Happy Birthday Grampy!

We helped Grampy celebrate his birthday Sunday!  

 HK decorated his cake.  

I love that she put "Grampy I love u" instead of happy birthday!

It also is outlined in a big heart.  

Notice Liam watching his brother and sister with Grampy.  I knew it was only a matter of seconds before this... 

well at least the joining them part.  I wasn't expecting the grabbing the candle out of the cake and licking it part.  

Grampy thought it was pretty hilarious!

 Later that afternoon, the kids had a great time playing rather wild with Uncle Jim down in the floor.  

I hope he wasn't too sore the next day! 

I think at several different times they were all three on him at the same time.  

Typical mean face for Nolan as of lately.  

Happy Birthday Grampy (or Bampy)!
We love you so very much and are so extremely thankful for you!

17 Months

I bet you thought I forgot again!  

I did not!  The last week has kind of been a whirlwind and Momma just hasn't slowed down enough to sit down and type.  

So here it goes buddy...only 8 days late!

17 MONTHS...

"You haves a prowbwem wif how I eats my nana?"

"Yeah...I sticks it all in togeffer.  Dats how I wike it!"

"MMMMmmmmm-Hmmmmmm"

"You shoulds twy it dat way too!"

"It makes you wanna scweeeeaaaaaammmm!"

Oh yes buddy, you shove the food in like there is no tomorrow.  I am seriously not sure at times how it all fits in without choking you.  You do enjoy your food, but you do have some picky tendencies.  I am trying to find a rhyme or reason to them.  You could live on fruit alone!!!!  Well make that fruit and pancakes!  You also do not care too much to be fed anymore.  You want to do it all yourself.  Unfortunately your independence comes with a price...more mess to clean up!

When we went to take your picture this week Nolan wanted his picture with the sign.  

This was interesting because when I want to take Nolan's picture these days he usually tells me no and frowns.  I snapped a couple to humor Nolan and then stuck you up in the "picture chair".

At first you weren't too happy about this because you had been wrestling with Grampy in the floor.  

BUT when Nana started making super crazy noises you turned on the charm.

You have such a wonderful, heart warming smile!  

However lately you have developed quite a frown too!

That is how you show your displeasure about something...with a big frown.

I am going to capture it one day soon!

You also like a good sweet treat every once in awhile!

(chocolate cake for Grampy's birthday)

You also like to "help" whenever you are allowed.  

This particular time Nolan was washing off dishes in the sink and you were putting away clean silverware.  You would grab it and put it in the drawer.  

All done...you actually know where quite a few items go!  

You also like to help Mommy put clean laundry from the washing machine into the dryer.  

You love to help carry things...

honestly just anything where you feel like you are helping.  

You like to sit in Greatie's lap.  

A couple of Sundays ago when we ate dinner at our house you brought a couple of toys to Greatie.  Then you wanted her to put you in her lap.  You two sat that way until time for dinner.

I'm not sure which of you enjoyed it more?

Bubby, there are so many things I could say about you this month!  

Your "babyness" is quickly disappearing.  You try to be such a big boy.  You literally want to do everything HK & Nolan do.  

You are so rough and tumble or as Aunt Chloe Ann said tonight..."he is a bulldozer".  

You were chasing Nolan this morning trying to tackle him to the ground.  

You LOVE your milk...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!  

You also love your giraffe, seahorse, and paci when it's time to sleep.

Although I hate to break it to you...Mommy is trying to figure out when paci is going to have to go bye-bye.  

We went swimming Friday night, and I thought you would love it.  You didn't at all.  You just wanted to be held the whole time.  Honestly...Daddy and I didn't mind.  We took turns snuggling you in the water.  On the other hand, you truly enjoyed the hot tub!  

I love that when you are hungry, you get your bib and put it on.  Then you stand at your highchair and cry until I put you in it (don't really love the crying part).  At 11 am and 5 pm you start stalking me in the kitchen wanting food!  

