My Heart Runneth Over

Ethan told me he loved me  and gave me some kisses.  Ahhhhhhh (contented sigh)  Have a look:

Father's Day

I am blessed to have three wonderful (earthly) fathers in my life.  My own father, Andrew the father of my children , and Andrew's dad my father-in law.

I love my daddy because he has always told me I could do it.  He has always had confidence in me and told me I'm capable even when others told me I wasn't.  My dad loves me and always makes me feel special.  He always tried to do things with me and never made me feel like I was getting in the way.  Whether we were building or fixing something, cleaning the pool, or working at the shop I always felt included and needed.  Even now my dad tells me that I'm a good mom and that he loves his grand-babies.

I love Andrew because he is wonderful.  He is an amazing father who loves his children with a love that is without end.  He is patient, firm, fun and childlike.  He is so gentle and understanding.  It\s no wonder Ethan's first word was Dada (Hannah's was Mama) and Hannah always says "Daddy do it".

I love Andrew's Dad because he taught Andrew how to be an amazing father and husband (his mom too).  He always asks how I'm doing and I believe he means it.  He helps Andrew and I to think through decisions and plans and reminds us when we need to do things.  He is generous to us, and to his grandchildren.

Happy Father's Day!!!!

Ducky Playdough

So sometimes I get a bulls-eye and sometimes I miss.  This is a miss but I thought I would share it anyway because I thought it was fun.  Hannah did not.  But she's two so I'll mop up my tears and move on.  Hannah asked to do play dough and I thought it would be cute to do some Ducky play dough.

Blue dish for the pool/pond, ducky, and blue play dough for the water.  Cute right.  I thought so.

She wanted nothing to do with my ducky play dough, she wanted the green play dough knife for cutting.  I suppose when she asked me she already knew what she wanted to do and was not impressed with my gentle suggestions otherwise (okay maybe not gentle), she even gave the ducky to Ethan at one point.

Moral of the story:  Two years olds know what they want.

This two year old wanted to cut play dough for 30 mins.

Oh well maybe I play with the play dough by myself (cue sulky pouty music).

D is for Duck

Hannah and I made a cute duck craft before lunch today.  It was really easy to prepare ahead of time, and then when Hannah and I needed something to do to keep quiet I pulled it out.  Ethan was sleeping after his 1 year vaccinations so it kept Hannah busy.

All you need is:
2 strips of yellow paper
2 orange triangle for the beak
some feathers
2 googly eyes

1.  Glue the strips of paper into loops, then add the eyes and beaks to one of the loops(the head).

2.  Tape the head to the second loop (the body).

3.  Add some feathers with tape to the back of the body loop/

All Set

Gluing the beak on.

Taping the loops together.

Adding feather, Hannah wanted no help.  We used a few pieces of tape.

Inspecting her work.

Cute little ducky with crooked eyes, or maybe he is looking off to the left.

Color Practice

I really enjoy coming up with interesting ways to teach Hannah and have fun. She loves to play, so this activity was a great combination.  I originally saw this idea on Peaceful Parenting and thought it would be easy to put together.  All you need are mini pom pom balls and a Parmesan cheese shaker (which I pilfered from Andrew's mom when we were out visiting).  Its a terrific fine motor skill activity already but I extended it by asking Hannah to put in various colors and amounts.  For example, I started by asking her to put in some purple pom poms, and then after awhile I asked for specific amounts; 2 orange or 3 blue.  She knows her colors fairly well but seems to confuse blue and green often.  The numbers were quite a bit trickier for her and she would turn around and ask me to do it for her.

Such concentration.

Pushing in an orange.

We were still playing when Daddy got home from work and Hannah was very excited to show him how to push the pom poms into the holes.

Wordless Wednesday-Basket Pictures

We take basket pictures to see how much the kids have grown.  Take a look at their newest pictures as well as their previous pictures.  I can't beleive haw much they have

1 Day

4.5 months

1 year

1 year

18 months

2 years old

2 Years Old

1 Day

6 Months

1 Year

1 year

1 Year

1 Year

Cute-isms By Hannah part 2-In the Car

Hannah has been cracking us up in the car lately, so I thought I would share some of the funny things she has been saying to us:

Hannah: Daddy come here. (shouting from the back seat)

Andrew: Hannah I can't I'm driving, what do you want?

Hannah:  Daddy sit here. (pointing to the middle seat)

Andrew: Hannah I can't I'm driving.

Hannah: Mama you drive.

Me:  What are you doing? (Obvious alarm in my voice, as Andrew accelerates and changes lanes)

Andrew:  Trying to change lanes.

Me:  Do you need to go THAT fast.

Hannah:  Slow down daddy, slow down. (I'm killing myself in the front seat, as she repeats this over and over).

Me:  Do I tell you to slow down often.

Andrew: Yes! (Hannah still chanting).