Dostoyevsky Says a Life Dictated by "Twice Two is Four" is Not Worth Living.

...should it follow that a family guided by half two is more stable?

Upon initial inspection of this second statement, it doesn't appear as though it could possibly be true. When there are two parents directing traffic and generally hanging with their children, things should be much easier to handle, yeah?

It sometimes seems the opposite with our boys. I find that, when it's just me watching the two of them - or, I often hear from Laura - their demeanor is tremendously more relaxed and less-combative than when Laura and I are both with them.

The difference isn't vast, but it certainly seems as though Jackson and Kian maintain a much more even keel - and, more importantly, seem to strive for our attention, individually, much less - when either Laura or I have them solo, compared to when we're all four together and interacting simultaneously.

Now, Laura's the psych major, so, she'd probably be better-equipped to blog in-depth about this, but I figure it's largely tied to the lack of a fourth personality factoring into our dynamic, coupled with the boys' recognition that the ALPHA MALE is present, or absent, and the understanding of - or, conversely, relief from - the Big Dad's dominance of the wills in the social setting. Yeah, that's the ticket!

You know, a giggle of either jovial acceptance or outright pity would be appreciated here.

Whatever the case, Jackson, Kian and I got to have a bit of a dudes' night at the house tonight - watching a movie (The Bee Movie, to be exact), eating junk food, and drinking beers (Dad, of course, holding up this final part of the list on his own); and, we had a damn good time. It helped that Kian was asleep throught 2/3 of the evening - he didn't nap at daycare today, and, Laura went out to get her nails worked on while I stayed at home with the dudes. By the time he'd awoke, the movie was over half-complete, and he just wanted to cram down some food and start prepping/relaxing for bed. I really enjoyed our night as The Three Amigos, as I do most every time we get that chance. I told Jackson tonight: "You know, you've turned out to be an alright little guy. I've decided we should keep you around for just a bit longer." I'm glad he agreed to stick around!

Oh, and I can't complete a post without posting a pic that hadn't yet made any of our previous picture post cuts...

I'll entitle this one: "Reason #4760 Why My Boys' Senses of Humor or Other Personality Quirks Would Be More Accurate Than ANY Maury Povich Paternity Test"




















(K)

Pancake Dinner

Melissa brought the Ethan and Dylan over for dinner tonight. We decided to share our love of special pancakes with them. Tonight's theme was letters. Each of their pancakes were the first letter of their first name. J for Jackson, K for Kian...you get the idea.

Kian passed out on the way home so Kyle brought him in to sleep on our bed before we ate dinner. He looked like he had been on a 4 day binge and was trying to recover. Turns out he only took a 30 minute nap at daycare today and needed a little more shut-eye. Regardless, these pictures are too funny!

Jackson said that he was not giving Ethan bunny ears. He was trying to make him look like a monster. Evidently there is a difference?!?!?

We hope to have many more "Pancake Dinners" in the future.

until next time...lc

Easter with The Campbells

We had Ryan, Melissa, Ethan, Dylan, Sara & Daniel over for Easter dinner this past Sunday. My favorite part is being able to all sit together around the dinner table. Thanks to the table that we inherited, we're all able to fit around one table. Yep, all 10 of us. It's a squeeze, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's not too often that we get together and being able to share dinner is quite special. Kyle and I enjoy having everyone over to entertain whether it be for a holiday or a random get-together. Whatever the occasion, we enjoy the company.

After dinner, Ethan, Jackson and I dished up dessert for everyone. The boys seemed to enjoy helping out and were quite proud of what they were able to create.

After dessert, the Easter Bunny (Sara) hid the eggs and the boys enjoyed getting their baskets and gathering the eggs. That was followed up by allowing them to run loose for as long as possible to burn off any and all energy.
(Sara, please don't be mad at me. I think they are cute!)


Baskets for the boys.

Jackson showing off his goodies.


Dylan lovin' his new Thomas movie.


Rare Photo: All boys in one picture. Looking for eggs and enjoying their goodies.

Look Mom, I found more candy. It might not be chocolate, but I'll eat it! - Kian



Mr. Cheese, I mean Jackson


Not sure what he's doing here in this picture, but it's too funny not to post.


until next time...lc

Number Two - a.k.a. Kian

Kyle and I agreed this morning that Kian has done a complete 180 as far as his personality goes. Up until the last couple of weeks, he was the most fun-loving child. Now I'm not saying he's no longer a loveable kind of kid, he just has this temper like none other. From what I've heard, first born children are well-behaved and second-born children are the little devils. Jackson and Kian were opposite of that until recently. Kian is so extremely strong-willed all of a sudden. He wants what he wants, and wants it about 2 minutes ago. He will do whatever possible to get it too. If you say no to him, that little fart chases after you, swinging his arm repetitively in an attempt to hit you, all while trying to bite. If you just so happen to be an innocent bystander during this tirade, you better take cover as well. Anyone and everyone is a victim in his eyes. He doesn't stop until he makes contact with someone or something. We try to pick him up to calm him down, most times to no avail. It is quite comical at this stage to watch this transpire.

