School Picture Day on Friday...

Marcus came up from the basement screaming on Monday night.  It took me a bit to take him seriously until Kjell noticed some swelling.  Apparently, he made a tower on top of the pool table and then tried to jump over it and fell.  On his face.  Poor kid...at least he'll look like the toughest kid in the class photo!



Marcus' Black Eye and Crazy Hair



William Wetherill Age 18 Months

We knew right from the beginning that Wether has a big personality and a lot of opinions. His clear, light-blue eyes and larger than life cheeks affords him plenty of attention as a toddler and no doubt he’ll grow into a handsome young man. Kjell blessed him as a newborn with a “strong mind and a strong body” .

Marcus holding Wether.

One thing that Wether learned at a particularly young age was to sing. Months ago I would often hear snippets of the alphabet or “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” but almost wouldn’t believe my ears. Since then, his vocabulary has increased remarkably and he can sing whole songs. He’ll repeat any word you say and then later use it in the correct context. He says “Tank you” every time I give him something, a habit he developed from listening to his brothers.” When he’s not talking, he’s babbling, yelling, singing, throwing a tantrum, laughing, or fussing. Wether is not a quiet child unless he is being mischievious, at which point not a sound is made (unless you count the plop of miscellanea being dropped into the toilet, the sucking of toothpaste out of the tube or the swish of the entire roll of toilet paper unraveled – he likes bathrooms).

WW does not like to be left out of the action. If I set a lunch out for Marcus and Holden at their picnic table there had better be a spot for Wether or I’ll hear about it. It does not go unnoticed when the big boys get ice cream cones – he wants one too! Whereas Holden is content to play by himself, Wether will follow a pack of kids around like a puppy, banging on doors to be let in or wanting a turn at whatever they are doing. I have a feeling that when he is a little older he’ll be the leader of his own pack.

Eating pizza in the kitchen.

Wether is a runner. It is difficult to go anywhere that is not fully enclosed unless I want a lot of exercise. Too many embarrassing times, a neighbor has brought him home soaking wet from playing in their sprinkler. At church, any chance he gets he bolts to the front of the chapel and climbs up on the stand. Did I mention that he is fast? I may have been on the Connecticut State Track Team, but pregnant me in 3- inch heels is no match for a determined Wether (and he is always determined). Before he was even walking, at playgrounds while other babies were sitting at the mother’s feet, Wether would crawl to the top of the highest stairs. Now he goes down the slides with a big grin on his face.

Wether will run to anyone with open arms. I have no problems leaving him at nursery, the gym daycare or other people’s homes as long as there are other kids and/or a lot of toys. At home, the playroom, his brothers, and Baby Einstein can interest Wether for hours. That combined with the fact that he is a very good eater (he loves to come up to anyone who’s eating, open his mouth wide, and say “ahhhhh”. This has gotten him many French fries at Seven Peaks), and a fantastic sleeper really makes him an easy child. Plus there is the laugh factor. WW makes us laugh constantly with his many antics, including but not limited to his dancing, tongue noises, his escape artistry (did he find a way outside again?), his acting out what he wants (he usually leaves no question. What could you possible want by pointing into the baby backpack and trying to climb into it?), and just being plain adorable.

It’s hard to imagine life before Wether. He’s a born leader with the potential to influence many lives. He’s a ray of sunshine to anyone he encounters.

Holden Kenneth Age 3

Holden playing in the backyard.

Holden has come a long way this summer. He was a cause for concern for a while with his anxiety about going places even if it was to go to the pool (I’d have to chase him around the house to get him into the car and drag him crying into 7 Peaks). Holden was still acting up in nursery, sometimes hitting and pushing, also rolling on the floor, making screeching noises and wanting to constantly touch and “crash” into things or people. I did get him tested for Sensory Processing Disorder (he may be hyposensitive) and in speech, cognitive, social , emotional, and motor skills (a delay in some areas). Even with his challenges, Holden is truly a joy to have in our family. He is making progress in all areas so rapidly and shows strengths in so many other areas, that I waste little time worrying about him and concentrate on getting him up to speed in his weak areas. Although he observes, carries on conversations, and basically talks to anyone who will listen, abstract ideas are difficult for him. Still, his ability to read emotion in facial expressions and other cues is remarkable. He often will look at me or others and ask “are you OK?” just from a slight frown or other body language. Holden gets concerned when others are not happy, even in his books. He regularly offers encouragement “you’re doing great!” or “you did it!”, compliments food “mmmm, de-LISH-ious” , and says “I love you mommy” .

