Latergrams: March - April 2016

Half a year since this guy joined our family! Now he is entertaining us with the cutest laugh you've ever heard and "blah blah blah" babbles.  #sixmonthsold #archerbythemonth #halfbirthday

This winter has been the mildest of our three years here in Chicago. That said, I will be happy to take a break from putting a bunch of layers on everyone, including myself, when spring decides to stay!

Just enough snow to make a "snow toddler" named Kevin. #notcomplaining #ourmildestwinter #BFFs 

Ellis made sure we didn't forget to celebrate his half birthday today! Everyone got 1 1/2 lemon bars, and we sang half of the birthday song before he blew out to 7 1/2 candles. #bigdeal #whynotcelebrate#halfbirthday

Sam is still completely terrified of strangers and "bad guys"...so I tried to prepare him for the handyman that was coming today: "There's a guy coming to fix our dryer, and he's going to come in our house, but he's not a bad guy. He's a good guy named Rob." Sam sat quietly for a minute and said, "...like, Rob a bank or something?" "Oh, no," I said. "He's definitely not the kind of guy that would rob a bank. He's just a regular guy who won't rob us. He'll just fix our dryer. In fact, his real name is actually not Rob. It's Robert." Sam: "What? Robber?!?" #goodtrymom #robberinourhouse

Just heard singing out my kitchen window and realized it was time for the pre-game national anthem. #ohsaycanyousee #soccertimeagain #wetakethisveryseriously

This is Ellis' pile of clothes for tomorrow morning. He has had enough of the fights, arguments, and fouls at recess soccer games, so he has appointed himself the official ref. He made a red and yellow card (and laminated them) to bring in his pocket tomorrow and forever more. And the best dad ever lent him his whistle. My kid is SO cool! #ruleenforcer

I'm really happy that @beniverson is back from a 3-day trip to England. I'm also happy that if he had to spend time at Oxford without me, at least he had the heart to bring me some of the best cookies ever. The only thing I'm wondering is what he plans to do with this collector's tin after we eat the cookies. 😂 #fillerup #benscookies #whataboutjennscookies?

This guy is suddenly turning into a big boy with lots of personality. We are all having a grand time trying to get him to laugh or mimic us. AND both of his bottom teeth have cut through without any fuss. I think we'll keep him! #archergriffin #archielove

Clever boy keeps outsmarting me! I thought the ponytail would stop him from pulling my hair, but he figured out how to twist his body to find what he's been looking for! #hairlover #cutebutnotcute #archielove

Officially capable of rolling both ways, twisting, turning, and scooting his way across the room to find a little light reading.  #watchoutmom #timesarechanging #babyproofingtime #archielove

It seems like overnight, he has turned into a "big baby." He is so anxious to MOVE and see, do, and learn everything! #sevenmonthsold #archerbythemonth

This referee is ready for today's championship recess league soccer game! He took it upon himself to prepare his whistle, red and yellow cards, a (homemade) trophy for the winning team, and "participation award" ribbons for the losing team. #alwaysprepared

So proud of my Sam-o, who finished this crowning achievement of his preschool efforts! He created each continent by first tracing the outlines, then poking holes with a pushpin to perforate the edges so they could be torn out. Then, as you can see, he wrote the names so adorably and glued it all together! At the beginning of the year, I was afraid he was going to be too stubborn to push himself on this, but he came through and worked so hard! #mapoftheworld #montessoripreschool #proudmommoment