We're Back!

I know I haven't blogged in a very long time. But we are still here and here's what we've been up to:

Wedding

Beach

Playing Inside

First day of School (Kate - Kindergarten, Claire - K4)

Playing Outside

Growing Teeth

Someone stealing my camera

Playing on the computer

First day of Ballet

Heavy Lifting

Ok. Guess that's enough for now! I'll be back soon!

More pics from Lauren

Here are more pictures from our time with Lauren. Check her out here:

http://freshgracephotography.blogspot.com/

Snow

Kate was excited because, "THESE ARE GROWN UP SNOWFLAKES, NOT BABY ONES"!!!!

Girls always like to pose for pictures, boys do not. Here is the proof:

This is Kate with her 3 snowmen. They all have pine cones for noses and sticks for eyes. At this point, I REALLY need Rick to come home. He's the "snow parent." I'd rather be inside making hot chocolate.

Then Boo and Papaw came to the rescue with the nice sled:

Then the snow parent came home and built the BIGGEST snowman I've ever seen. This guy was over 6 feet tall. He was more of the Abominable type than the Frosty type. Did you notice that I said was? Mere moments after this picture was taken, the snowman met his demise and crashed to the ground. Oh well, at least I got proof.

Conversations with Kate

Kate saw a black and white picture of Peggy and I today, and she looked at Peggy and said, "You need to paint those pictures."

2 Year Old Homeschooling

As we look to teach our 3 year old to count to 20, she continually skips the number 13. I'm pretty sure she is not superstitious, but I still cannot determine if she is simply joking with us.

An interesting conversation was had at our house this evening related to counting, and I wanted to share it with all of you.


Peggy (the mom): Kate, when Claire is 3 how old will you be

Kate (3 yrs old): Um, 4!

Peggy: That's right! Ok, when she is 17, how old will you be?

Kate: (puzzled) Um?

Peggy: What comes after 17?

Kate: (Strange look but no words)

Peggy: 15, 16, 17....

Kate: 15!

Peggy: No. 15, 16, 17

Kate: 18!

Peggy: That's Right! Good job.

Rick (the dad): (not willing to let a good teaching moment pass) Kate, when Claire is 18, how old will you be?

Kate: (Another puzzled look)

Peggy: Remember, 13, 14, 15...

Kate: (Interrupting) 13!

Peggy: No. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18...

Claire (2 yr old): (whispering..) 19.

Peggy: HA! That's Right Claire!


While talking about writing this blog post, the following conversation continued....

Rick: Didn't you count 13, 14, 15...

Peggy: I think I started at 15

Rick: Maybe you started at 13 the 2nd time...13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19..

Claire: (a little bolder this time) 20.


So, apparently, homeschooling younger children isn't so difficult! It seems Claire will be the math wiz in our family!

Kate 4-22-08 3 years 4 months

To my dearest Kate,

This month you and Claire stayed at grandmommy and granddaddy's house for 5 days! You had a great time but I sure missed you. The house was so quiet without you. I was so happy to see you when I went to pick you up. You ran straight for Henry though and just loved on him for about 5 min before you gave me a hug! You are so sweet to him.
You seem so old to me now; you are becoming a little girl. You are very protective of Claire and Henry. If you get something, you always make sure Claire can have one too. You say all the time, "I'll take care of my sister."
You are starting to reason and it is sometimes very funny. I was getting your shoes out the other day and you said, "Mommy, it makes more sense for me to wear my Crocs because I can put them on and take them off by myself."
You also have good taste. We were parked next to a BMW convertible today and you said, "That looks like a FUN car Mommy!"


When Claire was an infant, I used to find you sitting on top of her saying "giddy up claire!"


