Monsters Under my Bookshelf

Contrary to Darwin's theories, mutations are never beneficial. This case is no different. Our sweet, darling, little bookworms have mutated into something terrifying. Aunt Kelsey can attest to the degree of fear these two book-mutants can instill in the heart of anyone kind enough - or foolish enough - to enter into our home.



All you have to do is come in and sit down. They smell your fresh blood. And they stalk you, circling closer and closer with books in their outstretched little paws.

"Boooooo...k"

"Boooooooooooooo...k"

"Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...k"



And then they have you. They lure you in with their cute big eyes and sweet little voices. But then, when they get you on the hook, when you crack the first pages of the first book, you are theirs forever. You will never escape.

You will be reading Dr. Seuss for the rest of your life. If you're lucky. If not, it'll be endless renditions of "You're My Little Love Bug."

I cannot sit during the day. As soon as I do, they attack. They sense a weakness, a momentary shift in my ability to withstand their charms, and they descend upon me, books in hands.



We worked so hard to get these little guys to fall in love with books, as their parents have. One of my baby showers, when I was pregnant with Iain, was a book shower. We read to both of them long before they could understand the words we spoke. We delighted in the times they asked to read. We especially loved seeing them sitting quietly, both lost in the worlds of their imaginations, the only sounds the gentle hush of the turning pages.

But we never anticipated that we'd be creating these monsters. Book-monsters, that is. We are imprisoned by their demands.



Today, I took the boys to Bed Bath and Beyond to look for a lamp. Iain saw one he liked and said, "Mama, that one looks like a Hut-Zut!" And if you can correctly identify the book that he was referencing, you will know that you too have been caught.

Summer Days

More pictures, not much to say. I think my brain has checked out, or at least gone on vacation. I do have at least two posts cooking, though. Anyway, on to the pictures:

These two were from yesterday, July 4th. Iain had a fever, so we couldn't do any of the things we had planned. But we did go at his request to see the caboose. Cory is fascinated with spitting. It's his new favorite hobby.




This is my Kitchen Elf's newest creation: saucepan + spices + chopsticks.


Here's Cory looking cute and sleepy after a nap.




We spent the night with Curtis and Jenna last week. Iain talked on the whole drive over about riding a tractor "If Uncle Curtis says yes." Which he did. Before we left, Iain told the cashier at Aldi that we were going to see Aunt Jenna. The cashier asked where Aunt Jenna lived, and Iain replied, "About two hours away." She was impressed. :)



This is at Jenna and Curtis' mini golf course.



The day we left for J&C's house, we had our septic tank worked on. Talk about some pricey entertainment for the boys! Next time I think we'll go for a toy car.



We had a week-long visit with Grammy and Papa. They painted and worked the whole time they were here! Got so much done! And they kept the boys overnight for us so we could go out for Jeremy's birthday (belated). We went to a cool historic hotel in the city and spent our first night away from the boys.


And Cory. Sometimes one "pah-pah" just doesn't cut it.

Iains Say the Darndest Things

(the Viking-Knight-Beach bum)




Singing: Oh, Mama, oh Mama. Oh, she's a good good good good good mama.
(why, thank you :))



As I was putting him to bed the other night:

Iain: Mama, when you grow up, you can be a knight!
Me: Really? What do knights do?
Iain: (thinking) Well, they kick balls, and they squish bugs, and when they get mad they kick people.
Me: (mock horror) Oh no, Iain. Knights are good. They don't kick people. Maybe when they get mad they kick balls or pillows or something.
Iain: (in a creepy, drawn-out little voice, full of mischief) I like baaaaaad knights.
Me: No, we like good knights.
(later, during our nightly "Thank You Jesus for" ritual)
Iain: Thank You Jesus for baaaaad knights.



(Here, he's got what he calls "my big hands" on his feet. Translation? My oven mitts. And this is what he does when I tell him to freeze for the camera.)





As he sits down to eat his Curious George Fruit Thingies (and yes, that is the technical name): I am a snack-eater.




(talking to Nona on the phone. And chillin' apparently.)





The other day, I was trying to teach Cory to sign "I love you." So I'd say and sign "I...love..." and he'd fill in the blank (usually with "Mama!" - be still my heart.) But then, oh yes, he remembered the Big Brother.

