Sunday Nights

Usually around an Idiart family member's birthday we get together for a dinner to celebrate. We made this cake for Ashton today (per his request). Our menu was full of his favorites...bbq, meatballs, puffy cheetos, salad (adult's favorite), and some delicious fresh fruit. It made me ache for summer.

Since there is no school tomorrow we got to stay late. The kids played, the adults chatted, we watched some old home videos, and split the kids up afterwards for sleep overs. Noah stayed at Tiff's. We got to have Rachel, Nina, and Eliza. They brought Mary's bed into the play room and watched a movie. We'll see if Nikki will be able to stay the whole night up there before making her way downstairs and squeezing herself in between Aaron and I. These older girls are so nice to have over; they are helpful and creative. We are blessed.

Skater Dude

Today Noah was invited to his cousin Ashton's 10th birthday party at the roller skating rink. It was his first time skating. Aaron took him since it was a boy only party. All morning he asked how much time until the party. I have learned that you cannot tell a child that something will take place just after lunch because then they want to eat lunch at 8am. So now, I just give him the countdown...blank more hours. And since he has no concept of time it is followed by the question, "Is that long?", to which my usual reply is, "That's about blank Phineas and Ferbs....so hang in there." It looks like it was worth the wait.

Kindness Matters

Mary told me yesterday after school that her darling friend was sad at recess because no one wanted to play with her. So, I asked Mary what she did and she told her friend that she would love to play with her. It was a sweet moment...where all you try to teach your children about being kind and loving to others really shined through. Mary has a good heart and she did the right thing.

Today she got this little thank you note from her friend written on a napkin and taped to a bag full of goodies. I think it meant a lot to her and it also means a lot to me.

Mr. Independent

Cameron is talking so much. I love it. I can understand pretty much all his darling jabber and one of my favorite things he does is repeat what you say. He repeats prayers, he repeats questions, he repeats instructions, he repeats words from books, and he repeats phrases on his favorite television shows (thank you interactive Dora for teaching him a little Spanish and Team Umizoomi for teaching him some math vocabulary). You just have to be careful when he says Swiper the Fock (Fox) or the word "fork" and realize...nope, he's not swearing.

He also tells me that he wants to do everything by himself, "I do it"... like climb into the car, get out of the car, open his own Starburst, walk through the store instead of sit in the cart (not my favorite), flop into his crib, have ONLY Grandma get him something, and climb onto the trampoline..."I do it..jump, JUMP!" 

I love seeing him find happiness in making his own choices, well, most of the time. 

You've gotta love those TERRIFIC TWO-s!

A Dinner Tradition

Aaron and I feel it's very important to sit around the table and eat family dinner together, even if it's brief and even if the meal is, well, mediocre. We started a new tradition a couple months ago of going around the table while we are eating to talk about our favorite part of the day. It's always so nice to hear what the kids and we, as  parents, enjoyed most. Sometimes I answer that eating dinner is my favorite part of the day because really it is and I love feeling close and connected together.

Here was the family responses today:
Aaron-The kids coming to visit at the office
Allison-Picking up Mary from her class
Mary-Playing Polly Wolly Doodle with her piano teacher
Noah-Playing with Luci afterschool
Nicole-Going to Target with Mom
Cameron-Having his friend James come play trucks

Bath Buddies

The children are all little bath buddies. They can play together in the bath for hours. It can be two or three or all of them at one time and it is pretty entertaining, even for me as I watch them (listen for crying/drowning sounds while in the other room). I know this won't last too much longer, so I'll be sure to savor it and take some extra sniffs of that clean Johnson and Johnson scented skin for as long as I can.

These Boys ROCK!

Noah is always so happy to play with his Idiart boy cousins (and Nadauld ones, when we visit them). Unfortunately Marcus couldn't be here to complete the pack. Today they wrestled, played ball, used ipods for gaming, and watched Hermie crawl around.

Yesterday during church Noah passed a note to Ashton that said, "You are the best cousin ever!" and a picture of him on his rip stick. Ashton then drew this picture, which Noah partially colored. It said, "You Rock!". He thought it was the coolest thing in the world. I love these boys!