Writing about it always helps

Bella is just like her Momma in so many ways, and perhaps Grandma could have predicted this and maybe even hoped for this as payback.

Today, Bella and I had a disagreement about bringing dried leaves into the house to use for coloring patterns. I suggested she might have better luck with a newly fallen leaf that had not turned crispy. (The nerve!) THEN, I had informed the children that there was no afternoon snack because we were eating dinner earlier tonight. (Oooh, the evil eyes!)

I ran upstairs briefly and returned to the kitchen to find this note with this picture waiting for me.


"daot batr me" (Don't bother me!)
"Its not far" (It's not fair!)
"My Mom seid I hafto Goto My Rom. I throw a Big fit."

This may be why Brian thinks that one little girl is plenty.

Maybe 10 minutes later, Bella returned to the kitchen with signs for her bedroom door. Including translations of "Closed," "Open," "Leave me alone," "Don't hurt my feelings" and "Please knock." She was talking to me again, because she needed my help tying the knots in the string that these signs needed to hang from.

I also can't hold grudges very long.

The Tooth Fairy Arrived!

Last night, the Tooth Fairy visited our home for the first time! Austin finally lost a tooth. At 8, he was somewhat miffed and wondering if he would ever lose a tooth.

Last week the excitement began, and then the worry that it would hurt. But being the brave soul that he is, he pulled it out himself yesterday morning. His smile was so big coming off the bus to give me his announcement -- He was so proud of himself.

I was worried that the Tooth Fairy would forget -- nighttime is a tough time for older minds to remember these things. Then there was the question, "What does the Tooth Fairy bring?" Then, the question, "What if he tries to hide it somewhere as a 'test'?"

The Tooth Fairy got 'delivery jitters', and requested the assistance of her husband. Although removed from the original baggie, the tooth was where it was supposed to be after all, and the gift of 3 speical coins was very well received. Austin knew right away (in the morning dark even) that he had 2 half dollars, it was the gold Sacagawea dollar that threw him. But once he read it's value, he was thrilled and couldn't wait to tell his teacher. (Phew!) His words "And this is just the beginning!"

Happy Day!

Look Momma -- 2 wheels!!

Two weeks ago, while visiting Gram in Minnesota, Logan asked us to take off his training wheels. Gram ran up and down her road hanging on to Logan with all her might. And now, after several nights of running up and down our sidewalks, and using all of neighbors front yards as landing pads (sorry!), BOTH Bella and Logan are training wheels free and loving it!



Of course, scrapes and bruises are part of the course. Today, Bella is proudly displaying 3 bandaids, and she applied 2 on Logan's legs (for good measure). Logan's biggest scrapes occurred while running after Bella while she was riding - oh well.


Oh - and Logan's greatest excitement now that he's got the 2 wheels fairly under control - skid marks on the sidewalk. That's fun! Especially when I'm running behind him just in case .... and screeeeech!

We found Gold, Momma!

Spring cleaning in the garden before Brian mowed the lawn, and all of the children decided to help me. What fun, digging in the dirt! The hastas were the best because of the exciting budding leaves that waited for their reveal just under all of the dead leaves. But after awhile, even the hastas weren't that interesting for the children.

It looked like rain though this Saturday afternoon, and I really wanted to finish the backyard cleanup. So, the children ran to play in the front yard as I finished the last couple minutes of work. I heard their excitement after just a couple of minutes, and then Logan rounded the corner of the house. "Momma, Momma! We found gold Momma!!" "Wow buddy, okay I'll be there in a sec. How exciting."

Not really thinking what it could be, I finished stuffing the last of the dead leaves in the yard waste bag, grabbed the bag and my shears and headed to the front of the house.

With shovels in each of their hands and a wheelbarrow with the first shovel fulls of the grandest treasure, the children's faces were simply in awe of their find.

Alas, I had to break their excitement. "I'm sorry guys. This is actually sand...and it belongs under those flagstones that you moved. Let's put it back okay?"

I wasn't mad --- how could I be? To the children it was treasure. Right under our front landscaping all this time, and we hadn't even known it!

We all worked together to put the sand back and the big rocks and soon they were racing on their bikes and coloring our sidewalks with beautiful butterflies and flowers.

They are truly our treasures!

Boing Bunny for Bella

I finished the "Boing Bunny" hat for Bella! Hooray for me. I had no idea that making ears be the same size would be so tricky, nor making a triangle nose on a knitted hat. But Bella is thrilled : ) and so am I.

What should I try next? Anyone want a hat?

Our Frogs

I started knitting this year, and am so excited about 3 whole completed projects. My first project was supposed to be a pink scarf for Bella...it ended up being a wide pink purse for Bella. I got a little carried away with the width, and ran out of yarn with a scarf that was only about 2 feet long.

My second project was a frog hat for Logan. Besides being a little tight, he loves it. That went over so well that I decided to make a similar hat for Austin. Austin's hat fits Brian. Sizing is not as easy as I thought!

Logan's Frog Hat
Austin's Frog Hat

Now I'm trying a Bunny Boing Hat for Bella... we'll see.

Staying Always

The other evening during dinner, the children and I were discussing growing up. This is a topic that they seem to be very concerned about. We discussed where Momma and Daddy would live, and what the children wanted to do. I mentioned that the children may all decide to move into their own homes and that Daddy and I would come visit them often. They all ALL teared up and became very emotional. My babies!

Yesterday, Logan let me know that he is going to be a Skateboarder Dude when he becomes a teenager, and that he would still be living with us. : ) Thank goodness. He wants me to be a Skateboarder too though....hmmmm.

Another cute moment -- We had a movie night on Friday and watched Homeward Bound, The Incredible Journey. The children all became very concerned for Sassy (the cat), and Shadow (the older dog). It was an emotional movie for them! Thankfully, it ended happy (good job Disney)!

Daddy Daughter Dance

Bella and Brian went to a Daddy Daughter Dance at our church a week before Valentine's Day. Bella was so excited to wear a red dress for Valentine's Day. She was practicing for her date with Daddy a week before the dance - she placed her napkin on her lap for dinner, and practiced being very (extra) polite. It was too cute!!

Who is going to disagree?

Today during lunch Bella shared with everyone that Bella means 'Beautiful.
And then she shared that Austin means 'Angel.'
And that Logan means 'Life.'

And she is right.