Keeping Cool

It's official - we've broken the record for the number of days over 100 degrees in a single year {50, back in 1980... the summer I was born! Poor Mom!}.

Yay?

We're SO ready for cooler weather.

In the mean time, we're keeping busy and trying to stay cool.

N: "The tractors are just going down the road."

E: "Piddy paints, Mom-meee. See? Piddy paints, Bubby. Aw dun."

Noah begged Nana to "play blocks with him" when she got home from work. They built what Noah introduced to everyone as his "shanty-town". Why we didn't think of this type of building sooner, I'll never know. Because when Ellie comes to knock it down {which, inevitably, she ALWAYS does}, it's much easier to rebuild.

Sunday = Family Day.

Church = Noah wanting to go to his new classroom, NOT his Sunday School room.

Lunch = El Chico at the Mall.

Late naps = sleeping late.

Trip to Target = walking down each toy aisle with Papa.

= ♥

"Paint!"

The walls in the kids' room are bare. And boring. And really are in need of some decor. The kids and I set to work today to remedy that.

After naps and snacks, I got everything set up for them to paint some 8x10 canvases. Earlier in the day, Mom, the kids and I purchased some paint and paintbrushes, so they knew that after snacks, they were going to get to paint.

Both of them were so. very. excited.

Noah worked on some Cars themed paintings {Lightening McQueen, as seen below}:

While Ellie painted in her Princess themed colors {"piddy paint!"}:

Good fun was had by all, until it was time finish up and put it all away.

Noah didn't want to stop. His last painting transitioned from "Finn Missle on a road" to "Mader" to "Mader and M'Queen". I had planned on them painting a maximum of 3 each. He painted four... and would have kept going if we would have let him!

The only way to get Ellie to stop was to put her in the kitchen sink to clean her up let her play in the bubbles. She painted three, and like her brother, would have kept going too!

Can't wait to see the finished products on the walls!

Friday Family Fun

Noah woke up from his nap ready. to. draw.

Last night, in his goodie bag from Meet the Teacher Night, he received a new set of crayons and was very anxious to try them out. Uncle Bryan was more than willing to help him. And to teach him how to draw a few new things...

Before dinner, Aunt Jessie got roped into reading a couple of books...

and after dinner and baths, Nana did too.

And once the kids were in bed? Jane Eyre for the rest of the family!

Meet the Teacher Night

After a little {internal!} debating, I signed the kids up for the Mother's Day Out program at our church. More than just daycare, it's really like a pre-school, particularly for Noah, who will be going on Thursdays and Fridays. Ellie is only going on Thursdays so that I can have a break to get things done and also so on Fridays, she and I can have a day together, just the two of us. We've been talking school up to Noah especially and he was really excited to get to go meet his teachers tonight at Meet the Teacher Night.

But since both kids were more interested in playing, I never actually got a photo of them with their teachers!

Overheard | This Week

While changing her diaper:

Ellie: "Rrrrrrraaaawr!"

Me: "Rrrrrraaawr!"

Ellie: "Oh, Mommy!"

***

Noah: "Bye, I have to go take my bath now."

Me {as he's walking into the bathroom}: "Noah, did you just tell your toys 'bye'?"

Noah {sheepishly nodding and grinning}: "Yeah..."

Me {trying not to giggle}: "And did they say anything back?"

Noah {unaware of the humor in the situation}: "No, they just waved."

Wordless Wednesday

Cookie Tuesday {Resumes}

"My Da-dee!"

I try to always somehow include Ben in our everyday. We have a routine of getting to talk with him nearly every morning on Skype. We talk about him throughout the day. We read the book he recorded for them. We push the buttons and listen to the messages on our Daddy-Monkey and Daddy-Bunny at least once a day. And we pray for him every night.

But my favorite thing of all? It's not something that I instigated.

It's when Ellie begs for my phone so that she can sit back and look at "my Da-dee" on my "fooooone". A silly photo that he had sent me is my wallpaper and she figured out that if she pushes any button, the black screen will light up with Daddy's picture. Heaven help you if a text thread was left open - she'll throw a fit until she gets to see "my Da-dee pease!!"

