Dollar store fun

Every once in a while I like to take the kids to the dollar store to pick out a little something special. I think the main reason I do it is because it's so much fun to see just what they will choose. Jacob is almost always a sure bet for candy. Abby usually wants a doll.

On this day they both surprised me. Abby choose a ball and Jacob chose the "silly guy".

My oh my. What little "silly guys" they are.

my heart is beeping

Oh my poor blog how I have neglected you. I can't believe that I've only posted a handful of times since the new year! I have so many adorable photographs of the kids that need to make their way on to the blog, but in the meantime a precious Jacob story will have to do.

Jacob has become very aware lately of his heart "beep". Everytime he comes running in from outdoors he has me place my hand on his chest to feel it beating. Well, today was Jacob's second trip to the dentist. Since the last one was six months ago I figured he might be a bit nervous, but he rarely lets it show. So as the dentist asked him to lay down on the little table he blurts out, "Oh no, my heart is beeping!" It turns out that he was nervous and didn't know that your heart beats faster when you're scared. The whole thing was so precious (and I'll admit, a little sad), but something that I had to record.

"Big Belle"

Our little girl turned two a couple of weeks ago and something about it was bitter sweet. We have always said that we can't wait for her to get older, to talk to us, and for us to get to know more of her adorable personality. But now that it is actually happening I am realizing that my babies aren't babies anymore. They're kids. I have two kids! How crazy is that?

Abby has loved Belle from Beauty and the Beast for quite some time now. Belle was actually one of her first words, so we knew that we would be planning a princess party at some point. Turns out that two was the year to do it. My cousin, Dayna, even came by on Abby's actual

 birthday to surprise Abby and her friends during the parent's bible study. Abby to this day still asks if "Big Belle" is going to come over or if she is at home with the Beast.

Abby, Jacob, and I also celebrated on her big day with a cupcake from Icing on the Cupcake. Both of the kids only ate the frosting, but we had tons of fun and I got some great pictures.

And Abby's "Tea for Two" was also a huge success. So many of our friends and family came out to celebrate--it really was so great to see everyone and have our loved ones there to shower Abby with some birthday love. The girls were all so cute in their princess outfits and the boys had an equally fun time throwing teacups instead of sipping them. I knew that they would find something to enjoy at a little girls tea party!

pinky finger...

So I realize that I have been neglecting this blog. Mostly because I've been busy over here. But I still do have a lot to post on this site as well, so hopefully I can make more time for both blogs. 

I don't want to leave you without a funny Jacob story, so here goes...

The other day we were driving in the car and he goes, "Mommy, how come my pinky finger isn't tall enough to hang out with the big fingers?"

I didn't have a good answer, but cracked up at the way his mind works. I love experiencing life from a three year old perspective.

Frosting.

As many of you know we have fake grass in our backyard (don't get Brad started, he should seriously be a salesman for Heavenly Greens). There are so many perks to fake grass--you don't have to water it, you can "plant" it under oak trees and they won't die, you can play on it almost instantly after the rain, etc. But one thing that is really funny is that fake grass doesn't get frost.

Every morning after I get the kids up from bed I look out the upstairs window to try to see how cold it might be outside. But I'm usually totally deceived because our grass is always bright green. It's not until we're usually out the door, way under dressed for the cold, and I see frost all over our neighbors lawns.

Today as we were heading out the door Jacob said, "Where did all the frosting go? Why don't we have frosting?" Frosting? Hmm...I didn't quite get it.

"Frosting? Where sweetie?" I said.

"The frosting on our neighbors lawns," he replied.

"Oh, you mean frost. The sun melts it. It's not frosting--you can't eat it."

"Oh, ok," he said with a little frown forming.

So I guess I found my first downside to fake grass. Your poor kids end up thinking there is frosting over all the neighbors lawns and are sadly disappointed when they realize it's not the same sugary stuff on top of cupcakes.

So it happened today.

I knew it was just a matter of time before it would happen. He's a boy after all.

I was sitting at my computer while Jacob was watching his movie (he boycotted his nap but was in desperate need of "quite time"--as was Mommy), and he was eating a bowl of trail mix.

"Uh-oh. UH-oh, UH-OH!" I could sense the panic in his voice immediately and I ran over to him to see what brought it on.

And what do you know. Two m&m's. One in each nostril. I quickly pulled the first red one out, but that yellow sucker was in there good. And for some reason he felt the need to keep sniffing, which just kept lodging it further and further into his nose, to the point where I couldn't even see it anymore.

Most of you know that I'm not a very calm person by nature. But for some reason I remained totally calm and tried to push down on the outside of his nose while I used my nail to scoop out that yellow candy. Finally these stupid acrylic nails have paid off--we avoided a trip to the ER and Jacob learned a much needed lesson in "noses are just for smelling."



But it was pretty funny that he had bright yellow-dye snot for the remainder of the afternoon.

Hoping for a cure.

Could this really be my first post of the new year? Where have I been? Busy, that's for sure. Honestly, I finally got around to taking down my Christmas decorations just last weekend. I was kind of putting it off, kind of dreading it, and kind of just wanted to leave everything up until next year.

But all good things have to come to an end, and suprisingly, I can actually say that this Christmas was good. It was good to be with family, it was good to see the look on our children's faces Christmas morning, and it was good to have our annual open house. In fact, that was great! Traditionally, our family hosts an annual open house as a time to get together with loved ones, to eat yummy food, and to just enjoy the holidays. This year was different. We decided to turn our open house into something that could honor my dad, that could spread the word about the American Cancer Society, and to raise money to fight this awful disease.

As a means to accomplish all of this, we created our first ever Tree of Hope. Our guests had the opportunity to purchase a purple snowflake ornament in memory or in honor of a loved one affected by cancer and decorate our tree with it. I was amazed at the outpouring that took place (especially considering the downpour that was taking place outside!) We had over 75 people attend and raised nearly $700 for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event!

This is why I had such a difficult time taking down "Christmas" at our house. Because I knew that every single ornament on that tree represented someone who was and is deeply loved. Someone who will never be forgotten though time may pass. Someone who should have been there this holiday season.

So as I tucked away each ornament I thought about how each of those people heard the words, "You have cancer." How every year more and more people will face this awful reality and how we are getting so close to a cure. A cure that I know can and will happen. And I thought about how awesome it was to have this Tree this year. To give everyone the opportunity to remember, to give back, and to heal. I know it was healing for me and I hope that as we continue to have our annual Tree that others will find healing in it as well.