CHEESE!

Charlie loves having his picture taken – even when he’s not feeling well.  After I discovered blood in his ear, we took him back to the doctor.  He has a double ear infection with possible ear drum rupture.  Charlie wiggled so much they couldn’t tell if it actually ruptured.  I now have the pleasure of going back to the doctor on Saturday to find out.

For now, his already impish character has been made worse by the pain.  We had a small “food fight” this afternoon, followed by some chair slamming and general protests.

Needless to say…I’ve looked into and signed up for two year old preschool starting in September.  

Baby Blue Eyes

Henry Thatcher has the bluest eyes!  Such a change from the dark chocolate and dark green/brown his brothers have.  I can’t tell if Henry’s hair is getting darker or if it will stay lighter with reddish highlights like Jackson.

The funny thing about this picture is that while I was taking it, Charlie was yelling across the room:  “CHEESE!”  I looked across and there he was—smiling and waiting for me to take his picture.

Bigger every day

Henry must be starting to get some teeth.  I tried a very long time to get a cute shot of him smiling without his hands in his mouth.

This one is pretty cute. 

Boots

Charlie loves to wear his rain boots (and Jackson’s).  Today he was very upset when Jackson and Brian were leaving for school and work.  He ran to our shoe basket and put on these boots in hopes of going with them. 

All morning long he’s been handing me his shoes as if to say “let’s go!”  However, he’s still sick so it’s another day indoors.

Lipstick on the teeth

Trying to take a picture sometimes is very difficult.  Today was one of those days.  Jackson told me ( after the picture) that I had lipstick on my teeth (or tooth).  However, I think this picture perfectly captures our day.  I love my boys!  We are busy, but we are blessed!

Happy Palm Sunday!

So…today, like most days, didn’t go as “planned”.  Charlie’s temp was back up and while we had the best intentions, we didn’t get to Mass until noon.  Charlie fell asleep in the closet and Henry fell asleep in the swing while we tried to “clean up” the house.  I use parentheses because with three boys (and a 4th with Brian), the house is never truly clean.  I do my best…

Anyway, I’m so glad 2/3 of the boys were laughing and smiling.  Mommy was doing a little dance behind daddy while daddy took the picture. 

Just another day in paradise.  I love my boys!

The boys

 

Here is a recent picture of the boys.  Charlie had the flu, so he wasn’t feeling well. 

Jackson had just come home from school and was still wearing his uniform, and since we were dealing with a sick Charlie, Henry got to hang out in his pajamas all day long.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Jackson had a day off from school today so he got to join Charlie, Henry and me at Charlie’s music class.  I think Jackson had more fun than Charlie, but it was darling watching the two of them dance around and play.

Here is a little picture of Charlie – as impish as a Leprechaun! 

Super Charlie Video

Cookies

It is a rainy March day.  With three boys it is very difficult to keep them occupied.  Either you keep them busy…or they keep themselves busy (and paint the room yellow).  This morning, I’m trying to keep them busy by making cookies. 

Here’s chef Jackson:

Henry Thatcher

It may seem as though little Henry Thatcher is getting lost in the “mix” of his two older brothers.  However, despite his calm nature, I see signs already that Henry will hold his own when he gets a bit older. 

Henry’s eyes are bright blue and even though he’s been sick lately, he loves to smile and laugh – just like his brothers.

Here is a recent picture of Master Henry Thatcher:

Super Charlie!

Last night Jackson dressed up Charlie as a “super hero”.  Complete with Dalmatian dog boots and a pom pom cape, Charlie thoroughly enjoyed the attention.

Jackson informed me he was Charlie’s assistant – and had the power to read.  Charlie’s power, was the power to run very fast in his boots.  However, given Charlie’s disposition to “redecorate” rooms…I’m more inclined to think Charlie has the power to destroy a room in no time flat and deplete one’s bank account.

Despite the challenges of the past few days, last night’s laughter and smiles put everything into perspective.

My children may not have real “super powers” but they have the power to make me smile and warm my heart.

 

Picasso

Brian and I have been trying to fix up a few things around the house.  Unfortunately, Charlie attempted to “help” this morning.  While taking care of Henry, who has been very sick, I put Charlie in his room in hopes that he’d take an early morning nap. 