A giant puzzle!

Holden loves to construct. Train tracks, bridges, towers, and cities are constantly being made in our home. Blocks, legos, and train sets are his usual medium, but nothing is sacred when it comes to creating (a fork across a bowl is a bridge, a melon baller spun in a circle is a helicopter, a hole in the ground is a tunnel). Another of Holden’s interests is puzzles. He spent weeks watching Marcus do puzzles, content to sit and watch for up to an hour (this is a pattern of Holden’s – to observe, observe, observe, and then finally do it himself at which point he’s usually above average). Now Holden does several puzzles a day, up to 60 pieces on his own and 100 pieces with a little help. His current favorite is the “Utah Puzzle” (really a map of the United States) that Kjell patiently constructs with him on a regular basis. If they keep up this pattern he’ll know all of the states (right now he knows Maine, Florida, Utah, Texas, Virginia, and Oregon).

Holden also enjoys “hiking in the mountains”, helping me cook or bake, going in daddy’s “green car” and playing outside (mostly in sand or dirt). He’s a very independent little boy and can be quite self-entertaining at times but rarely engages with other kids his age (although he plays with Marcus and Wether frequently). At first I worried about this, but I’ve come to realize that he’s not a social pariah, just an independent soul (like his mom and dad were at his age). Still, he’s apt in sharing, taking turns, and will play with any kid, any age, any time if they are willing to wrestle with him, his all time favorite activity. And yes, Holden now loves to go to the pool!

The world will always be interesting to Holden. Much like his father, his ability to focus and concentrate combined with his compassionate heart will lead to great accomplishments in the home, workplace, and mission field.

Marcus John Age 5

Marcus is now 5 years old and is constantly figuring out his world. A few times a day he’ll come to me with his theories. For instance, yesterday he said “I know! A popsicle has ice, juice, and a stick!” Right you are. Many conclusions bring a smile to my lips or make me laugh out loud like when he theorized that while I get bigger and bigger (seeing as I’m pregnant) then eventually I’ll be “huge” like daddy and then daddy will become small like me. Nope, not how it works but good try. Marcus also likes to tell stories to Holden that begin with “When I was 4….”

Marcus coloring at the kitchen counter.

Although Marcus doesn’t engage in pretend play very often he is almost riveted by anything that flies, shoots, or drives. His favorite toys as of late are an airplane launched by a rubberband, an airsoft gun, and a battery driven motorcycle that drives comically slow (which doesn’t stop him from declaring “look how fast I’m going!”). At the waterpark, Marcus rarely gets bored although it is a frequent destination. The wave pool, lazy river, and slides are his favorite. I can pretty much get Marcus to do anything, like run to his bed in the middle of the day to take a nap, if I promise a camping trip, fires and s’mores, or sleeping in a tent. Every once in a while Kjell will even sleep in the backyard with the boys. Lastly, Marcus loves crafts. Thriving on praise, he will color, cut and glue all afternoon as long as I am close by to sing compliments every few minutes. He is quite proud of his artistic creations (as am I).

First day of Kindergarten.
Marcus is wearing a Transformer backpack.

Marcus started Kindergarten this week (he loves it); he also got a loose tooth and learned how to do a flip on the trampoline. Soccer began too, although not his forte (his favorite part of soccer? Treats after the games). While 4 minutes of soccer can leave Marcus winded and exhausted, he can hike for miles and miles and often requests to “go hiking in the mountains” (he’s already got Stewart Falls, Squaw Peak, and Tillamook Head under his belt). Always considerate and socially aware (Transformers are the coolest, Thomas the Train is out), Marcus loves to play with friends and can be impressionable and sensitive. Still, he’s got a good sense of right and wrong and knows that it is not right to be unkind or when others are mean. This makes for a great big brother who for the most part interacts quite well with Holden and Wether. Marcus was so insistent that mommy has a girl baby in her belly that when we found out it was a boy his reaction was “no it’s not!” He’s come to terms with the fact that another little brother is coming and he asks me questions like “can the baby sleep in my bed?” and “the baby will be so little and cute. Can I hold him?”

As Marcus becomes more independent I can only look forward to a great future for him. He’s got the tools and gifts to become a great man and really enjoy the ride along the way.

