Swim day

Swim days have started here at the Neipert house.  While Bennett thinks they should be everyday, twice a day, I am going to try and limit it to every other day.  

We brought the slide up onto the deck and let the fun begin.  My children are the most daring and adventurous.  They want to go down the slide forwards, backwards, sideways, upside down and together.  

"CHARGE!!!!"

Daredevil!

Sometimes you have to stop to look at a butterfly.

And sometimes you need to stop for a rest.

Buddies...

Such a doll!

I found a frog!!!  

We might need a bigger pool...

Miles is so stinking cute I sometimes have a hard time stopping myself from taking his photo.  And on this particular day he was very cooperative.  Instead of 'cheese' he was saying 'I am cute!'  He is, isn't he?!?!

"I"

"AM"

"CUTE!!"

The sweetest...

No more preschool

No more preschool for the big kid!  Today was the last day.  When he woke up this morning I asked him if he would please stop growing.  He looked at his dad and said "Why does she always ask me that?"  Maybe someday he will understand...

This is Harrison and his friend Johnny.  They are awesome buds.

These are Harrison's teachers - Nikki, Carolyn and Toma.  Great group of educators.  Thank you!!!

We have LOVED our experience at Westminster the last two years and will be continuing it on when Bennett goes to preschool next year.  He and Caden will be going to the afternoon class three days a week!  They could both stop growing too!!!

Harrison brought home a book that he made this year.  I love that the teachers made this for the kids to remember their year by.  I think it's awesome! 

I can hear him shrugging his shoulders saying "He will get out sometime."

The there was no blood on his Halloween costume, by the way...

He loves us and thinks of us often!!!

I love how this represents his immature cockiness.  He sometimes believes he is the best at everything.  He doesn't have bad sportsmanship for a 5 year old, it's just that he will be playing with a friend and he will just "Geez, I am sooo good at this.  I must be the best soccer player ever."  A little humility would look good on him!  This is something we are working on very hard.  There is a song by Ralph Covert titled "Nobody digs like a worm."  That has been our mantra lately.  Hopefully he gains a little more perspective before kindergarten!  

I guess this is a little more cockiness!!!  :)

Jack and Johnny are his best buddies.  Hopefully we will be able to keep in touch!

  This is hysterical to me.  I haven't figured out why he reverts to scribbling, but he does this often.  Maybe he is insecure about drawing certain things.  Or maybe he is just abstract.  I like that!

Now the challenge will be figuring out what to do with Harrison all summer!  

One liners

Here are some one liners I have heard the past few weeks.  I am sure I am leaving some out...

I. Am. Robot.  ~  Bennett

Beth?  I have juice in my elbow.  ~  Caden  (he was rubbing under his armpit after running around the house - he was sweaty!)

Bennett, when I eat these green beans. I might grow higher to reach the light.  ~  Caden

God, dammit!  ~  Miles 

Freak on, freaky dude!  ~  Harrison

I farted.  Mommy farts at school.  I fart at home.  ~  Miles

Are my friends here yet?  ~  Bennett (it was Saturday...)

You are a cracker!!!!  HA HA HAAAA  ~  Bennett

No I'm not!  I am a boy!  ~  Caden

You are a cracker!  ~  Bennett

NO!  I am Miles!!!  ~  Miles

I am not arguing!  I am discussing.  You started all this.  Why do you have to argue with me!  ~  Harrison

Diva

Bennett is NOT getting in my bubble bath. - Harrison, age 5

Mornings

Our morning went great!  So far:

Annabelle is pulling up on EVERYTHING and keeping me on my toes.  She even thought it was a good idea to pull up on a flimsy play gym and then proceeded to fall and bump her nose (I was right there but missed catching her!  OOPS!)  She started to cry and Miles sprinted from the other room yelling "OH NO!  Annabelle is crying!  What is wrong!!!"  What a great big brother!

Bennett wore shorts!!!!  As of yet, he has not wore shorts because, and I quote "My knees will get cold."  I put them on this morning while he was very interested in the fact that I was allowing them to jump on the cushions before putting the covers back on.  About 2 hours later, while he was playing outside, he said "HEY!" glaring at me "Oh!" face change to realization "My knees are not cold."  And then he went on playing!  What a goof.

