I've got a sitter!

 

On November 26th he sat up boldly.

 

He is so proud of himself, and so are we.  

 

Each milestone of Luke's is really a milestone for the whole family, as we celebrate them and the older boys are so fascinated to see a small baby grow up right before their eyes.  It is a really special byproduct of having a larger sized family with a 7 year spread.  Warren and Jack especially will remember when Luke first sat up at 6 months.  They know A LOT about babies and taking care of a younger sibling.  That is sure to have an impact on them!  Just like it did for me so many years ago when I was the oldest of 4 :) 

Some Potpourri

 

Nolan at the dentist recently.  We are at over a year now with no cavities for all three boys!  The last time we had one it was Warren and he had it filled with no anesthesia!  So he is now famous at the office for that move (he HATES being numb).  The boys are taking such good care of their teeth using a mouth rinse and flossing.  Really proud of their oral hygiene...what, I am ;)

 Warren's first limo ride for his buddy's birthday party.  They got picked up from school on a Friday in this ride.  Warren has SO many pictures on his iPhone from the inside.  What a riot.

 

Luke's first time swimming!  Took him right at 6 months to the day....see sometimes I follow the rules.  He loved it of course and it was very memorable as I took all four boys alone (I called ahead to make sure that was even allowed!)

Quite possibly my favorite picture from our recent Thanksgiving trip to Kansas City.  Nolan with his "soupcase" marching through DIA like a pro.  More real pictures from that trip up next!

Children's Museum

See this little family huddled in the corner??

 

Yeah they didn't last long.

 

It was that apparent that these three needed some space:



 

How cool is this dance floor?

I might need to buy one for our basement :)

We just renewed for another year membership at the downtown children's museum.  The boys just love that place and they do such a nice job of keeping new things coming there to peak their interest.  Even with an age spread from 8 years to 6 months, there's something for all 4 boys!

Little Fishy

 

The world is his oyster:

Nolan had his first solo swim lesson today.  He was the tiniest bit nervous and clingy when we got there...with the tell tale fingers in the mouth, wide eyed expression, and surveying the scene:

 

But then, oh wait, this definitely isn't a nervous look anymore!  He really took off:

 

Floating on his back and "swimming backwards." Way to go, Nolan!

 

 

He has the lessons twice per week for the next month.  Already can't wait to go back again!  I love watching Nolan blossom.

The Wheels on the Bus...

Nolan got to ride his first school bus yesterday.  Oh. My. Word.  The anticipation built up for an hour prior.  He could hardly sit still through the Winnie the Pooh safety video they watched before boarding THE BUS.

Look at his smile!   Look at his hair!  Look at his shirt!  I can't get enough of this boy!  He is such a source of joy for me right now.  Nolan has such a great personality.  He is always happy and positive and SO SWEET.

 

Slaying me with the sly look to make sure I did indeed see just how cool of a cat he is!

 

The doors open and the kids unload to the arms of mommies armed with cameras :)

 

Big hugs and proud faces.

 

Speaking of preschool...I present to you Nolan's first school pic.  Age 3.  OMG he is so perfect and classically cute.  This smile!  This comb over!  I love you, Nolan.  You make me so proud!

Nolan is now well into his first year of preschool, at the same preschool Warren and Jack went to.  At the same school Warren and Jack now go to for Elementary school.  Luke will go there too.  They will have quite a legacy of memories to reflect on.  They were all born to the same doctor at the same hospital.  They have all had the same pediatrician for over 8 years.  They will all grow up in this house in this neighborhood with the same little league baseball and football programs.  It is very important to me that they are connected by all these little things so they remain close as adults.  I will be eating crow if this doesn't work and they aren't a close knit band of brothers when they grow up...but I have a strong feeling this will only serve to bolster their brotherly bonds.  There will be lots of little ones calling my babies "uncle" someday, I just know it!

We have been thinking and talking about family a lot lately.  And I think I am prepared to openly say that we do want a 5th child.  I know I do.  Bryan is warming to the idea.  I know it may sound crazy and there are days when I am certainly beyond overwhelmed with 4.  But this is my one wild chance at life, and I have the heart for a big family.  I love having a baby and nurturing the child that sprouts from that baby.  I just don't feel done with four.  It may not be politically correct in 2012 but oh well.  I would also like to live in Iceland at some point in my life.  We'll see if either of these things come to pass! :)

Halloween 2012

 

Happy Halloween x4 from the Law{sons}!

We had a Broncos football player, a radioactive skeleton, a Teddy Bear, and a Rocket!

 

 

Lukie Bear's first Halloween:

 

This costume is killer!  Painted his face metallic and he was in character all day blasting off.  Such a classic Halloween for Nolan.

 

Nolan's very first Preschool Party.  He loved it.  Made crafts, decorated a cookie, had snacks, sang songs and got lots of goodie bags.  

