An Update in Pictures

Although it may still seem like we are non-existent, here are a few pictures to prove that we are here. The first one is from awhile back (obvious by the flannel pj's). Meleah loves to "help" with the baking, banana bread is the most popular, and the easiest to mix with little hands.


In the unseasonably warm temps Grandma treated us to a day at the Gardens. Unfortunately our day was a little cooler. I thought maybe we could make it without doing the water fun...the kids thought otherwise. Meleah was soaked in minutes!

Scott hit a milesone birthday. So we had a little party, just for the benefit of the kids of course!

One of our regular outings is getting groceries. The kids favorite part is the pony, but more recently getting a cookie out of the bulk aisle. They love the idea of picking out whichever one they want. On a quick trip with Meleah, I was looking at the bread (opposite the bulk cookies) and Meleah made sure I knew what was on the other side. "Coook-ie" So we got 4, all of the same kind to be fair. Meleah held the little bag tightly in her fist the rest of the trip. On the ride home she wanted to hold them again. She and I chatted, and then she quieted down. I assumed it was because she was sleepy. I was wrong. When we got home I turned around to see a chocolate smeared face just grinning. Meleah had gnawed through the bag to get at the "coook-ies"! We all still got our portion even though they were slightly "used".

Finally, this is how most of our days end:

We put Henry to bed and he is never quite ready...until he is ready...

Turkey Day 2009

In my head I can picture wonderful photographs of my kids that capture great life moments, the ordinary things and the spectacular events like holidays. Sometimes I get lucky and get a fabulous picture, but most likely I capture the real thing, as evidenced below:

And for a brief moment...as perfect as it can get with a 1 & 3 year old!

Halloween Part I

Friday night was the pumpkin carving. Meleah supervised by coloring on the newspaper, and Henry thought that was better than the pumpkin guts!

Meleah couldn't believe that we were going to cut the pumpkin!

She was thrilled with the result though.

Scott helped just to get the seeds!

Henry was definitely happy with the finished product!

Good Night!

One of my favorite things has always been checking on the kids before heading to bed. I never know what I'm going to encounter. Some nights it is in and out, other times the kids are still awake, and still others mean getting Scott in order to share a laugh, or the camera to help time stand still.

I realized last night that I haven't taken too many sleeping pictures lately (or any pictures for that matter...). So in order to remedy that, here you have it.

Good night! Sleep tight little ones!

(To my dearest friends on the Fashion Police Force, do not try to mess with a grumpy three year old that is very particular about what he wears...I claim no responsibility for this outfit!)

Untold Bible Stories

After devotions last night at dinner, Henry had his own Bible story to share. He turned to a page in his note book and read to us:

"There was a little boy named Jesus. He ate an apple and a pear. And then He choked."

"He was walking outside in the garden and got bug bites."

Apparently we aren't doing as well as we thought on the Bible teaching, or we totally missed this passage of I Henry 1-3.

Related?

Scott and I both thought that Meleah looked a little different today...she is looking more and more like Henry!

One more day...

Since Scott was out of town and the weather was so nice we headed to the cottage for one more day.

Henry helped Grandma plant some new flowers

Grandpa and Meleah supervised

Both feel asleep after 15 minutes on the ride home...

In his words...

As said by Henry at lunchtime today:

"I prayed. I said 'Thanks for white milk and chocolate milk, forgive our debts and thanks that movies work.' God is happy that I said that."

Yes Henry, God is definitely happy that you said that!!

Henry's New Ride

Henry thought it would be okay...if they went slow. It didn't take long for him to want to go "FASTER!"Thanks Auntie O for the fun ride!

Henry's Birthday

One of the highlights of the week for Henry was his new fishing pole.

The rest of his week was spent casting and reeling!

Cottage Snapshots

Henry had blackberries with breakfast - but had no idea why we were laughing so hard!

Henry's big catch

Father's Day

It only seemed appropriate that the Father's Day pictures were of the normal routine - tickling, laughing and climbing all over Daddy!

Look Out!

Scott had to move the TransAm to get the grill out for the summer. Henry took full advantage of this by getting comfortable in the drivers seat. He just couldn't get enough of Dad's car!

Double Duty

After putting Henry in the tub and having Meleah attempt to join him, I looked at Scott and said "Why not?" Before Henry could protest I grab the extra supplies and stuck her in. They both loved it! Meleah only lasted a few minutes because it is hard to hold onto a slippery little one. The water was a little high since this wasn't the original plan. Henry felt bad when we took her out. "She didn't get to play toys!" Maybe next time. We'll have to find one of those little seats that holds her in so that they can "play toys" in a whole new way!

What does it take to get siblings to play together

without tears and "It's MINE"?

A tray full of tupperware.

I pulled it out for Meleah so that I could do the dishes. Henry came around the corner, dropped what he was doing and headed over to play too. A good ten minutes went by in silence. Meleah would play, watch Henry and then copy him when he set his container down.






Henry has been completely enthralled with washing the dishes. He was sitting and playing so quietly, when I looked down he was using the corn husking brush to "wash" the dishes. He then needed a towel to dry them.

Meleah took advantage of the distraction by finding Henry's abandoned toys to play with.

Of course as quickly as it came the quiet and togetherness was done.

It was good while it lasted!

Belated Mother's Day

This is as good as it gets...the picture and life in general!

A Life Lesson

Last night when putting Henry to bed:

Me: Good night Henry, I love you
Henry: I love you mommy, and I love daddy. I love mommy and daddy and...
Me: And Meleah
Henry: No, I don't love Meleah
Me: Yes you do
Henry: Okay, but I don't like her
Me: That's okay, you will someday
Henry: Yeah, like when she is big and we can play toys

Well put little man.

Scott's Birthday

This past week was Scott's 29th birthday. Henry just loves birthdays (I do too) so we got ready all day for Scott's "party". Henry couldn't wait for Scott to get home from work to get the party started. Henry enjoyed helping open gifts and eating cake. Henry thought that it should be his birthday the next day so that we could do it all again!

The birthday cows from Henry

Henry pointed to these and said "We got you socks dad"

Henry got to open that one.