No markers for you!

RJ is no longer allowed to use markers in an unsupervised fashion.  That boy will color all over EVERYTHING!!  Thank goodness they are washable.  :)

Mmmmmm donuts!!

G and I had a Mommy-Daughter Donut Date!  We need to do more things like this!!

Magic Kingdom

The kids and I joined some friends of ours at the Magic Kingdom back in June.  It started drizzling as soon as we got out of the car.  We spent a good 4 hours there and it rained the entire time.  As miserable as it sounds, it wasn't. The light rain actually kept the crowds at bay and us cool.  

After lunch, however, the weather took a turn for the worse and it started pouring.  I ended up taking RJ home for his nap, while my friends kept Grace with them.  The walk back to the car was the worst.  Walking in a downpour, pushing a stroller, while holding a kid.  Yes, I was holding RJ.  He wasn't having anything to do with the stroller.  He was tired, cold, and drenched.  I didn't blame him, but I was still the one having to carry his 25 pounds for about two miles!!  Good grief!  

All in all, the day was fantastic, the kids were troopers, and I would do it again tomorrow if I could!

This picture melts my heart.  RJ had his hand on my knee the entire time we road It's a Small World.  I wanted to remember this moment forever!!

I had to remember this picture too.  Grace pointed out that this sign instructs us that there is NO DANCING on the It's a Small World ride.  God, I love that kid!!

Sharing a snack, while taking a break from the rain, on the train.

RJ

This boy has changed so much in the last 4 months.  He's grown taller and he hasn't stopped talking.  RJ is a funny little guy!  He makes us laugh with his facial expressions, eyes, and dance moves.  

RJ's favorite things are trucks.  Cement mixers, tow trucks, delivery trucks, bull dozers, diggers, tankers, tractor trailers, it doesn't matter...he loves them!  He has one in his hand pretty much all the time; even when sleeping.  

He also likes his little train set.  I got a pretty good deal on a wooden set with several accessories for his birthday.  After he's done playing with his trucks he usually asks me to put the train set together.  

I never imagined I would have little tiny trucks, cars, and trains all over my house.  I love it!

RJ loves his sister.  He likes to copy everything she does or says.  Most often she can tell him what to do and how to do it, then he does it.  As the saying goes, imitation is the biggest form of flattery.  

RJ is also a Momma's Boy!  He asks for me to hold him and he wants to snuggle with me a lot.  My hope is that he and I will always have a close relationship.  He's a cool kid.  He's very smart, extremely sweet, and he's going to be a great brother to his big sister.  

I couldn't be more proud of this beautiful person!

Grace

It's been a while since I've posted an update on either child.  So here we go...

Grace is now 4 1/2 years old.  She has become such a big girl, in what seems almost overnight.  


Her intelligence continues to amaze me.  Puzzles are a new favorite.  Grace will put together four or five puzzles at one sitting, some even have as many as 50 pieces, all by herself!

Coloring is her passion!  She takes after her Mom.  I still enjoy coloring.  It's therapeutic.  It's fun to sit down at her little table and color with her.  Sometimes we talk.  Sometimes we just quietly enjoy each other's company.

Grace still has a compassionate heart.  She is a gentle soul.  She's sweet to everyone, animals, her toys, and especially her brother.  She will do great things in her lifetime because of this trait.

I couldn't be more proud of this beautiful little person!!

Funny conversation with Grace!

As I'm mopping the kitchen floor, I can hear the kids fighting over something in Grace's room.  I called out to them and asked what they were fighting about.  Grace came into the kitchen and says...

"We were having dinner at our beach house and RJ ate all of his dinner so I gave him some pie.  He finished the pie, so I took his plate away and he wanted more pie."  I said, "You can't find RJ another piece of pie or cake somewhere?  Maybe you could make him a brownie."  She went on and on about not making him more dessert (I can't remember everything), then said "he would keep on freaking out if I made him more!"  With that she turned around and went back to the beach house.

Their beach house, by the way, is a tent I made out of sheets in Grace's room.

I love listening to their imaginations work!!

Happy Father's Day!!

Dear Bryan,

Thank you for being such a wonderful husband and father.  We are truly blessed to have you in our lives.  Your hard work and perseverance have been an inspiration, and we are so very proud of you!

We LOVE you,

Rie, Grace, & RJ