Moving on up...

Well, summer happened. It was fast, wonderful, and full of so many people that we love. More on that later...maybe??

And today we moved on to THIS...











We started the day with scrambled eggs (which they ate...thankfully), Wild Krats (which they had time to watch because they ate...thankfully), changing into the new outfits they picked out, and pictures.

We were early to school, because there has to be one day that that happens. Drop off is on the playground, which will allow me to leave Jocelyn in the car while I sign them in. I am thankful for that. Before we pulled away, we saw each of them talking to at least one child, and really not sticking together much.

We were also early for pickup, because there also has to be one time for that. We observed them sitting in circle time singing a song about fishies. Mackenna was doing the appropriate hand motions and singing along. Micah was sitting there. They both got a sticker for the day, and the teacher said it went well. In separate meal time prayers, they both thanked God for wonderful days - I guess that is all I can ask for!

I think I feel a little weirder facing tomorrow - Day Two - then I did about day 1. I have dropped them off places before for one day and had a little time to breath, but then it is usually back to the normal gearing up for a crazy day at home the next day. Today as I was realizing that Curt will go to work tomorrow and we have no groceries and the laundry isn't quite done and I was beginning to go into my Manic Monday night mode...I remembered that tomorrow will be another quiet morning at home with Jocelyn. I'm thankful for that, but also a little weirded out by it too - more perplexed than sad. I am looking forward to the routine - I think it will be good for us.

We ended the day with Tortellini and a trip for ice cream...and of course, bed!

Here's to a great practice run at this thing called school :)


Oh...and tomorrow my baby turns 11 months old. I haven't written her a monthly letter since 7 months. It is too late to "catch up" but I am determined to write something about her tomorrow...since waiting until the next month would mean than she would be 1!! So, that hopefully means two posts in two days!

All Boy

Popping back into my neglected blog to share this capture of my precious son. Put him anywhere on God's green earth, and he can be found playing with a truck, train, plane...something that goes.


 

See what other "All Boy" images are shared this month over at i heart faces.

Mom Week

Where is the time going? 

We had a wonderful mother's day weekend last weekend - at least I did. Jocelyn and I were able to go the beach alone on Saturday while the older kids did some mother's day stuff with dad. I stayed home with Jocelyn from church on Sunday because of a gunky nose, and that was nice in its own respect. Curt did a great job of making lunch and giving me as much down time as possible on Sunday and Monday. I have a sweet family.

They have also said some cute stuff this week too. I've been waiting until I felt in a more "eloquent" or "sappy" mood to write this stuff out. That's not going to happen, so here it goes...

---
As we were getting ready for church - 
Mackenna, to Jocelyn: "She's so big."
Me: "I know, how did she get so big?"
Mackenna: "She growed."..... (sensing that I was not okay with this fact) "I don't want you to stop her."
Me: "But then she'll be as big as you."
Mackenna: "I know, she has to grow. That's what big kids do."

---
When I tried to wake Micah when he fell asleep during listen books at "rest" time - 
Mackenna: "We should just leave him alone."

---
Mackenna: "Can I have another one of your treats?"
Me: "No, they are mine."
Mackenna: "It's okay, I just want some of them."

---
Micah, to me: "What are your favorite colors?"
(We go through a whole list, and he picks out those colors to use in his coloring picture.)
Micah: "I'm just going to try them and see if I like them."
(He tries them)
Micah: "Okay, I like them, so I can use them."

---
Mackenna, praying: "Thank you for this wonderful day. Thank you for this wonderful world. Thank you for Mother's Day."

---
Micah: "When will it be the next Mother's Day?"
Me: "Well, can't every day be Mother's Day?"
Micah: "No, then we won't have our next Christmas."

---
Mackenna, to Daddy: "When I get bigger and Micah goes with you to work then I'll stay with mommy and we'll watch the babies."

---
Daddy, to Mackenna: "Look at my two pretty girls. Do you think Jocelyn is pretty?"
Mackenna: "Yes."
Daddy: "You know, when she grows up, she's going to look up to you, and you need to be a good example for her."
Mackenna: "When I grow up, I'm going to tell her what to do."

