Lessons

This past Sunday, Ezri got a little drum lesson from the drummer in our band, Johnny.  I was surprised to find her chatting away with him, but there she was!  Sticks in hand, she was drumming away as Johnny instructed her on how to hold the sticks and play.  She sure had fun!

 Alora also got in on the fun, though her idea of how the sticks should be used were a bit different...

 The weather has finally taken a turn toward spring this week, so the girls and I have been enjoying the sunshine and the fresh air.  A couple of walks and lots of time playing on bikes, etc. has been good for everyone.

 With the sunshine and warmer air, our porch heats up pretty quickly and we often open up the door to the kitchen so the warm air will come in.  This makes the shoes accessible to Alora, who LOVES to try on every pair!

 Despite the arrival of spring weather, we did have a bit of sickness run through our house this week :(  Sunday night, Alora ended up puking all over Daddy after a screaming fit at bed time.  We assumed it was related to her being upset, but then Tuesday morning, Ezri was in the same boat.  Each girl was only sick once, and thankfully both sprang back quickly, but it was enough to disrupt things and create tons more laundry.  Poor Barky got the spa treatment as he was in the line of fire and needed to be washed and back to comfort status by nap time.  So, Mommy hand washed and then hand dried and fluffed him back and he's looking better than ever!

37 Months came for Ezri...

 And 14 months for Alora...

Thursday morning, Ezri and I had some fun with eggs while Alora napped.  She was quite excited to help me dye eggs and had so much fun.



We are gearing up for Easter weekend now.  Ezri and I have talked daily about her Easter garden and for the past 10 days we have been opening a "resurrection egg" each night after supper, each containing a symbol of Easter.  It has been fun listening to her tell the Easter story with her little garden and to see her excitement about learning and sharing.

 

Listening to Ezri and watching her interact with her Garden has given me such insight into Christ's desire for us to have childlike faith.  She takes everything I tell her and makes it her own truth - an excellent reason to be careful what I say and do.  She believes... no hesitation.  A lesson for this Mommy to look past the commercial stuff and the chaos of life and focus on the important things like play time and simple conversations with my babies that reveal more to me in a few brief moments than a lifetime of learning can.  Love these girls!



Busy Little People

It's been another week of meetings and outings that have kept us hopping.  Busy for us - not to the world's standards by any stretch, but compared to our usual days, it was more than enough stimulation and variation from the norm...

Last Friday, the girls and I got to go to MOPS and enjoy our friends for a short time.  I am really enjoying this time and just last week started to see some bonding and relationship building take place without my direct interference, which I love!  3 of the moms in my group are very quiet, but as the meeting was just starting, I saw the three of them having a conversation together, all contributing, and even laughing together, and I was so excited!  The wonderful things that can happen if we listen when God tells us to get up and get a little inconvenienced :)

Saturday, Ezri, Alora and I decided on a last minute shopping trip to get Easter dresses for the girls.  We snagged Grandma and away we went to Kohl's.  We found dresses fairly quickly, and this Mommy even got spoiled with a few new things as well.  Though we seldom ever go to the mall, Ezri knows there is a carousel there and of course remembers, so we all went for a ride together :)

We returned home that afternoon and were soon visited by Aunt Becky, Opa and Oma.  It was nice to see Aunt Becky for a bit.  Both girls just love to look at books and read (yay!), and were excited to snag Opa and Oma for some story time before bed...

 Our Easter garden has been growing like crazy!  Daddy is a little jealous of the success when he considers what our yard usually looks like.  This past weekend, I made some little people out of old clothespins from Great Grandma's house so Ezri would have some figures to act out the Easter story with.  Ezri has so much fun playing with the little people (and Mommy had a lot of fun making them)!  She has been hovering over our little garden all week, wanting to hear the story over and over, and often playing with the little people telling her own story.  I absolutely love to sit back and watch/listen as I see her growing in her knowledge and interacting with a child's faith.

She utterly amazes me with her memory of all things, but especially Bible verses.  For the past few months, I have been working on teaching her the ABCs of the Bible - a Bible verse for each letter of the alphabet.  She has A-D mastered (Romans 3:23, Acts 16:31, Colossians 3:20, Matthew 7:12), E (Proverbs 20:11) is nearly there and we're beginning to work on F(John 3:16).  It is so sweet to hear her recite the verses and I love that she is learning them so easily - and it's a great chance for me to do some learning and remembering as well!  Now, if only I could get her to allow me to record her saying them...

