Jamie Turns 18!!

My little man turned 18 months today, 

so I figure that I should write a few words about why I love him so.

He is always ready to give a smile!!

He also loves to give snuggles and kisses!!

He loves to play . . . 

and explore the world around him.

He is working on growing up big and strong by eating his spinach (and almost anything else that you give him, except dessert) . . . 

and exercising just like mommy does with her big ball.

He loves to push buttons and would do it all the time if I would let him. 

He is growing so fast.

He is starting to walk like a big kid, and has lost his steps of faith.

He has even started talking, saying almost everything that Lizzie, does just not quite as clearly.

Well that is our little boy full of giggles and fun,  energy and curiosity, determination and strength.

We love you Jamie!!!

Happy 18th!!!

My Crazy Kids!!!

While I was blogging I thought that I would put up a few more pictures of the kids.

Lizzie with her hair all full of static from playing on the couch. 

On Tuesday, the kids once again decided that they had to clean the crayon off the wall, yes it is still there.  Side note:  Sunday while Brian and I were cooking they decided to color on the stair wall, thankfully though it came off much easier off that wall.  We only needed to use a wet rag. 

After cleaning one of the children decided to climb on the table, when I went to get the camera, encouraging the behavior, the other joined him.  Yes, that is right the first one to climb on the table was Jamie.  

Also as you might have noticed from the above pictures, we now have carpet in the playroom.  It got put in on Tuesday as well.  We wanted something fun and colorful.  After looking at many different kid type rugs, like the kinds with the roads or different games to play, I found this carpet that just has circles.  I was so excited, I think that it looks great and fun!!!

Finally, a movie of my kids kissing goodnight.  Oh how they make me laugh some days!!!

Happy Easter!!!!

Well we had a great Easter here and I hope that all of the rest of you did also.

WE started on Saturday with trying to find an Easter Egg Hunt, but I guess due to the rain they didn't have it.

So we went home and dyed Easter eggs.

Then it was time for lunch and a nap.  While the kids were sleeping the Easter Bunny came to our house.  Jamie woke up way before Lizzie and did very good at not finding to many eggs.  We had to hide them inside as the weather was rainy and cold.  When Lizzie finally did get up they had a great time finding all that the Easter Bunny had left.

Along with the candy and eggs, the Easter Bunny left Hullabaloo (a cranium game for kids), and two opairs which are connectible fanny packs, so that I can have the kids on a leash without them getting to made, I hope.  I figure if they have snacks in there packs they will like them even if they have to be attached to someone.  We will see how they work after they get used to wearing them separately.  

The kids really seemed to like the egg hunt and amazingly found them all!!!

To finish off the day we made Easter Cookies (recipe in the post below).  There were different things for the kids to do, so we took pictures.

Sunday was a very nice day.  The meetings were very spiritual and well done.  The rest of the day was spent making and eating a big Easter dinner.

We love you all and hope that you had a great Easter as well!!!

Easter Story Cookies

This is my favorite Easter Eve thing to do.  While looking for the recipe so that we could make them tonight I found this great sight that even has links to the scriptures.  This may be to late to help anyone this year, but at least next year I will know where to find it. 

Easter Story Cookies

to be made the night before Easter

You need:

1 cup whole pecans

• 1 tsp. vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• pinch salt
• 1 cup sugar
• zipper baggie
• wooden spoon
• tape
• Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important - don't wait until you are half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.  Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.

Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.  Add 1 cup sugar.  Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.  Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.  Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Read Matthew 27:57-60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.  Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.

Read Matthew 27:65-66

GO TO BED!  Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.  Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 and 22

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!  Explain that on the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matthew 28:1-9

 http://my.homewithgod.com/mkcathy/holiday/eastercookies.html

First Hair Cuts and More Carpet!!!

Well after months (probably almost a year for Lizzie) of my husband trying to convince me that the kids need a haircut, I finally got brave enough to do it.  Jamie's hair was just past his shoulders and he looked much like a girl if dressed in pink.

And here is what it look like afterwards.  I was amazed at how still he sat in the beginning for me to cut it.  However it is still a little long around the ears and lopsided, but who expects a child's haircut to be perfect.  At least he looks a little more manly.

I cut a little bit off of Lizzie's hair, too.  Her hair can really go crazy, especially in the front where it kept getting into her eyes.  I don't have a before picture because I wasn't really expecting to cut it.  I am happy that I did though.  I took just a little bit off the back and cut the front so that the longer hairs wouldn't get into her eyes.  Thankfully her hair is curly so it is hard to see if I messed it up.

Friday, they came and put the carpet on our stairs!!!!

Oh it feels so much better and is nice to feel better about letting the kids play on them.  They really seem to enjoy the softer stairs and will go up and down them often.

Carpet, Finally Carpet!!!!!!

Well after living for a month with wood floors on all of the floors in our main living areas we finally have some carpet!!!!  We got the same carpet for all of our upstairs.  It feels so nice on our feet and the lighter color really lightens up the rooms.

Here are some of our before and after pictures, with the new furniture arrangements.

Here is Jamie's room, before

After, Jamie is crying because of thunder and lightening going on outside.

This is Lizzie's which I don't have a before picture of but I wanted to show off her fun bed, I think it is such a fun bed!!!

Here is my room, before, with the furniture just where the movers left it. 

And here is the after that we are currently trying out.  I might have to stay this way just because the dresser with the mirror on top is to tall to fit anywhere else.  I really like this furniture that we found though.

We like the carpet so much we almost decided to have a slumber party right on the landing.  (The doors are leaning up against the walls because we still need to shave off the bottoms so that they will fit again.)

We are so thankful to have carpet upstairs.  I am amazed at how much better it feel, looks and sounds.  They nearly gave me a headache putting it in, but now things don't echo as well and I can't hear my daughter running around as well.

This week we should also be getting a room size rug for the play room and our living room rugs as well as the carpet for the stairs.  I think it will make this house feel much more like a home.  Then the next thing will be to get some curtains.

Fun Times This Week!!

This week we have been able to have some more fun then we usually do in a week.  Last Friday Brian's sister Rachel and her family came to stay with us for the night.  Saturday morning we went to the Great Swamp to see the frogs that were waking up after the cold winter.  I was fun to walk around the paths and look for the frogs, we finally heard some just as we were about to leave.  They then went on to Grandma and Grandpa's house where we joined them for dinner Sunday night.  

Monday and Tuesday I was able to go over to visit some families in the ward.  Monday was just a play time and Tuesday was a recipe exchange mini enrichment group.  They kids seemed to enjoy getting out of the house and I enjoyed having other women to talk to.

Wednesday and Thursday the kids seemed to really enjoy having time to just play with there toys and relax at home.

Friday we went to the Circus!!!

It was my first time into Manhattan since coming back to NY.

We rode the train in, just like Brian gets to do every day!  

(It is hard to take a clear picture on a moving train.)

We had left early in hopes to get some clown training only to find out when we got there that there was no clown training that day.  So we just hung out while we waited for the show to start.  Rachel and family and Grandma were there to enjoy the circus with us.

It was a great circus and we all really enjoyed it.  It was fun to see how excited the kids got, especially when the animals came out.  I thought that they might get scared, but they didn't not even once.  I tried to take pictures of the looks on there faces as they watched, but it didn't work. I was also amazed that they didn't get sensory overload with all that was going on, after all I think I did.  It did seem to go a little long for them though, but then they brought out the tigers which got their interest again.

Here is a picture of all of us outside of Madison Square Garden after the show!!

We met up with Grandpa for a yummy late lunch before we headed back home on the train.  Jamie looked so cute sitting in the big train seat all by himself.