Catch up

So we've been a little busy lately.  I mean technically we are always busy with 4 children but lately it appears we are stuck on fast forward.

    Ella is currently on a mission to complete the remaining 16 Brownie badges before she moves up to Guides next year. She is also busy with school and mastering the fine art of rainbow looming. Now only if she would put that kind of effort into keeping her room clean.  

     Camden is now currently being home schooled and is thriving.  The difference from a few weeks back is astounding and reinforces that we absolutely made the right decision for him. Camden just doesn't fit into the school mold at the moment and that's not a bad thing. He just doesn't learn the same way and needs a bit extra reassurance and confidence, which is absolutely OK. He's learning in leaps and bounds at home using things he finds interesting to teach the same things he would at school. He is starting to sound out letters and recognize a few sight words which we never would have thought possible just a short time ago.

      Harmony oh, sweet angel faced Harmony. We are in the midst of the battle of the royal throne or toilet training if you prefer. It is on her terms, well if we are honest everything is always on her terms but potty training even more so. She knows what to do and how to do it. Out in public she tells us when she needs to go. She goes in the middle of the night, first thing in the morning and wakes up dry at naps. So what's the problem, you ask? Well it's what we like to call Harmony being Harmony,  little imp that she is. I randomly hear, Mommy I'm peeing on your counter, I'm peeing on your bath mat, I'm peeing on your floor. Those times are never accidents but just a little taste of Harmony's don't mess with me attitude. Accidents do happen and usually she runs to her room embarrassed and quickly changes before you notice. It's all the non accident accidents that drive me crazy.

     Sawyer is fighting his first cold and ear infection. What a snotty, miserable, non sleeping mess. He is still pretty happy during the day but the night time just doesn't agree with my sick little man. I'm not sure I even want to count how many times I was up but I did see every hour last night maybe half hour as well and by 6 am sleep was a hopeless case. Who needs sleep anyway right? Not me with Mike going back on afternoons which leaves me alone with the kids from 2-1130 pm but if you count the nap he takes before work it's really 12 a 11:30 but I digress. Aside from the cold Sawyer is growing and developing in the blink of an eye. Wearing 12-18 month clothing mostly, sitting unassisted and discovering the vast world of solids. Why can't he just  stay little?

     There you go just a little glimpse into the busy lives of our children. I'd write more but frankly today I am exhausted. 

Let's Bake Bread.

This week we made bread. In fact we made bread 3 times. I'm not talking bread machine either. I'm talking pull out your apron, roll up your sleeves and knead that dough type bread.  Looks good enough to eat, right? It was, its gone. It turns out every time just like the picture. 

Loaf 1 of 3

The recipe we currently love. I found it online last year over at Through The Window Pane. 

 Amish Sandwich Bread

This recipe makes makes 1 loaf 
1 Cup warm water (110-115 F)
1/3 Cup  sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons oil (any kind is fine but I used Light Olive Oil )
3 C flour (I use white all purpose but will be experimenting with whole wheat shortly or half and half)
1 Tablespoon yeast

Spray a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Combine the water, sugar, salt, and oil in a large bowl and stir.  Add flour and yeast all at once and stir until thick. Hand  knead for 6-8 minutes, adding additional flour if needed, to make a smooth elastic dough.

Cover, place in a warm location, and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
Take the dough out of the bowl and work it lightly in your hands to get the air bubbles out.

Form into a loaf and put in a greased loaf pan.  Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30-45 minutes, until almost doubled in size.  While you're waiting for the dough to rise, preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, or until done. 

When the bread is done, remove to let cool for a few minutes.  Remove from the pan and place on wire rack to cool completely or if you enjoy warm bread from the oven with butter that melts right on it, slice up a piece and enjoy. 

Adding all the ingredients

Kneading the dough. Camden isn't a fan of sticky hands. 

Harmony isn't a fan either. 

Sawyer doesn't mind as long as he is close to the action. This is how mommy gets stuff done. 

This is our new go to bread recipe. It was a hit with everyone, except Camden. He won't eat anything unless Grandma makes it....*sigh* 

Miserable Monday!

