Sharing moments from our lives: April 2014

Bodie turns 4!

Our Bodie is 4!

He had a great birthday, complete with morning present opening and chocolate chip pancakes. He helped make and decorate strawberry cupcakes for his friends at preschool and also had a small friend party at our house over the weekend, which he loved. He asked for a remote control car for his birthday this year. The night before izzy helped me go shopping and we picked out a remote control car, a new soft tiger (he had his stolen at school), and a robot piggy bank. He requested a robot cake for his birthday this year. We decorated the night before, and izzy picked out different shades of blue for the decorations. It was fun having her involved, and she seemed to really enjoy being part of the surprise.

A few pictures of the birthday adventures and updates on bobo at age 4. Not the best photos this year, which hopefully means I was enjoying myself and being "in the moment" instead of worrying about picture taking. =) Yeah that's what I was doing...hehe.

Love this little guy...

He loves helping in the kitchen! Rolling pizza dough and using the mixer are his favorites. He also likes doing dishes and setting the table. Using the sprayer in the sink is super fun too.... except when everything gets soaked and he has to change his clothes =)

decorating his school cupcakes

His favorite food is probably strawberries. He loves them, and most fruit. He is also really into apples, carrots and cucumbers lately. He likes chicken and cheese sandwiches for lunch and is a super eater of healthy foods. He likes bagels with cream cheese and oatmeal. Of course he loves fruit snacks, chips, and hot cocoa. He even likes to take a tiny drink of my coffee when I let him. =) He also loves grocery shopping with me and we have to take turns writing izzy and his name on the calendar to determine whose turn it will be to go each week.

Bath time isn't a favorite, but fun toys like sponges or squirters help alot. If Izzy is okay with a joint bath, he loves that.

izzy's cards for bodie

checking out the new toy

excited for presents

trying out the new car

magna tiles from gmaz and gpaz- thank you!

Bodie, at age 4 you are such a sweet and silly boy. You make us smile. You have the best personality and you are so friendly. You wave to our neighbors and run up to your friends when you see them to smile and laugh together. You love to play at the park! You love to be adventurous and explore, especially outside. You love your bike and scooter. You have friends in the neighborhood and at school. You know all your letter and sounds and are so smart. You are starting to do math, and your teacher Ms. Andrea calls you a math wiz. She thinks you will be an engineer. You love building towers, and often are possessive over other people adding to your towers and buildings. You are passionate and intense at times. You can be aggressive, but have learned to use your words and take deep breaths, and do it well most of the time. You are a good listener. I'm proud of you.

You love the library and like books. You recently are into board books and books with flaps again. You love to snuggle and you still love to touch my hair when falling asleep. You like to come into bed with dad and me most nights. You are a cuddle bug. You get dressed by yourself and prefer comfy clothes with no unders. lol. You are opinionated and determined. You love activity books, especially mazes and hidden pictures. You can write your name and are a great artist. I love seeing the pictures you make, and the art you bring home from school always makes me smile. You love play doh and picked out a play doh machine with some of your birthday money.

being silly

Robot cake.

make a wish!

we love you bobo!!

mom's forced birthday family photo =)

You get so excited when you see your friends from school, and you like to be a leader when you play. You have ideas of games to play and you like to make the rules. You liked soccer and just started swimming again and are excited for that too. You are brave and try new things, even if they scare you.
You really like to play with other people, rather than by yourself. You like board games and building towers. You love using the ipad. Your favorite show is Mighty Machines. You love spending time with your daddy too. You love tools and bikes and are thrilled when you get to help out in the basement or with a project. You love the park and swinging, running in the field, and playing basketball are favorites.

