Saturday, December 20, 2014

Getting the kids ready to go up to the mountains to cut down our Christmas tree...

Rob: Do you think we should bring Lucca to cut down the tree?
Imogene: NOOO! She doesn't have any hands.

Cedar at 4



















Cedar at 4: 
• Still loves anything that moves... cars, planes, trains, helicopters.
• Has very specific ideas about how Imogene should play with him. Imogene rarely follows his rules, which leads to much frustration.
• He loves preschool and having Nana as his teacher. We can already see his confidence growing. His favorite part is playing outside.
• All of a sudden Cedar has become interested in coloring and drawing. It has been fun to see what his little imagination come up with. We have entire notebooks full of drawings of sharks eating various sea creatures.
• Really enjoys playing with his friends and is so excited to see them when he can.
• Loves to run. When we go to the park he often just wants to run, which leaves Imogene screaming because she does NOT want to run.
• Is slowly developing an interest in letters and numbers. I am not pushing this as he loves to learn about so many other things, he will get to reading eventually.
• Whereas Imogene's first phase was "I do it!", Cedar is perfectly happy asking for help for just about anything.
• He is a sweet cuddly kid whose creativity and imagination are so fun to watch.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Imogene • * • 2 yrs












Imogene at 2 years old...
• Loves swimming, jumping, milk, sea creatures, animals, fruit snacks, bugs, swinging, digging, trampolines
• Favorite foods: pizza, mac & cheese, donuts (only with dad), eggs, pb&j
• Hopefully has reached the peak of her clinginess towards me. She likes to grab me and tell Cedar "this is MY mom" and throws a fit if Rob tries to do anything for her.
• And ironically is also super independent... "I do it" She wants us to let her swim on her own in the big pool.
• This girl can throw a tantrum. They usually involve flailing appendages, yelling, flying objects and injuries to her herself or those close by. We realize that to her, everything little thing is a big deal, but throwing a tantrum over who is putting shoes on her before leaving the house can get a little old.
• She has a great smile and laugh.
• She and Cedar are becoming great friends. They are learning how to share and how to play well with each other. They are both so excited to see each other in the mornings and after naps.
• We are working to eliminate biting as a form of communication.
• I can't count the stairs Imogene has fallen down in between her first and second birthdays.
• She loves her stuffed animals and insists on sleeping ON about 12 of them each night.
• Imogene is constantly saying "I'm hungry" or "snack mama" and when I give her options of things to eat or tell her that we are not eating right now she replies by repeating "I'm hungry" until you tell her what she wants to hear.
• And when I give her food she shares it with the dog and immediately asks for more.
• She loves to wrestle with dad and Cedar
• She makes us laugh all the time with her deep voice and 10,000 looks that she can give.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Cedar : 3.5




Cedar at 3.5 years old...
• Loves animals, dinosaurs, sea creatures, insects, trucks, cars...
• Is starting to do a great job with independent play and playing pretend. He can make up stories for his trucks out in the dirt for hours. 
• We are so thankful for his two best friends, Toby and Ezra, they are great kids and for the most part they play so well together. It's great to watch him learn about friendships and how to interact well with peers at this age.
• Prefers to play outside with water and dirt.
• Has become more confident and independent in the past few months. It's fun to see him try new things and succeed.
• For the most part he and Imogene are good friends. They usually play well together, although we are working on not hitting each other. They are both so excited to see each other in the morning and after Imogene's nap. I think he is setting a good example for her on how to play well with friends and toys.
• Favorite phrase: "We must get one of those!" when he sees something he wants. I am not sure where he picked up the word "must."
• Everything happened "yesterday", whether it was an hour ago or a year ago.


Friday, April 4, 2014

Cedar: Yesterday I found a worm that was hurt
Me: what happened to him?
Cedar: I think he hit a tree. He was just kind of red.
Me: Did you help him?
Cedar: I fed him to the chickens.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Today in the car, after a visit with some friends that didn't end well on Cedar's part, I was telling him that there was too much crying and whining going on and we wouldn't be able to play with friends if that was the way he was going to act. Imogene picked up on it and continued to repeat "too much crying" all the way home. After arriving at home and unloading everyone I got the kids a snack. For some reason Cedar wasn't happy with it and was whining. Imogene turned to him and appropriately said "Too much crying!" Which in turn got her a smack on the head from Cedar and then there really was too much crying. 

Friday, March 21, 2014

moab

 on the road

 Fruita

 Imogene put on her headlamp on her own





 campsite #1





the hike to delicate arch



the hike to landscape arch

 campsite #2






the windows