Do you know the Muffin Man?

On the way home from Banks' preschool today:

Banks: Mom, do you know the Muffin Man?

Mom: um, well, I know the song

(I start singing the song)

Banks: Can the Muffin Man come to our house?

Mom: I don't know.

Banks: He lives on Drury Lane.

Mom: yes, yes he does

Dear Banks

What a year it has been! I swear I think you're the same age as Hughes. I treat you just the same. You hang with all the 5/6 year olds in the neighborhood. Y'all have the same bed time. The only time you show your age is when you fall asleep in the afternoons on the couch. This doesn't happen every day but about 2 times a week you get a great afternoon nap in the den.

You could live on Nutella alone. That is your normal lunch sandwich with a glass of cold milk. You will refuse to taste dinner and instead choose to go to bed without eating. Normally, when you do this you are past exhausted and are in the whiny, fussy stage. You can drink your body weight in milk. You tried Sprite this year and immediately spit it out. You love McDonald's and would eat there everyday if I was crazy enough to let you.

You still love superheroes - Batman, Spiderman, Wolverine, etc. You love Bionicles and playing Bey Blades with your dad. Transformers has been a new love here lately. We watch them on YouTube. You especially love all of Dad's transformers from his childhood at Dawa's house.

You've had a great year at school thus far. On a normal morning, you happily go in to Miss Adele's room and give me a wave. You always get great reports.

On a bad note, you are quick to use bodily force when you get mad. You have punched Hughes in the face about three times with no retaliation from your brother. One time you did it in church while we were waiting for communion. You have given us no warning when you're about to do it so it always shocks us. Hughes is the receiver of a lot of your aggression. Be glad you have such a great big brother who is not volatile or you would be due for a smack down.

Banks, You are adored by Collins who constantly follows you around the house babbling at you. He tries to play transformers with you but you just get frustrated at him. You love to push him on the swing and you two have quite the bond during lunch - both eating Nutella sandwiches!

You are a terrific kid. You are confident and sensitive and boisterous and shy all in the same breath. You definitely keep us on our toes with all of your questions. Just last week you asked me what happened to snow when it melted. Huh? You think deep and ask lots and lots of questions.

Love you to the moon and back! I'm so thankful that I get the privilege of being your mom!

Happy 4th Birthday Banks!

Where did the time go?

4?

Really, you're already 4!

Banks at his 1st birthday. Yes, we did get him dressed for his party but I love his snoot face.

Banks at his 2nd birthday.

Then his 3rd Batman Birthday party.

And, now his 4th birthday. Here are some pictures of our morning celebration.

Dad lighting the candles on top of the french toast sticks.

Watching the candles come towards you.

We're singing loudly and you're loving it!

Counting all four candles making sure Mom didn't forget any.

(right before David brought the breakfast over he asked me why there were only 3 candles - oops! I guess it's going to take me a little while to realize he's 4)

Blowing out all of the candles.

Happy 4th Birthday Banks!

And I thought I looked good

Oh Banks, you have a way with words. One day you're going to find yourself so deep in a hole that there will be no way to climb your way out - all figuratively. Banks speaks the truth . . . the blunt truth. . . the hard-to-hear truth . . . the better-be-glad-I'm-your-mama truth. Unfortunately, I think he got this characteristic from me.

This morning while unbuckling Banks out of the 3rd row of the suburban my hips hit the seat. Banks then asked me "why do you have such a big hiney". Guess I'll be squeezing in some extra runs this week!

Banks has also renamed boobies and now refers to them as softies. I have no idea where he got this from but was patting himself on the chest the other day and was telling me "these are called softies". Then, he looked at me, patted me on the chest, and said "you have soft softies". Well, kid, nothing I can do about that.

Banks has also loved to dress up as a power ranger lately. The problem with that is that we don't actually have a power ranger costume. His costume is his underwear, sword stuck through the side of his underwear, and a pair of underwear on his head. He has seen pictures of power rangers so he knows that this is not what their costume looks like but he continues to don this costume. In fact, he insisted I put his "power ranger mask" in his bookbag for school. Uh, this was a pair of underwear. I told him he was not allowed to take his "mask" out to show anyone. So, now, he told David that he needs to get a big pair of underwear so that he can be a power ranger, too. Anybody have any large tighty-whities for David's mask? Clean, preferably.

Banks - Soccer

Banks had his last soccer clinic of the season. He has loved every thing about soccer and has really done a good job participating and listening to Coach Paul & Coach Tyler.

Getting in the stretches before he does the drills

Oh yeah, right in the goal. He's a leftie with his kicking.

