School Concert and Classroom Party

Chase and Owen had a Holiday Concert at school and I was able to go and watch them sing and see what they do in the classroom.  They were just adorable and so proud to have me there to watch.  It was amazing to see what they do in music and how engaged they were.

Chase getting ready to play his xylophone

Chase doing rhythms

Down Down Baby!

Chase singing.

Owen ready to play his xylophone

Owen doing his rhythms

On December 22nd I was able to Volunteer in Chase and Owen's classrooms at their Holiday Party.

When I got to school this day I was greeted by this toothless smile!  Chase had lost his front tooth right after Spanish. He went to the nurses office and yanked it out!  What a cute grin!

Chase and I.

Then I headed over to Owen's room and he was busy playing with Play Doh

Owen and I

Owen's class.  This was quite the production to get all the kids to stand still.

With their teacher, Ms. Carlson

I took the boys home early and let me tell you, they only wanted to talk to each other. It was amazing-they just started talking about their day and walked ahead of me loving the time with each other!

Owen's class

2 years ago

No Way!  Look at this little chunky monkey!

Chase's First Lost Tooth

A big moment occurred just after Thanksgiving!  His bottom tooth was so wiggly and on Friday I reached in and pulled it out!  Chase fell back and I was saying, I have your tooth, I have your tooth!  He sat up quickly, looked at the tooth and smiled from ear to ear.  He was so excited!  We were too!  The tooth fairy came and brought him $5.00!

Thanksgiving

We went to my parents house for Thanksgiving this year and had so much fun in the snow!  We did not have snow in MN so it was fun to see it .  The boys went to SD with my parents for 2 days before we left, which was really fun!  My parents had come up for Grandparents day at their school so it was easy for them to take Chase and Owen with them.  We sure missed them, though!  My parents are having their house redone on the inside, so some of these pictures will be the last of the given setting. I used to look out this window at the cats, just as Hattie is doing.

This is the new kitchen, partially done.  The boys found all their undies and decided to put them on!  So funny!

 Even more exciting was that Chase lost his first tooth on Black Friday!!!!

November

November was just a beautiful month here with the weather being so nice!  We felt like we could play outside after school oand on the weekends and that was so fun!

eating breakfast is so FUN!

Owen ready for school with his big smile

The 3 muscateers watching videos

Sweetsie with her curls

"No Mommy, I do not want to take a nap now."

"Oh Mommy I just love you!"

Hattie loves to swing!

They were not actually grumpy, just acting like it!

Sweet cuddles after bath

Owen and I had a date to Target to get groceries and he got his own Hot Chocolate

Tough boys in their hockey gear

We had such a fun night going to see The Wizard of Oz.  It was an amazing show and one we all love to watch

Hattie REALLY likes to pick her nose!

licking the bowl clean!

She climbed up here with no help at all!

Joy of a Little One

There is nothing like the joy a little one brings to life and your house. I've been wanting to post about this and am fearful I will forget a feeling or something I love about having Hattie in the house. The truth is, I will not be able to put into words all the feelings I have about having her around.

Hattie is pure joy!  Her little run/hop/skip with her left arm flailing out is enough to make you stop and watch her and smile and giggle.  She lights up the room with her "lightness" the ease in which she does things and how she makes you feel.  She's so gentle and soft and feminine and it's refreshing! She dances, she sings, she talks nonstop, she cares for others, she helps, she listens and knows what I'm talking about. She's GIRL!  I LOVE IT!

Hattie loves to dress like a girl, dress up and make her own style.  This can also be challenging at times because she wants it her way most of the time and she wants to put her own clothes on most of the time. Jeff has a way with her that lessens the struggle, thank goodness.

Maybe it's because the boys were late-talkers, but it's amazing to hear the words that come out of her mouth, how she knows the word for everything and puts together 5-7 word sentences.  My mouth drops open several times each night and Jeff and I take notes and tell each other our "stories" about her when she goes to bed.  Probably as a speech pathologist I'm a little more fascinated than the normal person, but it's pretty cool.  It's also been cool to watch her articulation develop-going from not having an /s/ to suddenly hearing it in the middle and at the ends of words.  It's amazing to listen to Hattie try new words and sounds, whereas she was so hesitant before.  If there are times she can't communicate her thought she will say, "Me can't", which breaks my heart.

Hattie loves to be held  and carried, despite her independence. She loves to snuggle up in bed with me each morning, getting as close to me as she can, sharing the pillow, turning her head to mine and moving our faces next to each other. She holds my face in her tiny little hands and just says, "Mommy" in the most loving and adorable voice ever.

When I tell her we are going to do something, like "First we will have a snack and then we are going to bed," she said, "O Tay Mama." in the sweetest little voice.

I just can't get enough of her sweetness and independence!