingdom have come from the mouths of the Kratt Brothers of Wild Kratts fame.  He loves being read to, riding his bike and playing Minecraft with Matthew.  He never forgets ANYTHING....he is certainly my most ardent accountability partner!

Don't let that sweet dimpled smile fool you, this boy has quite the stubborn streak, I mean FOR REAL!  There have be MANY conversations here about choosing your battles, and he is making progress but boy....the stubborn is strong in this one.  He and Matthew are incredibly close...when they are not trying to maim each other. 

This shot epitomizes the CAN DO ATTITUDE employed by this kid.

And that stink face...when he doesn't get his way...alive and well today!

Pirate Chipmunk Flying Boat

Kimber was trying to explain to us what he wanted to watch yesterday with these exact words.....


Pirate Chipmunk Flying Boat

He meant Wonder Pets...pretty spot on description yes?

Hot Hot Hot

HEAT, the boy loves his heat, just like his mama.  Tonight, after bathtime, he took Papa's knit cap and strategically positioned himself right in front of the heater.

Oh Kimber

This evening, while driving home from an adventure in Birmingham Kimber told us he needed to tee-tee BAD.  The next exit just happened to be a rest stop so off I pulled.  I unstrapped Kimber and let him out, as I climb out of the back seat from unlatching Matt I see Kimber's little buns.  Apparently he could not wait until we walked the 10 whole feet to the bathroom to relieve himself, so in front of innocent bystanders..at the ENTRANCE TO THE visitor building he let it flow.  The walk of shame commenced and I confess....I was completely cracked up and totally humiliated...all in the same breath.

Nuggle time

There are many times I get bogged down in the to do list and I feel like these years are passing way too quickly.  Kimber is my little snuggle man and he knows just the way to get me to stop and enjoy him by asking for me to "nuggle" with him.  One of the things I enjoy most about staying home with these guys is that our mornings are typically full of cuddle time, I know this will change soon enough but I certainly do NOT MISS the chaos that was getting us, our lunches, gym bags and a baby and all his gear to daycare on the morning before making it to our offices by 8. 

Boys Birthday Campout 2012

Please ignore that this post is a few a lot of weeks months late, life is crazy these days.

Our guys love to camp so it seemed appropriate that we camp out in our backyard to celebrate their birthdays.  I think this may become an annual tradition.  The party was a hit, with our children as much as the fellow campers.

The week before the party we hammered our little hearts out making signs, gathering sticks and getting our scavenger hunting bags ready.

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The day of the party papa took the boys to Home Depot while I decorated the cake with no helpers.  It turned out pretty cute I think.

 

Anita was our resident marshmallow shooter distributor

Guns and Ammo

Paul shuttled gear into Camp Riggle

Taste testing all the chocolate Ms. Nae unwrapped.

We had lots of helpers that made the day a success.

From handing out treats to shuttling gear to stringing balloons to making scavenger bags to unwrapping enormous amounts of chocolate to cleaning up.  This village we have the opportunity to participate in never fails to show us the love.

Ready to hunt

The rest of the hunters

                                                                                         The glowstick tree, the 1st of many scavenger finds

Traipsing through the woods

Inventory

Poor Dan, designated parachute installer, at least he has a PhD, right?

Mr. Dan, with the world's smallest balloon pump.

Real men dine on the back of a gator

We really did have an actual table for eating at.

Faces like this, make it ALL WORTH IT!

His big jeep, from the bestest neighbors!

Outdoor movie time

Camp Riggle

 

 

 

 

Early morning negotiations in the sandbox

Bacon, lots of bacon

 

What a stance

This picture cracks me right up

                                                                                                            My boys

Chocolate, for breakfast

Caden, working on his 2nd breakfast.

Buddies enjoying their treat

So happy

Potato Cannon instruction

Boys...will be BOYS, no matter how old.

A whole lot of cute, up in a tree.

 A friend loaned us a bow and the boys got to practice shooting after their camping friends left.