I know I'm due for another Thailand post, but the last few days I've enjoyed my kids so much I just want to post a little about them.
Asher is getting to be such a big kid! He knows all his letters, knows what many words begin with by sounding it out and has started to ask what certain words spell when he sees them. Mark downloaded a little iPad app where it teaches you to trace letters and Asher has REALLY been glued to it. The week before I left, Asher was drawing inside of bubble letters, almost like tracing... so, in the next month or so I will try getting him to do some pre-school type of work - tracing inside letters and stuff like that. He seems very driven to learn so far!
Asher is also a GREAT big brother. At bedtime, Mark often asks Asher to go get Cole's PJ's. He ALWAYS brings back a matching pair! We've known for a long time that he is very observant and it's only becoming more and more apparent. Asher also does a great job giving Cole kisses and hugs before bedtime and nap time. He often asks to come in and give Cole a kiss while I am tucking him in for nap. Mark has been working on teaching Asher manners and so lately, once finished with a meal, he says "Mom, can I be excused?" in the sweetest little voice you ever heard! Also, he clears his dishes, gets a wipe, wipes his hands and face & always asks "Does that look good?" before he throws the wipe away. Love his cleanliness and consistency!
This conversation happened at dinner:
Asher: "Mom, the (awee ens) will hurt my eyes!"
Me: (thinking he is pretending) "Oh, the aliens will hurt your eyes huh?"
Asher" "No mom, the (oeeons) will hurt my eyes."
Me: "Oh, the ONIONS! Yes, that's right (insert muffled laughing)."
Funny.
Also, I mentioned the word diarrhea at dinner (I know, so taboo, but it happens when you have little ones sometimes) and Cole breaks out singing "Rio" over and over... cracked me up! Then, the Rio song became Caillou (which we no longer let the boys watch because he is bossy and disrespectful - not to mention annoying). These kids crack me up!!
Cole has been such a sweety lately. I just love him to pieces. A couple times this week when he has been very close to getting into something, I said his name an "no" very loudly, to which he started pouting and almost crying, tearing up and sniffling, coming over with his head hung low - the most darling thing ever! Cole "says" a lot, but I don't understand it all - or, sometimes, I'm the only one besides Asher who understands... and often by luck and observation, not due to any real clarity :) Asher has become a pretty good translator.
Cole has started to hum and sing songs a lot more now. Anything he hears on the radio at a store, or songs we sing or songs on shows. He's just starting to pick up on it & mimic a lot more than before. He's doing simple shaped puzzles and really showing enjoyment in things like reading books and playing with his animal toys. And of course, he often brings 4-8 stuffed animals to bed every night, and you never know which one he will "demand" once he's already in bed. Last night is was the green stuffed pig from Angry Birds - but of course, he always NEEDS his monkey - we don't know how long he would cry without it, we've always found it within half an hour of putting him to bed (knock on wood).
Just now, Cole took off his shirt all by himself (first time ever) then proceeded to use it to wipe off a long string of drool that landed on his tummy. I tell you, he is the funniest little kid ever. Maybe it's the perpetual look of mischief on his face and his adorable orange & blonde hair, but I find him SO adorable almost all of the time! The other day we went out for a walk and he would say "Ah dee dar," then I would say "You see a car?" and he would reply "yeeeaaah" in the funniest little casual, hilarious, drawn out way possible. It made me laugh out loud at least 5 or 6 times. Plus, the way he dances during credits at the end of a show really cracks me up - especially the half scared-to-death, half having-the-time-of-his-life look on his face is priceless. And last tid-bit, he really hates having his pants off - he always gets really distressed and starts whining "pants" over and over until you explain why he's not wearing any or put some on him. Total opposite from Asher who loves to run across the entire house and fast as he can in just his underwear :)
I've really enjoyed being back home with them. I definitely find running a household a more difficult task than doing short-term missions, but it's one that God is making me better at each day (or at least each month I hope)! Food planning, health issues, dealing with discipline and training... these can get complicated really fast! But, I'm so glad to have two amazing boys who make me laugh all the time. And I'm so thankful for a husband who is a great dad and can pick up my slack willingly and lovingly. I feel like there is rarely a dull day and rarely a day where I can't find a bunch of reasons why they are all super fun to be around. I'm very blessed and hope that I handle this responsibility with much thankfulness and enthusiasm. I wasn't always happy or excited to be taking care of them, but I'm glad God is changing me into that kind of person - it's WAY better than being grumpy, fearful or ungrateful. If you're in that pit now... trust me, it's better to be out, no matter how much you want to stay that way! You won't regret it!!
Okay, tomorrow, I'm a bit busy with a photo-shoot (as long as the rain holds out) so, no promises on a Thailand post, but I hope so!! Thanks for keeping up - I'll put up a photo of the boys from yesterday in another post here in a minute...