Kian went to Dr. P this past Tuesday for his 18-month check up. His stats are as follows:

Height - 34 inches (90th percentile)
Weight - 27 pounds 7.5 ounces (60th percentile)
Head Circumference - 20.5 inches(??? percentile - about 1 inch above the 95th percentile)

When I asked Dr. P what we have to look forward to over the next 6 months, his response was Teething, Toilet Training and Temper Control. Given that Kian has all 20 primary teeth, we're left with what I think are the hardest 2 items to work on with boys. We'll see how it goes. He's well past where he needs to be with his vocabulary and comprehension. (OK, with the exception of responding to NO!) While we were there, Jackson was weighed and measured as well. He was just there about 3 months ago for his 4 year check up, but it was nice to know he's continuing to grow on track. He's 41 inches and 39 pounds. Both are at the 50th percentile. They don't do head circumference at this age, and frankly I'm content not knowing how large his head is. I know it's rather round and that's just fine.

So in an earlier post, I commented that Kian does not like the TV on. Turns out that he's A-OK with it so long as "Bob Bob" a.k.a. Sponge Bob is on. I was cleaning up the house Easter morning and had turned on Sponge Bob for a distraction while I cleaned the floors. This is what I saw when I checked in on Kian. What a trooper! At least the floors were cleaned!




until next time...lc

Easter with the Kiefers

This year we gathered with all the other Kiefer's at Frank and Ashley's house. We had a great time all around. The food was great, the company entertaining and we left in one piece. It's always hectic to cram the holidays into one weekend, but with time we are getting better. Below is a slide show of the festivities. We went a little crazy with the photos, but at least it's well documented.

until next time...lc

Easter Breakfast

So I tried to get away with making waffles for breakfast on Easter morning to no avail. Per the request of Number One, we had Easter Egg Pancakes. We ended up with speckled eggs, but they were happy.

Ummmmm, let me see how I can fit these in.


Just let me eat already!


In an effort to use up the end of the batter, I made a little pancake. When Jackson so this he thought it looked like a bunny. No, we will not be selling it on eBay. It was eaten shortly after it hopped around the table and this photo was taken.


Thanks for the hair gel, oh I mean syrup Mommy!


until next time...lc

Just now, Samiam's song "Sky Flying By" really made a heck of alot of sense...

Everyday.

Every single day, Laura and I get to experience this wonder. This joy. This ever-exhausting, yet exhilirating, journey navigating waters tumultuous then calm then stormy again seems to cycle on and on and on...

But, it's never overwhelming. It's never something that can ever push us "over the edge." It's never an experience that, in the long term, makes either of us give up and try to absolve ourselves of these responsibilities. To foresake the promises we explicitly made to these little people we decided to bring into this world as a product of our love and affection for one another - to break those vows to them is unfathomable.

Yet it happens. It's happened to millions of people all over the world. It's happened to me. It's happened to my brother, my sister...and I will never understand it.

I know. It gets tough. It feels like there is no possible way you can possibly bend and twist and strain the limits of your sanity, of your will, another fraction of an inch, because you're bound to snap. You're bound to break, and with that fracture, bring everything down with you. You get damn close. Maybe I've not REALLY gotten that far. Maybe I only THINK I've seen the precipice of that cliff, and am arrogantly questioning how anyone could ever go over - I can accept that.

How, though, can anyone ever put out of their mind the look in their childrens' eyes when they actually learn something. The light that flickers deep in their pupils when knowledge crystallizes behind those eyes. When understanding is finally achieved - how can the thrill that accompanies that moment ever be so far out of your mind as to not rescue you from that edge? To put up the mental blockade that forces you to crash into a wall, knocking reality and some semblance of sense back into your mind, and force you to realize that there are so many more absolutely phenomenal moments ahead that propelling yourself into that reckless abandon would mean an instantaneous end to any and all of those joys; how can that be so drowned out by your own self-absorption?

I hope, every minute of every day, that this 30,000 foot view of that state-of-mind is as close as I'll ever get.

Thank you, boys. Thank you, Laura. Thank you Ryan and Miss and Sara and Ethan and Dylan and all my Kiefer family and the Campbells I have left in this world. Thank you all for making my life the wonder it is to live.

(K)

18 months already?

Are you kidding me? Is it even possible? What an amazing 18 months it's been already. Kian has grown into such an adorable, loveable, strong-willed little guy. It's hard to imagine that at such a young age he's able to do so much. He's talking up a storm, including 4-5 word sentences. The most often heard phrase at our house is, "I want more, please." At least he's using his manners, right? We started keeping a list of words he uses for his upcoming wellness visit to make sure he's on track and were over 70, I believe.

I recall when we decided to have another child. We thought it would be a breeze like Jackson, but only to find out that we had to wait awhile. Maybe it was our sign that our children shouldn't be so close in age. Whatever it may be, we're sure glad he's here now. My pregnancy was not all that desirable given the ups and downs along the way. At one point I was hospitalized and had to have some tests run. While in the hospital, I had an extensive ultrasound. This is what we saw...