We have our lazy mornings together, which I cherish so much. We usually eat breakfast together while you tell me to hurry so we can start playing together. We play games and listen to music and then get ready together for our day. If I need some time for a work call you are thrilled to use the ipad. I love riding to school together and dropping you off at class. Your hugs and kisses are the best.

token picture from his bday party. opening presents with Bryn and Ida Red

the robot cake re-used for the party =), with cupcakes

Happy Happy Birthday to our sweet boy Bodie. You make our family complete and make me so very happy. I love watching you grow up and learn new things. You are adventurous and have an explorers spirit. You remind me to enjoy the little things and appreciate the beauty in slowness and just being together. You have a friendliness that is contagious. And the best smile. I love you so very much.

the kiddos survive winter

Just a few pictures of the kids from a few different days over the winter. They are getting along well these days! As is true for all siblings there are times of conflict, anger, and irritability, but I'd say right now the good times far out way the bad times. I'd like to pause for a few moments to celebrate that! =)

Can I get some smiles all around?

We spent lots of time inside together making different things in the kitchen, doing art together, and listening to music. The kids enjoyed going outside to play in the snow for short periods of time, making snow forts, snowballs, or trying to make snow people with the powdery snow- if it wasn't too terribly cold. We went ice skating once during a birthday party and they both seemed to enjoy trying to stay upright. We also walked out on the lake to see a Christmas tree that was placed there by someone, at my request. I wondered why we didn't spend more time outside on the lake, sledding, or making snow people during the beautiful winter- but to be honest this winter was just SO cold!! We got our fill of cold and windy during our bike rides/walks to school and home! Although I do feel slightly invincible having survived bike commuting during this winter, we are very ready for warmer temps!

A few random pics...

cutie

bobo and his smile.
(complete with grey tooth that he knocked partly out on his 3rd birthday =()

so angelic looking here =)

I often get asked, are they twins?

hot cocoa time

this face makes me smile

What have we been doing in these cold cold months? Well........ lots of inside play! Izzy still loves playing with her favorite lovey bunbun. My grandma ayres gave me another bunny to give her this past January so "Rosie" has been added to the group. Luckily she and bunbun wear the same size so they can share clothes =). Dressing them and playing games together is a favorite of izzy's. All day PJ wearing and passing on brushing of hair is also highly encouraged during the polar vortex days.

izzy and her bunnies. bunbun and rosie

During the winter we read lots of books and practiced reading! Trips to the library! Movies, including first time showings of Sound of Music and Marry Poppins. We may have come close to checking out our limit of 100 library items....yikes. Graham said at one point that our house could be another library branch. ha. We also went to see the movies Frozen and The Lego Movie together at the theatre. And no I didn't sneak in our own snacks from home in my giant purse....=)

Madison has a free kids program at the Overature Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday mornings and we went a few times to see a couple of the programs- including irish dancing and some instrument/singing performances. We also went to Famiy Science Night at the Children's museum together. That was a hit. They also had an indoor soccer class they both attended, and seemed to enjoy. Of course coffee house trips for hot cocoa and treats are always a crowd pleaser, and a mom pleaser.

I love to catch izzy reading these days. It's so amazing to see their brains develops. She loves reading all kinds of books including fiction and non-fiction. Bodie likes to listen too...

also love the light in our living room.

The forced inside time also led to lots of wrestling. and art. Bodie is often covered in pen markings of some sort. When they are in the mood to play together they can spend hours with their toys, stuffed animals, art projects, and just making each other laugh. Love these silly pictures of them together. I'd say they really captures them in one of these fun moods.

Trying to burn in my memory these fun and meaningful times together. Some of my all time favorites are us just being together at our house, playing with no agenda and no where to go which happened many times over the polar vortex winter. We even had a few days of no work and no school due to wind chills close to negative 50! The downtime was needed and enjoyed. Watching their creativity and imagination is a blast. Who knew a pack of 3 sponges and a plastic bag would lead to dozens of fun and exciting bath times? love it. Feeling very blessed for these two being mine.

my sweet boy

my little fashonista

Celebrating 34

2014 started out as a great year. I had my 34th birthday, which was a wonderful day filled with things that make me happy. It started with a sunrise run with my running buddy and friend Kathy, a cupcake stuffed animal party with iz and bodes (thanks for the cupcakes mel!). presents from my family, and a date night with graham. My close friends sent loving messages and gifts as well. Thank you all.

A few pictures from my day...