 

 

It was a successful Halloween all around with the neighborhood parade and trick or treating. 

 

We sorted the candy and made little "movie kits" that should last a year!  Basically just assortments of treats in little zip lock bags that we can sneak in when we go to the theater.  Shhhhh! :)

Jack Dylan Happenings

Jack's flag football team took second place in the playoff bracket.  Jack scored a touchdown on the game before the Championship game and came alive blocking his little heart out in the final game. 

His team, The Vikings, celebrated at Fat Cats with a second trophy and football shaped oreos, bowling, game tokens, pizza, and cupcakes.  Wow, what a first season for Jack!

Then, this past weekend Jack got to go to Miner's Maze Adventureland in Golden for one of his best buddy's birthday parties.  He came home telling all these wild tales, which we honestly kinda didn't believe...until his friend's mom sent some pics from her phone.  Wow.  Who knew our formerly timid guy had it in him?!

It is quite the life this boy leads and he deserves it all!  Live it up, Jack!

The Force is strong with this one.

 

 

Nolan definitely has "the bug."  Just about the exact age both Warren and Jack fell head over heels for Star Wars too.  Good thing we have ALL the toys to satisfy him.

 

 

 



Funny Phone Pics

 

Nolan crashed out in the bottom of the stroller, where he often rides.  He fell asleep while I was volunteering at the school yesterday.

 

 

Me: "Hey Jack, can you put some toys around Luke?"

Warren: "Whoa, Jack doesn't understand figurative language."

 

Nighty night!  What a lucky Mama I am to be surrounded...

***

 

There are SO many silly things that happen around here every day.  I really need to start recording them again so that I don't forget!

Bragging

Warren got elected to be a student council representative for his class.  He is beyond thrilled.  Here is his speech:

Warren’s Student Council Speech:

I really want to be in the student council for my class. This will be my first year of doing it and I really want to have a chance of doing a good job. If I get chosen, I will be very excited. I am very responsible and I am never late for school or anything. I am also the oldest of four boys in my family who will all go to Betty Adams. My brothers all look up to me and depend on me to make the school better.

I also play tackle football, which shows that I am a hard worker, since that takes over 8 hours a week and you have to be a good team mate.

When you vote for student council, don’t forget to vote for Warren Lawson to get the job done right!

Also don’t forget to tell your parents to vote yes on 3A and 3B!

Thank you for your votes.

***

He only practiced once and was so excited to share his news when I picked him up from school that day.  He said "Mom, my heart was beating so fast when the votes were getting counted." 

We celebrated with icecream during his homework before football practice.  Yes he wore his tie and yes this kid ROCKS!  We couldn't be more proud of him.

 

Jack scored at his recent football game. 

 

"You can stop now, Jack." Haha, that's our boy!

 

I am so grateful that there is so much to celebrate around here! 

 

Warren has his second appointment with a holistic pediatrician in Denver this week.  Much more on that soon!  We are so excited at the prospect of what this Doctor has to offer him.

Sunday Funday out with Nolan

It's not very often I get to spend time with just one little boy.  I got to take Nolan to a preschool friend's birthday party today and boy did he soak up the one on one attention for the whole 4 hour expedition.  Truth be told, Luke went with us.  But he slept the entire time in the stroller so Nolan didn't even know he was there :)

One of my favorite Nolan faces!

Mining hat.

Panning for gold with the help of the sweetest staff girl at the Aquarium downtown.

 

There were scuba divers in there!

 

Mesmerized by the fish.

 

Nolan loved the turtles the most.  Almost as much as he loves getting his picture taken.

I am so happy with my new camera!  All of these were taken with no flash and are not edited at all.  I got a mirrorless DSLR and am completely sold on the concept. Just what I needed to get back into taking regular everyday pictures and possible regular blogging again. 

Such a fun day out with Nolan.  My sister has Jack on a "date" to see Frankenweenie right now and I hear football on tv and Bryan in the basement installing a new whole house humidifier.  Life is good!  I have so much to brag about these boys in another post soon.

Football

We are nearing the end of a very (it started before school even started) football season for Warren and Jack.  This is Warren's second year of tackle and Jack's first of flag football.  It is pretty all consuming with practices and games.  I keep waffling in between resigning to the chaos of the season and then fighting with all I have to keep some sense of normal.  Although there's nothing normal about eating out three nights per week and having a couch upstairs full of laundry waiting to be folded. 

So, I do my fair share of griping about how draining this all is and I keep checking the schedule to see how many games are left and cringing when I see an entire Saturday dissipate before my eyes with a game in Highlands Ranch.  But I also love watching my boys.  Love cheering for them.  Love seeing them learn a sport and be a team mate.  Love watching them grow up so supported by us and full of pride. 

Today was no exception.

It was a day of football, with little gems of home time in between.

Nolan loves the tennis courts.

 

Huddle time.

 

Sleepy time.

