Getting All Crafty

I have a fondness for note cards and stationary ... really all paper products, and I like to have a variety of fun and pretty cards on hand to send out little notes of encouragement.   Yesterday the girls I got to spend the afternoon with two of my beautiful friends, a treat for sure.  And, an outing that I wanted to follow-up with some good old fashion notes ... through the US postal service (sorry girls, I'm ruining any surprise of snail mail this week).

Well, I didn't have anything in my stash that I was loving, so while Little Miss napped this afternoon Lydia and I got our craft on!  Inspired by this post (and, of course, originating from Pinterest, where else, right?), we made Autumn note cards.  Jack joined us for a while and got his craft on, but he escaped before I could take any photos of him.  He has a lot of artistic, creativity in him, but he doesn't want to be published on mom's blog painting with q-tips with his little sister (and, I think he's sensing more and more when potential photos now may show up say in 2020 at a certain senior's graduation party)!  

 

 

 

I must say that I am loving how these turned out, and Lydia is quite proud as well (as is Jack, and Samuel thinks they are cool, but not cool enough to convince him that he could also get his craft on!).

A Nora Update {September 2013}

It's been a while since I've posted a Nora update, here's what Little Miss has been up to:

Growing - she is on the charts for both weight and height now, weighing in at approximately 24 pounds and measuring approximately 33 inches - you go girl!

Visiting the Doctor - and none of the visits had anything to do with cleft!  In the past few weeks Nora has been to the pediatrician on two separate occasions and to the dermatologist once, all for mysterious bumps that are just finally going away after more than a month.  We have stumped them all - the most likely culprit is some sort of bug bite that based on her immune system or lack thereof she has had a reaction.  Regardless, I am happy to say that this ailment seems to be nearing its end.

Included in the recent doctor visits is a visit to the pediatrician after big sister ran her over (purely an accident and Lydia vows that "I will not run Nora over again with my bike").  The training wheel went over Nora's foot causing extreme swelling, bruising and a limp.  After waiting a day, we decided we better take her in ... an x-ray confirmed nothing broken, just extreme bruising.  How is it that we have two active (well, one really active and one semi-active) boys, and we have never had to have potential broken bone x-rays???  This girl!

Finding her voice - Nora is making baby steps with speech.  Ironically, the one word that she says quite clearly and with a bit of attitude is "NO" ... seriously!  God has such an amazing sense of humor - here we are in our naive state thinking we have a daughter that likely has traits that will make her more reserved, more quiet ... WRONG!  This girl has spunk!  And, she is so similar to our other loud and crazy children (God knew she would need a voice to find her place in this family!).

Developing odd insecurities (which kind of make us laugh ... in the most loving sense possible) - just this past week, Nora has developed a fear of walking on planked surfaces or surfaces with holes in them.  She gets to the top of the playhouse, and she is paralyzed by the boards / planks, at the park she climbs the ladder to the slide, gets to the platform and freezes.  Just two weeks ago she was completely fine.  Her statuesque state in these situations makes us giggle though, and we kind of enjoy the snuggling / nestling into us that happens when we rescue her.

Gaining securities - in the past month, Nora has started going to Sunday School with Lydia which means that both Jason and I get to sit through community worship and service together - hallelujah!  Nora has also stayed with Grandma with a few hours (her first caregiver aside from us and aside from the occasional times that Jack stayed with her this summer - after he "graduated" from his babysitting class with his buddies).  And, she has done great!

Becoming a picky eater - she is definitely going through the picky eater toddler stage, but I'm thankful that she is still a good eater.  Some cleft kiddos have extreme oral aversions, but not our girl.  Her issue is not food ... it's sleep (or lack thereof).

NOT sleeping - yes, that's right ... home nearly a year (can you believe it?), and the girl has slept through the night once ... just once ... I have heard from others that the year mark was a turning point, and a sensible friend reminded me that every child is different, a gentle reminder that sleeping through the night may not magically happen next month (thankful for realistic and practical friends, but still praying that the one year mark is like magic - ha).

Thankful for this healthy, spunky little girl

that we get to call daughter!  

12-Mile Family Ride

Today we did the Maywood Earth Ride, it's a "quick" 12-miles which is perfect for the boys (well, for the little boys ... Jason was remembering when he used to do the 100 mile route).  It was perfect for the girls as well as they were being pulled behind while enjoying their treats from the rest stop. 

It's proven, all children go through the cheesy smile phase -

Little Miss is totally there!

Race Day Prep - "How does my helmet look?" 

You're not surprised that she wears the least girly helmet we have, are you?

 

Staying hydrated in the "balmy" 60 degree sun ...

chilly and a bit windy, but truly a beautiful near-Autumn day!

 

CHEESE!

 

The post-ride activities were fun too!

 

 

 

Our non-sports boy is a surprisingly talented hula-hooper

 

Maywood Earth Ride ~ September 21st, 2013

The Hulk

Hmmm ... seems that I was just mentioning that our girls are not girly-girls ... in case you needed evidence, as we were doing errands this weekend Lydia was enamored by this:

I'm thankful that for her pink shoes and pink coat ... sigh.  (Her eyes are narrow and her fists are clenched as she is "growling" at us through the mask, you know, 'cuz she was in character ... even though she doesn't even know who the Hulk is, but he's not pink and he's not frilly so he must be cool).

Finding Relief

Finding relief ...

 

when it's still 90+ degrees ...

and sticky, sticky, sticky ...

at 7:15 at night ...

in Wisconsin ...

Something out of Tangled {Lantern Launch}

We do not have any Labor Day traditions aside from trying to do something "memorable" before the kids start a new school year.  This year we stumbled upon what may become a Labor Day tradition.  A town about 45 minutes away does an annual kite festival which includes evening activities ... fireworks ... and, a lantern launch.  Lanterns have become a part of celebrations for us ... celebrating Owen's birthdays ... milestones in praying Nora home ... aside from the boys' initial panic attack that the lantern is going to hit a tree and burn something up, we all find the releasing of the lanterns quite magical.

And ... confession time ~ I adore the scene in Tangled when Flynn Rider (aka Eugene) and Rapunzel are out on the water surrounded by lanterns ... it's animation, I get it, but I've oftened wondered what that must be like.  At the festival nearly 400 lanterns were launched ... nearly 400 ... my photos do not do it justice ... and my camera was getting all quirky on me ... but you get the idea.  So. cool. 

Not only was the camera doing quirky things ... so were the kids!

There once was a time that this girl was afraid of the sand ...

Apparently this girl doesn't need a trampoline!

 

Yes, we may have found a new Labor Day Weekend tradition ...

First Day of School {9.03.2013}

Jack ~ 6th Grade

 

Samuel ~ 3rd Grade

 

Lydia ~ Preschool

 

New Tradition ~ Normally Jack and Samuel get their photo together in front of Owen's dragonfly, but Samuel wasn't up and ready in time to pose with Jack this year unlike last year when he surprised me!

 

Her first day of school ever ... sigh ...

Jumpin' {The Consolation Trampoline}

The kids have been wanting a big trampoline in the backyard ... we haven't given in yet.  But, sometimes we do drag the little trampoline out and let the girls jump.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thankful for times like these when kindness and sharing and sisterly love abounds.