Mahna Mahnam by Aimee

We were singing in the van on the way home and we noticed Aimee pitching in. So we decided to record it and share.

I think it's pretty close to the original.

Posted with Blogsy

Conversations with Kara

Three years old seems to be about the age when children are consistently saying hilarious stuff.  Every time Kara says something to make me laugh I think, "That's so cute.  I'll never forget it."  Then I typically forget it by the time Lee gets home from work...and that makes me sad. 

Solution.  The best way to remember something is to write it down.  So begins Conversations with Kara.

Me during our Bible study: Who was the woman that was kind to Naomi?

Kara: I don't know.

Me: It starts with R-R-R.

Kara: R-R-R--Canada.

Me while driving home:  Wow, look how pretty the lake is today (then I realize we have never seen this lake before).

Kara: Mom, you're lost.

Super Star!

Happy Early Father's Day!

There has been so much going on over the past month, and there are a lot of upcoming posts and pictures.  But time is limited, and we aren’t slowing down….so priorities, priorities.

In stead of looking back, we’ll skip forward.  HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!!

A few letters to Lee (Daddy):

kjgtuythuyytbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbvvbvb               9uo9bm9mb5bmbmbmbbbuy56yyyy      jhhghugyyy7t  khhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhy        hutrygygggggggggggggggggggifgiuyh8778ujghhhuiuhnnnnnnnn    ytuhyhjuyhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb nhhhyiuyyyyyyyyyyy7 uuhbubb7nnnnnnnnn bnmgbbbbbbynbvbggggggggbvvvvvvbvbbb --kaara

(I love you, Daddy.  So much.  I love you to go to a baseball game.  You are my best Daddy. -- Kara)

o//ijvfhd glkb nj mjk  nd jkfdjjbm bn jlkgkmfn kgkhjfhfug i9b uhbn 8ij km, jhhhhbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbojnnn  fg rv\]]-hbiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii,mfj mvfjg k fl fkf rjhhikgboh g         hjghjtrhbtbu,kbklklnijgv nc

(Da Da -- Aimee)

Lee, you are a terrific father.  You are patient and willing to humble yourself.  Thank you for providing for us, protecting us, and teaching us more about ourselves and God.  We love you. –Ashley

Big Week for Aimee (and consequently, Mommy)

Woah!  Slow down.  Lots going on with Aimee this week!

I mean, I'm in favor of development, but when it all happens at one time it can really mess with how I have become accustomed to living.  I've become used to setting Aimee down in one spot, giving her a toy, and having her be pretty content for a while so I can get some stuff done.  And when I come back, she has not moved.  I don't mind this consistency.

Even though she is 10 months old, it didn't bother me that she had not started crawling.  If she really wanted something, she could roll around and get it.  But this method of mobility is slow and ineffective.  And I'm ok with that.  If we tried to encourage her to crawl, she would get into a bear crawl position, then decide whatever we had wasn't worth the effort.  But she's strong.  Stronger than I remember Kara being, so we were just going to wait for her to figure it out.

And she did.  But wait.  Along with crawling, she also has figured out how to pull herself up (these occurred within a day of each other).  So she's not only moving, she's pulling things down on herself.  Laundry baskets, chairs, anything not bolted to the ground.  Ok...soooo....time to be more attentive.  And time to superglue the door stops so she will stop trying to eat them.

But wait.  There's more.  We also got the first tooth this week.  A little bottom incisor is starting to poke through.  It's cute, and it doesn't hurt her.  Our girls are really awesome when it comes to teething.  I thank God that's a trial he didn't want to use to grow me.  But, this tooth has come just in time for me to be sticking my fingers in her mouth to fish out all the little leaves, paper bits, and doll shoes that she can now get.  And apparently when she gets something in her mouth, she wants it.  And she clamps down hard to keep whatever she has in her mouth.  Even if my finger is in the way.

Lastly, she said her first intentional non-mama/dada, grunting, or signing word (a lot of qualifiers, I know).  It was "baby".  More like "baybay".  So cute.  She loves dolls.  We love her.  It has been a fun week, but change is coming fast.  No easing into it.

Here's the video of her first crawls.  She decided a soda bottle was worth the effort.  Oh, and the background music...um, yeah.  I kind of love listening to the girl's kiddie music even when they're not around (Kara was at school when I took this video) :).

Aimee signs "All Done"

We are so excited!!!  Let the non-screaming communication commence!

Our Trip to Idaho Falls...a month ago.

About a year and a half ago we swore off flying with little ones.  It was an unpleasant experience that we weren't looking to repeat.  Fast forward, and we're at it again, but this time was much, much better.

I am of the opinion that flying with little ones is great before they get mobile (thank you Aimee for not being in a hurry to crawl), or after they are well potty trained and able to behave in socially acceptable ways in tiny spaces for extended lengths of time.  Ummm...3 years old for us.

So, where did we go?  Idaho Falls.  Pardon the poetic romanticism, but imagine rolling prairie land as far as the eye can see completely blanketed in white.  It looked like a snow ocean.  So beautiful.

We went to visit with Lee's uncle, aunt, and cousins who we rarely get to see.  It was great spending time with them and getting to know them better.  We stayed warm and cozy in their big house, and we had the most amazing dinners a la Auntie Steph.  Seriously, she can cook.  Suffice it to say, I went to bed each night a little uncomfortable because of my inability to stop eating when I was full...and I would usually finish Kara's portions...after getting seconds.