Thank you to Mike W for posting this for me.  I am pretty sure this must be how my kids feel when I am on the computer.

     I know I promised birthday pictures and a birthday post for Camden but I have been taking care of one very sick Ella baby. I am also trying to get all the laundry done before the next wave of the tummy bug hits in our house. Its inevitable. If its here in the house soon we will all be sick.  If you don't hear from me for a few days I'm caring for sick little people and doing all their laundry . I may possibly try and take down all the party decorations to at some point! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!



Friday Night Leftovers

First of let me say I got this idea from The Tompkins Family Blog . She always does a Friday Night Leftovers with link ups and a pretty graphic but I am sooo not cool enough for that, so here's the plain old Friday Night Leftovers version.

• We received the best possible news yesterday about a very much loved family member and we are so happy and relieved. My heart is so much lighter and we can all breathe easier. 

• Our best wishes and big Congrats go out to M and J (not mike and I) on today, your wedding day. We wish you all the happiness in the world.  Have a great day celebrating and you too Ella Baby, oh and Little Miss N too!

• This weekend, my amazing and wonderfully strange little boy turns 3.  Please someone stop the growing up process or at least freeze it for a little while? Oh, alright, I'll suck it up but I can't handle my babies growing up.  Ella's birthday is 6 days after Camden's , so we will be celebrating it on Camden's birthday this year. Really, Miss Ella? 7 Years old? This is not allowed. My sweet, kind little girl is inching closer to the horrible angst filled teenager years that I dread so much. *sigh* I can feel the grey hairs starting to sprout up already (not really, pftt, I don't do grey).

• Wedding plans are materializing into well a wedding.  Slowly but surely I am piecing together "Our Happily Ever After" and its tiring...so much thought and detail for us and 30 members of our immediate family. Its crazy, but I seriously can not wait.  None of us can wait! YIPPEEEEE! We are also desperately trying to manage a honeymoon in Austria. All we need is flights!!! Which are so not cheap but if we can get there, we have free accommodations and the chance to see my niece Kiki who we haven't seen for 11 months. If anyone is feeling particularly generous and wants to donate to our honeymoon fund, I definitely wouldn't say No (*Hint Hint*)

• Camden has started something new and I am not a fan.  At exactly 6 am for the past two mornings he has woken up screaming like he is being tortured and he only wants Daddy. Well Daddy is already at work.  He screams until the entire house has woken up and then decides to crawl into my bed and go back to sleep for 2 hours while the rest of us are up and MISERABLE!!! It better stop soon.  It's getting old real fast!

• Harmony is now standing unassisted all the time now.  I suspect she will be walking very soon which is crazy. Walking at 10 months when the other 2 kids waited until their 1 year birthday. She has also mastered faking sick.  She coughs and covers her mouth on command.  She has also started grabbing tissues to blow her nose. She is such a Drama Queen.  Wonder where she got that from? Definitely doesn't have anything to do with Mommy and Daddy being theatrical...hmmm...

     That's it for this Friday Night Leftovers. Enjoy your weekend and you can look forward to the kids birthday party pictures next week.  I am so excited to give them their birthday presents. Have a great weekend everyone!

Commonly heard phrases...This week

   These are some commonly heard phrases at our house as of late:

• Not in your mouth (about 50 billion times a day)
• You are not a dog, stop eating the dog food and please stop barking (believe it or not that's directed at the baby)
• Please tuck "it" down before you pee, Momma doesn't like getting sprayed.
• Stop licking the toilet, windows, mommy etc.
• You are not a teenager so quit with the attitude.
• What's that? Thanks for your boogers, that was lovely ( as I wipe snot off myself)
• Stop groping Mommy, that's Daddy's Job (usually followed with I thought daddy drove a forklift at work, NEVER MIND)
• I don't like Poop Surprises
• Hands out of your pants
• Pee first, then YouTube
• Stop sniffing that!
• You don't have boobs so you don't need a bra (Ella wants to grow up way too fast)
• Stop poking Mommy's food you have your own food to poke or maybe eat?
• Don't wipe your hands on the wall, table, dog, sister, brother etc...
• Is that poop or chocolate? Thank God its chocolate this time.
• Teeth are for food not people.
• Hands are for helping not hurting.
• Why is there water on the floor? wait, its not water *sigh* Why did you pee on the floor? (Camden's Answer: Because I wanted to.)
• Be KIND!!!!!!!! THAT'S NOT VERY KIND!! (Camden then begs be happy mommy, be kind to me, smile for me)

 And that's this week's commonly heard phrases at my house, I need a vacation!!!