Winter came back again just in time for Spring this week.  Oh well - we took it as another chance to get outside and play!  This time, Alora got to do some walking around and exploring on her own two feet and seemed to really enjoy herself.  Although her snowsuit was a bit too big, as were the boots, she did not seem to mind one bit :)

 Ezri went right to town scooping and piling up snow, making "ice cream" and just having fun.

Both girls played so well while I shoveled the driveway one more time and took advantage of the fresh air and the exercise.

 And then both girls piled onto the little sled for a ride :)

 In addition to our fun in the snow, we went to band practice Wednesday night, spent some time visiting with a friend and her little boy (2) and new baby on Thursday morning and went to a baby shower for my cousin on Thursday night, where Ezri got to see some of her favorite people: Great Grandma, Grandma, "Ancy" (Aunt Nancy) and Aubrey.

Loving Life!

Growing and Learning

We had a pretty chaotic week as far as our family is concerned.  It seemed one or all of us was on the run the entire week.  Lots of activity, not a lot to show for it...

This past weekend, we got to spend some time with Opa and Oma on Saturday.  Sunday was a busy day with Mommy singing both services, followed by a late lunch and 2 very tired girls who readily took naps as it was also time change Sunday.  Fortunately, they/we were pretty well prepared as I had spent the week leading up to the time change adjusting their schedules 15 minutes at a time.  The transition happened fairly smoothly, thankfully!

Monday, the girls and I headed out for some grocery shopping.  They were both so good as we bounced from store to store.  I was so impressed with Ezri at one point because we were at the Aunt Millie's Bread Store and she listened so well, holding onto the car until I took her hand, staying safe from the very busy street as well as parking lot traffic.  A woman parking her car even commented on how well behaved and safe she was!  In addition, after putting her in the car and then going around to buckle Alora in before finishing packing the bread into the car, I got in and started to put my seat belt on.  Ezri piped up from the back, reminding me that I had not yet buckled her (I had just set her in to keep her out of the parking lot while I finished loading the trunk).  Way to go Ezri!!!  We had talked, not long ago, about it being important that she speak up if someone did not buckle her tightly enough or forgot to buckle her.  I was so glad she remembered!

We took a walk Monday evening with Uncle Andy, who had been helping Daddy work that day.  Not too far from the house, we started to see coins.  Soon, we were finding them everywhere!  265 coins later, totaling $3.05 (mostly pennies, 2 nickels and 4 dimes), we had quite a pile of money!  Not sure what happened that they were there, all over both lanes and the shoulder, but Ezri was very excited!  Assuming the snow plow hit something with money in it earlier this year, but what and why it was there - who knows?

Ezri had fun counting all of those "moneys"!

A visit from Grandpa and Grandma Tuesday night, meetings and such for Daddy all week...

Thursday, Ezri and I headed out for her 3 year checkup with our doctor.  She did a great job and is growing healthy and strong (we already knew that!)  28 pounds, 37 1/2 inches...  growing like a weed :)

In a few of our quiet moments at home, I put together a hammock for the girls under the table using a bed sheet.  Both girls got a real kick out of this!

One fun thing we did this past weekend was start an "Easter Garden" in the house.  I am using this to explain to Ezri the Easter story as well as have some fun waiting and watching some growth, including grass, some flower bulbs and some hen and chicks I rescued from the cold.  Ezri wants to hear the story constantly, and I'm so glad we have this fun way to introduce the story and also allow her to interact!

It seems like all I captured this week was Ezri.  Never fear, Alora was not far from the action!  On the table more times than I can count, I believe she has made it her goal to see how quickly and how many times she can get onto the table in a minute once removed.  This little monkey is all over in a flash and grinning mischievously the entire time :)  Love my life!

Poor Princesses!

It has been a fairly abnormal week for us.  Last Friday was a MOPS day, so the girls and I spent the morning at church with our new friends and really enjoyed ourselves.  The MOPS group is beginning to form bonds and we've shared lots of laughs lately.  While still fairly small, only 11-12 members, it is a perfect group to grown friendships and I love to see how God has taken my desire to be in a group, grown it into an urge to start one that has become a ministry to so many, as well as myself!

 

Saturday afternoon, we headed out to Grand Rapids for a TenHaaf family gathering.  Ezri found some of Daddy's young cousins and soon was playing and running the building :)  Alora was quite social as well with Daddy's second cousins who were her age :)  Ezri even learned a new trick while there!

 

Daddy also found himself amused.  While in the nursery of the church we were in, watching some children play, he discovered a very small toilet...

 Our girls have been on a spiral of health and discomfort this week :(  Things started out well, with our princesses thrilled to have brand new pajamas that match.  Ezri just loves to have clothes like Alora, and little sis didn't seem to mind a bit!