Listening to Coach Paul

This was Banks' first opportunity to play an organized sport. Although, there were no games just learning the basics and practicing drills, Banks did a great job. He showed a lot of potential as long as you were using his red "spiderman" ball. By the 3rd clinic, the coaches figured out which ball they used really does matter and it wasn't just Banks. A lot of the other players had the same emotional ties to their soccer balls as Banks does with his. So, once this was figured out everyone was happy and ready to the drills.

I'm not sure what we will do in the Fall. He's also really interested in baseball.

Banks' & Soccer

Banks participated in his first soccer clinic this past Saturday. He's finally old enough to do a sport through the recreation department. It's not a "team" but a clinic. He loved it and we got Lucius to do it with his. Lucius had more reservations about this but Banks was ready.

Listening to Coach Paul tell them about soccer. Banks was also super-excited about the gear and especially his "spiderman" ball which is really just a red soccer ball that has some black stripes on it. He was upset this morning when he realized he didn't have a team jersey like Hughes so I'm on the hunt for a soccer shirt.

Banks and Lucius ready to dominate.

Awesome Kick

Lucius giving it his all.

We celebrated with ring pops. Banks is pumped up about his next "game". He was a little sad that he didn't get to kick it in the net so next time we'll have to sneak over and do some kicks. Altogether, Banks loves all sports and has said lately that when he grows up he's going to play football, basketball, soccer & baseball. He might be our jock.

Sweetest Thing He Ever Said . . .

While in church on Sunday morning at the end of the service the choir stood up to sing the last hymn. Banks looked up at David and asked, "are those the angels".

MELTED MY HEART!

Head protection

just in case we fall off the toilet!

We have a serious love for all things Batman!

Bath Time Fun

While giving Collins a bath, Banks decided he wanted to hop in. Collins looked at him strangely at first but soon loved having a brother in the tub with him. If you notice on Banks' chest & arms, he colored himself with a marker so he desperately needed a bath. Of course, in the bottom picture it looks like scratches but I promise it was just marker.

Look at that smile! Collins loved it.

(I hit something on the editing tool bar that made the color in this picture much more saturated. I couldn't figure out how to lower the intensity.)

Oh Boy - Special Milk

The boys have been very interested in how I feed Collins. I've tried to be truthful with them yet not give them too much detail. I've told them that I make a "special milk" just for Collins. That seemed to be enough for Hughes but Banks wanted more detail as he stared at my chest. So, I told him that my "boobies" made "special milk" for Collins and when he was a baby he got "special milk" too. It seems his curiosity was satisfied.

Fast Forward One Day

As I'm nursing Collins with Banks diligently watching, he says "moma, you feed him your milk out of your elbows". What am I to do? If I correct him, will he be talking about my "boobies" on the playground with his friends? Will he bring it up to his teachers?

Well, no, I didn't correct him. So, for any fellow nursing mothers and friends, as far as Banks knows, I make my special milk in my elbows!

I love that kid!

He lives where?

Banks with all his superhero knowledge is sure to impress to any girl. I've said before that he can tell you who many mask crusaders are without their masks. David has added to that and is now talking to Banks about where the superheroes live. Well, this is a bit of the conversation this morning at 6:45am:

David: Banks, do you know where Batman lives?

Banks: no, where does Batman live?

David: Gotham City

Banks: Ga Dam (of course he was trying to say Gotham but it had us cracking up)

So, according to Banks, Batman does not live in a very nice city.

Banks' Batman Birthday Party

This past Sunday, Banks had his Batman Birthday Party that he has been talking about since this summer. I'm not sure when or where Batman became such a huge part of his life but he loves it. Banks can tell you the name of Batman's true identity (Bruce Wayne), Spiderman's true identity (Peter Parker), Superman's true identity (Clark Kent) and we're working on Ironman's identity. I can't say his love of superheroes has not been helped along by his Dad but I can say that they both are having a great time.

We started our celebration Sunday morning with letting him open our birthday present to him - a new Batman costume complete with muscle chest. It's a size 2-4 but it didn't stop this Batman. We just rolled up the pants and put on our Batman boots (thanks Dawa & G-Daddy). To say he loved it would be the understatement of the year.

We, of course, wore our Batman costume to our Batman Birthday Party even though it was 95 degrees. He thought he was the coolest kid at the playground that day. He definitely enjoyed all the attention he got from outsiders.

Super MaryBec & Super Lucy

Super Wyatt & Batman holding his new Batman thermos - Thanks Wyatt!

