This week..

— the kids have made us smile more than ever. They have a really sweet sibling relationship and will squeeze side-by-side on a swing or look out for each other on the playground. We had warm spring weather this weekend so there were lots of giggles coming from the trampoline and many updates about the worms they found as we did some spring clean up in the yard.

— Elle is testing out to be an excellent student. She is learning the basics of reading and loves to have us spell words for her to write. She is level headed about school but she has an inflated ego about gymnastics. Ha! If we can make it work in our schedule - we will sign her up for a dance class too. This weekend, Elle had to “hand-make” something to bring to school to “sell” as they end their most recent unit. Elle decorated paper cell phones and she expects they will be a hit!

— Callum loves to be the center of attention. He does different comical voices and if something gets a laugh, he will repeat it again and again. He adores his big sister and often copies her every move and word. The low point of this week was a random 2am wake up when he was ready to be up for the day. I walked down to the dim playroom for the first few hours and then traded with T. Within a few minutes of being in the playroom, Cal ran back with a bag of Cheetos and a napkin. He acted like it was the most normal thing! He sleeps with a photo of him and Elle in the airport and asks to go back on an airplane almost daily!

xo,

Krista

This week...

-- my heart is full! We've been super busy with fun outings these last few weeks. We made it back to Omaha to take the kids to Disney On Ice. It was the kid's two favorite soundtracks with Frozen and Encanto. I'll forever laugh when I think about T's face when the popcorn guy let him know the bag was $18 - ha! We've been back and forth to Omaha many times which means lots of quality time with Gigi and Pap pap who have been rockstar babysitters for us while we enjoy SuperNova volleyball. We stayed in Omaha between games this week and were able to visit Great Grandma Harriet (who turns 101 next week!!), spend a day at the zoo, and swim at the local community center (which is always such a fun way to burn energy & get exercise in the winter!). The kids had a blast eating PF Changs at the restaurant (Elle is always disappointed when we opt for takeout instead!). Now that we're home, we're unpacking from the weekend and moving furniture as we have contractors replacing flooring this week. This week will be about embracing the chaos :)

xo,

Krista

 

A common view from our bedroom these days

This week..

-- I'll share a few shenanigans! This is what life looks like lately: we bought a new TV to replace a dying television because there were great sales on Feb 29th! We got it all hung (while meanwhile threatening the children's lives because of their behavior as the poor TV was vulnerable and we were trying to focus) and it was broken. Almost a quarter of the TV didn't work when we first pressed power. So down it came and it will be back at Best Buy tomorrow. As we were taking it back down - T suddenly sprinted from the room and I looked over to see Callum stepping in our bedroom - our carpeted bedroom - with a full-to-the-top bowl of ravioli. We had started it in the microwave for Elle and she must have got it out herself. Cal asked her if she could have some and she prompted him to ask Mom and Dad. She was very quick to say "I DIDN'T tell him to carry it upstairs to ask!" There were drops of ravioli sauce up the entire carpeted stairs and a few rogue ravioli on the floor too. Cal is still very matter-of-fact about the episode and doesn't understand why his parents get so worked up about things :)

-- we've enjoyed the spring weather! We took and after-dark scooter ride tonight and Elle upgraded to her 2-wheel scooter so she was not moving as fast as she has before. It took all of 3 houses before Cal ran over the back of her scooter and she no longer has a break over her back wheel. Neither kid was very worked up about it - but Cal is upset that I wouldn't let him break his off too.

xo,

Krista

 

This week..

— Elle had parent teacher conferences and scored above grade-level on all of her testing. She chose to celebrate with ordering “a steak and macaroni and cheese” from a restaurant and ordering Coldstone (chocolate ice cream with snickers, Twix and marshmellows). She loves to claim the spontaneous “it’s Opposite Day!” Or “Jinx!” and then will scold you hard core if you don’t respect those declarations. She found a cartoon from last generation and finds any excuse to watch another episode. She learned the “dot/box” game during church today and is already completely confident she is an expert. It’s fun to watch her write phonetically spelled signs - I’ll have to share a few examples soon before her writing/spelling improves! She is still laying hard into the “I don’t like dresses” which is a 180 from a year ago when she wouldn’t wear pants. She’s getting tall and her pants are often mid-calf. She’s excited to be part of an end-of-year gymnastics show “Mom! If we go we get a medal!”

— Callum is talking like a kid more than a toddler. “Yeah, I know..” crept into his routine this weekend. He loves to laugh and cracks himself up when he’s trying to be silly. He has an adorable tip-toe where he scrunches up his arms and almost always has a huge grin. He’s taken to the kitchen in the playroom again and often demands you report to collect the food he’s made. He can also get quite insistent with his imagination “Mom! I can’t wash these dishes because I don’t have soap!!!” He can also create the cutest scenarios (especially if he’s trying to avoid a nap) “Oh Mom! Look! There is a kitty next to you. I need to take him to find his mommy…” 

— Daycare had a last-minute closure this week so the kids got a day with Gigi and then a day with Dad. It was the ultimate! Cal is completely smitten with Gigi and will cry for her when he’s injured almost instantaneously. When he threw up in the car a few weeks ago he cried for her before he was even finished — we wished she was there to help too ;)

xo,

Krista