Milestone Day!

I feel like today was a big day in our house.  First, I cancelled the automatic shipment of diapers and wipes!  Evelyn is officially potty-trained and doing very, very well!  She'll still wear a diaper at night, but I have enough on hand to last for quite awhile.  Amelia (& even Jack) is still wearing Pull Ups at night.  It seems my little ones play too hard during the day to take time to go to the bathroom!  And then when they finally give up and go to sleep ... it all comes out!

The other big step was that we disassembled the toddler bed and crib in the girls room.  The bunk beds will get moved from Jack's room to their room next week.  Jack has a new bed ... and he's excited for that to be put together next week too.  This bed movement started with needing to re-stretch our carpet.  It has started to get ripples in it, and to make sure it lasts as long as the kids are home, I want to take good care of it.  So we are having it stretched and re-tacked, and then having it all cleaned.  Which means everything has to be taken out of the rooms!  It's quite an undertaking and we are doing it in steps each night.

Until next week, the kids are sleeping in empty rooms, on just a mattress.  They think it's super fun!  Sadly, it's how many kids sleep every night, or maybe without even a mattress.  We are very blessed and thankful for all the luxuries we have, and obviously we take them for granted.  We'll see how "fun" it is, if the girls actually sleep tonight!

My babies are growing up!  Only 3 years left and they'll all be in school.  And in 9 years my first one will graduate!  I'm trying to do better about enjoying each day, instead of wishing them grown up.  Each day is a special moment in itself.  I need to stand still, be quiet, and be watchful of it!

Amelia Singing

Amelia sings all the time. Songs she's heard, songs she's made up, songs she doesn't know - but pretends. She's always singing. Luckily, she has a nice voice and sings on key! Here is a little preview.

Evelyn Bernice

Oh, how I do love little Miss Evelyn Bernice. But man, is she busy! She's so much like Ellie at this age. Always into something, wanting your constant attention, finding a new way to do something. I feel more prepared this time because there are more eyes watching her and I have more experience, but I can't help but know it's never enough. She is still very leery of strangers, and doesn't give out smiles very easily. Even folks or family she knows well, she is slow to warm up.

She's talking more and more, and we are able to understand more and more these days. Some funny ones are:

boobie = movie
cock = sock
seeming soup = swimming suit

I've been singing to her for a few months now. It just calms her, so that she can settle down to go to sleep. Over the past couple of weeks, she's started singing with me. The first time she did it, I nearly cried. It's so sweet. Here is a video of us singing "Godspeed" by Dixie Chicks. It's my favorite lullaby. We also sing Over the Rainbow, but not in this video. Oh, and of course, Amelia needs to try and steal the show!



She's counting and doing ABC's too!

Sneek Peek of Amelia's 4 year Photo Shoot!

Shared photo book from Deanna

Click here to view this photo book larger

Conversation with Amelia about God

Mom, is God singing this song? (Always by Switchfoot)
Kind of. God told him to sing this song for Him. Will God tell you to sing a song someday?
Yes. I like God.
I like God too.
I want Him to hold me.
He is holding you, all the time.
(smile) I like God to hold me. And keep me safe.

Big Girl Bed

Evelyn has entered the next stage - big girl bed! Well, sort of. We've taken the side off of her crib, so that she can enter and exit like a big girl. Billy took on this task of removing the side without her approval though, and when she came into her room to see the bed partially dismantled she started crying and saying, "Daddy, no! It's broke! It's broke!" She cried and cried. Daddy consoled her and got her into it for nap time. He had to lay there by her until she nearly fell asleep, but overall we thought everything was okay.

Then last night when it was time for bed, I settled her in. Again, crying and saying "Mommy, it's broke." She did pretty well ... only getting out of bed 3 or 4 times to come and show us that she could. I'm very impressed with the smoothness of the transition ... let's hope it continues! Next will be getting rid of the pacifier!

Jack Singing

Jack singing "Hey, Soul Sister" casually on the couch. All the kids like this song.