Imagine my surprise when I heard "giddy up" a few weeks ago and you were now saying it to Henry! I had to include that picture with your letter this month because I thought it was so funny.
You are my joy and treasure. I love ever minute that I spend with you. I'm so glad I can be home with you. I love you and I am so thankful for you.
Until next time....
All my love-
Mommy

Parenting Tip #432 - #435

#432 - It's not a good idea to leave a 3 year old and a 23 month old alone with play-doh

#433 - Play-doh turns to a gooey substance that is hard to remove from breakfast tables when mixed with water

#434 - Taking a bath by yourself is overrated when you have a mess to clean up afterwards

#435 - Remember to have batteries for your camera at all times

Conversations with Kate

Kate: Mommy, can we go out to lunch today?
Me: No baby, not today.
Kate: Why?
Me: Because we don't have money to go out to lunch everyday.
Kate: Did the pastor take all of our money?
Me: What?
Kate: Did the pastor take all of our money when we gave it to the church last week?

This conversation was followed by yet another tithing discussion. Kate is fascinated by the whole thing but apparently doesn't quite get it yet!

Other Easter Pics

Family Portrait

Boo with the girls

Rick w/Henry

Papaw with KCH

Trying to get everyone to look at the camera

Oh well!

Sisters

Claire and Kate

Sarah, Emma, Peggy

Bathtime Buddies

I like things that simplify life....thus...Henry joins the gang in the tub!

KCH's first bath together...Everyone had a grand time!

Nice and clean

Is this too personal?

Kate to Rick

Kate: Um....(contemplative pause)...why do you have to wear shorts AND jeans?

Leaving the House

Since I just posted about going to the grocery store for the first time, I thought I'd let you know what's involved with getting 3 children out the door.



Kate
Supervise teeth brushing
Make sure she goes to the bathroom
Pick out clothes
Supervise getting dressed
Help tie shoes
Fix hair
Put on coat

Claire
Brush her teeth
Put on clean diaper
Pick out clothes
Dress her
Put on shoes and socks (normally this is done 2x before we leave because she always takes them off)
Fix hair
Make sure I have another diaper with me...just in case
Put on coat
Make sure we have "botbee" (her blanket)


Henry
Change diaper
Pick out clothes
Get him dressed
Nurse
Strap in car seat carrier
Put blanket over him
Make sure I have diapers/bottle if we are going to be out awhile


Walk all 3 to the car...
Buckle Henry's seat in
Buckle Kate in
Buckle Claire in
Climb to the front on the van
Sit in my seat
Buckle myself in

Turn on the car

Sit and rest (I actually do this)

Now, this may seem like a lot but it normally only takes about 2 hours :)

Would You, Could You?

My mom gave us the book Green Eggs and Ham for Christmas. Apparently, it's a hit! We were putting Kate and Claire to bed a few moments ago and here's the conversation that we heard.


Kate: Would you like to play beauty parlor Claire?

Claire: Yep

Kate: Would you, could you, in the dark?

Conversation with Kate

Kate: Mommy, I love baby Henry!

Me: Kate, that's such a sweet girl...you're a good big sister.

Kate: Mommy, when are we going to put Henry up?

Me: What do you mean?

Kate: When are we going to take him back to the hospital?

Me: We aren't going to take him back...he's part of our family and he lives with us now.

Kate: I want to take him back to the hospital.

Happy 3rd Birthday Kate!

Conversations with Kate

Rick: What is this? (Pointing to a picture of rocks in the ocean)

Kate: THOSE are Lobsters!

Rick: No, they're rocks.

Kate: (Pointing at a fish) And those are Fishes

Rick: You mean Fish not fishes

Kate: No, they're fishes

Rick: You don't say Fishes. You are supposed to say Fish

Kate: No, I say Fishes


Must be a little early to teach grammar....

Kate 2 years, 8 months

Throw Your Hands in the Air!

Well, I've never been much of a hand raiser during worship (in fact, I never have) and neither are most people in my denomination (PCA.) Maybe this will change in the next generation.
Today during worship, our 2.5 year old was "singing" along like she always does (never knows the words...just makes funny singing noises) when out of nowhere, she just raised her right hand for the rest of the song. I looked around and not a single other person in the entire congregation was doing this so I guess she was just moved by the Spirit. Rick and I started laughing and she just looked up and said "What Mommy"?