Dot on the line.

Our Pastor was speaking of the timeline of life...specific to the world's existence.  He said that even if we lived for 90+ years it would just be a speck (so-to-speak) on on the timeline of life.
Well, as I look back the difference the months and years make, I find that each "speck" is significant!
Thank goodness for pictures.
I remember way before digital cameras were available.  Those cameras with the wind up film?
The ones that made that horrible noise as the flash "warmed up" and signaled its readiness with the blinking light??
Makes me feel kinda old...
I'll admit, there was something kind of fun about sending a full roll of film away to be developed...
The exciment of paying for the package so you can open it up to see if you got at least one good picture of the boy you liked. ;)
But for those few good pictures that were worth keeping, inevitably there would be a bunch of bad ones - flash not on, someone not smiling, out of focus...
Those moments would not be remembered, they would be trash.

So I salute the person who came up with the digital camera and the beauty that is the delete button.
Because as I post pictures of my kids (especially the ones of all 4 of them together), it is almost never the first picture taken that ends up on the blog....usually more like the 6th or 7th in a series of 15.

This was the pic I had taken and posted of the boys Christmas Day 2011:

Each individual shot and their "descriptions" were posted sometime in the winter of 2011-2012:

Cale - LOVES to be put 'in charge,' drawing, eating, making everyone (including himself) laugh, making meals, and watching Christmas light show displays on YouTube.  DISLIKES being embarrased, when he is scolded, sleeping alone, when 'wrestle time' is over, and being told no.  TERRIFIED OF: the toilet overflowing

Megersa - LOVES motorcycles! singing songs, praying before we eat, reading books, his toy helicopter, and jumping. DISLIKES trying new food, sitting on the potty, being sick, taking turns and watching movies. TERRIFIED OF: bees (even if they come near)

Thaddeus - LOVES crawling at lightning speed, climbing steps, being tossed in the air, and smiling so hard his eyes disappear.  DISLIKES being blocked from the bathroom, refrigerator or steps, having his diaper changed, nap time, and wearing stuff on his head.  TERRIFIED OF: nothing (not yet anyway)

Shepherd - LOVES his purple blanket, being tickled, talking in the early morning, splashing at bath time, and things that shake.  DISLIKES when someone takes his toy, being startled, getting stuck in random places, and staying still while being dressed.  TERRIFIED OF falling down.

Outdated now - everyone's face is a little more mature, and their hair is longer and fuller... Things that make the boys smile or cry is on a list that is always changing, along with their habits and behaviors....like dots on a line:

Cale is no longer afraid of the potty overflowing!!

Megersa is still afraid of bees, but his time spent on the potty has drastically decreased!

Shepherd is accustomed to the sensation of falling down...

And Thad is now walking, so crawling is rarely seen anymore.

I know these dots will change over and over and over again, I just hope I can remember to record their significance to their lives and our family.

#2 @ 2.5

Tim and I have been watching old videos.  Time is sneaky!  Each day it crawls along, but the years are on a different system....they're slipping away when we blink!!
Megersa is now 2 1/2! 
His half birthday is somewhere in between the twins and Cale's actual birthdays, which leaves him out of this season for presents....but he's got the fall to himself (though this year Daddy turns the big 30...so we may need to plan a party for that old fart). ;)
Megersa cracks us up daily. 
Looking back to his videos we realize how quickly he began talking.  Around age 2, Cale was still grunting for stuff and saying things like "nummy nummy?" if he wanted a snack.  haha.
"Mege" as we occasionally call him has been talking in full sentences for at least a year. 
Quite impressive.
Now he doesn't go a day without singing some sort of song - usually Veggie Tales:
"Ip you yike to talk tomatoes,  ip a quash make you mile...
Ip you yike to walk tomatoes...UP AND DOWN THE GROCERY MILE!"
Classic.

Mege also potty trained ealier than Cale....though I guess not as quick, because he still doesn't TELL us when he has to go.  He doesn't have many accidents, but that's just cuz I put him on the potty about every 1.5-2 hours.  He usually goes.  His bowel movements are the most regular I've ever seen, so that part of training really was a cinch.  Cale had more accidents, but he'd announce to the neighbors when he had to go and RUN there.
((It'll definitely be interesting to train the twins...... not so much looking forward to it.....however I'd love to get rid of the diaper pail!!!))

Food isn't nearly the issue it once was, though he could give my Nan a run for her money at a buffet.  Sitting there, grazing....talking, singing, telling stories.  Only difference is, Nan would probably be eating the entire time. haha.  I must say that the amount I tell him "Megersa, EAT!" is probably less than 100x a day now...so that's good. ;)  His favorite foods are classic kiddie foods: mac and cheese, hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly...but honestly, he will eat most things.  He's a big fan of casseroles, and that's nice.  He LOVES mashed potatoes...and yogurt...and applesauce - the foods resembling baby food, oddly enough.  He loves him some french fries and ketchup.  I've recently been catching him scooping up big spoonfuls of ketchup and eating it. 
Yeah, yuck.
Just this past Friday we did our first real family outing - all 6 of us to Red Robin! 
The boys were super excited and truthfully, I've never seen M eat so much.  It was shocking the amount he put into that little body, and then immediately when we got home, he asked for a snack.

