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It is corn planting time again. This has been the craziest corn planting season ever. It has been so cold…I don’t think I’ve ever had to wear a coat while riding in the tractor at this time of year. This year I did! And now it has rained so much that the fields are too wet to finish planting. The other night (before the rain) we went out to the field while Joel was planting to take a little ride. The boys love helping their daddy. Levi always wants to be right next to Joel doing everything he is doing. And he always asks a million questions too. The crazy thing is that he remembers SO much. He knows way more about farming than I do. Maybe I should start asking him questions. I might learn something. 🙂

Griffin was just taking everything in. He loves tractors…and everything about the farm really.

We had to stand back for a little bit and wait for our turn to ride.

Griffin was still just watching his daddy so closely.

Levi was entertaining like usual.

But when Griffin got the okay from daddy to come to the tractor…he was all about riding.

The boys don’t have any idea how blessed they are to have a daddy who loves spending time with them even at work. He is always willing to have them come along if it something they can do with him. He really delights in his boys and I love that about him.

Someday far too soon these two will be the ones driving the tractors.

We took a few pictures in the tractor tire before it was time to go.

Levi actually got to stay with his daddy and finish planting the field while Griffin and I went home. He always tells Griffin he gets to stay with daddy because he is big and Griffin is little. He didn’t get home until 10:30 that night. He thought he was really big to get to stay up that late.

And one more. There is nothing that says I love you like a sibling choke hold. Oh man…these two make me laugh!

Posted in: family , farming
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  • Michelle from Australia - LOVED the pics. Particularly the last one. That’s fabulous. M xxReplyCancel

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  • Melanie Martini - Your blog and pictures are one of the highlights of my day. 🙂 I just love to see the pictures of the boys. They are so sweet and always make me smile. My kids are 15 and 11 now, but it doesn’t seem that long ago when they were giving “squeeze around the neck” hugs. haha. So cute!ReplyCancel

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  • Chrissy - I grew up going to work with my daddy every day on a truck. It makes for some of the best bonding and lessons a kid could have. Your boys are very blessed and so is there dad for getting the opportunity.ReplyCancel

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  • gin - cute cute!ReplyCancel

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  • Brooke - I love these shots! What a great thing that those little guys love the farm so much. The last shot? Priceless! HA!ReplyCancel

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  • Jen S. - Love the pictures and especially the last one like the precious commenters! 🙂 They are great! You many have answered this before, if so, sorry I missed it! What kind I camera do you use and what kind of lense did you use for these shots? I love how your pictures always come out so clear and bright! You do great work! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • elizabeth - farm life looks so fun!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Shannon Kirtley - Oh my goodness! That last picture I love bc it happens like that in my house all the time! Made me smile! 2 little boys are so fun!ReplyCancel

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  • gretchen - oh my! how precious! the pics are amazing! the one of Levi rolling around and Griffin watching with the tractor in the background should be in a john deer advertisment!! LOVE IT!!ReplyCancel

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  • Jill - I love everything about this! How fun for your boys and for your husband too! I bet they are just in heaven with a tractor like that! So fun!ReplyCancel

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  • Nicole - Wow. Just wow. I have two boys and my littlest is three (you might remember me mentioning in another comment about how we have both memorized Big Red Barn). He would literally FALL OUT if he was that close to a tractor that big!! Your boys are so lucky to have a daddy that drives one! What a blessing.ReplyCancel

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  • Sarah Macon - Handsome boys! Love the last one!ReplyCancel

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Since my last post was all about Levi I thought that maybe Griffin needed a little post of his own too. This boy doesn’t talk much (like still only says a few words) but he has quite the huge personality. He is constantly cracking me up…or making me wonder how in the world I will ever learn to parent him…but either way, I love him so much.

I took those pictures the same day I took the pictures of Levi in his big boy bed. Griffin had taken a very short nap and was watching a movie and eating popcorn while he waited for his brother to wake up. I went upstairs to get something and came down to find him like this.

Lounging with his little leg propped up munching on his popcorn.

I can’t remember what happened to his clothes…probably wet or something. The whole time I was taking pictures he didn’t move that little leg.

He was showing me his popcorn. Nice popcorn, Griffin.

It has been hard to find food that he is willing to eat…but he loves popcorn. (He drank a green smoothie this weekend though…a total miracle!)

Eating popcorn out of a cute Sarah + Abraham bowl makes it even better.

Griffin loves watching a movie with his brother after naps…or sometimes on his own because he tends to be a short napper! He is spoiled because Cora never watched TV and Levi didn’t watch TV until he was almost two! Third child.

