Thursday, October 30, 2008
TV Cart
At our local grocery store they have these TV carts where you pay a dollar and your kids can sit in the cab and watch the TV that is on the dash board. It is always a great privilege when the kids get to ride in one of these carts. Daniel and Monica both got Halloween cards with $2 a piece from Nanny and Papa. Daniel chose to use one of his dollars for the TV cart, and even though Monica loves to push the restart button which causes his movie to start all over again, and she is loud and annoys him to death, he was kind enough to allow her to sit in there with him. What a nice big brother! 
Halloween
Tomorrow is Halloween and we will again be dressing up and hitting the undergrad dorms here on campus for candy. Just to explain the chosen costumes a little bit, first Monica is a mouse. I was not going to buy her a halloween costume but I went into Old Navy the other day and had these costumes on clearance for $5! I could not pass it up. Daniel says that she is dressed up like Remy from the movie Rattaouille.
Now for Daniel's costume. Daniel had his pick of either being Superman, a Dog, Thomas train, or Larry Boy. Then we went to the library and he checked out the disney movie "Underdog". He LOVED it and begged to be underdog for halloween. We do not have a underdog costume, so I did what ever good mother does, improvise. I took his dog costume that my mom had gotten at a garage sale, and put the Superman costume on backwards, so you cannot see the "S". The superman costume was made by my mother in law for Brandon when he was little. So there you have it, Underdog! On tuesday we dressed up and went to Barnes and Nobel. They were having a trick or treat night. I thought for sure no one would know what it was that Daniel was dressed up as, but that was not the case. So many kids were yelling "Look mom there is Underdog!" What knew that Underdog was such a popular movie! So here is my Mouse and my super hero dog Underdog.
Here is Daniel at Barnes and Nobel with our friends Ella and Ava. They are listening to stories.
Now for Daniel's costume. Daniel had his pick of either being Superman, a Dog, Thomas train, or Larry Boy. Then we went to the library and he checked out the disney movie "Underdog". He LOVED it and begged to be underdog for halloween. We do not have a underdog costume, so I did what ever good mother does, improvise. I took his dog costume that my mom had gotten at a garage sale, and put the Superman costume on backwards, so you cannot see the "S". The superman costume was made by my mother in law for Brandon when he was little. So there you have it, Underdog! On tuesday we dressed up and went to Barnes and Nobel. They were having a trick or treat night. I thought for sure no one would know what it was that Daniel was dressed up as, but that was not the case. So many kids were yelling "Look mom there is Underdog!" What knew that Underdog was such a popular movie! So here is my Mouse and my super hero dog Underdog.
Here is Daniel at Barnes and Nobel with our friends Ella and Ava. They are listening to stories.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Pumpkin Patch
On Thursday morning I took the kids on a field trip to a farm/pumpkin patch. We were going with the Soul Care group, which is the bible study group of seminary wives. The agenda for the day was go to the farm, go on a hay ride, get a pumpkin, and see animals. But before we did any of that we had to try to make sure everyone was dressed warm enough to be outside for 2 hours in 31 degree weather! Even though I dressed the kids very warm it did not take long for us all to get very cold outside. Despite the coldness the kids had a great time. Monica was so tired after the whole ordeal that she fell asleep in the car and did not wake up when I took her out and put her to bed. That NEVER happens. She is a very light sleeper.
Here are the kids in the car waiting to go. We had to scrap off a thin layer of ice from the dew.
Monica on the hay ride.
Daniel and Monica on the hay ride.
The kids waiting to have their donut and apple cider. The cider was very good. I bought a gallon of it and brought it home! I love the holidays!
Daniel found his perfect pumpkin pretty quickly. Monica on the other hand was much more selective. She walked all the way down the row of pumpkins check them all out before she chose the one she wanted. Near the end of the line she saw her perfect pumpkin about 3 rows in. When she found the one she wanted she picked it up and immediately put it in her mouth.
Monica loved the animals. They had goats, rabbits, peacocks, chickens, and deer.
