Two Cute

I was trying to take some video of my youngest, but another cutie kept interrupting!

(make sure the volume is loud enough to hear Evan)

Elena is 4... AND A HALF!

Which is a really, really big deal when you're her age.

(sunglasses strategically placed)

Well, let's get the obvious one out of the way... she likes to cut her hair.

She is also into everything Disney princess. If they sold a tire pressure gauge with cinderella on it... she'd pine after it.

The more glitter and sequins the better (think, "gaudy")

The girl is one smart cookie. I feel like the more she learns, the faster she picks up new things... I don't have long before she passes me up.

She is learning to read and can handle most early readers by herself. I love that we're on the verge of reading being an activity she can consistently do in room time! Her handwriting on the other hand... well it needs work :)

She and Evan are into a game that I guess I'll call, "Doggie". Elena acts like an unruly puppy and Evan chases her around calling, "Here, Doggie! Here, Doggie!"

She is a good eater and can always be persuaded to eat something that she'd rather not to.

If she has an audience then she's more than happy to perform for them... VBS songs or her new moves from ballet class.

She's trying to figure out basic geography terms, like "downtown", "state", and "city". It's really tricky when she asks something like, "Mommy, what state is Paris in?"

I can't believe how quickly she learned to use my iPhone!

Since July 4th, she's been fascinated with our country's flag and the national anthem. She has most of the words down! Now if we can just work on that melody....

She's a puzzle whiz.

According to her, there's no such thing as too many shoes. She can spend hours trying on shoes in a store.

She loves her brothers... can fight terribly with Evan and be a little rough with Asher... but she loves them.

She is especially excited about this milestone because she thinks it means her 5th birthday is right around the corner. And she tells everyone that she runs into that she is going to Disney World when she turns 5 (it's close to true).

She expresses a desire to obey God, is aware when she is unsuccessful, and is truly sorry for that... that is all a huge answer to prayer!

We love our little girl and are extremely proud of her!

Here's a video taken today of her reading a story on Starfall.com

I Love Technology

Yes, I love technology (insert "iPhone")

But not as much as you, you see

But I still love technology (insert: "iPhone")

Always and forever

Thank you Ben for the early birthday gift! LOOOOVE it!

Is Ben Your Friend?

...specifically, on Facebook? Well, if he is then you've seen his funny updates on our kids lately. The past couple were 1) a video of Evan eating a lemon head, and 2) a status update about Elena cutting her hair AGAIN on Saturday! Really, I should just start a separate blog devoted to Elena and her hair. I'd probably end up posting more frequently on it than I do here. Any name suggestions?... "Silliness with Scissors?", "Terrible Trims?" I dunno, but I'll be thinking.

Here's the video of Evan...

And here's Elena's hair since the most recent cut.

Evan - 2.75 Years Old

Evan, Evan, Evan.

Evan is just pure entertainment to me. I don't want to take pictures of him, I want to follow him around with a video camera in hand. You just can't capture his cute pronunciations and wildly enthusiastic exclamations in a picture.

He loves, loves, loves going to friends' homes. Every morning when he wakes up, he asks me, "Mommy, where we going t'day?" I'd say more often than not we stay home, but he's always optimistic. He loves his friends, but dare I say it, he loves their toys even more.

And toys brings me to the subject of cars and trains. How long now have I been saying that he's into them... and I mean really into them. He carries a pile of Hot Wheels around the house all day. "Wightning Qween" is his favorite. If that car gets separated from the pack at some point during the day, Evan will make sure they're reunited before nap time or bed time.

Evan has really begun building a relationship with his little brother. He gets down on the floor with Asher to talk and giggle with him. Now that Asher is so expressive it really encourages Evan to engage with him more.

Birthday parties are highly anticipated... Evan's favorite part.... "Da Cake!!"

He knows his alphabet and can count for sure up to 5; beyond 5 the numbers are pretty interchangeable.

Wrestling with Dad, Mace, or Pa is a big favorite!

He will ham it up with silly noises when he's around little girls. Their giggles are highly sought after.

He's very good about saying thank you and sorry, but again he's so expressive that it comes out, "Oh tank you, Mommy!" and urgently, "I sorry, I sorry!

Still, a pretty obedient little boy; a stubborn boy when a rule is first introduced, but very compliant with rules that are already standing.

Evan has a great imagination; a clothes hanger is an airplane, a ruler is a rocket ship, etc...

Ben and Evan have fun going to a local "Coffee and Cars" (it's a casual gathering of classic car owners in a parking lot near here). The two of them get doughnuts or bagels (both favorites of Evan) and then walk around drooling. Evan sits in the drivers seat "steering" and making "vroom vroom" noises... and then he gets out for Ben's turn.

We are big fans of our little boy!

Love you Evan!

Asher - 7 Months

Our oh so sweet baby boy!

He is MOBILE! I can't say he's crawling, because he scoots around like an inch worm, but the bottom line is, I'm constantly scanning the floor for choking hazards.

Ben is so proud of him; always referring to how he's our most "this and that" baby.

He is gnawing on apples through a netted baby food holder (It's a little capsule that lets babies eat solids without large chunks getting through) and seems to like them. Other than that we're just doing baby cereal.

Water and public restrooms with loud flushes really terrify him.

He's begun making a new sounds; Beyond just saying "Ahhhhhhhhh" He's saying "B'da, B'da, B'da" and "Du, Du, Du." C'mon, you know you're fascinated!

He recognizes his family members from a distance and gives big smiles upon seeing them.

He sits... but not very well.

I love cuddling him. He'll rest on my shoulder with his cheek against mine and I soak up all the little sounds he makes next to my ear.... I know those baby sounds will be gone much faster than I'd like.

Love you, Ash-man!

Opinions in Texas

I was out shopping with my sister yesterday and Ben was home with the kids. Elena was in room time which is normally a time that she listens her music CDs. At one point Ben realized he was hearing an unusual sound coming from Elena's room, he went to check on her, and this conversation took place.

And really Ben, was it necessary to throw me under the bus?

Evan's (and Elena's) Haircut

Before any more pictures are posted on this blog I feel like I need to post this video to explain Elena's butchered hair style.

I apologize for all of Evan's wailing in this video. He hates haircuts, but he was also in an especially BAD mood when this was taken.

Our 3 on the 4th

It was a pretty low key Fourth of July for us; mainly because we had just gotten back from North Carolina the night before and we were in "recovery mode." But, we did venture out in the evening to see fireworks at La Cantera. Fireworks and kids are such a great combination; ours loved them!

Right before we hopped in the car I sat the kids down for a quick picture.

They seem pretty happy with the exception of Asher. The poor guy has a valid look of concern on his face. His brother and sister can be a little oblivious to his needs; especially when something really exciting, like grass (said sarcastically), is put in front of them.

Just the Facts, Ma'am

After my post about VBS, things starting going at a pretty fast pace here. I've been keeping a mental list of things that I want to post about in detail and with pictures, but for now let me give you the summary in the order in which they happened.

-Elena started a ballet class with her friend Emily

-Elena came to an understanding of needing a Savior (it feels wrong, just slipping this in with -the other stuff, but for now that's the way it's gonna be)

-My sister got engaged

-Ben's parents came in for a visit

-Evan and Asher were dedicated at church

-Celebrated Father's Day

-Threw a wedding shower with with and for dear friends.

-Our 6th Anniversary

-Packed our bags and flew to Atlantic Beach, NC for a week.

Sorry this a pretty lackluster post, but for now it will have to do!