quote of the day

"WHY do you think Paw cut off Nubby and Copper's tails?!?!  

When we go there, I'm gonna ask him not to do that again!!!"  

-Lily, age 3

I did explain that Nubby was born like that. :)

the scene on my couch

~ Sweet snuggles ~

~ Laughs at Wacky Wednesday! ~

 Happy to have an extra morning this week that we don't have to rush off to preschool!

YAY!!!

If you know me, you know that I often cycle through worry about whether Peter is doing OK, whether we are doing enough, whether he is making enough progress, watching my own attitude and frustration with behavior, being creative with how we motivate him to want to do things that aren't naturally easy for him.  Usually this ends with a vent session to Mike and then a good pep talk from him about all of the wonderful qualities in Peter and a renewed motivation and focus on my part.  And much needed prayers for patience and understanding (why do I so quickly forget that?).  So that happened recently, and we've been working hard.... esp trying to sit down and do fine motor things...  

 I decided we were just going to start writing. 

 LOOK AT THAT GRIP!!!  

I feel like its finally clicking.  

We have worked on correct grip, correct hand, and crossing midline for years.

They've been excited about this!!  Which is so amazing!!!  I think its finally starting to click with Peter that he is going to be able to learn to sound things out and read.  He is getting excited about it.  And trying to sound things out during the day.  I've just let them tell me words that they want to write.  Lily is a little Re-Pete, choosing words that Peter's wanted to do.  I love it.  
I love Peter's choice of words. 
rocket.
battery.
sneeze. 
(can you tell he's been sick?)
cheetah.  
(they found a yellow and black rope and like to pretend its their "cheetah tail")

 So we did this for a couple days and then on Friday when we went to get the pizza, I let them each pick out a car.  I told them that if they wrote their words for two days this weekend that they could have the car after the second day.  They finished tonight and were so proud.     

I think I was as excited as they were!!!

 YEAH!!!

My Little Helper

She is so focused.  So helpful.  Like, for reals, helpful.  And sweet.  

Her little spirit fills my tank.

And after about four days on the couch, we decided to pack them up.  

I helped at the beginning to have some order to it.  But then in the end, she did it all on her own.  She took it SO seriously.  She kept asking me for every ornament, "Is this one special, Mommy?  REALLY, REALLY special?" in her precious 3 year old voice.  And then she'd wrap it with SUCH care.  Seriously, I think she'll be able to do it all on her own next year.  

This is a dream come true!

"Is this one really, really special, Mom?"

And it should be noted that she was wearing different pants than earlier in the day but went and put these on all by herself.  She is able to be so independent.  This is new to us and awesome.  

All done and packed up.  She's almost strong enough to take it upstairs by herself.

 QUEEN of the ORNAMENTS!!

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY to the Bug!!

End of Vacation

We've had a few days to ease back into our routine.  Daddy headed back to work but I got a few more days with the kiddos before getting back into the weekly grind.   Its been nice.

The sweet girl has thoroughly enjoyed working on this sticker project from Aunt Becky.  She literally took it with her everywhere in a little bag for daysss. And then finally came to the end of the stickers.  So fun.  I've loved watching her joy in working on it.

The boy had a little fever on Mike's first day back to work.  He was really snuggly :) and sure to tell me he was "sick".  Here he is demonstrating his sick face.  Cracks me up.  This is when I love Keppra and that he is older than he used to be (praying time heals a little brain).  Seizure free fever... Yes, Please!  It was only a 12 hour fever (love it!) and then normal cold junk.  Great!  We can handle that.

Another benefit after sweet snuggles... an 11 AM nap.  Isn't his hair awesome, seriously.

Lily and I worked on crafts while Peter slept.  He woke up and declared "I'm not sick anymore!"  Love you, sweet boy.  So he joined us for crafts.  

 Using our pencils...

 The next day I got them those cool gel pencil grips and erasers.... its amazing how they've helped motivation and grip... more on that later.

We stayed home the next day too to finish recovering.  Lily wasn't sick, just snuggly.  And who can resist a snuggle from the Bug.

self portrait.  My little Rosy.

***************************

I made a new soup...  It was so yummy and easy.

Found it on Life Rearranged. (I LOVE her blog.)

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 onion, chopped 

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 Tbs olive oil

3 can chicken or vegetable broth

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp chili powder

lime

1 28 oz can diced tomatoes

1 can corn, drained

1 4z can green chilis

2 15 oz cans black beans, drained

1/4 cup cilantro (or more), chopped

5 boneless chicken breasts

tortilla chips

monterey jack cheese 

Cube chicken.

In olive oil, cook chicken, onions, garlic.

Cook on med-low til chicken is cooked & onions are translucent.

Add cans and spices.

Add cilantro and lime. (Yum!)

Simmer 30 min (or more).

Serve with crunched up tortilla chips and cheese.

Lily approves.

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Friday night was pizza and movie night.  They brought their table and chairs in.  Every time they bring in all three chairs.  Its interesting to me.  I'm not sure why they do it.  But they do every time.  It makes me think of the siblings that are part of our family but not with us.  Its not many days that I don't think about it.

 This morning for the church tag team, I took the kids to McD's... we got pancakes!!

 

We've done a trial membership at an indoor pool near us.  The kids have loved it.  We went today and afterwards headed out for hot chocolate and mac n cheese.  It was really sweet.  We were all in agreement that it could be a good Sunday eve tradition.

NYE 2012

We had a great time ringing in the new year with neighborhood friends.  

How cute are they!!

Happy 2013!!

Christmas, Part 2

After a few days here, we headed back for another overnight at my parents.  

Uncle Henry was there!

 And Paw logged his best snuggles to date.  Sometimes Lily can be stingy with her hugs but Paw enticed her with some back scratching (she's part Dennis) and a story in her ear.

 Then the boy's turn.

Lily packed her purple back pack full of things she wanted to bring.  So after we got there, she pulled out her new pink skirt and put it on over her back pants.... so cute!

 And now double heaven for Paw... maybe one of my favorite pics.

 Look at those delicious pigs and I love Peter opening Paw's eyelids  :)

 a blurry but cute pic in their new boots.  Holly (the doll) got a new outfit for Christmas and new skates from Peter.  Lily gave him a Spiderman hero... both big hits!

 And my boy... love his love of books.

 Another favorite... the simplicity of childhood.

******************************

We went on a nature hunt the next day to get out of the house.

 Checking something off the list.

 Finding a bug was on the list so they are looking under a log.  I love me some Mike.

They do too.  It was good to have him for 11 days.

 Racing home.  (Lily had a head start.)

 A sweet Buggy...

 ... gave me blue nail polish for Christmas.  I love it.

 Mom and Grace got Mike addicted to Scrabble.  They played 4 games in 26 hours.

 Hugs for NeeNee and a thank you for the FUN gifts she gave the kids.

like this one... a dream come true for Peter.

 Oh, and here's our superhero with his superhero that Sister gave him.