All Around Boy Update

JACKSON

Jack had a moment in FHE a while ago that I loved so much! Some of the treasured moments of parenting come from times when your kids say or do something that's just genuinely hilarious to you. Like you can't prevent yourself from laughing with them.

We were playing Simon Says and Cameron had just gone and gotten Jack and Ben to laugh by doing things like, "Simon says pat your bum!" So, Jack was riding on a silly high when his turn came. He got up in front of us and I saw the moment when an idea entered his head that was so funny he couldn't even say the words. He was laughing so hard and kept trying to say something but could only get out, "Simon...(hard laughter) Simon says...(hard laughter)" Something about seeing him in that situation just made me bust up!

Also, in true Jack fashion, here are some places he fell asleep this month.

 

I know he's wearing the exact same outfit in all the photos, but they were two different days. Maybe it's the shirt...

BENSON

 I am loving this kid's imagination. He's gotten into telling stories lately and I absolutely love it. I egg him on and ask him questions and he just keeps keeps it coming.

I managed to get it on film today:

We have been focusing on honesty this month. Ben and Jack still don't quite get the concept of a lie and they really just equate truth telling to following rules in general. So, every night for a week I went into their rooms after they had gotten into bed and asked the boys if they could tell me times in the day when they had either told the truth or told a lie. At least three of the nights Ben's reply was, "Well. Well, last night I told a lie. I just (looks at me harder to make sure this really sinks in) I just said the word stupid." Every time I'd explain, "Well, that's not a kind word, but what I mean is..." but yet again the next night I'd hear the same confession of "stupid," and finally on the last night I just started laughing as soon as he started and he finished his whole confession with his devilishly handsome grin.

And as part of the month the boys worked on memorizing a William Shakespeare quote and let me tell you, you should all teach your children to quote William Shakespeare because this is priceless:

(!)

CAMERON

I'm realizing I don't have many pictures of Cameron individually lately...because he's not always home! Don't cry don't cry don't cry don't cry don't cry!

Well, that doesn't mean I don't have a report on the cute rascal. I volunteered in his classroom for the first time last week and it was delightful. Cameron was so excited/shy about me being there. Mrs. Tyson had me sit at a station where I got to rotate through two small groups of kids playing a rhyming game. The kids were so cute to work with and I absolutely loved watching Cameron in his classroom. I hope to do that monthly. 

One of Cameron's best friends at school is Abdulrahman (Cazoontight, I know). He's a really outgoing kid and every time I've interacted with him I've been blown away by how comfortable he is talking to adults and kids alike. He also seems to be a really nice kid. Basically, he is the perfect companion for someone as shy as Cameron. I'm pleased as punch.

I also had my first parent-teacher conference ever this week. Big. Kid. Stuff, I'm doing here in Georgia. Really though, I felt like such an adult. Ha! He's doing great and he's a delight to have in class. :-) Always respectful to the teacher and his classmates. I know he's a great kid, but it's nice to know what he's like when he's not around us too.

He loves coloring and lately has gotten into writing words, which is pretty fun.

SPENCER

Spencer is just as great and darling as he was a week or two ago when I posted. Pretty much just short of pooping rainbows. ;-)

He's not full on crawling yet, but he definitely gets around now. We need to get a baby gate.

His latest:

And then there's

JAYCE FACE

The sultan of swat!

The titan of terror!

The colussus of clout!

The king of crash!

The great...

Jayce Porter. :-)

(I promise the boppy isn't his usual pillow, it just always seems to be on hand in a bind.)

The man has weird hours and normally works 6 days a week. Plus he's never really "off." He's got topics to study up on, podcasts to listen to, research to do, things to plan, sleep to make up, and then he's also a Dad and husband extraordinaire to boot.

We went to the temple Saturday morning. With the closest temple being an hour and a half away and with Spencer nursing every three hours, I was just planning on not going until Spencer stops nursing and focusing on genealogy for a while. But Jayce assured me we could make it work and really wanted me to have the chance to go too. 

So, we took a leaf out of the Nardone's book and decided to go as a family and swap. I'd watch the boys and walk them around the temple grounds while Jayce did stuff inside and then we'd trade. Well, of course things like this don't ever go according to plan. Of course we left about 30 minutes later than we wanted to, and then we found out on the way that they were going to close the temple early (like six hours early) for the Women's Broadcast that night, and then we found out that there were four live endowments in the session we planned for me to go to so even getting there forty minutes before the session I just barely squeezed in. This temple is tiny. 

But Jayce sucked it up after only getting like four hours of sleep and watched the kids while I got to go do temple work. This man is top notch.

He also had a lunch date with Cameron at school this week which was adorable and even when he doesn't get in until the wee hours he makes a point to get up and take Cameron to school so that he can have some one-on-one time with him.

He has also been able to rise to the occasion at work numerous times even though he's an intern. He's doing great and we love him.