But, to redeem my lack of self control, we did do some exercise while we were there.  We decided to use this opportunity to get Kara on skis.  She really did better than I expected.  She typically gets upset when she has to wear heavy clothing (see previous blog post), so I was going to be happy if we were able to get the ski boots on her, much-less actually go down a hill.  But there is something about being in super cold weather surrounded by snow that makes coats and bibs and mittens and hats much more appealing.  As far as her skiing, she did ok.  I mean, there was a lot of crying and whining going down the hill, but each time we reached the bottom she would ask if we could go again...and faster!  This was confusing to us, but we think she will remember the experience as a good one.

Lee and I even got a chance to take a few runs while Uncle Jim graciously offered to watch the girls.  I will just say that we both need practice, and being in-shape wouldn't hurt.

We had a terrific time, and we are so thankful to Uncle Jim and Aunt Steph for letting us disrupt their baby-free lives for a few days.  The girls loved them, and we hope they are planning on a Texas trip soon!

 Flying with kids.  Not so bad...this time.

Daddy Ski School.  Perseverant is not usually a word I would use to describe Kara, but she really did a great job with self-control and patience while learning something that was a bit beyond her.

 And then she fell asleep on the floor of the ski lodge.  

Daddy, Aimee, and Elmo.  The most common word people use to describe Aimee when they first meet her is "serious".  Wonder why.

Lee saw some elementary-aged kids throwing snow chunks into the frozen river.  He is easily influenced.

Feeding the geese with Uncle Jim.  This was our only picture of anyone from their family.  How did that happen?  

  

Kara is 3!

Three Years!  Honestly, we thought we had a three year old on our hands about 9 months ago.  Kara has always seemed a bit mature (other than her lack of coordination in which we still cringe every time she starts running because she. will. fall.), and we have to keep reminding ourselves that she is a toddler, not a teenager.  

Her third birthday was much more fun than her second.  Last year we were in the middle of a move, and she kept getting yucky stomach bugs.  This year, she had a gymnastics party with all of her little friends and we made a point of taking her on a special date.

For the date, we all dressed up and went to Downtown Fort Worth.  Kara wore her beautiful gold gown, and she had fun picking out our outfits as well.  I should have stood firm when she chose my extra pointy silver blister-makers, but I had forgotten the torture of those shoes, and my toes are still healing.  Otherwise, it was a fun time for all of us, and I think Kara felt special and loved. 

Lunch at Mi Cocina.

Loving chocolate yogurt with mochi (that's fancy for little sweet bites of Japanese glutinous rice deliciousness).

Strolling through downtown Fort Worth with Daddy.

Riding the escalators at Barnes and Noble after thumbing through wedding magazines.

This is her 3 year old letter:

Dear Kara,

You are 3 years old!  This has been a big year for you.  We have been amazed and challenged as you have grown in independence, knowledge, and truth.  Your confidence and kindness stand out as strong indicators of your character, and we feel these will be great qualities for God to use now and as you get older.  You are beginning to understand the value of trust and you desire to know God.  Your memory is incredible, and we are proud to see you using it to learn God's word.

This year you have most struggled with finding the balance between independence and submission.  We have talked many times about obedience and respect and how it is important to remember that your ways are not better than God's ways.  This is a struggle that every person must deal with, and we will continue to help you in love and discipline.

You are an encouragement to those around you. You care for those who are hurt, and you try to help when people are upset or sad.  We love your compassion.  A verse that reflects that is Proverbs 12:25 -- an anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.  This is a way that you serve others and shine a light for God.

We love you, and we are proud of who you are becoming.

Love, Daddy & Mommy

Snow Day!!!

Yes!  It snowed here (a couple weeks ago)!  And it stuck (for half a day)!  Now the temperatures are worthy of short sleeves and sandals, but I can't not post about a snow day.  It's just kind of cool and out of the norm.

Kara and the dogs waiting to go outside.

Aimee's first snow.  Chilly baby bunny.

Kara listening to the "crunch, crunch, crunch" of snow underfoot.

And now the story of how an exciting snow day turns into two girls crying....

First off, we weren't prepared for this.  There was a rush of trying to get the girls fed and dressed in clothes worthy of snow.  Well, dressing Aimee was easy enough because she lives in warm jammies, but Kara seems to think that heavy clothing is nothing but a nuisance.  She says it hurts.

So by the time all that is done and we're ready to go out, Aimee is due for a nap.  But she was good  and happy until I tried to lay her down to make a snow angel.  Big mistake.  Big.  Huge.  So, so mad.  She started wailing like I had hurt her.  Hence, no pictures.  I decided to go inside and put her down for a nap, and I told Kara she could continue to play outside in the snow.  Both girls were good with this arrangement. 

Just as I had finished changing Aimee and I was laying her in the crib, Kara comes wailing and screaming into the house. "It hurts!  It hurts!  It's so cold!".  I was pretty surprised when she came into the room wearing nothing but her thermal shirt and panties.  These are the moments where I am learning to suppress the urge to ask her what were you thinking?!  Indeed, being half naked in the snow does hurt.  It hurts worse than heavy, warm, cozy winter clothing.  Oh, sweet girl.  

Hopefully, this was a lesson learned...especially since she was responsible for going back outside to collect her clothes out of the melting snow.  We are going to Idaho Falls later this week, and she will probably lose a body part if she decides to disrobe up there.