He likes Veggie Tales and when certain songs come on Levi will say, “Griffin!!!” and they will look at each other with big smiles and start dancing. It is really cute.

On the days when Griffin watches his movie by himself he is much calmer. I am amazed he will sit in one place for that long. Until he hears his brother waking up…then he pops up and gets so excited.

My two boys are so very different in personality and so very busy…each in their own way. There are times when I long for just a few minutes of quiet in my house but then I am reminded of the joy that all the noise represents. I am so very thankful for this noisy, boy filled home of mine. And I am thankful for that little lounging boy munching on his popcorn with crossed feet who always is making me smile. He is pretty great!

* * * * *

Also…a few people have emailed saying they are not able to leave comments. Anyone else having trouble with commenting? If so, please let me know so I can try to fix the issue! 🙂

Posted in: family , griffin
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  • Andrea Wolfe - I love reading about your sweet Griffin. He reminds me so much of my Cruz (I’ve thought this for months already). His strong (putting it mildly 🙂 personality, lack of words, but not a lack of determination, picky eating habits, and so much more.
    These photos are stunning! Love the way he’s crossing his chubby legs 🙂 Such an adorable child.
    xoReplyCancel

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  • heather - he is so cute!ReplyCancel

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  • Jill - “He is constantly cracking me up…or making me wonder how in the world I will ever learn to parent him…but either way, I love him so much.” haha!! Your Griffin reminds me of my Sydney.

    He is such a cutie and the leg crossed is adorable.ReplyCancel

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  • elizabeth - this post is adorable. what a beautiful family you have!ReplyCancel

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  • Paige - Hi! I’ve been following your blog for a long time and I love the pictures and stories of your precious children. I don’t mean to seem bossy, but I just had to comment on the popcorn – pleeeeeeease be very careful with the popcorn. It is a huge choking hazard for children under 4. I know it’s so hard when toddlers don’t want to eat and you can only find a few things that they like. But picky toddlers are very common and not even in danger as long as you continue to offer lots of healthy choices. I promise you that he will eat one day – I’m a nurse as well as the mom of 3 boys who also were picky toddlers but now are hungry teenagers who eat everything in sight! All the best to you and your family!ReplyCancel

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We kept Levi in his crib for a long time. In fact it was past his third birthday when we finally took the crib down. We had no reason in particular except that he never tried climbing out. We kept thinking it was too good to be true. He was a good sleeper. I liked that he was in his crib, not getting out of bed and wandering around. And when we asked him if he wanted a big boy bed he would say, “No, I just like my crib.” Alright then. We figured why mess with something good, right?

And then at the beginning of February all of a sudden a very excited little boy was yelling at the top of the stairs. He had climbed out of his crib. He thought he was big stuff. I knew all along he could climb out if he wanted to but he is generally pretty cautious. He finally got brave.

After that first crib escape we were pretty lazy about getting the crib down. Then one snowy day when we were stuck inside (kind of like this crazy snowy/icy day we are having today…in April!!) I decided it was time. Levi wanted a few last jumps in his crib.

And then he showed me one last time how he could climb out. I know, I know…probably not safe at all! Sometimes you just have to let a boy climb…it’s in their blood.

And then it was time to test it out. He was all smiles. I wasn’t so sure how nap time was going to go but you have to try sometime!

The first nap was a success. And he has been doing great ever since. He has been trying out some new stalling techniques lately, but other than that the transition has been easy. Maybe because he is three. 😉

I had wanted to take some pictures of Levi waking up after his first nap in his big boy bed but he woke up way earlier than I was expecting. So I peeked in the next day as he was waking up from his nap. I almost missed it again!

He likes to be cozy. He requests all of those blankets on top of him…every time.

Sleepy babies are the sweetest. Even when they are big sleepy babies.

We may do a little rearranging in Levi’s room and get his mattress off the floor at some point. But for now the mattress on the floor is working great. Someday we hope the boys will share a room but at this point I have no idea how they would ever get any sleep. They have way too much fun together!

We are down to one crib now. The crib in Levi’s room hasn’t been down since we put it up before Cora was born. I remember the excitement of putting that crib up and anticipating meeting our first child. We didn’t know that Cora was a girl or what was planned for her short little life and our family. It was a little bittersweet to finally be taking it down. But as I was taking it apart I was reminded of what a gift it is to see my kids grow and reach these new milestones. Every moment is a gift. Thank you Jesus for this little milestone in Levi’s life. It was time.

