Back to Stamping

When I was in Michigan, my parents took us down to Shipshewana, IN. My Mom wanted to take me to this great stamp store that is there. I purchased some new stamps at an awesome price, and so far I have had lots of fun playing with them. Here are a few cards I made with the new stamps.

I am sure you are wondering how in the world I find time to stamp. ANDREW IS IN SCHOOL AND LITTLE SIS PLAYS SO GOOD BY HERSELF! Yep, mommy hides in the den at her craft desk. ;o) It feels so good to get back at my hobby.

I'm not so sure I like the color combo on this one, but it was sure fun watercoloring the little boy.

For this card, I folded the front flap in half so the boy could be looking back at the tree. This layout was purely experimental, but I like how it turned out.

This one is my favorite. It was hard cutting the pieces to fit just right, but it turned out okay. This was also an experimental layout.

Where's Carole?

I had to laugh at this sight when I went in to check on Carole one night. It reminded me of the ET movie when ET was hiding in a closet full of stuffed animals. Carole LOVES her stuffed friends. She has to have all of them before she'll go to sleep. Believe it or not, she actually does a little roll call before lights out. She knows when one is missing.

Sunday Morning With Carole

This morning with Carole was a huge challenge. First of all, it took me 15 minutes just to put a dress on her. She wanted to wear her pajamas all day. Secondly, she has officially entered the "I do it myself" stage (or in her case, the "Cawole do it" stage). My mom just laughs when I tell her of Carole's antics. She said I was the same way at her age and my favorite sentence was... "I do it, I do it myself." ;o) Like mother, like daughter. This morning Carole wanted to put her church shoes on all by herself. She looked at me while grabbing the shoes out of my hands and said, "Cawole do it. It's Cawole's turn, Mommy. Cawole do it." I gave in and let her do it herself. She struggled at first and I reached out to help. She looked at me with evil eyes, began to scoot away, and said, "MOMMY! It's Cawole's turn!" After ten minutes of struggling, she finally was successful! She was very proud of herself until I told her it wasn't time to leave for church yet. That is why she is crying in the last picture of her and that is why she refused to smile when I tried to get her picture with Andrew. *sigh* Life with a two year old is always interesting.

Dear Sweet Carole

I had to post some pictures of our blue eyed sweetheart (aka monster). You may remember me posting awhile back that Carole was out of the "terrible two's." That was wishful thinking on my part. The tantrums have returned in full force! She is definitely strong willed and Phil and I both agree she is more difficult than Andrew was at this age. But one thing can still be said... she sure is a cutie!

First Day of School

As promised, here are the pictures of Andrew getting ready for his first day of school. He was none too happy when mommy made him pose for the camera but he gave me smiles anyway.





I walked him out to his bus and noticed he was getting nervous. Last year for 3 year old preschool his teacher and assistant came and picked him up in a passenger van. For 4 year old preschool things changed. So I think when he saw the big yellow school bus and his teacher and assistant were nowhere to be see, he started to get scared. The bus driver's helper had to get out and coax him to get in the bus. I got on with him and saw him get all buckled up. He was brave and smiling big when they drove away. No tears from him, but mommy was fighting tears. ;o) He said there was a boy who cried a lot for his mommy and he had to go home. "But I didn't cry mommy. I didn't really miss you." *sniff, sniff*

Andrew Learns to Ride Bike!

Today was a big day for Andrew. First of all, he started preschool. I will write more about that later and post some pictures. But the second big thing of his day was that he learned to ride his bike without the training wheels! Our neighbor girl (7 years old) apparently told Andrew that he was ready to take the training wheels off. Well, tonight at supper he asked if his Daddy would take them off after supper. Phil explained to him that it might not be easy and he might fall a lot at first. Andrew didn't care, he wanted to try it anyway. Lo and behold, he took right off riding like he has known how for years! Enjoy this video clip!

Our Blued Eyed Doll

Carole keeps getting cuter! Check out those baby blues!

Carole has officially gotten over her TERRIBLE TWO's (knock on wood) and we are still alive! She is still 2 years old, but these last few weeks she has been much easier to live with. The tantrums are not as often and they don't last near as long.