Me: I...love...
Cory: Eeeen!
Iain: (sitting nearby in the red chair, reading a book, not once looking up or noticing the goings-on) thankyou.
(Just like that. Running the words together and like nothing funny was going on - I was cracking up. But maybe that was just the long-term effects of two little boys on my mental capacity. Or the fact that I am, after all, a Schweizer. And if you know us, you know what I mean. But here, once more without the commentary).

Me: I...love...
Cory: Eeen!
Iain: thankyou.
Me: I...love...
Cory: Eeen!
Iain: thankyou.

And it went on and on about six times. Hilarious.

Edited to add one more:
Jeremy: I'm going to run the water in the tub, and then I'm going to come back and throw you in.
Iain: (worried) No,gently put me in the tub.

Jeremy: (coming to get Cory) Okey Cory, I'm going to throw you in the tub.
Iain: Nooooo! Don't throw him in! He's my son!!!!

By Request, Some Pictures!

Some older ones from the Middle House that I keep meaning to post:

Here, you can see the rare species of crazy boys. Look! Two at the same time! They love squishing their faces up to the glass to scare you off. But don't be fooled. Sometimes - most times - they look sweet as pie.




(My word, if he doesn't have the sweetest brown eyes you ever did see...)


Here's Cory shushing the airplanes:



Fun times outside:






Iain saying, "Tut tut, looks like rain!"


Sweet boy.

Park, Party, Pool!

Lots of pictures today, few words. I'm chatting with Jenna as I upload. Enjoy!

A morning at the park:



Our church had an invite-a-friend cookout and school's out party.

Jeremy participated in the sack race! The boys stood on the side and watched, with Cory yelling "Hop! Hop!" and trying his best to get his feet off the ground. Jeremy' team, unfortunately, lost miserably.



Iain's first time getting his face painted. He asked for B - I - G (he spelled it out). And a cow on his hand.





The ponies were fun! The boys LOVED brushing them especially. Iain rode one and enjoyed it, but he wouldn't do it again when they offered.




Today we went to the pool with some friends. Iain had a blast! (And this after spending the morning whining and telling me how he didn't like swimming and wouldn't go. Ha!) Cory was cautious but enjoyed himself pretty well.





Doesn't Iain look tall and skinny?




I love Cory's face in this one!

How to Make Friends

One of the hardest things about moving up here has been starting over. I mean, not knowing anyone. At the Middle House, one time, I realized I needed a tablespoon of baking powder to finish a (really good) cake. Are you serious? I have to load up two children right before dinner, drive to Wal-Mart, unload them, fight the crowds to the baking aisle, get that one tiny can, stand in line for ten minutes, get them back in the car, drive home, unload them (by now they're fussing because dinner is late), bring them in, feed them dinner and oh yeah, the cake still isn't ready.

So I (bravely) went next door, and asked my neighbor (whom I had met once or twice) to borrow some. They have a little daughter, and seemed friendly and approachable. And then that evening, I brought them some cake. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Or not. I never heard from them again. They didn't even return my dish. I promise, the cake was good!

Perhaps I have the black thumb of friendship.

Yesterday at the library, I looked around at all the moms with kids the ages of my own, and hoped for a chance to talk to someone. Surely someone out there has room in their little black book for one more friend. Aha, I see her.

She has a boy a little older than Iain.
She has the stay-at-home mom uniform on (rather than the professional mom ensemble, which shows a possible lack of time for spontaneous trips to the park).
She looks nice enough.
And, oh yes, glory be, I hear her talking to the librarian about homeschooling!
And better yet, about Sonlight curriculum, the very one I am investigating for my boys!

I (bravely) approach her.

Me: Excuse me, did I hear you say you use Sonlight? (ah yes, that was a brilliant line.)
Her: Yes. (um, see, I just tossed you the conversational ball. You have to toss it back now. Give me something here, anything!)
Me: (faltering. She sure was chatty with the librarian not two seconds ago.) Um, do you like it? (stupid question. If she didn't, why would she be using it? Trying to cover, I continue) I'm thinking of using it for my kids.
Her: Yes, I like it. There's not enough seat work, though. I have to use some other stuff for that. Otherwise I just read [to her son] all day.
Me: Oh. (insert inane responses and small talk here)
Her: (insert inane responses and small talk here)

Awkward.

