We're Still Here...

So I think I officially failed on my New Year's resolution to blog more.  But I am a work in progress, and I will just keep trying to do better.
Life is good around here.  I can't believe it's Spring Break already.  Before we know it, it will be summer.
Here are a few pictures of my 3 favorite photo subjects:

Ally's school project...playing with shaving cream

We had a couple of beautiful days in February...Here was a day we made it to the park!

Finally...Can you imagine falling asleep like this?

Went For a Haircut...

And it looks like he got into fight.  While waiting for his haircut, Logan managed to bang his head on a hand rail, bounce off of there, and cut his eye on a shelf of shampoo.  Who knew Supercuts could be so dangerous?

20 Simple Things That Make Me Smile...

1. My kids playing school and teaching each other all they know

2.  A brand new haircut

3. Starbucks

4. Ally's excitement over putting together her outfit for the day

5.  The smell of liquid fabric softener

6. Cuddling up under a blanket to read a good book

7.  The way my kids say "Mommy," when I pick them up from the babysitter

8.  Logan taking toy trains to bed because he loves them

9.  Eskimo kisses

10.  Listening to my kids singing along with the radio

11.  When Jacob shows me what new things he has learned

12.  Kittens

13. Cold Diet Pepsi

14. A beautifully decorated cake

15.  Watching my kids do a puzzle (especially Logan)

16.  My warm slippers

17.  The park on a sunny day

18.  When someone tells me my kids are well behaved

19.  Freshly vacuumed carpets

20.  Movie "camp out" nights with my kids

OMSI Trip

Last weekend we got to go spend a fun day with Aunt Dana, Gadi and Gadi's family.  We went to OMSI, then out to dinner at the Spaghetti Factory, and finally back to Dana and Gadi's house to play video games.  Here's some pictures from OMSI.

Waiting to go in...

A cute picture that Jacob took...

Launching bottle rockets and Logan watching...

Logan in the Ball Room (His Favorite Place)

Gadi's Hair + Static Electricity = FUN

What's Going On? (List Form)

*I have neglected the blog this week.  I'm sorry.
*My mom and grandmother travelled down to California this week.  They thought they were going to get warm.  And they ended up in Oregon like rain.
*Logan continues to not answer when you ask how old he is.  He is weirdly stubborn about stuff like that.  Sometimes he says that he doesn't know...but I think it really means he doesn't care.
*Jacob and I now have to be very strict about reading at a specific time every night.  We are going to get him reading.  Some nights it is like I'm torturing him but I just have to remember it is good for him.  Watching him have a hard time is one of the hardest things I do.
*My kids love to tell jokes but they don't really know many jokes.  So they usually just make them up...so the jokes aren't always the best.  Logan always tells the some one...Knock, knock...Who's there?...Orange...Orange who...Orange Pineapple.
*Tomorrow we are going to OMSI.  I'm super excited...we are going to have so much fun.
*Next week I'm taking Ally to watch an OSU gymnastics meet.  I think we will have a fun girls night, and I even think Grandma and GG might come along.
*This is boring.  I promise I am going to work on writing something interesting this week.

Dear Logan...

It is unbelievable that you are turning 3 years old.  You are my baby...though you do not enjoy it when I call you such.
Since the day you were born you have been such a light in my life.  You love to see people smile. I think you know what you are doing when you are silly; you want people to laugh.  I love your smile.  I treasure your smile.  I have a habit of taking life too seriously and you are always showing me that there is fun in everything.
You have also shown me that even though I have 2 children that have survived their toddler years, I am not an expert.  You are your own person and I am not easily able to convince you to do anything.  If you do something its usually because you have decided that it is time.  I would just appreciate a clue as to when you will think it is time to be done with diapers.  Just give me a date and I would be happy to know that an end is in sight.
You may have been born a "preemie," but now at 3 years old, you are a big boy.  You are so tall.  You are atleast half a head above other 3 year olds.  And you are about to outgrow your 5 year old sister.  I think you might be bigger than her by next year at this time.
I love you Logan and I love seeing you grow!  Thank you for so much happiness!
Love, Mom

1st Birthday

2nd Birthday

3rd Birthday

Party!

Logan's birthday follows my mom's birthday by 4 days, so yesterday we had a bowling celebration for the two of them!

The Almost 3 Year Old!  (He was very confused he kept telling people he is 2 and a half.)

Grandma and Ally celebrating.

Back at GG's house for cake and presents...sitting at Logan's new table.

Grandma's Chocolate Cake

Make a Wish!

Present Time!

All Partied Out!

Logan kept his hat on until we were home and changing into pajamas.  As I took it off of him, he said, my birthday is over.

