Little Known Facts

So Colt walks into the kitchen and says, "I am the only ninja you know."

Armload of love

So we took the boys on a spontaneous trip to Dollywood.  It wasn't until we were standing in line for the tram to the park that I realized I had forgotten a stroller.

I expressed my frustration to Joe.  Zane just looked up at me and smiled.  "It's okay Mommy." He said, "you carry me!"

By the end of the day my arms and back ached, but a part of me was thankful.  I spent the whole day with my beautiful boy at eye level...laughing and smiling and playing.  Why push when you can cuddle.

Good Surprise

So we picked Wyatt up from school on Friday with the car packed for a road trip. 

"Surprise," we said, "We are going on vacation!"  

"Where to?" He asks.  "To an amusement park."

"Good surprise," I ask?

"All surprises are good," he says, "unless they are clothes."

What's in a name?

So we are driving past Cracker Barrel and Colt says, "Why is it called Cracker Barrel?  They don't have barrels there...or crackers!"

The Force was with us

Caped Crusader

"I Superman," Zane says after putting on my hoodie at soccer.

"Not the little girl with the hood," he adds a few seconds later!

At the Office

So I lost track of Wyatt for a few minutes at the park. I found him in the bushes.

"I'm in my office," he says.

"What are you doing in your office?" I ask.

"Trying to sell a movie," he replies.

I wonder where he's heard that? :)

The Rooster

So I think we might have the world's most responsible six-year-old.

The babysitter overslept her alarm one day this week.  So at 7:00 Wyatt went into the guest room, climbed into her bed and said, "Hey there, I need to get ready for school."

There to Share

So with Joe in Los Angeles for a few weeks I took the boys out for supper.

We went to one of our favorite sub shops for sandwiches.

At one point during the meal I noticed tht Zane had set aside a handful of his chips.

"Just in case Daddy comes," he said.

The Guy and his Guinea

So Wyatt desperately wanted a turtle for his 6th birthday.  We talked about it for months, even received "turtle money" in the form of Petsmart gift cards.

We picked him up from school, took him straight to the pet store and started looking at the turtles and tortoises.  Sea turtles, it turns out, do not like to leave their tank, need to be handled with extreme care and pose a risk for salmonella.  A big no.  

A tortoise seemed like a better fit.  They're land animals and made of heartier stock, plus you can feed them veggies and stuff.  A tortoise it is.

So then the clerk proceeds to make us a list of the items we will need to keep "Luke Skywalker" the tortoise alive.  It's double sided.  The lists includes, among other things, a 40 gallon tank, three different kinds of lights, three thermometers, vitamin c tablets and a water de-chlorinating system.  Total cost to take home tortoise.  Over $400.  

And did I mention how long a tortoise lives? More than 50 years!  We look at Wyatt and ask, "Do you know how old you will be when this tortoise dies?"  

"Old enough to be a Grandpa?" he says. Yep.  

It is at this point we begin the desperate search for a viable alternative.  A fish? Too boring. A lizard? Too creepy? A hamster? They bite.

And then we find her.  The tiny, social, non biting, non disease spreading $34 dollar rodent.  Sold.

Meet Princess Leah the Guinea Pig.  A week later I'm still convinced we made the right choice!

Da Man

So I took Popsicles to Wyatt's kindergarten class to celebrate his birthday...as we start passing them out one of his classmates says, "You da man, Wyatt!" And then gives him knuckles!

Six

"I think I'm bigger," says the birthday boy!

Trip to the Oval Office

We have been so proud of Wyatt's success in kindergarten.  He has come home every day with glowing behavior reports from his teacher.

This week he announced, "Mommy, they read my name on the news!"

"The Bethel School news!  The president read my name and then I got to go to her office and pick out a toy!"

"Do you mean the principal?"

Turns out Wyatt's teacher had submitted a commendation to the office because of the good example he'd set for other students!

So my boys' first trip to the principal's office was to choose a glow in the dark alien out of her treasure chest.

 

Gimme a Slice

So we are on the soccer field watching big brother's practice… Zane points at the markings on the field and says "look, it's a piece of pizza!"

Circus Act

The pool has closed for the season...but wanted to post a pic of the trick Wyatt refers to as "the flying squirrel."

The Captain

Zane just marched down the stairs and announced, "Somebody's Haptain Cook!"

The Puddle Jumper

So Zane has never met a puddle he hasn't wanted to jump in.

Typical for a little boy, but Zane is fanatical.

We walked through a parking lot today, he hit every puddle screaming, "Cannonball," as he jumped!

School Kid

So Wyatt is officially a kindergartener.

He handled the first day better than I did!

Each child had a "first day of school" coloring sheet at their desk.  Wyatt started coloring immediately and insisted on finishing it so I could take it with me!

I successfully held back tears until I made it to the classroom door, when Wyatt ran after me and said, "One more hug Mommy."

