We all had the creeping crud.  It lurked for two weeks, so at the first sign of healing we skipped church, watched heart warming you tube videos of German Shepherds, cried, laughed, then went to hike Camelback Mountain.  "This is the perfect time of your sickness to get out and hike" sayeth Zander as we pull our vehicle in which will remain an undisclosed back way to the ever popular Echo Canyon trail.

 

 I carried one of the stinkweeds on my back and huffed and puffed my weak lungs up and over boulders, because Zander tells me, "I always seem to lose track of this trail"

Ender looking for his daddy who disappeared over the ridge. 

And Gunther.  Zander's newest best friend, who has awakened his boyhood and compliments his manhood.  Zander has written many letters to the puppy stork and sat dreaming of his new floppy eared bundle.  He has elevated this dog so much, that I'm half expecting Gunther to prophesy the future and see through to people's soul.  Zander pours a lot of thought and training into Gunther's hoped for outcome and relationship with our family.  And I can't wait till I can walk through my down town neighborhood with my intimidating beast by my side, ready to protect his pack.  With dedication and love I know Gunther will prove himself to truly be a creature that only a God could imagine and bring to reality.  I also want to teach him to dance and wear dapper top hats.  He can't take himself to seriously.

*I also must confess that I sprayed Cora twice with the hose.

 Ornery! Ornery! Ornery!  A sassy, opinionated gal, loves exploring, getting messy, climbing in small spaces.  She'll still slap the stupid off your face if you irritate her.  I'm patiently waiting for her verbal language to kick in so I can try and reason with her.  Ender, he's strong willed, but dialogues with you.  He's willing to play because he knows a lot of the cards in the deck.  I do believe Cora is a different bird altogether.  She is set in her ways.  However, she is such a happy, social creature too and loves to join in any one's jubilation.  I think she would rather be shown what to do than convinced (ender).  ??  Its all speculation, really.

The first bloom of the Oklahoma.  I had the hose and was watering another rose bush when I noticed out of the corner of my eye, Corzilla, creeping over to the eye catching red.  At perfect sticky finger level, she didn't hesitate, and began ripping off petal after petal.  Realizing, I was too far to save the flower entirely, I yelled and sprayed the hose at the little monster.  Oh man, such a bad idea, in more ways than one.  As a wave of guilt washed over me, a wave of anger passed over Cora and she screamed and started slapping the rose.  As the velvet petals hit the ground one by one, she didn't release me from her "don't you even dare" stare. 

 

There are two things Ender will drop everything for:  Reading a book and jumping in front of the camera, especially when the camera is aimed at Cora.

Ender's shirt is off and we're in the backyard, he pipes up,
"when my things grow then I will give milk"

I respond, "no, you won't give milk, only mommy's can.  daddy doesn't give milk does he?"

Answering correctly, "no...... but I think his things will grow and then he will."

 

To his daddy "Your breath smells like trash"

To his mama" Your breath smells fresh, like air"

 

"dear Jesus, thank you for taking Cora out of mommy's tummy"

 

Some Ender trivia:

What 1 song has Ender sung EVERY SINGLE night for the past year and a half?

 

Answer:  Away in a Manger

 

My fault.  Christmas of 2012 I wanted him to be prepared for his Christmas program at church.  I was over enthusiastic about him learning Away in a Manger.  It only took a few nights of dramatic hand motions accompanying the lyrics and he was addicted. 

 

 

Ender weilds the camera instead of a sword........

Oh! I love zander's smile here. and cora's quiet expression.

Now, this is with mama's expensive camera.  When Ender gets a hold of his Nana's iphone camera, behold......

yikes.

there are at least 25 more copies of this exact same face, plus the ceiling fan, knees, blurred images of what could be sold to the tabloids as an extraterrestrial or big foot, and nothing after nothing.

All around, Ender is hedged in with an amazing family.  Aunt Katie and Uncle Pj took the boys one Friday.  The end goal was for the kids to slumber party over night, but...I knew it wouldn't fly with Ender.  Thankfully, we're neighbors with these two goons, so I just planned on staying up watching romantic comedies until they brought Ender home.  I bet he would make it to midnight, well, he out did it by a whopping 15 minuets!  That's my boy!  I was pleased to tuck him in his fort bed at 12:15am with his pirate booty he commandeered from whatever adventure they took them on.
Its fun sending Ender out into the teeming world.  He is like a net scooping up all sorts of the bizarre and wonderful.  Throughout the next few days, while his mind is still fresh from his travels he unconsciously shows me all that he has collected.  Language, songs, and desserts are just some of his souvenirs from "abroad".  I'm mostly pleased, though, that he doesn't make the trek alone because its the bond of the travel mates that most blesses his life.