Babies don't keep!

     My babies are growing up and its sending me into teary eyed mess. In a month or so I will have a 7, 3 and 1 year old. That is not allowed. Harmony may or may not be our last baby and the thought alone is enough to scare the poo right out of me. No more nursing, tiny little diapers, the smell of a brand new baby, first smiles and all the rest of the exciting things that come with a baby.  I'm not ready to pack away all the baby things as my baby is quickly approaching toddler hood and leaving baby hood behind her.

    My niece who is ever so far away in England (and never even met Harmony) posted the poem below on my Face book wall today.  It's a great reminder to cherish the days we have with our little ones instead of constantly worrying about the mundane chores because at the end of my life I will never say I wish I cleaned my house more but I can bet I will say I wish I cuddled my babies more.  So if you stop by and my house is in complete chaos we are too busy making memories to clean.

Mother, O' Mother, come shake out your cloth, Empty the dustpan, poison the moth. Hang out the washing, make up the bed, Sew on a button and butter the bread. Where is the mother whose house is so shocking? She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking. Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue, Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo. Dishes are waiting and bills are past due, Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek - peekaboo. The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew, And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo. But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo. Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue? Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo. The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow, But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep! I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep. ~ Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

Happy Easter from My Wee 3

It looks like a line up to me!

 Camden being his usual self - very impish indeed

Ella, so beautiful and I swear I'm not being biased. She's too darn pretty and I'm in big trouble in a few years, right? Time to invest in a shotgun now!

My always happy girl!

Seriously, these kids are too cute and they make my heart melt.  I know its a lot of mommy pride but they are just too darn cute!

Happy Easter!

The Black and White Fluffy things? Those are real chickens. Yes, Ella did get pooped on before even the first picture was taken.  Yes, Camden still thinks its the funniest story ever!

 

Terrific Tuesday

     There were so many great things today I'm not even sure I can remember them all but I'll try:

• This morning we took a trip to the court house to get Mike's Final Divorce Papers and this is what a happy boy looks like!

• We bought the girls their dresses for the wedding and Camden a cute little man suit. They are going to look adorable, of course they always look adorable but I'm biased.

• We picked up the kids Easter portraits. They are super cute and I can't wait to share them with everyone as well.

• We dropped Camden off at his Gampa Gampa's for an overnight visit. I love Camden but absence makes the heart grow fonder right?

• I scrap booked with a friend.  Any day I get to scrapbook is a good day and I even managed to finally start Harmony's scrapbook. Oh, I am soooo far behind.

• Pita's for supper, 'nuff said....I didn't have to cook and they are YUMMY!

• We finished up the Easter shopping and spent some quality time with the girls since Mike decided to take a day off!!

• I spent the whole day with the people I love and barely cleaned at all, which is a win-win in my books. 

     What terrific things did you do today?

It's Divorce Day!

     You know that day I never ever thought we would get to. Yeah, its that day. Scream, jump and giggle with happiness and excitement day.  A day to look forward to the future, the very near future.  Even the kids are caught up in the excitement that is today. Camden keeps asking if its time for him to marry Mommy and Daddy yet (He thinks he is getting married to us, how cute is that) and asking something about why the wicked witch is gone (this may or may not be my fault).  Harmony is extra happy today, clapping and smiling but I hear excitement is contagious.  Ella is full of questions and comments but is happy as well. Shes been waiting a long time on this too!  After all, she has been begging Mike to marry me for years.

    Today is a rare day when all feels right in the world, or at least these four walls at the moment.  Wedding plans are coming along nicely, the kids are happy and I got a full night of sleep for once.  I know these days don't generally last long as the world comes crashing in around us but for once I will smile and enjoy it. So Congrats Mike on your divorce! We are all looking forward to Divorce Day Cupcakes later! Yipee!    

