To remember: Words Edition

In the thick of parenting and training these Little Ones God has given I want to remember these hilarious words, the laughs they brought during hard days and the smiles that came from the girls when I laughed.  Here are a few treasures:

Billiboons  = ballons  (Lena)

Theeeese  = cheese, during a photo (Lena)

Kiweeds = kiwis (Emmie)

Likstrip = lipstick (aka chapstick) (Lena)

Liddle Room - living room (Lena)

Lena has the most adorable little lisp and Emmeline chews her words sometimes so many other words have come out that are beyond funny. When I remember them I'll add more here! 

January doings

In this, the tail end of January:

We're reading a lot of books about springtime, bluebirds and gardens. Since it isn't going to snow we're moving along to the next season.  We have been studying the ballet Swan Lake recently and have read the story along with listened to the music.

We're wondering about types of clouds, painting with our new artist kids (bought with own coins saved up at the consignment store), We're draining detached rainbows, bird collages, small stories and solar circles.

We're making up new languages for imaginary families called the "Rylee Kimball family" and narrating tales with our little people. This is all good unless it is at 9 pm when you are supposed to be sound asleep in your Big Girl Bed

We're exploring colors by melting crayons and blending paint, talking about "beautiful sunsets" and the shape of tree branches in the winter and the contrasts of light and dark by having special candle lit dinners with Great Grandma's fine china.

We're playing in blanket tents and forts and a cousin huddle at Uncle Mark's birthday party. We're playing the piano every day.

We're learning to be truly repentant, what sympathy means, that it is ok to be sad about things and about death and the Resurrection. We're learning to eat Paleo breakfasts with home-made kraut, smoothies, carrots, sprouts, sausage and kefir. We're learning to be thankful for each thing we have been given and for the people in our lives.

This and That

 It sometimes amazes me that we can have a week where we hardly go anywhere due to grey winter weather and yet be so busy. Life with little people is rich and full, and exhausting! We were able to take Nana to visit Cora Grace and we all spent a little time together. Otherwise we've been busy with crafts and addition, piano practice and summersaults.

In the bleak midwinter

 It snowed! We have enjoyed some snowy days here in Telford and two little people have had such fun traipsing through a Narnia-like woods out back.  The post-Christmas re-arrange and sort is underway and many art projects, imaginary lands and even a few made up languages. Lena decided to potty train herself, and we couldn't be more pleased. One of our highlights of this week was a visit with Cora Grace Kleeman- the girls finally got to meet her. It'll be such fun having 5 little cousins on this side, and a new girl cousin at that! Though, truth be told, Lena was much more interested in playing with big boy cousins Sam and Ben and their trucks. Thank goodness both Kleeman and Dieffenbach families have lots of boys because Lena loves trucks and tractors! It is cold, but the sun is bright and we've been having a fire most nights along with tea and biscotti!