---
(Although I couldn't catch the details, I did overhear a conversation between M&M tonight about how they were going to get married and they would kiss everytime Mackenna said so.)

An Instagram "10 on 10"

A little bit of Daisy to start our day.


Me and my girls - while my son checks out the trains.


Mackenna was naming the dwarfs. This one she called "Yawny."


Love this shot. (I have found sunglasses really improve a picture of my kids...can't really tell if they are looking or not :)


This handsome guy was there with us too :)           {Photo edit by Mackenna}


A couple of different shots of one scene.


Love watching my little artist develop...and love her brother too.


It seriously is like just wearing a permanent hug.


My Marie-Wearing-Girl meets Marie!
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Another lovely shot and edit by the talented Mackenna.


It may have taken a little bit of bribing, but they had so much fun on Soarin.' Even rode it twice.


My favorite backseat view, and my kids favorite Mickey ears. A good end to a day and a getaway.


Don't worry. My "11 on 11" would have been much less exciting and "glamorous." I promise you.

Love these kids

My family never ceases to make me smile...

The other night Mackenna got up to use potty before going to sleep for real. I hugged her and told her she was the best big girl ever. She responded, "but not when I disobey." So true.

Micah must have asked me something about if he could do something at some point in the future. I must have said "I don't care." I clearly don't remember the context very well. What I do remember is what he said a few minutes later. Out of the blue he asked, "Mom, does 'I don't care' mean yes? or no?" Funny kid.

As if the differences between boys and girls weren't always clear to us, we were reminded of the difference when we were at Animal Kingdom a few weeks ago. Micah had been asking to ride the train all day (probably another story), but at this moment, we were at the Lion King show. Both kids were having a great time in the beginning. It was action packed and fun. After the monkey dancers did their thing, the mood shifted and a graceful bird dancer took center stage. We experienced two different reactions to this. Micah turned to dad and said, "I sure am looking forward to riding that train." Mackenna then calmly and quietly, in a "beautiful voice," said, "This is my favorite part."

Things I love about Jocelyn - 7 months

Dear Jocelyn,

You are over 7 months old now. This letter will be a little different than the past ones, but I wanted to make sure and write it. Something you will learn about mama is that I have a certain way that I expect things to be done - especially things that I am doing. And, although I'm working on this, if I can't accomplish these things in just that exact way, I sometimes will feel overwhelmed and frustrated and just won't do them. I kept putting off this letter until just the perfect time to write it so I could record every little thing and every perfect picture. That time isn't coming this month. I am choosing to trust that you will still appreciate the sentiments in this letter, even if it isn't as factual (you might even like it more...who knows!?) I thought I would make a couple of lists. So here goes....


Things I love about you, my 7 month old baby girl

• The way holding you is like a giant hug. Especially when I wear you in the Ergo, I absolutely love the way your body curves around mine and it is literally like wearing a hug. You seem to like it too, often snuggling in for the ride or even a nap. I love being close to you.
• The way you are liking your pink bunny more and more. Sometimes at nap time, you will move the bunny over your head to cover your eyes, stick your fingers in your mouth, and conk out. This bunny was mine when I was a little girl. I had given it to Mackenna, but she never loved it. She happily passed it on to you. I really do hope it becomes a favorite of yours.
• The way you will lean out to me when you are being held by someone else. Not sure if your daddy loves this or not, but you really do get excited to see me and will lean closer to me hoping that I will take you into  my arms.
• This goes with the last one, but I also love that your entire face lights up when I entire the room. A definite ego boost!
• I also love the way you gained weight! The doctor was a little concerned after your six month check up, so he had you come back in this month. All that middle of the night eating paid off and you gained plenty of weight. Thanks!
• I love that you are still non-mobile. I have a feeling this will be the last monthly letter that I can say that in.
• I love that you are getting more hair - and it is so blonde and adorable :)  Your bald spot on the back is pretty much gone!
• I do love the way you suck your middle two fingers. It is your trademark and it is adorable.
• And I can't not mention your "international sign for tired" - putting your right arm over your eyes while you suck your left fingers is absolutely adorable and totally you.