We all (save for Tim and Thad) got the stomach bug that's been going around.  Mege got away easy though - upchucked once and then immediately bounced back. 
He, Cale & I had a long talk about being potty trained today and how only the babies should be peeing or pooping in diapers.... because everyone else in the family goes in the potty.  And added this little diddy for M's benefit "and we don't do ANYTHING else in the potty besides pee and poop...we don't PLAY in the potty, do we Megersa?"
NO!  But we can frow up in the potty, right?  Cuz I did.
Okay, he bested me there....
"Yes, poop, pee, and frow up."

Mege & Cale had their first sleepover the night before we moved in. 
God Bless "Miss Donna" (our church friends Sonya & Cress and their 5 children) for having the guts to keep our children overnight.  We called to ask them if they could watch the boys for a few hours in the day during the actual move, but they suggested a sleepover...and it's all my boys can talk about still... "When are we going to go back to our friend's house to sleep over?"
I try explaining how you need to be invited to people's houses...but that's not registering.
Oh, how did it go?
Welllllllllll.......let's just say - God Bless "our friends." ;)  They kept them all night.

What else?  His interactions with his brother.  Well, he and Cale are as close as can be.  If one is not present, the other is constantly asking where is he and when can they play together. 
And there's usually more playing nicely than fighting....
But up until VERY recently did I think that Megersa would ever see the twins as playmates. 
Don't get me wrong, there is absolutely no animosity there, it's just that he and Cale are so close that he pays no attention to the little guys.  I'll admit I sorta feared for when Cale goes off to school in the fall.  But this past Sunday gave me some hope...Tim took Cale with him to church to watch the teenagers practice their worship.  I was home with the other 3.
I was quite happy to see that without the domineering personality of big brother Cale, Megersa took quite nicely to being "in charge."  He enjoyed making the babies laugh and asked if they could play upstairs with him.
I've seen him interact with other babies before - walkers though.  It was quite precious the few times I was sneaky enough to observe him.  M will walk slowly along side the baby - as she/he toddles around.  He holds their hands.  It is so cute, I am anxious to see him hold the twins hands when they start walking.  But, as Thad continues to step further and further unaided, I have yet to see M slow down enough to be tender with him.
I'm sure it'll come though....maybe by the time Shepper is walking. ;)

M's hair is getting longer, although I can't say he's any more of a fan of me doing his hair, though I have maintained a way to keep it looking nice without brushing it out everday (that battle was NOT worth it, yikes!).
2 times of the day I'm get the most compliments are:
mealtimes (when both are oozing compliments) - sincere ones I believe and
hair time (in the morning when I do his routine of cleaning his bottom, lotion his body and spray and lotion his hair) these compliments are purely to try and get me to stop.  "You're so pretty Mommy...I yuv when you do my hair...i yike your dress (jammies) Mommy...." 
Kinda feel bad for the kid, but it's gotta be done. 

Transitioning Megersa & Cale in the same bedroom went more smoothly than we anticipated.  All of the prep work we did at the old house may have been a good set up, but I think it's due to the fact that Cale sleeps like a log...AND falls asleep as soon as that big tired head hits the pillow. 
M is currently still up now (at 10 til 10p)...it's kinda ridiculous.  Maybe when he quits taking 3 hr naps (which I won't encourage anytime soon) he'll fall asleep more readily.  We will have to wait and see.

He's been home 2 years as of this month (Happy GOTCHA Day!!).
I can tell you that he knows where he was born, and knows he has brown skin...but we aren't seeing any signs of him feeling out-of-place in any sea of faces.  The school he will be attending when he turns 5 (or 6, depending upon which of his parents win the school debate when time comes :)), we are told is a racially diverse one, so we are excited to see him make friends that look like him.

All in all, we are in love with him!!  And he, like his big and little brothers, are growing up too fast.

"the" post

I've been advertising the fact that I would write a "remember-when" post about the babies....
I had intended for it to appear posted before their first birthday.  However, since that day has come and gone and they're fast approaching 13 months...I must quickly type this out (while they sleep).
Nostalgia?
It comes in so many forms these days.  Perhaps because we are still without cable (the time sucker I have come to realize it is) and any form of internet that goes beyond the speed of dial-up (which I am currently using)....but I have found so many moments where just one tiny thought overwhelms me.
At the old house, a drive to Walmart, Target, grocery stores, the mall...anywhere really, was no more than 5 minutes. 
Now it takes 5 minutes of curvy back roads to get on the main road that leads to the highway that takes us to those stores.
No matter....that fact alone sends my mind swirling back to the days I drove out to my dad's house and how they were "back-country" roads like ours.
Off Opossumtown Pike road it's a left turn that shuts my mind off from the things that I need to do that day and what's for dinner...planning birthday parties and mentally folding clothes.
That left turn and that 5 extra minutes causes my mind to slow way down like the speed limit and to wind through my memories as the road curves. 
And upon taking that left turn the "remember-when" song begins to play.
I think of how old my children are now...making up stories to tell each other and singing songs together.  I flip through pictures in my brain as I peek in the rear-view mirror of one baby with socks and another without.  They are so much older now.  With the ability to solve tiny little problems:
I dont like my socks on.  I can take them off if I pull on them. 
(Sock-hater =Thad.) ;)
The twins first month was spent in the NICU.  I drove every day, if not twice a day to see them.
270 N to the 7th street exit. 
I pass that exit so very often now and I sometimes catch myself wanting to get in that left lane and put on my blinker.  Oddly enough, I want to go back and scoop them up, one in each hand.  I want to lay them on my chest and watch them sleep.......
That part of their life is over.  They are strong and use their muscles to wiggle away from hugs lasting longer than a few seconds.  They are quick and cunning!  Rarely there is a quiet moment, but if there is one it's probably because they're up to no good. 
Just today Shepherd observed that when Mommy & Daddy forget to put the gate up, the stairs are a upscale tunnel leading to the forbidden playground that is the bathroom (and tub)....
Both are such beautiful little individuals who act so differently.

