Walker Turns Four

 It was a beautiful March day for Walker's party and just like all the ones prior, Amy did a great job making it super fun for the kids.  There was an obstacle course, plinko for prizes, a pinata full of candy, and lots of good old fashion chasing and playing outside.  My girls had a blast and we stayed until the party was well over, lol. 

So much fun to see our kids love each other and get along so nicely!  They are great ages to do fun playdates this summer and I can't wait.

Out of the Norm

 Here are some special things of late that usually don't happen in our normal schedule.  It is fun to have things pop up out of routine, even for someone as schedule loving as me.  Dinner mid-week with the Curtis family was one of my favorites a few weeks ago.

Complete with a fun trip to Target.

 We got to meet baby Phierce and all was right in the world.  The girls adored holding him.  Big smiles all around and hopefully more hanging out in the future.

 

Date nights are rare and double date nights with Steph and DD are virtually non-existent.  Super fabulous laugh-filled night.  Thanks to Mom and Dad for babysitting. 

Curly hair is rare for Bee because she hates sponge rollers, but thanks to her new curling stick, this was her first debut of the curls.

Daddy got to go with us to the library for only the second time since we have lived here and the girls loved showing him all of their favorite games/puzzles/books.

My first mirror selfie.  Hilarious fun with these two dear friends.  

Amelia has been helping with supper about three nights a week.  It takes much longer to prepare, but she is delighting so much in helping me, so it is worth it.  I figure there will be a time in the future when I will need to close my eyes and channel this eager, precious attitude.  Hehe.

Amelia earned her ninth ribbon in gymnastics and is one away from a second medal.  They are much harder to earn these days, as the skills are getting harder.  Several weeks in a row, Amelia talked about how a few tricks were too scary to attempt and she said she just didn't want to earn a ribbon.  I talked to her about conquering fear, but ultimately let her make the choice.  She finally overcame a few fears and earned a ribbon two weeks in a row.  

One thing I never play with the girls is trains.  Ross is a master at building fun loopy tracks and making up train activities, etc.  I always save that for something that they do together, but one day last week we made a track and played and had so much fun.  It only took me 800 times to get a track built that actually connected. IT IS HARDER THAN IT LOOKS.  

Schooled by a Four Year Old

Amelia offers me so many parenting lessons daily.  These usually are in relation to patience or voice-raising or gentleness, haha.  But she also offers be lessons on perspective and they are often quite humbling.

Our conversation yesterday:

Me:  We have the MOST fun and special week coming up.  Build-a-Bear with Gammy and Gampy, Walker's birthday party, AND Gavin's birthday party.  

Amelia:  That all sounds fun, but we have a special life without all that.

Me:  You are very correct.  Even if we always stayed at home, we have a special family and that is all that matters.

Amelia:  Well, Mom, all that REALLY matters is if we have Jesus in our hearts.  That's what is special.

Me:  Yes, you are right Amelia.  I am so glad you know that.

Sheesh and then I just ended the convo, haha.  What a delight to have a little one that knows all this.  I pray that it is always first and foremost in her mind.  

And just as a sidenote, my brilliant one wrote 1-20 on her marker board. 

Let's Not Be Rash

This time last year, Elise had her horrible reaction to amoxicillin and had rash that covered almost her whole body. This time last year, we began our hospital stay for for long days.  It was so scary and traumatic and at the same time, most of what I remember is the outpouring of love we felt. When I read this post, I feel like it has been longer than a year ago.  Mainly because Elise has grown so much in that year and is now talking up a storm and just cracking everyone up to the bone.  She is so much more talkative than Amelia ever was.  Yes, you read that correctly.

 Elise Mae talks more than Amelia Claire.  You must be wondering how that is possible.  I would have put millions of dollars on the fact that Amelia was the most talkative child God could deliver to me.  Elise is much less shy than Amelia. She talks to random strangers often and I usually leave the encounter cracking up and thinking that she just blessed their day. 

Hobby Lobby: 
The lady asks us if we found everything we need and I tell her yes we did. 
Elise:  Well, I love my mommy and I love you too!

Dermatologist: What brings you in today?
Elise:  My sissy has bad bad excema but me no have excema.
Amelia:  Yes, she's right.

Walking up to the Easter Bunny (Amelia tentatively hiding behind me):
Elise:  Is your fur just SO soft??

Cashier at Wal Mart:  How are you guys today?
Elise:  My mom painted my fingernails green!!  AND hers!  AND my sisters.  WE ALL MATCH!!


These encounters are endless- everywhere we go, all the time.  It just tickles Amelia and I to no end all during the week and we love re-hashing them with Ross when he gets home. 

 

She has inherited the sass as well.  Yesterday I was counting to three for her to bring her shoes in the living room and she ran in and said, "Don't count to three mom, just let Leese do it nice and slow."  Then, she ran back out. 

Often she tells us things that we should say to her or things that we shouldn't say.  She loves telling me that I'm using a rude voice and that I should be nicer when I am disciplining.  As if I am always going to tell her thanks for the reminder, haha. 

Thankful today for ALL this talking and for a healthy, precious girl.

Snowy Days

 We haven't had any big snows this winter, but we have had quite a few little ones.  I don't think we will get a sled-worthy or snowman worthy snow, but the girls don't care.  They have had a blast in the snow we have had and I have too!!

Elise preparing for the wind-up..

Take her down sister!

She's pretty determined here, haha.

Elise loves to eat the snow.  It is so disgusting.  There is not much distance between the snow and the ground and she often is walking around with grass/mud/dirt hanging out of her snow bite.  She continues to eat it with each snowfall we have and proclaims, "YUMMY."

Amelia absolutely adores the snow.  Elise and I both get cold and ready for hot chocolate after about 30 minutes, but Amelia Claire could stay in the snow forever!  She loves running in it and throwing it and laying in it and rolling in it.  Snow bunny!

Loving

Loving time with my friends.  To be silly and act like we are not in our thirties. 

 Loving when the girls get to play with Aunt Jessalyn's dogs.  They just are crazy about Max and Murph.

 Loving holding newborn baby Abbey and really loving all that hair!  Loving miracles.

 Loving bundled up walks on the farm with G.

Loving science experiments and excitement of learning and creating at G's school for some special Saturday fun.