Mathilda Rose turns 2!

Tildy is our ball of spunk and we all had fun celebrating her birthday. Leading up to her birthday she learned to say "two augus" when asked her age. Much the same as Henry did when he was turning two. Tildy loves being part of anything her older siblings are doing and especially likes following Hank's lead in getting into mischief. She watches his every move and the two of them are either loving one another or driving each other crazy. It seems only fitting that Tildy wears both Ruby and Henry hand-me-downs (as shown above). 

Everyone wanted in on the birthday action. 

Tildy loves building with legos, which is the only activity she will sit still for. I love watching her build with her little fingers and listen to her breath heavy as she concentrates. She will say, "I building a house, mom." Mathilda also narrates everything she does and her vocabulary gets bigger by the day. 

Leading up to her birthday, when asked what she wanted she responded, "Hello Kitty cake." She was pleased about blowing out her candles. 

We love you, Mathilda! Thanks for adding so much life and spunk to our family. Our family wouldn't be complete without you keeping us on our toes. 

Ruby Elizabeth is 6!

Happy Birthday, Ruby! I love how Ruby appreciates tradition. I overheard her telling a friend about some of our birthday traditions. She told her friend about the balloons and gifts she finds in her room when she wakes-up on her birthday, and how she gets to choose her birthday breakfast. A great reminder that the little things make life good. 

Ruby started kindergarten this year and looks more and more grown-up to me. I have mixed emotions about this. I enjoy watching her blossom into herself and seeing her interpret and understand the world around her. But I can't help but mourn a bit about the childhood she is flying through, and realize that before I know it she will be all grown-up. 

Ruby loves having friends and playing with them. Her ears are fine-tuned to hear when Hazel and Maren from next door are outside playing. She races out the house to see if she can join the fun. Ruby needs a constant companion. "Mom, will you play with me." "Mom, what are we going to do next." "I can't play by myself!" (insert pouty face).   

Ruby is also helpful with Henry and Tildy. Lately I love to hear Ruby upstairs teaching Henry something or instructing him how to play a make-believe game. She always want to be to the one to get Mathilda out of her bed in the morning and gets mad when I tell her she can't wake Tildy up.

I also love being in Primary with Ruby. She radiates when she sings during singing time and like a sponge, soaks up the sharing time lesson. Occasionally, we make eye contact and I wink at her and she winks back...warms my heart every time and I feel so blessed she is mine.

Three cheers for Ruby!

Our Tildy. The one-year-old.

My favorite picture from when she was born.

What can I say...she's my best eater and best sleeper. And just like the three who came before, she has stolen my heart. I want to eat her up every. single. day.

Ode to my three-year-old. We like to call him Rascal Hank. 

He is a fun loving, wild, curious, intense, and sweet little three-year-old. 

He HATES wearing shoes, and when you ask if he needs some his response, "No, I'm fine."

He likes rice and beans, gogurts, otter pops, hot dogs, and crackers. (and up until he turned three, a big bottle of milk...he's been a champ getting rid of it.)

He loves exploring outside, is curious about everything. Likes playing with his little cars and playing inside real cars. 

He is one mean scooter rider and a great little climber. And he doesn't mind being told that "your doing a great job, Hank!" frequently.

He is also king of time-outs. But after a little pout session is quick to bounce back into action.

He insists on having his back and stomach tickled as he falls asleep, and lately prefers sleeping on the floor.

He likes reading books and is always asking "what does that say, mom" when he sees a word anywhere (billboard, sidewalks, street signs....)

We love our fun little rascal!

9 month Tildy.

Someone stop time! This girl keeps stealing all our hearts. She's now crawling and there is nothing better then watching her move around and hearing Ruby cheer her on. When I took these photos, Hank was my special helper. We all love you Miss Tildy Wildy. 

She's crawling, pulling up to a stand in her crib, eating everything in sight, clapping, jabbering, drooling (trying to grow some teeth, she still has none), and grinning that cute grin of hers...it never gets old receiving a Tildy smile. 

Ruby Rides!

A few Saturdays back, Ruby learned how to ride a two-wheeler. No more training wheels for this girl! I don't know who is more proud, Ruby or Hugh. I was working that day and Hugh sent me the most awesome video of Ruby riding. I couldn't wait to get home and hear all about it. This is how it went down...as told by Ruby. 

