Should be packing...

*I've hesitated to post anything because we still needed to get through inspection, but a couple of weeks ago, our house did sell!  PRAISE THE LORD!!  We celebrated Lindsey style (which is quickly becoming Scott, Natalie, & Kate style too).  They are helpful when it comes to thinking of things we need to celebrate with a big cookie!:)

 *Natalie's told me a few times lately that she's humid. :)

*Natalie had her dance recital last month and is sad that it is over.  She LOVED going and LOVED her dance teachers...two great Christian teenagers who served as sweet role models to Natalie this past year. 

*Sister Fun!

 *A couple of weeks ago, when I picked Natalie up from Sunday School, I saw that she had written "Natalie CFG" on the name line of her paper.   When I asked her what in the world CFG stood for, she told me that it meant "Cool Fashion Girl."  Oh, of course, why didn't I think of that?!  Thankfully, her teachers didn't notice/ask.  

*Scott was getting ready for a shower, and I told him to make sure that he got all of the black grease off of him.  He said, "But I like the grease. That will show people that I don't just sit around all day and watch T.V."    :) 

*Natalie recently celebrated her 5th birthday!!  She had been talking about her birthday for a very long time, and she was so excited when the day finally arrived.  She's been asking if I think that she has been throwing less fits now that she is five...and you know what???...I think that she truly is maturing.  We love her so much! 

*Kate was getting into Scott's piggy bank this morning.  When I walked in to find her, she quickly put her hands over her own eyes and sternly said, "DON'T PEEK ON ME!" 

*Time for more packing...after some snacking...perhaps I'm slacking...okay, okay, I'll stop. :/

Big Girl?

(Yes, I realize the pacifier saga should probably be written in a baby book instead of on a blog.  However, since the 3rd child will probably never see her baby book, here goes...)

Over the last several months, Kate's love for a pacifier was intensifying.  I kept saying that we were almost done with it, but I'd always find an excuse just to let her keep it a little longer.   Kate started getting to the point where to be content, she needed to have one in her mouth and hold a couple in each hand.  It was extreme, but it kept her happy, so we went with it.  One night though, I had tucked her in with only two (one in her mouth and one in her little hand).  A few minutes later, she stood in her crib and started calling me back to her bedroom.  I walked in and she said, "Need more pacifiers, Lindsey!"  It was that night that I decided the end was near...very near...REALLY this time.

I purchased a "Blue's Clues" dog and had it hiding in a closet, thinking that when the big day finally came, she could trade in her pacifiers for a new stuffed friend to sleep with, cuddle with, cling to, etc.

One day, I was cleaning, when Kate got into the closet and found her Blue's Clues friend.  She was thrilled!  I hadn't planned for that day to be THE DAY, but I decided we had to go for it.  I explained that this was her big girl toy and that she had to exchange her pacifiers for it.  Much to my surprise, she quickly pulled the pacifier out of her mouth and happily handed it to me and hugged her friend Blue.  Less than five minutes later, she put Blue down and was asking for her pacifier back.  I explained again what had happened and that she was a big girl now.  She threw Blue back in the closet and started crying like crazy.  "PUT HIM AWAY!"  "HE'S YUCKY!"   "I NOT BIG GIRL!"

 After several minutes of wailing, Natalie even begged, "Please!  Just give her a pacifier back!"  
I did what every good mom would do and got out the video camera to capture her tantrum.  I also stuck to my guns, and we are now about three weeks out without the plug!  She asked for her pacifier the first week, had nothing to do with "Yucky Blue" and would always deny being a big girl.  This past week though, Blue has made it's way into HER closet, she hasn't asked for her pacifier, and today she randomly told me that she was a BIG GIRL!  :)

Hooray!  Kate...(or maybe I should say)..."WE" did it!:)  

Since it's been awhile...

*Definitely a Kodak moment as this rarely happens anymore...

*We filled a PODS container with extra "stuff" from the house.  It's really interesting to see all of the things we really don't need to live comfortably.  The kids have less toys out, which has actually been nice.  They've been playing really well with each other and have been making up new games.  (Lesson learned?  Could we do with less?  Probably.) 

*Kate's been a challenge at times when it comes to showings.  I will be frantically cleaning one room to later find her making a new mess in another room.  No toys?  No problem!  Below she loaded our empty shopping bag collection with diapers, blankets, shoes...whatever was in reach.  Thanks, Kate!

