GARBAGE truck!!!

Our kids LOVE, I mean LOVE the garbage truck. As soon as the truck is driving down the hill, we stop EVERYTHING we are doing and run to the front yard or driveway. We always wave hi to the driver, ohh and aww over the cool noises, the arm that picks up the trash bin and then go back to what we were doing. Last week, we were playing dress up when the truck came and ran out with our costumes on! Jayden was dressed as batman, Maddy was dressed in a tutu dress and me a silly bow tie and funky glasses. I really hope the garbage man gets a charge when he sees us every week. This week, today, we baked him some cookies with a little note saying 'Thank you for picking up our garbage and thank you for brightening our day with your cool truck. Have a great day!' When he came to our house, I lifted Jayden up to his window and the garbage truck driver's face was absolutely priceless. Jayden was proud and excited and I realized and a simple random act of kindness can go a long way.

Coolest mom on the block!

One of our many ways to cool down during the summer and early fall is the SLIP N SLIDE!!! Its perfect because Jayden can run up and slide with pure joy and excitement and Maddy uses it more as a splashpad, plays with the water, lays on her belly with her mouth wide open over the sprinkler part (Jayden does this too), too cute! Today, instead of taking pictures, picking up the backyard or just getting my feet wet, I joined them! To be a kid again! I had an absolute blast!!! Jayden and I would run and slide on our bellies and then just giggle with each other at the end! Maddy would do the happy feet dance watching us. I am so blessed to be home with my kids and cherish these memories forever in my heart.

These two pictures were taken another day.

Blossoming with words!

Maddy is 15 months old going on 3 years old......literally. Monkey see, monkey do. This girl can hold her own pretty good with her big brother! She has been on the go after him at a young age with crawling, walking, trotting to now a full on run. Anything Jayden does physically, she does...but you ask her what "so and so" is from a book, a toy, etc. and Jayden answers for her. So for a long while, she never said a peep, just the standard mama, dada and ball. Not that I was ever worried or comparing her words to Jayden's words at this age ;) but I was wondering when she may start saying more things. Well, this week, she has blossomed! one word to the next, to the next! It all started on Sunday with "apple" while going through the fridge, then "papa" and "mimi" while looking through her grandparents photobook, to "poo poo" while changing her "diaper." Then Tuesday night, we were reading the bible before bed and she started saying "bible" instead of her typical "bi" and bil." Then last night while we were playing with the neighborhood kids in the street, a car came down the hill and she says "car." As we were saying goodnight and byes to our neighbors, I said, 'let's go home and take a bubble bath' and then she says right after me "bubble bath."
I guess its all the right timing and comfort with their development of saying words. Pretty soon, I'll have another very talkative kid, laughing at myself, looking back wondering if and when Maddy was ever going to say words. And yes, I did write all these words in her baby book! :)

Something about being 3

Now that Jayden is 3 he seems so "big boy" to me. From his big brother ways, to his helping hand, to his listening and obedience to me, and the biggest suprise is his skill to write his name. We were doing birthday thank you's and thought it would be cute for him to try and write his name or at least the letter J at the bottom. He recently mastered the letter J while drawing with sidewalk chalk on our backyard patio. "J for Jayden" he would always say and then say
"J-A-Y-D-E-N spells my name" but for him to write his name blew me and Ben away!







I know its not perfect and some people may not be able to figure out what letters they are. But to me its simply perfect. :)

Sweet times to cherish

Jayden just turned 3 and Maddy is 16 months and they play so well together; they make each other laugh, giggle, scream and cry. Jayden has such a loving and tender heart for Maddy and Maddy looks up to Jayden as her hero. So blessed for my sweet babies!