"Dad was mowing the lawn and Maren (our next door neighbor) was trying to ride her two-wheeler with her dad. And I thought I could figure it out so I asked dad if I could get my bike out."

And the rest is history. Ruby pretty much taught herself that Saturday. She also describes this as "wobbling around a bit until I figured out how to balance." We had taken her training wheels off a few weeks back and Hugh tried a little with her, but Ruby would get frustrated and request her training wheels back. 

It has been so much fun riding around the neighborhood together. We've gone a few family bike rides with the two littles in the trailer and Ruby riding along side us (actually, she prefers to be in front :). I think my heart my burst each time I watch her in front of me pedaling away with enthusiasm and pure joy. I know that I feel joy just watching her! This has been a great reminder how wonderful it is to accomplish something because of hard work and dedication. 

Here's to many more family bike rides! Woohoo, Ruby! 

Gearing up for soccer season.

Ruby is playing soccer this year...her first time! She is so excited and even more thrilled that Hugh is her coach. She's been telling everyone she is starting soccer and her dad is going to be her coach. She's even invited some of our neighbors to come watch her. Last Saturday, we took a family outing to Scoreboard Sports and she picked out some soccer cleats and shin guards. I loved watching Ruby and Hugh in the soccer store together...I'm not sure who was more pleased, Ruby or Hugh. Each time she tried on a pair of cleats she had to run around to "test them out". She originally wanted a pink pair of cleats...I encouraged her to find some that her brother could wear as well. I'm glad she decided on the yellow ones. I kept questioning if she really needed cleats and Hugh (the more thrifty one of the two of us) said she did. Once she put them on, I was sold too!

Tonight, Hugh held a little practice with the girls so everyone could get to know each other. All day Ruby kept reminding me she had soccer practice tonight. She couldn't wait to get all her gear on to go. Once again, it warmed my heart to watch both Ruby and Hugh. Ruby listened intently to Hugh, with her hands in her pocket, so eager to kick the ball and interact with her teammates. Hugh was so sweet with the girls...a proud wife moment for me. The whole time, Ruby had a little skip in her step. I know it's in vain, but I hope she always likes doing things with her mom or dad this much. One can dream.

The past week Ruby has been intent on coming up with a name for her team. "What name should we do, Meg?" she would ask. I kept telling her to wait until practice so she could ask her teammates too. Once the practice was over she ran over to tell me about the name they decided on..."soccer girls, well actually, I think it is soccer girls rule," she told me.  Hugh clarified that the "rule" part is their cheer and their official name is soccer girls.

Here's to a fun season, Soccer Girls!

This little Hank of mine.

Hank always has a ball with him. Everyday he hands me his shoes and asks to go outside to play with his "boop" (hoop). He would shoot baskets all day long if I let him. And when he gets done practicing his shots, he puts the ball on the ground, pushes me against the wall, and kicks the ball to me. "Sotter" he says. If I go inside for a second, he whines until I come back out either to watch or pass the ball with him. Although it is April, some mornings our winter coats are still needed.

And although Hank is all boy...this kid loves his blankets and binkie like nobody's business. After some morning errands this is where I found Hank...asleep on the floor after trying to pull his blanket from the crib. For whatever reason, he must have both blankets. 

Last week, Hank was sick all week and after two trips to the pediatrician...we finally found that pesky ear infection delaying his recovery. (I had ear infections all the time as a child...I'm starting to think Hank is following suit.) He had a rough time sleeping and found his way into our bed many a night. Most nights, he kept requesting the "toutch" "show" and "buzz". He just wanted to sleep on the couch and watch a show...specifically Toy Story. This quickly turned into a bad habit which has now been nipped in the bud. It was hard to say no to his cute little face and high pitched requests. 

Hank is also loving Go, Dog, Go! Just like Ruby. (This was one of my favorites as a child as well. My dad still talks about me saying, "It's a dog party!"). Surprisingly, Hank will sit through the entire story. 

I sure love this kid. Tantrums and all. Just the other day I wouldn't give him a treat at the grocery store so he had to run away full force until he found a caution cone to kick. This type of thing happens whenever he gets mad. I find it hard not to laugh. But on the other hand, he melts my heart when I hear his sweet "pease" when he wants a bottle of milk and then says "tay too" after I give it to him. Or watching him sleep so peacefully after a long day of playing hard. I also won't forget the smile that spread across his face when I picked him up from nursery a few Sundays back. He was so glad to see me...and I felt so lucky to be the mom that got to scoop him up and take him home. 

