New blog

Since this format no longer likes me, I switched to a new blog. Follow me there for the latest and greatest!

http://thelittleshacks.wordpress.com/

:)
Anne

Eating from the rainbow!

Doctors recommend "eating from the rainbow" to get a healthy, balanced diet rich with vitamins and nutrients.

Caroline misunderstood... and ate the rainbow.

:)
Anne

Progression of timeout

Caroline was told no for chewing on something. This is how she processes punishment.

She frowns. The she asks if she earned a time out. She does this by putting her hand to her head and asking, "nine out?". Then, she bawls.

All because her mean old mommy said no.

:)
Anne

I'm hoping you get the pictures in the right order since I can't control it through the app.

Swimming? Yes, please!

Looks like the littles are ready for swim season. Look out Grandma Mary!

:)
Anne

Andrew's first game

Andrew had his first tee ball game this weekend. He did really well considering he held his pants up by the string when he ran.

He made some great "plays".... And by plays I mean he picked up and threw the ball occasionally. Sometimes he even got it close to the first baseman. Once the lead off runner got to the grounder before Andrew could field it, do there was a hand off of sorts in the baseline... Very interesting. One boy spent the majority of the game lying down throwing dirt at the other players.

Here's one picture to show Andrews umph when up to bat!

Seriously, that leg adds so much power.

:)
Anne

Ps- I still can't log in to the real vlogger site, so if anyone knows of someone who knows anything about this I would love to talk to them. It's been several months since I was able to log in.
:(

Big strawberry, big smile

She giggled as soon as I let her pick this mondo strawberry. Happy girl!

:)
Anne

Picnic & Sweet Boy

Here are some pictures from our first picnic! It's not super fancy, but the kids loved it. I think we will have many more of these in our future!

As an aside, I have noticed something pretty fantastic about my four year old. He shares so freely! I have never seen anything like it. He let his sister eat all his waffle fries, always shares his candy, and always asks if he should save some for Daddy. What a big, loving heart for such a tiny tot!

Even more than sharing, though, he risks his life for Caroline daily... Ok, that might be overly dramatic, but he does endure bodily harm quite frequently to keep her safe.

Of the many examples, yesterday's is one of my faves. Chris and I were meeting with a real estate agent in the kitchen, so I asked Andrew to "keep her entertained and don't let her eat any rocks". (Rocks, dirt, rolly-pollies, etc.)

Things went swimmingly until we hear a blood-curteling scream. I ran outside to see Caroline content as a cucumber, and poor Andrew screaming and holding his finger.

Being the caring mom that I am, I immediately asked Andrew in a scolding tone "what did you do?" (Mom of the year 2012...blames hurt child for being hurt. It's usually his fault anyway, right?)

Antway, he fights through the tears and sobs, "she was trying to eat a rock, so I used my finger to scoop it out...and she BIT me!"

How crappy did I feel? Super crappy, so I scooped him up for some mommy TLC and made it all better.

Considering his being raised by a heartless witch, he seems to be turning out quite well.

:)
Anne

By the way, we are listing the house, so pray for my patience and sanity as I attempt to keep the house "showing" ready with two toddlers...

Winner, winner!

Chicken dinner! Caroline's coy smile won her a small appearance in the April Dallas Child magazine. I haven't seen it yet, but I plan on grabbing one (or five) the first day I can. She also won a wifi baby camera monitor.

Ok, enough bragging, but I do love her sweet smile!

:)
Anne

Well, he's right...

Andrew is smart, he can come across as kind of jerk. I'm pretty sure he means well...

Case 1
At the grocery store, a little old lady heard Andrew talking and approached.
Lady: my grandson is 4. I bet you're 4, too.
Andrew: I'm four years old, and this is my sister, Caroline.
Lady: Nice to meet you. And when will your 5th birthday be?
Stunned, Andrew looked from her to me and then back to her. He spoke very slowly to her and says... Well, all my birthdays are in February.

Now, she was the one who looked stunned.