Big Boy.....Daddy & I love you so much.  You truly bring joy to our lives.  We love watching you grow, change, and develop into this fantastic little toddler!  

Nolan Strikes

Nolan was once again working puzzles.  

He finished and put them away.

Later when I walked in to the family room I saw this...

Nolan had taken the vehicle chunky piece puzzle and lined them up on the ledge in the family room.  

Couldn't help but snap a picture to capture the things he thinks!

Question by HK

So I have a feeling that I am going to be having several of these posts with this title over the next couple of years!

I just have to remember to record them before I forget.

Also...if you have not seen Disney's Rapunzel you will not completely appreciate this conversation.

Tonight she and I were riding in the car together when she asked....
"Do princesses live forever?"

Oh boy....hmmmm....let's see here....thinking, thinking, thinking....
We haven't been to Disney yet so I don't want to ruin the magic of princesses, but this is also a serious question with serious spiritual implications.

Mommy..."Well if they know Jesus as their Savior then they will live forever."

Pause...HK - "So they will never die?"

Mommy..."No baby. Everybody will die, but if you know Jesus you will live forever with Him.  Remember the verse you have learned and we have talked about...if you believe in Jesus you will have everlasting life...."...Mommy talks a little longer.

Pause...HK then states quite boldly and matter of factly..."Mother Gothel is going to hell."

Pause for Mommy this time.  All I could manage at that point without my laughter upsetting her was, "HK I LOVE YOU!!!"

Valentine's Tradition

So last Monday morning, Nolan and I were baking mini cupcakes for HK's Valentine party at school.
We had a fun morning together!  While having this great morning I had an idea!  

I knew Nate had to work on Valentine's Night this year so we had not planned anything for Valentine's.  I then however decided that I wanted Valentine's day to not be so focused on romantic love for my kids.  Nate & I try to tell our kids often things we love about them and affirm them, but I wanted this day to be a day about affirmation of each other.
When we were in youth group, Thom use to do all kinds of affirmation activities with us.  What an awesome group building/bonding time they always were.  I will never forget those times.  

So I wanted to transfer that idea into a Valentine's tradition for our family. 

So I decided we would start this tradition of how we will celebrate Valentine's on the 13th this year.  

I made a really nice dinner and dessert.  

 Then I made a card to go at each person's place.  In the card I told them things I loved about them...affirming them!

 I had some laminated hearts and I wrote on one for each person some positive things about them.  

They hung from the light above the dinner table.  

 You can see HK's says she is beautiful and the back side says helper, creative, kind loving.  

I also made one for Jesus saying things I was grateful for in Him.  

Nate:  brave and strong, fun, loving, provider, protector, handsome

Nolan:  handsome, funny, gentleman, loving

Liam:  fun, snuggly, cute, and full of life

I love my daughter's heart!  I had all of this set up before I picked her up from school.

She was very excited when she saw everything.  

However, she immediately noticed there was no card at my place.

She sneaked materials into her bedroom and made me a card and had her Daddy write in it.  

She then signed all of their names.  

Her heart is so perceptive and loving.  

We ate dinner and read what each person's heart said.

Then I read everyone their card.  

After dinner, the kids opened a gift from Nate and I.

Nolan was super excited to get the Cars movie.

HK was extremely pumped about her Rapunzel figures.

Liam just loved being with everybody (even though he did have a gift too)! 

So that is going to be our Valentine's tradition...a family holiday where we (even more than normal) make sure we know what we love and appreciate about one another and then play!

I want them to know how precious and loved they are whether they have a romantic love in their life or not...no matter their age.  

 Nate worked on Valentine's day so I hung with our kiddos.
Liam shares my love of popcorn (really all the kids do).

So we snuggled and munched for quite awhile!

Nana was sick.  So Grampy brought their Valentines by.

HK gave a thumbs up to the Hello Kitty chocolates!

 

Liam wasn't too sure what to think!