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.

Did you Blink?

If so... you may have missed this.

My baby went from this ....To this.... In like 5 minutes.....

Well.. okay it was 4 months. But boy that went fast.

And just because I know you are all dying to know. ...

4 month stats:

weight: 14 lbs. 11 oz

height: 25 inches

head circumference: I have no idea. I never really listen to that part.

Wierd Things My Kids Sometimes Do

1. Once I found Andrew playing with this Nativity set in the bathroom. Why the bathroom?

2. Andrew talks in 3rd person ALL THE TIME. "Andrew wants a treat." "Andrew needs to go potty" or "Andrew is being good".

3. Sometimes I will find Lizzy sobbing. Real, heart-breaking intesense sobs. When I ask her what is wrong she will explain that she is so so so so so sad about her great great great grandpa that died before she was born. This has happened more than once.

4. When Andrew and Lizzy get home they take off their shoes. If their feet happen to be sweaty or as the call it... sticky they will try to climb the walls. Sometimes they are pretty good.

5. Andrew begs me to let him sleep in his underwear about once a week.

6. Lizzy likes to pretend that she is an orphan named Rachel.

3 Kids

Sometime I still look at myself in the mirror and remind myself... "Holy cow.. you have 3 kids." Because it is still sort of wierd. I am still trying to capture a fantastic picture with the 3 of them. Here are a few attempts.