January Recap

It is hard to believe tomorrow is the beginning of February. I am not exactly sad to see this month to go. It means one more month closer to Spring! It has been just a bit cold this January. 

It has also marked 3 years of blogging. That is hard to believe. When I started this blog. I was 9 months pregnant with Lilliana so only had Eli running around. So much has changed and for the good. 

We started the year off by taking Lilliana to her first movie at the movie theater.....Frozen. It was awesome. I don't like kids movies, but fell in love with this movie. She told us after she didn't like it because the sister hurt the other sister. She really did like it though because she asks to listen and watch songs from it everyday on YouTube. 

We have received a lot of snow and then cold. We took the kids tubing on the school hill the one day before it got really cold. Unfortunately there was just  sooo much snow it didn't go well. It was cold and just snowing so much. The kids had fun though. 

Since we have been inside from the cold we have been creative and some days the house has been in shambles. We also have probably watched more tv than I care to admit and spent more days in pajamas than would be acceptable, but it has been relaxing. 

The kids favorite for destroying the house in two seconds is pulling all toys out of the toy box and the blankets and making a fort that becomes a swimming pool. 

I saw recipe for homemade play-doh and made it. I don't recommend it. The kids loved it, but it was way messier than normal play-doh

We also covered the bath tub walls in paper and I let them paint. That was a huge hit and a lot of fun. It was also easy clean up. 

For Science this month we studied Whales. The kids knew at the end of the book there was a Blue Whale Skeleton to put together. They couldn't wait and asked everyday to do it. We were close and begged to do extra lenses so the next day we could put it together. They loved every minute of it and were very proud of it. 

In all honesty, it has been a long boring month stuck at home or inside for fear of freezing outside. I look forward to February and celebrating the kids birthdays! 

Letter to my Son Continued-January

I think we are all beginning to go a little stir crazy in this house. The cold continues, the snow continues even at this temperature....I have no idea how. Regardless we are well to enjoy it. We might finish school early too, because even if the public schools are out we are still doing school. I would much rather spend my days outside than in doing school so we will make haste during the cold. 

My Dear Eli, 

I look at you everyday and realize you are turning into a boy. I am scared as you turn 5 in a little over a month. 5 years! I still remember the days it was just you and I. I can't believe you are that tiny scrawny little babe we brought home. You grew your cheeks one night shortly after we got home and I still remember waking up and saying, "He got cheeks!" 

You make our house so loud, but always so interesting. I know I can find you building or making something this time of year usually on the heat vent. I can hope that one day you use your building skills to become an engineer. I don't know how you do it, but you can build anything and are always amazing me with new things. You catch on quickly to anything. Many times when I think you are not listening in school you are absorbing it all. 

I can count on you to help with any manual labor that needs done especially shoveling snow. You love to work and I hope you always keep that spirit. I can also count on you to begin a wrestle match at any time of the day aka WRESTLE MANIA! I blame your dad for starting that when you were way too little. You may be loud, ask A LOT of questions, drive me to insanity at times, and not want to sleep when it is time BUT you are a wonderful joy to have around. You are an amazing big brother. I couldn't ask for a better first born. I LOVE YOU!

Letter to my Son-January

I am finishing out the week with a letter to Ari. Next time I think I will combine Eli and Ari's letters in one post. Today I didn't feel like sitting her doing that. It is a bit cold, as in the negatives. The couch, a movie, tea, and blankets snuggled up with my kids are calling me.......

My Dearest Ari, 

I could probably spend all night writing you this letter. At the moment I have a conflicting feelings with you. Your screaming and lack of sleeping at night is beginning to wear on your poor mom's nerves. I am tired. I am cranky, and I am just plain over it. I feel as if we have tried everything to get you to sleep and not scream and cry all night to nurse. The only thing to do would be to give in. Unfortunately, I need a break and we are back to square one.


It is REALLY hard to be frustrated with you. You are beyond adorable. You are ever so snugly still, and LOVE to cuddle up to me. If you cuddle up next to me you are asleep in 2 minutes. I on the other hand get none. Regardless your contagious giggle and silly face makes me love you all the more. Your wonderful kiss lips are too adorable even when they are telling me "no" and you get in trouble.  You are one big copy cat of your older brother, so much so that you ask once a week to sit on the toilet and go potty like him. You idolize him. You love your sister and love to play dolls with her. You are so easy going in so many aspects, except nursing and sleep. One day I know I will read back through this  and it will be a distant memory. I will laugh and wish I had not been so frustrated, but for now I am very frustrated. 

You are at my favorite age, and I can't wait to watch you learn and grow these next few months. I can't wait to watch you play with your trains and protect them against your brother and sister. I can't wait to watch you slide down the stairs on your belly as fast as you can. I would rather not see you terrorize the dogs and herd them around,  but I know you will still do this. I will embrace these extra months of cuddles because soon that will end. Please though could we start sleeping.....Thanks! I love you so much. Mom

Letter to my Daughter-January

I have been enjoying several weeks of no picture editing or really downloading from my camera to my computer and just relaxing. It has been nice to be away from the computer and enjoy the kids. I also have been going to bed earlier and that has been nice. Usually I stay up late to work on photos or when I get up in the morning. I am enjoying keeping it that way. I also have been thinking of switching up my blog schedule for some time time. I miss doing it, but need some direction with photographs and other things. I decided to begin doing these once a month. I will also print them out and add them to the photo album. I can't take credit for the idea. I saw it somewhere else and liked it. 

My Dear Sweet Girl, 

I don't know when you lost your baby look, but I am struggling with this realization. You are getting so big. Your personality is beginning to shine even more. I love your sweet, gentle, kind spirit. You are always so willing to help. If I ask you to do something I hear, "sure can!" On the other hand we have also experienced a bit of  the other side of your personality which is a  bit of drama. It makes you so cute, but some days so frustrating. Regardless you are such a happy go lucky girl. I love it.

Your love of all things pink dictate how the day goes from what you  pick out for clothes, what goes in your hair, and even food if we allow it. It is cute. I hope you always love pink as you have so many things you have insisted be pink. This also includes hats and shoes even. Your love of accessories is just funny. I am so glad you don't care what others think at this age and want to wear the bright pink hat and glasses that matches nothing you are wearing. It is cute and I know it is just you. 

 I am so thankful you are my sweet cuddly girl who has a fierce love for her daddy. Next month you turn 3 and I could cry. It is bittersweet. Instead, I will cherish this last month of my two year old and enjoy the many cooking, baking, and cuddling moments we will share. I love you.