So They Say...Funny Stuff I Don't Want to Forget

Nora was playing with a decorative cross that was sitting outside next to our koi pond. She looked up and said, "This is where Jesus died."

Nora praying one day as we got in the car (after a particularly not so great day full of naughtiness and my wrong responses): "Dear God, help us to be kind and good and that everybody can play on the Kindle." :)

Aidan was walking around the house with a stud finder. He put it on Enna and exclaimed, "This thing thinks Enna is made of wood!"

Asked Nora what happened to her face (there was a scratch on her forehead). She replied (sung to the tune of Jingle Bells) "Aidan, Aidan, Aidan all the way!"

Nora adding "d" to the end of things:
Do you want some root beerd?
It's a dinosaurd!
Juice makes my bottom sored.

Aidan explaining Gobstoppers:
"They get lighter and then they lose their strength."

I asked Nora what the snake's name was in the Garden of Eden. Her reply? "I don't know....naughty words?"

Nora asked me if we could pet animals at the zoo. I said, "No, I don't think so." She asked, "Are they fragile?" Aidan piped in and said, "Just the females!"

Nora stated after she had been punished: "My eyebrows are pouting!" (she often furrows her eyebrows when unhappy)

Aidan told Nora that her drawings of people did not look like people so he drew one of his own to show her how. She looked at his drawing and said, "That looks like a cricket!"

Awhile back I had told a story about my Grandma getting confused thinking a bar of soap she was given as a gift was supposed to be edible. She was gnawing on it and then exclaimed that it was soap and we all thought it was so hilarious. I don't remember directly telling this to the children, but they must have overheard because about a month later I was telling Nora not to eat toothpaste (she was sneaking in the bathroom during the day) and she replied, without missing a beat, "You said a Grandmother ate soap last day." I cracked up laughing and was shocked at her response.

Nora was walking behind Seth at the grocery store and he let out some gas (quietly). That girl has quite a nose and she loudly exclaimed, "Daddy, you have a stinky bottom!"

It's a Hard Knock Life...

...for Nora, that is. :)

Poor thing keeps falling asleep in random places at random times, but NOT in her bed and NOT during quiet time. Quiet time is really anything but quiet these days. And yes, she wears clothes, but had spilled water on them, had a huge screaming fit about it, took them off, and then huffed up the stairs...I guess she didn't quite make it. :)

Haphazard Homeschooling

So...Aidan started Kindergarten a couple weeks ago. He is going to "school" (enrichment program) 2 days a week from 9-2:15. The other days we are teaching him at home.

His first day went pretty well, but I was thoroughly surprised when he was less than excited (and even a little tearful) about being left at school. I thought he'd be jumping at the chance to be independent, but he clung to me and didn't want me to leave (probably a first for him). He was totally happy and talkative on the way home and just a tiny apprehensive the 2nd day. Since then, he's been totally fine. I think it's been really good for him and he seems super grown up now...except when he throws a fit about something silly (which is still kinda common these days).

I haven't been spending too long with him on the off days. It's been hard with a newborn. But we are getting things done slowly and I'm not too worried that he won't know what he needs to by the end of the year.

Nora wanted her picture taken on Aidan's first day. She looks so grown up too! I can't believe she turns 3 in just 2 weeks!

Isle of Palms Trip Pt. 1

We were so blessed to be able to spend a few days at Isle of Palms beach a few weeks ago. I know I had mentioned before the gorgeous beach house we were staying in...and it was indeed amazing.

We made the 2 hour drive after church, had a little nap when we arrived, had dinner, and then walked out on the beach as the sun was setting. It was glorious!

Of course we had planned for the kids to only get their feet wet. And, of course, that was absolutely reasonable. :) Our kids were soaked and sandy on the way home, but it was worth it. I will always cherish these moments with them even if they someday won't remember.

Be still my heart

Fighting over toys: 6 hours, 13 minutes.
Screaming at each other: 45 minutes
Crying: 2 hours
Sitting together, arms around each other, reading books: 7 minutes

Capturing that moment: PRICELESS!

Kids Photo Shoot: May 2012

Last month I had an impromptu photo shoot with the kids and got some cute pictures of them. They are rarely this sweet to each other, but I'm glad I captured these moments. Now I just need to decide which I like best and put some on our walls!

First Pigtails!

Reading with Daddy

There is really  nothing more sweet that "Daddy time" in the evenings. I love these moments.

More Christmas In Kansas: Time with friends

We were so blessed to have our dear friends Kara and Cody come up to see us during New Year's weekend. We had planned a trip down to AR, but with Nora fighting off a cold/ear infection and not sleeping well, we decided it probably would be a very miserable trip for all of us. So our friends came up to see us instead! We were so excited because they brought baby Ruby and it was our first time to meet her.

 Aidan loved Ruby. He was so sweet with her it almost made me want another baby...almost. If he would treat Nora this nice all the time I might even be more convinced, but we are still desperately working on that in our house right now.

We had a fun evening playing games and eating yummy food. Wish our time could have lasted longer. We rung in the new year, went to bed and all started 2012 with very little sleep thanks to the little ones in our lives.

Loved getting to hold my bestie's little baby girl. I am so glad that we can share our motherhood journey's now that we are both in that life phase. Kara has been such a dear friend, even when we were in two very different worlds, but it is sure fun to have her friendship turn into a motherhood camaraderie.

So big.

My kids are just getting too big. I remember when I bought this table. Aidan was a baby and I got it at a garage sale. I remember thinking it would be forever until I would have two little ones sitting in it. But yet, here they are, eating their dinner, and watching a Christmas movie. I can't tell you how much this makes my heart smile.

Love.These.Kids.

We've been doing a lot of playing outside these days. It is great having a yard, quiet street, and driveway to play on. And, neighbor children to play with. Aidan asks me everyday, "Can I go play with my neighbors?"
 I started watching a little boy today and will continue to do so part-time for the next little while. I am trying to save up a little extra money for plane tickets to Kansas for Christmas. Aidan is only about 2 months younger than him and they actually play well together, so I think it might actually be a win-win situation.

Nora is walking really well now and can go up and down the driveway at record speeds. She loves being outside and screams if you open the door, but don't let her out. She is really cautious about steps and stands at our front steps and holds out her hand sweetly for help. Her newest words are "step" and "dance."

It was in the low 60s today and we had fun wearing jackets. It was 94 yesterday and we were in shorts and tank tops, so it was quite a change this morning. I enjoyed dressing the children in long pants today and love the cooler weather. It is supposed to warm up again into the 80s next week, so we'll be back to wearing summer clothes, but the taste of fall is still nice. We baked cookies this afternoon and took a long walk around our neighborhood. It has been awhile since I've had both kids in the jogger together because most days Aidan wants to ride his bike instead. We had a nice little stroll though and it ate up the last bit of the afternoon before Daddy came home.

Is it just me, or do my kids look more and more alike?

Trying to be fun

We are back to being at home all day with no car because some things didn't work out with Seth's ride to work. So, we decided to make the best of it and have some outside water fun. I just let the kids get soaked in their clothes (Nora's wearing pj's) and they had a blast. They kept busy for a good hour before we came in for lunch. 

This pic cracks me up. The glasses are ridiculous and he kept saying, "one man in the tub."

Nora was having a blast playing with chalk

Aidan wearing goggles and yelling, "To infinity and beyond" as he ran up and down the driveway

Sweet tired baby who skipped her morning nap...looks like she will be down to taking just one nap before she turns a year. She loves to play more than she loves to sleep.