My monkey man, Hank.

Trying to get his beloved blankets and binkie 

"Thanks for retrieving my binkie, Mom. Now, how to get these blankets out?"

...

Our sweet Henry Scott will be 18-months-old on the eleventh. I can hardly believe it! He sure keeps things exciting in our house. We have recently nicknamed him "Stitch" after Disney's Lilo and Stitch. He's sweet, destructive, active, mischievous, and oh so funny. His cuteness and darling grin keep his punishments minimal after his naughty shenanigans...(i.e. throwing his food everywhere, dumping water everywhere, throwing balls at the T.V., taking his plastic bat to the T.V.) He is also getting good at saying sorry to his sis. When told to say sorry, he gives a hug and kiss. Just the other day, I told Ruby to say sorry to Hank, and without hesitation Hank went to Ruby with a hug and kiss. Pretty cute. 

Hank is really starting to talk these days...some mornings he can be heard jabbering away in his crib, waiting for someone to get him out. 

Hank's vocab:

mama, dada, mine, ball, fooball, NO!, uby (Ruby), neigh (horse), moo (cow), duck, tat (cat), be (blankie/binkie), me (milk), pease (please), ta to (thank you), go (goal).

I had such a nice mom moment this morning. While getting ready for the day, my heart was full listening to Hugh play some "indoor soccer" with the kids. Hank was squealing with delight and repeating "go" after Hugh and Ruby would shout GOAL! I felt very lucky to be a mom...especially Ruby and Hank's. 

I turned around...

...and she's all grown-up!

The other day, I was busy in the kitchen making dinner. Of course Ruby asked what we were having, and was not happy with my response (no big surprise around here...she likes a handful of foods). She then proceeded to tell me she wanted a pb&j sandwich, and that she could make it herself. I said okay, with my back to her while making dinner at the stove. When I turned around, this is what I found...my cute Ruby all grown-up. Making her own food, in the outfit she picked herself...bows and all. 

Where has the time gone? I sure love this Ruby of mine...she really is such a gem!

 Hank's Sunday best...

...doesn't keep him from playing hard.

He's got some mad dunking skills, and this kid loves to kick the ball around...he could do it all. day. long. Let's just say, his dad is proud. 

 This cute boy...

...is getting so big and continues to steal my heart. 

I love the way he calls me, "mu-mu-mum"and the way he points his finger and grunts when he wants something. The best is at mealtime...he sits in his highchair like a king, ordering me around the kitchen with that finger of his until I serve him what he wants. 

This kid loves balls and books. He is always pushing/throwing a ball around the house and lately, he loves finding books. I especially enjoy when I see him with a book trying to read it...he jabbers to himself has he turns the pages. One morning he spent a good 5 minutes flipping the pages of one single board book....front to back, then back to front.

He is so close to walking full-time. He's been walking around the house, but in little spurts. After a few steps, then falling, and a few more wobbly steps, then falling...he decides crawling or walking on his knees is much more efficient. 

Unlike his sister....he LOVES his binky and blanket. He would drag his blanket around all day if I let him. Same thing with his binky....luckily, he functions just fine without these objects, but he if sees them he NEEDS them (remember the whole pointing and grunting thing?) It is actually pretty sweet...I call him my little Linus. His blue blanket was actually Hughie's, a gift from their grandmother Marilee. Makes me think of Hughie every time I see Hank toting that blanket around, a sweet reminder that Hank has a big brother in Heaven looking out for him. 

And my favorite thing of all, is watching Ruby and Hank interact and play together. Just the other night they were both in the bathtub splashing each other and giggling to their hearts' content. It was one of those fulfilling mom moments where you want to freeze time. They were so happy being together...make me think how lucky they are to have each other, and how lucky I am that they are mine....forever. 

So proud of himself.

One day I was busy cleaning and getting some things done around the house. I was lost in my tasks when I suddenly realized that quietness had overcome the basement...never a good thing, right? I rushed into the playroom to make sure Hank wasn't getting into some sort of trouble. These pictures are what I found. Cute Hank just sitting in the lion chair...pleased he had climbed onto it all. by. himself. When I walked in, a huge smile spread across his face and he started clapping. He still claps for himself whenever he climbs onto any chair. I hope he always finds confidence in his accomplishments.