Happy Birthday

Arielle and Dartanion both had birthdays this month! Can you believe it?!

Arielle turned 2 years old on June 5th. Its amazing how fast those two years have gone by.

Dartanion turned 4 TODAY! I can't even begin to explain what an amazing kid he has become.

Today I decided to start a new birthday tradition with them.  I did a "Birthday Interview" with both of the kids

Here are their answers:

Birthday Interview:
Arielle 2 years old
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite TV Show: My Little Pony
Favorite Food: Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Favorite Place to Go: To the toy store
When I Grow Up I Want To Be: Princess







Birthday Interview:
Dartanion 4 Years Old
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite TV Show: Digimon
Favorite Food: Cheeseburgers
Favorite Place to Go: To the toy store
When I Grow Up I Want To Be: Spiderman

The best description ever and a happy birthday

With in the last few weeks we were blessed with an amazing set of bunk beds for Dart and Arielle. They are a wooden set. Instead of them being parallel with on bed directly over top of the other they are more in a "T" or "L" shape. On one side there is a desk and on the other side is a set of book shelves.

Both of them have really enjoyed climbing the ladder and playing on the top bunk. Arielle even decided that it was time for her to graduate from the crib to the "big girl" bed, which meant that Dart is on the top bunk and she gets the bottom.

Today, while I was doing some cleaning in another room I heard a loud thud then the cries of an almost 4 year old boy. I knew that Dart was playing on the top of the bunk bed and I was sure he had either fallen off or dropped something off that he didn't want to go pick up. I walked into the hallway where he met me in the middle.

This is the conversation that took place:

Me: "Are you alright? What happened?"

Dart: "I was trying to get down from my bed and I was on the ladder and I slipped and it was like boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, WHAM! And I hurt myself."

Me: (trying not to laugh) "Well, are you ok?'

Dart: "Yeah. I just had to cry a little but I will be fine. Thanks mom."

Arielle: "You need me kiss it bubba?"

And off they went to play again.

Their play time was great because today is Arielle's 2nd birthday. Dart did  a great job of making sure she had fun all day. (For the most part)

She got to watch "My Little Pony" any time she wanted, she picked out her own birthday dinner (mac and cheese), and I made cookies for dessert.

The only question I have to ask in this situation is where in the world has the time gone? She was just 2 months old when we packed everything and moved to Texas and here she is a bright, beautiful, adventurous little girl now. Or if you ask her she is THE PRINCESS!

Happy Birthday Beautiful Princess!

Mamma and Arielle just a few hours after she was born

Arielle this morning giving me her best "cheese" face

Signs of a sick kiddo

So there has been this HORRIBLE head cold stuff going around. Cough, sore throat, congestion, body aches. It is just down right horrible. Well, our very own Dart came down with this nastiness. And let me tell you it took him out! Today we had some friends over and usually Dart is right in the middle playing with all the kids. Not today. Today he decided he would rather spend the morning laying in his bed watching the 1980's transformers and G.I. Joe. He also decided that food was pretty over rated and has had little to eat. Never before has this kid ever spent that much time being completely still. I can only say that if this cold is strong enough to take him down then I hope no one else out there catches it. Keep Dart in your prayers as he fights off this mess and pray that none of the rest of us come down with it. (I have had it as well but not nearly as bad as he has.)

25 Books of Christmas

Last year I created a 25 day advent activity calendar to progress the kids toward Christmas. Each day we opened up an envelope and got to find out what fun winter/Christmas activity we would get to do. We did everything from making Christmas ornaments and cards to visiting Santa and driving around looking at lights.

This year, with me and daddy both bogged down in school work, and Thanksgiving happening so late in November I just didn't get us that well prepared. Fortunately for me, Grandma came to the rescue.

This year Grandma, (my mom), took it upon herself to pick out 25 special books, some from her childhood and some from mine, wrap them up, and number them. Each night before bed the Dart and Arielle get to take turns unwrapping a book and hearing a new story before bed. The best part is that she decided to leave a little note attached to each one as to why she chose that particular book.

