Harper Grace: 3 Years Old

Here's a peak at Harper at three years old. She can be summed up as spunky, wild, and a 'do what I want' kind of girl. Here's what she's been up to this past year:

* she is wearing 2t and some 3t clothes. She likes to pick her clothes. She went through a short layering phase. Some days she would have three shirts and two pairs of pants on. She likes skirts.
* she is still a finger sucker. BOO! She likes to rub slobber on her cheek. We will start working on quitting in a couple weeks.
* she talks about "her school" all the time. She's never been to school, but is very convincing that she has with her stories.
* She sometimes makes up her own language. We have no idea. She usually just rhymes jibberish when playing with her dolls.
* she is just plain ornery. She does things knowing that she shouldn’t and she just doesn't care. Most recently drawing on the wall with a sharpie. She hates timeout, but ends up there quite often.
* even though she is ornery at home she is a very sweet little girl out and about. She plays well with others.
* she loves playing with her dollies, play doh, paint and markers, sidewalk chalk, and anything water.
* she is still wearing a diaper to bed. We plan to stop this soon. I think she just uses it out of convenience and doesn't really need it.
* we are hoping her egg allergy is gone. She does eat some things with egg occasionally and she hasn't had any reactions.
* she loves to be outside without shoes.
* She now has a cute little bob haircut. No more tangles.
* she somersaults all over the house. She has also started doing headstands. Gymnastics is in her future.
* she fights naps and bedtime, no matter how exhausted she is.
* she needs structure or she finds trouble. I'm excited for her to start preschool in the fall. Two mornings a week. We are both excited!

Harper's 3rd Birthday!

This year we celebrated Harper's birthday twice. Once with Great Grandpa Melvin and Kennedy, and once with the Murphy's. Harper loved it and requested rainbow cupcakes and Dora cupcakes. With two parties she was in luck!

Mother's Day 2014

Riley's Pre-K Ceremony: On To Kindergarten

Miss Riley finished her last year of preschool (back in May!). She really grew leaps and bounds this year. We were so thankful that we stuck with our gut and waited another year for kindergarten. She did a great job singing her songs, even though she swore she didn't know them every time I asked her to sing them at home!

She is so excited to start kindergarten and we feel that she is more than ready now. I'm so excited for her new chapter in life, but sad that my baby girl is growing up so fast!

Cole Carlson: One Year, Five Months

Cole buddy is growing so fast! It has been so much fun to watch him grow into a little boy.  He has quite the personality and doesn't let anyone push him around! Here's what new:

* he is a tiny little guy weighing in at 18 lbs 10 oz. In fact, he is wearing his 6 month and 6-9 month shorts and short sleeve shirts right now! I need to do some summer shopping, but really his little shorts fit him perfectly for now.
* he loves to eat! He will eat anything and everything we put in front of him. He loves yogurt, oranges, oatmeal, marshmallows, popcorn, hot dogs, and peas. When he's done he throws everything on the floor.
* he insists on eating with a fork or spoon and does really well.
* he still loves his sleep sack and hates diaper/clothes changes. He will insist on wearing his sleep sack if it isn't out of sight.
* he loves to be outside.
* he developed a cough and runny nose a couple weeks ago. After a trip to see Dr Fred it was determined that he most likely has asthma/allergies. Poor kid. Now we have more regular breathing treatments when he has the cough.
* he is constantly teething. He has 9 and is working on a couple more.
* he hates getting his nails trimmed. It sometimes takes an entire week to get all of his nails trimmed.
* he runs everywhere, climbs on everything, and never sits down.
* he loves the furby and kisses it over and over. He now gives full kisses, noise and all.
* he loves his mommy and hardly leaves my side.
* he is a lover and a cuddler. Such a sweet little boy!

Easter 2014

We had a fun Easter this year.  Of course the Easter Bunny visited our house again and the kids had fun running around the house hunting for the eggs. We went to my brother's house for Easter lunch and another egg hunt. It was such a beautiful day to spend with family!

Saying Goodbye To Grandpa Denny

The first few months of 2014 were some of the most trying for our family. Grandpa Denny became ill mid February and by the end of March he was moved to hospice. On April 3, 2014 Denny went up to heaven. Losing a father and grandfather is one of the hardest things we have ever dealt with. Brett spent time running from work, to the hospital, to home nonstop. I'm thankful that he had a job that allowed him to spend so much time with his dad during the last months of his life and to be by his mom's side through it all. I will never forget what it was like explaining to Riley that Grandpa Denny was sick and that he was going to go to heaven. She completely understood and to see grief in my five year old's face was so hard. Telling her that Grandpa was in heaven was by far the hardest thing Brett and I have ever done. She understands that he is in Heaven with God. In the time since his passing she will point to the sky and say hi to Grandpa and talks about him quite often. Harper, on the other hand, doesn't really understand. Although, just the other day, out of the blue, she became very exited and said "Grandpa Denny is coming back from heaven!!" With Cole, we've begun to notice just how similar he is to his Grandpa Denny. He looks so much like Denny it is unbelievable. He has his Grandpa Denny's hands and mouth. He's a constant reminder of the man we lost. As time has moved on we've planted five rose bushes in his honor and try to keep his presence alive in our kids. I can honestly say that I feel him around quite often. I'm a true believer that he is present in our lives and that he has a hand in where our family is going!