Birthday Time

Averie on the morning of her birthday!!! She wanted to have French Toast, mommy's special scrambled eggs and of course Maple Syrup!!! She also got her favorite movie. How to Train your Dragon!!

On Sunday my parents came over to do some birthday celebrating! Here she is blowing out her "6" candle. She decorated cupcakes to bring into school so we had some extras to enjoy.

As you know Averie is very artsy!! I thought it would be a good idea to get her a "Big Girl" desk. She has also been asking for a lamp for her room so my parent's got her a lamp for her desk. She loves it so much and uses it all every day.
Before she gets everything set up and ready to go.

While her brother napped she was able to get everything all set up.

Here she is the next day using her new desk... notice who is using her old desk. It was quiet and peaceful for a while they both loved there own art spaces.

Her Birthday Party. We decided to let her pick a few friends and take them to a local pottery painting place. They all had so much fun. The fun part of the story was that on Saturday morning I woke up with double pink eye. Thanks goodness for Nanny who helped out.

My pretty Little Lady!!!

Nanny helping her open her gifts.

Wow, I can't believe she is 6!! She is growing up so quickly.

She was so excited to finally painter her dragon.

Some of the girlie's painting

All the girls enjoying some goodies!

Wrapping things up! She had such a great time! So grateful for that little girl!!!

Thanks again Nanny for all your help! Oh, and Papa too for watching Mr. Lincoln.

Quick Something

I am so impressed with this latest piece of Averie art. To me it is so simple but so cute. If you click on the picture it will get bigger and if you notice the rooster is shouting out "cocka doodle doo!!! I love her art. She is getting so creative and so good
While I was posting I thought I should add a quick pick of Mr. Lincoln. Yes, he is still sporting his new smile. He is SO proud of it. What a cute little man he is becoming!

Averie has her birthday party on Saturday and after that I will post pictures from all her birthday adventures!

What's New?

Mommy and Mr. Lincoln. He still loves his new smile!!

We enjoyed a very good visit from Auntie Kate and Larry. The kids always enjoy there visits

Averie getting to celebrate an early birthday.

She got a cute little outfit and and a very pretty ballerina that she can actually dance with

So, what is new?

Danton~ School is well underway. He is taking 2 classes; Anatomy and Physiology and Public Speaking. He is enjoying the A&P class and the public speaking class is really just for credits because I think we all know that is not going to be a challenging class for him!!! He is in the final stages of his clearing process for ambulance rides. He should be finished by the end of the month. For about 6 months at his full time job he has been working an account that has really been rough, they expect him to work 6 days a week and be on call all the time. It has taken a lot from him and the family. He will be starting Paramedic school in this fall and to get in you must have some riding experience. That is why he found an ambulance job that will allow him to ride once a week. With the current account, riding and school it was getting to be VERY overwhelming for all of us. We have been keeping our eyes and ears open for a full time job that would work with all his extras. There was a opening for another postition at his current job but, they wouldn't allow him to make the move, long story... So for a little over a month now Danton has been in contact with another dealership and has decided to make the move. They have told us that they will work with his school schedule so we have decided that at this time it is a good move for our family.

Lincoln~ He is just busy and like Danton says destruction personified!!! I can't tell you how many times he has hit his head because he chooses to bang it into something. I so don't understand that. He is learning new words and things everday and you can tell me wants to talk with you but doesn't know how to say what he wants to say so he just screams and points. He is great at signing and will do that if he can...I love that!

Averie~ She is loving ballet and anything art related. While I am writing this she and her dad are enjoying a date at CrackPots, which is a place you can go and paint pottery. She absolutely loves it there and would go every day if we would let her. She is so excited because she is going to have her birthday there this year.

Rebecca~ I went with Averie to school the other day on their 100th day of school party. That was fun, she loves it when I come in. Shopping with Lincoln has reached a very challenging level. He can get of the cart no matter how you strap him in. I can get about 10-15 min in before the challenge begins. I have decided that I am needing to take a break from shopping with him. I enlisted the grandparents this week so I could do my grocery shopping. That was the best idea I have had in a while and I think it was win win for everyone!!!

Enjoy your weekend and Happy Valentines Day!!!

New Smile and much much more!!!

These first 2 are from the snow we had a couple weeks ago. Lincon's first real experience of snow. He likes to eat it like most kids. And Averie looks forward to making snow angels every time it snows!!!

After one of Danton's 24 hour shifts he came home to quick get some food and a change of clothes and while I took Averie to school he was to put Lincoln down for a nap. I guess they both needed one!!!

We love Praise Baby in our house. A precious moment between daddy and his kids. Notice for a brief moment all kids are still!!

Lincoln helped mommy make cookies the other day and I think he has finally caught on to cookie dough. I caught him taking a quick sample and then quickly going back for more when he realized that it was in fact quite yummy!!

Let me explain this next picture. Lincoln has his spoon with dough and is actually happy. This is his new smile. So funny.

Lincoln's smile and my lovely little Averie

Daddy and Lincoln's new smile

When my Aunt Julia got married I got to be her flower girl. While doing some organizing I came accross the dress I wore. Averie wore it for about 2 days straight. She loves it.

One of Lincoln's favorite things is shoes. He finds everyones shoes and wears them around the house. This day his shoe of choice was his sister's saddle shoes. I couldn't pass up this picture. Here is Lincoln with his new smile and his shoes.

