Sometimes I wish I had a recorder...

Below are a few things the kids have said or done in the last couple of months that I took time to write down....

Here's a conversation that took place between Traeger and Ataly one afternoon...

T: You'll be the wife and I'll be the...what do you call it mom?

M: Husband.

T: Ok. Now what do we do? Well we can do the things that kids can't do. And we have to do dishes and things like that too.

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A: I love you to 5 pieces mom!

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A: Just a minute, I'm decisioning.

(trying to use those big words)

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T: Mom, can I tell you all the things I love about you?

M: Of course you can (and I secretly wanted to say and you don't have to stop anytime soon)

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A: Just leave the laundry there and I'll put it away. It's my responsible (meaning it's my responsibility)

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As I was tucking Traeger in for the night he quietly leans over and said, "could you kiss me and rub my back? I promise I won't wipe off your kisses."

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After Ataly carelessly dumped sunscreen out on the garage floor Luke asked her why she did that. She quickly responded, "Daddy, I'm so sorry, do I need a consequence?"

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Traeger burst into the house with a water gun and squirted me. I wasn't prepared and responded poorly. Ataly quickly chimed in and said, "Mommy don't yell. Remember just gently say no thank you Traeger. I don't like that."

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Ataly's bedtime staling techniques...

A: I guess I'd like you to comb out my knots daddy.

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Traeger was mad that they couldn't sleep on our bed so he said, "mom you make me angry and you're not a nice mom." Ataly quickly chimes in. "Traeger, God tells us to tell our mommy that she is a nice mommy." I hear them arguing back and forth from the bedroom over the fact of if I'm a nice mommy or not. Then Ataly said,"I'm going to tell mom that I love her and that she's a nice mommy." Whew...it's a good thing someone was on my side that night :O)

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Traeger and Ataly will say this sometimes:

Just a minute. I'm processing.

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Traeger and I were talking about what a great honor and humbling responsibility it is to be married and have a wife. He said, "Oh I understand and I will take responsibility for her."

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At the breakfast table Ataly announces for the first time, "Mom, I love God. It takes a lot of running."

Oh how I love in her 3 year old way she is announcing her affections for Jesus and at the same time describing how our sin can so easily entangle us. It takes a lot of running because we're constantly having to turn from our sin and run back to Jesus. He is the answer. He is one turn away. What a gift we have in Jesus. He is always waiting with His loving and forgiving arms ready to grab us up if we make the choice to repent and run back into His arms.

New Cubbie bear

We've got a new little Cubbie bear in our house.

Rollerskates

Traeger found these treasures at a resale shop today. And they were 1/2 off the already low, low price. How was a mom to say no to such a sweet find?!

Much to my chagrin, Traeger proudly walked out with a new to him pair of rollerskates. He's doing a lot better on them than I thought, but let's pray he doesn't break something in the process.

"Just snuggling"

I heard this interaction taking place.

I gave them the good ol' motherly...

if you're going to wrestle someone's going to get hurt...

at which time Ataly confidently announced...

"Don't worry mom, we're just snuggling"

Shoulder to shoulder

I love the fact that typically Traeger and Ataly chose to sit shoulder to shoulder to watch their morning show.

Dress up

My Buzz Lightyear/butterfly little girl!

First snow fall 2011

There's something special about experiencing the first snow fall of the year from the perspective of a child. Wonder and joy fill their little bodies.

The kids lasted 'til the afternoon and then wanted to go play around in the white stuff.

Traeger was so pumped about going out, he helped his sister get her snowpants on so they could get out there faster.

Ready to go!

Camping in Nov.

Traeger and Ataly, along with their neighbor friends set out on a fun adventure for the night and went "camping" outside. They had a blast and lasted a lot longer outside than I thought they would.

Ataly

For a while now Ataly knows that her name starts with the letter A and will point out just about every letter A she can find on anything from a business sign to the soap dispenser. Last week she was inspired by the bobby pins from her hair. There were three bobby pins that I used to make the letters. We started with A.

I did it!

Before I knew it she had written (using the bobby pins as examples) every letter in her name.

She was so proud of herself.

I'm so thankful I'm able to be home with my kids so I have the opportunities to celebrate the little victories like this one in my 3 year old's world.

Highlights from a trip back home.

Luke had a busy weekend of work so the kids and I headed back to my parent's house.

Shortly after arriving we went to visit Aunt Jean and Uncle Larry. We came back and had supper and then headed out to track a deer dad shot earlier that night.

It all started here with dad and a bow.

Then it was tracking time.

The Patrick boys and a friend came out, along with Traeger, Ataly, Nonnie and I.

Do you see what I see?

With a good amount of team effort, we found the deer.

All eyes were on Grandpa as he showed the boys the ropes of...

gutting a deer.

Though this might disgust most, this was a night that I really enjoyed. It took me back to the same woods I once went tracking in with my dad when I was a little girl. Now after many years since I've done it, I was now taking my kids and Grandpa was showing them the ropes. How cool is that!

The next morning Traeger and Grandpa went to track Dakota's deer while the Ataly I went shopping with Nonnie, Cori and Melia.

They seem to be enjoying strolling the hallways of the Mall.

And who better to do it with than their Nonnie :O)

Sunday night we had a sleep over at the Patricks because the boys didn't have school on Monday.

K-man and Traeger were playing Indiana Jones type guys and Ataly followed along as their dinosaur?! I didn't ask any questions. They had a blast together!

Jammin' out

The neighbor friends along Traeger and Ataly jammin' out and creating "special effects" with their Halloween candy.

Trick or Treat 2011

This year Traeger picked Twizzlers and Ataly picked Starburst to hand out to all those who came to our house for trick or treating.

Michelle (a girl from youth group who is now in college) helping the kids dish out the goods....

while Luke, I and a few of the college kids played a game of Settlers.

When 5 o'clock rolled around we all loaded up and took our turn to go score some treats.

It was rainy, cold and dreary, but that didn't stop the kids from gleefully running from house to house.

Bryan video taping the kids in action.

Trick or treat!

Their tummies full of sugar after the trick or treating adventure.

Had to grab a family picture of the superheros and their princesses.

It always amazes me how much food college aged boys (and my husband) can put away.

It didn't take long for 2 pizzas and 3 bags of crazy bread to disappear and they probably could have eaten more.

Finishing the night off with a movie night.

Happy Halloween 2011

Looking back...

Taking a peak back at the last 4 years that we've dressed up for Halloween.

Ataly--7 months

Traeger--2 years old

Go Pack Go!

2008

Ataly--1 year 7 months

Traeger--3 years old

On Wisconsin!

(Luke had a youth group event this night, so it was just the kids and I at the fall festival)

2009

Ataly--2 years old

Traeger--4 years old

The family of "Supers"

2010

Ataly--3 years old

Traeger--5 years old

This time Spiderman and his princess

"The Superheros and their princesses"

(This was all Traeger's idea this year)

First year going out trick or treating in Medford

2011