Lifelines

I was lucky enough to catch this moment between my oldest and youngest.
It wasn’t staged–she really is just loved all the time and by everyone.

Lucky, lucky Luxie.

Chas went to his first concert last night and you will NEVER guess who he saw!
Black Eyed Peas?
Nope.
Someone Else Really Boyishly Cool?
Nope.
JUSTIN BIEBER?
YEP!

His good friend Adrienne really, really, REALLY wanted to go see this boy (along with every other pre-teenish girl in world) and she invited him along.
To my surprise, he actually went and honestly didn’t even seem all that bothered by it!

(Though he said this morning that he and Colin were truly the only male beings in attendance.
He also said he thought he’d suffered permanent hearing loss.
Despite this, he still had a good time!)

I managed to corner him before he left because he looked so handsome and grown-up.

Mamas of little boys, listen good.
This happens before you know it, I swear.
One minute you’re playing Buzz to his Woody and breaking your feet on Lego pieces strewn all over the stairs and the next minute, you’re eyeball to eyeball with him, wondering where in the hell time went.

Time is a thief.
Remember that.

Here’s my gorgeous, half-grown, previous Buzz and Woody fan, heading for fourteen this winter.
Good. Grief.
Someone make it STOP!

***And thanks to Jenny and Adrienne for taking him along! He had a great time and it was definitely an eye-opening experience for him. He never knew girls could scream like that!

I initially took these photos because I thought Creux was sweet cramming these grapes into his mouth.
He’s very food-oriented, this one.
A big ‘nacker.

But then I got to really sort of looking at the pictures I took and man, I feel like I captured a glimpse of who he “used” to be.
The baby part of him that only shines through here and there.

Creux was never really a baby, in the sense that he’s always, always been super concerned with keeping up with the big kids.
He was walking at just nine months, running by ten.
The kid can ride a bike like no other I’ve seen his age, he’s going to be one hell of a soccer player, and he’s just all around…big.

Sometimes we forget that he’s just two still.
He seems like he’s four most days and that’s not an exaggeration.
It’s only when he starts to meltdown that it triggers for me…he’s just a baby, really.
He’s just a little boy.

In this photo, he looks his age to me.
His pudgy little fingers intent on grape plucking, his big fist clutching hard to the stem, the concentration etched on his sweet face as he makes his selection.

I just love it all.

I just love this one of him.

In my bed is the sweetest of things.

A dream come true.

Is this our final Family of Six photo?
I keep wondering that, every time we group up these days.
Because sooner or later, I’m going to post one and that’ll be that.
FOREVER.

The next big thing is Greer’s 5th birthday which falls on the 13th.
AFTER my due date.
So, if our last Family of Six photo is taken at that point, I don’t think I’ll be smiling cheerfully for the camera.
I will likely be sedated and straight-jacketed.

Hoping this one’s it!
(Fingers crossed. I have begun my 39th week today and am feeling every bit of it!)

Yes, yes, I know, I know.
The crowds.
Were you all thinking I’d truly combust down there after I mentioned my intent to try Red, White and Boom this year?

Oh, we had a GREAT night!
Traffic was insane getting into the area but Jenny’s husband, Kevin, supplied us with a nice little VIP parking pass for the garage in the building he works in so we zipped right on in (well, after waiting in downtown traffic for over an hour).

Kevin had also, at 7:00 this morning, nailed into the ground a massive tarp to secure our “real estate” in a very prime location in front of his office.
Niiiiiice.

So we were pretty much golden down there.

AND, I had access to a very nice and clean bathroom in the building which was perhaps the biggest treat of all.
This mama doesn’t do those portable jobbies.
In desperation, I’d just let my bladder explode.
Shrug.
Bet THAT would get this baby’s attention!

Sadly, no fireworks of my own going on.

(Carla, thanks for asking and no, I was not successful in arguing my case. I even told him that you said to “Man up” and he just laughed. Sick, isn’t he?)

Happy Almost 4th, everyone!!

P.S. Concerning the red mohawks on the younger boys and the scarlet streaks for Greer, this is Rhyse’s thing. He BEGGED me to find that colored gel two minutes before we were walking out the door and I thought I’d thrown it out but luckily…I didn’t.
And honestly, those two (Rhyse and Creux) REALLY kind of work that red ‘hawk, don’t you think?
Strangely, it fits their personalities :)

P.P.S The shirts weren’t pink! YAY!!!!