Brady, 4 years old this week

Brady has a very busy 4-year old life and it has recently included some significant "firsts".  This is a photo of him in front of his preschool.  I have never in my life seen a happier version of this child.  He was beyond excited and enthusiastic and so anxious to show me the drill. 


He literally ran down the hall, quickly naming all the various classrooms on the way to HIS BLUE DOOR. 


He put his backpack and helmet in the exact right spot (not to be confused with BrOdy's spot) then plopped down and waited for the door to open so he could be the first to choose the chore he wanted:  Bell Ringer.   BTW, those skinny legs can move at an alarmingly rapid rate! 



Brady's legs move quickly until, that is, he gets on a soccer field.  His overachieving parents signed him up for a soccer team and he did quite well until it was time to play in a game.  All of a sudden he was unable to move at all!  He was totally miserable and didn't understand why he was out there.  He whimpered through most games and at one point he stood in front of the goal and exhibited a huge yawn while the other team kicked goals through his legs! 

I worked with him out in the field on the days he was here, practicing and explaining the game.  One day while I was stealing the ball from him, he said "but that's not very nice".  All of a sudden it became very clear to me:  his parents had spent nearly 4 years teaching him to be nice, take turns with other kids, share your toys (or soccer balls).  Now on the soccer field all those rules had changed!  GET OUT THERE, STEAL THAT BALL, GO GET 'EM BRADY!!!  It's no wonder the little guy was confused. 

He did like it that all the grandparents came to watch him.  It also gave him alot of people to hide behind so the coach wouldn't see him or call his name.  But he was stuck with six weeks of misery on Saturday mornings. 


Another problem:  his dad was the coach:)


He seemed quite happy on the day of the last game.  Maybe because it was the last game???


In the meantime, back on the ranch, he had chores to do.  He had to rake leaves.......


We had to take a picture of our rake-wielding shadows.......


He had to tend the chickens......


He had to BE a chicken:)


He had to gather the eggs.....  Ok, Drewey, take these to Ter Ter.  Now run!!


He had to teach Drew how to play "shower ball"


Dr. Brady had to cure all our ills (he can do that with his smile!)


He had to measure the depth of the first great puddle in the driveway


He had to make yet another batch of applesauce.  He wanted to make applesauce every time he came to visit and it always turned into an all day job, and a lesson in the "life cycle of an apple":

Shake the tree
Pick up the apples
Wash them with the hose
Help cut them up
Feed the cores to the chickens
Cook the apples
Squish them (see above)
Taste for sweetness
Add white sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon
Eat warm.  Feed to little brother after nap:)


And then........the birthday party!  Fourteen rowdy kids came to Brady's Lego-themed extravaganza.  (That's Jude, Ada and Drew with their backs to the camera).



I have to include this picture of the cupcakes.  Jen outdid herself this time, making the little Lego candies on each cupcake. 


Note the Lego crown above that awe-struck face.  And it's difficult to tell, but his shirt is imprinted with a Lego person.  This party took place several days prior to his actual birthday because he already had plans for the BIG day:  The whole family flew to California to......just guess......  Legoland! 

Brady, Brady, Brady.  It's hard to describe him these days.  He's wild and crazy and curious and busy and brave beyond his own good sense.  He's sensitive and serious and imaginative.  He doesn't like being left alone and gets lonely at night in his bed.  One night when he slept over, he woke a half-dozen times for different reasons:  my foot hurts; no, it's my leg; let's read a book; no, let's watch a video; how about some waffles?  Finally at about 3:00 a.m. he told me he doesn't like to sleep alone.  I was impressed that he was able to sift through all those other reasons come up with that pearl of wisdom.  The next time he came for a sleepover, I made him a little sleeping bag sort of nest right next to my bed.  Much better. 