Life Lessons

Danton and I had this conversation the other day about life lessons. I know we are so old...but I am sure everyone looks back on their life and wonders what if they would have done things different or what if someome would have just told us ?, or what if they did and we didn't know to listen because we had it all figured out right?

Things I have learned with my recent life lessons.

I never knew how hard Kindergarten could be. I believe kids are encouraged to grow up way to fast. Our society places so much pressure on little kids even little 5-6 year olds. I am so grateful Danton and I have taken the time to talk with Averie about the situations she has to deal with. I believe we are given the chance to teach our little girl some real important life lessons. I just never knew we would be teaching these life lessons so early.

One thing for sure is that our little kids are ALWAYS watching us. We have had to deal with a very mean little girl at school and occasionally we have run into this little girl and her mom outside of school. One thing I often tell Averie is, " You don't deserve to be treated that way and if someone is mean you have the chance to walk away". So, after I told Averie that she didn't have to play with this girl she asked me this "Mom, if that girl isn't nice to me then why are you nice to her when see her at the store". It isn't easy to be nice to someone who is mean to your daughter, but let me tell you I am grateful I was and that my daughter picked up on it.



When I say they are watching...they are watching. After ballet the other day Averie was sitting with a group of girls and I heard one of them say "Your brother is a freak" it wasn't until I heard Averie say "My brother isn't a freak" that I knew that little girl was talking about Lincoln.. What causes a 7 year old little girl to say that about a 1 year old little boy. I am no where near the model parent or perfect and will never even be close. But kids really watch everything around them and if no one tells them about right and wrong or even about making fun of someone even if it is a "joke" then what results do we really expect. I strongly disliked the situation and STRONGLY disliked that girl for a while but if the only good that came from it was I told Averie I was proud of her for standing up for her brother and then talked to her about how that would make her feel then I guess I will take that.



I have come to the harsh reality that we can't change society and how it is so influential especially on our very young little kids. But we can and must be very proactive in the raising of our children. Otherwise someone else will do it for us.

Oh, January

I have been meaning to write a little something for a couple of weeks now, but as with life something always comes up.
So, why do I have time now. Because my Internet security expires tomorrow and I have to download newest version, so I now have a few minutes that I have to sit at the computer.

Danton~ At the beginning of December Danton did a week long training with a Denver Ambulance Service so he can start working PT with them. He is required to do several training rides before he clears and then he will be ready to go. Right now he is not in school because of Winter Break (Yeah!!!) but he is still working full time and has already done 3 twenty four hour shifts and still have two 12 hours shifts to go. All of these will be completed in January so he is one busy guy and he has handled it all so well. After a 24 hour shift he quickly gets home to either take Averie to school or play/nap with Lincoln. He will start school again in a couple of weeks but by then he should be cleared and ready to pick up his weekly 24 hour shift. With all that he has going I figured he needed some outlet so for Christmas I got him a gym membership. It has been great. He comes home from work and does dinner and bed time and then heads out the door and enjoys some good quality Danton time.

Averie~ She is doing great. She is loving school but is also loving the breaks that come with it. Just today she asked when her next school break was. Oh, spring break she is looking forward to you!!! When she isn't in school she LOVES to let out her artistic flair. I can't keep up with how fast her mind works when it comes to art. She truly has a gift in that area. She has also started up ballet again and loves every second of it. The class is more advanced than she has done in the past but she is doing great and picking it all up nicely. Pretty good for being the only 5 year old in a class for 6-10 year olds.

Lincoln~ So, the real reason I haven't updated anything lately is because in the past few weeks that boy has doubled his energy. Only if you are really around him do you truly know how busy he is. Or maybe he just seems so busy because all I ever had before his was a very mentally challenging child. He however is just destruction waiting to happen. Oh, how I wish you could see and understand, but I am sure those of you who have had boys are just nodding your heads and saying" Oh, I have been there and I understand completely"! He climbs everything and when he notices that you caught him he stops and you can tell mentally questions if you see him or not. He does understand the word "gentle" but after he shows you "gentle" on his sisters face he follows with a nice slap. He does however have a very sweet side. He loves to give kisses. He loves to cuddle. Those times are very much needed after his very trying times.

Rebecca~ Just keeping up with everything is what I have been up to. I think my biggest challenge is Lincoln and just keeping up with him and learning his new ways!!!. He can be such a funny little boy and such a naughty little boy. All in all what a delight he is. Couldn't imagine life without him.
I love my time with Averie as well. I love when she comes and sits by me and reads ME a book. She is very high energy as well and can be very mentally challenging but it is neat to see what a little lady she is becoming.
I enjoy my time I get with Danton. This month is definitely not as frequent but that is what makes those times together all the more special.
I absolutely love my job of mommy. I am so grateful for a husband that works so hard for his family and allows that to happen. As with every job there are those trying days but at the end of the day I still get the chance to raise 2 amazing little people. Sometimes a very hard and thankless job but sometimes a very wonderful and rewarding job. But I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Well the computer is downloaded with his newest security so I am off to get some sleep to be recharged for another day. Happy New Year everyone.

Fragile

Dad I took this picture especially for you. Be very careful it is FRAGILE!!!