Compromise

Last weekend on our way back from our family reunion at the Lake of the Ozarks, Lash and Henley wanted to watch a movie in the car. We gave them a few options and they could not agree on what to watch so they lost the privilege. Looking back, that was a bad parenting choice because the car ride would have been much more peaceful had we not taken away the DVDs....all for the sake of raising decent kids.

Today the kids had another chance to compromise. Lash wanted strawberry banana yogurt and Henley wanted peach. They debated for quite some time about what flavor to have. I reminded them about the DVD issue last week and that if they couldn't come up with a mutual choice there would be no yogurt for lunch. After about five minutes I look over to the table and Lash has his arms folded and is leaning in over the table. He says very slowly, "Henley, strawberry banana yogurt is pink."

I can safely say that Lash is a pro when it comes to negotiating with Henley...as long as the option he wants is pink. They both thoroughly enjoyed their strawberry banana yogurt!

Nashville

Clint and I recently went on a short weekend trip to visit our very good friend in Nashville. Other than the disrespectful and intoxicated hotel guests, we had a marvelous visit. We got to play golf, eat A LOT of really good food, hang out with wonderful friends and be kid-free for four whole days (thanks Mom)!

Here are some pictures from our travels:

Before 5K

After 5K

Downtown Nashville

Convo Compilation

Here are a few conversations or statements I have written down over the past month or so:

(Heard over the monitor when Lash got HJ up from her nap) 

Lash: "Henley, we're going outside....and mom said I could get my pants dirty!!!"

(Spoken by HJ on our way home from preschool)

HJ: "I love you Lash." (This is significant because it was out of the blue and she NEVER says this without encouragement, especially to Lash.)

(Conversation between the kids one day while Lash was looking through an atlas)

Lash: "Henley, have you ever been to Asia?"

HJ: "No."

Lash: "They have lots of things: worms, pickles, grapes, watermelons, violins..."

Easter Sunday

Craft Project

Lash was given a small catalog with lots of animals in it. Shortly after he began perusing the pages he started saying "I want that one, I want this one..."

I came up with the idea to have him cut out the animals and create scenes: jungle, farm, mountain, etc. It turned out to be a wonderful project that he thoroughly enjoyed and it put a stop to the wanting....and it was free!

Spring Is Coming

We had a rare thunderstorm in February a few weeks ago and I said to the kids, "Do you know what is so great about this rain? Spring is coming!"

Lash responded with "Yeah, and we'll have birds on our hands and eat bugs."

Uh, what?!? Too many Disney movies?

"Jesus Loves Me"

At preschool recently Lash learned hand motions to "Jesus Loves Me." This is a song that both kids have sung in Children's Church and a song we sing at home. Henley picked up on the hand motions that Lash was using and I was able to get them to perform for the camera:

Sugar and Spice

Henley's personality continues to develop and become more defined every day. She is full of sugar and spice, but most often I would say she is spicy! Don't get me wrong, she has moments where she is super sweet...in fact just the other day she was sitting on a stool watching me bake cookies and she said "Hug" and I went over and she gave me a great big hug and kiss. I wish I could bottle those moments up and remember them on days when her sass is shining through.

This is the outfit she would wear every day if we let her.

The other day my mom and I were in the kitchen and Henley was sitting on the stool watching us and she crossed her arms, stuck out her tongue just a little bit and said "Close door please." On the bright side, she used her manners! Moments later I turned around and bumped into her. I wasn't sure what she was doing but later realized she had found a tape measurer and she was measuring our bums! Where did she come up with that idea?

On the way to church this morning Lash shared his sunglasses with her. She said "Look Mom." I turned around to see her and said "So pretty!" She promptly corrected me and said "No, cool."

Did I mention she loves princesses and the color pink?

Dinner Party

The kids are at the age where they fight A LOT! I feel like a referee most of the time, which can be exhausting. However, it makes me thankful that much more when they happily play together.

Today they were pretend eating together and I had the idea to set up a dinner party for them. It was so interesting to listen to them role play and serve each other. Henley reminded Lash that they needed to pray before they ate:

They actually prayed several times and Henley prayed once, which was the first time I have ever heard her pray...so sweet!

Henley offered to go get Lash a cookie (she had to go all the way downstairs and sort through the play kitchen to find what she was looking for) and later Lash went down for some french fries and ketchup "and mustard" (Henley shouted to him while he was searching).

A wonderful dinner party was had by all (and I didn't even get to eat any food)!

Kids Say the Silliest Things

We had our very first parent/teacher conference with Lash's preschool teacher. While there she told us a story of when all of the kids were picking up toys before snack time. Lash announces to his classmates: "Come on guys...we don't work, we don't eat." Clint and I completely blushed when she told us this! I have been working on that biblical principle (2 Thes 3:10) with Lash at home, but I never expected him to use it at school!!

After dinner Henley was running around and I asked the general question of whether or not she had been washed up. My mom said "No, she just jumped out of her highchair." I looked at Henley and she looked back at me and said "Boing"!! Perfect timing!!

Putt Putt

Lash had been working toward a goal and he achieved it this week. For his reward we took the kids to town for a game of putt putt and milkshakes.

It was a perfect fall evening and we had the course to ourselves.

As it turned out...the kids enjoyed the pretend horse (and the other animals) as much or more as they enjoyed the putt putt. Regardless it was a fun evening to get outside and enjoy each other.