Easter Trip to OK

Hey Babies,

So... we decided in April of this year (2017) to take a quick trip to OK.  In hind sight... it wasn't the best choice, but honestly - we wouldn't have been able to do it again another time this year, and I don't know how much time my Grandmother Kehl... your only remaining Great Grandmother will be with us.  So... we went.  It was right after your daddy's very first chemo treatment, and he felt awful.  So... he slept in the hotel the entire time, and it was me and you guys.  However... we had some very special times, and I'm super glad we did it!

Right before we left... we got mommy/daughter bobs!

Loving our twinning, Mollie-girl!

you wanted to try on a poppy helmut and ride around Wal-Mart.

In the car and driving to OK!

Right after the Easter Egg hunt we did at Grandma Kehl's House... it was so fun.  By far... one of my favorite things that weekend! Daddy couldn't join us!

Maxon was not having it.  Mollie was trying to talk him into doing the pic and "sitting up for just a second and then I'll give you fruit chews!" Ha!

I LOVE this photo!

We were able to get together with Uncle Luke, Aunt Kristy, Chris and his girlfriend, Spencer, Abe, Val, A-Aron, Jenny, Olivia, Lily, Jimmy, Henry, Ellie, Mollie, and Maxon!  It was awesome!

Daddy was out of it, so mommy did Easter baskets in the hotel for you guys, and Uncle A-Aron bunny surprised all the kids with presents outside the hotel doors!

A stop at IKEA in Memphis and cuddles in a hammock!

It was a rough trip for all, but this little gem of a stop made everything ok.  We went exploring a rest stop with lots of woods and a meadow.  We picked flowers, I laid them at the foot of the queen, I did a lot of bowing, and you had me gather flowers and lay them around the royal rock you were standing on.  You don't care about being a princess... you like the power being royal gives you ;-)  Maxon dug in the dirt and picked flowers and we ran and laughed and played ball.  This... was a glorious and fun stop!

I love you both so much - Mommy

THE LIGHTENING FAST APPROACH TO BIRTHDAY NUMBER 2!

Sweet Maxon,

I have so much to tell you.  I just haven't been able to keep up with your letters or Mollie's letters, so I'm likely going to miss a lot, but let's just get started and see what I do remember!

Words:  All of them?  There isn't much you can't say, so some of my favorites:

Fox: Fuck
Flag: Fuck
Frog: Fuck
Abbey Cadaby (from Sesame Street): Dumpy Diapers (I have no idea how this got started)
Train: Tains
Airplane: Airpane
Helicopter: Hel-cotter
Tour Bus: Too Bus
School Bus: Schoo bus
Mr. Luke (Bryan): Gook
Mollie: Moyyee
Monster Truck: MonstTruck

The way you say Fire Truck, Dump Truck, and every other kind of truck is adorable. Basically the way you say everything is adorable, but you talk nonstop... even when we don't understand what you are saying.  You are super patient when you are trying to communicate with us, because you want us to know what you are saying.  You LOVE animals of all kinds and talk about them all the time. 

The ducks from School.

Like Daddy, Like Son

Look how you stare at your daddy!

You are a pro on this scooter... this was from when you were 21 months.  

Balance Bike!

Ice Cream date with Daddy!

What you are NOT patient with or what we are struggling with is your hitting and now kicking.  You hit when you are excited, when you are mad, when you are trying to make a point, when we don't move fast enough.  We spend a lot of time in the thinking chair.  I ask "do we hit" and your answer is "Nooooooooooo" (very passionately by the way), then you get up, go ask your latest victim "you Okay" with your sweet head tilted to the side with the sweetest tone in your voice, you offer a kiss of the bruised and beaten site location, and then all is well.  For twelve minutes.  We had gotten it down to a bare minimum, but then it came back with force, so we are really working through that.  Mollie is so patient... you really abuse her too.

However, you are the sweetest, most cuddly, most hilarious and expressive, fun, attentive, empathetic little guy.  So... while we don't let you get away with hitting... it is super easy to move on.  I currently have a couple of major injuries, but there is no doubt your my guy.  You love your mommy, but man - you have given me some pretty painful bruises/scratches/etc.

OH. MY. WORD. 

At school eating... always eating... :-)

Climbing, hanging, rolling, jumping, every crazy active thing you can find to do!

Gosh that smile... both of your smiles!

Making friends while Mollie does her favorite thing... Gymnastics!

Favorite Books:  Monster Trucks, Where's My Mommy, Go Dogs Go, Peanut Butter and Cupcake, The Little Engine That Could.  You LOVE to read.  It is a really big deal for you and there is absolutely no skipping book time at nap time or bed time.  I LOVE this and I hope it always continues.

Our nightly routine is a thing and you do not like to deviate (kind of like your dad)... We take a bath (most of the time), brush teeth, read books - lots of them, then drink some water, get under the covers and I give you kisses; mommy kisses, tummy kisses, mommy pig kisses, butterfly kisses, and so many more.  Then we do a big hug and then blow each other kisses... As I turn off the light - I whisper that I love you, and you drift off to sleep.

You love to dance, kick a ball, throw a ball, bat a ball, wear necklaces, watch trains (only real ones will do), watch planes and helicopters taking off and landing, and playing in water.  You are learning to swim.  You WILL NOT close your mouth and you only blow bubbles some times.  You just spent a week with Ms. Carolyn and you were definitely floating on your back and rolling over to your back, but you fight it.  You won't be as easy as Mollie, but I think you will be just as good of a swimmer.  We have two more weeks with Mr. Brendan.

