Artwork

I mentioned in a previous post that the kids and I had been painting a week or so ago.  We were working on a project.  I wanted to make some artwork for their rooms, but always artwork for me to keep when they grow up.  I really liked the way it turned out- even though I am not artistic.  As they get older, we'll keep doing things like this and then when they leave one day I will have all these great pieces! (I am not one to hold onto every piece of paper and every drawing they ever do, I think that's a waste of space and silly.  However, having actual pieces to display will be fun- I think, anyways!)

This time around we did hand prints.  Caylee's turned out a mess, but I love it! She didn't want to just do a hand print, so she smeared the paint everywhere.  She had fun doing it (which adds to the good memories) and then I was able to take a white paint and get a few hand prints out of her.  They are a little difficult to see, but I can tell.  Her verse was the verse I read the day I found out I was pregnant.  However, I went to the doctor and they did a urine test and said I wasn't pregnant.  A few hours later they called and said the blood work showed that I was pregnant!  So you see... God had just been preparing me to "rejoice again!". 

Micah is too little for me to let him have complete control :)  So his ended up pretty neat.  I have to say, the idea came from Pinterest, but the verse I used is the verse I gave him when he was born.  It's all I hope for him to be as he grows and becomes a man of God and of course, with his name, the verse is perfect because it comes from Micah!

Again, these aren't perfect pieces- but I like them and I will have their fun, small hand prints forever.  I'm excited to do more as they grow!!

At time of painting: (Caylee 21 1/2 months  Micah 6 1/2 months)

22 Months!

I haven't been doing monthly blogs on Caylee, but I haven't done one on just her in a while.  So today I'm doing a 22 month post. (Officially, she was 22 months this past Sunday). 

I can't even believe she's almost 2! It's amazing how much she is growing.  Her language has picked up a lot, however, still not where I had hoped it would be.  I just am excited for the day that I will know what my kids want- instead of the whining.  Although, I'm sure whining will accompany them telling me what they want anyways!  She is great at repeating anything I tell her.  We work on new bible verses each week- (helps with the alphabet too)-- and she is so good at repeating after me.  Her new favorite phrase (and first ever string of words) is "Where is?".  The problem is figuring out the "what"... she says "where is?" and I say "what?".  We go back and forth and never resolve what she is looking for.  :) 

She still loves her brother dearly- sometimes too much.  However, she also wants to control him- especially with him crawling.  She tries to move him, tells him "no", and gives him toys that she approves of-- heaven forbid he want something of "hers".  We're still working on sharing.  It's hard though when the toys have always been around for her, so they really do feel like they belong to her. 

She LOVES to dance.  This is NOT an understatement either.  She dances in the store, at home, in the car, in the bath... everywhere.  Anytime she hears music she starts dancing.  Every time Micah stands up, she thinks he wants to dance and goes to take his hands and says "dance, dance".  He doesn't really like this because he can't stand without support and she doesn't give much support.  He falls, she keeps dancing :) I love that she loves music so much- I always have music on and it's nice that she enjoys it as well. 

Caylee still loves her babies.  She takes care of them, pats them, shushes them, gives them bottles, changes their diapers etc.  She is very nurturing. 

She loves being outside.  We go out a lot- I try to go to the park to change up the scenery, but she really doesn't care where we are as long as we are "ow-side".  She has a great ear too and can tell if a "moto" (motorcycle), "tra" (tractor) or "ca" (regular car) is coming.  Since we don't get much traffic she is quick to stop what she's doing to tell me what is coming.  She's always right too. 

She did great in her last round of swim lessons.  She's back in kindermusik for the fall and we're back into our mom's group.  We're getting busy and loving it.  She is easy to take places, almost always behaves fantastically, is super helpful and just fun to be around.  Don't get me wrong... we have super whiny days and with Micah on the move she seems to be MUCH clingier to me than normal (I think a little jealous).  She can definitely test me and throw some fits.  However, for the most part she's pretty good and I definitely wouldn't change her independent, fun-loving, spirit.  She's so pretty too-- I know, that's biased, but she really is pretty.  She has gorgeous hair that falls into natural loose curls- it's SO cute. 

That's Caylee in a nutshell... here are some pics I took :) She hasn't been a huge fan of having a camera in her face lately, but she was playing with bubbles so I was able to get some good ones. 

 

 

Amazing hair!! 

 

 

 She has so many funny, serious, mischievous, sweet etc faces.  Here are a few...

 

 She could run in circles all day... and I'm not even joking.  Spinning is her favorite dance move too.  We have to tell her to fall down or she will get to dizzy- so she falls, but of her own doing so it doesn't hurt :)

  

Trouble

Friday, the kids and I were outside playing when our neighbor came by.  Of course, the dogs were going crazy and barking a ton, but Sammy was also nipping at the guy's foot.  He mentioned that he was concerned about Sammy because he did this on a regular basis.  We knew the dogs went over to their barn when they were around, but we just thought they were making a lot of noise and then coming home.  Apparently, Sammy has been nipping at their feet too--- weird, because he doesn't normally do that.  Anyways, we can't have that happening.  The guy was nice and offered to buy Sammy treats to see if he would warm up to them (but honestly, it's been a year and Sammy still doesn't like them).  He was concerned about his father (80+ yrs) being at the barn by himself and not being able to get Sammy off.  I really didn't know Sammy was such a problem for them!!! We felt really bad.... SOOOOO.... we built a fence this weekend!

