January Fun

Or not...

We got 8-10 inches of snow one day this week. I had to head out and shovel the driveway while Delaney took a nap. Frances bundled up and came out with me. She was having fun for awhile and then all the sudden she looked really sad. She told me that Abana and Esa didn't want to play with her (these are two of her imaginary friends). I was able to talk her into making a snow angel and at least going inside on a happy note.

Mya seemed to enjoy being out in the snow but there was something on the other side of the road that was awfully interesting!

Here is a picture Frances drew for me tonight. How fun is it that she can do this! She is growing up so fast! Or...I am getting really old fast because I can remember when my brother first started drawing people. We picked on him because the legs always came straight out of the head. Guess it is genetic! Uh-Oh! (just kidding Shawn!)

And here is my littlest sweetie pie after a wonderful teething biscuit (they are so messy) and some green beans. She is really turning out to be a good eater so far! What a change from Frances at this age!

Thought of the day...

Whoever said "There is no such thing as a dumb question" obviously didn't have a four year old!

latest news

Well, I have not been very good at updating so far this year. I guess life is busier with two kids! You't think I could remember that from when Zachary was with us! Delaney is definitely mobile now. She is not fast enough that she can follow me around the house though so if I leave her sight she gets upset (yeah, don't all moms just love that stage)! She is getting up on all four and rocking back and forth but does not actually crawl, just scoots. Frances is always trying to play with her sister. Lately it is just driving me nuts because Delaney usually ends up crying. I don't blame her as her space is totally being invaded!

Frances is still enjoying school. She continues to learn a ton of neat information. I just wish I could be more productive during the time she is gone! It goes by so fast! My women's Bible study has started back up and Delaney is going into childcare for it this semester. Mitch is really busy at work, lots of projects. He is also planning another trip to Italy. Can you believe that I am turning down the opportunity? I think it sounds crazy but I am really not that excited about it so why spend the money. It was great the first time though! We have all been sick for what seems like forever! I think since my bday in October at least one of us has felt pretty crummy. Mitch just started again today:(

Things I really enjoy about my kids right now:

• reading a chapter out of Charlotte's Web each night to Frances
• playing games with Frances (the right way)
• the way Delaney's face lights up when she sees me
• getting more than 5 hours sleep in a row!

Things I don't love about my kids right now:

• Frances is really loud and obnoxious a lot of the time
• Frances is starting to talk back or make mimicking faces when reprimanded (and oh that makes us mad!)
• If someone else is holding Delaney and she can see her mommy...she needs her!
• Delaney wants to eat the food we are spoon feeding her but she doesn't open her mouth wide enough and then all the food goes down her chin...every time!

Looks like if those are my complaints life isn't too bad! Here are a few pictures. Enjoy!

(I forgot to mention that Frances got her hair cut)

the love of a child or reality stinks?

I can't decide which title I like best.

One of the great things about parenting is that your children love you so much that they are willing to do anything for you. Well, almost anything! We have been having a pj day at our house as Frances stayed home from school with a cold and what is maybe pink eye (I think it is more of a cold in her eye as it is not goopy, just red). We have all been fighting off colds so we have have been using extra hand santizer today and spraying Lysol on everything. I put Delaney down in the Bumbo seat (which she usually tries to get out of immediately) and she actually stayed there for over ten minutes! When I went to get her out...I could smell what she had been doing! It was horrific! By the squishy feel of her back I knew we were headed straight to the bathtub. Frances wanted to come and see (not sure why this excites her, we must need to get out more). As I began to take the top layer off and see the damage I exclaimed that I didn't want to do it and would Frances do it for me. She said no and insisted that I had to. When asked why, she said because I am the grown up. Reality stinks!

She is all cleaned up and taking a nap. Frances' eye seems to be pretty good. We got drops called in for us and are using them but it has not been goopy at all, still red though. She is not itching either so I am hopful that we are not really too contagious.