Daniel's favorite part was the corn maze. He loved being able to chose which way we went to try to get out. When we did finally make it out of the maze I looked at Daniel and said "Do you want to do it again?" His face lite up and he smiled very big and yelled "yeah!!!" So we went through it again. This time Monica was not such a happy camper. She was getting tired, so I carried her most of the way through the maze. It was fun seeing Daniel having so much fun!
Daniel in the corn maze.
Monica trying to keep up on the corn maze.
Here are the kids in the car waiting to go. We had to scrap off a thin layer of ice from the dew.
Monica on the hay ride.
Daniel and Monica on the hay ride.
The kids waiting to have their donut and apple cider. The cider was very good. I bought a gallon of it and brought it home! I love the holidays!
Daniel found his perfect pumpkin pretty quickly. Monica on the other hand was much more selective. She walked all the way down the row of pumpkins check them all out before she chose the one she wanted. Near the end of the line she saw her perfect pumpkin about 3 rows in. When she found the one she wanted she picked it up and immediately put it in her mouth.
Monica loved the animals. They had goats, rabbits, peacocks, chickens, and deer.
Daniel's favorite part was the corn maze. He loved being able to chose which way we went to try to get out. When we did finally make it out of the maze I looked at Daniel and said "Do you want to do it again?" His face lite up and he smiled very big and yelled "yeah!!!" So we went through it again. This time Monica was not such a happy camper. She was getting tired, so I carried her most of the way through the maze. It was fun seeing Daniel having so much fun!
Daniel in the corn maze. 
Monica trying to keep up on the corn maze.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Boo at the Zoo
Every year the John Ball Zoo has what they call "Boo at the Zoo". The kids get to dress up in their costumes and go on the "cooky not spooky" trail and get candy and prizes. Daniel was very excited about going to the zoo. Of course he wanted to be Larry Boy. It is going to be a sad day when he outgrows that larry boy suit! I did not have a costume for Monica, so I was looking through her clothes when I came across this dress. I thought it was perfect.
Isn't my little farmer girl adorable!
Daniel on the cooky trail.
On the trail they had a wooden train that both Monica and Daniel loved to play on.
They also had a petting zoo. Daniel was a little bit more cautious of the animals than Monica. Monica loves animals and she has no fear. Right now she seems to think that every animal barks. She loves dogs and has figured out that they bark. So in the petting zoo she chased around all the animals barking at them. I think that the animals were happy when we finally left their pen. It was really cute watching her.
Daniel got to make his own scarecrow to be part of a set for our family picture. At the end of the day he said that this was one of his favorite parts of the day.
This is our family picture with the scare crow Daniel built.
My beautiful daughter!
Isn't my little farmer girl adorable!
Daniel on the cooky trail.
On the trail they had a wooden train that both Monica and Daniel loved to play on.
They also had a petting zoo. Daniel was a little bit more cautious of the animals than Monica. Monica loves animals and she has no fear. Right now she seems to think that every animal barks. She loves dogs and has figured out that they bark. So in the petting zoo she chased around all the animals barking at them. I think that the animals were happy when we finally left their pen. It was really cute watching her.
Daniel got to make his own scarecrow to be part of a set for our family picture. At the end of the day he said that this was one of his favorite parts of the day.
This is our family picture with the scare crow Daniel built.
My beautiful daughter!
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Random pictures from the last month
Didn't you know cheerios always taste better if you dump them out and eat them off the floor? 
Monica at Olive Garden. She thinks she is to big for a high chair so she now sits in a booster at the table with the rest of us.
Zachary is a very serious driver! (For those who do not know Zachary is a boy I babysit full time)
Daniel playing on his sit and spin.
Monica is not so much a serious driver.
There are many times a day that Monica will go up to the window and say "da da da da". She knows he is out there somewhere.
Monica reading a book in the bean bag chair at the library. She loves to read books.
Daniel and Monica playing dress up at the library.
