Blood

Nicole has been asking me lately where her blood is and what is  blood.  So, we took the opportunity to talk a little bit about our bodies.  Last week it was rainy and we were sick, so I had to be creative and come up with some inside activities.  I traced the girls on a large sheet of paper and then we drew in our hearts and blood, and our basic digestive system.  Go ahead and ask Nicole what happens to her food when she eats it...I dare you!  :-) 

Anyway, here are their little bodies

The sheets are hanging up in my laundry room now.  Every time Hannah walks out there she screams with excitement, runs over, points and says "ME!!!!" She's learning a lot through it too.

The girls got to color themselves.  But I found Hannah trying to do it like a chimpanze.

Someone tell her she's suppose to use her hands to color...not her feet.

Something else we've been doing since we've been sick, stuck inside for almost 2 weeks (we've been out a couple of times)  is potty training.  I wouldn't confidently say that Hannah is day-time trained, because I'm still nervous to take her to the store without a diaper on...but we are getting close.  I figured she might as well be wearing undies while we were stuck inside so much, and it seems to be paying off.  We'll see.  I hope it sticks and she doesn't regress.  But, for now, she's wearing undies except to nap and at night.  Every times she uses the potty is one less diaper for me to use:-)

And...I just saw on one of my favorite blog fiddledeedeemom that Focus on the Family is offering a free 6 month subscription for Thriving Family magazine.  I've never read it, but thought I'd give it a shot if it's free.

Faith like a child

A conversation between Jeremy & Nicole yesterday at the park while Nicole was sitting all by herself on the swing with the wind blowing her face in her hair.

J: Hey Nicole, what are you doing?
N: Praying for the wind to stop.
J: Oh...
N: When Jesus makes the wind stop, I'll stop praying.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another (non-spiritual) converstion with Nicole as we head to Five Guys (a hamburger joint that lets you snack on free peanuts).

N: Daddy, when I get to Five Guys, I'm going to eat A LOOOOOOOTTTTT of peanuts.
J: OK
N: Hey Daddy?
J: Yes Nicole
N: I like peanuts
J: I know
N: Hey Daddy?
J. Yes Nicole
N: Peanuts are a good snack.

Thinking of two friends

and wishing we could have a girls night together again. 

Nicole and daddy at Home Depot

It's the first Saturday of February...so do you know what that means???  Home Depot kid's workshop. 

Jeremy's been talking to Nicole all week about this, so by this morning, she was super excited to go build something with daddy again.  Hannah was scream "YAY" when she heard Home Depot, but she didn't realize she wasn't going.  Thankfully though, she didn't pitch much of a fit when they left. 

Anyway....Here are some precious pictures to share.

Adorable Nicole, waiting for her supplies, sitting on an upside down bucket.

Peyton and Caulder also came (with their daddy)

 

 

Cute little buddies with their finished projects.

Nicole got another pin for her Home Depot apron and a certificate stating she finished the project. 

When they got home, we took off to the neighborhood park.  It's a beauiful day today (yes...be jealous you northerners!).  I wanted to share more pictures from the park.

Baby Legs

Baby Legs are a popular and pricey brand name product for leggins you can slip on a baby, toddler or even pre-schooler. They generally sell for $15-$25. I've always been intrigued but never wanted to pay that much for something I didn't think would get used just a couple of times.

About 2 months ago, my friend Kirsten showed up to a softball game with some of the most adorable baby legs on her little girl. Come to find out, she made them herself out of socks!

I then found a tutorial online here. I gave it a shot the other night and they didn't turn out to bad (but they also aren't great). Nicole LOVED them and knew what to do with them right away when she saw them yesterday morning.

The thing that I like about this tutorial is that it has you make a little cuff to keep the bottom of the leggin in place. I'm not sure mine will hold up in the washer, but they were cheap ($1.19). If you want a better quality baby leggin, check out Kirsten's site.

These leggins are cute for a couple of reasons.  One...if your little one is still in diapers, you can keep their little legs warm while not needing to peal tights on and off during diaper changes. Two, if you have an older one, like Nicole, they are super cute and fun to wear...and three....they can even be worn on their arms if they have a t-shirt on and it gets cool in the evening.

Sammy and His Shepherd - A book recommendation

Our family has been reading a chapter from this book at bed time with the girls.  It might be the best children's book I've read.  We simply love it.

The book takes each verse of Psalm 23 and explains it through a story of a little sheep named Sammy who loves his gentle Good Shepherd.  Sammy befriends another sheep from another flock who has a very unkind and unloving shepherd.  A shepherd who even wants to kill her because she is worthless.  Before the unkind shepherd strikes the poor sheep, The Good Shepherd steps in and offers to purchase the sheep.  The bad shepherd calls this little sheep worthless, not worth saving and sickly.  The Good Shepherd says that he loves her and wants her to be one of his sheep, so he pays the price for the sheep, brings her into his flock and gives her a name, Precious.

