The little things

PUDDLES! They are super fun to play in. They make a great splashing sound. You can jump, tap, and wiggle in them. When you step out you can make a great trail of footprints.

It's so simple that you might just miss the fun. That's what I love about having a toddler. They really make you stop and consider even the smallest of blessings, which when you really ponder them are not small at all. I have so much to be thankful for.
I know that sounds crazy. But when I sit and consider all that God has blessed me with I can barely catch my breath because I am in awe. It scares me that I am not thankful enough, it scares that I do not show Him how grateful I am. It scares me that there is is that much selfishness in me that I am not continually singing His praises !

	Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
	Serve the LORD with gladness;
	Come before His presence with singing.
	Know that the LORD, He is God;
	It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
	We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
	Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
	And into His courts with praise.
	Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
	For the LORD is good;
	His mercy is everlasting,
	And His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100

From the Desks of Isaiah, Elijah and Hannah

So our first week back to school after a much deserved and well received Christmas break went good. I give us a B+. LOTS of work was done, and hopefully some of it was enjoyable! Hannah has really changed over the past few weeks. She may be 2 but on the inside she thinks she's 6 or at least 5. Part of having an enjoyable day with her is not to overlook her desire to be counted. She is talking in sentences and is very clear in letting us know how she feels and what she wants. She's NOT a baby! I have to keep telling myself "she may be "the baby" but she's not "a baby" Now if only her independence and maturity would spill over into potty training!!

Here are some highlights!

Indoor water play is a favorite of Hannah's. Although her complaint this week " I want a boat" Gee!
This little wheel thing is awesome. It works with water, sand and rice!
The boys are studying genetics this week. We read all about Mendel's experiments with peas. Then we took a closer look at a fake family. We determined traits but flipping coins to represent each parent and then figured out what their children would look like.

Our chart

The family. It was super fun.

Hannah and I made my Gram's chocolate chip cookies.

Many chocolate chips were consumed before the cookies went into the oven.

She insisted on scooping the dough onto the pan herself.

After a few tries she actually did get the hang of it...well at least the licking of her fingers.

Perfect every time.

We viewed the "dna" of carrots.

The "ghostly" strands are it.

Hannah has never had her hair cut. It was getting SUPER long, way down her back but the front hasn't been able to catch up, so I decided to have the back trimmed up. She got about 3 inches taken off. She would NOT sit in the chair. The hairstylist tried everything to get her sit. Even putting her beloved puppy in the chair and pretending to give him a haircut. She eventually did sit but only with me.
Mommy and Hannah showing off her new cut. You can't really see it here, but I promise it's shorter. I think she has her mommy's hair because of how fast it grows, so in a few months it will be just as long again.

One of my New Years Resolutions

One of my New Years resolutions is to be more purposeful with my little toddler. She is 2 and is as busy as they come. But this past year I have realized that my plate is super full. Between housework homeschooling, ministry,and friendships here and away, my own personal walk with the Lord, my plate is also super divided. And although it was so not intentional my little Hannah has gotten the smallest piece of the plate. So one of my new years resolutions was slow down and enjoy this stage of her life and invest more of my time into her. My resolution involves taking time to do one on one things with Hannah, hands on fun things.

For Christmas someone gave us a bird feeder kit. It included pine cones, string, plastic utensils, and containers of peanut butter and bird seed. Today was the day to pull it out and make it with Hannah. She LOVED it. I LOVED it. (Even Elijah LOVED it)

We tied the string on first...very important because once the peanut butter is on it would not be fun.

Ok so when did she get so grown up? She knew exactly what do once I opened the little container of peanut butter and plastic knife.

She worked very diligently.

It was about 5 min into the project that she discovered the peanut butter was also suitable for eating!She is so my daughter!!!

Hannah was kind enough to share with Elijah

Time to sprinkle the bird seed. This was her favorite part!

We hung them on tree in the front yard. Close enough to a window so we could watch for some birds. Look how grown up she looks.

Hannah's finished product!

Happy 2nd Birthday Hannah Elizabeth

No words I write on this blog could express how blessed we are to have our Hannah. She is the source of so much joy in our lives. She has grown so much in every way this passed year. I thought I would share with you top ten amazing things that make Hannah, Hannah.

10. She has the cutest little giggle and it's sometimes very mischievous.

9. She loves her spotted puppy. He is her BFF. He gets much love and is usually very dirty. She brings him to bed each night and snuggles him super close.

