What the 18 Month Sleep Regression Really Does to Babies...

Well, Folks! We're somewhere around Day 10 of what's known as the 18-month-sleep regression. If you're not familiar with this phenomena, don't feel bad. I wasn't either until 10 days ago. Now I know it simply means the baby sleeps neither by day nor by night. Moms and Dads, you weren't thinking about sleeping either, were you? I know what the regression has done to me. Now we see the footage of what it's really doing to Grant.

Happy Birthday, Daddy! You Are Speshiel!

The kids went all out for Hunter's birthday today. They taped little letters and surprises to the front door. Best of all, Grace decorated the driveway. "You are speshel to me Daddy" Best of all, she told me she had to write that instead of "Happy Birthday" because she didn't know how to spell Happy Birthday!!!

Baby's First Easter

Crazy, Crazy Hair Night!

It only comes once a year, but Archie likes to celebrate in style! What? You may ask.

Crazy Hair Night at AWANA Club. I think this was his craziest style yet.

Grant goes for the Good Stuff

Even at the tender, young age of six months, Grant has a discriminating palette. One glimpse of that Halloween candy and he knew he had to have some! Sorry, Boy. Maybe next year. Glad you could enjoy the pretty, shiny paper for this year, though.

Crazy Hair Night!

Awana Club is one of the kids' favorite weekly activities. Hunter and I love it because they're memorizing Scripture AND it's drop off so we can have a Friday night date night. Every February, they have Crazy Hair Night. This year we got really adventurous painting Grace's hair with washable tempera paint (which thankfully did wash out). Archie just wanted spikes, which is a little hard to do with his short hair!

 Crazy Hair Night 2013

Leaves, Leaves, Go Away! Archie's Girl and MORE!

I think we bagged 36 bags two weeks ago and 33 bags last weekend! Thankfully, the leaves are almost done falling now.

She's Archie's Girl

Grace can be funny. The other day she was wearing some pjs that said "Daddy's Girl." He asked her, "Grace, are you Daddy's girl?" She shook her head no. "Are you Mommy's girl?" No again. "Well, whose girl are you anyway? "I'm Archie's girl!" How sweet. She is deeply disturbed that she can't grow up and marry him... 

Grace-isms

Grace says the funniest things!

Grace (while eating a PB&J she made all by herself): Daddy, when I'm done eating I'm going to fight you.
Daddy (playfully): Oh, Grace, don't fight me. I'm scared!
Grace: (giggly): Don't worry, Daddy! I'll fight gently so nobody gets vanquished!

Did somebody say vanquished???
Grace loves to latch onto a word someone says and ask the question "Did somebody say (insert word)?"

Earlier this year her two expressions that cracked me up the most were:

"Here goes nothing" (said before doing just about anything but especially funny when said before doing something daring like zooming down our giant, snowy hill on a by herself on a sled
)

"At your service"
Think I like this one. Pretty nice to call a kid's name and have them scurry to stand before you "at your service". Can I keep it?

Who's the Sleepiest of Them All?

This does not look comfortable! We must've really worn Grace out at the park today. She was so out in the car I threw my freezer bag down for some padding and she never woke up until the check-out line.

The Making of Our Christmas Card Pic

Double Trouble and Other Funny Pictures

One of the many things the kids like to do on the Ipad is make funny pictures with the photo booth app. Here comes double trouble!

These are funny in a different way! We were at some friends' playing games and put the kids to bed. Archie fell right asleep, but Grace got scared and came out to sit on the sofa. She fell asleep looking over the edge, watching us play but eventually shifted into a seated position.

I think these look pretty cool!

Archie is pretty fond of this scary monster pic!

Happiness is Playing the Ipad

How do you spell HAPPINESS? For Archie, it usually involves something with a screen. Grace is almost as eager to play away on the IPAD except when she refuses to take a nap. Then, happiness for her is spelled something like FALLING ASLEEP! How cute!

Eat More Chikin!!!

Eat More Chickin! The cows got their way tonight and we enjoyed yummy combo meals for FREE at Chick-fil-A with these dorky incredible cow costumes. Can't wait for next year's Cow Appreciation Day!

Jungle Princess

We've been on Safari all week at our church's Summer Kids Club (like Vacation Bible School). I think Grace was going for the jungle princess look when she was helping me pick out her accessories this morning. Next stop: Mt. Kilimanjaro!

SUPERMAN, SUPERGIRL!

These superhero accessories have to be some of the best presents the kids have gotten recently. They LOVE them!

Warrior Princess

A picture is worth 1000 words!

The Joys of...HIBERNATION!

OK! We're not exactly hibernating through this not-very-cold-winter over here, but I have managed to catch a few moments of the kids' shut eye on camera.

How funny! Grace climbed out of her bed one day at nap, and I found her sound asleep on the floor.
Archie prefers napping on our bed when he naps (usually only 2-3 days/week). He always burrows under as many blankets as possible. No worries about him staying warm.

What do we do before bed? Bath time, of course! (Well, OK, not every night...)

Art projects:
Bedtime snacks:
And teeth brushing. (No, Grace doesn't brush by herself, but she insists on having a turn.)

Christmas Sillies

Archie wanted to wear a tie yesterday. Not quite sure why but he was insistent. He was equally insistent (as usual) that he wear a short sleeved shirt. He looked so ridiculously cute I let him parade around in the outfit all day. Along with the silly clothes, came a silly face pic.



Grace was also feeling a bit silly. She was excited to wear Archie's new camo pants. (I did not let her wear them all day because they're two sizes too big and I was afraid they'd fall down.)