Case 2
While on a drive, Andrew got excited and said, "Look, Mommy, an airplane!"
Me: Wow! I wonder where it's going?
Andrew: Well, it's probably going to an airport.
Me: Yep (insert internal curse), Bud, I bet it is.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but those are the latest. How can you be mad at that face?

:)
Anne

Big kids

Y'all know me, so it should be no surprise... I cried when I buckled Andrew into his big boy booster seat, Caroline in the big car seat, and packed the infant carrier away. How the time flies.

:)
Anne

Oh, children...

Andrew had a few gems today:

1. Getting in the car, Andrew requested a song.
A: "Mommy, can I listen to Aunt Bobby's Love Beatle's song?"
Me: "it's called Can't buy me love, and yes you can".

2. In the car, Andrew saw some construction crews and asked me to go back to see them again. I explained that I couldn't go backwards or we would have an accident. His response, "Since people can have a accident, do they ever have a on-purpose?" ummm... Good question.

3. At dinner we were all playing around and talking about the gorillas at the zoo. I told Andrew about the gorilla from the Dallas zoo named Jabari that went crazy, escaped, and died. He said "you know who's Jabari? Your mom."

Oh, and Caroline has discovered that ketchup is a food group.

:)
Anne

Anything you need

Since Chris became sick, our amazing family has stepped up to the plate. They have slept over (without sleeping), made food (without eating), taken care of kids (while wanting to care for their own), gave dog treats (while their dogs waited outside), and done chores (while their houses remained messy). It's been awesome... But to the three of us, it just doesn't feel the same.

Everyone keeps asking what they can do to help. Unfortunately when Daddy is sick and Mommy stays away and takes care of him, here is what our kids need:

1. Someone who throws perfect pitches.
2. Someone to have Friday Fluff day.
3. Someone to dance with who spins just right.
4. Someone races me to get the newspaper.
5. Someone who gives peanut butter with reckless abandon.
6. Someone to let my swim I the tub and play till the water runs down.
7. Someone  to tackle right before bed.
8. Someone who can "sing all the animsls".
9. Someone to sing Twinkle, Twinkle "super loud like a rock and roll star"with snuggle friends who play air guitar.
10. Someone to give "all the kisses".


With all the amazing people in Andrew and Caroline's lives taking care of all their needs, there are just a few things that the kids still need.

Cakrline shows it... On a quick trip home from the hospital, Caroline runs to me. She hugs me, kisses me, and then signs more... She leads me to the pictures on the fridge signing more, pointing to the picyures, and says "dada, dada".

Andrew shows it...On my first night home after a couple of long nights at the hospital, Andrew comes to my too my room at 3:30am glad that I am the one he finds. I calm him, sing to him, and rock him (although we haven't rocked to bed in ages). I take him to bed, sing my best "rock 'n roll" Elvis the Elephant variation of Twinkle, and then we pray. He fights back tears and says, "when I go visit my daddy tomorrow, I will just bring him home with me".

We are so grateful for all the help, but sometimes we just need mommy and daddy. Thank you God for the blessings in my life.

:)
Anne

So wise

Chris has been laid up for almost two weeks, so it's been all mommy all the time. Andrew, Caroline, and I are starting to show signs of wear. As I buckled Andrew in to his car seat this morning, here is our conversation:

Andrew: (seeing the worry on my face) Mommy, what does that face mean?
Mommy: I'm just a little tired. I'm ready for Daddy to feel better.
Andrew: Me, too. But why does that make you feel like that?
Mommy: Well, when someone is sick it's hard for everyone. We have to be more patient, more loving, and we don't always get everything we want.
Andrew: But Mommy, Daddy is the one who is sick.

Yeesh. I'm feeling very selfish. Simple wisdom from an almost four year old. No matter how tough it is to pick up the slack, it's still worse to be the sick one.

:)
Anne

PS: I did have some much needed help this week from Grandma, Grandpa, Grandma Mary, and Aunt Martha! Love y'all!