Brady frustrates easily these days, but this, too, shall pass.  I have to mention it, though, because otherwise he sounds like the perfect child when in fact, he's been driving us nuts for the past few months!  It's just a phase and, like my mother always said, the next one will probably be worse:)  In the meantime while he's busy pushing everyone's limits, he can still crack me up more often than not..... when he sings (like an opera star), when he gets the giggles, when he names every activity (let's call this game "take things away from Drewey"), when he walks in the door.  This kid had me at hello:)

Happy Birthday, Brady - I love my little buddy

New stairwell pictures

This posting was originally to be about Brady who turned 4 years old October 25.  But first I have to start with the new lineup in the stairwell.  Brady actually sat here on my lap and picked out the best faces from all my hundred-million photos.  He helped me crop them, print them and frame them.  It was a good quiet time project.  The results:

This is Drew, on his 2nd birthday


Ada, being her little goofy self:)  She told me this is what she looks like when she's asleep!


This is Brady, the birthday kid-of-the-month


And this is Jude on HIS 4th birthday.


Great faces, don't you think?  Thanks for your help, Brady, I couldn't have done it without you!

FOUR, finally

Jude has been counting down the days for months......and finally he has turned FOUR YEARS OLD.  It seemed to take forever to get past the "Three and Three Quarters" mark but he made it!  

Now I look into his perfect little 4 year old face and could melt into a puddle like I did the day he was born.  But things have changed a bit.  Instead of just looking at me with love in his eyes, he can verbalize what he's thinking:  I don't really like your hair, Nini, and Ada doesn't either.  Ahhh, did I once wish for a little kid who tells it like it is?  Big mistake on my part:) 

Jude had a real birthday party on his real birthday with his real friends at a pool near his real house.  A few days later, we had the traditional birthday gathering with cousins Brady and Drew.  Ben flipped pancakes in the backyard and we all hung out for awhile on a beautiful Saturday morning.



Watching all four of the kids interact together is the joy of my life. 


Jude's birthday falls just two days before Linden's birthday, so here they are, the Brown Eyes!


If anyone can master the game on the new iPad, it's this team:)


This picture was taken a month ago - Jude with 21 of his closest friends -


Jude and his girlfriend, Lucia.  I'm saving this picture for the engagement party -


Jude is a beautiful child.  He's also a rascally little rascal who needs a constant challenge to keep him going in the right direction.  But he is so interesting and I love the way his mind whirls in so many directions!  A recent phone conversation: 

Nini, what's a week? 
A week is 7 days, honey.

What's a symbiotic relationship?
(Think, think!)  A symbiotic relationship is when two people or two animals get along very well.

Are giants bigger than monsters?
Oh yes, giants are always the biggest.

I have to go now, Nini, it's time for my breakfast.

There you have it.  The child not only has a true grip on the English language, but he is continually interested in how to say words in other languages.  His parents have taught him how to say things in Spanish, French and Russian.  And then, of course, in true 4-year old fashion, he makes up words.  That's Russian, Nini, for "Jude needs another cookie". 

And I love the way he is so in tune with Ada.  They are the best of friends when they aren't killing each other.  He's also sensitive to the happiness of others.  Maybe mom needs some of my fever medicine to make her feel better.  He reminds me so much of his dad!  And when he lets go with his rolling laughter, it's almost more than one Nini can take. 

Happy #4 Birthday, Judey!

It's about time, yes?

My only reader must think I've been abducted.  I so admire real bloggers and facebookers who record every event as it happens.  I want to be one of them, but instead I simply enjoy the events and put "reflect on nice life" on my list of things to do.  It has been a pleasantly busy time, this summer thing.  Check out this rare shot of all four baby Corns, all in the same boat, so to speak:)




Brady and Ada watering whatever gets in their way -



The boys don't seem to notice or care about dirty feet, but Ada is a true princess.  Dirty feet are certainly not for royalty.  For some reason, my little 2-yr. old looks like she's about 4 in this picture.  Must be the bonnet. 



This little trampoline was headed for the dump because the legs fell off.  Well.  I had a simply brilliant idea to dig a hole in the field and make it a ground level jumping spot.  My idea also included having someone else do the digging.  It worked!


So then one day, I accidentally took delivery of 8 baby chicks.  At the time of this photo, they were in the house, but that didn't last long when I quickly discovered that the house was starting to smell like the Clark County Fair.


