Dreamin'

Chillin' with Daddy

Miss Jane.

The Blue Box

Aaron’s Mom and Brothers came to visit us last week…. all the way from Dubai! We loved having them here. Uncle Andrew and Jane enjoyed playing with a set of four foam pads… it was great fun to put them together in different shapes and build forts and hideaways…

Needless to say… Jane is missing her uncles and has asked to see them every day since they left… It’s so sad that they live so far away!

 

Her Beloved Binky (and Bunny)

Since our babies were very little, we've encouraged the use of a binky, simply because we figure when they get older and it is time to break the habit, it would be easier. (Binky's can mysteriously disappear, but you can't cut off a thumb). Jane is getting to the age where we have begun to limit her "binky time. She is only allowed to enjoy it in bed, (along with her Beloved Bunny; she can't have one without the other... according to her, it would be sacrilege) and she only has ONE. Well, she's has loved on this one binky so much that it has been chewed down literally to a stub.

Aaron and I have decided that this might be a very convenient way to break her attachment to it... we won't replace it. Eventually she'll decide it just doesn't quite feel the same and naturally won't be interested.... brilliant, if you ask me!

Cream Puffs

I made cream puffs from scratch. They turned out really tasty.

Jane helped. She was my official "Taste-Tester."

....she approved.

I also gave her the job of licking the spoon.

She really liked it.

She took her job very seriously...

...she made sure that there was nothing left to lick!

"....what chocolate??"

Ryan- 4 Months

Duh.

I had another one of those, “Why didn’t I think of that before??” moments in the kitchen the other day. When  I opened the drawer to pull out my 1 tsp measuring spoon, I grabbed the cheap plastic one, (you know, the one with the measurement so faded and scratched that you can’t even read it anymore.. .the one that broke off the cheap plastic ring, but you decided it wasn't even worth your time to try to replace it) leaving my nice set of stainless steel measuring spoons in it’s place.

As I measured out my teaspoon of salt, I asked myself, “Why am I using this cheap plastic spoon when I have a nice metal one?” Believe it or not, I have actually done this a number of times without stopping to consider the reason why I was doing it. It was just easier. And here is what I concluded. I use the cheap plastic spoon because it IS easier. But why is it easier? Because it broke off the plastic ring, and it lay all by itself in the drawer.  I only needed the 1 Tsp measurement, so why pick up the whole SET of metal spoons? For one thing, it’s harder to maneuver and measure when I have four other heavy spoons hanging from my hand. Second, and probably most important. Why would I want to wash FOUR MORE spoons than I need?? How absurd. My time is precious. 

So. Here’s when I got my “DUH” moment. Why don’t I just separate my set of metal spoons so that I only have to use and wash the one I want?

And so I did.
 

And now I use my nice metal spoons all the time.

At the Zoo with the Clarks

Not sure what to think of the elephant. We are working on grasping the concept of what things are inanimate objects, and what things are alive. She doesn't really understand this yet... 

...she kept looking down at it.

"Aunt Suzie" with all three kids holding hands. It was a slow pace... but very cute. It'll be fun when Ryan can join them!

Jane and Bryson playing at the park. They made up a game where Jane would dump dirt on the playground, and Bryson would clear it off. 

Jane was absolutely thrilled with the game.

It entertained them for at least ten minutes straight!

Blog Trouble

I've been having a bit of trouble with my blog recently... (in case you didn't notice). The templates and backgrounds and such have been acting weird, and I am not a computer genius, so it is giving me grief. Please be patient as this is a work in progress and my blog will be rather ugly during the process! This will take me a while... I'm busy taking care of my home and family, and when I do have a rare minute to sit down, it's usually only a minute, and in that precious minute, the first thing on my list of things to do, is not to go looking for a headache by trying to troubleshoot my blog.

Hopefully I won't delete the whole thing by accident... it would be just like me.

(oh, and if YOU happen to be good with websites and blogs and computers and things and are feeling somewhat magnanimous... I would LOVE some help :o)

Aunt Lori and "Uncle Khaki"

My little sister, Lori, and her husband, Zachary, came to visit us last month. They are expecting their first child (a little girl!) next month! It was so strange to see my baby sister pregnant... The kids loved Aunt Lori and "Uncle Khaki" (As Jane calls him). How refreshing to have sister time in person, and get real, live hugs!