No such luck.  He got into a 1/2 gallon of bright yellow paint and dumped it on the floor of his room.  He then proceeded to walk in the paint and walk/dance all around his room.   There are tiny little yellow footprints everywhere.

I have no idea how he did it, but paint was all over Henry’s bedding, his crib, Charlie’s dresser and toy box and all over Charlie.

I literally gasped when I went in to check on him.  I took some pictures of the damage, but I was shaking when I took them, so they are quite blurry and quite frankly – don’t do justice to the absolute mess Charlie made out of the room.

Here is a picture of Charlie.  I’m not finding the humor in the fact that his shirt says:  I love mom.  Hmmm. 

 

Someday

Someday Charlie will be as big as Jackson.  Someday Jackson may not want to play with his brothers, and someday they may not want to play with him.  Someday my boys will be all grown up and these pictures will be all I have left to remember when they were young.  Someday will come soon enough…so I’m going to embrace today!  

Just an ordinary day

Three thirty is a great time of day. Charlie, Henry and I wait patiently by the window for the school bus to arrive. Charlie loves his brother and can’t wait to play with him. I love hearing the giggles between the two of them and can’t imagine what it will be like when Henry enters into the mix.

Jackson in his Dr. Suess hat from school and Henry:

Charlie and his blanket (he calls it his nite nite). He has literally loved Grandma’s handmade blanket to pieces.

Charlie and Jackson:

Henry working on that smile!

Go Dawgs!

Before heading back to Peoria, Brian took us all to a Husky Basketball game. Here’s a picture of the whole family in front of Bank of America Pavilion.

Jackson and Brandon

Lewallen home improvement weekend

Brian and I decided to spiff up our bathroom with a new coat of paint, a new vanity and lots of work! We spent a majority of the day running errands with the kids. Thankfully, the kids found ways to keep themselves entertained while we worked!

Grandma and Grandpa

The boys have so much fun staying with Grandma and Grandpa. They are never at a loss for attention or things to do. They have my parents, cousins and both parents around to pay them all the attention in the world. I absolutely love this picture of my dad with Charlie. Sheer joy.

Future NBA Star

Anyone who’s met Charlie knows that he LOVES – absolutely loves basketball. He really likes any type of sport that involves a ball, but basketball appears to be his favorite.

He drives in the car with me and says: “shoot” when he sees a basketball hoop. If the t.v. is on he normally ignores it unless some type of sport is on. He’ll stop dead in his tracks, point to the t.v. and say “ball”.

His stance is great, and he bends his knees and shoots with perfect form!

These are pictures of Charlie playing basketball at my parent’s house with the basketball hoop Santa gave him for Christmas.

Slam dunk!

He shoots and scores!

Lewallen Christmas Day 2009

Most Christmas days we head over Brian’s parent’s house for Christmas dinner. This year we helped celebrate Christmas with Mimi, Pappa and Uncle Bob.

Charlie playing piano

Henry cashed out from all the excitement

Thanking Mimi for the present

Jackson and Mimi

Charlie testing out Danny’s kennel. Not a bad idea eh?

The Lewallen family

Mommy and Henry

Tired boy…only one more party to go!

Washington State Christmas 2009

Since we moved to Peoria, it has become our family tradition to visit Washington over Christmas. It’s always a big production, packing, flying out, staying in a full house, jumping from family to family and event to event…only to fly back and unpack it all again.

This year was Henry’s first Christmas. Only 3 weeks old when we flew out, and 4 weeks old by Christmas Day.

Sweet little Henry Santa

Mommy looking tired with her little man

Jackson, Charlie and Henry – first Christmas with all the boys!

Jackson showing off his wreath from the Rainier Club Santa Supper.

Jackson and Grandpa “relaxing” after Charlie has gone to bed

Henry on Christmas Eve

Jeanette, Stephanie, Leslie and Henry – watching the annual cake train decorating.

A brief visit from “Santa” on Christmas eve

Leslie and Henry preparing for the reading of T’was the Night Before Christmas

T’was the Night Before Christmas!

Jackson and Matthew – Hicks and Lewallen oldest boys

“look mom! Santa brought me a gun!”

Jackson hanging the stockings with care

2003 cousins – Lauren, Jackson, Brandon and Sam

Hicks and Lewallens spend the night with Grandma and Grandpa