10 Months

     Another Month has passed already. Harmony turned 10 months old on the 29th.  I'm completely slacking and haven't been on here much and once again the Mommy guilt has kicked in, so here goes another post.

Harmony at 10 Months:

• 16lbs 12 oz - up a few ounces since last month.
• 27 " - a whole inch in a month

Harmony at 10 Months Wears:

• Size 2 Diapers
• 3-6 Months, 6 months and a few 6-9 months that tend to fit smaller
• size 1 and 2 shoes - so really no change in what she is wearing this month

Harmony at 10 Months:

• Wave, Clap, play Patty Cake
• Crawl, Cruise, Climb and stand unassisted for a few seconds
• Has 4 teeth finally - 2 front bottom and her top I teeth.  She looks like a baby vampire.
• Pants like a dog
• Fakes coughs complete with covering her mouth for attention
• Shushes people
• Blows raspberries complete with spit flying everywhere
• Copies everyone
• loves kissing Mommy

Harmony at 10 months Eats:

• Pretty much everything but now has tried Cheese and Egg Yolk
• straight formula since weaning
• anything she can feed herself

Harmony at 10 Months says:

• Mama, Dada, Ella, Baba, What's That?
• Signs - All done, Milk

Things I never want to forget:

• You are always Happy and smiling
• You love attention and to entertain
• You are a complete monkey and are into everything all the time
• How much you love your brother and sister
• How much loves cuddling you in the middle of the night, the only time you allow me to cuddle you
• You always brighten my day! Mommy loves you so much!

Swinter!

I love Summer, I mean Spring, oh actually its still Winter but we are enjoying summer like temperatures and I am OK with this. 

     Despite the kids being sick, we spent much of the weekend outside.  Mike enjoyed his first sunburn of...summer/winter the year because who thinks about sunscreen in March, at least not where we live.  I even managed a bit of tan.  I had to go digging through the kids clothes for summer clothes which is just craziness. The good kind of craziness but craziness none the less.  All the outdoor toys were scattered on the lawn and the smell of people barbecuing was everywhere.  Pure Heaven I tell you. It was so invigorating to be sitting on the deck sipping a cold beer, listening to music while the little ones played. It made me realize how thankful I am that we moved and how thankful I am to have my wonderful back yard.

     I can't wait for the kids to be healthy so we can get outside and enjoy all this beautiful weather.

Wordless Wednesday - My Wee Three

Rants from a Wednesday night

     Let's start off with I love my kids dearly, fiercely, I love them with all I've got but sometimes just sometimes I don't know what to do with them...Do you think I could sell them to the zoo? They act like animals so I think it may work out.  Harmony did manage to sneak a piece of dog food and growled at me when I fished it out of her mouth. See the zoo may be very interested. 

     Mike is working afternoons this week again.  It is the absolute worst.  He is gone from the house all afternoon and evening. Its brutal and makes everything a hundred times worse. 

    We also experienced a Winter thunderstorm, yeah, seriously what's that about? I hate thunderstorms anyway mainly because they freak me out but only big ones, so we were OK last night I didn't panic.  The dog did though.  I think she needs drugs or maybe I do because she gets all hysterical and whiny and I had to lock her in the garage.  She woke up the baby oh about 15 times. It made me stabby but I kept my composure and didn't lose it.

     Then there is Camden who at 11pm was still up chatting in his bed. Why won't he sleep? He is obviously tired.  He drank his milk and we read 6 books and he is still up.  Argh, I give up.

So here is a little rant (yes, I know you thought that was my rant right? WRONG!)
Dear Family:

Mike, I hate afternoon shift. I know its your work and its necessary but I hate it none the less and it makes me a grumpy b!tch  less nice person.  I know you can;t fix it but just know I will likely be grumpy for half the month, every month and that's not including PMS...Rethinking our upcoming wedding now huh?

