Playing with Mommy

Playing with Mommy, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Bubble trouble

Bubble trouble, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Peas in a pod

Peas in a pod, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Coloring outside the lines

Coloring outside the lines, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

(This drives the employees *crazy* when they see it.)

Daddy's helper

Daddy's helper, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Our first night in the new house, I set about hanging some pictures. Corinna came over to help me. She wasn't intimidated by the ladder at all.

A breakfast of champions

A breakfast of champions, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Yes: those are cheeze-its in his oatmeal. And yes he ate it. With relish.

I remember when I could do this

I remember when I could do this, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Isaac the artist

Isaac the artist, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Early in our unpacking procedure, Isaac was Bored.

"Have him draw on a box or something," Rachel suggested. So I did.

Isaac like pancakes

Isaac like pancakes, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

He was so excited to see the pancakes for lunch that he spontaneously hugged his mom. "Isaac like pancakes!" he declared joyfully.

At the pack meeting

I took Melissa and Isaac to Matthew's pack meeting.  There were organized activities but both of them had more fun chasing other kids their age around the gym.

There was a stomp-the-balloon activity at the end.  Melissa was not interested in stomping, but took a great deal of pleasure in blowing up The Biggest Balloon Ever.

Isaac wanted to stomp at first but got intimidated by the much bigger scouts and adults jumping around.  So I tied his balloon to my ankle instead, and holding hands we went around stomping until one of the scouts stepped on our string and pulled it off.

Reading with Grandma Ellis

Matthew's tent

IMAG0467, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Grandma Ellis made a tent for Matthew while she was here, matching a smaller one for Isaac.

Matthew enjoys it way more than I would have expected for a child of the videogame generation. He especially likes to sleep in it. This invariably ends with his arms and legs sticking out as he squirms around in his sleep and compacts the tent about him.

Matthew's birthday present

Matthew made me some origami, in a box of his own design.  The box is made of origami paper covered in aluminum foil for extra shiny.

It can be hard to concentrate with bubbles in the house

It can be hard to concentrate with bubbles in the house, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Melissa the monkey

Melissa the monkey, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Tired Isaac

Tired Isaac, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Isaac usually comes with me to drop the big kids off at school. This is what happens when he gets up at the ungodly hour of 6:00 first.

Melissa's card

Melissa's card, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Sick this week with a nasty cold that I got from Matthew, which he got from Rachel. Melissa made me a get well card.

Isaac playing with Corinna

Isaac playing with Corinna, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Hakuro Reese showing the kids the airplane Rob built for her

Hakuro Reese showing the kids the airplane Rob built for her, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Christine playing with the little ones

Christine playing with the little ones, a photo by jbellis on Flickr.

Double Digits

It's been 10 years since the "Peanut" entered our lives and turned them upside down.  He wrecked havoc on our sleep and at times sanity, tore apart our house, quizzed us with thousands of questions, and stole our hearts.

He's on a quest to learn everything about everything, is fiercely loyal to his siblings and friends, and has a strong desire to do what is right.  Matthew has a kind heart and a keen intellect.  He is an absolute joy in our home.  Part of me wants to freeze this moment in time and yet I'm excited to see what the next 10 years bring.  

Happy Birthday, Matthew!