The Halloween of Many Princesses

This year, Halloween seemed more like a "season" than just a day. Thanks to her recent birthday, Cassidy had a different costume for each event. Here's the breakdown:

Last weekend we attended a Halloween party and Cassidy was "Ariel" from the Little Mermaid.

This was on Friday, lining up for the parade at Alex's school. Here, Cassidy is sporting the "Sleeping Beauty" costume. Oh, and the kid on the right is a bucket of green slime!For this one, the whole family gets into it. This was a neighborhood Halloween party, and Cassidy is a sort of fairy princess.

And finally her Trick-or-Treating costume, her "super, super, fancy dress!" Alex was a Power Ranger.

A little slice of a 4 yr old mind

So, tonight I was putting the kids to bed. We read a story, and then I ask the kids what they are thankful for and if there's anything they want to ask God for help with, and then we say our bedtime prayers. Usually, they say things like "I'm thankful for Mommy and Daddy, or Jesus, or my pink blankie." When it was my turn I said I was thankful that God created my children healthy and whole, with all their bones and muscles working, and everything inside them working right. Apparently this statement set off a huge waterfall of deep thoughts by Alex. "Mommy, before there were people, did God create some Mommies and Daddies and then they had babies? Do all babies look exactly the same when they are born? Mommy, next time you have a baby I want to be there. I really wanted to be there when Bridgette was born."

Whew. So all in one conversation, we've touched on creationism/evolution, the different kinds of people in the world, and watching babies be born. Someday, I really do look forward to explaining all of these things! I don't know how I escaped that but all I can tell you is he's now sleeping and life is good.

Preschool starts again!

Boy, what a difference a year makes! At the beginning of preschool last year, I would ask, "Alex, what did you do today at preschool?" Usually he'd say, "I don't know." This year I asked him the same question after his first day and he told me about the pretend games that he and Amelia G. and Amelia S. played in the Big Room, that it was Carson's birthday and he brought cupcakes and Spiderman toys, and that at show 'n tell, Mrs. Wampler said his Chinese Yo-Yo was "cool." He is learning and growing up so fast. So here are some pictures of the kids last September and now.

Sept 08

Sept 08

Sept 09

Things Kids Say During Thunderstorms

Tonight as I was putting Alex to bed, there was a thunderstorm a little ways away. Loud enough to hear, but not right on top of us. Alex was acting a little scared ... here's how the conversation went:

me: "That's just God making enough rain for all the trees and flowers, just like he made the mountains and the oceans."
Alex: "Aw, I missed it. I never get to see God do anything."
me "Well, God made the mountains and the oceans a long time ago."
Alex: "Well, I want Him to make them disappear, and make them again so I can watch."

Mother's Day Maypole Dance and Tea Party

The Friday before Mother's Day, Alex's preschool teachers had a special Maypole Dance and Tea Party for the moms and their preschoolers. It was so sweet. This Mother's Day was especially cool because it was the first time Alex really "got it." He could sign the card himself, bring me flowers, tell me "Happy Mommy's Day" and I could tell he really meant it. Not that the previous ones weren't meaningful, but there is something about those well wishes actually coming from your child. To my firstborn, Alex: you make me cry, you make me laugh, but most of all you make me proud!

Backwards and Inside Out

The other day I was trying to motivate Alex to get dressed for school - so I reminded him that he gets a sticker on his chart for putting his underwear on, socks and shoes on, etc. Sure they ended up backwards and inside out, but it's a step in the right direction.

More Easter Pics

Alex checking out the eggs in his basket.
Pretty bows now stay in Cassidy's hair for .33 seconds.

Cute little bunny.

Alex enjoying the Easter Egg Hunt in our town.

Celebrating Easter

We had a great Easter weekend! My mom and dad drove down to babysit the kids while John and I attended the JMU ROTC military ball on Friday night....and here's the kicker - we treated ourselves to a night without the kids by staying at a local Bed & Breakfast. It was pure bliss to be served breakfast in your room, not have to fix breakfast for anyone else (or wipe yogurt off of the floor) and watch the news! Thanks Mom & Dad!

Grammy & Pap Pap smiling but the kids not cooperating for the camera on Easter morning.

Alex enjoying his new Leapster from the Easter Bunny.

Cassidy and Grammy playing.

Camp Horizons

A family in our Sunday School class works at a place called Camp Horizons, only 15 minutes from our house. They hosted a very fun gathering there this afternoon. John and Cassidy weren't able to come since it was Cassidy's naptime.



First, we fed the ponies and brushed their fur. Alex even kissed one of them on the lips.


Then, we gathered around the campfire for s'mores. Heavenly delicious.



After a wagon ride tour of the camp, we went canoeing. Alex was not much help but we made it back to shore and had a great time!


The lil' guy was all tuckered out by the time we got home.


We arrived home to John and Cassidy mowing the lawn together. Cassidy's holding a little pink toy camera and she's taking my picture as I'm taking hers!

Some quotable quotes

One day Alex was trying to throw his little frisbee to me, and it didn't go where he wanted it to go. He said, "Argh, Mom, the frisbee wouldn't listen to me!"

One time Cassidy was very interested in playing with whatever toys Alex was playing with. She was being particularly diligent, despite Alex's attempts to divert her attention. Alex asked, "Mom, how do you make Cassidy go away?"

At Christmastime, Alex would ask to go look at the "activity scene." (nativity scene)

Also around Christmastime, Alex asked, "Does Jesus live in our neighborhood?" "Does Jesus have a car?" "Where does God live?" I told him that Jesus lives in our hearts and God lives up in the sky, or maybe I said up with the stars. So, one time we were doing a puzzle of the solar system with all the moons and stars in the background. Alex said, "Mom, when we put the puzzle together, you show me where God lives."

Walking with Reindeer

News Flash! Cassidy took her first steps! She's not walking everywhere yet, but it's a fun game for her to walk a couple steps to John or me. Here's the video:

Secondly, we have a rare sneak preview of Alex's preschool Christmas program on Friday:

A Balmy December Day

Yesterday, it was in the 50's around noon so the kids wanted to play outside. After a couple weeks indoors, the swings, slides, and sand almost seemed new again!

So we sat in the house all that cold, cold wet day.

Alex loves The Cat in the Hat, so now that I have it practically memorized, it comes in handy now and then. Well, winter did not waste any time getting here. All of a sudden, we have to get completely bundled up to play outside, and when it's wet and cold.....forget it. So, here are some pictures of what the kids do when we are stuck in the house. Yeah, sometimes they play with toys too :)

What a difference a year makes!

Today, I was just reflecting on how things were a year ago.

Alex was almost 2 and a half. He was potty trained, but still needed 100% assistance in the bathroom. He could scribble. I still spotted him going up ladders at the playground. He asked for a toy when we got in the car. He rode in the stroller.

Now he's almost 3 and a half. He can go #1 completely by himself from start to finish (thank you sticker chart!). He's starting to write letters. He can climb up the ladder faster than me. He asks me why the sun is following us as we drive to preschool. He rides his tricycle.

Cassidy was 1 month old. She nursed every 2-3 hours. She stayed awake 10 minutes and looked around. She cried when she wanted more food. She grunted. She went wherever you took her.

Now she is 13 months old. She can sit and eat goldfish at the snack table (she still nurses though). She only naps 2 hours a day and plays with everything. She signs "more" when she wants more salmon (yes, she ate salmon tonight!). She says "up," "bye-bye," and a few others. She has an opinion now.

I'm still home with the kids, but life is so different than it was a year ago.