 

Exersaucer time.

 

Coloring time.

 

Bumbo time.

 

I got a new camera today.  And I am so happy with the straight out of the camera shots, that I may never open my editing software again! 

Lovin' Luke Duke at 4 months

Luke is already 4 months. We really can't believe he's ALREADY 4 months and yet we also can't believe we ever somehow existed without him. Does that make any sense? Luke Duke, as we all call him, is the happy spot in our family. A true measure of joy and the perfect caboose to our clan. Gosh we love him so much it is all kinds of corny, sappy, and silly. He is rolling and eating solids and responding to his name and verbalizing and still nursing probably way more often than he "should" and sleeping right next to mommy every night. I am truly busy savoring each day of his infancy before it is gone. I know all too well how that goes. So please pardon my absence...I'm having a love affair with baby Luke and cannot be bothered to clean my house or blog. {First bath with the brothers}

{"Goo!"}

{Sitting in the Bumbo chair}

{Well, that explains a lot!}

Anyhow, I have big plans. An image in my head of my four precious boys in a picture together. Getting back to regular updates. Maybe keeping this house in less chaos....maybe. But for now I am a teenager doodling "Luke" in the margin of my notebooks and feeling all lovestruck and consumed. Updates all around:

***

Warren had a rocky start to 3rd grade behaviorally but is so on track the last two weeks. I am trying a supplement with him from Whole Foods and have an appointment scheduled for next week with a holistic pediatrician in Denver to talk about his hyperactivity. He is such a SMART boy academically and is proving to be a real stud on the football field too. Sometimes I think there's just so much awesomeness bundled into that boy it is overwhelming and cannot be contained. I rely on him every day for his help and humor and brains. The world is so much better off with him in it I am sure.  

***

Jack. Oh Jack. My romantic boy. Comes home most days and writes me love letters. Equally smart and loving first grade. Doing flag football this season and way more interested in making friends and practicing than actually making an impact at the games so far. Loving Legos more than ever. Jack is doing SO GOOD in school; reading up a storm...he is an "enthusiastic learner" according to his teachers. Jack regularly throws his beloved blankie in the trash proclaiming he no longer needs it, only to rescue it a couple hours later and spend a few hours snuggled up on the couch with it. He is such a man/child and seriously could not be any cuter. Jack is our perfection.

***

Nolan Patrick is in preschool two days per week now. He doesn't ever want to go. I am partly annoyed by his proclamations and yet I partly revel in them knowing he would rather stay home with me. Nolan is ever a Mamma's boy still. He knows so much more than he lets on and his verbal skills are exploding this year. He is the only one in the house who doesn't coddle Luke, and that is valuable too. He can ride his balance bike without putting his feet down for long stretches now. He finally quit drinking milk out of a bottle over the Summer cold turkey thanks to Daddy. I might have let that go on to age 12 if he hadn't intervened. Nolan is the kind of boy it's hard to say no too...at least for me. He's got a healthy self esteem and rightfully so in my opinion. I have a real soft spot for little Nolan right now.

***

Us. We have the Madonna concert this month and a trip planned for just us in December and we are surviving. Not great. Not the best place we've ever been in our relationship but this is hard work and we sometimes blame each other for all the imperfections of life, when in reality we know that if we weren't so tired we could see they are just the perfect imperfections and no body's fault. We are not fully matured at 32 years old and that's okay. No body's really mad for reals. No body's going anywhere as far as I can tell and we are a big crazy family that most people probably cringe at and we somehow like it that way. Watch out, the Lawsons are a party of 6 now and we are LOUD and messy.

Wow.

Life with four kids is busy and full.

Warren is into his first week of football (Jack starts next week for his first season of flag football and this is Warren's second year of tackle). The kids have meet and great at school next week. Nolan starts preschool this year too! Luke is ever the "perfect" baby and I cannot even begin to put into words how much I love that boy.

Aunt Jenny's wedding is this weekend. Little boys in tuxedos...gonna be killer! We are coming up on our 9th wedding anniversary. Wow. Almost a decade! And four perfect babies! I like to poke fun at Bryan every now and then about a fifth baby. He isn't having it at all and I'm not even sure I'm serious. But it is a guaranteed rise out of him so I keep doing it. Crazier things have happened though...

Even though life is zooming by, we still manage time alone with each boy doing things that they love, which for Jack is hands down riding his bike at the dirt track. I took him there the other day, just he and I...he calls it "Houston."

{Can you see him??}

Warren's annual trip to Alaska was perfect. He thoroughly enjoyed his visit and we redecorated his room while he was gone.

Suddenly our Summer is almost over so we are scrambling a bit to do all the things we had on our list...zoo (check), Lakeside Amusement Park (check), Waterworld (coming soon), you get the idea.

At this point I'm not even gonna pretend that I can keep up on documenting our family life here.  I'll check in when I can...