It only worse as Zane became confused and upset when we were heading to the car, "Mommy, Wyatt back there. We no leave Wyatt."

Big brother was missed by all.

In The Driver's Seat

Colt says, "When Wyatt goes to kindergarten tomorrow will he get his driver's license?"

Movie Buffs

Cold, rainy day means a trip to movies.  

Thumbs up from Colt, who says the best part of "Planes" is at the end when "the orange guy wins and the green guy gets dirty."

Zane just loved the giant vat of popcorn.

Brrrrrrr!

It's 64 degrees in August.  

The Southern born boys have broken out the winter clothes!

Only Colt refused.  "It looks too much like Christmas," he said!

Zane's New "Crib"

So we dismantled the crib and moved the big boy beds into Zane's room today.

The two older boys have been sleeping in the same bed for years. Now there are three.  

They have been begging for this for months.  I finally mustered the strength.

I was planning a glass of wine and a good cry, but as I closed the door, I heard Colt say "Do you like it in here Zane?"  And a small voice whispered "Yes."  I think I will be okay.

Sweet Dreams

So Walmart put all their summer pool stuff on clearance. I surprised the big boys with a couple of rocket ship floats with squirt guns attached.

The cost me $5 a piece and have been supremely popular.

The boys love being the center of attention.

Wyatt said, "Mommy, am I dreaming? I never thought I would have something this amazing at the pool."

Early Birds

Three boys, three very different reactions to a predawn flight wake up call!

Wyatt: "What are you doing it is still dark outside!"

Colt: "Are we going to hear the rooster?"

Zane: "We go up in the sky?"

Big Man on Campus

So we took Wyatt to "new student" orientation at his future elementary school.

During the self guided tours he quickly found the kindergarten playground.

On the way back to the car we passed the 1st and 2nd grade playground.

He stops to admire it and asks, "Is that college?"

Mr. Confidence

So Colt jumped off the diving board by himself and without floaties.

I said, "You are so brave!"

He said, "I know, and handsome."

Like Father, Like Son

Today Daddy and little man are matching. Zane says, "My baseketball shirt!"

Suited Up

So the $4 Ralph Lauren seersucker suit makes it's third appearance! Each boy at Easter at age two! (Colt was one month shy of 2)

Gotham City, SC

So I've been working on Gotham City murals for the big boys' room for the past few weeks. Wyatt was the one who asked me to do them, but it has been Colt who has really enjoyed them.

I did the cityscape and Batman first. Colt has been waiting patiently for his Robin.

When I started it a few days ago he pulled up a chair beside me and every few minutes he would stroke my arm and say, "Mommy, I love you. You are the best Mommy."

It was fun to watch his joy that someone was doing something especially for him. A reminder to me that middle child needs to feel important too!

New Treat

So we don't let the boys have soda often, but last night we decided to try out a new dessert. Root beer floats.

They loved them, Colt said, "Mommy, can I please have some more root beard."

Don't cut his arm off

So we went back to the doctor to have Zane's cast removed. The big boys were very concerned about "the saw" and wanted to come along.

They kept saying, "Don't cut his arm off!"

He was terrified of the noise and and screamed in terror the whole time. Big brothers were quick to comfort!

Good news, new bone has grown around the break, but he isn't completely healed. So, new cast it is!

Wyatt and Colt tried to convince him to go with "Batman black" this time...but the little boy chose "geen."

The nurses gave him a little bear to make him feel better. He named him, "oweee bear."

In the nude

So after dinner I head up to the bedrooms and find the big boys in their birthday suits.

I say, "I thought Zane was taking his bath first?"

"He is," Wyatt says, "We just like being naked."

More cake, pease

So the littlest Hampton had a birthday this past week. He loved every bit of the festivities, but mostly the cake.

And not for the gooey frosting or moist, fluffy cake! The boy loves to blow out candles.

Every time he blew them out he'd stop and smile, say, "I did it!" Then he'd pause and say, "More cake, pease."

Big boo boo

So Zane fell off some playground equipment and sustained more than a mouthful of dirt.
Official diagnosis: Fractured wrist.
After visits to three different doctors offices and what felt like a lifetime spent in waiting rooms he finally got his x-rays and his cast.
When asked what color he wanted, he said, "wed"...and red it is.

First Full Sentence

So it wasn't anything monumental...but Zane uttered his first full sentence at suppertime.

He dropped his napkin on the floor, looked at Joe and said, "Daddy, paper down there, git it!"

Dick, Call me "Bruce"

So Wyatt believes he IS Batman and Colt believes he IS Robin. They wear their superhero clothes most places we go. The problem is you can't wear them everywhere, specifically school and church.

So they devised a plan to become their alter-egos. Wyatt now wears a tie with his school clothes and tells everyone he is "Bruce Wayne."

Colt now wears a tie with his church clothes and says, "I am Robin, but you can call me Dick Grayson."
Clearly they have done their research.