Just Because We Have a Beautiful Baby Boy...

...I couldn't resist posting these photos.  We went on a family picnic last week and this little darling was exploring the grass and the sticks while his brother conquered the playground.

I know that every mom thinks her baby is the most beautiful, most precious, most smoochable little person on the planet, but I swear that it's actually true of our kid!!!  He is scrumptious.

Tell me, just tell me, if you could resist kissing those cheeks if they were within kissing distance?  Or at least poking them so they jiggled ever so slightly?  (It's a true delight, I tell you!)

Tell me, just tell me, if you could withhold a smile when you saw THIS smile beaming back at you?

Tell me, just tell me, if you could hold back a laugh and a smirk if you saw this boy using a wood chip like a giant toothpick on his two tiny bottom teeth?

Yep, this boy does it to you.  He makes your face smile, your eyes dance, and your heart melt.  He does not leave you unaffected by his charms.  His scrumptiousness makes you wish he could stay like this forever!

A Toddler's Rendition of "Jesus Loves Me"

Caleb is constantly amazing us with what he learns and applies.  That boy is like a sponge.  He absorbs everything around him and thinks and talks and acts in order to process and understand it all better.  He also loves to repeat us, both our words and actions.  He loves to learn through copying us, and he loves to spout back what he knows.

A couple days ago he was sitting at the table and started singing all by himself, unprompted.  He loves this song, but I'd never heard him sing it by himself before and I was impressed at how many of the lyrics he knew - more evidence that this little boy is paying attention to what we're saying and doing (and singing!) and putting it to memory.

Piggyback Ride

I've given Caleb several piggyback rides lately.  Apparently he thinks everyone is at his beck and call when he wants a ride because yesterday I walked into the room and found this.

Our dear Kai puts up with so much :)  Little brothers are strong little people :)

Vacation

We are back home after nine days of vacation.  We flew to Michigan on the 4th and had a great time enjoying family and summer and new experiences.  It was a whirlwind of people and playing, but it was a good time!

It was the first time we had to pay for Caleb's ticket on the plane, but it was actually a blessing because it gave us an extra seat to let the boys wiggle.  They were all-star travelers, for which we are thankful.  Caleb was excited to see all the planes at the airport and Kai was intrigued by everyone and everything.  And since he's the cutest baby on the planet, he attracts a lot of attention to himself.  In fact, a couple of Hispanic ladies in the row across/behind us could not stop adoring Kai and eventually took him off my hands and held and snuggled him for the last 15 minutes of the flight!  He brought them immense joy and they passed him all down the row for every baby-loving lady to enjoy :)  We're so thankful that our kids make other people happy too!

We spent the holiday weekend at my parents' lake house.  Many new experiences were in store for Caleb, including the trampoline!  He was a bit cautious at first but quickly learned the ropes from his cousins.  (He had an amazing time playing with his cousins, by the way.  We wish we could see them more often!)  Caleb spent awhile running in circles on the trampoline, pretending to be a fire truck: "Wee-oo wee-oo!  To the rescue!"

We went for a couple boat rides, including a ride in the dark to watch the fireworks over the lake, which was truly spectacular, I must say!  Kai loved being outside and loved the extra attention from all the people around.

An absolute highlight of our trip was getting to see my dear friend Simone who's in the States for a summer course.  She's from Switzerland and was an exchange student with our family when I was a freshman in high school.  She's remained a good friend all these years and is now a missionary in South Sudan.  I hadn't seen her since my wedding - she flew all the way from Switzerland just to see me marry Eli! - so it was a true joy to spend time with her and be blessed and encouraged by her.  We asked tons of questions about her life in Africa and learned a lot.  It was wonderful, just wonderful, to spend a few days with this incredible woman of God!

The fun at the lake went on and on.  My dad took the kids swimming, the adults took turns kayaking, we lounged in the hammock, played games, grilled meat, took naps, watched fireworks, and visited with friends and family in between it all.  It was a quintessential American way to celebrate the 4th of July!

After the weekend we meandered back to my parents' house where Eli proceeded to take over the world in an epic battle of Risk.  I had a clear advantage at the beginning of the game, but as these things usually go, the tables turned quickly and the outcome was murky till the very end.  My mom went down hooting and hollering (it only took me 30 armies to annihilate her 4 armies in China...good grief, that darn Wall of China is legit...) but despite all my efforts to conquer the world, it came down to my dad and Eli, the latter of which wound up on top.  We hadn't played that game in a long time and it was grand.

My dad's family came over one afternoon and it was great to see everyone.  Kai enthusiastically showed my grandma his mad piano skills and Caleb enthusiastically showed everyone his fire-breathing dragons.  (My heart was happy to see my son playing with my beloved Legos!  Those little blocks never get old.)

The last highlight of our trip was witnessing Caleb's first fishing experience.  I wish I could've taken a video but my camera battery was nearly dead, so I'm lucky to have gotten these photos.  Let me explain what happened: my dad caught a fish, Caleb unabashedly grabbed the fish with both hands before it was even off the hook, my dad helped him throw the fish into the bucket, and Caleb instantly threw both arms into the watery bucket to catch the fish bare-handed while repeatedly saying, "I get it, I get it" before pulling it out and throwing it back in the pond, then saying, "Another fish!  Another fish!" and throwing his pole into the water in hopes of catching one himself.  And repeat, and repeat, and repeat.  My dad caught dozens of fish, and Caleb caught every one bare-handed from the bucket and threw them back in the pond.  He was ecstatic.  And completely soaked :)  It was priceless to watch him experience fishing for the first time!

After celebrating my nephew's birthday, we headed back to Minnesota and spent a couple days in the Twin Cities before heading back to Duluth.  We had a good time seeing Eli's family and our boys had more opportunities to play with cousins.  Caleb loves his cousins and loves playing with other kids.  In fact, as we got out of our car back in Duluth, the first thing he said was, "Where cousins go?" and proceeded to whimper when I explained that they were back at their houses :(  But it's a good problem to have.  Loving your cousins is a good thing!

It was a full and busy week and we are tired but refreshed.  We're so thankful for such great family and friends!

The Best Part of Summer

The best part of summer is the trip to the zoo and roaring at lions and hopping with kangaroos.

Or is it the many days in which clothing is optional?

Well, maybe it's super snuggles between a superhero and his Mama.

Of course, it could also be lazing about with nothing but a harmonica and a tune in your heart.

But who's to say?  The best part of summer might be a superhero using his super strength to learn how to crawl.

Or simply sticking stickers anywhere and everywhere.  Who really knows?

The best part of summer is quite possibly playing on the deck and waiting for Daddy to come home. 

Or discovering another batch of baby birds hatching from their eggs.

Or maybe it's acquiring bruised and skinned knees as proof of an active and playful lifestyle.

Or maybe the best part of summer is simply a toddler's endearing grin and a baby's adoring eyes that melt your heart like no sunshine or summer breeze could ever do.

Yes, that's it.  The toddler and the baby.  The minutes and the moments with the grins and the giggles.  Even noons and nights with crying and complaining.  

Yes, the toddler and the baby and all that come with it.  That is the best part of summer!