Camden go the *bleep* to sleep now...its 11 pm...as much as I love you I do not find you cute or charming tonight and your voice chattering incessantly with intermittent screams is bordering obnoxious and makes mommy want to drink hard liquor (and I don't ever drink liquor).

Harmony I understand you are obsessed with crawling everywhere but stop trying to crawl in your crib while you are half asleep. You get frustrated and so do I. Lets save the crawling for when you are awake on the floor.

Tanner, I get that you are old and slightly deaf and terrified of the storm but if you wake up the baby one more time you will have to find a new home.

Ella, you are lucky to be spending the night at Daddy's!

I really do love you all and in the morning after a nights sleep I will love you that much more.  After all, things always look brighter in the morning...Probably because the sun is shining but none the less brighter. There, that is all...I feel better already.

Another Month Older - 9 Months

     Well time certainly needs to slow down.  Harmony is now 9 months old.  She is rapidly leaving babyhood behind and seems to be on the fast track to being a toddler. I'm not even sure how that's possible but babies grow up much to my sorrow.

Harmony at 9 months is:

• 16 lbs (only gained a few ounces since last month)
• 26 inches (no change there)

Harmony at 9 Months wears:

• Size 2 Diapers
• Size 3-6 Months, 6 Months and a few small 6-9 month clothes
• Size 1 and 2 shoes (not that she keeps them on)

Harmony at 9 Months:

• claps to music, at the mention of patty cake, when anyone cheers...she is a clapping machine
• waves bye bye every time someone leaves or at bedtime
• dances a funny little wiggle dance when she hears music
• crawls everywhere and anywhere
• pulls up to stand everywhere and attempted to escape the crib
• is working on 4 teeth but nothing has popped up yet
• on her first round of antibiotics for a chest cold
• starting to sleep through the night again occasionally
• has become a complete mommy's girl

Harmony at 9 Months says:

• Mama , Ella, Baba, Dada (sometimes) and is working on Duck

Harmony at 9 months eats:

• All Veggies
• All Fruits
• All Meats
• Bread, Cheerios, Puffs
• Breast Milk, Formula and Water

Things I Never Want to Forget:

• Your big toothless grin
• How you stop immediately when you hear your name
• How you giggle when I tell you No
• How fast you move when you see something you want
• Your adorable laugh
• Your crazy hair that is long in the front and sticks up, so cute!

Someone got into Daddy's closet

Tell Me Tuesday :What's in a name?

     After a discussion with friends about nick names and names, it got me thinking (yes I know terrifying) about the kids names and nicknames. Why we chose what we did and what we call them now.  I know if I don't record this, I will eventually forget.

Gabriella Audrey - Gabriella was one of the only names we could agree on.  We loved the sound of Ella but decided she should have a full name in case she needed something professional sounding when she was an adult.  We shortened to Ella right away as we never wanted her to be called Gabby as it always sounds so negative to us (no offense to those that call their kids gabby, it just wasn't right for us).  Audrey is after my grandmother.  She always hated her name but I always loved it.  It reminded me of a cartoon I once saw Little Audrey.  We also have a tradition in our family that all the grand kids have to have "A" middle names.  We now have a Alexandria, Ainsley, Anne, Amelia, Ashton, Anthony, Alyssa, Alexander x 2, Anastasia, Audrey and Allegra. The Audrey just fit in and what a nice way to honour my grandma. Now we call her Ella, Smella, Smelly, Bella.

Ella - beautiful Fairy
Gabriella - Strength from God
Audrey - Noble Strength

Camden Alexander Michael - We couldn't decide on any girls names and this was a problem because I was told he was a girl and I kept it a secret from Mike. We flipped and flopped on all sorts of names and the only name we could agree on was Camden Alexander but it was for a boy.  Camden I have always liked and heard it as a last name on the TV show 7th Heaven.  Alexander is well an "A" name and a family name from Mike's side. After Camden was born I decided Michael should be added after his Daddy.  As a side not never suggest a ridiculous name as a joke, your significant other will fall in love with it.  I am really thankful we didn't end up with Quintana Roo. Camden has had several nicknames but none that seem to stick besides trouble and lately Handsome Devil.