Asher is getting to be such a big kid! He knows all his letters, knows what many words begin with by sounding it out and has started to ask what certain words spell when he sees them. Mark downloaded a little iPad app where it teaches you to trace letters and Asher has REALLY been glued to it. The week before I left, Asher was drawing inside of bubble letters, almost like tracing... so, in the next month or so I will try getting him to do some pre-school type of work - tracing inside letters and stuff like that. He seems very driven to learn so far!
Asher is also a GREAT big brother. At bedtime, Mark often asks Asher to go get Cole's PJ's. He ALWAYS brings back a matching pair! We've known for a long time that he is very observant and it's only becoming more and more apparent. Asher also does a great job giving Cole kisses and hugs before bedtime and nap time. He often asks to come in and give Cole a kiss while I am tucking him in for nap. Mark has been working on teaching Asher manners and so lately, once finished with a meal, he says "Mom, can I be excused?" in the sweetest little voice you ever heard! Also, he clears his dishes, gets a wipe, wipes his hands and face & always asks "Does that look good?" before he throws the wipe away. Love his cleanliness and consistency!
This conversation happened at dinner:
Asher: "Mom, the (awee ens) will hurt my eyes!"
Me: (thinking he is pretending) "Oh, the aliens will hurt your eyes huh?"
Asher" "No mom, the (oeeons) will hurt my eyes."
Me: "Oh, the ONIONS! Yes, that's right (insert muffled laughing)."
Funny.
Also, I mentioned the word diarrhea at dinner (I know, so taboo, but it happens when you have little ones sometimes) and Cole breaks out singing "Rio" over and over... cracked me up! Then, the Rio song became Caillou (which we no longer let the boys watch because he is bossy and disrespectful - not to mention annoying). These kids crack me up!!
Cole has been such a sweety lately. I just love him to pieces. A couple times this week when he has been very close to getting into something, I said his name an "no" very loudly, to which he started pouting and almost crying, tearing up and sniffling, coming over with his head hung low - the most darling thing ever! Cole "says" a lot, but I don't understand it all - or, sometimes, I'm the only one besides Asher who understands... and often by luck and observation, not due to any real clarity :) Asher has become a pretty good translator.
Cole has started to hum and sing songs a lot more now. Anything he hears on the radio at a store, or songs we sing or songs on shows. He's just starting to pick up on it & mimic a lot more than before. He's doing simple shaped puzzles and really showing enjoyment in things like reading books and playing with his animal toys. And of course, he often brings 4-8 stuffed animals to bed every night, and you never know which one he will "demand" once he's already in bed. Last night is was the green stuffed pig from Angry Birds - but of course, he always NEEDS his monkey - we don't know how long he would cry without it, we've always found it within half an hour of putting him to bed (knock on wood).
Just now, Cole took off his shirt all by himself (first time ever) then proceeded to use it to wipe off a long string of drool that landed on his tummy. I tell you, he is the funniest little kid ever. Maybe it's the perpetual look of mischief on his face and his adorable orange & blonde hair, but I find him SO adorable almost all of the time! The other day we went out for a walk and he would say "Ah dee dar," then I would say "You see a car?" and he would reply "yeeeaaah" in the funniest little casual, hilarious, drawn out way possible. It made me laugh out loud at least 5 or 6 times. Plus, the way he dances during credits at the end of a show really cracks me up - especially the half scared-to-death, half having-the-time-of-his-life look on his face is priceless. And last tid-bit, he really hates having his pants off - he always gets really distressed and starts whining "pants" over and over until you explain why he's not wearing any or put some on him. Total opposite from Asher who loves to run across the entire house and fast as he can in just his underwear :)
I've really enjoyed being back home with them. I definitely find running a household a more difficult task than doing short-term missions, but it's one that God is making me better at each day (or at least each month I hope)! Food planning, health issues, dealing with discipline and training... these can get complicated really fast! But, I'm so glad to have two amazing boys who make me laugh all the time. And I'm so thankful for a husband who is a great dad and can pick up my slack willingly and lovingly. I feel like there is rarely a dull day and rarely a day where I can't find a bunch of reasons why they are all super fun to be around. I'm very blessed and hope that I handle this responsibility with much thankfulness and enthusiasm. I wasn't always happy or excited to be taking care of them, but I'm glad God is changing me into that kind of person - it's WAY better than being grumpy, fearful or ungrateful. If you're in that pit now... trust me, it's better to be out, no matter how much you want to stay that way! You won't regret it!!
Okay, tomorrow, I'm a bit busy with a photo-shoot (as long as the rain holds out) so, no promises on a Thailand post, but I hope so!! Thanks for keeping up - I'll put up a photo of the boys from yesterday in another post here in a minute...
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