Read some books!

I'm hoping that everyone has watched Nacho Libre and you said that the way he says it.  It is the only way to say that sentence. =)

 

On Wednesdays I take the kids to our local library for Story Time.  They love listening to the stories and it gives us (me!) a chance to get out of the house for the day.  Everybody wins!

 

We haven't been able to go to Story Time the past couple weeks due to sickness and doctor appointments, so when we went downstairs we were surprised to see they're in the middle of painting some fun murals on the walls!  I can't wait to see it when they are completely finished.

 

At least once a month they have a special guest who reads the stories.  Yesterday it was an agent from Border Patrol.  You could tell the guy was completely out of his element, but he did a great job reading the stories and talking to the kids!

 

 

Zoe and Max did a great job sitting still (for the most part) and listening to the stories!  Later the agent handed out coloring pages of a border patrol badge for the kids to color.  You can't go wrong with coloring. =)

 

The rest of the day we just hung out with cousins, but last night's service was our Singspiration!  I think all the kids went up to sing/read something.  It was adorable!  Zoe insisted on singing Itsy Bitsy Spider (God made spiders too!) and I helped her.  After that Max and Olivia had to "sing" too.  It was pretty cute!  I love Singspirations!  Who doesn't love to sing?

 

Happy Thursday!

If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.

I read this quote a few months ago and it has been stuck with me ever since!  I think it is a great reminder and I try to remind myself of it often -- especially when I'm feeling impatient and I know I could do it A LOT faster...

 

 

Now that Zoe has a "princess bed" she is more excited about making it everyday.  I think it is so cute to watch.  It may not be perfect, but I think she does a great job!

 

I also have Zoe try to teach Max how to make his bed.  He doesn't quite get it (understandably so) but he will eventually!

 

Titus has finally discovered how to army crawl FORWARD.  It's very exciting...but it's also more work for me! :-)  I vacuum daily and he still grazes on random things found on the floor.  Ugh  Now that he is army crawling he is more involved in Zoe and Max's play time.  They play with toys, read books, watch shows.. I love watching all 3 of my babies together!

 

I'm sure Paul will love this picture. ;-)  Zoe is teaching Max how to take care of babies.  How to hold them with their heads UP, how to change diapers, etc.  It was very sweet!

 

The babies and I walked to Story Time yesterday.  We learned about dirt, worms, and even mud tacos!  Afterward we all went outside and they enjoyed "dirt cups" on the lawn!  A perfect treat for a summer day!

 

Yesterday I was very busy.  I was on my feet all.day.long.  Woe is me, right? ;-)  When the kids finally went to bed I enjoyed an iced coffee (at 10:00 pm. Shame.) and even gave myself a quick pedicure!  I love Bath & Body Works' sugar scrubs!  They feel great!

 

So far this morning we have had breakfast, the kids are ready for the day, and...I'm still in my PJ's. :-)  Oh well.  Not everyday is perfect!

Bedtime Stories

When I was little I remember my Mom reading Love You Forever to my siblings and I.  Now that I'm an adult and have moved away from my Mom, I don't think I can get through the book without crying so I haven't carried on the tradition with Zoe -- yet.  I'm still working on that one..

Another book I remember really well was Lambert the Sheepish Lion.  This book was read by my Dad and we would beg him to read it over and over.  Why, you may ask?  Well, cause when Lambert finally found his roar my Dad made the best lion roar ever -- and it scared the mess out of my little brother every. single. time. =)

A couple days ago I went to the Salvation Army and found three fun kids books that were in excellent condition!  I love finding older books there to add to Zoe and Max's collection.  One was a collection of children's stories such as The Emperor's New Clothes, The Sleeping Beauty, Aesop's Fables, King Arthur and His Noble Knights.. just to name a few.  Another book I found was called Fly High Fly Low and another one I found was simply called Shapes.

We settled for Shapes that night and this is the expression we got for every page. =)  I think she enjoyed it!

When I listen to Paul read Zoe and Max bedtime stories I can't help but find myself going back in time sitting around in a circle with my brothers and sisters.  I see myself wearing my Lion King nightgown.. my brothers in their Lion King footy pajamas.. listening to Mom or Dad read our favorite stories.. giggling while we anticipate the roar that is going to make Philip bawl..  I remember happiness, content, peace.

I'm excited to help Zoe and Max have some of the same memories that I have of my childhood!  They'll only get better the older they get!

We're going to be famous!!

I took Zoe to Story Time this morning.  I love taking her every week!  It's fun to meet other moms and get Zoe out with other kids.  They may be older than her, but one day she'll be the same age.

Today we read "Our Tree Named Steve" by Alan Zweibel.  What a cute story!  I really enjoyed it.  I definitely suggest you checking it out from your local library and reading it.  I'm half tempted to buy it for Zoe -- though I know she won't be interested in it till a lot later in her little life.

After the story everyone was invited to go outside to get their very own baby tree to plant in their yards!  How fun!  They had a few different types to choose from.  The one I chose is called May Day.  I tried looking up a picture on Google to show you what it will look like, but I can't figure out how to do anything on this Mac! :D  So you will have to look at it yourself.

After we got our tree -- in a fancy milk jug filled with dirt and water -- Zoe dove right in to handle the mud.  I figured it would be fine to let her experiment with mud.  Mud doesn't hurt anyone, right?  Wrong.  She looked at her hand, dirty and muddy, and wiped it on my shirt.  I didn't know what to do!  My hands were full holding my daughter and a tree, all the while her wiping her dirty little hands on my shirt.  I asked my friends to help me out -- all the while a photographer from the newspaper took a million pictures of the whole ordeal.  Afterward she asked me if it would be ok if she used some of the pictures in the paper.

Of course!

I can't wait to see what it will look like.  I've already asked family to save it for me so I can keep it and put it in Zoe's baby book -- that I've never touched. =\

What a day!