So today is day 11. Tonight's book:

Other titles so far have included:
The Little Engine That Could
Church Mouse Stories
He Bear, She Bear
Ten Little Rabbits
Green Eggs and Ham
Baby Mickey's Book of Opposites
Piglet Does a Very Grand Thing
And Little Critter When I Get Bigger.

I have to say the best part is seeing the looks on their faces as they open the book. Its amazing to watch them get so excited to have new stories to read.

Dart insists on going to bed with the new book and reading it until he falls asleep. Generally, that means that Arielle gets to go to bed with the book from the night before.

Thanks for the great gift Grandma!

Litteral much???

Last night I made some very yummy turkey meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner.I mean it smelled good through the entire cooking process. I was super excited to eat...

However, Dart and Arielle weren't as excited as I was.

It could be because they just don't understand the joy of food like I do.

Then again, it could be that they both ate 3 large bowls of  mac and cheese for lunch.

Either way they DEVOURED their mashed potatoes like they were going out of style. The meat loaf....well not so much. I really don't know why. I swear it was GOOD!

Finally after 20 or so minutes of trying to convince Dart that he needed to try his meat loaf the conversation went a bit like this:

Me: "Son, are you going to finish your dinner?"

Dart: "Can I have more potatoes?"

Me: "After your eat some meat loaf I'll get you some more"

Arielle: "More?"

Me: "You guys just aren't going to touch your meatloaf are you?"

It was at this point in the conversation when Dart reached down and poked a big hole into his meatloaf with his index finger.

He then looked at me with a completely straight face and said: "There mom. I touched my meat. Can I have some more potatoes please?"

It was at this point that I realized I had completely lost the entire conversation for the evening. I gave both kids some more mashed potatoes and we went on our way.

I think it is safe to say that my kids are WAY, WAY, WAY to smart for their own good and I am completely sunk for the rest of my life!

A sick princess and a sweet talker

Arielle has been sick this week. This is the first time that she has ever come down with something like this and let me tell you it has not been a walk in the park.(Not that I expected sickness to be)

She has had a cough that has made her sound like a baby barking seal. And to top it off she has had no voice. Any time she tried to talk she sounded like a squeaky little mouse. On on hand it is SUPER CUTE! But on the other hand I felt horrible about it. There is nothing worse than having your sweet baby sick and nothing you can do about it.

However, she is feeling much better today. The cough is almost gone and it looks like she will be in the clear soon....except for the 2 teeth that are coming in.

Recently Dartanion has decided that the best way to get what he wants it to sweet talk me. The conversations usually go something like this:

Me: "Bedtime is coming up soon. Just be prepared.
Dart: "Can I watch just one more show please?"
Me: "Sure I think there is time for that."
Dart: "Thanks mom! You're so pretty! Very pretty!"

Needless to say the kid usually gets to watch just one or two more shows! He even manages to get a candy here ant there when he sneaks in a kiss once or twice!

Growing up....

Arielle is growing up fast. Just yesterday a neighbor commented on how she isn't looking like a baby anymore and she is really starting to look like a little girl. On one hand I'm excited to see this transition but on the other hand I am a bit sad. Within the last week her little personality has really started to come through. She is so funny. She does some of the silliest things then she will laugh at herself. The way she interacts with Dart is amazing as well. It's neat to see them finally communicating with each other.

Some days are good and some days she is still a little fussy but I supposed that's the life of a 15 month old isn't it.


Dartanion made an announcement this afternoon. While walking to bed he made a comment about how many kids there were on a show I was watching (19 Kids and Counting) I told him, "Ya they have  a lot of brothers and sisters."

He stopped and said to me, "Mom, I need one brother and two more sisters. I am already a brother but I need to be one again."

I just looked at him and smiled. I guess we will just have to wait and see what God has planned for us, won't we?