A New Food Group?

Coloring is Christian's new favorite thing to do after breakfast these days! He feels (and looks) like such a big boy in his booster at the table. However, he still is very much a little rascal because along with coloring with the crayons and/or markers, he also likes to bite the tips off of them. Thankfully, the taste of said crayons and markers kicks in and I don't think he's ingested too many of either. Also, he may also be learning this lesson in tastes because as the days have progressed, he's "eaten" less and less of them--the next box of crayons may just survive!

Our First Soccer Game

This past Saturday was Emily's first soccer game! She had previously met her coaches (and thinks they're great: "Don't forget about me, Coach John!") and teammates at practice and learned the very basics of the game. Her team is called the Giraffes. We were all very excited for how this first game would go. Saturday dawned and we were up and running! Emily posed for a quick picture (notice the "light blue" ball-her favorite color) before her big debut and then it was off to the fields.

Coach John began the team huddle by telling the children to raise their hand if they're a "Giraffe" and then said, "they're on your team" (so simple, but very crucial to the game). Emily enjoyed playing in the first half, but during the second half she ran over and hold her coach, "I want to watch now, someone else can play!"


Amidst all of this, Christian wanted to get out there and play! After Emily "showed" him what to do, we went and kicked the ball around so that he wouldn't run out onto the field during the game. He's a true sports fan, through and through.


We loved watching all of the kids run in-mass and try and kick the ball into whichever goal was closest. It was a fun intro to the world of organized sports for 3 and 4 year-olds!

Daddy's Day Off

A couple of weeks ago, I asked Cubby to take a day off so that we could have a day of family fun and do some things around town that I normally can't take the kids by myself. So, yesterday was that day!

In the morning, we stuck around Papillion and went over to the duck pond and surrounding playgrounds at Halleck Park. Well, there was only one duck to feed, but we made her feel extra special and gave her lots' of bread to eat. The morning was beautiful and we had fun just doing the "park thing."

Christian, taking a break and eating...of course!

After naps, we headed out to Mahoney State Park to try out their pools and water park area. Cubby and I thought the water park area and wave pool were great...the kids, however, preferred the regular pool due to the huge amounts of water getting dumped and sprayed everywhere at the park (like one would expect to find at a water park, right?) Well, Emily and Cubby ended up having a good time swimming and Christian and I had fun finding rocks for his little bucket outside of the water.

The highlight of the day, however, came while we were driving home from the pool. I put on the kids' favorite tape of songs (one that I had liked growing up too). When Christian's favorite song came on, I got out the camera, knowing how cute he is while the song is on. Emily though, ended up stealing the show with her stellar preformance. She starts out all sweet and nice and then, decides to rock out half way through. I could hardly keep the camera from shaking b/c I was laughing so hard. To get the full effect of why I thought this was so funny, you have to listen to the words of the song that she's singing. Once she realized how she was singing was funny, she kicked even kicked it up a notch. It was hi-larious. Should we sign her up for American Idol?

All-in-all, it was a fantastic day and I wish Cubby could take a day off more often!

Bellevue Berry Patch

Since today was not our first day of school...(that will occur in just over two weeks!), I wanted to post something that will be cute for our blog book once it gets put together.

Earlier this summer, Mom and Emily had a "Grandma and Emily Day" at the Bellevue Berry Patch. Emily thought it was so fun to pick the strawberries and was so proud of her harvest :-). She really seems to love gardening and is already excited about planting iris bulbs this fall and marigolds next spring. I'm hoping that if she helps to plant some vegetables, that maybe that'll incite her to want to eat them. Hmmm....if it works on Emily, maybe it could work on Cubby...

In any case, I just love these sweet pictures of my girl!

My Sunday Sweethearts!

Aren't they great?