Super Charles

Hughes hanging with Miller and Lucy - the two loves of his life.

David carrying the kids across the monkey bars. I think he did this for about 30 minutes. Super Thomas is in the background sans cape.

Super Francis enjoying some cake. It was fabulous - thanks Mom!

BecBec and Batman

Batman and Super Conley

Kentos/The Joker terrorizing Batman

Blowing out those three birthday candles.

Hudson, Chandler, & Thomas enjoying the cupcakes.

Batman loves chocolate.

When we got home BecBec and PopPop gave Banks their special present - a real bike! Kentos and Aunt Trina helped the look with a Batman bike helmet and bell. Banks loves the bike and he is ready to cruise the neighborhood.

At the end of the day, Batman was exhausted, cranky, whiny & whipped. So was I!

Happy Birthday Banks - I'm glad there are 365 days before we have to have another one!

Albeit, we're celebrating Hughes' birthday next week so wish me luck!

Happy 3rd Birthday Banks!

He was a baby,

Then, he was one!

Then, he turned two!

And, now, he is three!

When he woke up this morning, we told him that today was his birthday. He told me "no, mama, my birthday on Tuesday". I had to tell him that today was Tuesday. We've had a great morning. We went to my doctor to check on the baby (everything is good), then we went to TJMaxx to kill some time where we found some super cool Superhero underwear - of course we had to buy them, and we finished it off with meeting Dad at Chuck E. Cheese for a special birthday lunch - just Banks, Mom & Dad. This afternoon we are making superhero cupcakes for his class tomorrow and chocolate-dipped banana popsicles for our own personal enjoyment.

The Many Characters of Banks

It is nothing to come into our house on any given day during any given time and find Banks dressed up. He loves to wear costumes. Here are just a few pictures I managed to snap in the past day of Banks.

Banks the Dinosaur

Banks the Lion

Batman Banks - this is his favorite

Hughes loves to join in on the fun as well as all of Hughes' friends. Unfortunately for them all the costumes are mostly 2Ts so they're a little snug on these 4/5 year olds. Banks is already outgrowing some of them but still manages to squeeze in his favorites. I have to give a huge shout out to Lisa for handing down all these costumes. You have made Banks day!

Golf

Banks has always shown an interest in sports. Lately, when David goes to hit balls or play, Banks is always wanting to join him. We drive past a golf course daily and Banks is always talking about playing golf with his daddy. We don't have toddler size clubs, yet. The man in the red suit, white beard, and twinkle in his eye will possibly be bringing some for under the tree. Of course, there is always his birthday, too. Until then, we'll have to make do.

Banks hacking away in the front yard with one of David's clubs. He's a lefty when it comes to sports but holds his pencils/markers in his right hand to write. They were out there about 10 minutes before it started storming - the perfect amount of time.

He loved it. Phil Mickelson, watch out!

What has this turkey been up to?

Well, he has successfully, completely, 100%, absolutely, without a doubt, totally been potty-trained!

He wears a pull-up at night and he always wakes up dry. The pull-up is for me and my comfort. I'm trying to get the most amount of sleep I can before Collins gets here because I know what is in store for me!

Banks, thanks for doing this for your Mom & Dad. We really appreciate you getting out of diapers before we have to start buying diapers all over again for your younger brother. I hope I get the courage soon to take you out of pull-ups. We're really proud of you and our checking account thanks you, too!

House Trained?

Apparently, we have house-trained Banks - not potty trained! This morning while running around the house in the buff with two parents urging him to use the potty, the culprit ran onto the porch. Well, we didn't think much of it except that he was naked and we weren't sure how the neighbors would like that. A few minutes passed and Banks came back in and announced that he has "poopoo'd". And, sure enough, he was telling the truth. He popped right on our pea gravel patio. And then to top it off, he asked for a plastic bag so that he could clean it up just like we do Charlie!

Is this a step in the right direction? Can we count this as a success? Or should we all go to therapy because we have trained our little boy like a dog?

Mischievious Banks

Where do I begin? Banks is full of surprises and he shows me daily that he's got a mind of his own. Here are the latest of Banks' deeds:

Banks likes chocolate pie. This is how I found him when I came into the kitchen. He was so proud of himself and kept saying "cheese". I couldn't get that mad because that chocolate pie was delicious!

This is after Banks had been playing quietly in his room for about 20 minutes. It suddenly occurred to me that I should go and check on him. Well, apparently baby powder is really fun to play with! It was everywhere! Thankfully, my vacuum did the trick.

Well, there you have it - Banks and his adventures. I have a feeling there will be many more to come!