Buddies

Although they can fight like crazy, they really are best buds. 

They can make each other belly laugh like no one else.

They love to play together in their rooms.  They are usually really good at sharing.

They tell knock knock jokes to each other.

Jack yells for "Sissy" a hundred times a day.

Kate teaches Jack to sing the alphabet and how to say long sentences word by word.

When we drop Kate off at preschool, Jack immediately says in his sad voice, "miss Kate". 

They hold hands when we walk through a parking lot.

When Jack gets in trouble, he runs to Kate. 

Kate is soooo protective of him.  She told me that a little girl at the Y told her that "her brother talked funny" (he is still working on speaking in full sentences, so his speech is kinda choppy... so cute, though).  She told her, "No he doesn't" and apparently was just appalled that someone would say that. 

They can do some serious arguing, though. Jack often destroys stuff Kate is working on and it understandably drives her crazy!

Most of the time, though, they really have a lot of fun together.

Even though we weren't quite ready to have another baby when I found out I was pregnant with Jack, I love that they are pretty close in age. I love that they are buddies.  I hope they always are. 

Five

Our girl is five today.  FIVE! It's sad to think how fast she is growing up, but exciting to think of all that is ahead. 

She is an amazing little girl. Simply amazing. She is so smart.  She soaks up everything and can learn something new really quickly.  She is eager to learn new things, and can't wait until she is able to really read.

She is truly, truly funny.  She is sharp as a tack and has such a quick wit.  She says the funniest things. She has a great vocabulary.  She made me laugh when she was watching "Land Before Time".  She said, "This is an old, old movie.  Like back in the eighties."

She has a big heart.  She loves her little brother madly.  She is compassionate and has recently started taking about giving money to people that don't have any.  She is sensitive and sentimental.  

She LOVES being sassy.  She was singing her months of the year song from preschool and then said, "Ok, want to hear me sass it up a little bit?"  After the sassy version, she said, "Ok, now listen to me rap it."  Only Kate can sass up the months of the year song.

We celebrated her birthday with a rock star party.  Kate pretty much lives her life like she is on stage, so this was the perfect theme.  She is always singing, dancing, performing, and watching herself in the mirror.  She told me the other day, "I have a great idea!  Why don't you take a video of me and put it on tv?  Then, I'll be FAMOUS!"  When I asked her what it meant to be famous, she said "It means you're a superstar!"

She says things that sound so grown up sometimes.  I asked her, "Do you want an apple?"  She said, "Yes, but after I get done with this.  When I'm doing this, I'm kinda like in the zone."

You would never know it, but she is really shy.  It takes her awhile to warm up to people.  When people ask her questions or make a comment to her while we are out and about, she sometimes won't even answer.  She tells me it's because she's so shy.  At a recent bridal shower, she hardly said a word to anyone that came, even when they would try to talk to her.  She explained that one this way, "See, I have this thing that's called shyness.  There were so many people coming in at one time and I was overwhelmed.  When I talk to someone I know, it's perfect and normal.  But, when people come over that I don't know, I kinda get overwhelmed." I asked her what overwhelmed meant and she said it means that you are like so "noxious".

I love when she says things that make her sound little, though.  She asked me the other day, "What day is the other tomorrow after tomorrow?" She asked me on her party day, "Now that I'm five, can I call you Mom?" 

She has a temper and gets upset with me often.  I can only imagine what it will be like ten years from now. 

Not too long ago, she was asking to stay up with me.  I explained that moms and dads work hard and at night, they just like to chill.  She bargained with me a little, saying, "But, I'll be really quiet."  I told her that I'm sure she would be quiet, but there's just something about knowing the kids are in bed, it's quiet, and we can just sit there for the evening and do what we want to do.  To which she replied, "That's the rudest thing you ever said to me."

We were in the drive thru of McDonalds (I'm sure I was grabbing a Diet Coke).  She asked, "Will you get me a smoothie?" I said no.  "Will you get me a cheeseburger then?"  Again, I said no.  Her reply was, "Ok, fine, then I'll just go without food."

Her most favorite thing to do is to color.  Her preschool report often says that she was praised for good coloring.  She is so detail oriented. She likes to make sure she stays in the lines and uses the right colors.

She has the sweetest little smile.  She has dimples that show up with her "real" smile.  I love her laugh.  I love when she gets excited about something.  I love when she sings while she colors.  I love when she asks to snuggle with me on the couch.  I love watching her play with her preschool friends.  I love watching her run around with the neighbors.  I love hearing her talk and giggle with her girlfriends.