Riding Bikes

My parents just recently came for a visit and they brought Andrew a bike that they had gotten for free. Andrew didn't even know how to pedal last week, and now look at him!!


Here are some pictures of him learning how and then finally getting it.

































And of course, Carole got a bike too. She still cannot pedal, but it won't be long!

Bug Bites

One night after bath time I notice one of Andrew's eyes was a little swollen (nothing like these pictures). I thought nothing of it knowing that he had walked into a door that day. I thought it was just another battle wound. The next morning it was swollen a bit more. As the day progressed his eye nearly swelled shut and it stayed swollen for a few days. It was then that I deduced that it must have been a bug bite. The flies and mosquitoes are HORRIBLE this year. I don't remember them being this bad. This morning I took the kids to the park and ended up leaving because the mosquitoes were eating Carole alive. The poor girl has more red bites on her legs than healthy skin.

I just had to share these pictures of Andrew. He was so proud of his eye wanting to show it off to all. Just like a boy! His eye is now completely back to normal. Now we have new bites, bruises and cuts to show off. ;o)

A wateee, Mommy!

Carole loves water! She calls it "watee." She would play with the hose all day if I would let her. I hope the water bill isn't crazy high for the church this month! ;O)

Summer Fun

Okay, here are the sprinkler pictures I promised. Oh to be a kid again thinking that a sprinkler is the greatest thing in the world! ;o)

Last Week

Here are a few pictures from last week. Andrew and Carole got to ride on some rides at the annual Fish Days in Lake Andes.

Phil's parents came out for a visit and while they were here they allowed us to have our very first over night date since the children entered our lives. We went to Sioux Falls and did some shopping, saw the "Sioux Falls," and (of course)saw the new Indiana Jones movie. That day it was extremely windy out (40-50 mph gusts) so that is why we look "interesting."

I know I am no good at keeping this blog updated (read: it is going to be a fast and crazy summer here), but hang tight. I hope to get some more pictures uploaded in the next few days. Also, we got a new laptop and new photo editing software, so it is taking me awhile to figure out the ropes.

Bad Hair Day

I just had to share this picture with you all. I went to get Carole up from her afternoon nap today and this is what I found. LOL!! We didn't know she had that much hair on top!

Rubber Stamping

For those of you who don't know, when I have free time (which is not too often anymore), I love to make cards using rubber stamps. I was recently invited to join a kid card swap on www.splitcoaststampers.com (the website I frequent for card ideas using Stampin' Up! stamps). These are the two cards I contributed to the swap...






Thanks for looking! Ha! I just realized that I didn't even use any Stampin' Up! stamps on these cards!

What Kids Say

Did you know that Rice Krispies are Roast Beefies? At least that is what Andrew thinks. Carole calls all cereal "chips." "Momma, I wan chipths." And yes, everything with an "s" sound gets a "th" pronunciation from Carole.

Mother's Day from Andrew

I want to share this with you all. Andrew brought this home from preschool yesterday for me for mother's day. It is so funny! I think the teacher talked him through it and wrote in the blanks. The blue are his answers

MY MOM
She is as beautiful as a rainbow or rock.
She weighs 5 pounds and is very hungry.
Her favorite food is chocolates.
Her favorites T.V. show is a commercial.
She is 10 years old.
In the good old days, when my mom was little she used to play with her toys.
I think my mom is funny when she stretches.
My mom makes me happy when she tickles me.
I wish my mom would pick flowers with me everyday.
I wouldn't trade my mothers for butter, birds, worms.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
Love, Andrew (he signed his own name)

Here is a scanned copy of what he brought home.

Pictures

The kids got there pictures done last month and we finally got to pick them up!

Here is our handsome boy full of "attitude".

I just LOVE this picture of them together! I thought it turned out so well. I can never get the two to them to sit still and smile at the same time.

Our little sweetie!

They both had to have sunglasses. Just so you all know, Carole picked her own out. She is very proud of her flowers.

We bought a swing this week and hung it on our clothes line pole. The kids love it! Now they fight over who gets a turn. ;-)