August

Most of our August was spent looking for a new place to live or packing and cleaning. We are now in a much bigger place, we have that now-necessary third bedroom, and Roy's commute is 10 minutes shorter each way. All in all, besides the actual hassle of moving, we have come out way ahead. We're really happy with our new place, especially since we're feeling more settled and unpacked (unless you look in our basement or the third bedroom). This made 4 moves in 2 years and we are hoping to stop the tradition of moving over Labor Day weekend. It gets a little old doing it the Labor Days of 2009, 2010, and 2011, especially when you throw in the October 2010 move.

But we did have some fun this August! We found out that #3 is coming in March and dealt with all that first trimester fun, we went to lots of parks and a fun garden with friends, gave Sam his first ice cream cone, and got Sam a Cars blanket. When Abby was about 18 months we got her a Tinker Bell blanket (Abby's first favorite character) so we wanted to continue the tradition with Sam and his obsession with Cars. Sam seeing the blanket was definitely love at first sight. :) And

then we had a blanket party.

Listen Carefully!

Coming to you March 26, 2012.

The Running Game

This game occurs at our house at least once a day. This was the first day we played it so it's gotten faster, rougher, and funnier as time has passed. These kids are so funny together!

Lately

Last weekend we realized that Gatorade powder is extremely hard to find at our Walmarts. They carry them, but are usually out. And since I like to avoid going to Walmart, I put Roy on the mission to find his own. And the resourceful Roy did just that--he found it online at Walmart with free shipping. So our box came this week and included in the box of 4 big cans of Gatorade powder was a free 12-pack of toilet paper. The irony was not lost on us.

We found out this week that our landlord wants to move in. So we're moving. Again. That makes 4 moves in 2 years. We're excited to get into a different place because we're aiming for a little more space. Now if only our things would pack themselves...

Sam had his first official stay-alone in Nursery today. He apparently did well, but would get sad every once in a while and need some extra loving from the nursery leaders. When I went in to pick him up, he was still recovering from one cry and wouldn't come to me. When he did come to me, he leaned toward the door, lunging as best he could from my arms, saying "Dada, dada!" During the bath last night, I saw there was a need for Sam to sit on the toilet so, for the first time, he actually sat still on the toilet seat and he successfully pooped.

Abby has convinced us that she is big enough for a twin bed. She is growing so quickly! There are times I feel like she talks and acts like someone much older than 3. It's always a surprise when she acts 3 (or 2). She calls friends on her pretend phone and has long conversations, runs around at the park playing imagination games, and remembers everything ("you already told me that" is a frequent phrase and sometimes it was something I told her weeks before).

Below is what Roy wrote for the blog last week:

The highlight of my week was finally getting help with washing the car. Here is Abby who even managed to convince me that she could handle the hose all by herself. I managed to not get sprayed but that is only because her mother has not planted the idea in her subconscious yet.

On the way to church this morning Abby said, while pulling out a wedgie, "My underwear is crazy!" We laughed all the way to church. Abby has also decided that everything that is far away, like her imaginary friend Pepperoni Pizza, is in South America.

Sam now tells us he is poopy by walking up to us, grabbing his crouch, wrinkling his nose and saying "stinky." He still has biting issues although they are not as common. Sam also spent a good 15 minutes one evening chasing Abby in circles around the coffee table trying to tickle her. Abby would let him catch up and then he would tickle her and they would both laugh and she would take off again. The video for that is coming soon.

Dog Days of Summer

In case you don't live here and don't watch the Weather Channel, it has been blazing hot here. When you throw humidity on top of the 100+ degrees, feel free to add 10-15 degrees to the original temperature. We have sequestered ourselves at home in the afternoons and evenings and have only ventured out for small adventures in the mornings. We watched plenty of movies the past week. But that's what summer is about, right?!?

We have had fun at splash pads, pools, and playing water games with friends and cousins, though. Sam is completely confident in the toddler pool. He would actually prefer for me to just let him go when we go in the regular pool too. We had a fight about that yesterday. Abby, on the other hand, has a healthy respect for the water and wants to try new things, but only while holding on to the edge or a parent. With both hands.

For several months, Abby has been making up names for people and objects. It isn't unusual to hear, "Mom, have you seen my hubojah?" Substitute hubojah for any syllables that might be ever thrown together and you've got Abby's favorite words. She hasn't had a true imaginary friend yet, but I think that Pepperoni Pizza is developing into that friend for her. Pepperoni Pizza is one of the friends that should be friends with Strawberry Shortcake, you see, but was just forgotten except by my child. In fact, Pepperoni Pizza is so grateful to have been remembered that she has decided she can also go by Abby. It's very convenient when I forget which friend Abby is talking because once I say Abby I'm covered.

Abby has delved into the world of joke-telling. They aren't very good, but we laugh at the creativity and the made-up words. She also teases us all the time. The other day I was entertaining the kids with a rendition of "There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly" when Abby started in on a verse: "There was an old lady who swallowed a (dramatic pause) SHIRT!"

Sam is growing up so much. I trimmed his hair the other day because we were a little tired of the crazy professor look he was sporting. But since I just couldn't say goodbye to the curls, I trimmed about a half-inch off all the way around and a little extra off the side. Now he looks more grown up and doesn't have wings.

Sam's favorite word is still "MINE!" Today at church we heard a little girl say "mine" a few rows away from us and Sam had to join in shouting "MINE!" even though he had no idea who had started it. He's a little bit of a biter these days, but it's something we're working on. We've got to train him not to bite so he can actually stay in nursery at church in 2 weeks (hurray!).

Sam has a smile that could melt any heart. He has also learned the power of the kiss. When we say goodbye to friends he usually tries to plant one on them. The moms all ohh and ahh, the kids aren't as thrilled, but who can say no to this face?

And just in case you didn't think anything else was funny, check out this face:

Accomplishment of the Morning

My kids appreciate the humor of a whoopie cushion. The rocking-back-and-forth belly laugh of Sam and the shriek of laughter from Abby that happens every time we hear it was totally worth the dollar I spent. It'll only get funnier when Dad gets home and it is planted on his chair for dinner. :)

The Week of the Fourth

There's not a story behind the first two pictures, but I love what they say about how Abby and Sam get along. They are frequently on the couch together and usually touching. It's adorable. They just have the best friendship and we are so grateful for that.

Enjoying the fireworks!

Oh, Cami, you're so kind and . . . (sorry, unless you're a Freebairn you won't get it). My parents and sister came to visit. I'm lame and got no pictures of the grandparents. I hang my head in shame. The kids had the best time with them, though! And both kids were totally comfortable around Cami. I don't think I want to hear the word Virginia ever again, though. We must have heard it a thousand times. Sorry again, but unless you know Cami you will never know the utter truth of how she latches onto a word and endlessly repeats it. And we love her for it. Especially when the word gets shouted out during prayer, as answers to questions that others are being asked, and at pretty much any possible opportunity. It's honestly hilarious! This is about as relaxed as Cami got during the trip, though she did do great. She even let Sam drive his cars up and down her legs.

At church we had a Freedom Breakfast this past weekend. We had pancakes, eggs, and fruit and then all the kids brought their decorated bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc for a parade. It was a lot of fun! The kids and I had a great time decorating bikes with red, white, and blue and Woody from Toy Story and Tinkerbell and Fawn. Here's Abby waving hi to the camera and Sam squinting into the sun!