Pic-a-Portrait

Just Eat It

A Closet Full With Nothing to Wear

Jarom had two shirts that were worthy of family pictures and neither went in the slightest with what I wanted to wear to match our living room. Ashley appeased me by taking a few of just me and the boys before the wardrobe change.

Quite the Character

Got some professional pictures taken by Betty Photography. They are great fun. I'll share a bit at a time as I don't seem to have the attention span needed to deal with blogger lately.

I Like the Way You Move

Two Week Rush

We only have to celebrate Roxwell’s birthday for about 15 minutes each year since he was born just before midnight (who keeps track of the exact time by the third) on the eve of October 22. It is fun to have a little dream just for him though.

Actually, we just turned everything fun that we did that week into a birthday celebration; like Layne’s fieldtrip to Superstition Farm, I bet you wish you spent your first birthday with the entire kindergarten! Or our dinner out to the swanky Scottsdale restaurant Arcadia Farms…too bad I forgot the camera on both of these occasions (and Layne’s fist day of school, and the science center and a dozen other important events).

So I redeemed myself slightly by taking home one of Arcadia Farm’s “baby cakes,” fitting, eh? Now all you mommies listen up because we discovered something that is going to change the universe. First we put the kids to bed, then we poked a candle in the cake, sang happy birthday, took pictures all in peace. We let the baby dive in with his hands while we civilized adults used forks and only occasionally picked piece off his face and shirt. Then it was off to bed for baby. Did you get that!? No kids, just baby. No tummy ache, just sleep. Peace. It was the best 3 day after birthday party EVER!

We leave the real spoiling up to my parents. Dad was here the week before Roxwell’s birthday and brought him this cute Hawkeye (the kids call it “hockey”) outfit with football that he has really taken a liking to. Here I think he was posing as a football player might.

Dad further dove in to the spoiling category when he bought all three boys Christmas bikes complete with new helmets lights, horns, bike locks and knee pads. Unfortunately Roxwell has tipped over a few times on his and now cries every time we put him on it so we are in the process of finding him an alternative Christmas gift. Dad’s visit was fun, be sure to ask him how he did in cribbage though.

Mom brought a lovely gift that Layne and Brik monopolized for the first couple days. She also bought us a generous amount of home décor which the kids and Jarom graciously accepted as their Christmas presents. I am so looking forward to Christmas; it is going to be so simple! Even Jarom’s family is taking about cutting back on their usually over-the-top gifting.

Since Jarom is a Halloween-pooper, Mom made the most of his costume and played Raggedy Andy to my Raggedy Ann. The boys costumes turned out really cute. Brik lived the face paint and was worried about it all night. Layne did really good dealing with the irritating eye patch – that he ended up just wearing on his head and uncomfortable earring – that found comfort inside his ear. Roxwell was not too fond of the big dragon hood that weighed down his head.

Growth Chart

No doctors. No percentile charts. No child to child comparison. Just good old healthy growth.

The Iowan Shopper

Dad wanted to "get back at" the kids for surprising him on his birthday in August. He arranged a surprise meet at the corner grocery store. They were pretty surprised to run into an Iowan shopper at Bashas.

I was so happy that Dad was able to bring us some more deer AND happy that we found freezer space for all of it! Thanks Dad, you're the best.

The kids got lots of fun stuff too; a Genetic's choice calendar (that the each have hung in their rooms), a framed picture of Papa (that they are taking turns displaying in their room's), a very educational book about pig farming (that we read at bedtime the past two nights) and University of Iowa Children's Hospital sweatshirts that are really quite nice (thanks Monica.) This is very typical for dad to unload company memorabilia for Christmas, birthdays and visits.

We haven't gotten to play cribbage yet, but next week--it's on!

Vegetable Treat

To increase excitement for vegetables the kids get to have whipped cream on them.

Great idea, right?
When my dad was annoyed with our table manners as kids he would ask "don't they teach you how to eat at school?" When my kids are playing with their food I say "Papa would freak if he saw you doing that." Tonight there were noodles swinging and Brik said "Papa is freaking out."

Go Away, Big Green Monster!

So they are not big, or green, but I do want them to go away. They are tormenting me, I hate to itch! Now they have gone too far. They are attacking the littlest Bagley and I am furious. Not just a bite here and there, 20 at one time, he looks diseased.

Roxwell is having a terrible reaction to mosquito bites. They get huge and inflamed, then bulge with a fluid-filled blister and finally a large open sore that heals to a lovely scar. Every day I am redressing his bandages to keep out infection. I have to keep him in pants day and night, otherwise he goes nuts with the itching and rips the Band-Aids to shreds. Poor guy, the itching, the sweating, the “ouch” of pulling 5 Band-Aids of in one sitting…
At least he is getting some teething out of the way through his misery. One top tooth is through and the other is close. They are big, this makes me happy, let’s dwell on the happy.