And the Ultrasound Says...

Oh Oregon

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The boys love having their own suitcases and backpacks.

The Oregon coast just seems to get more beautiful each year. We packed in a lot of adventures on our latest trip, including many trips to the beach. The morning after we arrived, we made a beeline for the beach with Kjell's brother Tryg even though it was cloudy and cold. Marcus and I splashed in the water for quite a while and Marcus caught his first wave on the boogie board! Mike and Melissa Smith and their kids later joined us for some playing in the sand. On our way back to the car, the kids rode in the choo-choo train.

Thursday, we headed to Tillamook where we visted the Air Museum and the Tillamook Cheese Factory. The museum is housed in a former military blimp hangar, called "Hangar B", which is the largest clear-span wooden structure in the world. Tillamook Air Museum has been described as "one of the country's top private World War II aircraft collections". At the cheese factory we observed the machinery, ate Tillamook ice cream cones, and sampled the cheese. Mmmmmm!


Friday we headed to Ecola State Park to enjoy the gorgeous views and go on a short hike to Indian Beach. The hike was a mile and a half, which both Marcus and Holden did on their own. The kids loved splashing in the tidepools and climbing on the rocks at Indian Beach. After a long nap, we went to the Smiths for dinner and s'mores.


Tillamook Head was on the agenda for Saturday morning. Our trip coincided with our friends Debbie and Brandon Rowley who were visiting the Oregon Coast from Washington. We all went hiking together (but first Kjell and I went to garage sales with the kids...I found lots of puzzles and micro machines). The hike was gorgeous and a wonderful time to be with our friends, except that I forgot that it was so long! Still, Ellie (5) and Marcus (5) did the entire hike by themselves and entertained us with their antics ("no cutting", "that's my stick", "let's tackle our dads", etc.). The hike was 5.5 miles long - Tryg carried Holden, Kjell carried Wether and Brandon carried baby Tommy. That night Kjell and I went on a date while Grandma and Uncle Tryg watched the boys. We went boogie boarding in the ocean, ate a nice dinner, and took a stroll in Seaside.


When I woke up Sunday morning I found Wether sitting on Grandpa's lap stealing his breakfast, which seemed to be their daily routine. We went to church and had Grandma take quite a few family photos at the beach and in the backyard.  Kjell visited his Great Aunt Erna and Great Uncle Perry.


On our last full day we went to the beach in the morning with Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Tryg. That evening we went into Seaside with Aunt Emma-Kate, baby cousin Desmond, and Uncle Tryg. Marcus and Holden went on the carousel, bumper cars, and swings at the beach. They also shared their first Elephant Ear. That night we packed and had a short night sleep since we left at 3am for the airport!

Our Front Yard

One thing keeping me busy this summer is the landscaping of our front yard. So far we've torn up the concrete, had the gas/utility lines marked, rough graded, dug trenches for the sprinklers, and begun to lay the pavers. We still need to install sprinklers, add topsoil, lay sod and plant vegetation.

The boys have enjoyed the noise, machinery and mess. It seems the moment they step outside they are covered in dust. They are very well-trained in using the back door and taking their shoes off (I'm still working on Kjell). Wether begs to go outside all day everyday. Eventually I let him outside where he becomes filthy within minutes playing with sticks, muds, puddles, sand, gravel, and dirt. I spray him down with the hose before he's allowed back inside (he doesn't mind) and then he immediately cries to go back outside. We visit our neighbors the Whites often and admire their grass, shade, plants, general lack of chaos, etc.

One reason we decided to lay pavers in place of colored stamped concrete (besides the obvious aesthetic appeal) was because I found beautiful tumbled pavers on KSL for a fraction of the price. In May, Kjell and his brother drove two dump trucks about an hour south to pick up the pavers. I drove down later with our trailer to pick up the last bunch. The kids have been playing on these huge mounds of pavers in our side yard all summer, delighting in building roads and castles. Still, now that the pavers are being laid, there are not enough! The price to buy more is astronomical but we were able to find a close match at a more reasonable price. Let's hope it all comes together in the end.

Photos: Marcus watching the graders remove debris and level the yard. This fascinated him for over an hour each night. Also, Kjell rented a bobcat to dig trenches for the sprinkler pipes underneath where the pavers were to be installed. When asked why we had several emergency vehicles in our cul-de-sac, Kjell told them he had struck a vein of natural gas. Whoops.