this year

I'm being dramatic, but I need to start keeping track of my children again. I want to be able to look back at these posts and remember their little personalities when they are teenagers and I am longing for them to need me again:).

Right now, Parker is so independent.  He desperately tries to be big, but at the same time, wants to be little.  He still wants three stories at night and won't go to sleep until I give him his blessing.  Sometimes I feel like we are so caught up in our day to day activities and I cherish these moments.  He still loves country music and knows every word to songs that I have never heard before.  Right now, he wants to be a construction worker and has been helping us paint, sand, and anything else while we are working on the house.  He is thoughtful, joyful and faithful.  He sometimes dances like a fool and often doesn't listen, but I love him more every day.

Rowan is a firecracker.  She was using the toilet periodically, but since we have started renovating the bathrooms, she has no desire.  I guess I should be grateful considering we only have one bathroom in working order right now...in the basement.  She is still such a mama's girl and is the best snuggler.  She loves her babies and is constantly playing mom to something or someone.  She is sassy and joyful and treats each activity or errand as if it was her idea.  She has no fear and loves to swing as high as she can.  She is my baby goose (parker's name for her), and I love her so.

I just wish I could get days to slow down and truly take a step back from all of the chaos to enjoy every moment.

I'm thinking of a certain animal...

...is it a mammal...yes...does it have paws...yes...does it have retractable claws...yes...it's a TIGER!  Ha, just an example of the game that Parker made up and is now his favorite thing to do.  Every time we get in the car...'I'm thinking of a certain animal...'  Despite the hours and hours that we have played this game, I am so grateful for his imagination and ability to retain random facts.  Love him so.

lost time

I feel like I am losing time...my babies are growing up too fast.  Row is almost two and Parker will be in Kindergarten in the fall.  They are changing every day and I don't want to miss a single second.

Rowan is my daredevil...one minute she is climbing on the stove to reach a cookie and the next she is letting the dog out the door or hanging from the monkey bars (literally...by herself).  I love that she can be strong-willed and independent while simultaneously being my little cuddle bug.  She is my baby.  I love that she wants to be around me all the time and I am soaking in each cuddle I can.  Row loves her baby (Naked Ella)...she is such a great little mama and is constantly taking care of her.  She also is always looking out for Parker.  Any time she gets a treat or sweet, she makes sure that she gets one to give to Parker.  She loves him so much and wants to do everything he is doing.  I love that he can make her laugh harder than anyone.

Parker is half grown-up now.  Sometimes I can't believe the conversations we have.  He pays attention to every detail of everything anyone does or says.  Despite growing so fast, he is still my little bug.  He still lets me hug and kiss him in public and still runs to me when I pick him up from school or anywhere.  I love that he lets me squeeze him whenever I want.  He is reading more and more all the time and I love watching him figure out new words.  Animals and sports are his two favorite things.  He knows more facts about both than I do.  He is playing t-ball now and has a great swing.  He is so competitive and I can't wait to watch him play more.

So I am soaking in every moment so that I don't lose any time.

Growing

My babies are growing...growing up, growing out, growing into little people.  Our days are crazy busy and so much fun.  I want to to hold on to every little moment so that I don't forget, but everything changes so quickly that I'm afraid I might.  For my sake, here are my favorite things that are happening right now.

Row is talking more and more every day.  She just began saying 'yes' and it seems like a lifetime ago when all she would say is 'no'.

I love that when you ask her what her name is, she says, 'row row.'

Her two favorite phrases are, 'I did it' and 'I don't know.'

She is super independent and major mommy's girl...I love how she tries to do anything and everything Parker is doing.

I love how much she and Parker love each other.  The other day when we went to pick up Parker from school Rowan put her hands on her knees and yelled, 'PARKER!'  To which Parker replied, 'BABY GOOSE!'  They then ran toward each other and fell over in a great big bear hug/tackle.  I tried calling Row 'baby goose,' but was informed that was Parker's name for her.

Parker has been playing basketball at the Y and loving it.  At his first practice, he asked his teammate if he wanted to 'chest bump.'  Apparently we have let him watch too many K-State basketball games. Luckily, he has yet to kiss his biceps in public.  After his first basket, he told us, 'did you see that shot we made from downtown!'  Wow.

Parker recently had his adenoid taken out and he is finally sleeping and listening better.  I can tell that he feels so more like himself.

Rowan is wanting to use the toilet...I am not quite ready and she is so tiny, but I am trying to be supportive.  I love that she stands up saying, 'I potty!'  She is just so big.

Love them.

cabin fever

I'm not sure if I even have the right to use the phrase 'cabin fever'...we leave the house every day to take Parker to school and today we even had Row's gymnastics class...we have definitely been more house-bound than we are now...however, I kind of feel like my children are going crazy...endless games of indoor football and basketball have caused me to literally cry over spilled milk, and I'm pretty sure that Rowan has found each and every possible mess there is to make...right now I am writing this blog while letting them create more messes out of boredom, but I feel like it is necessary...if only to keep my resolution going strong (if weekly counts as strong)...anyway...while I do feel like I am forever cleaning up, I wouldn't change a single thing...they are definitely my little loves and tomorrow will get here...hopefully not too soon:)

Sometimes you just have to get out in the snow...my three cold, little loves.

new year, new resolutions

It's a new year...2015...I know, I'm stating the obvious, but a part of me can't figure out what happened to 2014.  We had so many great adventures and blessings but we were in such a hurry for most of the year.  This year, I am going to do better...about a lot of things, but in particular, I am going to be better about blogging...not because I think anyone will read this, but because I want my kids to be able to look back on our lives once upon a time.

The reset of my resolutions mostly have to do with these guys...they are pretty much my favorite people in the whole world and I still wonder why God blessed me so abundantly.  I am going to try very hard to be the best wife and mother I can be (cue cheesy jingle)...but seriously;)

Here is to 2015...hopefully, this isn't my last post of the year!