It’s our house…

One of the lastest interests for everyone at our house is to make a “house” out of all the pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, etc. that aren’t nailed down. When I unloaded the Christmas tree from this box they were very excited. Foster and Theodore were in the “house” as Katie did most of the running and loading of all things soft into their new home. The funny thing is the box lasted much longer than I thought and kept everyone entertained for a least an hour, even little Theodore had a blast. Nothing beats a cardboard box, soft stuff and an imagination.

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Katie playing with Reed

The other day when I was babysitting my friend’s 5 month old, Katie decided he would like to hear a story. She sat down beside him and “read” the book Big Brother, Little Brother. It was funny because we’ve read it so many times and the pictures are so wonderful that she could really tell the story well. I know Reed didn’t care about that but he sure enjoyed the one-on-one attention she was giving him. He kept craning his neck to look at her. She’ll be a great babysitter someday!

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Thanksgiving fun

Katie is sitting with cousin Michael at Aunt Diane’s house. In the middle of the table is the turkey craft the kids and I made and if you can’t tell it had markers sticking out of its back for “feathers”. Foster and Katie really enjoyed making this and then Katie loved coloring all over the paper tablecloth Aunt Diane put on the kids’ table. Michael was just visiting with Katie since he’s really too old to be at the kids’ table now! You know how some adults just talk around or at children? Michael doesn’t do that, he actually talks to them and treats them like the little people they are, my kids love that about him. A few months ago he gave Foster some old dinosaur books he had as a boy. That was really special to Foster but he couldn’t understand why Michael didn’t need his books anymore! “Doesn’t he want to read his books anymore, mommy?” I just told him that Michael likes to read different books now. (=

Theodore’s first professional haircut

This was Theodore’s first “professional” haircut. The girl that cut his hair was very patient and sweet. I had to hold him on my lap so I couldn’t get a picture of her actually cutting his hair but his face sort of tells that he was ready for the whole experience to be over with. I was amazed he didn’t cry though. All of my children have been so hairy at birth and as babies that I usually have to do the first few haircuts on my own. I remember one of Foster’s first I put him outside in his highchair and gave him a chocolate popsicle to entertain him while I did my best not to cut his ears off. It worked so I did it this past summer with Theodore only I put him in the exer-saucer instead and he had a red popsicle. The only bad thing is the aftermath of a sticky, hairy baby and seat to clean. But, as with all things in motherhood, whatever works right? Let the baby nurse all night for a good night’s sleep, let the toddler have his paci until he’s 2 for a good night’s sleep, etc etc. I believe most mommas would be much happier if they would realize that your children will live through not going by the book, just like you did. I needed to hear the following when I had my first baby, “This too shall pass, Be present each moment, the housework can wait…” Our mother’s intuition tells us all this but society tries to rob us of our children’s precious years by making us feel that staying home, or working part-time is somehow “less than”. When what is really “less than” is wasting time on making money and gaining stuff that will break or get lost or be given away by the time your kids move out. Sooo…to whoever is out there and has the patience to read my posts, I guess you understand where I am coming from and that is that mom’s should make whatever sacrifices to stay home they can, it really is worth it!! Try it and you’ll see….

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Katie’s chicken and dumplings

Here is Katie helping cook chicken and dumplings on her birthday. It seems to me that little girls are drawn to cooking. She would help make anything in the kitchen and at 3 yrs. old would stick around for hours. She really is a joy to have help too, because she will listen carefully to instructions and not just jump ahead. I am so thankful that God blessed me with a daughter. My life would be much different without this person in it.

Foster’s first hunting trip (take 2)

Foster and Daddy with one of the deer they shot on Foster’s first deer/turkey hunt. Chris got two deer and no turkey, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He shot one while Foster was asleep beside him in the blind and Foster didn’t even wake up. Foster helped him “track” the deer by following the blood trail and that was definitely a highlight of the trip for him. Foster hung in there, even with temperatures in the teens at times. I truly believe he would follow his Daddy anywhere. I know it’s not as easy to take a 4 year old on a deer hunt but he is giving his son a priceless gift by making those memories. I hope I remember to tell my husband what a good daddy he is today! Foster spent all weekend after Thanksgiving asking when he gets to go again. And I used on of those all time classic parenting answers ” I don’t know, you’ll have to ask your daddy…”

Concentration at its finest…

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trouble maker

Theodore’s accomplishments today included figuring out how to put the ball down the chute on the learning home toy and I am sorry to say that his second was learning to climb up on the dining room chairs. Which means now that Katie and Foster’s safe place to build or draw is now fair game for Theodore. And it also means a new challenge in training, because it will only be a matter of time before he will be on top of the dining room table and that is just way too dangerous. Sigh….so I see lots of paddle use in poor Theodore’s future….again. You would think he would use some of that ingenuity to learn to walk since he will be 15 monthes old tomorrow, but noooooo….he would rather climb, climb, climb. He’s so precious though, with that sweet personality it’s hard to really get upset with him.

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Coloring

Katie stayed at the table for an hour this morning coloring her Strawberry Shortcake coloring book. She’s 3 so her idea of coloring is picking one color and coloring every inch of the page. I think she went through half the book but she sure enjoyed herself. She will sit still for just about any arts and crafts or coloring or Play-Doh activity, any other time, like story time, tv time, dinner time she wiggles and squirms. The most consistent thing in her behavior is that she rarely EVER stops talking. Playing alone or with others or whenever, she is always talking. Now that her whining is tapering off it’s actually a very endearing quality. Although, I say to her quite often “shhh, mommy has to think for a second!”

 

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Foster’s first hunting trip

So the boys are on their way…Daddy, Foster and Papaw left at 8am this morning for Foster’s first deer/turkey hunt and it’s also his first overnight hunt. They won’t return until Sunday evening and that’s 4 whole days. I told Chris tonight on the phone that I was so glad that I wouldn’t be sending Foster off to school because Katie, Theodore and I would miss him way too much. He’s a bright ray of sunshine in my days! I am biased I know but I feel like he is a really bright, special kid. He told me in the van last night on the way home from church that HE was blessed because God put him in my belly and he gets to be the big brother in our family. Yeah, it made me cry some happy tears!

 

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