another one 'bites' the dust

Garrett came home today with one less tooth in his cute little mouth.  :)

He was pretty excited, until he came in and informed me that he now looks 'weird' when he smiles.  Ahhhh.....the joys of growing up!

Together Again...

We are home...all home...TOGETHER!!!  :)  I've been playing single mom for a while now and am LOVING being together again.  I'm not cut out to do this on my own!  :)   Steve's been out of town three out of the last four weeks, though I really can't complain.  Out of the last two years, he's only been gone those three little weeks.  

We've been busy and productive though.  Lots of park outings, bike rides around the block, and earlier bedtimes!!!  I'd much rather have him home...but I have to admit that it is very nice to have extra time to work on projects.  I got a few pictures hung, hosted a few girl's nights, cleaned out a few closets, sewed a bit, watched a girly show or two and knocked out a few of those things on my to-do list that I just never seem to make time for!  It was fun while it lasted...but I am MORE than happy to have Steve home again!  And I do have to admit...the kids are grateful too.  There were some days that the boys would pray for their daddy...and pray for him to get home QUICKLY!  :)  I think they were ready for another parent to be around...maybe one with a little more patience than an over-worked, tired and cranky mommy!  :)

yep...done that.

Just something to cross of our 'to-do-sometime' list...

just because

How I LOVE my little girl!  :)

And yes, the old saying is true...the camera does indeed add 10 pounds.  But add a shadow into that equation, and I swear it ups it to 50 pounds!  :)  Well that and the 45 cookies I ate tonight!  :)

Living on the Edge...

This is where I found Ethan this morning when I woke up...  

(Sorry...it was dark and I know it's not the best picture!!!  I thought I got a lot more of the stairs to actually show that it is on a staircase!)

The scary thing is...this isn't the first time I've found him fast asleep...balancing on the edge of the steep staircase!  Why is it that my children have to be daredevils...even in their sleep!?!?!  :)

Question and Answer

At dinner tonight, well actually 'Ethan's dinner' (since he takes HOURS longer than the rest of us to eat and as a result, ends up sitting at the table much longer than anyone else), the following conversation took place...


Steve - E, what's your favorite color?
Ethan - Blue and green.


Steve (pulling out some preschool questions) - What day of the week is it?
Ethan (thinking for a bit) - MONDAY!!!

Dani (wanting in on the fun) - E, what's your favorite food?

Ethan - Macaroni and Cheese

Steve - What month is it?
Ethan - Ummm......OCTOBER!  (really proud of himself for remembering!)


Dani (trying to be funny) - Ethan, who's your favorite Mommy?
Ethan (without a single, solitary pause) - TARA!!!


Well there you have it.  My kid's favorite mom is my good friend and mom to his best little buddy.  Nice.

Choose the Right???

I was just cleaning out Garrett's church stuff, and in light of yesterday's post, I thought I'd do a Garrett version. 

Plain and simple...and I guess he get's his point across.  Do not CTW (or Choose the Wrong)?!?!?  Leave it to my kid to change up the well established CTR (choose the right) shield!!! 

And yes...just to further expain how "Garrett" this paper was, I had to unfold it from it's paper airplane state to actually read what was inside!  SOOOOO typical...anything paper in the hands of my child gets folded into some sort of flying object.  Luckily he's well-behaved enough (well usually!!!), that they aren't often thrown...until he walks in the house.  Then it's a free-for-all! 

Healthy and Strong

Ethan comes home from church each week with something from his nursery lesson.  This prized-possession goes straight to his special spot on the fridge as soon as we walk in the door!  Some weeks he doesn't pay much attention to it again...but the current one has been talked about all day - everyday - for two weeks now!

The topic of the week was how to keep our bodies healthy and strong...and Ethan finds any way possible to tie any conversation back to this topic.  

Olivia's head was having trouble fitting through her shirt one night.  Not that she has an abnormaly large head or anything...the shirt was just twisted up or being pulled at the wrong angle, but Ethan promptly started to teach us about how when we eat healthy, our heads will grow.  "Good Job Wivvy!  You are taking care of your body!!!  Your head is big and strong!!!"  I believe those were his exact words.

At every meal, he goes into a lecture on eating healthy.  And then every time, he lists out the good foods...artichokes, nectarines and grapes.  It is these same 3 foods each time...and the funny thing is, I don't think the kid has ever knowingly had an artichoke!  But nevertheless, that is one of the only three foods that will lead to optimal health in his mind!  :)  The other funny thing about this one is, the food pictured is not artichokes, nectarines or grapes.  I think there is an apple, a strawberry and a banana!

This child also NEVER stops moving/running/jumping during the day.  But he has been running laps around the house lately, so he can "exercise to be healthy".

Funny how the other picture on his page is about getting enough rest.  That one doesn't seem to have sunk it as of yet.  The poor child refuses to sleep - naps, night time, whenever!