So humble!

While driving to preschool this morning Amelia was telling me all about the letters she knows and how she can sing her ABCs, etc, etc. I said, "Yes, you are so smart!" She responded, "Yep! And I'm cute too!"

She then went on to tell me all the things she does that is good. Making her bed, sharing her Barbie with Evelyn, and singing at school. I suppose these reminders are so I can forgive when she's a little naughty.

Dance Party

The dance parties at the Faubus House are getting bigger. Evelyn has really joined in ... and the costumes are getting a bit more elaborate. Billy even broke out the strobe light (but I've refrained from sharing that video because it hurts your eyes.)

You'll maybe notice Jack's bow tie. He had me make that for him to match his vest. It's made of paper and pinned on. You'll have to decide for yourself who is the coolest.

Evelyn's New Trick

Evelyn's new thing she picked up over the holidays was scolding us. I guess she sees us do that to her too often! She puts her head down, squints her eyes, and shakes her finger at you. She doesn't ever really say anything ... just the shaking of the finger.

She also says, "'Cole Come Here!" Telling Nicole to come to her. She'll say it to everyone, but it's funniest when she says, "'Cole Come 'ear!"

Chistmas Eve Tradition

Our tradition on Christmas Eve is to attend our church in Ankeny with Tony & Jana and the kids. Our church, Lutheran Church of Hope - Northbranch, had 3 services. I sang in worship band the 3pm service, and worked the nursery in the 5pm service while the rest of my family attended worship. We had over 800 attend all 3 services.

Afterward, we went to Tony & Jana's new home for dinner. We rotate hosting dinner and this year was their turn. They served a wonderful meal of roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, carrots, rolls, etc, etc, etc! It is such a blessing to share a meal with all our kids and they too with all their parents!

Santa had arrived while we were at church, so the kids were excited to open presents and stockings! Here are a few photos from the evening.

Ellie excited about her Stand Microphone from Santa, while Jack is admiring his new Marshmallow Gun in the background.



Jack opening his Marshmallow Gun!

Amelia opening her Santa gift - A Princess Barbie.
See the Santa video for proof that she asked him!

Evelyn opening her Santa gift - a vacuum & cleaning set

Christmas Eve Sledding

Posing by the new colorful sled!

Awe -- Daddy with his girls.

Kids at home before heading to the sledding hill

It was snowing beautifully on Christmas Eve morning, and this was the first big snowfall for sledding! We went to the local hardware store, bought another sled and headed for a nice hill here in town. Luckily, friends of our were leaving and let us borrow 2 more sleds ... and all 6 of us had a blast. We are definitely a family in need of more than 2 sleds!

Evelyn road with me and Amelia stuck with Billy, while Ellie and Jack had their own. Some bigger kids were there with a snowboard, and so Ellie & Jack spent a lot of their time using their sleds as surfboards. Not very successfully though!

Amelia's Preschool Program

Amelia is attending Miss Wendy's Preschool Monday thru Thursday mornings from 8:30-11:30am. She just adores it and is a super student. She loves learning. The teachers put together an amazing program for Christmas and here are some photos and videos from that day. Amelia played Mary and her good buddy, Taylor was Joseph. They each had lines, but spoke so softly that you couldn't hear them.

Santa Elves in the Workshop (Reindeer behind them)

Miss Hollie getting "Mary" in her costume.

I love how she tries to do the actions, but doesn't want to drop baby Jesus!



Santa jokingly says, "You're a big 3 year old!" And then goes on to say, "You could dub as one of my elves." Yes, she's little, Santa!

Birthday Suit

Okay, so I'm pretty sure my 3 year old does NOT know the meaning of what a "birthday suit" is ... but last night after her bath I was a little unsure! She walked to her room with a towel wrapped around her, then stood in front of Billy and as she threw off the towel, hands raised, she exclaimed, "Happy Birthday, I'm naked!" This girl continues to just say the darnedest things.