Camden - Winding Valley
Alexander - Helper and defender of mankind
Michael - Who is like God

Harmony Allegra Hazel: We knew 100% that Harmony was a girl, after several ultrasounds and a 3D one to confirm.  We couldn't agree on a name and went into the delivery room with two. Genevieve and Harmony.  After she was born we still couldn't decide. We waited until they cleaned her up so we could get a good look at her and decide. Every time we mentioned Harmony she was quiet and every time we said Genevieve she cried.  She chose her own name. Allegra was just a nice "A" name and Hazel was after Mike's Grandmother that he never had a chance to meet. We often refer to her as the Baby or Baby Peanut.

Harmony - A Beautiful Blending
Allegra - Joyful, merry
Hazel - commander

There you have it. The whys and hows behind our beautiful children's names.  How did you choose your baby's name? Why?

Another lesson in parenting

      Things I have learned today:

• Sometimes its ok to feel like you want to give up on being a mom (the feeling usually passes pretty quick when the kids turn on their charm).

• 2 year olds can in fact hear you when you speak to them but lack the ability to respond unless it involves chocolate, candy or some other treat.

• Babies give the best kisses, its even better if they don't have teeth yet or else you become their chew toy.

• You know you are doing a good job when your 6 year old tells says you are the best mom in the entire world ever and she is glad you are her Mommy.

• Your heart can in fact melt.  It happens immediately when your toddler says please kiss me more, I love it. It makes me happy, does it make you happy too Mommy?

• Kids are the greatest blessing in life ( I already knew this but sometimes you forget).

I'll sleep when I'm dead!

     My children hate me.  Oh sure, they pretend to love me, kiss me goodnight and flash me that angelic grin.  I know the truth.  They have been plotting to slowly drive me to the edge of insanity.  Sleep deprivation is what they are aiming for and I believe we are there.  It makes you slow, dumb and weak. Oh we are definitely there.  It's only a matter of time before they start their mind control techniques. Oh crap, I think they have started that too!  In my weakened state of mind they talked me into cookies for breakfast and I willingly obliged.

     My total amount of sleep for last night totals 45 Minutes and that wasn't all at once.  I made the rounds between the 4 bedrooms.  It went a little something like this.  I woulds start to fall asleep and the baby would cry and take 15- 30 minutes to put her back to sleep. I would climb back into bed, start to fall asleep and Camden would scream bloody murder for Daddy who miraculously couldn't hear him.  Reassure Camden for 5 - 10 minutes and crawl back into bed.  Start to fall asleep and Ella started screaming about a bad dream.  Wash, rinse and repeat or rather lay down. close eyes, and and be startled awake just as you start to drift off.

     I exhausted, no wait, I'm beyond exhausted.  Is there a word for that? I should really look that up, if I remember in my compromised mental state.  I really am 2 seconds from sitting here silently staring and drooling, mainly because I am too tired to even swallow or blink.

     Off I go to suck it up and get on with my day. I could sit around and be grumpy and tired all day but really who has time for that.  So have a great day everyone while I entertain my little angels with out losing my mind or my temper.

How do I Love you?

I Just love this post! I read it on one of my Mommy friend's blog. You can check out her awesome blog here at The Tompkins Family . It was orginally posted on Creative With Kids.  You can never tell your kids enough, how much you love them.

Tell to your child:

1. I love you.
2. love you no matter what.
3. I love you even when you are angry at me.
4. I love you even when I am angry with you.
5. I love you when you are far way.  My love for you can reach you wherever you are.
6. If I could pick any 4 year old (5 year old, 6 year old…) in the whole wide world, I’d pick you.
7. I love you to the moon and then around the stars and back again.
8. Thank you.
9. I enjoyed playing with you today.
10. My favorite part of the day was when I was with you and we were _______.

