2 posts in 1 week!!!

Who knew blogging could be so much fun? Maybe one of these days I'll post something other than pictures.....

Laura Ingalls Wilder playing soccer (great combo huh?)
Lil loves to smile and "read" books (great combo huh?)

Art appreciation

Can't get enough of this girl!

Can't get enough of this one either!!

My sweet girls

Just a few pictures to make Grampa Paul smile.....

Testing out raincoats....Lil wasn't too thrilled as you can see.
I love this girl!!

I love this girl!!One of Tal's favorite things to do.

One of Lil's favorite things to do.

Wordless Wednesday

Can't leave Lil out...here is her new trick

Lil has been using her walker here for about a month. A few weeks ago she took some steps on her own but I haven't gotten them on video yet. She is able to walk just holding one of our hands and is cruising fast by holding onto walls, tables, anything. She is growing up so fast!!

P.S. Don't mind my talking.

The State song

Talia has been really curious about the states. She has been asking to read about them and has made it her hobby to study the US map and memorize where they are all located. She asked me a few weeks ago to teach her the "state" song. She misses a few in this clip but this was with a week's practice. Too cute!

Two posts in one week?!

I'm slowly dusting off my blog from a long bout of blogging funk. Haven't wanted to blog for various reasons even though I have had multiple blogging posts in my head. Before I begin the task of catching you all up on the many details of my life I wanted to share what I have been studying in the Word.

2 Peter 1:3-11

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world cause by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perserverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you posess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Wordless Wednesday

Quote of the week

This happened yesterday and I may be the only one who thought it was pretty funny and didn't want to forget it so onto the blog it goes.

Me: "Talia, please go get your sweater on so we can take Lil' to the dr."

Tal: "Mama, I don't know where my sweater is."

Me: "Did you look in the playroom....in the living room.."

Tal: "Mama, I think Lil ate my sweater....MOOOOMMMM...Lil ate my sweater!!!"

Me: As I find her sweater in the coat closet next to her shoes...."No, Tal Lil' didn't eat your sweater."

I guess we have entered into the "blame it on my sister" zone.

Wordless Wednesday

For Grampa

Happy Birthday Amber!

(Pretty sure I used this picture last year...

but it remains my favorite and is an oldy but a goody).

My prayer for you this year is:

"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."

I hope your special day is great!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Even though this holiday is often celebrated by partying in smoky pubs it actually is an interesting and inspiring story. Thought this clip might share a little bit about the history in a fun way. Enjoy and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Birthday sweet girl!

From this.....at a day old

To this....as a Care Bear of course
Happy Birthday my sweetie!
Mama loves you and is having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that you are four!
More birthday pics to come!!

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

Didn't realize that I had even got Tal in the picture until later.

Just cracks me up!

10 months in.....

Lil's new trick...standing up in her crib (notice her lovey in the background)
Looking more like a big girl everyday
Loves to play at her learning table

My sweet girl

Lil + teething biscuit = big ol' mess

Another month has flown by and Lil has been learning all sorts of new things and continuing to master others. I can't believe that she is just two short months away from being a year old!! Here are some of her new/old tricks:

• Pulls self up to standing position and has started to cruise (slowly)
• Pulls off socks (especially when her hands are all messy from eating)
• Shakes her head no when you tell her no or she knows she isn’t supposed to touch or do something
• Loves to play peek a boo, especially in the van with Tal (or Grampa)
• Walks on her knees, usually as she is pushing a toy
• Still has only 2 teeth and takes 2 naps
• LOVES water (to drink and play in)
• Gives hugs and starting to give kisses
• Loves the speaker phone…especially when she hears Daddy’s voice when we leave him messages throughout the day
• Likes blueberries
• Tries to eat the coffee table any chance she can get
• Waves “hi” and “goodbye”
• “Dances” and claps to music
• Sings to music….kind of like a cute little hum
• Objects when I take something she wants away
• Gets into sitting position from her tummy
• Says Mama or Mom & Dada or Dad specifically

Still has a smile that lights up a room

Some of the reasons I haven't been blogging

I know I have been a bad and inconsistent blogger as of late. Hopefully I can catch you up on a few of the many things we have been busy with.

We got to visit with the Arns kiddos while they were here visiting from China.

Lil missed out on the fun cause she was napping.
Kyle found a great deal on a double jogger through his work and we have been putting it to good use. I didn't realize how much of a work out I would get pushing two cuties up our big hill....it is wonderful!

