I've been dying to do a post about the kids the past month or more. There is so much fun stuff going on in their lives and every day that passes, I'm afraid I will miss something, forget to mention it, and it will be forgotten forever. Time has been my enemy, however...along with all the other things I need to get done on a daily basis. Today I decided that I don't care what falls through the cracks, I'm getting this post done.
First, about the kids together...I just love the stage they're at. They really, really love each other and they show it all the time with spontaneous hugs and lots of kisses. Is there anything better for a mother to witness? I'm not sure! The kids enjoy spending time together, playing, taking baths, or just cuddling up for a picture. I love it!
Okay, now I'll do Evan. He has been growing up so much the last few months. He has quite the imagination. He loves to play pretend about monsters, aliens and superheros the most. He is newly intrigued by Star Wars because Michael showed him all of about 5 minutes of Yoda on YouTube. Now he can pretty much tell you the whole Star Wars story and people assume he's seen the actual movies. Silly guy. Here are Michael and Evan playing "Inspector Clueso (sp?)". I don't know how this got started, but one day they were on the hunt for the stolen gem. Michael had put on this marker mustache. Well, in the middle of the hunt, Evan disappeared for a few minutes. I heard something going on in the bathroom and just as I was about to get up and check on him, he came out of the bathroom...with his own mustache. I just loved it! What a cutie.
I also love how he is getting to have new experiences lately. Last term I signed him up for a tumbling class and a swimming class. He was pretty much terrified of both but he came such a long way. His teachers for both classes were wonderful and helped him along. By the end of his tumbling class, he was doing headstands all over the house, working on his backwards rolls and he wasn't throwing near the fit that he had at the beginning (he's still in swimming and still says he doesn't want to go each time. But once his feet touch the water, he's got a big smile on his face and has a great time.) Tumbling was a lot more terrifying for him than swimming and I would have to talk him through his anxieties all the way there.
One day I thought we just weren't going to be able to go. In fact, I was telling him that if he absolutely hated it this time, I wouldn't make him go anymore. He was just beside himself with fear. I finally wizened up and suggested that we say a prayer to ask Heavenly Father to help him have fun. I went ahead and said it at a stop light. A few seconds after I was done, he said, "I'm still scared, Mom." I assured him that it would go away and he would have fun because we asked for Heavenly Father's help. In a matter of about two minutes, he was telling me, excitedly, about what he was going to work on in class that day. And he ended up having the best time ever in class. What a great lesson that was for him...that Heavenly Father does hear and answer our prayers. A week later, on a swimming day, we were just about to eat lunch and I was telling him that swimming was that evening. He asked if he could say the prayer for lunch and he proceeded to ask Heavenly Father to help him not be afraid of his swimming class that day. I was so proud of him to be able to apply what he learned earlier to a current situation. So, lots of character building activities lately.
The last thing I want to say about Evan is that he's just plain sweetness. He says the most wonderfully loving things I've ever heard. His prayers are incredible and are so humbling to listen to. Sometimes he's asking that the Holy Ghost can "be around us". Or thanking Heaven for Jesus. All your normal things, just worded so eloquently and sweetly. They are heartfelt and sincere. We love you, Evan!
(with his cousin, Jaren, hugging "Grammy")
(really getting into his guitar jam session with Uncle Matt)
Now for the Maren girl. So much changes when you're only a year and a half old (officially, a week from today!). The biggest, coolest thing about Maren is her talking. I was counting all the words she says the other day and I stopped at 50 because I didn't want to count anymore. All kids have their strengths, and talking is definitely hers. Which makes it so fun around here. My current favorites (subject to change at any time, of course!), are "all wiiii" (all right). What's funny about her saying this is when she says it. She'll climb up on the table and I want her to get down so she says "all wiiii". Or she'll be yelling or screaming about something, usually happily, but she's being too loud so I'll tell her she doesn't have to scream. So she says "all wiiii". Ha! The second one is "all wet". I didn't even know she could say the word wet and we were at my mom's house about 2 weeks ago. She and Evan were running through the sprinklers and, after a few times through, she came up to me and said, "all wet" just clear as can be. Yep! And she's been "all wet" quite a few times since then and just loves it. My third favorite is "look, Mom!" She uses "look, Mom!" to let me know she put her shoes on funny or to point out the dog in the park or so I watch her make a mess of her milk on the table. So much to look at around here. So, to say that the rest of us are in love with her talking would be an understatement. She's just so cute!
Maren's current loves are: me, Michael, Evan, Anton, babies, hats, swings, food, dogs, cats, baths, and copying anything that Evan does. She has spent the last two Sundays in Nursery since both Michael and I have to teach and it's impossible with her. She seems to really like it and is doing well. Maren is really funny and is chalk full of personality. She gives the most wonderful kisses (still...I think I've mentioned this in previous posts) and loves to sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, The Wheels on the Bus, and I Love You, You Love Me. We love her big blue eyes and the love she brings into our family.
(We were all outside one day after church and she just hopped on Evan's scooter and was trying to get the helmet ("hat") on. That's one happy girl!)
1 comment:
what adorable kids!!!
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