Luck of The Irish....

Halle: Mom what's those little guys with the hats called again?
Me: Leprachauns.
Halle: Oh yeah.

Happy St Patricks Day!

The Daily Halle

Halle: I think I need to quit dance. I need to give my bones a rest.

Blankie

The other night Halle wanted me to lay in bed with her while she fell asleep. As I layed there, I realized she didn't have her precious pink blankie...the one she's dragged around for years now and sleeps with every night. Then I realized it had been a few days since I had seen her with it...and she hadn't been asking for it. I panicked. So this was it...the moment she would let go of her last "baby" thing and move on to being a big kid. I felt like crying. But then I heard her little voice "mommy, can you find my blankie?".... phew .... there she is .... my baby girl still.

This and That...

This boy is LOVING music right now

Lots of bath time with cousins. Jack always feels left out. Someone needs to have another boy around here!

Two of my favorite actors. I approve.

Have you tried these yet? Do. They are awesome.

My talented friend Amy did these drapes for me and I am in love.

Halle's motorcycle has a permanent parking spot in the kitchen right now. I will say stuff like "come to my bathroom so I can do your hair" and she'll say "ok I'll meet you there", and ride her motorcycle to the bathroom. Too cute.

These two have been reading Harry Potter at bed time. I hope Jack gets his dad's love of reading.

The last of Jack's tree frogs bit the dust. May have been the shortest lived Christmas present ever...

I can't keep this kid fed. He is going through a MAJOR growth spurt.

I am trying (heavy on the TRYING) to be better about excersising. He is my work out buddy.

I had one of those "mommy moments"...one that melted my heart and reminded me what a kind, sweet boy I have been blessed with. Jack was racing, and on one of his races another boy crashed. Jack could have easily went around him, and could have placed high in the race, but as I watched (with a lump in my throat) he put his bike down and went to help the other kid. THESE are the moments that make the tough job of parenting SO worth it. I feel like a broken record every day "apologize to your sister" "you have to share" "be nice to each other"...but in this moment, when I wasn't there to tell him what to do, he made the right decision all on his own. It makes the "broken record" days seem worth it, because maybe he is hearing me after all. I love you Jack. You make us SO proud.

Jack has started to add things that he wants to my grocery list...and I love it. It makes me smile to walk past and see his little handwritten "wish". I can't believe how smart he has gotten this year. I love to see him learning...and using what he's learned! (and yes, he got the gum, how could I resist?)

The Daily Jack

Jack: Mom, when you have a baby, you and Halle can go get your nails done and I will take care of the baby.

No, this is not an announcement. But maybe this will make the decision easier, knowing my nails won't have to suffer!

The Daily Halle

I was trying to get her ready this morning to go to the cabin for the weekend, and she was crying because I wanted her to change out of her tutu and tank top and put on winter worthy clothes. Then she was still crying when I put her on my counter to do her hair.

Me: Hal you better get rid of that bad attitude or I'm gonna leave you home.
Halle: (still crying) Get me a towel.
Me: Huh? Why?
Halle: It's still coming out.
Me: What's coming out?
Halle: My attitude is still coming out. I need to wipe it. (as she wipes her tears with the towel I gave her)

Oh for the love of girls...

And so it begins...

Found my first grey hair today. Bring it on! I will color you faster than you can appear suckers...

just because this picture makes me happy...

i love the five year old version of him, but really miss the two year old version.

The Daily Jack

We were listening to music from the movie THE GRINCH in the car, and Jack recognized it from the movie. then:

Jack: grinches are real you know, mom.
Me: oh yeah?
Jack: yeah. they live in the mountains. dad shot one once.

Soooo....all you GRINCHES out there, here's your warning. We will not tolerate your bad attitudes and are prepared to SHOOT!

Happy Holidays.
xoxo

The Daily Halle

Halle: "Mom, I'm beary cold"...

If anyone corrects her, they're dead. I want her to say it like this forever... {ok maybe not forever, but for right now it's the cutest thing I've ever heard}

{GRATEFUL}

When I went to unload the dish washer, I found this. I guess one of the kids thought their play tool needed a good wash.

These are the MOMENTS that make me smile. The moments that remind me I'm a MOM. Whether it's a binky found in the fridge, a barbie left in the pantry, princess dress ups scattered all through the house, or fruit snack wrappers shoved underneath the couch cushions...they are all small reminders of the two little ones who are the HEART of this home, the kids that we have been trusted with and adore. These messes that I complain about every day are the messes I'm going to miss when they are grown and gone. So today I am GRATEFUL for the messes...and the little people in my life who continue to make them.

Happy Halloween

Police Man Jack and Cinderella Halle

Halle @ {THREE}

Here is how Halle answered these questions...

Favorite food: peanut butter & jelly, mac & cheese
Favorite show: Dora or Diego

Favorite color: pink

Favorite song: ones that I make up

Favorite activity: play tea party with my friends

Favorite animal: girl pigs

Favorite thing to say: trick or treat

Favorite thing to do at school: snack time

Best friend: Tuscany and Kellen is my boyfriend

Favorite drink: chocolate milk hot

Favorite toy: Archie (uncle Tyler's dog)

photos by http://amytwittyphotography.blogspot.com/