A Good Reason to Have Another Kid

After school today Lizzy went to a friends house.  Since Andrew didn't have preschool and we had nowhere to go... it was just Andrew and I (and Sam) at home for about 4 hours.  During that time Andrew asked me to:
Play dinosaurs with him (you be the mamma Anklysaurus)
Find his squishy cars
Turn on PBS kids for him on the computer
Watch him play PBS Kids on the computer (But I don't want you to shower I want you to watch me.)
Get him some breakfast
Make some more breakfast bars
Make bran muffins
Make him some lunch
Put new batteries in his dump truck
Find his boots
Play hide and go seek with him
Help him find his alligator
Play a guessing game
Listen to his joke again!!

While I was trying to make breakfast bars, comfort a crying baby and find Andrew's squishy cars I told Andrew that I simply didn't have long enough arms to reach over and change the batteries in his dump truck as well.  He assured me that if I'd pray and ask Heavenly Father... He would give me long enough arms to reach the oven and dump truck at the same time. 

Finally Lizzy is home....  they are playing together downstairs.  I am upstairs.  Alone.  By myself.  And thanking God that they have each other.

This is My World

Different trends come and go at our home.  For awhile it was dress-ups and super hero's.  Then it was princesses.  For awhile the wheeled toys (scooter and wiggle car) were going non-stop and my wittle toe got rolled over one too many times.  But right now we have a new trend... and it is everywhere.

There is no warming up my left-overs until I reckon with Velociraptor.  The fridge is gaurded fiercely by Mr. Allosaurus, Stegosaurus and poor Mr. T-Rex (whom I afraid has misplaced the top of his head.) 

It's taken over our lives. 

And you know what????  

I love it. 

Great Entertainment

Good news!!! Have you been looking for the perfect toy for your little one? Something that will provide hours of entertainment? Something that they seem to never grow weary of? Then I have the product for you. It's called Baby Brother. Many many many times during the day the kids will ask. "Can I play with Sam?" "Will you put Sam right here so I can play with him?" And sometimes a fight emerges. ("Hey it's my turn to play with Sam.") I will admit this toy is fairly high maintenance, but that's a post for another day.

6 Things to Love (and so much more)

She's a whopping 6 years old.  There is so much to love about this girl.  Really and truly.  Here are 6 of my favorite things about Lizzy.

1.  I love the way that Lizzy laughs.  Especially when she is being silly... she just makes me giggle with her. 

2.  Compassion.  Lizzy so often surprises me when I find her emotional over something that I didn't even think twice about.  She watched the Goofy Movie awhile ago and was quite worried about how sad the dad was that his son didn't want to hang out with him.  She assured me that she'd always want to hang out with me.  We'll see...

3.  I think this is somewhat abnormal for a 6 year old, but Lizzy admits it when she's been wrong.  Often.  She'll say... sorry, I lost my temper.  I shouldn't have done that.

4.  Everything is exciting to Lizzy.  I love to tell her about things out there in the world because she is always interested.  Whether it's history or science or even stories from my life.  I know this sounds crazy since I've had a pretty boring life... but Lizzy always asks me to "tell about the time that you......"

5.  Lizzy keeps me on my toes.  I can't tell you how many times Lizzy has said something and I've thought.... hmmm.....she's talking like someone I know.  Why is it so familiar???  And then I realize... it's me.    The older she gets, the more I see her becoming a little mini me.  She follows my example amazing well. Sometimes I'm so proud when I see her following me ... and sometimes I cringe when I see her copying some trait that I never wanted to pass on to a child.  All in all though... she keeps me on my toes.  I have to ALWAYS be aware of the example I'm setting because she'll follow it.

and last...

6.  She's mine.  Sometimes I've wondered why God loves us so much.  One day I realized that it is separate from anything we do or say..... He loves us because we are His.  That's how I feel about Lizzy.  I just love her... because I love her.

Happy Birthday Girl!!!

Dear Santa

Bummer.  It is a little cut-off.  It says,
Merry Christmas.  Dear Santa, I am so sorry that we didn't leave cookies for you.  Thank you for the toys.  Me and Andrew love them.

Love, Lizzy

Learning From My Kids

I want my kids to listen when I talk to them.  I get aggravated when I have to repeat myself over and over again.  And it just forms bad habits... I get in the habit of not really meaning it because I don't expect them to listen anyway and the kids of course know that they don't really need to do what I ask until I start getting mad.  So lately... we've been working on it.  When the kids listen the first time they get to put a noodle in the jar.  When the jar is full... they earn something.  Simple enough.  It is going SO well.  I beam with pride when I ask a kid to do something and they hop right up and do it.  It makes me feel good. 

Today....
I was making dinner and Andrew was talking and talking and finally started crying.  When I turned to listen to him he said, " Mom I asked you to tie this rope on the dinosaur 3 times and you didn't listen."   And guess what???... he was right.  He had asked me three times. 

The lesson:  PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH.

Thanks buddy.

Next Generation

I love that this tradition hasn't changed in the last 26 years. I think it's a keeper.

Me and my siblings. Probably 1983 (ish).

Andrew, Tiana and Lizzy 2009.