Miles was twirling this morning and Annabelle was totally belly laughing at him.  So funny!

We got the parachute out that Bennett got for his birthday and played campfire (Harrison named it).  We all sat under the parachute and giggled.  I have no idea why he called it campfire.

(Although he does watch NCIS with me and Tony is always calling campfires.  This means that everyone gets in a circle and discusses the case so far.)  Who knows!

Caden has a habit of repeating things that I or Bennett say.  Today he asked what was for lunch and I told him we were having mac and cheese.  He turned around and told Harrison (who had obviously heard me tell Caden) that we were having mac and cheese.  Harrison said "I know Caden!" in his most annoyed voice and Caden said, in his most innocent voice, "You know because I just told you."  Hysterical!

Hopefully they sleep until their parents get here.  I can't take anymore cuteness!  

Strange?

Here is something strange that happened at my house on Monday.  Harrison walking into the kitchen and this mini-conversation occurred:

Harrison - "Mom, are you a limo?
Me - "Ummm, do I look like a limo?"

Harrison - "Well, (pause) you are pretty fancy."

I couldn't bring myself to ask him what made him think to ask me that question.  It was cute enough as is!  :)

The Little Things

The world stops for 

home-made, chocolate pudding pops

and worms.

Little Buddy

Here is my new buddy Graysen being disrespectful, sticking his tongue out at me.  Isn't he a doll! (never mind the scratches on his face.  He is in counseling trying to overcome his self-harm disorder)

Saturday's

Today was the first day for the 2010 season of the Downtown Farmer's Market.  And it was grand!  The weather was gorgeous.  I got AWESOME deals on tomato and pepper plants and we had a buffet of good food.  We even got to see Ryne Sandberg and Chris said "Hey Ryno" and shook his hand.  It's great to be in Des Moines.  (HINT - HINT family in southern state!)

I have the most wonderful children and to prove it, Harrison showed me some wonderful thoughtfulness this morning.  I had purchased some plants and had them in a bag and then found some basil plants that I decided to get.  As I was rearranging things to fit in the 2 new plants, Harrison said "Oh Mom.  Is your bag big enough?  I could carry one of those for you."  Now, this may not seem like the biggest deal in the world, but it comes from a child who complains a lot!  "Can you carry my jacket.  It bothers my arm."  "Hold this please.  It's heavy."  Etc, etc.  I gave him a big kiss for being great and told him that I was fine.  There was plenty of room.  What a great kid!

When we got home we did some bird watching

 (the nest is just under the roof.  Chris used a mirror to get a look at the pretty blue robin eggs) and then Chris and the boys set up a net that they got for Christmas.  It is pretty awesome and has been played with non-stop since we put it up.  

Now we are off to Harrison's t-ball game and then I am off to work.  Busy, wonderful Saturday! 

Sadness is...

Back story: We are in need of a babysitter and a friend, Kari offered to keep the boys over night next week. I excitedly told Harrison that Kari had invited him to sleep over. He is still a little tentative and nervous about this prospect.

Harrison got his first real skinned knee today. I when I say skinned knee I mean large scratch. It really wasn't that bad compared to what I am sure is to come. Regardless, I heard the cry and looked around the corner to see him sprawled out on the drive way. Neither on of my kids get up when they fall. They must be thinking 'Someone will come rescue me from my horrible perils!!!' As I walked towards him (thinking 'buck up') he still didn't move. This is very typical. Bennett does the exact same thing. I got to him and saw the blood and we went to the house. After some hugs and some TLC (I am not heartless after all) we set about cleaning it up and bandaging the gaping (small) wound. The Neosporin must have stung a little because his eyes said "OMG!! What hell are you putting me through!" and his mouth said "AHHHHHHHH." Once that trauma was over we bandaged it with a Batman bandaid and the real fun began. "I want Daddy!" Fake tear. Fake tear. "Honey, what is Daddy going to do that I haven't done?" "He will hug me and make it all better." "Oh, Harrison!!!" I hugged him and kissed his head and said "I will always be here for you. Always." Did he say 'I know, Mom. I love you and appreciate you and know you are the best mom in the world.'? NO. He did not. In a split second his normal voice came back and he said "Well, not always. I mean you go to parties and stuff and don't let us come."

What am I going to do with him?!?!?!