 However, Alora soon started feeling miserable with 4 teeth deciding to come through all at once!  3 incisors and a molar, poor girl!  One came through Tuesday afternoon and the other three Wednesday.  Needless to say, she was quite uncomfortable and would at times just stand in the middle of the room and scream inconsolably.  Our always happy little cherub was so out of character :(  Thankfully, those teeth have now surfaced and she has some relief, though still suffering some discomfort as they fully make their way through.

Ezri woke up Tuesday with a bright red cheek.  We were unsure why, but didn't give a whole lot of of worry to it.  Wednesday, she quickly went from happy and active to cuddly and fussy and then spiked a fever that has lasted 48 hours, topping out around 103.8.  As the fever began to subside, she has started a cough that wakes her at night.  She seems to finally have broken through the fever late last night and is perkier again this morning, thankfully.

Nights have been pretty rough for everyone this week.  Alora woke constantly and Ezri woke several times as well.  Add to this the fact that we have been adjusting our schedule to prepare for the coming time change, and we're all pretty wore out.

We have managed some moments of smiles and peace, however.  Bedtime stories always bring some contentment for both girls!

I have meen enjoying my bedtime prayers with Ezri lately.  She just amazes me and has given me food for thought with her simple, trusting, questionless faith.  Each night she has a list of people she wants to pray for.  Many are the same each night - Great Grandma, Grandpa & Grandma, Opa & Oma, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Katie, Drew & Luke, Uncle Mike, Aunt Kerri, Aubrey & Wesley, Aunt Becky, Uncle Michael, Uncle Andy, Jay, Daddy, Mommy, Ezri & Alora, Tobi & Tucker, Barky (x3), Fetch & Kitty...  In addition to these, she often will list other names, sometimes friends or familes from church, other family.  I just love how selfless her prayers are and that she is so insistent on who she wants to pray for.  Leave it to a child to put things into perspective and challenge this Mommy to re-think some things!

Praying for lots of rest and full recovery for both girls and continued health for Daddy and Mommy this weekend!

Happy 3rd Birthday Ezri!!!!

What a busy week here!  Birthday central for a very special little girl :)

 

Saturday, the girls helped me mix and bake Ezri's birthday cake. 

She was very specific about the cake she wanted - a purple cake with pink frosting and a cat picture. So, after the baking, I got to work frosting (after a few mishaps) on Saturday night, after Ezri went to bed...

Sunday, after church and naps, we had a party!  Great Grandma, Grandpa & Grandma, Opa & Oma, Uncle Andy and Jay joined us for the fun.  The menu - Hot Dogs and Macaroni and Cheese :)

One of Ezri's favorite gifts was a dog purse from Great Grandma!  Another place for her to put things...

Alora took it all in, getting her hands on a toy when she got a chance, happy to rock in her chair with a new book.

Then it was time for the cake... and Ezri was surprised and pleased with the results :)

Alora, of course, enjoyed the cake!

Ezri enjoyed the frosting :)

 

Monday, Ezri got right to work with her new finger paints.  She had a great time and was busy painting for nearly 45 minutes!  You can imagine the mess at the end - mixed colors galore, paint everywhere - but it was fun!!!

Tuesday brought Ezri's birthday.  She woke up to balloons scattered throughout the house. As Daddy was gone to his Bible study, she came upstairs to find me, and was not happy at first about the balloons, wanting me to take them all down!  She soon got over that and was happy to play with them.  She also discovered bows all over the house, each with a coin taped to it.  This became an exciting game to find them all, and collecting the coins in her new doggy purse was really cool!

Tuesday night, we had Pizza and then got busy opening gifts.  Ezri was very excited to find a box of Curious George (aka Monkey) books!

And a baking set...

We took lots of pictures on Tuesday as well.  The hat and horse came out again for both girls, as Alora also made it to 13 Months this week!

In addition to the monthly pictures, I also spent some time taking Ezri's 3 year pictures.  I have decided to start taking my own photos of the girls instead of paying a portrait studio.  A learning process for me, but fun (and challenging - trying to get a toddler to sit still and look at the camera while keeping the baby out of the picture - eek!).  I've been pretty happy with the results!

Ezri and I got some time outside this week with warmer weather (40's).  It was pretty wet snow, and heavy!  But, we had fun playing together, and with Molly.

Ezri made a "duck"

And we played on the swing set for a while in Ezri's kitchen, where she serve me ice cream and macaroni and cheese :)

Wednesday, Ezri put her new baking set to work making purple cookies.

A dinner with friends on Thursday night and our week was complete.  Busy, but full of fun!  Happy 3rd Birthday Ezri!!!