Shepherd is truly a shepherd.  Mild mannered, and tender.  He tends to reserve his emotions, but already knows exactly what he wants (ie: only allowing Mommy to put him to bed.)

 Thaddeus is as his name means - a brave heart.  He, of all my boys, is truly fearless. As I "knock on wood," I predict he will be our first ER visit.  

Tim and I had the opportunity to attend a leadership dinner with fellow church members yesterday, and wouldn't you know it?  We were at a table with 2 other sets of twin parents.  Our twins are by far the youngest, one set in their teens, and the other in their twenties. 
The 28-year-old identical twin boys married identical twin girls.
Their father spoke of how incredibly close they are...the fact that they never thought they would marry b/c they didn't think they could be apart much from the other....  They had a double wedding and live in houses next to each other.

While I don't really think Thad and Shep will be inseperable as that 28 year old pair, I do hope and pray they remain close. Close to each other, close to their parents, and most importantly close to God.
Because I must agree with my (almost) 5 year old, because he is totally right -
God is really super amazing!!

As are these 2 little humans He gave us to care for:

The below picture truly encapsulates the dinstinctions in their personalities and way they interact.  Thad is unafraid and willing to try...anything,

and Shepherd is always in hysterics to watch from close by and cheer him on. :) 

How could I not Looooooove them?!

"consider it lent"

I'm currently at Tim's office...using his laptop to write a quick keep-you-up-to-date blog post.  Tim instructed me to tell someone I was still at the church (initally here for a stewardship campaign vision night) so they wouldn't set the alarm on me.
As I popped out to yell "suprise!" (jk)  Pastor Steve asked how things were at the new house.
Oh yes, did I mention we have officially moved?  We have.  And it's been since that move day - Feb 25 that we have had any form of internet or cable.  We dont even get data on our phone.
"Consider it lent" he said. 
Yup.  We aren't Catholic, but this is definitely been the longest I've been away from internet or cable.
Part of me feels "free" so-to-speak, but part of me feels like I have little to no outlet when things get crazy at our new place.
For fun I can unpack, take care of kids, or clean. 
Relaxing, no? ;)
Tim and I have taken good advantage of Redbox and late night movie dates on the couch.
And I have LOVED watching my design "visions" come (albeit slowly) to life.
I suppose it was a good thing I poured over these blogs and basically memorized the ideas I had for our new place, because ain't no referencing them now!  lol.
It's also a good thing I'm a "wing it" girl. 
"Ah, I dont exactly remember what that site said about measuring this... eh, I'll just wing it." ;)
Anyway, enough about me.
I'm here to catch you up on my children.
I find when I let time get away from me it REALLY gets away from me....
Of course, since we moved our precious baby boys turned 1!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday sweet babies!! :)

Thaddeus up and started walking yesterday. 
And who did he walk across the room to?!?!  Shepherd. 
Adorable, huh?

Shep can now stand unaided for a few seconds.

Megersa and Cale are successfully sharing a room.

OH, and I gotta tell you this about Cale - (it's so precious) 
So his birthday is next, right? 
April 5th.
He's been counting down the days since the beginning of February I think... 30 days left now I believe...
Anyway, we're driving home (and we live in back country now folks) - one of our neighbors must be a bus driver because they have their schoolbus parked in the driveway.
So, we pass by the house and Cale says to me:
Mommy, how does the bus know it's my birthday?
...Perplexed I question further - What do you mean?
Well, did you call the bus Mom?   (I agree, totally weird he's calling me "Mom" now)
No, I didn't call the bus.  I'm not sure what you're talking about buddy....
Well......you said I am going to school when I'm five!  The bus needs to know my birthday so I can go to school!!!
OH, I LOVE HIM!!
Honestly, how adorable is that?!  Of course it was a little painful telling him he'd have to wait until the fall, but summer is always enticing for children, even if there are no big plans as of yet.

I mean, there's a ton else that's been happening. 
But that's all I can remember, and it's becoming increasingly more eeiry being at the church alone at night.
Plus, now I have a much further drive back home.
So, until we get internet (which Comcast has no intention of rushing), I bid you goodnight.