Is this not one of the saddest pictures of Lil? Poor girl was sick a few weekends ago. We both didn't get much sleep and I was entirely covered in snot and kid goo. What a trooper she was though, smiling even when she was running a 102 degree temp and trying so hard to suck her thumb as she slept but would wake up every 20 minutes coughing. Thankfully she is feeling much better.

Here's my girls....Lil is learning so many new tricks and Tal is a week away from another birthday! Could someone please push the pause button...it is going by a little too fast for this Mama.

Wordless Wednesday

Flashback Friday~Two year old Talia singing

Here's a few favorites from about a month before Talia turned two. She obviously had a cold but I guess it didn't stop her from sharing her tunes at the breakfast table (which is still a sweet Talia habit).

Wordless Wednesday a day late

9 months in......

Liliana's stats at nine months:
19 lbs. 6oz. 27.5"

• Crawling EVERYWHERE!!
• Still taking 2 naps
• Claps
• Waves "hi" and "bye"
• Pulling self to kneeling and sometimes standing position...especially trying to climb up on Mommy
• Looks up and reaches for Mommy to pick her up
• Loves black beans and peas
• Likes to feed herself and wants to eat whatever we are eating
• Wiggles A LOT on her changing table
• Tries hard to get into Tal's toys
• Has 2 teeth
• Likes to pull Tal's hair and giggle
• Is very ticklish
• Grunts/makes noise to indicate she wants something or to "voice" her opinion
• Signing "more" and starting to occasionally sign "all done"
• Gets a funny/sassy look on her face when you tell her no...definelty testing and learning
• Loves music
• Likes to "walk" when you hold onto her hands
• Starting to have separation anxiety again
• Loves her water cup
• Still has a smile that lights up a room

Happy (2 days late) "Worm" Birthday Kyle!!

A few days before Kyle's birthday Talia asked what kind of party he was going to have (i.e. princesses, cars, etc.). Since we didn't have a "theme" planned she decided she would pick one for him...a worm themed birthday. She didn't have a reason why she just thought her Daddy would like a worm birthday because boys like worms. We made "worm" cookies (Oatmeal gumdrop) instead of a cake and of course we had to make Daddy a worm themed card as well. The girls and I visited Daddy at work and took him out to lunch for pizza (that's apparently what worms eat on their birthdays) then we celebrated when Daddy got home for dinner complete with a new ESV Study Bible for his present.

Happy Birthday Kyle!

We are appreciate and love you so very much!

Flashback Friday

I'm pretty sure I have posted this before but it's just too good not to share again.
Happy early Birthday Kyle!!
I love you!

Earthquake

This morning I was downstairs doing my bible study when all of a sudden I felt the couch shaking. I didn't know what to think at first but quickly I knew it was an earthquake and not sure how long it would last I started to head back upstairs to check on Kyle and the girls but then it stopped. I turned on the T.V. and checked the internet to see if there was any information about it. King 5 reports that it was a 4.6 and happened around 5:27 a.m. Also, I found this site. I knew we lived in an earthquake region but I didn't know we actually have little earthquakes all the time. Did anyone else feel it?

Things I don't want to forget #9-11

9. How excited Liliana gets when Kyle get home from work.

10. That Talia has started to use the words "indeed", "suppose" and "brilliant". She will add them into conversation whenever she can and it makes me smile every time because she has the context correct each time she uses them.

11. Talia calls me "Mama" more than she calls me "Mommy". It used to bother me a bit because "Mommy" sounded a bit more endearing to me than "Mama" but I know love that she calls me "Mama". She uses it a lot throughout the day and it warms my heart that it is her own special name for me.

Lil's new trick

Lil has been doing push ups for a while now but this afternoon her little push ups turned into her putting her chubby feet flat onto the floor and trying to push herself up. I couldn't believe she was trying to do this so I had to grab my camera and take a few shots.

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

I love this scrunched up Lil face...definetly one I don't want to forget. It looks a bit silly but it usually comes before she giggles and it makes me giggle every time.

A tea party set for two this week. Taking advantage of Lil's morning nap to spend some time with just Tal.

Something new to play with

Welcome Home!

(*pictures pirated from Joslyn's blog)

Welcome Home Arns Family!!

We have missed you these last three months as you have done the Lord's work in China. We are so excited and thankful to be able to spend some time with each of you! We hope that this break will be restful, encouraging and peaceful too!