Three-Year-Old Theology

A couple of gems from Casen today...


This morning, while getting ready and watching our daily dose of PBS Kids:

Casen: Yea! Super Why is on, so that means Dinosaur Train is next!
Scott: How do you know?
Casen Because Dinosaur Train always comes after Super Why. That's just the way God made it.

(Why, no, I have no idea where he got that phrase. I'm sure I've never used that as a pat answer to some of his questions.)



This afternoon while playing with his Veggie Tales nativity, he graced one of the wise men with Woody's cowboy hat. His explanation? "Since the wise men brought presents for baby Jesus, God gave them a cowboy hat." Naturally!

Keaton's First Birthday

In honor of 12 months on Nov. 12, 12 things I love about our youngest...

- His smile. I dare anyone to see it and not smile back.
- Lately, he has started singing with me when I'm rocking him to sleep. Kind of a moan/hum, but melts me.
- His speedy crawl
- The pairs of teeth marks on the side of the crib. Only on the inside, not the top, since he has no top teeth.
- Big, open-mouth kisses on the cheek
- His admiration and interest in everything Casen-related
- On the other hand, his assertion of annoyance when Casen gets too interested in him, expressed as a shrill "Enh!"
- His love of bananas and bread. Any attempt to eat another food is immediately abandoned if either of those two are within sight.
- Big, blue eyes
- Love of bath time
- His hoarse, 80-year-old smoker voice
- And of course, his unwavering commitment to keeping his thumb in his mouth at all times.






Keaton's birthday was small-scale because a.) he's a second child and b.) he has been sick for three days and we had to cancel the friends who were coming in concern for their own health. Still, Da Don and Gammy Sue were in attendance, cupcakes were eaten, presents were opened, and our one-year-old was celebrated.

For the full album of cake and presents pics, visit http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091862&id=54604329&l=4429a716a1.

Summer Summary

After a nearly two-month blogging backlog, I'm going to do an overview of our summer fun and then jump right into the beginning of fall!

In June, we (Casen) took a few swim lessons at my parents house (just a representative pool pic, I didn't actually get any during swim lessons),



went to a Ranger game,




celebrated Grandpa Bud's 90th birthday (Scott's grandpa),



and went with my extended family to Red River, stomach-bug infested though it was.



In July, we celebrated the 4th,



dressed like cows to get free food at Chick Fil A,



spent four days with our family of four in three different places (Scott and Wendy in Chicago, Casen in North Richland Hills with my parents and Keaton in Abilene with Gammy Sue),



and went to a Ranger game with friends (side note: why is Keaton yellow?).





And in August we slowed down considerably! But, we still had fun





A Start of September post is coming soon. Try to contain your excitement!

Brother bonding

What? Forced posed photography is bonding!

OK, one glimpse at slightly more real life. Note Casen's determined, intent look and Keaton's slightly panicked look.

Summer Snapshots

Cowboy evening in Red River




Kid-free fun in Chi-town





Keaton loves eating from this self-feeder thing. This was peaches, I think. The next night was a huge mess with some avacado, but he loved it.



Snow cone silliness (We're not going to discuss where else this lovely blue color showed up a couple days later.)

Trash Talk

Scott and Casen were so excited to see each other after a week apart that they have spent the morning trash talking...

Scott: I'm going to dunk you like a basketball.

Casen: I'm going to squirt juice on you.

Scott: I'm going to smack you like a baseball.

Casen: I'm going to put a piece of paper on you.

Scott: I'm going to spread you like peanut butter.

Casen: I'm going to put you in the computer so we can look at you.

Scott: I'm going to ring you like a doorbell.

Casen: I'm going to walk you outside.

Scott: I'm going to slice you like cheese.

Casen: I'm going to put cheese that you don't like in your tummy. And you'll eat it all.

I think Casen picked up on the general idea pretty quick!

My dad sent me this photo, noting that my grandmother (far right) was in a similar place in life to me -- 28 years old with an almost 3-year-old and a baby. The little boy is my dad and she is holding my aunt Peggy. (Uncle Tim didn't come for a few more years.)

My grandfather is on the far left. He died of a heart attack about 7 or 8 years after this photo was taken, leaving my grandmother with three kids (ages 2, 8 and 10) to raise alone.

In between them are my grandfather's parents, and (I'm guessing) his grandmother.

Photographic highlights of the past six weeks

Just a cute shot of our 3-year-old


Scott and Casen on the field at a t-ball game


The thumb sucker


Casen and classmates performing at Young Children's World end-of-year program


Just general cuteness in the highchair


Keaton is a big fan of hanging out in the backyard.


They both are, actually!