I suppose he was just trying to tell us that he was fine in there and would hold on. That was also the day we found out he was going to be a boy. Oh, talk about a bitter-sweet moment. I was convinced up to that point that it was a girl.

BIRTH

To this day, he still has that same little smirk on his face when he sleeps. Oh, how I wish he would sleep through the night, but I suppose one day he'll get there. The past two nights he's slept through. Maybe he's onto something. Only time will tell.


THREE MONTHS
His outfit says "I rule". And that he does. He's such a ham. He absolutely loves to laugh and to make you laugh as well. Check out that drool, or maybe it was spit up. He produced both at great volumes. I vividly remember not being able to eat dairy products for around 6 months. I mean not even cheese...a staple in my diet. Oh well, it's all worth it in the end. I was so determined to be able to nurse him that I would have done anything to be successful. Heck, I still do. What a great experience it is to be able to feed your child. Even though I was his sole provider for over 6 months and continue to this day, I would not trade that for anything. He's such a Momma's baby and I love every minute of it! Even though he's been going to his Daddy the past few weeks, we are a long way away from being equal. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

SIX MONTHS

Check out those fat rolls! He had them in every location. The back of his neck, in between joints, on his fingers...everywhere! I love our little "chunky monkey"!!

NINE MONTHS

I am not sure what he's eating here, but we're guaranteed to get a show each time he eats. I can't imagine how much money we have spent on wipes to this day. We sure use a lot of them.

ONE YEAR

The first birthday shot. He fell trying to reach to me getting out of his crib on the day of his birthday party. I mean, the nap just before everyone arrived. 30 minutes later he ended up with a shiner we'll never forget. He had a great time that day. He wasn't too sure of the presents, but enjoyed the cupcakes!

We went out to Friendship Gardens in Plainfield to take some photos for his first birthday. At the time he did this thing where he would crinkle his nose and breathe in and out really quickly. Again, it was too cute.

FIFTEEN MONTHS

One night the boys and I were playing under the blanket on our bed. Whatever it is made of sure creates a lot of static. This was pre-first haircut so we kept playing with it to make his hair stand up all over. We were also playing with flash lights which is cheap entertainment that lasts for a while.

EIGHTEEN MONTHS

A week or so ago we went out to play for a while since the weather was cooperative. Yes, we let our children play in the steet with us. Have you ever tried to play soccer on an incline? Not an option in our area. We block the street with adults and let the kids play inbetween. It works for now.

So, needless to say, we love Kian dearly. He has more personality than I would like for him to have at this time, but then again he has some serious shoes to fill. He's doing more at his age that Jackson was and at this pace we know we are in for it. We will continue to love him every day and look forward to all that "luvin" he gives in return. Oh, that little "mmm" sound he makes when he gives kisses is too precious. And when he pats his fingers on the back of your neck when giving hugs melts my heart every time.

So Kian, here's to the future. May you be happy, healthy and as successful as possible! (This is where we would toast at home, sippy cups and all.)

until next time...lc

Making Cupcakes for the Easter Party

Today the kids have their Easter Party at daycare. We signed up to bring a treat and decided to make cupcakes. Yesterday on our way home from Michelle's house, I told Jackson that he was in charge of making them. I don't think he anticipated how much effort is put into making something in it's totality. He's usually in and out of the kitchen, or we do it together making it go much faster. I measured out all the ingredients and let him have at it. Of course there are a couple of things that he is not allowed to do, like removing the outlet cover to plug in the mixer, breaking open the eggs completely, and putting things into the oven. Other than that, he was on his own. I think he ended up using about 3 wipes to clean all the chocolate off of himself and about 13 to get the icing off. The point is, he is so proud to have done all this solo. And, I was able to cook dinner while he made cupcakes. I once thought our kitchen was a good size, but once you put 3 people in there and try to do two things at once, it sure feels a lot smaller. We need a kitchen with an island in our next house for sure!

Here are some photos of the fun we had. Enjoy! We sure did!



Kian didn't know what to do with the beater. He looked cross-eyed at it for a minute, but he quickly figure out that chocolate was involved and dug right in!


After dinner we decorated. Note to all: NEVER let your children touch food coloring! I ended up mixing the icing and putting it on the cupcakes. Jackson was responsible for putting the eggs / jelly beans on them.


In true fashion, we donned some bunny ears and had a little more fun. The catch was that you had to "hop" everywhere when wearing the ears. Oh what fun that was!


When all was nearly said and done, we ran out of jelly beans and had one iced cupcake left over. If you were at Jackson's 4th birthday party you will remember that I shoved a cupcake in his face. (In all fairness, he shoved one back into mine!) All of a sudden I hear, "remember this mommy?" When I looked over this is what I saw...

What a "Goofy Goober"!!!!!

When I originally uploaded the pictures last night and caught a glimpse of this photo, I thought Jackson looked a little like Kian. After further review and consideration, I have come to the conclusion that the mess on his face is the only resemblance. If you've ever seen Kian eat, you'd completely understand!


All in all, we had a great time. Jackson loves to help out in the kitchen and I'm just as happy to clean up his messes.

until next time...lc