A Liaism in the Kitchen

It has been quite sometime since I have recorded a Liaism, but she said something yesterday that was so funny that I just had to write it down!  While Logan was taking his afternoon nap, Lia was helping me back some Christmas cookies.  As always, Lia was standing on her chair with her big, white spoon in hand ready and waiting to mix each new ingredient that I added to the bowl.  When I cracked open two eggs and dropped them in, Lia said with great enthusiasm:

"Yeah, I love eggs!  I love chasing them like a mermaid chases her husband under water!" 

Besides the fact that this comment is totally hilarious, I loved it because of how it combined Lia's knack for using descriptive vocabulary with her love of mermaids.  Apparently she loves stirring eggs into batter because they are so slippery and are hard to break up and mix in with the other ingredients.  Hence her description of "chasing" the eggs.  In addition, I loved how she compared this mixing action to a mermaid chasing her husband under water (who she later explained had fallen off of a boat...which is actually a scene from one of her favorite mermaid movies, Fish Tales).  Oh this girl, I just love her to pieces! 

The Bump Is Here!

I had good intentions of posting baby bump pictures the same weeks that I did during Logan's pregnancy so that I could compare apples to apples (or should I say bumps to bumps), but I'm off by a week due to one of the craziest weekends last week that all started with Ron drilling a hole through one of our water pipes while hanging our new T.V.  But, I digress.  Anyways, instead of posting a 22-week picture of me, a 23-week picture is going to have to do!  I am definitely bigger with this pregnancy than I was with my first two that were basically the same in the growing belly department.  It will be interesting to see how large I am by the end.  Regardless, right now is my favorite time being pregnant because I no longer have any of those typical, "first trimester symptoms," and am not big enough to be uncomfortable.  So, here's to a few more of those wonderful weeks!

22 Months Old!

Our busy body turned 22 months old today!  Time is going so quickly these days.  We have had such a fun month with Logan as he has started saying and doing so many new things.  For starters, this boy's vocabulary development has finally taken off.  He is on fire!  He now "parrots" so many words that we say AND will just start saying a word on his own that he has heard us use over and over again.  I have tried to keep a running list of all of his new words, but I'm sure that I have missed some.  This is what I have for the past month:  light, paint, brush, chopstick (if you don't believe me, just look at what he is holding in the picture), out, boo, duck, fork, pen, blank (for blanket), seal, no, candle, nana (for banana), choo choo, whale, pee, phone, spoon, sock, hat, dad, knife, dirty, amen (after prayers), heavy, noise, help, Elmo, food, Nemo, nunny (for bunny), one, two, three, four, five, big, ice cream, dog, bus, tag, Jesus, yo yo (for yogurt), rock, keys, snow, scissors, smoke, hammer, movie, people, jacket, dark, walk, bag, and box.  Feeeyoooh!  That's quite a list.  In addition, Logan has become fascinated with his sister and says her name ALL the time (ee-yah instead of Lia).  He always calls for her, asks for her when she is not around, or says her name over and over whenever we drop her off at school or at a lesson.  Logan taught himself how to do somersaults and has discovered how to turn on the stereo in his room and does it constantly followed by some dancing.  He still loves having books read to him every day and now insists that I read to him after he wakes up in the morning, before his nap, before bed time, and one or two other times throughout the day if he gets his way. It's pretty unreal.  Logan also loves playing peek-a-boo with his blanket and has fallen in LOVE with Elmo and all things Sesame Street!  He loves watching his Elmo movie, listening to his Elmo music, reading his Elmo books, and points him out whenever he spots pictures of him.  It is so cute!  Our boy is definitely growing up!

Journey to Bethlehem

Last December I learned about an amazing live nativity put on by an Adventist church in a neighboring town the weekend it was being held.  As a result, it was too late to get the free tickets for admission, but was luckily able to reserve them in time for this holiday season.  Tonight, Ron, the kids, and I all bundled up and braved the freezing weather to make this incredible journey through Bethlehem.  The church did an amazing job recreating the nativity story and I especially appreciated having it brought to life for Lia.  In fact, at one point, one of the actors slipped her a golden coin and told her to hide it from the Roman guards.  Later on in the journey, Lia whispered to me that we needed to hide our coins "from the Roman."  So cute!  It was a wonderful way to remember the true reason for the season!

The kids and I beginning our journey through Bethlehem.

 



 

Cute, bundled up Logie giving me his "cheese" smile.  He especially loved all of the live animals we encountered through the tour.

 

We got to see the wise men,

 

live camels,

 

a bustling market place in Bethlehem,

cranky inn keepers,

 



 

wicked tax collectors,

 

angels on high,

 

and most especially a LIVE baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph. 

Freezing Parade Fun!

Months ago, Lia and I learned that her Girl Scout troop was going to participate in the annual Santa Parade in our town.  We were both thrilled about this especially since we watch this Christmas parade every year and love it!  However, as the week finally approached and I heard the weather forecast, I began to not be so excited.  A toasty high of 30 degrees was predicted with a low of 12 degrees on the day of the parade.  YIKES!!  But Lia and I decided to brave it anyways, bundled up, and left our boys at home.  My car's thermometer read 26 degrees driving down to the parade and 22 degrees on the way home, but we survived and actually had a great time.  However, I must admit that a toasty warm bath did feel mighty good after getting the kiddos to bed tonight. I think that my toes have finally recovered.

 

Lia with her two other fellow Daisies, Addison and Mila, all bundled up in blankets waiting for the parade to begin.  The girls got to ride on the trailer while the parents walked along side.

 

Some of the girls posing just as they turned on the lights on the trailer!  So festive and pretty!

 

Lia's Girl Scout troop ready to go!

 

Just as we were lining up to leave, Mr. and Mrs. Claus drove by in the beautiful, antique fire truck that they ride every year.

 

Lia and her buddies waving to the crowd as we cruised down Meridian Avenue.

 

What a fun way to spend a Saturday evening!

Done, Part 2

Well, we did it.  Last night, Lia and I finished reading the second Harry Potter book in two months.  It's hard to believe that we started all of this at the beginning of August and look how far we've come.  It really has been an enjoyable experience sharing these two novels with Lia.  She has understood so much and learned a lot about the wizarding world!  However, I must admit, that I am ready to get back to reading a few of her short books each night.  As silly as it may sound, I've actually missed Fancy Nancy!  :-)

Painting Mania!

 

I will be the first to admit that the months of October and November have been exhausting ones in the Hartland.  Why?  Because Ron and I have each been painting an entire floor of our new home in addition to keeping up with everything else in our lives.  Ron has been repainting the entire main floor the same beige color that was already on the walls strictly to cover up all of the marks, nicks, dings, and scratches left by the previous owners' wonderful four sons.  UGH.  I have never in my life seen walls as bad as these.  I, on the other hand, have been painting five of the six rooms upstairs with the help of my mom in all the colors from our previous home's bedrooms and bathrooms.  It's been like a bad case of deja-vu to have to repaint a second set of rooms the same colors.  Regardless, we powered through it and both finished up our areas this past week.  Halelujah!  I am ready for a break and to just get back to my "normal" life in time for the not-so-normal holiday season.  And before Ron rinsed out his last paint brush this past Friday, I had to get a picture of the CRAZY, tall walls that he had to paint in our foyer, living room, and stairway.  Some of these walls reach 20 feet and, thanks to our friend's ladders, he was able to do it all on his own and luckily didn't break his neck in the process.  Thank heavens!