Update on the kids

Once again, another month has passed and I am just now getting around to posting something.  We have been really busy with school, errands, Christmas shopping, Awana, etc.  We have been learning a lot of new lessons this past month.  It has been rough on me as a parent that is for sure!  There are so many learning opportunities that I narrowed down a top 10 list from the year and will be including it in our Christmas card this year (or course, trying to make light of it).  I will post them on the blog after I know the cards have been received (I don't want to ruin the surprise).

Reece
Reece is as bubbly and enthusiastic as she has been since birth.  She is enjoying school.  So far in school they have gotten through the letter K in the alphabet.  Each week they focus on one letter and do all kinds of activities around that letter.  I can't believe how much she is learning.  She was selected as star student one week at school and all the students got to learn more about her.  That was a neat time for her.  She is learning all her verses for Awana too.  It is neat to see her learning about the love of our Savior.  She has been quite a handful this past month and I am wanting to see obedience without the "dis" in front of it.  I think we are heading in the right direction.  Everyone told me that parenting would be hard but I never imagined it being this hard.  It is constant teaching, re-directing, punishing, discussing...it is very tiring.  Trust me, I have no problem going to sleep at night...correction...I wouldn't have any problems falling asleep if someone wasn't constantly getting out of their bed (main reason Brody is still in a crib).  I continue to see God's wisdom and direction on how to parent this child (each of them).  Without Him there are days I might just pack up and run away!  One day last week I was at my wits end with her.  I was doing my morning quiet time and read some quite comforting news about the peace God offers - even when raising our children.  "I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don't be troubled or afraid" John 14:27.  There was a devotion in my bible on experiencing God's peace - it just so happened to be tucked into where I was reading in John (where I am in the "bible in a year" reading).  Jesus promised peace - not absence of conflict.  If we turn our worries into prayers and present our needs to God, we will experience God's peace.  "Your stomach will stop churning.  You'll be able to sleep. You'll be able to face the days without tears.  You'll be able to focus on what needs to be done.  You'll be able to deal with your kids without yelling at them.  You'll be able to get through the crisis intact.  How can that be?  The conflict is still there; we still have a long way to go to get out of this crisis. The peace comes not from feeling good about our situation.  It comes from knowing the one truth that matters most:  God is in control."  I give it all to Him.  I don't want to be in control of it!

Brody
Everywhere we go, Brody's smile is recogized as innocent, cute, big, "the best".  He's a happy guy with a bubbly personality like his sister whom he totally adores.  He is also very affectionate.  Loves to cuddle and hug and when one of us is gone, he is the first to greet us when we walk in the door with a hug and a kiss (and scream).  His smile truly lights up the room!  A month ago we ventured into potty training.  I didn't think he was ready but he asked about the potty.  I let him sit on it and much to my surprise, he went.  So that day we began and it's been a whole month now (I think he started training the day after my last post).  He's truly been a piece of cake to train.  I never thought I would say it about a boy...and especially not my cautious boy.  It's nice be free of diapers!  He has learned the art of throwing a temper tantrum which is not so fun when it happens in the middle of a crosswalk! Again, each day is a crisis...I mean learning opportunity in which God can strenghten me with His peace.

 The boy loves his underwear...and his sister's boots!  While there are some things she does that I am glad she is his example, other things I hope he doesn't pick up on.  Wearing her boots is not one of them but it made for a cute picture.

 My cuddly momma's boy!

 Reece saw a picture of me with braids in my hair - I was about her age.  My mother use to do this to my hair, make me sleep on it, and then when I woke up I would have instant curly/crimped hair (this was before the days of crimpers!!).  So she wanted me to do it to hers.  26 braids later....

and 12 hours later...A totally 80's girl!!