Tell them:
11. The story of their birth or adoption.
12. About how you cuddled them when they were a baby.
13. The story of how you chose their name.
14. A story about yourself when you were their age.
15. A story about how their grandparents met.
16. What your favorite color is.
17. That sometimes you struggle too.
18. That when you’re holding hands and you give three squeezes, it’s a secret code that means, “I love you”.
19. What the plan is.
20. What you’re doing right now.
Play:
21. Freeze Tag
22. Uno
23. Crazy 8s
24. Gin Rummy
25. Memory
26. Go Fish
27. I Spy- especially when you’re tired of driving and feel snappish
28. Catch

Pretend:
29. To catch their kiss and put it on your cheek.
30. That their tickle tank is empty and you have to fill it.
31. That their high five is so powerful it nearly knocks you over.
32. That you are super ticklish.
33. That you are explorers in the amazing new world of your backyard.
34. That it’s party day!  Decorate for no reason!

Try:
35. To get enough sleep.
36. To drink enough water.
37. To eat decent food.
38. Wearing earrings, or whatever makes you feel pretty.
39. Calling a friend the next time you feel like you are about to lose it with the kids.
40. Giving a gentle touch to show approval, rather than saying something.
41. Dancing in the kitchen.
42. To get your kids to bop to the music with you in the car.
43. Showing your kids that you can do a somersault or handstand or a cartwheel.
44. Keeping that sigh to yourself.  Just jump in and help clean up cheerfully.
45. Using a kind voice, even if you have to fake it.

Read:
46. A book of silly poems.
47. A book and then act it out. (Like “I’m going on a Bear Hunt”)
48. Your favorite childhood book to them.
49. When the afternoon is starting to go astray.
50. Outside under a tree.
51. In the library kids corner.
52. The comic book they love that you’re not so hot on.
53. About age appropriate behavior so you can keep your expectations realistic.

Listen:
54. To your child in the car.
55. To that Lego description, and think how important it is to your child.
56. For that question that indicates your child really needs your input.
57. One second longer than you think you have patience for.
58. For the feelings behind your child’s words.

Ask:
59. Why do you think that happens?
60. What do you think would happen if______?
61. How shall we find out?
62. What are you thinking about?
63. What was your favorite part of the day?
64. What do you think this tastes like?

Show:
65. Your child how to do something instead of banning them from it.
66. How to whistle with a blade of grass.
67. How to shuffle cards- make a bridge if you can!
68. How to cut food.
69. How to fold laundry.
70. How to look up information when you don’t know the answer.
71. Affection to your spouse.
72. That taking care of yourself is important.

Take Time:
73. To watch construction sites.
74. To look at the birds.
75. To allow your child to help you dump ingredients in the bowl.
76. To walk places together.
77. To dig in the dirt together.
78. To do a task at your child’s pace.
79. To just sit with you child while they play.

Trust:
80. That your child is capable.
81. That you are the right parent for your child.
82. That you are enough.
83. That you can do what is right for your family.

Delight your child:
84. Clean your child’s room as a surprise.
85. Put chocolate chips in the pancakes.
86. Put a love note in their lunch.
87. Make their snack into a smile face shape.
88. Make sounds effects while you help them do something.
89. Sit on the floor with them to play.

Let Go:
90. Of the guilt.
91. Of how you thought it was going to be.
92. Of your need to be right.

Give:
93. A look with Kind Eyes to your child.
94. A smile when your child walks into the room.
95. A kind touch back when your child touches you.
96. The chance to connect before you correct so that your child can actually hear your words.
97. Your child a chance to work out their frustrations before helping them.
98. A bath when the day feels long.
99. A hug.
100. You get to choose the next one!  What is your favorite way to be kind to your child

Almost Wordless Wednesday - Photo Fun

Going for a ride in the Doll Stroller

Eye Spy?

 Daddy and his baby

A new shipment of Baby has arrived

Isn't she so beautiful?

Must have been a rough day!

Thankful Thursday - 3 Cutest Kids Edition

     Today and well every day I am thankful for the 3 cutest kids I've ever seen and I am so happy they are mine. I know you are saying in your head, yeah I guess they are cute but they aren't as cute as mine, and I am saying back in my head, yeah, tell yourself whatever you need to but my kids are still the cutest, we will call yours a close second.  I mean who doesn't love a big ,blue eyed blondie or 3. Even if they are monsters sometimes, I am still thankful they are mine and that they are healthy and happy!