Anything But..

It can be used as a hat…

It can be used to play peek-a-boo…

It can be used to frame a cute face…

It can even get stuck around your neck…

A potty seat can be used for many things, but certainly NOT to sit on!  Maybe one of these days it won’t be viewed as a toy…

*A clean, brand new, straight from the package,  toilet seat was used in these pictures.  They quickly figured out how to take it apart so they could each have a seat!

Good Example

I am so thankful for a husband who sets a good example for our children of how to work.  Lee is so good about helping around the house whenever he has time.  What a good husband I have!  It means so much to me that he is willing to roll up his sleeves and get to work after his own long day.  Even better, he is teaching our children how to help and how to work hard. 

Isaac was so happy to “help” Lee with the vacuuming.  He ended up “vacuuming” the whole house once they were done with the stairs. 

Lee got all the kids involved with taking down the Christmas lights this year. (Yes, it was the middle of January, but better late than never!) 

Emma was thrilled that Daddy let her get up on the ladder. 

Isaac did some helping and a lot of observing.

Grace decided she could help best by sweeping the driveway and sidewalk.

Of course, it can’t be all work.  He’s also taught them how to relax and have fun!

Thank you Lee, I love you!

Rip City

The Rust’s (Lee’s employers) had a box suite for a Portland Trailblazer game that nobody in their family could attend.  They asked us if we wanted it  and we said “um, yeah!”.  So they gave us all 16 tickets and we quickly invited my parents and a bunch of friends to go with us. 

Even though we really don’t follow the Blazers all that much anymore (personally I miss the days of Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey and Buck Williams…), we still had a great time.  I loved that we could get up and move around and socialize whenever we wanted, we had yummy food that kept us full, there were plenty of drinks provided, we could go to our private bathroom without missing a single second of the game, and best of all we had great company!  To top it all off, the game was a good one and the Blazers won. 

I got a lot of back shots, and didn’t even get pictures of everybody there, but here are a few…

Thank you Rust’s!  It was such a fun night out.

How You Know They’re Sick…

Poor babies…it was a rough week!

Fire Fighter Trucks

Isaac and Grace were beyond excited to see the “fire fighter trucks” at our most recent playgroup field trip to the fire station.  They both love to see and hear fire trucks and Isaac is always especially proud to wear his “fire fighter truck shirt”.  Isaac listened intently to the fire fighters explain their trucks, but he held back a little not getting too close and he refused to get into a truck when he was given the chance.  Grace chickened out during the whole thing and was glued to my hip throughout the whole tour.

Grace ventured a little farther from me as she watched a fire fighter get into his gear.

Grace loosened up a little after we left the trucks, and she was thrilled to get her own folder from the fire fighters.  She carried it around for a  couple days.

They both loved playing in the mini “fire fighter truck”. 

It was a fun field trip and both Isaac and Grace are still talking about it.  We have super nice fire fighters in our community and we are thankful for the service they provide.

At the Same Moment

I came down the stairs and found all three kids doing the same thing at the same moment.

Notice the stack of books that Emma has ready in case she finished the one she is reading…

Love it!

Once There Was A Snowman…

It’s been cold here, but not cold enough for snow.  That hasn’t stopped us from making snowmen.  Both Isaac and Grace love snowmen, or “nomen” as Grace calls them, so I knew this snowman building activity would be a hit with them. 

First we read the book Snowmen at Christmas.  Christmas is over and we had already read that book during our Christmas countdown, but it is still a favorite.  Emma read it to the babies a second time while I finished getting things ready for our art project.  We mixed equal part of shaving cream and white glue to make our “snow”.  (If anyone knows how to measure equal parts of shaving cream and glue, let me know.  I just squeezed and mixed until I hoped it was right!)  Then we used our fingers to build snowmen.  Well, actually Emma and I used our fingers.  Isaac and Grace touched the stuff once and immediately wanted their hands washed. 

Emma didn’t have any problems getting her hands dirty though!

Isaac and Grace had much more fun assembling the pieces of their snowmen. 

They added a hat and nose…

…arms, buttons, eyes and a mouth to their snowmen.  They loved it!

They have been so proud of their snowmen.  They are hanging in the nook and they love to point out their very own snowman.  Those snowmen have prompted many rounds of “Once There Was a Snowman” at our house! 

They should all be proud of their creations, they turned out pretty darn cute!  The “snow” dried all puffy and has stayed that way.  I love Emma’s snowman family, notice they are all holding hands.  I also like the arms on Isaac’s snowman, it looks like he is giving a hug.  We had to laugh when both Isaac and Grace piled their buttons and mouth pieces down at the bottom of their snowmen.  It was a fun activity!