Grease Monkeys

Layne got this Power Wheels truck two years ago for his birthday from my mom. I would say he averages 10 hours a week in it. Driving has become one of his most time consuming hobbies. He has worn holes in the tires and is on his second battery. He has been asking for a real car that runs on gas for almost a year, but for now he blows off steam in his electric vehicle.

Layne has convinced Brik that he is completely incapable of driving. Brik gets all nervous when we ask him to park it or even drive it across the yard. He pushes the pedal in 2 second intervals to make sure he is never going too fast or about to hit something. He is a great passenger and always makes sure to buckle up with the Velcro seat belt. Some days they just pull out in the middle of the yard, crank the radio on the Spanish station, fill the cup holders with their Diego sippy cups, flip down the tailgate and chill.

Saturday while I was running around to meetings, Jarom got some yard work done and the boys gave the truck a tune up. Layne was enthralled with the jack and Brik was tickled to be assistant mechanic.


It won't be long before this little guy is squeezing in beside his brothers. Already perfecting the sounds and actions of cars, Roxwell has proven to have a boy's heart. Notice the gurgling from the back of his throat. This sound is reserved for playing with cars.

And those are misquito bites all over his arm, he was completely attacked!

Herbivore

Roxwell is nearly 11 months, still working on the crawling thing, but he rolls all over. Still a happy boy, content, sleeps 11 hours a night and puts up with Layne's rough handling. He still loves his baby swing as the motor can barley sway his 21 pounds. Only two teeth have made their way into his gummy grin.

Although he is my third boy which is old hat by now, he has a few quirks that are totally original to himself. Roxwell has a very developed palate and much prefers whole food over pureed. Often times he will refuse his own food if you are eating real food in front of him. I am most amazed at his ability to enjoy leafy vegetables and strong flavors from herbs, spices and garlic! How I love to see bits of myself in my child, finally.

Remembering Bugles

The boy's raspberry eating strategy reminded me of when my brother and I used to put Bugles on our fingers. We were limited to man-made finger foods because we lived in Podunk, where raspberries didn't even exist in real life. I mean, Bugles are clearly better in every way; they last for months without going bad, they don't stain your clothes, they don't have to be washed before eaten and they are cheaper. Remind of why we even eat raspberries at all.

I got these big, honking, delicious raspberries at our favorite produce market where prices are amazing. At the typical grocery store they will go on sale for $2.50 for a 6 oz. package, a warehouse store will have them for $9.99 for 6-6 oz. containers. These were 50 cents per 6 oz. container. I am recording these exciting facts for posterity...I wonder what raspberries went for in 1985.

When did nutrition get thrown out the window? I am looking forward to the day when the snacks and refreshments dished out at school, church, meetings, parties, ect. are a little less Bugle-ish (goldfish, Graham crackers, cookies, "fruit snacks, Little Debbie's, wheat thins, Gatorade...) and a lot more like plain old, God-made raspberries.

Looks Older Than 6

It seems like Layne has been 6 for awhile, but technically he just turned yesterday. He is so dang tall! He had a fun day.

Since he was born at 9:19, we used it as an excuse to not start 'the birthday until after breakfast. This saved us from getting up extra early and having candy for breakfast. We had planned on going to the pool, but the weather was too rainy.

Layne started out by opening presents, his favorite being the one Brik chose...a truck with a trailer and jet ski ($10 no batteries!) Next, we took him to Toys R Us so he could spend his birthday coupon and money. He bought some cars and a gum ball. We stopped by Cold Stone where he chose banana pudding and sweet cream ice cream with a pound cake mix-in.

On our way home from the toy store we were stopped at a light and a bird flew into our window. A few seconds later the electric window went down, after trying to put it back up we realized there was no bird and the window just gave out. Lucky for Layne because while his brothers took naps and I made birthday cake, Layne and Dad got to go to the car dealership. Sulking about the $300 bill, Jarom let Layne climb in and out, push all the buttons, check out the trunk, under the hood and the driver seat of the shiniest cars (Shiny cars are Layne's favorite.)

We ate cake before dinner and let the kids run around in the fountain after eating at Liberty Market. He loved his day, it was so simple. Happy Birthday giant six year-old.

How Sweet it is to be Loved By You

Layne's first baby sign was "food", Briks first sign was "more", Roxwell's is "I love you." This kid is so sweet. He throws out the sign when he sees us in the morning, smiles when we sign it to him and he will sign it right back. So now you know when this munchkin is gazing your way with his arm in your direction and his fingers all funky -- that just means he is sweet on you too.