Wild and Free

There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing my kids running wild and free outside. I love the twinkle in their eyes, like anything is possible with their imaginations. And they are free! Free from all of the troubles of this world, just as they should be. I love dirt under their fingernails. I love giving them baths and seeing a ring around the tub when I empty the water. Today was one of those days. The snow was gone, the temp was above 50 degrees and we were outside from late morning to late afternoon (except for naps). Thank you God for these kids, this day and our play set with tons of pea gravel!

First Date

How cute are these two? My friend Alicia is watching our kids while I work 1 day/week. She is very kind to fill in for us while we are looking for a new babysitter. Our old babysitter, Sara, just had her 4th boy in under 5 years. So, she decided not to babysit anymore. I cannot blame her!!!

Layla went from Sara's house, which was all boys, to Alicia's house, which is all girls! SHE LOVES IT! Alicia sent me this picture while the kids were there on Friday. She said she learned she can't feed one baby at a time as the other gets jealous. So, she layed her daughter, Madison, on the floor with her bottle and Cooper on the floor with his. She said they stared at each other the whole time they drank their bottles. TOO CUTE! I think Coop is enjoying this all girl thing too!

I have to admit, I was a bit worried about this house of girls taking on Cooper. Not that I didn't think Alicia could handle it, I knew she could. I just didn't know if all the little girls could! Cooper is everywhere and is so stinkin' strong. He can easily overtake Layla. He doesn't realize his own strength, which gets him into a lot of trouble! On their first day at Alicia's, she was standing by the wall holding Cooper. Well, he thought their thermostat needing some inspecting and before she knew it, he pulled the whole thing off the wall. She now calls him Bam-Bam.

Man Overboard!

Layla wouldn't take a bath last night because she had a fresh scrape on her heel. No problem, I gave Cooper his much needed bath after a spaghetti dinner and then did Layla's this morning. I was quickly reminded why I give them baths at the same time. As soon as I started Layla's bath water brother was trying to get into the tub. He just bends over the side and reaches down to the water, willing himself in! It didn't take long before his feet were off the ground and his tummy was suspended on the edge. Before I knew it, he heimliched his breakfast out and into the nice clean bath water. So, we evacuated, drained, cleaned and refilled the tub. Within minutes, he was in the same position again. Before I could get my soapy hands from Layla's head to brother, he went head first into the tub. Of course he died laughing at himself but was ticked off when I banned him from the bathroom. Cooper has also started walking up and down the stairs this week. He won't crawl up and down anymore, no, no, no. He wants us all to know he is a big boy and big boys walk the stairs, even if they have to hold on to the spindles with white knuckles.

I laugh at this little man every day. He keeps me on my toes and although there are days it exhausts me, I love every minute of it!

Mini Van Driving Mama!

There was a pretty good snow storm on Friday when I was driving home from Des Moines and, wouldn't you know it, a telephone pole flew out of the ditch and hit me! I was fine and the kids weren't with me, which allowed me to off road my truck through a corn field, up the ditch and back onto the road. We took my truck in on Monday and picked up my rental car. Layla's dream of dreams is to have a mini van. And, to tell you the truth, if we didn't live where we live, I would trade the Excursion in for a mini van. They are soooo convenient! You can guess what rental car was waiting for me.......A MINI VAN! Layla is so excited, she keeps coming up with lists of things we need to go get. I keep telling her that we will have to return it and she keeps telling me she understands, but we'll see.

So, I have one front end accident in the 20 years that I've been driving and Dave is now putting some crazy bumper on my car. I don't even know what it is or what it looks like, but all I can picture in my mind is one of those big cow herding things. He assures me that I will not look like a hick or a cowgirl (no offense hicks and cowgirls!)

The Confession Obsession

Layla confesses everything. I know its mostly an age thing, but I'm hoping it will stick with her in life. It shows wonderful humility! However, she confesses so much, its starting to make me a little batty! She confesses things I have no idea she's done or said yet she finds me to have an entire conversation about it. Here are her latest obsessions.....I mean confessions.

Yesterday, she confessed to me 23 times that she "snuffed" her nose up instead of getting a Kleenex to blow it.

She also confessed to me 14 times that she gritted her teeth.

While we were driving in the car she said, "Mommy, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I said 'butt' instead of 'bottom.'"

"Thanks for telling me honey, I didn't even hear you."

"I said it in my head, sorry mommy, sorry Jesus."

"That's very kind of you to apologize Layla."

"Oh, I said it again in my head, sorry mommy, sorry Jesus."

Several minutes pass........

"Ahhh, I said it again! I keep thinking things that I'm not supposed to say!"

Not My Proudest Moment!

Layla has been a little off this week. Partly due to the adjustment of us being home and partly due to her being on a yucky antibiotic for an ear infection. On Thursday morning she was so whiny and sassy. I started the morning by being as loving and understanding as I could but by 10:15, when it was time to leave for school, I was losing patience. When we got loaded into the truck Layla says from the backseat, "Mommy, you are frust-er-at-ing me!"
"Join the club!" I curtly reply (no, not my proudest parenting moment!)
Layla replies by slapping her leg in exasperation, almost in tears, "I will not join it! I don't even know what a club is!"

Later that day, with no real improvement in her mood, we were having a snuggle and a talk. I said, "Layla, I really don't like the way you've been acting today. You've been sassy and whiny and that isn't very fun to be around. Is there something that is bothering you?"

Layla replies, "Oh mommy, I don't like the way I'm acting either!"

Good reminder, she is just 3 and sometimes just needs a break!

Good to be Home!

Dave and I left Maui at 11:40pm Monday night and arrived home at 3pm Tuesday. With the time difference of 4 hours, the flights weren't too bad. It was 5 1/2 hours from Maui to Phoenix, 1 hour lay over in Phoenix and then 2 hours from Phoenix to Des Moines. As you can see from the new header picture, the view out our deck was amazing and hearing the ocean all day and all night was very easy to get use to! What I'm not used to, after 10 days of relaxation, is having to watch a clock again. I've been late to everything today!

The kids were ecstatic to see us, but truly not half as much as we were to see them! Last night, Layla said to me in passing, "This is a really special day." When I asked her why, she said, "Because my mommy and daddy came home." Its not hard to see why we missed these two!

Cooper just started taking a few steps the day we left and is continuing to do so today. He does it more to show off than for mobility! I'm sure he will be full speed ahead when he hits the 11 month mark at the end of the month.

Couldn't Be In Better Hands!

Dave and I have just 2 days and 2 night left to our vacation. It has been fabulous. Today we layed by the beach and watched whales splashing around in the ocean. Even though it is great fun we desperately miss the kids! They had 6 days with Mama Faye and are now spending the weekend with Ben and Kari before heading to G&G Handsakers. Ben and Kari were kind enough to email us these pictures tonight. Kari was taking Sam, Henry and Layla to a Valentine's Day dinner at church. By the look on Layla's face, you can tell she is having a great time! She even got to wear a pair of Henry's Car jammies. In our absence, the kids just couldn't be in better hands!

"I've been crying and crying for 6 days!"

This is what Layla told us when we called home this morning. Although we've only been gone 2 days she has apparently been missing us and crying for 6 days. Mom assures me that she has been great, but I think Layla just wanted us to feel a little guilty! However, this was the view from our room this morning so the guilt trip didn't work! Plus, Mama Faye showed up at our house Saturday with a huge Rubbermaid tub full of crafts and projects. So I know Layla is having a blast! Today they are making cut-out Valentine's Day cookies. Today, we are doing nothing but laying in the sun! Aloha!