Rites of Passage

Man. These past couple of weeks, our little boys have been hit pretty hard with just a big old nasty cold of some kind of another. You know, the kind that involves all sorts of coughing and snot and fevers and ear aches and body aches - requiring vaporizors, many hours of books and t.v., and pretty much all manners of lethargy.

It's been yuck-o, and dear little Kaden has been hit the hardest. The two littles just have some runny nose remnants, but Kade is still fighting an ear ache and coughing fits. No fun.

In the midst of this yuck -- we've obviously been cut off from the world for several days in a row. We've scaled things waaaay back and have just laid low. I'm actually okay with these arrangements once in awhile. Life just sort of doesn't give you a choice - you have to stop and chill....and just be lazy with your loved ones.

So, in a way - it's been good.

In the meantime....

The wee-est member of the Booker boys has hit a few milestones these past few days. For starters:

we've kissed that baby blue carseat good-bye! Mr. Rancey Pants is now facing forward and sitting front and center just like his big brothers!

He has also started helping his Mama up on the kitchen counter just like Kaden & Jesse used to do when they were little (and STILL do....just standing on the floor or on a chair beside me now!). From the time my boys were tiny, I've always had them up on the counter with me helping me with whatever I'm cooking.

Hands down, Kaden was my neatest little helper. Jesse was very...ah...shall we say..."exuberant" at this age. And Ransom, falls a bit in the middle. We almost lost the entire bowl of salad, and about 55 pieces of carrot went into his mouth while about 2 went into the bowl....but overall, he is thoroughly enjoying himself and his "big boy" role as helper, and so am I!

He is my laundry boy, as well. Often, the wet gets pulled out and the dry gets thrown back in, but, it's all good!

Ransom has also acquired his very first pair of wellie boots. He's not really sure what to think of them yet, but because the big boys always wear theirs, he wants to wear his, too!

...even though they're a tad too big, a little hard to walk in, and they make him spitting mad because he falls over in them all. the. time. He still likes to wear them all over.

And finally, Rancey has begun crafting in the kitchen with us while we do our schoolwork in the morning. These little stampers are marvelous in the fact that he cannot eat them as he so loves to chomp on his crayons, and they make very minimal mess - which I quite love!

AND...if they get chucked on the floor - which they often do - which we're working on - which is not my favorite - which the big boys find hilarious - which makes him want to throw them more ----- the stamper hides back up inside, and no mess takes place on my floor. Brilliant. Fantastic inventions, I say!

So....

Much sickness has abounded.
But many milestones have taken place, as well:

~ A big boy carseat
~ Cooking with Mommy
~ "Helping" with the laundry
~ No more morning naps and crafting in the kitchen
~ And wellie boots for puddle hopping...or falling into...

He is a big boy indeed!