Practice makes Perfect.

We got out Halloween costumes today, so of course we had to practice. Jackson is going to be a "friendly monster," and Addison is a butterfly. Luckily, we had a package to take over to Grandma, so we got to go in our costumes...aren't they cute???

My girly girl.

This past Saturday, Addison started playing with her dolls. I mean, really playing. As I type, she is putting her doll in her baby stroller, covering it with a blanket and pushing her around the house. Yesterday, she spent the afternoon washing baby, carrying her around, and tucking her in. At one point, she had tucked baby in under a soaking wet blanket (she had to wash it too), and turned to my parents and I and put her finger up to her lips to tell us to be quiet. When we continued to talk, she turned again and made the shhh sound, accompanied by the finger to the mouth. Today, she has been carrying the baby around in a small basket as the baby's bed. It's always amazing to me how kids just "know" what to do.



She also ventured into my makeup today. She loves anything to do with that, but I didn't catch her in time and today she had brown eye shadow on all over her chin...not quite the right place, but at least she had the right brush!!

Reminder to myself...

Since I work with high school students, I see all kinds of parenting...some I like, some I don't. One of the things I see ALL THE TIME are parents wanting to be friends with their kids. From my seat, it never works out! The kids end up running the house, and the parents are repeatedly telling me they have no control over their kids because they don't want to say no or have their kids upset with them.

The reason this is on my mind, is that this weekend, Jackson has been telling me "you are not my friend," when I tell him no or give him a time out. My response has been, "that's ok...I've got friends of my own. But I will always be your mom and love you." The first time I told him it was ok that I wasn't his friend, he looked a little shell shocked.

As my kids get older, I pray that Dave and I will always remember that we are their parents, not their friends. It's ok for my kids not to like me. I always have their best interest at heart, and will always love them.

So Jackson and Addison, I'm ok with not being your friend. I promise that you will not always like me, and that's ok. We will not always agree and you will not always like your options, but I will always be here for you and will forever love you!

Ear infections

We started this week out with double ear infections for Jackson. He started feeling stuffy over the weekend, and by Sunday night he was hurting pretty bad. Here are his comments about his ears, all said with the lower lip out and his hand cupping his ears..."My ear is not working. Take it off. I want a new one." He also asked me in the middle of the night why I didn't give him a new ear. Thankfully, he is feeling better, though the medicine is not on his list of things he enjoys! He definitely would rather grape than strawberry. Hopefully the pharmacy will keep the grape in stock.


Jackson is wearing grandpa's sweatshirt over Labor Day weekend.

Zoe's baptism.

Two weeks ago, we went out to Zoe's baptism. Dave and I are honored to be Zoe's Godparents, and had such an enjoyable time! The kids loved entertaining Zoe, and absolutely loved the much cooler weather. They got to play outside almost all weekend. Can't beat that.

Bragging Rights.

A mom's prerogative is to brag about her kids! Here I go....


Addison can count to five!!!! She is weighs 22lbs and 4 ounces, and is 32 inches. Since May, she has jumped from the thirtieth percentile to the seventieth. Crazy! She is full of words and talks nonstop now. It's fun. She loves to sit on the potty...but that is all. Part of me wonders if we are ready to potty train again. We'll get there!



Today, Jackson traced his name for the first time. They practice their letters all the time at school, and today is the first time the paper has come home like a real school paper...not just scribbles (though we celebrated the first scribbles too).

First Day of Preschool

Jackson is back at Small Wonder's this year. He LOVES it! All through his mini-vacation, he kept asking if today was a school day. After the first day, he wanted to know if he was going to kindergarten. I can't believe my baby is asking about kindergarten.