8. She loves chili, only the middle of the Oreo cookies (good thing they make double stuffed)and she loves to drink out of juice boxes (or maybe she just likes to play with the straws)

7. She insists on doing "work" when the boys are schooling. She has recently decided that a coloring book do not constitute a workbook and refuses to use them when the boys are working. So I need to get some old used workbooks for her. But I am pretty sure she will be smart enough to figure out they are used.

6. She loves to try to put off bedtime by asking if she can watch a "show" Her shows of choice are Strawberry Shortcake, Kipper, Blues Clues, Curious George and Toy Story"

5. She does not enjoy going to church. She cries when we pull into the parking lot. This is not any reflection of the awesome ladies in the nursery but rather her complete attachment to mom. She has just moved up to the 2-3 year old room so we're hoping that she might settle in and enjoy it.

4. She LOVES and I mean LOVES to dance. "Dance Dance Dance" she will order when she hears music. And I must say the girl has rhythm and some moves.

3.She loves her "Yay Yay" and "Jah" translation "Isaiah and Elijah" She loves any attention they give her and just loves when they wake up and come downstairs in the morning.

2. Her favorite time of the day is when Daddy comes home. She literally squeals in delight "My Daddy My Daddy." And runs,and wraps herself around him. It would melt anyone's heart and I am pretty sure Peter turns to mush every night.

1. She is loved by so many and she is above and beyond what we had ever imagined her to be.

Happy Birthday Hannah! We love you. We our so thankful hat God put you in our family. May you grow in the knowledge of Him and His love and grace all the days of your life.

Pawty Time!

First you know it's a good party when you only took a handful of pictures. It was such a blast I picked up the camera twice and handed it off. So This is what I got, but I think you'll get the idea. So Hannah LOVES puppies. She loves real one and stuffed ones. But she has ONE favorite and it's a little Dalmatian that my mom sent her for Christmas last year. She has loved him, and loved him and it shows. So of course this year she had to a puppy pawty!

Just seeing the number 2 makes me sad. She's growing up TOO fast.

Her birthday banner

Adopt a pup station. All the kids picked out a puppy, got a certificate and a doggie bag full of treats

Inside the bag, puppy vitamins (gummy snacks) puppy chow (coco puffs) Dog biscuits (sugar cookies)

Dog bowls full of treats

Paw print cookies, made with a junior mint and 4 brown m & m's

Super fun puppy balloons.

This was so fun, balloon garland. It was bright and Hannah loved it. On the table are little puppy pictures that the kids colored.
Pupcakes, with the frosting is Oreo cookie, Hannah's favorite cookie. Aren't the toppers cute!

OH YUMMY

We practiced blowing out the candles before the party but she went right in with her fingers, I blew them our so fast.

Hannah's BFF

Her little "boy" friend

More guests

Present time. She loved the cards "oh a card" she said when she pulled each on out. I tried to open one for her and ripped the envelope in a way that was not pleasing to her, and she was very upset. "OH NO" she said. So I let her open them. It took a long time, but I thought it was sweet she appreciated the cards as well (just like her mom)

Her favorite gift from mom and dad....a Fur Real Puppy. She loves it. Although her trusted pup still made the cut at bedtime.
And for dinner....Hannah's favorite...Grammie's Chili!

We have AMAZING friends who have been like adopted family to Hannah. They have been there for her, loving her and filling in the gap where our families can't be here. We are so blessed to have these people in our lives,to love our kids and to invest in their lives. Thank you friends for coming out and celebrating with us.

OH Hannah!

So this is what happens when your friend from Maine calls and you are totally into the converstation...you forget you have a toddler who LOVES to get into everything. She found a blue highlighter and decided the kitchen floor needed some color.

You do the mess....YOU clean it up!

Hannah's 1 year Pics

So my super sweet friend Sasha is pretty handy with many things and I've been noticing some pretty sweet pictures she takes over on her blog. So I asked her if she had a spare moment to capture Hannah while she's still one. Here are some of my favorites.

Cute little fingers!
Are you following me?

I have the cutest little face.

And I still have the cutest little feet.

Hmmmm I am not too sure about having my picture taken.

I can be very serious.

Maybe I'll take a quick swim.

Standing pretty.

I'm still Hannah Bear

Peekaboo

I am so sweet.

Getting sweeter.

Getting ready to run.

My cupcake necklace.

Time to swing

Oh this is so much fun.

Here's my silly face.