Things you did this month

• Ate solid food for the first time - avacado and bananas mixed. You actually ate quite a bit of it. However, we have only been successful at this once.
• You figured out how to scoot backwards when you are on your belly.
• You made some trips to the beach, usually being willing to fall asleep in the Ergo for your morning nap. You are super flexible - especially if it means getting held by mommy. You also stuck your feet in the ocean for the first time. You actually liked it for awhile - you are full of surprises and differences from your siblings.
• You took a major leap forward in regards to your love of toys. You totally interact with them now, whether it is your "o ball" you got for Easter or Sophie the Giraffe or Freddie the Firefly. You are happier if you have toys.
• Developed an even greater obsession for the cat. They might be your favorites, second only to me.
• You have started to show an angry side, especially in this situation - when you are playing with toys and starting to get frustrated, you will fuss a little bit. If one of us comes close to you to say hi, but then walks through the room without picking you up, you totally ramp up your screaming as if you are saying, "I know you didn't."

Your routine, just so I don't forget

• Get up between 7 and 8, nurse, play on your floor blanket with toys. Mommy tries to keep Micah and Mackenna out of your face too much. You like them, just in small doses and sometimes from a distance. Mommy also tries to keep you from seeing the TV too much during M&M's morning shows.
• Go back down for a nap between 9 and 10 - still in the bathroom, or as we like to call it "Jocelyn's room."
• Get up sometime before noon, nurse, play again (if we are home)
• Nurse again before your afternoon nap, sometime around 2. Hopefully sleep until 4 or after. Nurse when you wake up, hang out with the family for awhile. 
• Get cranky when it gets close to bedtime - try to push you off until 7:30 or so. Nurse and put you down - half swaddled, sound machine on, in your bathroom bed. 
• This month, you woke up to eat a LOT - typically around 11 and 3, and sometimes also 6. Don't worry, I still love you.

I am so happy to be your mama. 

Love,

Me

P52 - Things that Grow

Alternate Title...."Better Late Than Never"




For this last week's theme, I wanted to highlight some of the things that are growing around my house.

While we were at Disney two weeks ago, Micah was walking down the path after leaving an animal trail. He just announced in his surprised voice, "Hey...5 plus 5 is 10!" Curt and I looked at each other with a little bit of shock. He was holding up his two hands with five fingers each, and it was clear that he was thinking through the total number of fingers showing. Curt asked him about some other doubles, like four plus four. He would hold up one hand with four fingers and another with four fingers, count them, and then tell us the answer. We were in total shock that he was just coming up with this with absolutely no prompting from us. We decided to ask him about a non-double and see what his little overdrive brain did with that one. We asked him what two plus three was. He did his two hand finger routine and announced that it was five. This next thing is what made my jaw really drop. He said, in total and complete shock, "Hey...there are two ways to make five! There is this way (holding up one hand with five fingers) and this way (holding up two hands, one with two fingers and one with three fingers.)" I about fell over. I decided to press my luck and ask him about one plus four. The same routine. Once announcing that it was also five, he said "Hey...there are three ways to make five!" I love that his brain loves figuring things like this out, and that learning can totally happen by just being with his family and exploring the world.



Mackenna showed her growth this week in her fine motor, creative, arts and crafts abilities. Nana sent us these super cool sticker mosaic craft kits. They had got them in the mail and were really excited about them. I thought they were neat, but wasn't up for tackling a project that day. A little later, I was in a different room, and I heard Mackenna talking about completing one of the pictures. I was panicked about the mess she was making and the way she had probably ruined the craft kit and had done it all "wrong" since I hadn't explained to her ANYTHING about what she was supposed to do with it. I came into the room to see that she had nearly completed the high heel mosaic picture, and it looked just like the picture on the box. She had figured it out, got it out, and done it all on her own. It made me smile...a proud and surprised smile.

>

They really are growing up - and I'm loving most every minute of it.