More Paint... (AND glue!)

Craft time!!  If you've read some of our other craft posts, you'll remember that Savannah LOVES paint and glue!  So, for a fall craft, we first headed outside with our grocery bag to do some leaf collecting!  

We collected quite a few...


Then, it's back inside to create!  Since there are no photos of the next step, I'll let you in on the excitement!  I painted Savannah's arm and hand with brown paint...this would be the tree (she LOVED this), then placed it carefully on our paper which was prepared with "grass" (green paper cut to look blade-like and glued onto the blue paper).  The next step...choose some leaves and glue them onto the "branches" (fingers).  =)  Here we go...

 "Which glue should I use?  Hmmmmmmmm....."

 And the winner is.... (I knew it all along!...there's just something about pouring puddles of glue that kids love!)

I love her heavy concentration!
And the finished product...

I love how she wanted to glue some leaves on the grass because they had "fallen."  And I so love how Savannah's face lights up when I say, "Craft time!!"  

My New Normal

If you walked into my house on this particular day, and really any other day....you might find books stacked on the trunk in the living room (and yes, maybe even a rolled up dirty diaper!)

 ...pretend kitchen toys piled on the couch "so Noah won't get 'em"

Towels folded and placed on the arms of the chair (because that was the only "clear" spot!) Oh yes, and a wipe container placed on top of the chair (for convenient grabbing....AND so Noah doesn't pull them all out!!)  

You might find 2 children playing (sometimes happily, sometimes...not so much)

Our nest may be a bit of a mess, but we are taking each day as it comes and trying to savor the everyday memories of a "new normal."

Noah loves Nutella!

When Noah awakes from his midday slumber, the first thing he usually greets me with when entering his room is the "eat" sign...coupled with a great big grin.  I TRY to keep snacks healthy and it seems that I've gotten in a rut of offering the same snacks (grapes or bananas with raisins or crackers).  So, one day last week I surprised them with a different snack...and it actually IS healthy even though it doesn't appear that way when you look at Noah's face.  Mum-mum crackers (for babies/toddlers) with nutella spread on top!  DELICIOUS. But Nutella is good on anything in my opinion.  And I think this little guy would agree. 

Could't resist posting this sweet moment captured that same evening.  Daddy and Levi enjoying some r&r.  

What's so great about today?

I could mention about my sweet husband waking this morning with Savannah and Noah and letting me sleep in (after being up several times through the night with the wee one)...or about how Savannah and I went out to the post office and the dollar store (just the 2 of us) for a little mommy/daughter time...or how some sweet friends of ours brought us a delicious dinner (Thank you Ginger and Hilt!!)...or how my, again, sweet husband bathed the children early tonight and got them ready for bed before heading out for the "guys monthly movie night!" No photos for those moments, but these are the simple moments I captured today... 

For the last few days, little Noah has found that he really likes sitting at the table in a REAL chair!  He will sit for what seems like hours (it's really not) and watch me in the kitchen or whatever is going on around him.  He loves to eat his snack here, just like his big sister.  It's so cute to watch his little neck crane to see what's in his bowl.  You're growing too fast little buddy!!  

Because Dolan was heading out tonight and I would be doing bedtime solo...we decided to let Savannah skip her nap today (hence the mommy/daughter date to the dollar store!!).  So,down they go at 7:00 (one hour early!)  Her usual reading could be heard in the living room but only for a few minutes.  I went down to check on her and this is what I found.... 

Sound asleep on top of a book right next to her brighter-than-the-sun nightlight shining right in her sweet face. A tired little girl, she was!

As for baby Levi, he is staying awake for longer periods (30 minutes is about all he can do right now...except for in the middle of the night of course) =)   He is very content with "background noise," and he is just, well, precious!

It's been a pretty great Thursday in our nest.  So thankful tonight for the gift of family and the privilege to record our family moments...from the everyday, ordinary one's to the sweet, special, extraordinary one's.   

Popcorn, Pancakes, and ALL things Pumpkin!

