We've Been Waiting for This ALL YEAR

It has been terribly hard for Andrew to watch Lizzy continue to loose teeth this year and get the enviable tooth fairy money.  He has wiggled and wiggled and even tried to knock teeth out but to no avail.  And then when it happened... when he slipped on the stairs and knocked it loose... he almost hyperventilated.  He kept it in there hanging for a few days because he wanted to lose it at school.  If you lose your tooth at school, you get a pretty cool little treasure box to keep it in.  So he did.  And he got just what he wanted.  And we have a very happy boy.

Stitches

Our 8 + years of stitch-free parenting ended a few weeks ago when Sam stepped on some broken glass.  I must say Sam was a remarkable patient.   Of course he howled when it happened, but only for a moment and then he immediately started talking about the friends that needed to come and see his BLOOD!!  Even now that the stitches have been out for 2 or 3 weeks... he likes to tell anyone that will listen about his stitches.  He is quite proud.  In fact it has created a whole new fascination with owies.   He has at least 7 right now and is proud of every one of them.  He wants to know about everyone's owie's too.  So if you have a good one... we'd love to see it.

Andrew made a great mask for Sam don't ya think?

Destroyed....

Last November  I had this great idea about how we were going to pick a big 'ole puzzle and work together to complete it.  Family togetherness and all that good stuff.  We picked a doozy and after a few hours of labor on the kids part... it was pretty much left to me.  I spent hours and hours on this thing.  When our grandparents came to visit... they even added a few hours. 

5 months later..... a half finished puzzle was sitting in the living room and no one had touched it for atleast a month. 

So Sam and his buddy Dayton decided to take a turn at it. 

It actually only took me a moment to let the frustration subside before I realized that I wasn't unhappy about this.   If not for these stinkers... it would still be sitting in my living room half done with very little potential of ever being finished.  Now I have my corner back and my hours and our next family togetherness project will probably not be 1000 pieces.

Lately....

This has become my lunchtime treat.  It's been going on for like 2 weeks.  One episode, one sandwich and I am good to go. 

 Bacon. Lettuce. Tomato.

Love it.

Strawberries 2012

I am a fan of Froberg Farm.  It is a local little farm and actually has really affordable fruits and veggies for sale.  As I have really been trying to step it up in the healthy eating department around here... Frobergs has been a great resource.  The kids and I went last week.  After picking strawberries we walked around the little store all excited about the foods there so I let them pick out whatever they wanted.  They were sure more willing to eat the food they'd picked out themselves. 

I love that we ate so simply that night.  No cooking.  This, along with some slices of french bread was our entire meal.  It was eaten between spins around the merry-go-round and trips down the slide.  We need to do this more often....

Annual Kid Interview

ANDREW
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite book: Pete the Cat
What I like to do more than anything is: play a game with my sister
Favorite game: made up games
Toy: an empty milk jug
Movie: Electric Company (actually a show)
Song: Electric Company song
Primary song:  I am a Child of God
Breakfast food: Cereal
Dinner: Creamed Tuna
Other kids think that I am: the best kid.
What do you like about your Mom?  I think you're nice.
What do you like about your Dad? He's nice.
What do you like about Sam? He likes to play with me.
What do you like about Lizzy? She's there whenever I need her.
What do you like about yourself?  I can run fast. I can read Pete the Cat.
When I grow up I want to: be an illustrator
I like learning about: sharks
Sometimes I dream about:  marshmellow land
My best friends are:  Isaac and CJ
I want to go to: San Antonio
If I had one wish it would be:  Having my very own Cheetah Racer.
One thing I wish the whole world could know is:  about airplanes.

LIZZY
Favorite color:  light blue, pink and purple.
Favorite book:  Planet Earth:  Animals and their Prey
What I like to do more than anything is: read, get mail, sing, dance
Favorite game: princesses and ponies
Toy: Princess Celestia
Movie: Tangled
Song: I Know a Little ole' cowboy
Primary song: Choose the Right
Breakfast food:  Bran Muffin
Dinner: Breakfast for Dinner, Spaghetti, Pizza
Other kids think that I am: great.
What do you like about your Mom? She's nice, patient and nags only when she needs to. (that's really what she said)
What do you like about your Dad? He earns our money.  He's really nice and cares a lot about our safety.
What do you like about Sam? He's cute and funny.
What do you like about Andrew? He's fun.
What do you like about yourself? I'm a good reader and I'm smart.
When I grow up I want to: Be an author or a teacher
I like learning about: everything. 
Sometimes I dream about:  I don't want to answer that.  It's a bad question.  I can't remember my dreams.
My best friends are:  Ellie, Coral, and Andrew
I want to go to:  China and England
One thing I wish the whole world could know is:  That I'm awesome.  and We need to start saving our world.  Save nature.

SAM 
Did I do this for him last year?  I can't remember.  Here are a few guesses.
Favorite color: Blue.  Atleast he always wants the blue plate and spoon.
Favorite book: He seems to like Little Critter books.
What I like to do more than anything is: be right next to someone.  Lizzy, Andrew, Mom or Dad.  I also like to be outside, read books, watch cartoons and entertain my family.
Favorite game: copy what Lizzy and Andrew are doing.
Toy: Andrew's drill
Movie: Leap Frog Alphabet movie
Song: The Ants go Marching
Primary song: I am a Child of GodBreakfast food: Rice Pudding
Dinner: Ummm... not a big dinner eater.
Other kids think that I am:  Very entertaining.
What do you like about your Mom?  She gets me food and plays chase with me.
What do you like about your Dad? He watched football with me and gives good piggyback rides.
What do you like about Lizzy? She kisses me when I get an owie.
What do you like about Andrew? We run together and wrestle a lot.
What do you like about yourself? I'm awesome.
When I grow up I want to:  go to school just like Lizzy and Andrew
I like learning about:  whatever mom is doing.
Sometimes I dream about: ????
My best friends are: my family, of course, Talmage, Dayton, Barrett.
I want to go to: another camping trip.
One thing I wish the whole world could know is:  I went potty!!

The Many Faces of Sam