Who Needs Fancy Toys?

We are on the brink of summertime and these two were ecstatic when I told them to put on their bathing suits one afternoon after naptime.  You would have thought I said we're going to Disney kids!  

A water hose and a plastic container box made for hours of outdoor fun.  

I love the things these two have been saying recently.  The other day McClain cupped my face in his hands and said with all seriousness Mommy, I need to tell you somfin'...we gonna go to da gym, and Target, and then we gonna get some money and go to Monkey Joes.  Ok sweet boy, sounds good to me!  Can you guess places we frequent? 

Lucy Mills will just look at me and smile and add Mommy, I just really love you. 
The feeling is mutual kiddo. 

Whenever McClain has something he is excited to say he begins a sentence with Hey, guys! 

When all four of us are together at home, McClain will get a big grin on his face and say Mommy is home, Daddy home, Sissy home, McClain home and Maggie home.  Our whole family!  I love the security he finds in us being together.

Early one morning I heard both children talking on the baby monitor.  They were playing and squeeling and just having a ball together.  The next thing I hear is Lucy Mills saying here McClain, don't be scared, I'll catch you.  Yep...she taught him how to climb out of the crib.  I am a firm believer in keeping them contained in the crib as long as possible.  But now that those monkeys are climbing out the cage, the bed transition is coming sooner than expected.

McClain and I were in line at Target one day in front of a gentleman wearing a big, dark eye patch.  McClain looked directly at him and said Hey man! Then he faced me and said Mommy dat man's a pirate! Grrrrr....  Luckily the man laughed alongside my outgoing, extraverted toddler. 

McClain has been wearing big boy underpants all day for a few weeks now.  During a recent Walmart trip I noticed something leaking out of my cart.  After checking my purchases, I realized that my two year old was the culprit.  We are making progress but still have room for improvement in the potty training arena.  But hey, he is just 2! 

I love this precious pair.
Being their mom is the best! 

Can You Believe I'm Blogging Regularly?

At three and a half years of age, sassy girl here loves her necklaces and bracelets, fingernails painted, wearing dresses with leggings, singing praise music in the car, flip flops, wearing her pink tutu under her clothes, and flirting with her friends' daddies. 

One day I asked her to spell her name for me.  She has mastered writing and spelling Lucy so she tried her hand at Lucy Mills.  After tracing the letters I wrote for her, she began dictating L-U-C-Y M-I-eleven-S.  Whoops.  I suppose those lower case "l's" can be a little tricky sweet girl. 

One of my favorite Lucy Mills' sayings is God will heal it.  Whenever she has a scratch, a bump, or if someone is sick she replies with the confident response that God will heal it.  The faith of a child is a precious thing indeed. 

Thankfully it has taken three and half years, but she has developed her first fear.  With spring upon us and all the flowers in full bloom, the bumble bees are buzzing and wreaking havoc on my sweet girls' nerves.  She is terrified of the flying bees and lets out a blood curdling scream whenever one buzzes her way.  She has never been stung, yet she dreads the mere presence of the bees, and now all other insects.  A fly got in the house the other day and I found her screaming on the floor in the fetal position.  We are working on the comforting fact that God made all creatures and critters, and she is safe. Progress is slow and steady. 

Aunt Marian is still graciously giving her time weekly for Trav and I to enjoy a date night.  (For which we are forever indebted to her!)  When she was walking out to her car after babysitting one night, Lucy Mills called out goodnight sweet girl! Love you! 

This guy.  He is a gem.  He just needs a pair of golf clubs and he's ready.

He is funny without trying to be, he loves peanut butter with a passion, country music, his blankey, Curious George, his Suggie, carrying around his juice cup, riding his trike at break-neck speed down the driveway, getting his hands dirty, and undoing anything Mommy has just cleaned.  And I love everything about him. 

I love hearing him say yay Mommy! Dat makes me happy! when I give him the answer he is looking for. 

What makes all of us happy - Daddy coming home. 

Even Maggie joins in on the daddy's home from work celebration. 

Grandmother and Grandaddy gave the children a trampoline for Christmas and it has been a source of entertainment (and exercise) for these little ones.   We've quickly become the popular house among the other neighborhood kids.

McClain loves it.  

Just a little.  Make that a lot.

About a year ago a new family moved into the house next door to ours.  They have been such a blessing and we have all become fast friends.  They have four children and their youngest, Will, is McClain's age exactly.  McClain told me recently that Will is his best buddy.

Life is good.  Not always perfect, but a lotta love lives here.

The Storybook Parade

Today at Lucy Mills' preschool the children had the chance to dress up like their favorite storybook character.  The boys and girls strutted their costumes,  storybook in hand, down main street waving at the mommies and daddies.  It was precious. 

Leading the pack was Lucy Mills' teacher Minnie Mouse, oh I mean Mrs. Pack.  She is a wonderful godly lady and has been such a blessing to my sweet girl. 

Here comes her class!

Did you spot Angelina the Ballerina in there?  After a morning debate over if she wanted to be Fancy Nancy, Pinkilicious, or Angelina she made the call to wear her ballerina outfit.  But "not the mouse ears mama...they might mess up my bow."  Well of course they would darlin'. 

She was the only ballerina in her class.  

Proud mama moments #1 - look closely and you'll see a pink bracelet on her arm.  Mrs. Pack gave Lucy Mills a "Caught Doing Kindness" bracelet earlier in the morning.  When I asked what she did she just smiled at me and said "I was just silly and laughing with Bryan." Hmmm...

Proud mama moment #2 - The children walked through the parents and onlookers twice.  Both times she waved at McClain, jumped out of line to give him a little hug followed with an "I love you Buddy."

Here she is reaching for him.  

The storybook parade was just one of the many adorable things her preschool does.  It has been a wonderful first year of school for her. 

Don't worry McClain, you get to go next year.  ;)

When I picked her up after the parade I snapped a pic or two of Lucy Mills and her superhero, Bryan. 

She is smitten.  

I've never seen her smile so big! 

We are so thankful for a wonderful year in Mrs. Pack's class. 

Keeping Up

Spring is here and I am loving life lately with my littles.  

Last week both preschool and CBS had spring break and the downtime from our routine gave me a chance to realize we are on the brink of summertime.  Usually a little panic grips me when I think about how I will entertain these two during the dog days of summer, but last week offered a hint of gentleness.  

We threw our "schedule" to the wind and enjoyed the unplanned moments in the week.  Taking walks by the lake, teaching Lucy Mills to ride her big girl bike, snuggling up together to read book after book,  and really just taking hold of the ordinary moments that make my life extraordinary.  Children are so teachable.  So impressionable.  So precious. 

Sweet girl is finally tall enough to reach the pedals on her princess bike and a day doesn't go by that she doesn't want to ride it.  Thankfully we live on a cul-de-sac.   

She is pretty proud of herself. 

Yet she still wants Mama to walk beside her "just in case." 

I didn't grow up wearing a bike helmet and never gave it a second thought.  After having some friends over to ride bikes one afternoon, Lucy Mills and McClain instantly insisted on getting bike helmets like Mary Wallace and Banks.  So off to Walmart we went to let the kids pick out which one they wanted.  I think McClain weighs almost as much as his Spiderman helmet.  

This boy loves his dog.  

Maggie puts up with a lot from these little ones but she sure does give us so much love.  

My neighbor asked if Maggie was spoiled and I have no idea what gave him that impression. 

I have begun potty training Coolio here.  We've had some hits and misses, literally. 

We enjoyed a visit from Grandmother and Grandaddy over Easter weekend.  The children light up for their doting grandparents.  

Our time was special - an indoor egg hunt, neighborhood walks, sidewalk chalk drawings, grilling out, and Trav and I even slipped away for a relaxing date night.  McClain is officially obsessed with ipads and cell phones.  He swiped Grandaddy's phone and enjoyed teaching him a few things about this technology. ;)

Over a month ago my best friend from my Columbia College days had her first child.  I had the privledge of taking sweet Mary Madison's newborn pictures.  

For the last ten years, Mary Madison's mom Cara and I have been dreaming about the day we would be mama's to our double-named little girls.  What a joy to see this wish become a reality.  

Lucy Mills is in love with Mary Madison - wants to hold her, feed her, share her blanket, her bed, everything with that sweet babe.  I was so proud to witness such a gentle, nurturing side of my daughter. 

I have seen both children grow in their love of learning.  We spend time learning and counting numbers, working on letters, and phonics, but I also realize they are 3 and 2 years old.  As long as it's fun and engaging we go with it.  Lucy Mills loves the memory game and has gotten quite good as it.  Of course I am biased but both children seem so smart.  They even teach me a thing or two somedays. 

I was doing laundry one day and McClain scampered in and started putting on Travis' clothes.  I thought I'd snap a picture now to capture how big the shirt it is my little guy.  Maybe we will hang onto this shirt and take another picture of McClain wearing it say, his senior year of high school.  

It swallows him now but I know I will blink and it will be just his size.  

He is almost as handsome as his daddy in it. ;)