She gave me her name and number, in case I had more questions. That was nice. But after the way the conversation went, I think the death knell was sounded on that possible friendship before it began.

Sometimes taking the (brave) initiative really doesn't pay.

They Are So Weird!

My kids, that is. As witness:

A conversation Cory and Iain had upon Cory waking up from his nap. This was the first thing out of Iain's mouth when he saw his brother.

Iain: Cory, do you want to be a biscuit?
Cory: Yeah.
Iain: Okay, then I will tickle you until you are a biscuit.
Cory: Good.

I couldn't make this stuff up.

Problem Solving

One of my favorite parts about being a mom is getting to watch as my boys develop. It is especially fascinating to hear their thoughts and watch their minds grow and expand. For example, this little cutie here



is learning to problem solve and think sequentially. It is amazing to see this unfold. For example, on a recent walk, we had two very interesting conversations. We passed a tennis court that is usually locked up. This time, there were people playing on it. Iain thought a lot about playing tennis, and eventually said, "I would like to play tennis. I need a racket and a ball." Long pause as he contemplates the next step. "And I need to figure out how to get in."

We walked by a tall brick building.
Iain: Is that building very tall? (side note: Iain often asks questions instead of making statements. Especially funny when I say something wrong like, "the yellow blanket is Cory's" and he replies, "Is the yellow blanket mine?" And it is. Anyway.)
Me: Yes, it is.
Iain: Can we go on top of it?
Me: How would we get on top?
Iain: (thinks for a while) We could get a ladder.
Me: That's very true (thinking what a brilliant son I have). But people don't like it when other people climb on their buildings. Unless they are firemen.
Iain: (thinks some more) But pretend firemen can go on top.

Brilliant!




And a funny note: tonight I mentioned to Jeremy that I had a headache. Iain overheard and said he would pray for me. Then he said, "Dear Jesus, thank You for Mama's head. In Jesus' name, amen." I guess that puts things into perspective, huh? I mean, at least I have a head. :)

P.S. Here's some more perspective for you: if we were going to have another baby as close to Cory's age as he is to Iain's, the baby would have been born yesterday. Wow.

Finally!

After much hoop-jumping, paper-faxing, document-signing, phone-call-making, driving-and-driving, paperwork-doing, praying... we're closing on our new home today! Oh, you should have heard our great sighs of relief when, last week, we pulled into the driveway to take care of some stuff and saw this:



Our new house has been christened by Iain The Rock House. His reason is that the back yard (or jungle, if you want to be accurate) has a little part that is fenced in, right off the deck. It holds an odd little shelter and a hot tub (which we are not keeping), and the ground is covered in wonderful small ROCKS! When he and Cory saw that, they decided they like that house. When we asked Iain what he thought, he said he wanted to live there. Okay then, we will.

I think it's a cool name, also, because of Matthew 7:24-27 (which, un-coincidentally, was the passage I read this morning - the day we close on the Rock House):

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

We are very, very aware that this house does not belong to us, but to the Lord, and that it is His to do with as He chooses. We are also very aware that He gave this house, this specific house, into our keeping, to bless us, and so we could use it to bless others. And we will do that, by His grace.

We wanted a large house, big enough to fit our future family into, with room for Jeremy to work at home, and room for guests, including people who might need to stay a while. We wanted the bedroom spaces to be fairly small, and the living spaces big, so that everyone who lives or stays at the Rock House would be encouraged to "do life" together, rather than to isolate themselves in their private space. We wanted a large backyard for the boys (and future children) to have room to run and play and be outdoors. We wanted enough room in the living/dining/kitchen area to be able to have lots of people over. We wanted to be in a good, established, family-friendly neighborhood (and I really wanted trees everywhere!). We wanted to be near our new church. And in the Rock House, God gave us all of this. And it was a foreclosure, which means a really good price and a mortgage we have a good chance of paying off completely (another of our long-term goals).

God is good!

Come visit us at the Rock House!

Stay tuned for lots of chaos as we pack up the Middle House, move to the Rock House, and fix it up. It does need some work. But that will make for some pretty cool before and after shots.

And really, come visit us. We have room!

“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.”
(1Chronicles 29:11-13 ESV)