What's Going On? (List Form)

*We are already halfway through the week.  Wednesday is over...it's all downhill from here.  And I'm even taking an extra day off next Monday for Logan's birthday; so I am even looking forward to a 3 day weekend.
*Tonight Ally cried a lot!  That's what I get for letting her stay up to watch American Idol.  She cried when she bumped her cup on her tooth.  And she cried when she spilled juice.  I wonder if I cried that much when I was 5.
*American Idol has not been that interesting this week.  I remember in the early days of Idol when watching the audition shows was really fun.  Now I just want them to get to Hollywood.
*Jacob's spelling list has the word anemometer in the challenge section.  I had to google it; I should have just asked Jacob.  He knew...it measures wind speed.
*I went to my first Weight Watchers meeting last night.  I'm excited and motivated right now.  I cannot guarantee that my happiness about this will last.
*Tonight I put some old Pull Ups on Logan, from when Ally wore Pull Ups.  These Pull Ups have princesses on them.  So I told him since he isn't using the big boy potty, he is now a baby girl, wearing a baby girl diaper.  He thought that was funny.  I told him he would have a princess birthday and I would buy him make up.  He did not think that was funny.  He wants a boy birthday with choo choos.  Is it sad that I am calling my son a girl to try to motivate him to potty train?? 
*Happy Birthday to my Mom tomorrow!!!

Lazy Sunday

It isn't too often that my kids and I decide to just stay home. But after church today we decided to just go home and hang out.

We did do some cleaning and picking up. I, unfortunately, must admit that I still hadn't found places for all our new Christmas presents. So now I think everything is pretty much put away. I wish I could say that now my house is clean, but I definitely don't have the right to say that. But we are more organized now.

Jacob and I played some Super Mario Brothers. It is so hard to stop playing. I always think that if I try just 1 more time, I will make it through the level. We also watched a movie and the kids did some puzzles. We moved Ally's new easel into the living room. So Ally and Jacob are now able to be teachers for each other and Logan.

Then GG came over with her new movie, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. The movie promptly put Logan to sleep, but the rest of us really liked it. I love watching a movie and hearing my kids giggling. I love my kids' giggles.

Passing Down the Love

Today I made a trip to Costco (always fun). I was looking at their books and I just wished for more reading time. I love books! All those words, all those stories. I always have atleast a stack of books waiting for me. But I know someday my children won't be so small and those books will still be there waiting. Currently I am enjoying an Anita Shreve book.

I wish that there was some magic I could use to pass this love on to Jacob. Struggling through learning to read with Jacob has been one of the most challenging things I have tackled. He tries so hard and it frustrates him when he isn't able to read perfectly.

One of the most important resolutions that I made this year was to work really hard with Jacob on his reading. This past week I can see how my effort really makes a difference in Jacob's success. I have found a small chapter book that him and I take turns reading out of every night. It isn't always easy to find this time but it is so important. We are really enjoying this and I hope this is the magic that I need to pass on my love of books.

In Mourning...

Santa brought Logan a small fish tank for Christmas. After which we promptly purchased 2 fish and 2 snails. The fish were named Nemo and Dorothy. (I know Doree was in Finding Nemo, but Logan insisted it was Dorothy.) The snails are Garey and Goldey.

Maybe it was my pessimistic nature, but I have been waiting for a fish to die. I am not lucky with fish and I just knew it would happen.

Today was the day. Nemo is no longer with us. After Nemo was out of the tank and gone, it was time to tell the kids. Logan asked to see Nemo. I had to explain tht he was already gone. But he was pretty accepting. He would say Nemo died and is gone.

However Ally was heartbroken! Tears, tears and more tears came from Ally. She told me that we hadn't had Nemo very long. She cried that she missed Nemo so much!

Ally has finally calmed down. Time for bed. We loved you Nemo!

What Happens After Bedtime...

Ally and Logan were supposed to be going to sleep. But somehow Ally got a toy screwdriver stuck in her hair. What more can I say?

Spelling, Reading and a Puzzle

How can we make spelling practice less miserable?? I hate that there are tears when a word is spelled wrong. Jacob and I still have work to do to make spelling time better.


It doesn't help that his little sister thinks its fun to try to spell with her brother. She sits and writes random letters while Jacob is spelling. She smiles and laughs and asks what we are going to spell next.



Tonight spelling time was hard. But we recovered, after some tears, and we read together. Reading was fun tonight. I am so thankful for fun books.
And while we were going through our spelling and reading time, Logan started a puzzle. We all helped him finish...but he really did most of it. He didn't need us. I was just trying to speed it up; it was bedtime. However once the puzzle was complete, we had to shut off all the lights...becuase this puzzle glows in the dark.

We enjoyed looking at the fireworks and lights glowing. But seriously, a glow in the dark puzzle? Why? How often are you in the dark with your puzzle?