before I forget

so, I've had these videos for a couple weeks now, but haven't had a chance to put them up (or haven't TAKEN the chance anyway). Turns out that now the monkey bars are no big deal, and Brielle doesn't even say 'you're welcome' instead of thank you like that anymore. but before I forget about those days, I thought I'd post the videos. Don't expect to be too entertained, but for the sake of this digital scrapbook of sorts, I had to include them.






and oh my...

going into the "videos" folder where these are stored, I found a few gems that must be posted as a little trip down memory lane. look for that later. :) were my kids really that small and cute??? I can hardly believe it.

that day and this day

that day...



this day...



and the funny thing, is that the "this day" picture was actually not this day, but yesterday. and it's a good thing I took those pictures yesterday, because the "that day" picture looks more like the reality of this day. Miss B was up all night crying, screaming, not herself at all. I knew she was coming down with something, and sure enough, today she's BURNING up. so hopefully she'll kick this so we can have a fun birthday weekend.

pretty as a princess

My kids love dress up. They have a grandma that buys them costumes when they go on major sale, or at garage sales, or whatever. So we have a little dress up area in the play room, and every day it gets destroyed bc they all want to wear costumes.

But the favorites are always the princess dresses. Because doesn't everyone love to feel like a princess?

the princess shoes (who cares if they don't match the dress, or even each other!)...


the princess dress...



complete with all the princessy deatils...


and the pretty hair.


See? everyone likes to feel like a princess!

I heard giggling in my room the other day, and found these two up to no good. :)


They loved it, and thought they were HILARIOUS. I thought it was pretty funny too, but mostly just can't get past the fact that Josiah is such a cute little girl. :)

author Lillian

I hated Young Authors time at school. I never felt like I had good ideas, or knew how to write well. I always dreamed about being a really good writer and winning the contest and riding in the limo. It never happened. But now I have kids, and I can hope and dream for them that they'll win. aaaah, just kidding. But I do hope that they at least think their ideas aren't dumb. :)

Today the big girls were writing (and illustrating) stories during quiet time. It's maybe not the most creative story in the world, since it's just another typical princess story. But the fact that my 5 year old can tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end, that has a few of her own little ideas in it, makes me pretty proud. :) so without further ado, here's Lillian's story, word for word:

Once upon a time there was a princess. She was trapped in a castle, with no way to get out. She had a dragon guarding her. Locked up in a castle, there was no toys like she usually had. Lots of princes tried to rescue her, but they couldn’t because all of her guards chased them. So they never came back. But finally, she remembered that she had a key in her pocket that she snuck out of its place. So she unlocked herself. She was free. And she went to school and then she went to a ball. And then she found a prince, and they got married. And they went on a carriage ride and they got home to their castle. And they played lots of games and they lived happily ever after.

It's full of wonderful ideas that are life long lessons.
1. You don't need a boy to rescue you.
2. School comes before social activities like dances.
3. You are half Smits. Playing games the way to live happily ever after. :)

happy writing, young author. :)

little after all

so often when I look at Lillian I feel like she acts way more like a teenager than a little girl. So when I came across this scene today, I had to grab the camera, almost as proof that my little girl is still little after all.