Laraway Family

So, my Momma came to visit us for a week and arrived on St. Patrick's Day. One morning she was playing "Kids on Stage" with the boys, and as usual, Chas was distracted getting up and down. It's a charades kind of game, and the largest number you can spin is an 8. Well, Grandma wrangled Chas back to the board to spin for his turn, and he spun an 8! She said, "Wow, Chas, eight is a big number!" To this, he replied, "No it's not. A billion is a big number... or infinity."

We had a great time with her here, and though she was feeling awful with a cold that started a couple of days into her vacation, just her presence was enough for the boys. In fact, after she left, they said they wished she could live with us. I asked Chas "why," and he said because he loved her. Anthony added he wished all of our relatives could live with us. Seeing as Daddy is on medicine for blood pressure, I don't see this happening any time soon. Back to the vacation- Momma dove head first into our world here with three young boys. It was Friday when she arrived which is the coveted Pizza Night for the boys. They ask every day leading to Friday what day it is wishing it was already Friday. We eat pizza on the living room floor on blankets for a picnic, they get Caffeine Free Diet Coke with their pizza, we clean up, and then we play Duck, Duck, Goose. Grandma had fun running around the house and getting chased.
The next morning, she got to see them play their last basketball game of the season at the YMCA. There are 3 games- 6 teams- playing at once in the gym, and she was surrounded by activity, noise, and people under 4 feet tall. (ReRe would've been in heaven actually being taller than others.) She mentioned how she'd forgotten this world! After basketball, we did some grocery shopping and prepared for dinner with friends. Amy, Ryan, Jacob, Luke and Adam came over that night for dinner, and again, she was surrounded by the constant activity and noise. Now, noise is not said here in a negative way but more as a reality. The noise is fun, full of life and created by children entertaining- but it's still noise. She seemed to enjoy herself, dinner and the company. Then, it was up early on Sunday for church and to the park after for a picnic and play. John D. Morgan park is one of many great parks here in San Jose, and it's fun for adults, too. Momma and I played on the slides and see-saw and watched the boys with their friends that came with us.
It was after the weekend that Momma got her cold. She hung in there, though, and it didn't stop her from helping me. I got to run my errands that involved just popping in places for one thing, preparing my Preparedness kit for an earthquake, getting pictures of the boys taken, and still playing in between. The boys missed her when she napped, I missed her when she left the room, and it was just so nice having her with us in our life and world here. Now she'll have an idea of what it's like here in Cali. The weather was rainy when she wasn't feeling well and shining when she felt better. Perfect. It wasn't nice leaving her for her flight home, but we know she had enough fun to come back! ;)

As for us here, we're about to start soccer this Saturday, the boys love Bible School on Thursdays, we keep discovering new parks, and we're not looking forward to Daddy leaving again for China and Dublin, Ireland. But, we hope his travel will at some point die down.

Anthony is getting huge! He's 46" tall, and he looks like he grows more every week. Since it's Lent, he keeps telling us what he'll give up every day, and they are REALLY good choices! His packet for Kindergarten has been turned in, and he's excited to start all day school in the fall.

Chas is a nut. He's 40.5" tall, and he's always trying to do what his brother can do. He's almost to the point where he can do the monkey bars by himself, and after 6 months of practicing, he can jump on one foot. He and Starks have a special relationship, and no one can make Starks laugh quite like Chas. He loves this role more than almost anything else.

Starks is 9.5 months old, and he's finally over 16 pounds! In fact, he looks like a chunk with all of these fat rolls and pudge, yet we're reminded he really isn't when we dress him! He's doing what all of the other guys did- gain weight at this age and do it well. His gums are at maximum stretch with those teeth bulging underneath. I can't believe they are not poking through yet, but they aren't. He's doing well with teething, and I hope they come out this week before Daddy leaves. Starks' hair is getting lighter, his smile broader, and his hiney more dimpled. He's SO cute and SUCH a love bug. (we have no idea how that happened)

Anyway, life is good here, and we invite all relatives and friends to come out at ANY TIME! (Call first as Russ may be international)