Changes

I found this in Regan's homework papers she brought home:

Write about some ways in which you have changed since you were a baby.

I grew more hair. I'm taller since I was a baby. I've got glasses.I have earings. I have some grown-up teeth. I go to school. I do homework.

How will you change as you grow into an adult?

I will learnn to drive. I'll have children. I will ger maryed. I'll go to high school.

Overhead conversation between Erin and Regan

(in a whispered voice)

Erin: You know what I wish my middle name was?

Regan: What?

Erin: FUN! Erin FUN Meyer!

Regan: ****Hysterically laughing****

Food explosion!

Regan came home from school the other day and as soon as I saw her I said What Happened to YOU?! She just laughed and said well I tried to open my yogurt and the lid came off so fast the yogurt jumped all over my shirt, my face, and glasses. Then I went to put my hat on and the kid sitting next to me was eating nachos I guess he got cheese on my hat. So she had a mixture of yogurt, nacho cheese, and ketchup all over her shirt, face, glasses, and hair! GOOD GRIEF!

Ambition

Regan got the student of the month award today for being the most ambitious 2nd grader in her class! Yeah for Regan!!

I should add that it was hat day at Regan's school so that is why the principal is wearing a hat.

New visitor

The girls were both so excited to see that their fairies had a new visitor.

Busy

Jordan is keeping me running this week. He just started Driver's Education this week too. I now know how it feels to be the Mom Taxi cab service!

Story time

Practice, practice, practice

Jordan had his first football practice today. He has never played football before but decided he wanted to give it a try. I came to pick him up from practice and they were not quite finished yet so we watched from the parking lot. He had a smile on his face the entire time. So my guess is he was having a good time, as you may remember when you were 15 you didn't share that kind of information with your parents.

As practice was coming to an end they all got into a huddle and I could tell Jordan was unsure what he was suppose to do so he kind of lagged behind as the boys all put their arms around each other for their huddle. It warmed my heart to see the one of the other boys and the coach put an arm on either side of Jordan and pull him into the huddle! I am so happy that he is willing to give this a try and more than anything just having a good time, because that's what its all about isn't it?

I know the boys probably looked a lot more like the first picture but as his mom they looked a bit more like the second picture to me. I was thinking that as one of the mom's introduced me to her son (one of Jordan's teammates) and said let me introduce you to my little boy Rafael who was by no means little! He was definitely built like a football player but in his mom's eyes he would always be her little sunshine like my Jordan will be to me.

Preschool

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Tea Party

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Mad Hatter's tea party

Today I took the girls to a Mad Hatter's tea party followed by the theater production at the Tacoma Children's theater. It was soooo cute! They had them each pick out a hat to where for the occasion and they got to pick out cinnamon or peppermint tea. They got to put as much cream and sugar in as they chose. They served pastries, cucumber sandwiches and tarts. The best part was when they broke into song and danced around the room for the kids. Lots of photo ops, I think both girls liked it! Poor Erin was terrified of the queen though b/c she kept going around the room saying OFF with their heads!

Me and my brother

We took Regan out to do a little shopping. Jordan stayed at home to take care of Erin. When I came home this where I found the two of them. Don't you think he will be a good daddy some day?

Side note: Can you believe how fast his hair grows?

Erin's preschool graduation

Well this week was a bit a mile stone in our house. We had our last graduate from preschool. So come this fall no more little ones at home with mommy (well half the day anway as Erin will be going to half day kindergarden)

Her school had the cutest graduation ceremony where they each received a certificate and they sang us songs that had learned. Afterwards we had a BBQ potluck lunch and then we let the kids run crazy fun celebrating with bubbles and sidewalk chalk outside. Fun day!

Happy Birthday Uncle Nathan!

Or as we refer to him in our family the big Nathan now that we have a cousin named Nathan as well ;). Or would you prefer to be called the big Naders? Hope you have a great day and eat a piece of cake for me and if you need to get a second helping to see if it tastes as good as you think.

When I grow up I wanna be. . .

Erin told me today on her way to preschool that she wants to be a cowgirl when she grows up. I think this is due to seeing the horse we see each day as we drive to her school but I could see her do it as she has a great love for animals. Honestly Christian and I had envisioned her being a vet or working in a zoo.

Regan says she would like to be a photographer when she grows up. I too could see this as she definitely has an artistic flair. What I see her doing though is maybe a social worker or maybe a teacher b/c she has such a kind spirit and is so compassionate for others.

Jordan says he would like to be a pharmacist. Although what I had pictured him doing was possibly a librarian or better yet an author. He has a great love for books and a real way with words.

I know these three will achieve whatever they put their mind to and become a success!

So what do you see your kids being when they grow up and why?

