Holding Her Own...and Her Dog

I had to share these pictures I took tonight. Noah's passion right now is Star Wars (as most of you know) and there are a lot of lightsaber duals at our house right now. The kids were cracking me up tonight as they played. Rachel is getting pretty good at holding her own against Noah with her lightsaber. She was so funny running around with it, her dog and her pink hat on... The girl loves pink... anything pink (or peent, as she says). Speaking of pink... looks like she's coming down with Pink Eye - Cross your fingers for us that it was just a little irritated tonight. We'll be off to the doctor's office tomorrow, if it hasn't gone away by morning.

Happy Friday

Noah doing his favorite thing right now - LEGO Star Wars on the play station.



Okay, we're ready for SPRING! Noah told me today he just wants to go to the park... ME Too!!! I am so ready for warm weather. Yesterday it rained most of the day and was so cold! Today it's clear and gorgeous, but still pretty cold outside. The kids still love their new toys, but they want to run, climb and play and I'm ready to let them... Can you say Cabin Fever? =)
Here it is already February and that seems just nuts. It's all good though because February brings good things: Valentine's Day, Noah's birthday and a quick trip home to Maryville. We can't wait! This past weekend we finished picking out the birthday party stuff for Noah's birthday and he is more excited than ever for his birthday to come. He has been a little bit confused because the birthday party at school is on Monday, (Once a month there is a Birthday Bash for all the kids in the class to celebrate that have birthdays during that month) and we get to take cupcakes. He's very excited. Rachel loves the conversation hearts that February and Valentine's Day always bring about. It's a great motivation award for potty training. ;) Hope everyone is doing well and not suffering too badly from cabin fever in your part of the world!!

Monkey Butt

Rachel has been a busy girl lately. She has aquired two and a half new molars (her two year molars came through in a matter of just a couple of days with no fussiness). I was surprised to see her new teeth yesterday when she was singing at the top of her lungs while sitting on the potty. Which brings us to that - We've been trying to master the whole potty training thing and we are now on week 2. She does wonderful as long as I steer her in the direction of the potty about once an hour. She has tried several times to go on her own and seems to be getting a little better every day... we just keep trying. ;) Ha, pray for us (or maybe perhaps just my sanity). Last night the poor girl busted her top lip while playing in the bathtub. She was fine after having a popsicle, but it sure looks sore! Today while Noah was at school we played hide and seek... She cracks me up the way she counts and hides her eyes while it's her turn to hide.

Favorite Things

I love these pictures - Rachel with her purse and her baby in it's front pack carrier. She thinks she's just the coolest little 'Mama' when she gets "dolled up" and decked out with purse and glasses...

Noah doing one of his favorite things... His Jedi routine where he jumps around fighting off storm troopers and all his Star Wars foes. I love that one at the bottom where he is pretending to have a 'green gun' and be one of the Geonosians. Gotta love the imagination this boy is getting. =)

The bottom photos are of Rachel's latest love - Angelina Ballerina. I discovered this love for Angelina by accident flipping through the channels and Rachel fixed on her a few nights ago. She loves that the mouse wears a tutu (like her tutu) and that she dances like how she pretends to dance. It's cute to see how excited she gets when we chance to catch her on the tv.

He's learning...

Noah has been learning to respect and love Phoebe in a different way than he used to. He has begun to learn how to love her and appreciate her. It's nice to see him trying to be sweet and gentle with her and he has begun to notice that she comes to him for love now, rather than running away from him like she used to. It's cute to watch him learn how to treat her and he loves to have her lay on his bed until he falls asleep. She won't stay all night, but she does seem to recognize when he falls asleep and she'll jump down and come find me. Had to post these two sweet pictures of them though. =)

He Still Loves to Build...

and she likes to watch... and occasionally help... You know, in that annoying 2 year old little sister way of helping. He's pretty patient with her though. They have really been playing awesome together lately, which has been really nice. The weather has been dreary and cold so we have been really searching for things to do here in the house. Lots of playing legos, coloring, play-doh, games, and other indoor activities, but I, along with the kids have been longing to be outdoors. We miss the park, taking walks and playing outside. Isn't that what always happens in January? Cabin fever? I know Doug and I are ready for another trip and are looking forward to heading to Tennessee for a week in February. Noah will get to celebrate his birthday while we are there and I know he is looking forward to that. =)

Growing So Fast

Where does the time go? Here we are almost halfway through January already! The kids are getting so big. Noah will be 5 years old next month (okay, I really can't believe that!!) and will start Kindergarten this fall... I was looking at some of his rolly-polly baby pictures tonight and I can't believe how much he has changed and grown... and Rachel.... Where has my baby gone??? When I look at her I see an adorable little girl... there is still much baby in her, but you don't see it when you look at her. She thinks she's a big girl, and notice the purse? She takes one everywhere she goes... cracks me up. Her hair is really growing too-We can now put it in a 'not so messy looking' pony. ;) She LOVES to have bows in her hair too... She's our girly-girl.

Busy Little Ones

Does this picture have "I'm a stinker" written all over it, or what?

The kids have been enjoying their new toys. Noah has been in Star Wars heaven... he doesn't know what to do first when he's ready to play. He loves to play with his ships and action figures, but he also loves his Darth Vader laptop. It's cute to watch him play. Rachel has been in Baby heaven, but also loves dressing up here lately. Her usual favorite is her Snow White dress, but she will sometimes pick out a ballerina outfit to twirl around in. I love to watch her dance in them. =)

5 Little Red Heads

We brought the new year in with the Chris's and had a blast doing it. The kids had an absolute ball together - playing nonstop. We spent New Year's Eve at the park with the kids playing between the 'after Christmas shopping' excursions for Christina and I and the kids really had fun running off some steam. I love to watch them play together. I know, I say that about all the little cousins playing and it's true... there's just something about watching all of them get to play and how well they do play together, since they don't see each other often. It makes my heart happy. Makes me smile, you know, the really big silly grin kind of smile. I love it. We all hung out, shared some champagne at midnight and ate yummy food before we all were to begin our 'post-holiday' diets. The kids played everything - You name it, I think they played it. Which is good. Apparently Santa Claus did a good job this year as the kids haven't been bored yet. =) And check out adorable little Lydia!!! Look at how happy she is. She is one of the happiest babies I have seen and I soaked up some snuggle time with her for sure. That last picture is of me doing my favorite thing with her. I could do that all day!! =) Thanks again guys for coming out and visiting with us. We always enjoy it and loved every minute of it. Which once again has me wishing we lived closer...