WOW- AmAzInG

From an early age, we have taught Jonah how to clean up and it has paid off-- we will send him to the playroom and tell him to clean it up and in about 10 minutes he calls us and shows off his hard work.  Seriously - this is how he cleans up- better than Rick and I do too.  He will make sure all the cars and tracks go together, all the people in the right bucket and even Harper's purse items (lipstick, keys, etc) go in her purse.  He has photographic memory and we get a clean looking playroom.  Now to be fair, he doesn't clean it up everyday or night- just went it gets real bad- part of having an extra room for a playroom is so we can just shut the door and go on!

Nighty Night

Our son following the rules (stay in your room for bedtime), just falling asleep on the ground as I'm sure he was peeking out his door.  Good thing is- we can easily move him into his bed without waking him up and he sometimes even says "I love you Mommy" when we lay his head on his pillow!

Still celebrating the Birthday BOY!

Busy weekend celebrating Rick's bday!  It was extra special since it was on a Sunday, we had all weekend to party- family party Friday night, date night Saturday night, all day Sunday to play and we did.  After church, we headed over to friends house for lunch and cupcakes, then opened gifts at our house and played outside.  Not too shabby for an "old man." 

 

Paying it forward for 1 YEAR!

this handsome 3.5 year old helped make some cakes with me in the kitchen

so we could take them to this place to show our appreciation

We will do this one time a month for the entire year!

I have been wanting to make a difference somehow in our Community and am  excited to start this with Jonah.  So I love to bake.  Jonah will always check our local fire dept too see if the fire truck is there, if the garage is open, etc.  We read lots of books and always will read the Firefighters books over and over.  So when I asked J who can we bake for?  Who can we say "thank you" for helping us?  He responded "the firefighters" (this was after he said Mason, Grammy, etc. I had to lead him away from family / friends).  So we baked some cranberry / pineapple upside down cakes to take to our local Fire Dept. to show our appreciation for their hard work in keeping us safe.

2 Years til he's 40 ~ HappY BirthdaY to Rick

For Rick's special 38th bday I asked him what he wanted to his bday dinner- he said breakfast!  So he got the heart attack special!  Family came over for some breakfast dinner, presents, and dessert.  He opened some presents, but saved some for his "real" day.  He got a cool board game "Last Word", some tee shirts  (UT and WI), some Dept 56 stuff for his Fall Collection, a clock and Bible.  The next night we went out for a date night- thanks to Justine for watching kids.  

Priceless moment

As the hustle and bustle of the evening - making dinner (or really reheat dinner), clean hands, eat, baths, story time, prayers- it's so nice to STOP and see a wonderful, heart melting moment.  H is now bringing books to us and wanting us to read them to her.  So this night, she took one to J and there they both sat on the kitchen floor and he read to her.  She was so excited to have her big brother read to her.  As a mother, it was truly a memory that will hold dear to my heart!

Special THANKS

 Thank you Grandma & Grandpa for my Highlights Magazine.  J really liked finding the hidden pictures the best.  

 Thanks Grammy for my Cars PJ's.  He wants to wear them every night and tells Daddy to hurry and do the laundry so they can be clean again.  

This is Winter?

Yep, this is our TX Winters- freezing cold one day and then we can play outside the next.  Gotta love it and we do.  It makes winter go by much better when we can break up the cold with a few warm ones.  

Projects with my little man!

Jonah & I love to do projects- it so much fun!  First, we made bird feeders from pinecones and peanut butter.  Of course, J ate some of the peanut butter (his favorite), but he did get a kick out of making something for the birds.  Let's just hope the birds come and get some!

 So I asked him to smile and show off his bird feeders and this is what I get!

Then we made a bear claw b/c we were learning about hibernation.  He loved it especially since he got to eat his claw when he was done!  

Pretty Girl day and night

Sibling time

Oh how they love to spend time with each other. H likes to follow and take away whatever toy J has. And J loves to smother her with kisses and hugs.

J got this rocketship for Cmas from his cousins and they loved playing inside of it, laying down inside and hiding from us.

J does a good job of pushing H all around the house- he really does go slow- I know it surprised us too!

Poor girl - playing with matchbox cars- she does have girl toys, but she really wants what J plays with and for some reason he doesn't pick up her dolls!

2012- NEW YEAR

We spent NY Day having a great lunch at mom's house and being outside- it was so nice and not too cold at all. We spent NYE during the day at the Zoo (we are getting our money worth for our membership) and then that evening enjoyed a quiet night with a movie, food and drinks!

H didn't care for the merry go round- we were surprised since she loves to explore new things and isn't usually afraid of anything.

we love riding the tram around the zoo checking out the animals

Jared and Rick playing catch

Mason pushing Harper all around- he loves to spend time with his baby cousin

Mason and Jonah playing baseball