Monica got so tired she just feel asleep on the floor next to me. I was trying to wait to put her to bed because I had to go and pick Daniel up from school.
Later that same day during rest time Daniel made a "dog house" out of his book and then some how feel asleep "inside" his dog house. I am not sure how he feel asleep like this but he did!
I hope you enjoyed the pictures!
Monica at Olive Garden. She thinks she is to big for a high chair so she now sits in a booster at the table with the rest of us.
Zachary is a very serious driver! (For those who do not know Zachary is a boy I babysit full time)
Daniel playing on his sit and spin.
Monica is not so much a serious driver.
There are many times a day that Monica will go up to the window and say "da da da da". She knows he is out there somewhere.
Monica reading a book in the bean bag chair at the library. She loves to read books.
Daniel and Monica playing dress up at the library.
Monica got so tired she just feel asleep on the floor next to me. I was trying to wait to put her to bed because I had to go and pick Daniel up from school.
Later that same day during rest time Daniel made a "dog house" out of his book and then some how feel asleep "inside" his dog house. I am not sure how he feel asleep like this but he did!
I hope you enjoyed the pictures!
Monday, October 06, 2008
Hearts at Home Conference
This past weekend I was able to go to a hearts at home conference. I will write more about this later, but I wanted to mention that it gave me a refreshed view of motherhood. I came home appreciating my job as a mother even more than I did before. The whole time I was at the conference I wished that my sister Andrea was there by my side getting the same refreshment. I decided to make this music video for her so that she could have a little reminder of how special her job as a mother is. I love you Andrea. You are a magnificent mother.
Monday, September 22, 2008
"It has been observed, wisely, I think, that hymns and choruses make liars of us all. We sing of glorious Christian experiences as though they were our very won, and yet they are not. Hymns of commitment are probably the ones most often sung without putting the words into action. When we mouth the truths without thought or meaning, it leads us to accept an unreal experience as the norm. Without realizing it, we're actually living a lie. It is lamentable that our rich heritage of Christian music may lead us to substitute a fiction for the real thing."
-Paul E Little "How to give your faith away"
-Paul E Little "How to give your faith away"
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
My baby is growing up!
Last year Daniel was put into a two day a week speech class. This class has changed all of our lives and Daniel LOVED it. We decided that this year he needed to be in that class again so that by the time he is in kindergarden he will not be held back because of his speech difficulties. It was a long and hard decision on what to do for this year but finally we decided that the best thing to do would be to have him in speech two mornings a week and preschool two mornings a week. We were very happy with our decision and told Daniel all about what was going to happen.
Well, turns out that is not what happened. There was a misunderstanding amongst the staff that registered him for school this year. He is scheduled to be in preschool 4 mornings a week and in speech two afternoons. I talked to his teacher from last year for a while yesterday to try to figure out what will happen next. She said that she will observe him this week and see what his current speech needs are and then next week we will see what happens next.
I had been telling Daniel all summer that he was going to be in Ms Jodi's class one day and then in with Ms Chris. When I told him that he was no longer going to be with Ms. Chris he was very very sad. We talked this morning about how he will have fun with Ms. Jodi and that he is getting to be such a big boy he does not need to be in Ms. Chris' class anymore. He kept telling me that I said he was going to be in with Ms. Chris. Trying to explain to a 4 year old that plans have changed is not an easy thing to do.
So today I loaded up my baby girl and my disappointed big boy into the van and off to preschool we went. After we got there I told Daniel he could go into his class and he took my hand and struck up into me and said "All by myself". My heart broke. I fought the tears and walked him over to his coat hook and helped him get settled. As I gave him one more hug and kiss it took everything in me to let go! As I turned to leave I found myself fighting more tears. I thought about him all the way home, and all this morning.
I know that I am not the first mother to cry leaving their baby at school. I am also sure that this will not be the last time I cry leaving my baby in a place where he is not that comfortable. And I am also sure that each time I have to walk away will be just as hard as the last.
