May Pics

http://www1.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=3748894002/a=19967797_19967797/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
It's been a super busy month! We celebrated Mother's Day, ended the Awana year, experienced Hannah's first dance recital, wished Zach a Happy 5th Birthday, and so much more! If you have a little bit of time, please enjoy the pics highlighting the last few weeks!

Day Out With Thomas 2011 (31 photos), by Julie Smith

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

That busy little Tooth Fairy

The Tooth Fairy sure has been busy lately. A few weeks ago, Miss Hannah lost her first tooth. She was absolutely over the moon.



Here she is showing off her new gold coin that came in this lovely green bag (which we had to return to the Tooth Fairy).



And about a week later, as I hear is the custom, a second tooth came out. Daddy had to help a little because I was concerned she would swallow it in her sleep. Seriously, she could push it all the way forward. Ewww.



And the very nice Tooth Fairy left her another gold coin. :) And would you believe that a top tooth is loose now? Wow!

Working on Art

I had such a wonderful time the last several weeks getting back into a routine with the kids. We've had snow, ice, freezing cold, and shorts all in the last four weeks! We have also been seeing our normal winter illnesses, including colds, allergies, and pink eye.

Today I finally followed through on a promise I made to the kids two days ago. Finger painting. I was initially going to do it outside, but the wind is pretty intense, so I moved it into the dining room. Turned out to be a very good move.

I stood on a chair to get this one. They were so polite with each other and had fun without getting paint all over the place. It's so nice to enter this new stage!

Hannah was so proud of this one. :)

Here are Rebecca's artistic fingerpaint rendetions.

Here are Zach's cool pictures.

And here are Hannah's lovely pieces.

Have I mentioned lately how much I enjoy homeschooling? Because I really, really do!!

Swim Lessons Done

Tonight was our last swim lesson! It was actually supposed to be done last Monday but a snow day delayed everything. The kids did pretty good. They won't be swimming by themselves anytime soon, but it was a great baseline to begin with. We will take swim lessons this summer from a friend here in Gunter and probably add Rebecca to the roster. All in all, this was very therapeutic for both me and Zachary. It gave him more confidence in the water and it helped push the rest of my nightmares out. Praise God on both accounts!

Ark Encounter: Help Build the Ark!

Ark Encounter: Help Build the Ark!

We are going to donate at the Peg level. Will you consider joining us?

New Milestone

I have been blogging about Rebecca a lot lately, haven't I? Well, I guess it's because so many milestones happen in such a short period of time when they are this age.

The latest milestone? She gained enough height to finally turn round doorknobs. She came bounding in my room after nap time yesterday and early this morning. I have been watching and waiting for this dreaded day to come. It means that no doorknob is safe. No room is off limits. No room can contain her. No unlocked external door can be relied upon.

This may all sound outrageous and over the top, but some of you may share my memories of me "losing" Zach inside my house and us finding him walking down the long driveway with Sylvester.

My remedy with Zach became childproof doorknob covers - everywhere. When he learned to pop those open, it lead to duct tape around some of the covers. Yes, I trapped my son in his room during rest time so I could get a much needed break.

Today at nap time, I pulled those covers back out, sans the duct tape. I am hoping that Rebecca does not learn to pop the covers off for some time. Otherwise, mean 'ole mama is gonna come back out . . .

She has a bed . . . I promise

Before the passy disappeared, back when naptime actually happened, this is what I found in Rebecca's room two days in a row during afternoon nap.



Isn't this just too cute for words??

Passy Free Zone

We have survived one week in the Passy Free Zone. Rebecca chewed through her last one last Thursday and we had to sadly inform her that her passy was "broken" and that it was gone. She still daily looks at the empty spot where the passy used to reside and tells me solemnly, "Passy broken."

It was a tough go at first, especially at night, but we are finally only getting a little wimper or sometimes nothing at all. Naptime is not so great. She pretty much isn't taking naps now and instead wanders about her room causing destruction or banging on her door to be released. I continue to be hopeful that the naps will return, but I fear they are gone for good.

So this milestone did not happen as soon as I had hoped, but at least it is passed now. What's next? Potty training. Ugh. I'm going to try to wait a little longer but she may not let me. "Potty? Potty?" is what she likes to say as she smiles and points to the toilet. Nothing actually happens when she reaches her destination, but I should probably jump on this bandwagon as it passes by. I'm gonna pull a Scarlett and think about that tomorrow.

Rhythm Gene

Rebecca has inherited the rhythm gene. Two times in the last few days I have observed her keeping time with her foot while a toy plays music. I've never witnessed a child so young finding and keeping the beat. Looking forward to seeing how that gift unfolds. :)