Ms. Carolyn... she's taught both of my babies to save their own lives... Now STOP drinking the water and blow your bubbles already!

Oh my how I love you... I adore you... I am so thankful for you and the joy that you are in our lives.  I can't sleep half the time for the worry I have for you and your sister... mostly about things out of my control, but I will feel all of those feels to have the honor to raise you and love you and to be your mommy.  I love you my sweet boy.

Love, Mommy

You are a WHOLE HAND NOW! Five years old!

Hey My BEAUTIFUL five-year-old...

You are actually a couple months into being five now.  Our life has become a little crazier in the last few months.  In March, Daddy was diagnosed with Stage III Rectal Cancer, and he has spent the last couple months in treatment for that.  It has changed how much quality time you get with him, and how often you see him.  It has made an impact on you for sure.

You've had a couple of overwhelming experiences lately that I think have impacted your little heart and mind.  You saw your brother's second seizure in March and you saw a friend accidentally fall on a duckling and break its neck... you watched it die.  Then we shared with you about Daddy, and when we went to show you the port - it had opened up and was bleeding.  It has been a little weird to say the least.  You are handling it with grace, but you do feel like you can't breath some times, and you really don't want to be away from us.

You turned five with a bang.  On your birthday we did a series of events... we had our traditional rainbow waffles.  Aunt Jess and Reme Lynn came over.  Then we went to Pump It Up and Epleata, Michelle and Willow joined us as well.  We went and ate at Chic-fil-e, and then went home to watch movies and have popcorn.  Aunt Jess and I stayed up the night before to decorate your bedroom, and you got to bust through a wall of streamers.

 Last giggles as a four-year-old

 Last Mommy/Daughter sleepy snuggles as a four-year-old

 You're a whole hand!  This is at midnight on March 16th!

 At Pump It Up on your bday - you guys were moving too fast to get a pic. 

Your trip around the sun at School!  

Your brand-new bike!

Snow Cones at the park after we picked up your new bike!

Then... your party was on March 25th, and you had 6 friends sleep over (Keenan, Will, Linden (who didn't stay the night), Epleata, Emma, and Reme Lynn.  So... 8 kids and 3 adults (including Aunt Jess).  It was crazy and exhausting, but a blast.  I always wonder what you will actually remember.  We had a pinata, goody bags, a dance party with disco lights, did glitter scrapbooking with polaroid photos we took at your photo booth, we watched a move (TROLLS), we dressed up as Trolls (Aunt Jess - Cooper, Mommy - Harper, and Mollie - Poppy).  We had a blast and so did you and your friends.

Guy Diamond Cake!!! You laughed so hard!  The lady at Hermitage Bakery told you that she made a Barbie cake by accident and you were so sad, but handling the disappointment.  Then she said, but with a wave of my magic wand... I bet I could turn it into Trolls!  You said "REALLY?!" and she said yes.  Then she waved her magic wand, and when it opened you screamed, giggled and laughed (because of Guy Diamond's bum) and then said... "Hey!  You tricked me... you didn't use magic - it was Guy Diamond all along!"  It was amazing!

You were Poppy!

I was Harper!

Aunt Jess was Cooper!

Dance Party

Piñata time!

Linden Bruner

Keenan Miller

Will Cotterman

Jessica... from next door

Epleata Stotts

Emma Crawford

Reme Lynn Miller

The zombies attacking the candy and toys

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Presents!

Happy Birthday Mollie! 

Pizza Time!

Trolls Movie Watching!

Late Night Snack!

The morning after!

Popcorn for after the movie

Bath time to calm down (and decompress) for a minute and get all the Poppy color off!

You are still an amazing swimmer and getting stronger.  You are a patient and loving big sister... I've never seen anything like it.  You care for him and look out for him, and even when he hits you a lot (like lately - this is his new phase), you calmly ask him to stop and then just cover your body and brace for impact.  How you are this patient - I'll never know, but it is amazing to watch.

School picture that won the internet!  We love this picture so much that I'm not even going to post the normal ones!

Backwards fall... I have lots of cool slo-mo video of this

You are Paigey - FAMILY!

Your love for each other is amazing!

He adores you... I hope this always lasts.  Always trust each other, always be there for each other, always cheerlead each other!

This love!!!

My babies

The hard-core face push and an ever-patient Mollie!

And then snuggles!

You wanted to experiment on how much it was raining by catching it in all of your cups and bowls. 

You enjoy school, but mostly for the social interaction - you don't really want to work or focus.  I'm not sure why - there could be a million reasons, but we aren't pushing it and neither is school.  I want you to be doing more than you are, but you aren't worried, school isn't worried, so I'm not worried.

I do feel the stress of life sometimes - a lot.  Overwhelmed and unable to believe that I really can get it all done... especially lately.  You always bring me such joy and you are teaching me to slow down and enjoy life.  To pay attention to you and all that you and your brother have to offer.

You are a light and a joy in our lives, and you keep me laughing so hard all the time.  I've started making you laugh a lot with my new songs.  I re-wrote the head song that you love to put you to sleep to the mustache song, and you want me to sing it so you can belly laugh and say that you don't have a mustache.  You have such a fervor for life that is infectious!

I love you...

Mommy