Whew... it was a lot of work.  Matt, of course, did most of it. However, I did my fair share of sawing things, putting in t-posts, straightening out the fence and of course... helping to keep the kids away and entertained.  We were outside most of the day today (Sunday) finishing it up.  It's a REALLY big space for the dogs.  It will be SO nice that they can't eat anymore of the turkey poop... yuck!  Also, most importantly, it will keep Sammy from the neighbor's barn.  It's an easy fence since we are renters- it won't tear up the yard and we can pull it up and take it with us when we leave.  All-in-all it turned out nice... a big, safe space for them!


See? I really did help! And, no Dad, this is not fake- I REALLY was helping with this fence building project!  (not like the nail picture and the deck I "helped" build in Ohio when we were younger)

 They played nicely... Micah decided standing was much better!! Only 6 1/2 months and he pulled up all by himself!

 Caylee even helped.  She used the level, wore gloves and brought us stuff. 

 Showing Micah how the tape measure works... after she snapped her finger on it- we warned her, showed her... still, it didn't matter- she learned. 

 Beginning of the t-posts!

 HE is the reason we took on tis project.  How can it be?  Look at that sweet, innocent face. 

 We pulled out the pool.. and popsicles (frozen juice- to keep Caylee hydrated, she never drinks- like me, I guess).

 Watching us work with another popsicle (juice) and milk for Micah. 

 Love this! Caylee climbed into Micah's walker... he doesn't look super happy does he? She was pretty proud of herself though!

 Finished!

 It's big!

Past Week

This past week was warm! Yea! We played in the water outside a lot, went to parks and really just spent lots of time outdoors..... Caylee is ALWAYS saying "ou-side", she loves it! 

 Going head first was her idea.... she loved it until her whole head went under once.  Then she decided feet first was better. 

 He loved the water!! 

 They were playing one day and I found them like this.... it reminded me of an early pic of them.... wow- so much has changed in 6 short months!

Thursday, we went to the library, checked out some books, headed to the donut shop (because it had been that kind of night and morning- I needed a donut!) and then headed to the park.  It POURED rain on us.  Another family was there, they packd up and left quickly... me?  Nope.  I let Caylee play in the rain and go "so fast!" down the slide.  It wasn't thundering or lightning and I did not want to go home to be stuck indoors yet.  We were already soaking, so we stayed :)  It was kinda fun :)

 Friday, I decided I needed a craft project.  I have 2 canvases, one for each kid, and I put their hand prints (and Micah's feet) on the canvases.  I'll add their bible verses to it later.  Caylee had fun smearing her hand all over, so her "handprint" didn't come out great, but the art itself is kinda fun. Then I let her have fun with more paint and we made musical shakers with the plates by adding beans to them once they had dried.  She liked it, but didn't quite get it at first.  Although, she was SO excited to show Matt when he got home! Micah really wanted to participate.... however, he is still quick to put things in his mouth, so I just gave him a clean paintbrush to chew on.  It worked for him :)

Landscape

The summer brings a different scenery around here (versus the snow in winter). 

 

 

We had tall wheat fields at the beginning of the summer. 

 

 

We have even taller corn fields.  SO. MUCH. CORN.  This will basically dry up before they do anything.  Did you know that each corn stalk only has 1 ear of corn on it?  Yep.  Just one.  So.. everytime you eat one corn on the cob, it came from just a single plant.  Matt said, "Wow, if they could figure out how to have 2 ears per stalk we could solve the world's hunger." 

The wheat was harvested.... then they spread turkey poop.  Yep... that's the smell we've had around here lately.... SO. DISGUSTING.  That is our house, behind all the dust of turkey poop.  Yep.  GROSS.  NOT. FUN.  I need to buy more candles and wall flowers..... 

Bean fields!  They are really tall too... I'll do Micah's pics next month in front of one so you can see how tall they actually are. 

With all the clouds we do get some pretty sunsets.  Those are the windmills we see in the distance.... TONS of them. 

Weekend

We had a busy weekend!  I finished up my workout class (there is a 2 week break).  Caylee had her last swim lesson (I will put Micah in for the next session).  We headed to the Allen County Fair.... saw a bunch of tractors, animals and of course, ate a funnel cake! YUM! Sunday, after Sunday school, we headed to Matt's parents house for a farewell lunch for Mitchell.  He's leaving for a month for Haiti.  He is going to meet up and stay with a secular group- a bunch of engineers- and then hopes to get plugged into some other volunteer projects while he's down there.  He said he has a wedding in a month that he has to be back for, but then he'll decide if he wants to make this a little more permanent.  3 months is the max he could stay- due to visas and such.  We wish him well and are excited about the plans God has for him! This is a great adventure!

 

 

 First time by herself.... 21 1/2 months

 

 

 Silly boy, only looking when none of us are!