Sammy and Precious walk through the book and Sammy teaches Precious about the Good Shepherd, how he loves his sheep and takes care of them.  Here are some examples (Spoiler alert...)

*Before Precious is part of the flock, she and Sammy speak several times and sort of compare Shepherds.  Every time, Sammy walks away, grateful for a Shepherd that loves him, protects him, keeps him safe and healthy, and give him water and food.   Precious walks away sad and wishing to be part of the good shepherd's flock, but doesn't know what to do about it.

*As the sheep walk through a dark valley on their way to new pastures, Precious becomes afraid and Sammy says, "Our shepherd is always before us, leading the way.  When it is dark and you can't see him, just listen for his voice....You'll know his voice because you belong to him"

*Near the end, Sammy must teach Precious a valuable lesson, that is difficult to share and hear.  He says, " I used to get annoyed with other sheep all the time. And I had no mercy toward the weaker sheep.  It irritated me that they took so much of the shepherd's time and that we all had to help them....our shepherd taught me what I'm going to tell you.  Here it is, and I hope you'll never forget it: there are no annoying sheep, just annoyed sheep."  He reminds Precious of one thing that all the sheep have in common, "Our good shepherd bought every one of us. We all belong to him."

Each chapter is about a page and a half, perfect for bedtime reading, then there is a "Talk About it page" in the back of the book that correates with the passage we just read.  Usually there are more verses to read from the Bible, and questions to ask your children and discuss with them.


Ah...I feel like I'm doing a horrible job explaining this book....it's so good.  I think we will read this for years and years. 

I'm going to share a portion of Chapter 2
He Makes Me Lie Down in Green Pastures
(this is before Precious has been bought.  She is in her yucky pasture with her mean shepherd)

...Sammy was startled when he heard Grandma's kind old voice.

"Sammy", she said, "do you understand why your friend can't lie down and rest?"

"No, ma'am"

"Let me tell you about sheep," Grandma said, "We cannot lie down and rest unless four things are done for us."

..."First...we must not be afraid.  We are easily frightened because we're helpless.  Think about it, Sammy.  We have no way to defend ourselves.  One dog or coyote can terrify a whole flock of sheep.  Without a shepherd to protect us, we are too afraid to lie down."

..."There must not be any bickering with other sheep in the flock.  We can be very cruel to each other.  Bigger, aggressive sheep bully weaker sheep.  Bossy sheep push the others away from the best grazing places.  When we're squabbling, we can't lie down and rest.  But our shepherd stops our silly fights.  Then we can rest."

..."We must be peaceful.  This means we must be free from flies and parasites swarming around our heads and up our noses.  Those pesky bugs drive us crazy.  I've seen sheep shake their heads and stamp their hoofs trying to get rid of them.  I seem to remember that you had a problem with nose flies once....a good shepherd applies a special oil to his sheep.  This oil keeps the bugs away.  Then we are peaceful and we can lie down and rest."

..."The fourth thing we need is food.  We cannot lie down if we're hungry.  A good shepherd clears the pasture of rocks, prepares the soil, and plants grain so that his sheep will have plenty to eat.  Look at your friend's rocky pasture.  There's not much grass there.  Now look at our beautiful green pasture.  Sammy, why do you think there is such a difference?"

"Because we belong to a good shepherd who prepares green pastures for us.  I'm glad I belong to our shepherd."

Grandma nodded in agreement. "I've belonged to him for a very long time, Sammy, and every day I am more thankful that he makes me lie down in green pastures."

The book ends with the sheep going back home, down through the valley into the original pasture. Precious says to Sammy, "You have shown me that the more we know our shepherd, the more we become like him.  He is good and merciful, and when we live with him we become good and merciful, too.  Being with him changes us from silly sheep to faithful followers....I will dwell in our shepherd's flock forever.  I know that even if I stray away, he will come after me and bring me home because he loves me and I belong to him.  I can't wait to tell other about him."

You can buy the book here
You can read an actual review here.

Is she running for office?

That's what someone asked me at Sam's today as they watched Hannah walk up and down between the little benches saying "Hello" to everyone who was sitting eating their pizza or hotdog.

Hmmmm...maybe she will one day?

And, Here is a link to a funny story about why stay at home moms don't take showers. The lady is a funny writer, I had fun reading some of the stories about her children last night (she has 6 and just found out unexpected #7 is on the way...). I don't know who she is. I followed the link from my friend Kirsten's blog. Although this hasn't happened to me (yet)...it is what I think about each time I try to take a shower when there is no other adult around....