Sights in my neighborhood

Christian and I went for a walk this evening with Maggie. (one of the luxeries of having a son old enough to stay at home with the little ones) I enjoy this time I get alone to talk to my husband and here about what is going on with him or he gets to listen to me babble. Adult conversation rocks man!

Here are some of the beautiful things we get to see on our walks that just don't seem to happen often enough!

Beauty day

The girls decided since we are into sandal season it was time to do their nails. Don't you love their creation?

I am editing this to add a little story. Regan was telling Erin tonight at dinner what a bad habit it is to chew her nails. Erin said very loud IT IS NOT! Regan said if you wouldn't have been doing that last night while we were painting out nails you wouldn't have gotten finger nail polish all over your teeth. I looked up surprised and started laughing. Apparently I was out of the room when that happened!

Awww sweet smells!

My very sweet elderly neighbor came today, rang my doorbell and gave this to me. How sweet is that?! She said she wanted to share the beauty of her garden. I just love smell of lilac it reminds me of my home growing up as mom always had a big lilac bush in the side of our house. My whole house smells so good right now! How grateful I am that God helped me find such a lovely place for my family to live here in Washington!

Moving tips

So one of my closest friends Karen is moving only one state away from me to the Oregon area. Yeah! She will be moving on the 26th. I am thinking of her now and the fun fun fun of traveling across country with house hold goods, kids, and dog. I thought it would be fun to share any tips you may have about making a move easier. Some of us (especially military families) feel like professional movers. Leave them in the comment section if you can think of anything to help the Lamb family make their transition any easier.

Here are my tips I can think of offhand.

1. Put all your sheets, pillow, and blankets from EVERYONES bedding into one box and write very big on it OPEN THIS BOX FIRST. That way as soon as all the beds are unpacked you can make your beds first thing. Then you can go right into unpacking everything else but when you get tired and are ready to quit for the day you will know your beds are ready and waiting for you.

2. Duct tape shut your jewelry box. This is not something you want to empty and loose everything out of. (unfortunately learned from experience)

Car Travel tips with kids

1. Make sure you have a bunch of Walmart type grocery bags. They make great trash receptacles or throw up bags. (or a place to keep oopsie wet clothes)

2. Have a set of clothes for each kid (even the oldest one) right on top handy in the luggage. (sometimes even they can get projectile vomit on them)

3. Pack 409 or some other kind of cleaner, paper towels, and upholstery cleaner for clean ups of the kind mentioned above. And yes we did use ours many times between the kids and the dog!

4. Have some regular size trash bags packed as well in case the kids need a dry place to sit after their seats have been cleaned from above such oopsies.

5. Lots of extra batteries and stored away activites and snacks that the kids DO NOT know about are great things to have on hand for those whiney moments that you need to throw something their way to make them happy.

My back is hot

So my Alaskan kids are not really accustomed to the heat especially Erin who was only a year old when we moved to Alaska. She is now 4 and still trying to get accustomed to her new environment in Washington. We did spend a couple weeks in Missouri this summer where they experienced plenty of heat but I think she thought that was a rarity ;). Anyway making a short story long Erin ran into the house after playing outside this afternoon, as I stated earlier its REALLY hot here today. She came in and ran past me I hollared Erin what are you up to? She said I'm just so hot I'm going to get my jacket!

I'm thinking she was a bit confused ;).This is a picture I just took of her watching TV. I asked her why in the world she put on the sweatshirt she looked at me like duh MOM (insert rolling eyes here) my back is hot!

By the way this is something she says quite often does anyone else's kids say this?

Picnic Lunch

We had a highly unusually warm day today it is now 84 degrees here. Since we have no air conditioning in anyone's homes here that's pretty warm! Sleeping last night was not so pleasant. The girls decided today to take full advantage of the sunny day and had a picnic lunch in our front yard.

Moral dilema?

Conversation between Abby and Regan:

Regan: Mom I need help with my homework I don't understand this word problem on my math worksheet.

Abby: Okay lets read it aloud and work it together.

Regan: Susie wants to buy some candy and it cost 37 cents, she gives the cashier 50 cents. The cashier gives her 11 cents in change. Is this correct why or why not?

Abby: Okay I see you worked the problem out here you took 37 minus 50 and got 13. So that makes it incorrect right?

Regan: yeah so what am I supposed to put for why?

Abby: Well just put they subtracted incorrectly.

Regan: But WHY mom why would the cashier do that? Are they dishonest, are they trying to get away with something...why?

Abby: (pause) Regan I really don't think your math worksheet is asking for a moral dilema here. I could be wrong but what I think the teacher is looking for is just a plain he subtracted incorrectly.

Regan: Okaaaaay if you say so mom!