Offutt Air Show

Today, along with the rest of creation, we went to the Offutt Air Show! It was a beautiful day and the kids really ended up having a good time sitting in the airplanes and helicopters and watching the planes doing tricks overhead. Granted, we didn't stay too terribly long (mostly b/c Cubby and I forgot cash to buy food with!) but we all still made our way around and even ran into some friends amidst the crowd! Enjoy the pictures!

Christian and Cubby checking out the big plane while we were waiting to get through security.

Emily and I on board one of the big cargo planes. (She smiled just for me!)

Emily trying her hand as pilot.

Now, Christian taking his turn in the cockpit. (Even loving the headset!)

Christian's New Skill

My little guy has finally mastered the stairs! It only took a few times me dragging him down on his tummy (and him watching Emily do it too) for him to get the idea that this was how to do the stairs. It was so fun to see how tickled he was that he could go downstairs and play independently now! Wahoo for Christian!

I do have to apologize for the silent film. I forgot to turn the microphone on our camera on and so you'll just have to imagine a high-pitched voice yelling, "Oh boy! You're doing it! Good job, Christian!!!"

Also, it took Christian just a bit to get going--he was distracted by something or other upstairs before deciding to take the plunge.

A New Day...

So, as you can all tell from my post yesterday, it was a tough day. Today, however, was much better. I decided to really make a conscious effort to be calmer and relax a bit. I tried to anticipate what Christian would need from me beforehand and it seemed to help with the whining. I also made more eye contact with Emily while asking her to do things and that helped too. (I must add though too that playing with friends and taking decent naps helped in spades.)

I guess this just goes to show me that, as Elder Ballard stated, "the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction." (Click here for the full talk--it's wonderful!) The fierce hug that Emily gave me before she napped today was a shining moment for me. The sweet smell of Christian's little head as he sat in my lap was another.

I just need to vent the frustrations once and awhile to clear my head. Each new day brings the opportunities for learning experiences that I go through each day as my children grow.

Patience? Has anyone seen my patience??

Okay, I need to know how all of you moms out there keep your cool when your kids start pushing your buttons. Because my system is about to go into overload b/c mine are being pushed constantly lately!!!

Emily is being onery, obstinate, and very sassy. Plus, she seems to enjoy pinning her brother on the ground and/or pulling at him while he hits new sound decibles in protest. How do I effectively communicate with Emily without being short with her or losing my temper and raising my voice??? Speaking softly and kindly gets little or no response. Time outs/time in the corner work for a time, but 20 mins later, she talk backs to me or pushes her brother, etc... all over again. I've even asked her (as I know my mom asked me), "do I have to raise my voice for you to listen to me???"

Christian, my previously "easy" and "laid back" child, gets so incredibly whiny and clingy that it's getting very difficult to keep him happy unless i'm: a. playing with him on the floor or b. we're outside. He just can't seem to stay satisfied with independent play of any kind unless I'm right there with him. He longs to communicate his needs and in the absense of speech, he whines, screams, and cries. It's a very difficult stage that he's going through and I need to know how much longer it will last??? Emily was not whiny like this!!! Is there a way I can let him know I understand his wants, but he just can't get everything he wants on demand?

What kinds of ideas and tips do you moms have to keep from losing your minds (and tempers) with your little darlings? I pray for patience, but I think all I'm getting are more opportunities for my patience to be tested...and unfortunately, I'm not doing well with that teaching method. I've been way too short and impatient with the kids and I don't like it. Help me find my patience...and sanity!

These are a few of my favorite things....(by Emily)

I let Emily have some fun with our camera the other day and this is what she took a picture of!

Sweatin' it Out

Last Wednesday was membership appreciation day at the zoo. There were fun things for the kids to do, food was discounted, and (the reason we went) the train was free! Cubby took off work a couple of hours early and we headed out into the summer heat and humidity to ride that train!

We mostly stuck to the indoor (air conditioned) attractions--the aquarium is a "must see" for both kids--and at the end, we all got to take a train ride through the zoo. (Emily has been playing the I-don't-want-my-picture-taken game, but trust me, she had a fun ride.)