Family Sunday, or should I say FUNday!

Dear Norah,

This week your turned 3 years old. I know I say this every time, but I cannot believe how fast time is flying. Your legs have sprouted, your arms are thinner, your neck is longer. You can jump on one foot, run fast, dig holes and swing all by your self.



I am amazed at your imagination and love the stories you and Maddie create and act out on a daily basis. The two of you LOVE the Little Einsteins cartoon and have adopted yourselves as each of the characters. You are Annie and Madelynn is June. Sometimes from another room, I will hear you say..."OH NO! It's Big Jet!!!" "Hurry, we mustn't waste time!" I will look into the room to see you two in a variety of mismatched costume wear, bracelets dangling from your wrists, dancing and singing your way to safety.



Besides dress up, you like to gallivant around in nothing, sometimes just your underwear. Could be 10 degrees out, and you are in your underwear. Most of the time, there is just nothing we can do about it, you will wail and flail your arms around in a dramatic fashion at the thought of getting dressed. Girl, drama gets you no where, but wailing and flailing like a lunatic is a life long skill that will surely get you where you need to go in life...keep it up.



We do about 5 time-outs a day for various things, hitting, pinching, grabbing, yelling, not listening, and so on. Besides my obvious love for time-outs, I also cherish the mornings when you first wake up, come into bed with me and rub your cheek against my cheek and softly say "lovey, lovey". You will sometimes throw your arm around my neck and fall back asleep. The sound of your breathing is so sweet. Those are the moments I will remember over all of the times outs we do.



The binkie fairy visited this week to collect you binkies for other babies who need them. After decorating a basket full of chewed up binkies and making a card for the fairy, we placed it outside for the night and went to bed.

That was a tough night, for the both of us. You didn't throw a tantrum, you didn't scream and cry or flail your body around. But you did actually feel a loss. Your lower lip quivered as you weakly cried for your binkie. I felt so bad for you, you were really feeling lost without binkie and I felt bad making you go through that. It was hours before you fell asleep and then you woke up throughout the night bursting with short screams, not really knowing what to do with yourself or how to settle down. You did a great job giving up binkie and we are very proud of you!

The binkie fairy was kind enough to leave some gifts which you we ecstatic about. One gift was a binkie blankie which she instructed you to love and hug when you miss your binkies... Which you did that night and every night since.



This fall you will be heading to Preschool which you will be so ready for. You LOVE your school program now and when I come to pick you up, your face lights up and you run as fast as your little legs can carry you and wrap your arms around my legs singing, MOMMA!! MOMMA!!!! That fills me with love and smiles...keep that one up too.

You and Maddie have started a dance class, tap and ballet. You have been waiting literally 1/2 your life for this moment. Ever since Maddie started dance class a year and a half ago, you were on the sidelines mimicking every move like you were part of the show. I found classes that start for 3 year olds and you are elated about it. We bought tap shoes which the two of you wear in the laundry room to practice.

A while ago, you came up with a very special dance that only you can do..The Butty-butty butt butt dance. Like a little chicken, you tuck your arms under and wiggle your butt back and forth. There is something so cute and so dear about it. Just your own little dance that adds a bit of joy to our lives. You, little one, are so unique and special to us and we just want to wish you a Happy 3rd Birthday little Bugga.



lovey, lovey,

Momma

Norah's first haircut!

Oh my precious bugga.. you have been dreaming of this day for so long. Ever since we took Madelynn for a haircut a few months ago, you have reinacted "hair salon" at home for days on end. You were fascinated with the hair washing station and at home you would lay on a pillow so your head would hang off the end and pretend Kori was washing your hair. Well today was your turn and you did so well! You loved every minute of it and were very patient with the process. Afterwards you were a whole new kid, and yes, bug, your new hair cut is "bery bery" pretty. Girl, you've been wearing those glasses for days, and I just think it sums up your personality, along with the scarf that you tuck in the back of your underware so you can have a tail.

Before:

The distractions of an active mind.

Norah is at an age where she cannot, completely cannot perform a single task when asked only once, or repeatedly for that matter. For example, this morning I sent her upstairs to get her empty sip cup so I could fill it with milk. " OK!" she yells and skedattles upstairs. She comes down a few minutes later with a fairy dress on and 2 binkies in her mouth. "Norah, sip cup please", "OH YA!!" she sacheys upstairs again. This time comes down in a purple swim suit. " MOM! I'm a scuba girl, a purple scuba girl!!!!" I realize the sip cup is not coming downstairs, so I head up to find it. I notice it has been moved, she did go up and pick it up, but it has been discarded on the floor in a heap of distractions. Oh its got to be tough being 2.

Bloopers

Norah has a great set of friends and finally has her own individual playgroup set up every Monday, just like Madelynn had at her age. It rotates houses each week and this week was our turn to host.

Norah is the oldest and so far the only one potty trained, so I was on diaper duty. At one point I went around the room asking each child if they had poops.

"Dane, do you have poops?"

Uh uh

"Reece, do you have poops?"

no uh

Jaime, do you have poops?

shakes her head

"Norah do you have poops?"

Laughing...nope!

"Teddy bear, do you have poops?"

Laughter again....

"Truck do you have poops?"

Laughter from everyone.

Norah says, " MOM! Trucks don't have butts!!! Only WE do!!!"

South Dakota Road Trip!

This summer we decided to road trip it for our vacation. The girls are semi-old enough to handle the car ride and after 7 hours, and they did really well. Except for the "she's looking at me" fights and the "mom, mom, mom, mom, mom" coming from the back of the car, I was really impressed with how they did. When we arrived at the KOA Mt Rushmore, it was like the pearly gates of heaven opening up and songs sung by little cherubs were fluttering by our ears. This place has it all, as a matter of fact, the first day of our trip, we stayed at the camp ground just to check it out. This place has stables and horseback riding, pools and a splash zone, a jumping pillow, putt putt golf, movies on the lawn, playground, pancake breakfasts, hay rides, live music at night, ice cream parlor, pizza place, laundry....I mean...we could never have left and had a great time.

We saw Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Bear Country USA, and Old McDonalds Petting Zoo. The girls love it, had a blast and we can't wait to go again.