On a lighter note this morning Daniel was getting ready for school and I just hear him grunting and groaning. I went into his room to see what in the world he is doing and I found him trying to pull up his pants without unbuttoning them. I explained to him that it would be easier if he would unbutton his pants. He said "Mom I can do it!" and then with another big grunt and a pull he said "see mom I am using my muscles!" After a couple more tries he said "Mom I will let you know if I change my mind okay." Then he pulled one more time as hard as he could, then he said 'okay I changed my mind" He finally unbuttons the button and easily pulled up his pants and went on his way!
What a funny kid!
Well, turns out that is not what happened. There was a misunderstanding amongst the staff that registered him for school this year. He is scheduled to be in preschool 4 mornings a week and in speech two afternoons. I talked to his teacher from last year for a while yesterday to try to figure out what will happen next. She said that she will observe him this week and see what his current speech needs are and then next week we will see what happens next.
I had been telling Daniel all summer that he was going to be in Ms Jodi's class one day and then in with Ms Chris. When I told him that he was no longer going to be with Ms. Chris he was very very sad. We talked this morning about how he will have fun with Ms. Jodi and that he is getting to be such a big boy he does not need to be in Ms. Chris' class anymore. He kept telling me that I said he was going to be in with Ms. Chris. Trying to explain to a 4 year old that plans have changed is not an easy thing to do.
So today I loaded up my baby girl and my disappointed big boy into the van and off to preschool we went. After we got there I told Daniel he could go into his class and he took my hand and struck up into me and said "All by myself". My heart broke. I fought the tears and walked him over to his coat hook and helped him get settled. As I gave him one more hug and kiss it took everything in me to let go! As I turned to leave I found myself fighting more tears. I thought about him all the way home, and all this morning.
I know that I am not the first mother to cry leaving their baby at school. I am also sure that this will not be the last time I cry leaving my baby in a place where he is not that comfortable. And I am also sure that each time I have to walk away will be just as hard as the last.
On a lighter note this morning Daniel was getting ready for school and I just hear him grunting and groaning. I went into his room to see what in the world he is doing and I found him trying to pull up his pants without unbuttoning them. I explained to him that it would be easier if he would unbutton his pants. He said "Mom I can do it!" and then with another big grunt and a pull he said "see mom I am using my muscles!" After a couple more tries he said "Mom I will let you know if I change my mind okay." Then he pulled one more time as hard as he could, then he said 'okay I changed my mind" He finally unbuttons the button and easily pulled up his pants and went on his way!
What a funny kid!
Saturday, September 06, 2008
A fun Saturday
Today we had a fun day. Brandon went to study at the library today, so the kids and I went out and about this morning. First stop was toys r us, or as Daniel calls it Toys for us. As many times I have tired to correct this Daniel really thinks the place is called Toys for us. I can understand why he thinks that. Before we left I let him pick out another die cast car to go with his Disney Cars collection. He was very excited about it.
After we left Toys For Us we went to play at the park. It was a beautiful day to play at the park. Monica was trying to climb up everything. She tried to follow Daniel up the stairs and down the slides. It is hard to believe that she is only a year old!
Then we came home and had lunch and rest time. After rest time daddy came home, we ate and then went back to the park. This time I remembered my camera. I had a lot of fun playing with the kids. Daniel and I played hide and seek. That was a lot of fun, although I found that I do not hide as easily as I used to!
Aren't these kids adorable!
Monica loved playing peek a boo in through the tunnel!
After we left Toys For Us we went to play at the park. It was a beautiful day to play at the park. Monica was trying to climb up everything. She tried to follow Daniel up the stairs and down the slides. It is hard to believe that she is only a year old!
Then we came home and had lunch and rest time. After rest time daddy came home, we ate and then went back to the park. This time I remembered my camera. I had a lot of fun playing with the kids. Daniel and I played hide and seek. That was a lot of fun, although I found that I do not hide as easily as I used to!
Aren't these kids adorable!
Monica loved playing peek a boo in through the tunnel!
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