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.

Lash turns 4!!

Happy birthday kiddo (one day late because his birthday was actually yesterday, September 21)!!

You are growing up into such a wonderful "big boy"! Your favorite things are animals...all kinds of animals, but your absolute favorites are farm animals and especially horses! You also love basketball, soccer, football, baseball and golf. Your favorite food to eat is pizza and you love going to Oma's house because she has donuts (oftentimes provided by Uncle Caj).

A normal day includes reading books, playing with cars, watching VeggieTales, and of course playing with animals and dinosaurs. You enjoy reading the Bible before bed and you always ask Daddy to read you two or three stories.You and Henley are still working on sharing toys and you both seem to always want the toy the other is playing with at that exact moment.

I am so proud to be your mom and I love you!

Preschool?!?

Lash has started preschool...wow! Henley thought that she was starting school too when she got to tag along to the "Take Your Parent to School Day," which was an open house to visit the school and meet the teachers. She jumped right in there wearing a backpack and playing with the older kids. She also thoroughly enjoyed the two days when Lash was at school and she got all of the attention!

On the first day of school Lash missed Henley, but he found the sandbox on the playground and the dinosaurs and farm animals to play with, which made it bearable. I think they will both adjust to the new routine and find that it has its perks.

Happy Birthday Punkin

Henley Jane you are two years old! You are such a beautiful little girl with big blue eyes and a sweet smile. Although you and "Ash" don't always get along, you are the best of friends and you miss him when he goes to preschool. You also love your Daddy and you watch for him out the window when he is outside in the yard working or when you expect him home from work.

You are a girly girl with a tractor gene. You like to have your hair done in curlers and with bows, you love to hide treasures into your purse and carry it around on your arm, and you get so excited to put on pretty dresses. You play with baby dolls and are always asking me ("Mommy") to swaddle them for you. You also play with cars, "choo choos" and tractors, and when the basketballs come out you beg for someone to lift you up to dunk the ball.

Going outside is one of your favorite things to do, especially when it includes swinging on the swing set and going down the slide. You are big helper when the garden needs picked and you will take the vegetables and put them in the bucket, although not always as gently as I would prefer.

Thank you to a friend who put the following short video together as a birthday wish for Henley: