We had a nice, relaxing week at home. Samantha started back up with the library story time and this was the first week. Blake enjoys putting puzzles together and reading books while we are there. This session lasts until the end of August.

Blake has started to say words to songs that he hears often. It seems we often have music playing, especially children's songs and Blake has picked up words from the songs and knows when they will be coming. It seems both kids love music.

Samantha has started to pretend and act out stories. This week we had to play Baby Moses and the kids had to hide in baskets and the princess had to come and find them.

Samantha's Sabbath School lesson has brought about lots of biblical questions and it seems Samantha is trying to understand about Heaven, Jesus and sin. It's not always easy to explain things but we do our best to explain it so Samantha can understand.

Blake has really started to play with blocks. The house will be quiet and I'll wonder where he is and he'll come out carrying a stack of blocks. It is great to see him entertain himself and gain another skill.

Samantha likes weather. She always wants to know what the weather is going to be like that day and wants to watch the weather in the mornings so while at the library this week I picked up books on tornadoes, lightning and thunder. She wants to read them every night and asks questions all of the time about them.

We had some new friends over Saturday night for games. They have two children, the youngest is 5. Samantha and Blake enjoyed playing with them and we enjoyed getting to know our new friends better.

Samantha saw a craft in her Sabbath School lesson and wanted to make it so we made sheep on morning...

Samantha drew pictures one day to send to some people. I thought she did an awesome job!

Samantha wanted to help clean...

This week started off rocky because Blake was seriously tired. It seemed he cried a lot on Sunday and was grumpy. It was a culmination of little sleep on Sabbath and a short nap on Sunday. He slept well Sunday night and was back to his happy self on Monday.

We decided to take the kids to the library one evening. Samantha asks to play with the computers there but I am unable to do it with Blake so we went as a family. Dad and Samantha played on the computers and Blake and I put puzzles together. We had a great time and hope to do it again soon.

Blake has begun to show that he likes songs. In Sabbath school they sang, "Jesus loves the little ones like me, me, me." When he wants you to sing it he'll say, "me, me, me." and then look at you. Another one of his favorites is "I Just Want to Be a Sheep."

Just this week he's also started to ask us to pray for certain things. When I'm finished praying right before bed he'll say whatever he wants to pray for and say, "amen" as he's still only saying one word phrases.

Samantha has grown! I've often thought she was because she is sleeping a lot and often tells me her legs hurt. Sabbath she put on a pair of pants that confirmed it, they were up to her ankles. I think I need to start buying her bigger pants.

Samantha has begun praying out meal time. It warms my heart to hear her pray such meaningful prayers. She truly believes in prayers and if she isn't feeling well she asks that we pray to Jesus to help her feel better. We heard that she prayed in Sabbath School for the first time this week.

We enjoyed having Grandma and Grandpa come into town this week. I actually asked them to come in on Thursday so that they could watch the kids while I went to an appointment. I took advantage of them and did a bit of shopping after my appointment.

The whole reason they came into town was for Travis's birthday. He has been probably over 15 years since they've been able to help him celebrate. They were kind enough to take us out for his birthday and we completed the evening with cake and ice cream. We celebrated Grandpa's birthday too as it's only three days afters Travis's.

We've talked to Samantha about eventually she'll be moving out of her toddler bed into our "guest" bed, a double bed. Samantha told Grandma this and said, "here's the deal, when I get the bed there will be no grandparents sleeping in it." Samantha is not afraid to speak her mind or claim what is hers!

One night at supper she reported that Blake had eaten the "whole nine yards."

Friday we took Grandma to a gymnastics center that opens up to free play every other week. the kids love climbing, jumping and balancing. It gives them great exercise and wears them out and everyone had a great time.

Lastly, when Blake has taken or done something to Samantha and she's not utterly mad at him she'll say, "buuuudddyyy."

I can't believe I've actually blogged twice in a row now! Have a great week.


Random photos...

Baking dad's birthday cake...

Celebrating Dad and Grandpa's birthday...

Playing at the gym...

Samantha climbed to the top of this tower...

Blake came down with a cold about Sunday or Monday and made the beginning of the week miserable. We stayed home again and tried to get him back to health. He didn't seem to get it as bad as Samantha but his nose is still running a bit. It also messed up his sleeping and I spent 3 or so night in his room in the rocking chair with him. I was thrilled Friday night when he slept 6+- hours straight!

After telling Samantha time and time again to cough into her elbow Blake started doing it on his own. At first I gave him a high-five because he did it but then every time he coughed into his elbow he expected a high five.

Blake learned how to blow kisses this week. It's pretty cute to see him do it.

Samantha had a pretty good weeks despite the fact that she is sure she's still stick (at each prayer she is still asking Jesus to help her get better). It's been no secret that she's come into our bed every night. Finally this week she's begun to sleep in her bed every night. I believe she's getting better sleep because of it and I just hope she continues to do it and we've made a turning point.

Because of her not feeling well and needing a bit more sleep Samantha has been, at times, a bit more crabby. If you ask her something she may respond, "I'm not in the talking mood right now" or if I ask her to make up her mind she may say, "just do whatever you want to do." It's her way of saying leave-me-alone.

One night Samantha was quite on her toes and animated during supper time. Travis came home talking about work and how they had a leak in the roof. Samantha carried on a good conversation with him about it and told him they should take everything off and replace it.

She was thrilled Sabbath when we were invited to the Pastor's house along with another family who had a five-year-old girl. Samantha loved the interaction with another little girl.

Samantha has begun to love having her hair braided...

Random shots...

Samantha's sick face, her skin got raw from blowing her nose so much...

I brought out the paints one day and the kids had a great time...

We finally made it outside to build a snowan before the snow melted...

*Blake knows his own name and if you ask him who he is he will tell you. He won’t say Samantha’s name yet though.

* Samantha saw a dietician due to her high cholesterol. I had been keeping a log of the items she’s been eating and after reviewing it the dietician said that there wasn’t much more we could do in our diet except possibly add flax seed and Omega 3 eggs. She said that children her age with high cholesterol either are eating very poorly or it is hereditary. We will be eliminating all fruit juices, fruit snacks out of our diets however to lower her triclyercides.

*Blake saw the plastic surgeon for his birthmark on his cheek. We had conflicting opinions from the doctors regarding whether we should have it taken off or not. The plastic surgeon highly recommended that we have it taken off due to the fact that there is a 4% chance that it would become cancerous later on in life. He had no recommendation as to when we should have it taken off so we will probably wait a couple of years.

*Samantha and other children her age sang a song in the church’s cantata. She enjoyed every aspect of it from practicing at home and church to performing. She has even asked since then if she can do it again.

*Before Christmas Blake came down with a stomach flu. It wasn’t a couple of days later that both Samantha and I came down with the same thing only much worse. We survived and thankfully it was only a 24 hour flu. It was Samantha’s first experience throwing up and she was a trooper. She amazed me by her strength.

*Samantha loved wrapping presents. She loves cutting and taping so it was right up her ally. The cutting lines weren’t always straight but I think everyone understood.

*Our first Christmas celebration was with Travis’s extended family on the 19th. We enjoyed spending the weekend with Travis’s parents, it was very relaxing. Saturday evening we went to this Aunt and Uncle’s house to join the fun. Most of his extended family was there and it was fun to see everyone again.

*For the first time Travis’s parents and grandma traveled for Christmas and came to our house. They came into town a day early due to the weather and then ended up staying an additional day for the same reason. We enjoyed having them here for the extra time. Samantha had been praying for snow for Christmas and boy did she get it!

We had a special breakfast Christmas morning then opened our gifts. The kids really enjoyed the experience. I think Blake liked opening the gifts as much as anything else. We played with everything in the afternoon after a big turkey lunch.

*Travis’s parents left on Sunday and my parents came into town on Monday. Soon after they got here we opened presents. The kids loved all of the opening again and loved playing with their gifts.

While they were here we had to take our traditional trip to the mall and we took them to Wonderscope, our children’s museum and Fritz’s the train restaurant. I think they enjoyed both, I know the kids did.

*When it snowed Samantha wanted to make snow angels and go sledding. Well, she was able to make snow angels in our yard but we didn’t get sleds. I called around and no one had sleds. I knew my parents were coming that day so I called two of their WalMarts before I found sleds.

They brought them along and I think it may have been Samantha’s favorite gifts. Papa took her out in our neighbors yard and she loved it. On New Year’s we took the kids to a much bigger hill to slide down. Samantha loved it but Blake wasn’t so sure. Afterwards we stopped by Starbucks to warm up.

*Before Christmas on a “warm” night we took the kids to Crown Center to see all of the lights. They enjoyed the large tree, lots of lights and the things to play on. Samantha enjoyed watching everyone ice skate and keeps on asking when she can ice skate

*Samantha is going to be our little adventurer. She wants a scooter for her birthday and has already asked about rollerblading. We may have lots of trips to the hospital in our future.

*Blake has his first hair cut before Christmas. Dad had declared long ago it was time for a cut and I kept on putting him off. Blake did so well…he sat perfectly still while the lady trimmed it all up. I was so proud of him.

*Just this week Samantha has gotten sick again but this time with a nasty cold. She spent one entire day on the couch because she felt so awful. She stayed home from church today but I promised her I’d bring her home her craft. On the way out she told Blake and I to be careful on the roads.

*Blake has started to last through the entire church service due to snacks, stickers and books. It’s been great to sit through a service even though I don’t get anything out of it yet.

*Blake has started to actually give kisses. He would kiss all of his stuffed animals and even have them kiss me. It’ s adorable to hear him make the kissing sound.

Blake absolutely loves his new Thomas pajamas and almost begs to wear them every night...
Watching the snow come down...

Random...

Celebrating Christmas with BeBe and Papa who made the trip to see us...

Sledding on our neighbors "hill" (BeBe and Papa had to bring sleds with them from Wisconsin because we couldn't find any here)...

We took them to Wonderscope, a children's museum to play...

We took the kids to a "real" hill on New Year's day to go sledding and then a treat of Starbucks afterwards. I am pretty sure they both had a good time...