Did I mention that I gave Delaney pear juice for the first time last night and this morning? (hence the horrific experience) She is also now eating lots of veggies. She seems to like peas and carrots best so far. Thanks for listening! I am off to do some laundry:)

BREAKING NEWS...

we have forward motion!

In other news...

We are getting much more quality sleep since returning home from our travels. Delaney is now sleeping for about 8-10 hours a night! YIPPEE!

And for a funny, yet slightly embarrassing, story...You all know the song "do your ears hang low"...well, one book we have then tells you to pick another body part and sing a silly song. We have been doing that for a day or so now. While I was feeding Delaney today (I am still nursing), Frances broke out in song and it went like this...do your boobies hang low do they wobble to and fro, can you tie them in a not can you tie them in a bow, ....you get the idea. It was so hard to explain to her that it was not appropriate because it was hillarious even at my own expense. That is one I can't wait to share with her dad tonight (in private of course because there will hopefully not be an encore)!

Off to a great start!

Well, I couldn't ask for much more. On the first morning of the new year I was able to stay in bed until 10:45!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't remember the last time that happened! Over our vacation Delaney was NOT sleeping well, therefore, I was NOT sleeping well. We were up every 2-3 hours every night, yuck! Now that we are home things are looking better each night. She is at least back to sleeping six hours in a row. We are aiming for more! We have been giving her cereal since early Dec. and tonight was her first taste of sweet potatoes. She really liked them and opened right up for more! I sure hope that means she will be a better eater than our Frances! (who I must admit is much much better than before) Another great start is that Frances has also been going to bed wonderfully since the new year! She received a sleeping bag that came with a flashlight for Christmas. We have let her take the flashlight to bed for the last three nights and she has not come to her door once! No "I have to go potty" or "I need a drink" or one of her favorites "I need a kleenex"! The flashlight is perfect for little ones to take to bed because it doesn't stay on by itself, you actually have to hold the button in the on position for it to work so sleepy fingers would struggle to distract themselves with toys or books for long. Thanks Cousins Maria and Jon! And thanks to Mitch who let me sleep in and get the year off to a good start!

Vacation, vacation, vacation

Not a bad life! We were home for a few weeks and then we were off again!


Our Christmas holiday was fantastic! It started at home with a visit from our good friends Blake and Nicole. They currently live in NC and were back in the area for the holidays. We were lucky enough to spend the evening with them and their girls. it was great to catch up even if the guys did beat the girls in cards.


Then, we were off for the long journey. First we headed towards MN. We couldn't make it in one day so we spent an evening at a hotel in WI. We enjoyed swimming before we were off to bed and then up early the next morning. We then made it to MN where we stayed with my sister and her family. We were able to attend my nephews birthday party for the first time ever! It was a ton of fun for Frances to be there! We wish we could have stayed longer but at least we saw them! If we hadn't stopped we were not going to see them as they couldn't get to grandma's at the same time as us this year. Then it was off to SD. We had a good time with gramma JoJo and that whole side of the family. Santa found us at gramma JoJo's as well. Frances was very excited to see that Santa ate only four of the five Oreo's she left out for him. What a great breakfast!



We also were able to see grandpa Dave and all of his family too! Here is a picture of Delaney and her great grandpa Ken. It was so great to see him celbrating the holiday with his family!




Then, we were off to IA where we saw more wonderul family! We are so blessed to have so many great family members to visit with over the holidays!!!!!!!! While in Iowa we enjoyed visiting, playing games, and swimming at the hotel. From the time we were in Lake Geneva up until now Frances has advanced her swimming skills tremendously!! She absolutely amazed me. She is not a very athletically inclined girl so I was amazed to see that she could really swim now when just three weeks ago she was just figuring out how to hold her breath and stick her face in the water! Check out this video!

Delaney really enjoyed the water as well!

Then we headed home where life is beginning to return to "normal".

Happy New Year!