Lets see if we can make it go higher.

Life is wild; my children are wild. There really is something to that whole apple and the tree saying.

As a mother to mostly boys (I'm going to half count Lily because while she is very much a girl, she is DEFINITELY crazy and will try pretty much anything). I love the rough and tumble nature of my kids. I have yet to have a mellow child, while they oftentimes stress me out with their shenanigans; I love it.















I love that when they see a pool they immediately try to see who can do the coolest flip/jump/spin into it. Why wouldn't you? That yesterday when we were riding our bikes home when we finally got to the blessed downhill part; Owen pedaled down it. Must.go.faster.















I firmly believe that it is easier trying to tame (if you will) someones spirit than trying to put spirit into someone. While right now it is difficult trying to keep them alive, I am grateful that they are out there leading their adventures. Fearlessly embracing this life.















These boys love each other; but they also fight, blame it on that testosterone. It makes them do crazy things. It's fun to see them slow down on occasion. They'll sit with and Jack an coax a smile out of him. Then shout for everyone to come and see the billionth smile this boy has given us. We all come too because, they are pretty amazing after all.















While I'm busy trying to keep heads attached to bodies and arms free of metal screws I am content with the spirits of my children. I like who they are. I am excited to see where their senses of adventure will take them in this life. Enjoying my time with them as a most interested spectator.

They were all crying in their soymilk

. . .because you know, they're lactose intolerant. Ha ha ha ha ha!

**For those of you about to be offended for me making fun of geeks being lactose intolerant, take a moment just . . .stop it! Okay, we will continue now.















The Mead winning tradition continues. Gee, writing all these posts about how awesome we are is really quite exhausting. Here goes; two Saturday's ago Chad, Owen and Luke went to dominate the chessters in greater Phoenix area who weren't too sickly to join in. Too much? Okay I'll try again; thanks to the milky white skin of those participating 259 units of greenhouse gases were offset during the event due to no overhead lighting being necessary. One more try? The census bureau had to readjust their 2012 census due to inaccurate reporting; the 97 participants left their mothers basements for the first time since going to the bookstore to purchase Nimzowitsch's My System.

For those of you still reading. . .congratulations!!! You are not a dweeb. Cool. I like, feel, like totally comfortable making fun of these chess people because I am forced to live with and love, three of them. Cereal.

I am so proud of my little dorks though! Chad and Owen both took first place in their division and Luke received a ribbon for participation (we now know who the true dorks are). In Owen's division the games were forty minutes and Chad's were two hours, they each played four games. Luke was a bit bummed out when they handed out the trophy's but was easily soothed when they gave out candy (he gets that part from me).

Chad's opponents ranged from fifteen to seventy (a change from the eight year old he usually plays and takes joy in occasionally beating at chess club). Love you dear! Chad set winning his division as a goal and take this from me, has been spending waaaayyyy too much time playing chess lately. At least he's got his trophy to keep him warm at night.

Lily, our beautiful wiley child

Lily is beloved. She can barely do wrong, especially when she is so darn cute.

Lily is made up of 99.9% crackers. Any kind: Ritz, graham, goldfish, saltines--you name it. As her mother I feel it my duty to put something in her on a daily basis that once resembled a plant or animal.

In an effort to thwart my efforts she devised a brilliant plan. Tape over the glass door that leads to the pantry. This way silly mother will not be able to see that I am gorging myself on crackers and leave me in peace.

Clever Lily needed help cutting the tape but then shooed me away so that I would be none the wiser. Isn't she bright?

Just in case I became wise to her plans though she was prepared. She wrote a note saying, "do not come in dhis wroom, weave wily awone." (she translated for me and read it aloud in a commanding tone).

. . .and because of the love, I let that little girl of mine do just what she pleased. (she went through enough crackers to feed a hungry preschool, staff and children.)

But then later because of the love I have stopped buying all of this crap food. I don't know why I didn't just do this sooner, sorry Lily.

Her rendering

Our Lily as it turns out is quite the artist.





























Last week she graced us with her impression of Jack in his walker.

It.was.the.cutest.thing.,ever.

She got one stool, supplied it with paper and pencil then got another stool and sat down to get the creative juices flowing. I wish I would have recorded it. She was talking to Jack the entire time,

"Jackie, turn dis way, no no no not that way, awe, fine, yes pwerfect. Stay just like dhat."

I washed my dishes and enjoyed their now two way conversations. Yes, two way, Jack can speak now. Only he knows what he says but, IT IS BLOWING HIS MIND, whatever it is. He also loves blowing bubbles/raspberries. He's pretty much amazing, just ask his mother.




















Brilliant, she's pretty amazing as well. ;)

Jack Chad

Have you been missing your daily texasmeads fix? I'm just going to assume your all silently nodding your heads. I've been busy watching and enjoying my children with frequent bouts of ignoring them. Jack has been growing stronger by the day.

Upon coming home from the hospital we are getting to see much more of 'awake Jack'. Prior to his surgery he slept practically all day. Now he's awake about nine to ten hours!! Yah! This has called for more diversions for the boy. We started out with a ginormous baby Mozart ultra saucer. He got to enjoy that for a week until I returned it. IT WAS SO FREAKING HUGE. I got him a new and improved. . .walker!

Yes, his feet are still about nine inches from the ground but it has toys for pete's sake. When he first started using it he could only stay in it for five minutes before his strength failed him and he slumped over. It's been about two weeks and just today he stayed in there for forty five minutes!! Boo-yah. During the time that he's awake I'm always moving him from playgym to tummy-time to sitting up in my lap--trying to help him be as strong as he can be. We're making up for lost time. . .





The last picture I just had to throw in of Jack in a button up shirt--get out!! Such a handsome boy and a photo bomber Owen.

Jack has a whole house of cheerleaders; everyone enjoys his little baby accomplishments greatly.

. . .never was there a more loved boy

You should be put down, like an animal

This is my man. I love him for many many reasons. One of which is how fun/funny he is. I don't think there is a day that goes by that he doesn't make me laugh. I love that. He infuses our family with laughter, teasing and joy. Makes for happy days.















You may be wondering how the title is applicable to the content. It was simply a line that Chad blurted out that had me in stitches. I will try to re-create the moment.

We were coming home from our fancy date night (Outback, no rules just right) and we were merging onto the highway from the on ramp. The car in front of us was struggling with merging; fearfully they were making their meager attempt to get onto the highway. Mr. Mead (of course at the wheel, he's that kind of man) was behind them and as we past them he shook his head in disgust while causally saying,

"you should be destroyed; put down like an animal."

. . .isn't he swell?

Owen's clubhouse

Just in front of our house and is Owen's original clubhouse, Luke informed that he has abandoned this spot for the latest real estate. Trends, trends. Have I expressed how much I am loving Arizona and my desert? No less than three times per day are the children all kicked outside and directed to not return until I call for them.

This, my friends is sanity for a mother of four.

Lily is allowed in the clubhouses, which is a good thing since when I asked Luke where his clubhouse was and he said, "all the way up to there (pointing about two miles east) to all the way over there (pointing to the road about 150 yards away) and just about all of this over here."

Everyone loves Luke.

When I start missing items from the house I know that they are in one of twenty places. The clubhouse is a pretty good place to start though. A tomato wire climber thingy serves as a trash can. An old yoga mat found in the desert serves as an area rug. Wood pallets are furniture. Luke loves to load up on snacks and go down there to 'hang out'.