"HI, Da-dee! Yov you!"

Monday | According to Noah

N: "Mommy, you n' Ellie smile an' I'll take your pish'ure."

N: "Now just you, Mommy. SMMMMM-ile!"

N: "NNNooooo Ellie! I'm takn' YOUR pish'ure! You can't have my camera!"

N: "It's not time for bed... I. need. to. take. your. PISH'URE!"

Not a clue where he gets the attitude or pish'ure-taking-desire from.

Simple Sunday

Church.

{with Sno-cones!}

Lunch.

{@ Soda Pop's}

Naps.

Playtime.

Pizza at Aunt BB's house.

Swings.

Baths.

Bed.

I ♥ Simple Sundays.

Deployment Gifts | Month Three {And a Party}

Ben requested that we give the kids their deployment gifts a couple of days early this month, so that he'd be able to stay awake for a while with them.

They LOVE getting their gifts from Daddy. And think the "close your eyes" part is super fun. Although Ellie usually can't contain her excitement and her eyes are almost always half-way closed while she bounces up and down on the bed.

Noah just adores his Batman and Ellie was hardly seen without her new jewelry all day.

Thank you, Daddy. We love and miss you!

♥

After naptime and dinner, we headed over to Aunt Connie and Mickey's house to celebrate Megan {Mae-Mae} turning four. I couldn't help but giggle when we didn't even make it through the front door before Amanda was passing out hugs to her very willing and elated to see her second-cousins.

Made me smile and remember a page from one of my favorite Cynthia Rylant books, The Relatives Came.

A certain little birthday girl, however, requested that no one sing her Happy Birthday. And then promptly turned on the shy routine when we belted it out.

As you can tell, Noah loves a birthday party... and wanted to have the front row seat for both blowing out the candles and opening presents.

Happy 4th Birthday Mae-Mae! We love you!

Ellie {@ 23 Months}

I'm finding myself having those weird denial feelings of there's-absolutely-no-way-my-baby-will-be-two-in-a-month. I had them with Noah but I think with Ellie, it's a little more painful on my heart-strings since Ben won't be here to experience it and since, at the moment, she's my baby.

Happy 23 Months, Our Dearest Ellie!

And happy last-month-I'll-probably-ever-tell-your-age-in-months. {sigh}

Things Ellie Loves at 23 Months:

• PESTERING her brother. Seriously, if this were an Olympic sport, she'd win the gold medal... at 23 months of age.



• saying lots of new words and phrases. Among my favorites: "Saw-dee." {Sorry.}; "Yov you." {Love you.}; "Hi Mommy. {pause} Hi Baby." {finishing the good morning conversation for me.}; "Oh my."; "Wooh! Iz a pane, in da sky."



• trying on shoes... anyone and everyone's, but the bigger the heel, the better.



• going "bye-bye"... but will freak out and throw a fit if you don't leave soon after putting her shoes on her.



• reading. To herself. With others. To others. {Seriously, how did I get so lucky that they both love to read?!}



• loves her Papa. Noah, at this age, was a Nana's boy... Ellie is definitely a Papa's girl.



• going crazy with excitement the moment that anyone comes over for a visit.



• watching "Signing Time" and attempting to sing and sign along.

Littlest Dear One, you make our hearts happy with your silly ways, your funny faces, and your orneriness. You make us laugh and giggle every time you laugh! I love to watch you dance and hear you sing along with songs in the car. You are growing by leaps and bounds, every single day. And we know that God has some amazing things in store for you! We love you, cherish you, and simply put are already so proud of you. We'll eat you up, we love you so. ♥

School and Sleep

We haven't been doing much in the way of school lately. Mostly because a good portion nearly all of our school supplies are packed. So yesterday, while Noah and I were at Target {thanks for letting us have a little adventure, sans the munchkin, Nana!}, we picked up this fun dry erase board.

Noah. loves. it.

And he diligently traces the letters just so he can make the smoke coming off of the candle on the cupcake {which is hidden from view by his right hand!}.

He also loves sharing an after dinner, after bath treat with Papa.


