Siblings

Sorry for the long post but this is my main journal, and I'm hoping it will mean something to my kids someday. Watching my kids interact with each other has been one of the most exciting things about parenthood for me. I am so glad that my kids will always have each other, and it is amazing to see them becoming such good friends. We are really working to teach our kids to put each other and family first and to build up those relationships. Sometimes our lessons are received better than others. It just dawned on Luke a while ago that I don't have any brothers or sisters and his comment was that it "must have been pretty boring." I don't know about boring...my childhood was very happy, but I definitely would have liked siblings and I think my kids are pretty lucky.


Luke is a good big brother. He is quite a tease (wonder where that comes from?) and that can be a problem. During November and December his tormenting became excessive and so did Seth's reaction to it. I was getting a little frustrated. I'm happy to say now that things have changed for the better. Luke and Seth have always had tons of fun playing together but now Luke is really making an effort to get along. I see him sharing some of his favorite stuff, and teaching Seth, and just taking good care of him. He's definitely the mastermind of their playing and Seth is his trusty sidekick. I love to hear them laughing together...unless it's bedtime! Next year when Luke is gone all day will be a shock to both of them.

That top picture is after Luke's class Valentine's party. It was best dress. He told me I was his valentine, and he immediately came home and started sharing all of his treats with his brothers. His gifts included a pencil each for Seth and Ian so he could "teach them to write when they are bigger." He also spent lots of time making Valentines for everyone in the family.


This guy is my gentle giant. He is such a big, strong kid, but he's very soft hearted. It's easy to hurt his feelings and get that bottom lip quivering even if you don't mean to. He also likes to show lots of teeth in pictures right now. He wants to do absolutely everything "Lukey" does. This morning when Luke and Jer left to go skiing he was totally devastated...major bawling. We all felt bad but Luke felt the worst. He was telling Seth he could come next time and kept hugging him and telling him sorry. By the time Luke left he had tears in his eyes and was feeling horrible about leaving his brother. They really are sweet kids. Now before you think it's one big hug fest around here I assure you we still have our fair share of wrestling, chasing, teasing...you name it!

If Seth doesn't want Ian to play with something he simply holds it above his head. He also has started teasing Luke, and if he has something Luke wants he'll say "ha, ha, ha." I have to laugh inside at that one.

On a sidenote I sent Seth to take Ian's dirty clothes to the hamper the other day and realized a few minutes later I could hear him in the laundry room. He put Ian's clothes in the washer and started it! He had it set on "silk" and actually got it going which was kind of impressive. When I found him he looked a little sheepish and simply told me he was washing Ian's clothes.

Watching the boys with Ian is the best. Everyone in our family pretty much melts when it comes to him. Luke is an awesome helper and Seth really is too. Luke is always telling me that Ian is the "cutest one in our family."

Watching these boys grow up together is awesome, and I really do feel so blessed. I know it sounds crazy to some people, but I would actually love to have another baby if that miraculously happened. Luke is always saying we need a sister and he doesn't want me to be the only girl in the family. I tell him not to get his hopes up.

He and I had quite the conversation the other day about Seth's adoption. We have always told him Seth is adopted but grasping what that means is hard. I was taking Luke to the eye doctor and the little boys were at my neighbor's house. He asked me about a million questions including this one, "did Seth give his other mom a hug and a kiss before he left?" I assured him that Seth's birthparents gave him lots of hugs and kisses and tried to explain to him how much they love Seth and how hard it was. He doesn't understand it all yet but it's a beginning. He was also very concerned and asked me if Seth was really part of our family and if he would have to go away. I had the chance to remind him about our temple sealing (which he doesn't really remember), and he was very relieved. To him it doesn't matter where Seth came from he just knows he's his brother. I'm sure we will have lots of similar discussions with Seth and the other kids over the years, and I'm praying we will know what to say. Hopefully how much we all love Seth will mean more than words can really explain.

I attempted to get a shot all together, but it was a little bright and they all acted like moles seeing the sun for the first time. I took about five and none were any better than this...Ian in particular was not having it!