Sibling Love and a Tutu

My friend gave me some of her extra tulle so that I could make Brie a little tutu (for playing). It looks kind of poufy, but she loves it :)

Briella-isms

Our dear daughter is cracking us up as she is learning more and more and catching on to things. Here are a few of our recent favorites.

We have a couple of Arthur books and she has watched Arthur on PBS a few times, Arthur's little sister DW has caused some confusion . . . Briella now says "DWXYZ."

The other day I said "Yes, ma'am" and she responded "I am not a MAN!!" I tried to explain that ladies can be called ma'aM, but I don't think she got it.

A few weeks ago I was making bread and had dough all over my hands and she said "You have to lick them." As if it is a rule that when your fingers have stuff on them you should lick them, she must have seen that somewhere?!?!

I was helping her get dressed and told her she had such a little butt. She asked, "Do you have a little butt?" I said, honestly, "No, I do not have a little butt. You have a little butt." She knows her opposites and asked, "Does mommy have a big butt?"

Last night we were getting ready for a bath so she was on the toilet and I was taking Gideon's diaper off and she asked "Why does Gideon have a snake?" As if this was the first time this major difference was obvious to her?!?! They bathe together 3 times a week!?!?!

What have we been doing?!?!

So, it has been awhile and I'm not really sure why. I have a little scratch paper with some cute/funny things I could write about the kids . . . I even have a couple of pictures . . . maybe later. Here is some random things that have been on my mind and taken up my time lately:

Since November started we have remained busy with the usually stuff mentioned in the last post with words . . . I also spent 12 hours one weekend scrapbooking!! Yeah! It is so much fun to do a bunch of pages with other people. I worked in Gideon's book and he went from 3 months to 18 months! Wow! I'm practically current!! I did not work on Briella's book, she is currently 2 in her book, so not too bad. One of these days I'll have time and creative juices to get working on hers again.

I have also been getting up early to fit in more time for daily devotions which is a huge blessing even though it was not easy to start setting the alarm an hour earlier than I used to. I am also trying to fit in some exercise each day (often during nap time or after the kids are in bed). My cousin/friend (Thanks B!) found this awesome site that has TONS of videos you can download for free! I love the walking videos because it is a great cardio work out and I can stay inside and not get bored on my treadmill. I also spent $2 on a exercise ball workout this summer and finally started using it.

I have found a couple of other fun food sites that I have really enjoyed: Our Best Bites
and Sisters Cafe.

I am also reading more and more about natural health remedies. Since moving back to the midwest I have needed some help with colds and I remembered my college roommate saying her sinus doctor told her to rinse with salt water. I was shocked when she told me she just sniffs it up from the palm of her hand, but I tried it and I am a believer! You can also buy nasal sprays or a netipot, but this works for me. We are stocked up on Vitamin D to boost immunity, and echinacea and garlic to fight off sickness, too. I'd rather spend money on these more natural health items than go to the doctor and pay for a visit and more drugs that I'm not so convinced are always helpful. We also use a honey cinnamon mixture that seems to help with coughs and sore throats. Keeper of the Home has lots of information that I've found interesting and useful and I've looked stuff up here before, too.

I'm also excited to try to sew one of these with my mom over Thanksgiving. In the next few weeks I want to make an Advent Calendar or a Jesse Tree to teach Briella about Christmas, but I haven't quite figured out which one to make and how to do it.

Oh and I ordered our Christmas picture/cards already! I found a good deal and just went with the pictures we had, so I should be sending those out sooner rather than later this year!!

WW--Fun times

October is almost over?!?!

We've been keeping busy with all sorts of stuff this month . . .
Youth Group--3 Sundays this month, Road Rally last Saturday, fundraisers and other planning
Parenting Group--We started a new group at church to watch a DVD series by Paul David Tripp, we've only met once but we are 'leading'/coordinating so it takes some time to keep track of how many copies, bulletin announcements, and who wants to watch it at home because they missed . . .
Weddings--We had a couple from church get married and one of Stephan's cousins got married, it is always fun and encouraging to attend Christian weddings and be reminded of our own vows and God's plan for marriages.
Library--I agreed to help order books for our church library and it has been fun to look at books, but it takes time to read/approve the books (any suggestions for books?!?)
Kids--We are enjoying some time outside with the leaves and going on walks.
Briella is now interested in finding B's for Briella everywhere there are letters, she is learning a lot of songs from our Steve Green CDs and can now say the Lord's Prayer, she also learned Matthew 1:21-23 for Sunday School. It is so precious to hear her recite both, God is good.
Gideon is still loving trucks, cars, and balls of course, what a boy! He will throw anything he is allowed to throw and has been found singing/reading books to himself too.

WW-Art Prize

Apple Orchard Fun

Saturday we went to a local orchard . . . It was a bit chilly, but we had a good time. We got a wagon ride out to the orchard, which made both kiddos a little nervous. Briella picked several apples and chucked them into our basket. I removed several apples that had suffered from being chucked into the basket. Gideon seemed to find all of the half eaten apples and wanted to taste them . . .




We were ready to go, but I thought we should try another picture by the cute fall decor, but with cars going past Briella was very worried that I was not watching for cars and Gideon was very excited to hear and see the cars . . . so this is the best we could do. oh well.

Yep, it was cold . . . and yep, she is a chicken.