THIS BOY IS 11

this boy was a tiny 5lb 4 oz. baby

who had to have blanket padding

to fit into his car seat

when he went home

from the hospital

11 years ago.

this boy has had ginormous dimples

from the get go.

this boy has always been happy,

curious and full of wonder

about the world.

this boy is wonderfully creative

and delightfully quirky.

this boy likes to have fun!

this boy has a kind and generous heart.

always has and always will.

this boy has always been

duper-dee-duper cute.

this boy likes to explore new places.

this boy always has a lot to say.

he's smart and thoughtful

and is always thinking.

this boy is 11 today.

11!

you are loved, my boy.

very, very loved!

happy birthday, boon!

A DAY (AND A HALF) WITH ELIAS

guess who came to visit?

baby elias!

eeeeeeeee!

we got to take care of him

while his folks worked

in seattle.

we were so happy.

and excited.

and enamored.

he is a doll and getting to spend time with him

was a treat.

we are lucky.

a sweet cousin and nephew.

my guys were such a huge help.

honestly, i was exhausted.

it's been a while!

 boon and hudson kept saying,

"i love him so much!"

and

"i love babies, mom!"

they are going to be super amazing dads,

these two sweethearts.

until next time, sweetest nub.

we love you.

A MOMENT CAPTURED

we found this guy the other day 

doing a bit of summer reading.

i love capturing moments like this.

everyday life can be pretty darn amazing.

BUNNIES!

our friends were taking care of some baby bunnies.

we got to hold those bunnies.

those bunnies were cute!

TAKE YOUR KIDDOS TO WORK DAY

i brought the boys to wyatt's company

for take your kids to work day.

he showed them what he's been working on.

 they got to explore all the cool equipment and whatnot.

it was fun to see where daddy goes all day

and get a glimpse of what he does

while he's there.

and as we got our tour,

i couldn't help but think...

during the day,
my husband and i
totally live
on two different planets.

JUST LIKE CHINESE FOOD

so, the other day, i hear boon

talking to his friends.

the following came out of his mouth:

"i tried eating rotten flesh

but it just made me hungrier."

i kid you not.

thank goodness i know he's obsessed with:

otherwise, i would have been offended.

my cooking isn't that bad, is it?

minecraft creeper.

minecraft block.

huh.

i guess rotten flesh

is kinda like

chinese food.

go figure.

BEFORE AND AFTER...A STORY OF HAIR

here is younger dude.

he set out to look like harry potter,

obviously the shaggier harry potter, 

not the more clean cut version

in the later movies.

and here he is after choosing to go short for the summer,

and also because his brother was chopping his off

and he wanted to keep it same, same.

here is older dude,

who only grew his hair out

because his brother decided to do it,

and things have to be fair, you know.

and here he is with his much desired shorter style.

one night he said accusingly,

"mom, can i please get my hair cut this weekend?"

as if his parents hadn't been hinting and suggesting this course of action

for quite some time!

so there it is.

the long and the short of it.

OBSESSIONS OF MEN

currently, the men in our household

are obsessed with chess.

all 3 of them.

here we have wyatt and boon

battling it out

while hudson plays a chess app

on wyatt's phone.

boon is in chess club at school.

the boys often play each other

in the mornings before school.

there are always games on the weekends,

and a lot of challenging the computer

and each other

with the phone app.

books are checked out of the library

to read up on rules, moves and

winning strategies

it's a chess fest!

the two younger boys have

another obsession.

one that's been around for years and years,

but they are just now becoming acquainted...

the world of pokemon.

trading cards,

playing the game,

and having a blastola

buying new decks, and

browsing through them

over and over and over,

discussing the merits of each character.

as i am no stranger to obsessions,

i welcome these new family interests

and wish the men in my life all the best

as they immerse themselves in the sheer delight

of obsessive geekery.

it's a good place to be.

BOONISMS FLASHBACK

when boon was just a week tyke,

he said stuff.

funny stuff.

funny kid stuff.

just like all kids do,

but of course,

he's my kid,

so his stuff is extra funny.

here are some classic Boonisms

for your entertaining pleasure. 

Boonism #242:

"Mom-Mom, you have to sing

"Have a Merry Little Man!"

Boonism #96:

After looking at pictures of his friends and

their new baby sisters:

Boon says, "I have a baby sister."

Mom clarifies, "You have a baby brother."

After thinking for a moment, Boon replies,

"I have a new baby brother.

It's a different kinda sister called a Hudson."

Boonism #58:

"That's sugar. It's sweet

and good and

healthy!"

Boonism #43:

on baseball:

"The pitcher has to throw the ball.

The batter has to throw the bat."

Boonism #83:

"That's a urinal.

It's where you wash your hands."

And some Boonism Vocabulary:

Mommy Beans = Edamame Beans

Hair Jello = Hair Gel

Wack-a-Mole Backaphone = Rock-n-Roll Microphone

Potty Napkins = Toilet Paper

our little boon was so silly!

woa. flashback indeed.