It's all guesswork

I have really come to the conclusion, after 7 years and 4 days of experience, that most parenting is just guesswork.

Are they really sick if they have a temperature of 100 degrees?

Is it a real problem if they had to "change their color" at school when there are 5 different colors to go through in a day?

Does Riley actually like sitting in the foamy seat or is he just being nice while getting a cramp in his neck?



Does Micah get it when he doesn't get a treat at the end of preschool because he had to go to time out, especially since he's only gotten a treat twice in the last month because he's such a pill?

Will she fit into these clothes you found on the clearance rack next summer?

Is he really ready to potty train or will it be a waste of time right now?

Will he be scarred for life if I let him play in his sisters bathing suit?



Maybe I just need to read more parenting books! I think all they could really do, though, is just make me a slightly better guesser!

Katie's Room

For Katie's birthday tomorrow, we redecorated her room as a surprise! She has no clue! As I type, she is spending the night with a friend. I CANNOT WAIT to see her reaction when she sees her new room. It is pretty cute. Thank goodness for a couple of my friends, Becky and Trish, and their inspiration and assistance! Here are some of my favorite parts...

From the door... I made the valances. Go me.


I made the 4 pictures on the wall. Fun and cheap! My mother-in-law made the pillows - she's the queen of throw pillows!


My friend Becky painted this K - the flower is exactly like one on the quilt. She's amazing.


These inspired by Trish.


Call me Martha - I decopaged (no clue how to spell that but think 1970's craftiness) this tray (with artistic guidance from Becky) to hold a new tea set I bought her that has butterflies on it. Thanks mom for the cliff-notes on decopaging, or however you spell that!


Those are the highlights! I have more work to do on the shelves and one wall but I think I'll get a good reaction from Katie-bug! Happy birthday, sweet girl!

The Party

Having Katie and Micah's birthdays so close has been nice. I didn't think I'd get to do another "together" party this year but Katie was cool with it if they got to do something exciting. So we went to a new kid play place and they each took a few friends. It was a lot of fun. My kids both have a need for speed! And I didn't have to clean up! And Rick got to play video games! So it was great for everyone!





One of our friends kid, Matt, is in 3rd grade and he is Micah's hero! Micah refused to ride anything until Matt came to ride with him! We love Matt!





They each got their own cake, mostly because we all love a good excuse for cake!



Yeah! Boy dress-up clothes! Now he can be Captain Hook instead of Tinkerbell!



It's funny - Micah took his gifts off into a corner to open them, like a squirrel. Katie took hers right smack into the middle of everyone. It is characteristic of their little personalities!



Frankly, I'm just glad it's over. I can't tell you why, but birthday parties stress me out - not the execution, just mostly the planning and deciding and hoping everyone is happy with it all.

One more year down! How many more to go???

Micah's 3rd Birthday

Well, maybe we've crossed a threshold. At least, that's what I am banking on! Maybe we have left the terrible 2's behind and we have some smoother sailing ahead. One can only hope...

We did enjoy Micah's birthday, though. 3 is a fun birthday, where they can really enjoy everything but have no expectations and therefore are surprised and thrilled with everything!

We had been telling Micah that his birthday was on Sunday and that he would be three then. So when he woke up on Sunday morning and I said happy birthday, he was thrilled to show me three fingers.



Since Rick was already gone to church, I just let Micah open some birthday cards at breakfast. You'd have thought I'd set him loose in a candy store! 5 birthday cards were amazing and he's been carrying them around ever since.

We had life group at the lake so I took his cake out there. Blowing candles out and having everyone sing happy birthday WITH him (he couldn't sit idly by and miss a song) was amazing, again. When I pulled the gifts out, I thought he was going to have the big one! He had no clue there would be presents.



In all, a lovely day! I know kids are outrageously expensive but there is no more fun of a way to spend money than buying a kiddo his favorite things! It was a gift for me.

Speaking of gifts, Riley continues to surprise and delight! I was nervous about having #3 but look what I would have missed....

Much better...

New camera requires new pictures. I guess it is funny that I take pictures of my kids crying but that is part of their little personalities and quite honestly, we have gotten more than a few laughs out of their pitiful little faces when they were fussing!

This is a sweet little boy, despite the sad face. I am continually amazed at how pleasant he is and how willing to roll with the punches. And the smacks to the head. And the fingers to the eyes. Etc. Birth order has to have a lot to do with it!

I like the picture of Riley and Micah together. It's hard to imagine that they will ever be equally matched on the wrestling floor. Rick might have to work with Riley on learning to be a scrapper in order to survive playing with Micah! I need to get on video Micah loving on Riley, though. It is so sweet - Micah tells him "We are going to be best buddies." I sure hope so!

Love the kid, hate the camera

We have been trying to capture Riley's goofy smile but the camera isn't cooperating. The good news is that we bought a new camera this afternoon, but he's asleep now so we haven't tried it out. But here are some fuzzy shots from this morning. I guess to get a good look, you'll just have to come see him in person!