Last week, we took our first real outing as a family of 5 and headed to "Dean's Farm" in Wilson.  Our mission: to find a good carving pumpkin!  But while there, we enjoyed free popcorn, face painting, and a giant slide!  (Oh, and Savannah had her very first experience in a "port-a-potty" ~ THAT was interesting!) 

Our great day began with popcorn... 

Then, trying to find the perfect pumpkin for carving.

 

This is not the pumpkin we took home....she picked out a bunch!!!

Face painting! 

She told the lady she wanted a "girl" pumpkin after seeing Noah's, so the sweet painter added a pink bow as a final touch! Savannah approved. =)

 Not afraid at all!  She LOVED this slide and repeated this scene over and over...

 I love this red-headed duo...

 ...and this precious bundle! Levi James at 8 days old...  


A couple of days ago, I found a recipe for these delicious pumpkin pancakes.  We've been on a pumpkin kick lately and these did not disappoint.  I've posted the recipe if you want to try them out!  

Pumpkin Pancakes

2 eggs
1 c. milk
1 cup cooked pumpkin (canned)
1 3/4 c. Bisquick
1 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 c. chopped nuts; optional

Mix all ingredients well, and cook on hot griddle until golden brown. 

Yields 2 1/2 dozen 4 inch pancakes.

***I sprinkled powdered sugar on top***

Hope you enjoy!

A is for Appreciation and Acorns

I had to post about this special gift we received from a sweet mom in my "MOPS" group.  She hardly knows us...yet she showed up at our door with a delicious meal and this precious diaper cake which she made!  Might I add she also has 3 young girls!  Lisa, thank you so much.  You brightened our day and I pray God's blessings on you and your sweet family. 

Oh yes, and she brought these fun glow necklaces for Savannah and Noah!  They were beyond thrilled...especially when daddy says, "Let's go in the bathroom where it's dark and watch them glow!!!" So here we ALL go into our teeny bathroom.  So fun!  

Here's a little spontaneity...
Savannah has been  talking a lot about letters and beginning sounds.  It's so cute to hear her say, "puh - puh - puh - puh - PUMPKIN" after we have talked about the sound the letter "P" makes.  Sometimes, she "tries out" other words... For example, she might say, "puh - puh - puh - puh - fork!"  =)  Big mommy smile!  This then takes us to another teachable moment about the sound the "f" makes!  There is something about this foundational knowledge combined with the innocence of a child that excites me!  The joy of watching a child as they learn something new never gets old! 


So, on this particular day last week, Savannah was playing with an acorn.  "Mommy, acorn starts with 'A'! she yelled with such delight.  We had not been outside all day, so she and I headed out  on an "acorn hunt."  She was still in her pj's (had been all day) and was happy to carry a little cup from her play kitchen to collect her acorns.  After collecting, we headed inside and created this....

Quick little craft, but she enjoyed it (anything with glue is ALWAYS a hit with Savannah) and maybe the letter "A" means something more now.  


***We still have the remaining acorns in a little container reserved especially for creative play. =)  

Pumpkin Carving...a first for our family!

Today, we pulled out the big garbage bag, the big spoon, the big green bowl, and the big pumpkin!  What an exciting memory.  Savannah and Noah showed off their new pj's from Mimi and got to sit on the TABLE!  (they were probably more excited about that than carving the pumpkin!)  

 Savannah wasn't too sure about all the slimy stuff... her job was to pick out the seeds and put them in a bowl (for roasting later!!)

 "Let me look, Daddy!"

 Peek A BOO!!!!!

 Our little pumpkin baby!  Love him to pieces.  

 Silly daddy! =)He was our master carver!

 CUTE!! Love this little girl.  

 Noah didn't find it amusing at all!

And glowing brightly tonight on our dining room table is our jack-o-lantern.  Savannah came in from Hallelujah night at church and wanted to look inside to see if we had left any seeds!  She LOVED watching him glow!  

Another great day in our nest...