Bows, bows, and more bows!

Madelyn accomplished a major milestone today - she can tie bows all by herself! She has been working on and off on it for several weeks and today she conquered it. She is so excited and I am too! She is looking forward to getting a new pair of tie shoes for school. This has been an awesome example of how she can accomplish something if she puts her mind to it. And she is SO PROUD of herself (as she should be!). She been tying bows all day - on my shoes, on Greyson's shoes, on my shoes on her foot, in ribbons around chairlegs....

Here are some pics for you to enjoy:

Crossing the laces...

making a loop...

wrapping the loop...

pulling the bow tight...

and wah-lah, a happy girl!

Dry all day!

For the last several weeks I have been half-heartedly encouraging Greyson to use his potty... without much success. Then last week Thursday (the day before we left for a weekend roadtrip - not great timing on my part) I asked Greyson if he wanted to try underwear. He said "YES!" and so we proceeded to go through about 6 pairs of underwear and pants that day while he was learning to "let his potty out". We decided not to further pursue this milestone while we were on our trip last weekend. :) However, on Monday I put underwear back on him and continued our quest. Monday, he went through 3 sets of clothes, Tuesday it was 2, Wednesday - 1, Thursday - 1, and today? Today was a DRY day! WooHoo! He's even been dry during naps ALL WEEK! Who knew that potty training could be this easy?!? I didn't. Although, I have broken my promise to myself.... I don't have him poop trained yet. Oh well. At least we won't be buying $20 boxes of diapers anymore! Now, what do I do with all the pull-ups I have been stocking up in preparation?

Weekend Run to Bemidji

About 21 months ago, we got a call from a friend in Bemidji (about 5 hours from us). Lorri and her husband were on their way down to the Twin Cities because her unborn twins needed to be watched more closely. Their twins came a little early, but as you can see from these pictures, they are perfect - quite a tangible blessing from God! Last weekend, we decided to go north and visit Lorri and her family. It was a beautiful (albeit a bit chilly at first) weekend. Thanks Yoder Family!


We also visited Itasca State Park and walked across the Mississippi Headwaters. This was very interesting because we know the Mississippi River as a very large and deep river in the southern states! When Madelyn was wading in the headwaters she stepped on a slippery rock and ended up with a very wet pair of jeans on. After she calmed down, I wrapped her jacket around her waist like a skirt and all was well with the world again. I think we will be going back to Itasca State Park in the future. Hopefully it won't be 60degrees in the middle of July again...

God is good!

Tomorrow will mark 12 years that have gone by since my Sarah was born. This is first year of what I hope to make a tradition in my house - the "Sarah cake". I was trying to explain to Ben a couple days ago that this is NOT a birthday cake to remember the day that Sarah was born - that is much too sad of a thing for me to remember. This cake doesn't really celebrate anything but God's goodness. The time in my life that I conceived and carried Sarah was very hard but at my lowest God met me and ushered me into a new relationship with Him. He held my hand and sometimes "carried" me; He showed me His love in ways that I can't fully explain in words. This cake is the start of my attempt to share with my family that God can use seemingly insurmountable situations and change them into times of love, grace, peace, understanding.... God is good!!

PS - If you find yourself laughing at my pitiful cake, that's okay. I did too!

Summertime is best with friends

"you, you push me"

Converstion had with Greyson today at the park:
Greyson: Me, me want to swing.
Me, the mom: No, it's "I want to swing"
Grey: You, you want to swing?
Me: uhhhh, no.... you say, "I want to swing."
Grey: I, I want to swing?
Me: (laugh) no, just one I - "I want to swing"
Grey: You want to swing? You, you want to swing?
Me: Grey, would you like to swing?
Grey: Yes, me, me want to swing.

We've been working with Greyson to start his sentences with "I"
instead of "me". But I don't know where the double I's, me's, and
you's came from... they just started today. It is funny though (at
least for today).

Bartlesville Kiddie Park

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

During our roadtrip last month, some of us got to experience several modes of transportation - Grandaddy's prop plane, the Kiddie Park's train, and, of course, the car (all 32 hours of it!). I have some cute pics from the Kiddie Park that I will post next.

(I don't know why this pic won't turn the right way! Oh well!
And look here to see a similar picture from last year's trip.)

My Little Sparklers

We had a great 4th of July weekend! But I didn't get pics of almost any of it. I think I was too busy enjoying it. It was just the right balance of resting and going out to have fun. We went to a friends house to see the fireworks in a nearby park on the 4th. My friend, Jill, and her family invites a ton of people over and it was so fun to mingle and play until fireworks time came. I was kinda afraid that Greyson would be frightened by the fireworks since he's never really seen them before, but no, he sat in Ben's lap and would excitedly say "BOOMBOOMBOOM" complete with hand animation every time a firework would go off. Very cute.

I did get some pics of the kids have fun with some sparklers on Sunday afternoon. After Madelyn's incident a couple of years ago with sparklers, we were much more careful this year. Ben gave a complete safety talk followed by a demonstration. :) Here are the pics for your enjoyment!

A rare pic of Madelyn actually smiling for the camera
Ben talking about sparkler safety
Greyson's first time with the sparklers
Greyson takes on two!
Madelyn singing while conducting with her sparklers