Birthdays and Busy Bags

I now have a two year old boy who is so very active. He's stubborn and curious, mischevious and loving. I could go on and on, but he is overall a joy to our days and a light to our nights. He had a beach ball birthday this year. We had lots of sweet kiddos from church come to his party. We are very blessed to have so many wonderfully sweet and adorable friends in our church family.

One of my biggest trials this summer has been keeping the children occupied and out of the horendous heat. I love summer....swimming and sprinkers, popsicles and lightening bugs, cookouts and sidewalk chalk....and I'm not going to complain about the heat. It is what it is, but it has most definitely changed how much time we spend outside. Even in the pool or with the sprinkler on it's still very hot and Landon's little cheeks get bright red and I know it's time to take a break. It doesn't take very long until the water feels more like bath water than a chance to cool off. So, as I'm sure a lot of mommies have been dealing with this summer, we've been indoors more than usual for this time of year.

Little hands need to be kept busy. I've definitely struggled to keep all four little hands in our house occupied and from trouble. The smallest hands have definitely been the most challenging. So, I've teamed up with some friends to make busy bags. We haven't gotten together yet, but we're planning to next week. I've made some by myself before, but I'm really looking forward to having a stack of them ready for too hot to play or rainy days.

These two sweeties have been caught more than once playing in the sink. Sometimes they make a big mess....sometimes only a minimal one. (I mean can you see the mirror? Wet little hands make for a smudged mirror.) Either way, they have had more fun just sticking their hands under the water. Oh for the joys of being a child.

I'm planning to document our busy bag making so look for that coming soon. :)

Let them be Little

It's Landon's second birthday this week. It's so hard to believe that it's already been two years. My pregnancy with him was both wonderful and difficult, and I wish I had stopped to savor the moments more.

It's been a while now, but sometime in this year we got his haircut for the first time. He has since had another cut, and boy does that boy have some locks!

The decision to finally get his haircut was made for us when in the same week two different people thought he was a girl. After that his daddy said it was absolutely time to get his haircut. So our sweet friend Deborah cut his hair for us. She also did Caroline's first haircut. We love how personal it is for a good friend to be such an important part of this milestone.

He is growing up too fast. I know how cliche that is to say, but it is so true! I was looking at him today before his nap and I just wanted him little again. Throw in that Caroline will be going off to preschool this fall and I'm a bit emotional about my kiddos right now. Every once in a while he'll still let me cuddle with him and rock him. Most of the time he is all boy and all about trucks, dirt, sports,questions, and rough housing, but sometimes I'm still able to catch him in a moment of weariness and he'll cuddle. I savor these moments because when I look into his eyes and answer his favorite question, "What's that sound?" I see the boy in him. The baby is almost gone. Only the slight chub in his cheeks and thighs still shows there was ever a baby there at all. He is a boy.

I like to tease Caroline and tell her I don't want her to grow up. I go on and on about her staying four forever and how she can live with me and be my little girl always. She loves this game. She'll laugh and then say, "Mommy! God made us so we'll grow up. I can't stay little forever." I am teasing her and I know she will grow up and I pray about that often. I love to hear her explanation about God's plan for human life.

This morning we were having this discussion and in addition to her reminder to me that God made us to grow up, she added, "Mommy what about Landon? When I'm off at school you'll still have him. You like him." Yes sweet Caroline, I do like Landon a lot. But that doesn't change the pang in my heart that you're growing up. The sweet moments of your childhood will grow fewer and farther between.

For now though, I will love my children deeply and fully. I will continue to pray for them and their future spouse. I will laugh with them and discipline them, and hopefully just let them be little. For a little while longer.

Catching up...

I took an unintentional hiatus for almost a year...but I'm going to try and make blogging a priority again. We'll see how that actually goes. :) There is way too much to catch up on from almost an entire year, but I'll try and hit some highlights.

We had a really fun fall...

Love these birthday buddy cousins! These two girls have two of the most precious, sweet and loving hearts of any kids I've ever known. I am so blessed and honored to be a mother and aunt to these adorable girls!

Landon is into everything. All. The. Time. He is "noise with dirt on it." (A quote I saw on Pinterest about boys. A definite fit for my boistrous son!)

Love my daughter!

Halloween was a lot of fun. We loaded up and drove to some friends houses and really enjoyed seeing everyone's costumes. Then it was back home to trick or treat in our neighborhood with some of our favorite friends!

Ava and Landon are squished into that stroller. Hahahaha...the big kids were sweet to not want to leave them behind. The daddies walked around with the kids and us Mamas had some soup, chatted and passed out candy every few minutes. It was a lovely evening.

We had a shared Princess birthday with cousin Annalise. It was a really fun day with our family. The girls had a blast and Aunt Stephanie made an AMAZING cake and all the decorations were so adorable.

I'm FOUR!

Our Christmas card photo. Pretty "classic" of our children.

We attended the annual ornament swap with other couples from our church family. This year the hostess decided to make it a costume/tacky Christmas sweater event. I was a dark chocolate Hershey's Kiss, Aaron taped some mistletoe to his head, our friend was Jack Frost (although Aaron coined him a Snow Fairy) and his lovely wife busted out a tacky outfit! It was a fun night.

Mamas of two or more kiddos family Christmas survival tip: drink coffee regardless of the hour.

Silly girls!

I think we're going to have to make matching pjs a must every year. We'll have to have a set for the boys and a set for the girls. I think I'll all it quits for now. Goodnight!