I got tagged

How it works:Erase my answers, enter yours, tag 10 people, post it on your blog, then notify them, including the person who tagged you."Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following.(They have to be real places, names, things.....nothing made up!)Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same first initial.You cannot use your name for the boy/girl name question.

What is your name: Abby

Four letter word: ants

Vehicle: Avalon

TV Show: America's Most Wanted

City: Annapolis

Boy's Name: Aiden

Girl's Name: Americas

Occupation: Athlete

Something You Wear: apron

Food: Asparagus

Something Found in a Bathroom: aersol can

Reason for Being Late: adjustment to schedule

Something You Shout: ATTENTION LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

Now I tag Jessica, Maren, Kimmy

A new home for Chirpie

I got as a gift for mother's day a bird house. We have this adorable little bird that lives in our front yard we have named Chirpie. So the kids got me a bird house so Chirpie has a roof to put over his adorable little head. Here is my sweet Jordan hanging it in the tree for me! What I did to deserve such a sweet son I will never know!

Letter to mom from Regan

Dear Mom,

Thank you for being my mom! When you talk to me you make me think you're special! I apprecate when you say if it's right or wrong. I love it when you talk on the phone. Happy Mother's day!

Love,

Regan

Set answers

So I have finally found some set answers that help me get through the why game with the two little girls in our house. When they start with their questions such as . . . Why is it windy today? , Why are you taller than me? , Why is Jordan the oldest in our family? , Why do I sleep on the top bunk and Erin the bottom? , Why did we have chicken for supper? (you get the idea)

these are my set answers:

Because I (or whoever is to blame) is a big ole meany!

That is a very good question!

Got me?

and last but certainly not least (their least favorite) by my favorite is to break into song and sing

because, because, because of the wonderful things he does!

Got any more clever ones I can add to my rotation?

Princess Cruise /scrapped-check!

Shenagins of a teenager

So last night as I lay there trying to sleep at 11:30 p.m. (difficult to do when it is a night Christian has to work) I hear Jordan's bedroom door squeak open. I think oh he must be getting up to go to the bathroom. Then I see him peek into my room and I think what is that about? I watch as he tip toes DOWNstairs! I am thinking what is he up to? Is he sneaking back onto the computer at this late hour? Or he is now 15 and remembering what kinds of things teenagers get into I start having other scary thoughts. So I go and put on a pair of socks so I can tip toe down to see what he is up to. I can hear he is in the kitchen so I sit on the steps and wait thinking huh he must be getting a snack. Then I hear him open the door out to the garage. Now I am really curious. So I tip toe down and can see in the reflection of the window that he is down on the floor doing something. I can't see without coming around the corner so I slowly ease around the corner and there he is. . . . . wrapping my mother's day gift!

A Mother's Day Quiz for Kids

My mother's favorite outfit to wear is. . .a drees

An expression or saying that my mom always uses. . .have you done your homework?!

My mother always gets angry when. . .I don't do it

My mother's favorite foods are meat and fruit and vegetable.

I like my mom to cook spagetiit because she does a delicious job of it!

Her favorite vacation was. . .when whe went to Chicago

My mom has a funny habit of. .. when she (or us) has to go somewhere she HAS to have her watch

My mom doesn't know about the time I . . .got a bandaid

My mother's best friend . . .me



Quiz taken by Regan ;)

To my most favorite Mom!!

Happy Mother's day mom/granny we love you! Hope you have a great day!!

Portrait of Mommy

Here is Erin's portrait of mommy as her Mother's Day gift from me. Don't I look pretty?

Future Shoe Addict

Erin has this pair of red shoes that she ABSOLUTELY adores! She will try to work them into just about every outfit she owns! So the other night she had just gotten out of the bathtub. I had sent her to her room to get on her PJs and I decided to go check on her. I peeked in her room and she was dancing around her room in NOTHING but those red shoes! She was singing a song she made up about "I love my red shoes, their so pretty." I swear if I didn't know any better she was even singing it to the tune of 'I Feel Pretty!'!!

Taking a poll

When I took the girls on the Princess Cruise this is the animal we saw out in the water. The director of the cruise told us to look over at the sea otter. This is not a sea otter is it? I thought sea otters were much smaller maybe the size of a cocker spaniel. This is a Seal right? I was getting ready to scrapbook these pictures but want to make sure I label it correctly. Give me your opinion?

What would possess my child to do this?

I was busy putting my groceries in the trunk and Erin was 'helping.' As she danced all around the cart and the car she looked in the window of the car next to us. There was a man sitting in there and this is the face she made at him!

Little momma

Regan has such a strong maternal instinct. Erin was laying on the couch a bit groggy having just woken up from a nap. Her littly mommy instinct kicked in and she decided to make her more comfortable to tucking her in. Erin just loves all the attention. I think Regan went a bit overboard on the tucking in though ;)