*The kids were talking about what a great name their daddy, Jon, was given.  They said it's so cool that it's part of  "John" Deere, Papa "John's", and Parme-"Jon" Cheese.  :)

*We've had a few extra picnics on the front porch (no crumbs on the freshly cleaned kitchen floor).  We are praying for a quick sale.  It's hard keeping a clean house!  After the initial house pictures for listing, the kids asked, "Can we get back to normal now?"  I said yes and then I heard a big toy tub being dumped all over the living room floor.  :)  Back to normal, indeed!

*Scott and Natalie teamed up to witness to Kate tonight over dinner.  Scott was sincerely wanting Kate to be in heaven with him someday, so he decided to speed things along.  It was sweet to watch them get Kate to say "yes" to all the correct answers and then declare that Kate had made a profession of faith by the end of the conversation.  :)  A moment I wanted to cherish as I listened from across the room. 

*After we made our first few trips out with boxes, Scott said, "This is going to take a long time."  (Understatement of the week!)

*Later, Scott said, "My arms feel like they are getting bigger from all that lifting." 

*Scott went on his first kindergarten field trip last week (a few days after he witnessed a bus tipping over infront of our house).  He was a bit concerned about this happening again on his field trip bus.  When I asked him about his time on the bus, he told me that he sat by a friend in his class and that they discussed how buses would really be safer if they had seatbelts.  A kindred spirit, for sure! :) 

*Kate went through several days of grabbing onto the little ponytail on top of her head everytime we stepped outside.  She held onto it tightly when we'd run into a store or go check out the new hosue.  She was very concerned that it was going to blow away in the wind. 

*Natalie informed me last week she was "really into beauty."

*Me:  Is Grandpa Mike a teacher?
Kate:  NO!
Me:  Is Grandpa Mike a dentist?
Kate:  NO!
Me:  Is Grandpa Mike a doctor?
Kate:  NOOOOOOOO!   He's a GRANDPA!

*Natalie (pointing to a shirt she saw in the store):  What's that say?
Me:  It says, "I will be the ONLY princess!"  ...Is that very nice?
Natalie:  No.  (Smile spread across her face.)   I want to wear that shirt!!!

Pics from the Week:)

 Cousin Fun!

 Goofy Girls

 Ask Scott about the Gator and he may just talk your ear off...it's THAT good. 

 Annual egg hunt at church- they do such a good job of finding some candy for their momma!

 Looking more and more like a home!!

 At Scott's request, we got in a zoo trip (a.k.a. quick glimpse at the animals so that we can ride the lame zoo train) on his Spring Break

 Kate's style- pajamas under a swimsuit with every accessory she can find

 

Kate's bedtime routine has always consisted of me singing her a song and then praying.  Tonight, she put her little hands over her ears and said, "NO!  Don't sing!  Just pray!"  Hahaha!  The honest truth from a two year old...

 

 Love this crew!:)

winter MARCHes on?!?

What's up with snow flurries and rain during Week 1 of Spring Break?  We've tried to make the most of it, and I've tried to be a "fun" mom. 

The kids have had "water parties", have played with measuring cups and dry beans, and have had TWO picture worthy Play-dough sessions.  Last time we got the Play-dough out (many moons ago), it ended with me telling them, "NEVER AGAIN!"  This time, however, they did a much better job of keeping it in one area and cleaned it up nicely once they were finished.  Perhaps they were hoping I'd get it out again before another year lapses...

 Can you guess which day in March the following pictures were taken on?  No one was going to pinch my babies!

 A sweet shot with their great grandmother (pictured below...not above!:)

 Natalie loves to strike a pose, even when she's not asked to do so.

Scott was a disciple in his Easter play at school.  He said that he wasn't sure which disciple he was, but that he just knew he wasn't Judas.  Whew.  Their play was so adorable!  Jesus is ALIVE!!!

Kate was battling another ear infection last week and spent more time doing this instead of running, climbing, destroying, and playing.  

 I listened to a podcast recently about kids and too much screen time.  It's been giving me guilt trips ever since.  It HAS been cold and rainy though... (I know, excuses, excuses!)  Natalie came up to me today after being tuckered out from running, dancing, and playing hard. She sighed and said, "I just want to sit on the computer and click."   :)