Hodge Podge

So, I've been a blogging slacker lately.

Happens to the best of us, I suppose.  My goal is to blog two or three times a week.  Being that this is only the sixth post this month, I totally missed out in some perfect sharing opportunities. So I am going to post a hodge podge of lovely pictures!

I think this might be my new favorite picture of Owen.

Looking so intently at what Bethany is drawing.

Cheese...

 Making numbers flashcards.

Making a complete mess.

And another mess, just this time on his face.

B has been earning small privileges for all green-light weeks at preschool. Last week she earned Fritz's for the family. She was so proud!

Okay, so I promise that March will be better & I will post more frequently. If not, rest assured that I'd be in the doghouse {er} toybox.

Let, Let, Let all the Children

Bethany sang at church a couple of weeks ago. She loves the choir.   I just love her lil' shy girl facial expressions.

She's just too much!

Broke on Valentine's Day

 When kids don't have money to buy you a Valentine's Day Present...

They...

like to....

improvise....

then they might try to....

escape from Time Out!



there are times

There are times where motherhood is rather stressful. Having to work all day just to come home to clean, cook, discipline, and love. Don't even get me started on the impossibility to find times for the husband and myself. There are times where you run and run throughout the entire weekend and you are.just.worn.out!

But then you take a day off of work to help celebrate Valentine's Day at the 3 year old's preschool.   All those late night and exhausting days seemed to be worth it.  I mean...look at the outfit she puts together. Isn't see scrumptious!

But before preschool...it is time for McD's.

 

At the party I watch Bethany totally comfortable with where she's at.

 It was so much fun for me to see her at her school & to help host her party.  They had ice cream sundaes, made necklaces, hit the pinata and exchanged cards. 

It was so rewarding to see her in her preschool with all her friends.  After seeing her in her school, I am so grateful that we chose that preschool a year ago. It is a perfect fit for Bethany.   I can't wait until when Owen gets his chance to attend her school in a short 1 and 1/2 years!

We've got a problem

Hooded Towels.  Yeah, I am going there.

These kids certainly have a problem...

perhaps an addiction...

See...their heads can't be untoweled...

 

they've even started enabling each other...

 Is there a Hooded Towel Anonymous we can start considering? 

I'd hate for this to crutch to hold them back from other their hopes and desires to have a normal, hooded towel-free life!

becoming friends...

Thanks goodness these two have each other.  Being snowbound the last few days, they certainly have found a way to entertain each other.  They are becoming pretty good friends, you know...when they aren't fighting over 1 toy among the 18,383,292 toys in this house.  

But there are times between their fighting and whining, where they are absolutely adorable.
 Like when they prance around the house holding hands with their bear.

Or when they climb in bins, which were placed in the toy box.

Or reading books together. 

Yup...it is official these two are becoming good friends. And I've become one blessed mama!

1st child

Bethany's first-childness is certainly emerging recently.  She is a pleaser, rule-follower, advanced-learner, sibling-protector, and instigator all in one 38 lb, blue eyed, blond girl.  We aren't going to even bother mention her brother-correcting ways. Man...one would think there was three parents in this household...but I digress...

Bethany is becoming a nice lil' teacher to Owen.  She likes going up to her room w/ her brother in tow. They run up, flip the lights on and off a thousand times*, occasionally slam the doors* and then the lessons begin.  (* = both of which they've been instructed not to)

She likes to begin her lesson by putting a book on the chalk board (like Mrs. S), then she goes on to teach Owen the letter or number of the day. 

If you ever get the pleasure of being in her class, make sure you copy her techniques ex-act-ly.  If not...she will make you aware of your faulty ways.

However, she is a very eager and enthusiastic teacher.  Wouldn't you like to be a part of her classroom?

{Snow} Day!

Bundled up!

Barely able to move.

 Excited to finally be outside.

 Taking a break.

Shoveling away.

Randomly throwing snow back on the drive way.

 Throwing it at Dad!

 Enjoying our Snow day!

Our lil' Monkey

Our lil' monkey finally has a more fitting habitat.

After contemplating and planning Owen's room for the better part of a year...it finally came into fruition!

I think our energetic lil' monkey will have no problems getting along with his new roommates!

He even gets to sleep next to his very own lion and elephant!

Just in case you aren't quite sure where you are...

Pretty amazing that the lion doesn't even bother to go for the giraffe. Do lions even eat giraffes? Hmm...best get on Google for that one!

And what did our freshly hair-cut Owen think about it? 

Well...he loved it! I am so glad that his room is finally complete! 

Today is...

Six months since Owen's surgery to correct his craniosynostosis (which just so happens to coincide with it has been 6 months since some of the single worst moments of my life). 

But I gotta say that today...

Owen's

looking

mighty

fine!

Baby Big-Girl Bethany,

Bethany,

Wow! Sweetie! I am not sure when you stopped being this lil' baby girl that I remember. But somehow this beautiful little girl has emerged from that once, bright-eyed, fussy, cuddley little baby.  Now, you are 3.5 years with an immense love for you God, family and school.

When I look at you it is hard to fathom where the time has gone.  You have grown so much lately. Since you have started preschool you have learned an incredible amount of information.  You can recite several pledges, Bible verses, and songs.  You know your alphabet by site for 80% of the letters (being able to write most of the letters you have been taught). You can even write your name and your brother's!  Your memory is remarkable.  You can tell many stories of things we have done even several months ago.  You recognize places and remember what we did there, even if we've been there only one time.

I am just so proud of the person you are becoming.  You are a very caring soul; giving your brother the very toy frog that you just earned from your preschool's treasure box.  While you aren't crazy adventurous, you don't mind egging your knows-no-boundaries brother to do you dirty work. You'd rather make sure to follow all the rules and be well aware of the situation at hand before you get to engrossed in any sort of activity.

You love singing.  Being a member of the SunBeam Choir is a perfect fit for you.  You really love God and seeming to understand exactly who God is. Dancing is your other activity.  I am certainly impressed that you are demonstrating something that resembles rhythm...you certainly didn't inherit that from me. 

Dear, sweet Bethany....I love you very much. Thank you for allowing me to be your mom...it is certainly one of the greatest honors I could ever imagine!

Love,

Mom