Posted in: family , levi
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  • Lisa - Sweet boy! Both my boys slept in their cribs until they were 3+ years of age. They were happy, we were happy – it worked for us! Glad Levi’s transition to his big boy bed went smoothly! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • robin - Oh, so sweet and tender. He is beautiful, I loved these pics!!! <3ReplyCancel

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  • Jenni - you are right, sleeping babies are the cutest, even the older ones! I still stair at all of my girls when they are sleeping, it’s my favorite. And bunk beds are amazing! right now we have our 3 year old and 1.5 year old sharing a room and the 1.5 year old is on the bottom bunk and does great!ReplyCancel

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    Jess Reply:
    April 14th, 2013 at 11:48 pm

    Jenni-Wow! I can’t imagine Griffin in a bunk bed right now…maybe someday! I’m sure they would think bunk beds are awesome. 🙂

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    • Jess - Jenni-Wow! I can’t imagine Griffin in a bunk bed right now…maybe someday! I’m sure they would think bunk beds are awesome. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • JennySue - Love that sleepy boy smile- so cute! My older son just turned three and we are in no hurry to get him into a big boy bed for the same reasons you had. He really does like his crib and I think it feels safe to him right now. I guess I am waiting until the younger brother (10 months) is sleeping all night before I disrupt the big boy- but hopefully the transition will go as well as it did for you guys.ReplyCancel

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  • Jen S. - Aww Jess, your boys are adorable. I so very much enjoy reading your blog. I don’t comment often but look frequently. 🙂 My name is Jen and just wanted you to know that you are such a model of a proverbs 31 women. I love reading your posts and looking at the pictures of your kiddos. You are a great example of the kind of mom I strive to be to my babies. Your honesty, openness and faith are so real and admirable. Too bad we live thousands of miles away from one another because I think we would make great friends. 🙂ReplyCancel

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    Jess Reply:
    April 14th, 2013 at 11:49 pm

    Jen-Thanks so much for your sweet comment and for your encouragement. I have a long way to go to be a Proverbs 31 woman…but thank you! 😉

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    • Jess - Jen-Thanks so much for your sweet comment and for your encouragement. I have a long way to go to be a Proverbs 31 woman…but thank you! 😉ReplyCancel

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A little recap of this past month via Instagram.

March was full of working, four wheeling, chick-fil-a eating, paci and blankie holding, birthday celebrating, sunshine wishing, mailbox checking, puddle splashing, snuggling, field checking, bathing, sword fighting, cooking, picnic-ing, wedding celebrating, tux wearing, ball throwing, pantry raiding, praying, doctor visiting, after nap waiting, chalkboard writing, road tripping, friend visiting, snow playing, march madness watching, laughing, exploring, resurrection roll making, and Easter celebrating.

It was a good month.

You can check out the past months here:

January

February

I am @jessmcclenahan on Instagram if you want to follow along!

Posted in: #themacboys2013
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How did my boys go from this…

…to this? It is so crazy how much they change in a year.

We barely squeezed in some egg dying before Easter. I’m so glad we did because it was quite entertaining. There is never a dull moment with these two.

I mean, just look at their faces. It’s like you can see them thinking…what can we do next?

We were trying to get a pre-egg dying picture without touching the eggs. Nearly impossible. Griffin was looking at his daddy to see if he was going to get in trouble.

Daddy told him to show us how big he is. It got his hands out of the egg bowl for a few seconds.

And then they had a few blissful moments of getting to hold the eggs.

There faces were cracking me up the whole time.

Griffin is always getting into something and Levi is always in his own little world.

And then the egg dying began.

Levi did a pretty good job. I’ll let you guess who was a little out of control with the whole egg dying thing.

Griffin’s eggs all ended up looking like this. And both of his hands were solid green by the end. It was stressing his big brother out a little.

I love this one of Levi. He has the best smile. 🙂

I can only imagine the mischief these two will get into this summer. They are always up to something…even under my supervision. I am sure glad they love each other though. Brothers are a lot of fun.

A few more egg dying shenanigans and we called it good.

Not too bad. I am amazed we ended up with this many eggs in one piece!

Posted in: easter , family
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  • Michelle from Australia - Oh Jess! They are SO handsome and growing up WAY too fast. What fabulous pics you take. M xxReplyCancel

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  • Jody - They turned out great. Next year I want to try drawing with sharpies or using rubber bands to tie dye them.ReplyCancel

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  • Hollie - The two little ones are adorable.ReplyCancel

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