Hannah changing a diaper

This post is primarily for family who don't get to see Hannah or Nathan too often. This is a fun video of her changing her baby's diapers. I wonder if this is what I really look (and sound) like when I do it! hahaha.

She is often saying "yuck" and "no" and "cheese" (when she looks up at the camera and smiles). You will also get a chance to hear her "talk". She doesn't say many words, but she very easily communicates what she wants through actions and repetition that will drive you insane!.

There is also some decent footage of Nathan. He isn't making much noise in this video, but it's worth it anyway. Nicole makes a special appearance at the end. Enjoy this video and catch of glimpse of their life playing.

Nathan's smile

Nate has been smiling for a while, but smiles are difficult to capture on camera.  He especially is not fond of it.  Once that little red light hits his face, he pushes those eyebrows down in a "don't even think about it" sort of way.  We finally, sort of, captured some smiles the other night. 

 

 

Nathan is a pretty good mix between Hannah and Nicole.  Hannah was dubbed "Happy Hannah" early on because she very quickly and easily smiled.  I'm not sure Nicole smiled until she was well over her first birthday! haha.  She is much more serious and won't simply give those smiles away to just anyone.  Nathan is in between.  He's got the sweetest little expressions, but you've got to work for them...and the timing has to be right.

All of a sudden, I saw a big change in him yesterday.  He was really, I mean really watching me.  At one point I was in and out of the kitchen quit a bit.  He would fuss when I would leave, then stop and smile when I would return.  He did that several times.  He'd also "find" one of his sisters and follow them around the room too.  Last night he nearly bent backwards out of my arms to keep his eyes on his daddy.  I love to see those milestones. 

His sisters dote on him....especially Hannah.  She is very concerned about him.  As you can see here, she offered (sleeping) Nathan her baby AND her blanket....now that's love!

She also is quit concerned about Nathan's paci usage (he'll take one as he's falling asleep..it's the only time he'll take it.  But, she thought he needed one now.

And, Nate got to swing the other night on the swing set.  I'm not sure if he liked it or not.  He wasn't crying, so that something.

Before Abraham was, I am

Yesterday we stayed home from church since we were all still sick.  On days when we stay home, we try to watch a sermon by one of our favorite preachers to listen to, John Piper.  You can check out his sermon archive here. I believe that if you are capable, you need to be a part of church body , but there are times you just can't go.  If you ever need to stay home from church, I would highly recommend listening to him.  He is a sound preacher of God's word, unlike many popular  TV evangelist.

So, we had church in our living room.  We were all still in our jammies, Hannah sat on my lap, Nathan slept and Nicole ran to get her Bible while Jeremy cued up the video.  This is something I love about her.  She is so stinkin' smart!  Any time we are talking and a story in the Bible is referenced, she goes to get her Bible to show me the story.  She's done this for at least a year now. 

Yesterday, Piper was preaching out of John 9, about the man who was born blind that Jesus healed.  We found that story in her Bible and she looked at the picture as she sat and listened.  A few minutes into the sermon, Piper referenced a verse at the very end of John 8 when Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I am".  Now...this verse is HUGE, but I'm not writing this post to explain the verse to you...you should listen to the sermon as he briefly goes through it.  So...just after Piper reads that verse, Hannah looks over at me and starts making her little "talking" sounds and "raising the roof".  Why would she raise the roof when she hears that verse?  Well...because she is also very smart.  Jeremy has some really great Christian rap that he likes to listen to and we have a lot of fun in the car listening to his music and "raising the roof" with the girls.  One of his songs, by CrossMovement, is called "I am".  And one of the verses in the song, quotes that John 8 verse, "Before Abraham was, I am".  Immediately when Hannah heard Piper say that...she correlated the verse and the song and started raising the roof.  She did it several times during the sermon...isn't that funny?

Remember that song , "Oh be careful little ears what you hear?"  Man oh man, I learn almost daily how true that is to my little children.  Hannah isn't even two yet and she clearly knows and remembers things she hears.  She may not be able to express much in words, but she KNOWS!  A great reminder to me to be careful what I allow those little ears to hear (and maybe to you too if you have little ones)

OK, back to Nicole who is so patiently sitting there with her Bible open.  She also hears Piper talking about Abraham, and she quickly turns her Bible all the way back to Abraham and looks at the pictures of his story while she's listening to the sermon.  A while later, he mentions Job's friends.  If you remember way back here, our children have a slight obession with Job (Hannah's in on it now too...she screams and claps her hands when she finds Job in the Bible).  So, of course, Nicole diligently turned her Bible to the story of Job.  I am pretty much amazed at this and think she is incredibly clever.

You know, she doesn't know how to read, but she's been read that Bible so much that she knows the basic stories...and she knows where to find them.

Oh be careful little ears what you hear. 
Oh be careful little ears what you hear.
For the Father above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little ears what you hear.