Ada loved to pet the babies.  One cute chick to another:)


So then we had to build a state-of-the art chicken resort.  Ben was the engineer and the builder.  The chickens were impressed:)


I taught Jude & Ada the "here chickie chickie" drill using some cracked corn.  They got the hang of it immediately and I think they threw about 5 lbs. before the chicks fell asleep from carb overload -



The sun is shining!  Everybody out!


Everybody IN


Jude rises with the chickens and ran out to feed them -


Ada doesn't rise with the chickens, and will feed them when she's dressed and ready


We left the chickens in the capable hands of dear friends, threw together everything we owned and went camping for a week at the Hood Canal.  It is so beyond beautiful up there, especially at 4:00 a.m.


The crab like to jump in the traps at 4:00 a.m., I guess


Then back home for a date with Brady & Drew.  It was so unusual for Brady to go into the enclosure and feed the chickens from his hand.  Typically, he cajoles Drew into anything that might have a negative outcome.  "Stick your finger in there, Drewey, and see if they bite".  But not this time.  He's not a chicken anymore:)


Then, another accident:  Since there were a few things left around here that the kids hadn't destroyed, this little puppy face showed up.  Her name is Blue but the only word she ever hears is NO!!


Then......look who turned TWO YEARS OLD on Aunt Ginny's birthday.  Drew Taylor woke up to a whole bedroom full of balloons (an additional 20 helium balloons were on the ceiling). 


Drew was in balloon heaven and had to be coaxed outside to the PARTY


It was a Superhero theme party, complete with obstacle course, all in his own front yard.


And a Superhero he is.  Drew is a smart, perceptive, curious, rascally little red-headed bug stomping, no holds barred two year old.  And cute?  OMG. 

The beat goes on

It has been another three months since I updated the mug shots in the stairwell.  Jude's face has thinned out, Brady still has the same smile that cracks me up, Ada has changed wildly, and Drew continues to look like the little imp he is. 



Jude Alexander, my brown-eyed boy



Brady Michael, Mr. Imagination



Ada Linden, little Miss Muffet



Drew Taylor, Mr. Messy

So here they are.  The gallery is open.  These kids are sunshine on a cloudy day...... although I must admit sometimes they bring clouds to a sunny day!! 

The Queen of Everything turns TWO

Ada just turned two years old.  I still love my old pictures of her with Albert Einstein hair but now her hair is long and very silky and her tails stay put for hours.  This beautiful picture was taken at her little family birthday party with cousins Brady and Drew.




Ada & Drew waiting for the popcorn to pop......(while I was taking this picture, the popcorn turned into a smoke bomb and the house had to be evacuated)


Here they are........the Queen of Everything holds court and Jude is reading the 'happy birthday' sign to his attentive students


Unlike the boys, Ada is very cautious.  I love this about her!



Ada recently spent a good deal of time placing and arranging the four little plastic chairs in the new clubhouse.


Ada displays brief moments of typical 2-yr. old behavior, but for the most part she is a totally engaging girlfriend.  Her language skills seem way ahead of her brief years, with full sentences and long stories.  The other morning I went upstairs to get her out of bed and she told me about her night.......It get dark and read stories and listen to Raffi and Raffi go off and then sleep and now it's BRIGHT. 

Ada is a very girlie little girl.  She has definite ideas about what she wants to wear, down to the socks and the clips in her hair and the color of the twisties that make her tails.  She walks and talks and runs like a girl.  Her actions are very dainty.  She is happy all the time and is always singing.  When she does cry, she can often do a 180 and turn  it into a smile in no time flat.  Ada loves to draw and can occupy herself with a small pile of markers and crayons.  She's just so different from the boys and I'm constantly in awe.  The other day she was in front of a full-length mirror, and she looked back over her shoulder to check her backside!

Ada loves her cousins, and she talks about them often.  When she's sharing her Cheerios with her stuffed animals and dolls, she always includes a little pile for Brady and "Drewey".  The perfect little hostess:)

So.  Ada, The Queen of Everything is now two years old and truly, she rocks.  And she reigns.