***


Remember when my Littlest One was sleeping through the night and staying in her big girl bed until I came in to get her each morning? I do. And remember how since we've been in Oklahoma, it's been one trial after another just to get her to sleep in the same room as Noah? I do We all do.

The biggest trial, really, has been that she loves to get in bed with Noah. And, normally, I'd be okay with this type of sibling affection. Except, with her, it's not affection. It's I'm-going-to-pester-you-until-you-are-crying-and-screaming-for-Mommy-to-come-save-you-because-I-woke-you-up-by-poking-your-eyes attention. I'd deal with this little tete-a-tete a couple of times each night until I finally would give up and do one of three things: pull her into bed with me {rarely worked}, pull Noah into bed with me {leaving her to have their room to herself}, or put her in the pack 'n' play {which, until a couple of weeks ago, we kept in Mom and Daddy-Man's closet}.

Her princess bed {"priddy beh" as she calls it}, for the most part, has gone unused because she simply won't stay in it.

This past week she learned to climb out of the pack 'n' play. I knew it was coming. She figured out how to climb in, it was only a matter of time before she figured out how to get out.

So yesterday, I ordered this:

And paid the nearly $22.00 for overnight shipping.

Noah's reaction: "Where's the tent for my McQueen bed?"

Ellie's reaction when I asked her if she wanted to sleep in her princess bed or monkey bed tonight?

"I'wn money beh."

Here's to a good night's sleep for all of us!

Overheard | This Week

From the monitor, at 6AM, when Ellie was suppose to be in her pack 'n' play still:

Ellie: "Noz. Eye. Eye. Tee-ffff."

Noah: {screaming} "I FORGIVE YOU ELLIE!"

Ellie: "Saw-dee Bubbie. Saw-dee."

***

While listening to a VeggieTales cd in the car, with everyone dancing along...

Noah: "Get it Mommy!"

***

Noah: "Night-night, Ellie. Now you can't get out."

Gim-ee and Papa Noz

I love my Grandparents dearly. And I like to think that I have a special relationship with them. They were there, of course, throughout my childhood, cheering me on {often while I, myself, was cheering!} at various sporting events, attended plays, and just lent a listening ear when I complained about boys or school. In college, they drove out to Shawnee more times that I can count to help me move, attend Hunnies intramural softball games, or to take me out to dinner, just because. And while I was teaching, my Grami was a regular in my classroom, spending a little one-on-one time with kids who just needed some Grami-Snow-time.

I love that they love on my kids in the same way.

And that my kids love them right back.

Thanks for dinner and ice cream, Grami and Papa Snow. We love you and promise to not let it be that long before it happens again!

Ellie: "Bye Gim-ee! Bye Papa Noz! Bye Gim-ee!"

Add It to My List

I need to start keeping a list of things I need and want to video tape. Mostly for Ben, so he can see what the kids are up to and the latest accomplishments they are making, but also just to have so we can remember how little they use to be.

And because hearing Ellie finish the sentences in our very well-loved copy of "No, David!" is something I don't ever want to forget.

Today, we...

... managed to fall into our new normal routine.

... didn't take any pictures, but took several videos.

... stayed indoors most of the day due to the crazy {and seemingly never-ending} heat.

... said and heard "Saw-dee Bubbie". A lot.

Heading Home

It was almost painful to leave this Little Man and his parents. He's just so snuggly!

But, after lunch, that's just what we had to do... we had our own kids and husbands {in person and on Skype} to get back to.

Stephanie, David, he's darling. And amazing. And I can't wait to see the big things that God is going to accomplish through him... and through you, as his parents. We love all three of you to pieces!


Also, you're lucky I didn't try to just bring him home.

And Erin, can't wait for more adventures in Maryland! ♥

Crazy Love

Erin and I stayed up late last night at the theatre watching Crazy, Stupid, Love. Highly recommend it - we laughed SO hard! And, with no children of our own with us, we slept in and it. was. awesome. We got over to David and Stephanie's just in time for lunch {Chipolte... again. It. was. awesome.} and spent the rest of the day snuggling with Jonah, talking, and just enjoying each other's company.

There might have been a ton of photos taken as well. ♥