I am excited for five.  I think I said this last year about four, but she was meant to be five. Five brings a lot of new experiences.  Bring it on!

Happy birthday, baby girl.  We love you to the moon and back.   

Jack Man

This little guy is CRAZY.  Have I mentioned that before? 

He definitely keeps me on my toes! Literally, he was awake for all of three minutes the other morning, found the dusting spray I had been using and sprayed the entire length of the wall in the hallway.

He loves to make messes and not clean them up.

He is sooooo funny!! The three of us just laugh at him all the time.  Sometimes, if I don't laugh, I'll cry.  I forgot just how intense the terrible twos can be. 

He is FINALLY talking more and more.  He is stringing words together and we usually understand everything he says.  He gets really frustrated when we don't, though.

He LOVES Diego! I use Go, Diego on Netflix accordingly.  I know I can get something done if he is watching Diego.  At night when we say prayers, he usually prays for Dora and Diego. He calls him "Eggo" and has asked for an "Eggo party", "Eggo cake", and an "Eggo phone".  I scored a major clearance on some Diego party items, so it looks like we will be having a Diego birthday party in January! 

We got him some cowboy boots for his Halloween costume and he wears them any chance he can get.  He calls them "special boots" and the first night Mark brought them home for him, he wore them to bed. 

He loves boy things.  Cars, trucks, animals, blocks.  He loves to act like a dragon, a superhero, a robot, and pretty much any other animal you can imagine. 

Every time he gets hurt, even if it's no big deal, he asks for an ice pack.  One time, he had a sip of orange soda (no caffeine!) and said, "Ewww, spicy... ice pack".

I love his little words.  Instead of saying "oopsie", he says "oopies".  If he drops something, he will say, "Oh, oopies" and then giggle. 

He uses his manners.  He says "No teenk ew" (no thank you), but usually uses it when we tell him to come eat dinner or help clean his room.  He will also say, "No, fine". 

He thinks that "sorry" will get him out of everything!! He will deliberately throw something and then say, "Sorry, Mommy" immediately.  (Needless to say, he apologizes a lot! ha!)

He has been found painting his toenails with Sissy's nail polish.  He has spilled red nail polish on Mimi's carpet. He got out Kate's dry erase marker and drew on the carpet.  He pees on the floor.  When he goes to bed at night, it's a wonder I don't fall in a heap on the couch.  (Sometimes, I do.) 

Raising a boy is SOO much different than raising a girl. 

That being said, he is sweet as sweet can be.  He knows the magic word is "best mommy ever" and it's pretty much the cutest thing you've ever heard.

One day, I was getting ready and my blow dryer fell on the floor and made a loud noise.  He came running in and said, "Ok, Mommy?" 

When he apologizes for something, he gives you a big hug and kiss.

He can be really sweet to our kitty. 

Jack has the sweetest little face.  It's hard to stay mad at him for too long.  I love this little guy!!

Where Did October Go??

October seemed to whiz right by us.  I happened to look at our blog and realized I haven't posted anything in over a month.  Lots of catching up to do. 

Life has been a whirlwind lately.  Between the kids, housework, preschool,  party orders, planning Kate's birthday party, and trying to cram in as much fall fun as we can before the weather gets too cold, I have been letting a lot of things slide.  Mostly laundry, cooking regularly, and our blog. 

On top of all of that, Mark has been doing lots of web design on the side.  He is also working with a local restaurant doing all of their social media, as well as creating lots of print materials for them.  He and his boss have recently started a new venture, as well.  He is crazy busy.  All of that is helping make it possible for me to stay home with the kids, though, so we both feel that it's worth it.  We try to carve out as much time as possible for family fun. 

During the month of October, we visited three pumpkin patches (two as a family and one on Kate's field trip), went to Purina Farms Haunted Hayloft, took fall pictures of the kids, went to a trunk or treat, went to Boo at the Zoo, did an overnight getaway with friends... hmmmm.... what else am I forgetting?? It's been a CRAZY month, but SO much fun!! I will eventually get around to posting pictures of all of these things. 

For now, I'll leave you with some pictures of the kiddos at one of the pumpkin patches we went to.  Hopefully, more regular blogging is around the corner.  I LOVE being able to use this blog to look back on what we were doing at this time last year, or look at pictures of the kids in years past, so I hate when I let it slide. 

Can you BELIEVE our girl will be FIVE in a couple weeks?????