The Threes are OVER

Praise the Lord, the kids are 4!!  Can I just tell you how glad I am that the threes are over!  Reese and Tucker have become increasingly more compliant and less temperamental to closer they've gotten to four so I'm counting on the fours to be a breeze compared to the last 12 months. 
We celebrated with our 4th annual Splish Splash Birthday Bash.  It was their first "friend" party and they had an absolute blast!

Happy Birthday Reese & Tucker!

Rub a Dub - 3 in a Tub

Bath time has become quite the circus in the Tims' house!  Now that Rylan can sit up and crawl around, she often joins Reese and Tucker in the tub.  I'm usually soakin' wet when I'm done (Chris too when it's his turn) but we've got bath time down to a science.  Besides the scrubbin' we have a little fun too...

 Rylan usually has to come out first and throws a rip-roaring fit.  She's a fish just like the bigs!  She also enjoys brushing her teeth in the sink. 

Oh how I'm dreading the day that all the kids can't take a bath together... I'm all about efficiency!

Batter Up

Tucker is playing t-ball this spring.  In Aledo, we call it Honk Ball because they use special bases that "honk" when the kids jump on them.  It's pretty laid back... the dads are on the field to make sure the kids don't pick flowers and play in the dirt.  Tucker can play Honk Ball for two years before he plays "real t-ball."  It's pretty funny.  Last week a little boy got mad b/c his coach had to help him bat (after about 6 or so strikes) so he walked all the bases.  With his arms crossed, head down and lip out.  Tucker can be pretty embarrassing but we haven't experienced anything like that yet. 

He's making new friends and having a blast...

When I asked Reese if she wanted to play she answered, "No Mom, I'm a girl.  I want to be a cheerleader."  Really... it's already starting.

Dirt Bike Danger

Tucker has been watching his cousin Caden ride his dirt bike for months now and talking about how he can't wait to ride it when he gets bigger.  You can imagine his excitement when we went to stay with Chris' cousin Lisa's family and their 5 year old son had one just the right size.  He was so sweet to let Tucker have a turn or two or three...

He got decked out in all the gear...

Got a mini-lesson from Cousin Eric...

And took off...

He followed Owen around all weekend... the had a blast playing together.  And now Tucker has a new birthday wish list!

Losin' My Marbles

Liars!  All the people that said the two's were terrible.  The two's have nothin' on the three's!!  Let's just say it's a good thing Reese and Tucker are so stinkin' cute.  I'm counting down the days for them to turn 4 in the hopes that they will be magically fixed; instantly compliant.  A girl can dream, right?! 

We've had some rough days in the Tims' house within this last year... tears, fits, timeouts, spankings, sticker charts, iPad charts... you name it, we've tried it.  Our latest incentive system is one I stole from Andrea.  Marble Jars... love these!  The kids get to put a marble in their jars when they do something good, but have to take one out when they do something bad.  When they fill their jar, they get to go pick out a prize at the store. 

Love these cute little jars...

Tucker filled his jar first and got to pick out a prize last week.  This was very motivating for Reese!  Hers is now almost full!

The marble jars are keeping me from losing my marbles.  Well, that and reading Raising the Strong willed Child.  Reese is definitely our strong willed one.  

Oh Brother

So, I'm in the kitchen making pancakes yesterday (at the crack of dawn I might add... because that's when Tucker gets up) and this is what Tucker is busy doing...

Rylan didn't seem to mind.  Not that I'm surprised though. She also didn't mind when he sat on her back and yelled "Yaw, giddy-up horsey" or when he used her as a step stool to get on the couch. 

We're working on the whole "Brothers are supposed to protect their sisters" thing.  Hopefully it will sink in before he does some serious damage.  Until then... he can't be left alone with her!



Everyday a Sunday

Can we please just play outside all the time!?  Wouldn't it be nice if life was just a continuous cycle of Sunday afternoons?  Where we could just relax and enjoy playing together?  No stress, no responsibilities... just moments of pure joy, love and laughter. 

I pray that we'll always find the time (and energy) to play together, to explore together, to just plain love life together!

Moments like these bring me pure joy and remind me to count my many blessings. 

See what God has done!

Freeze Bumps & Fruit Loops

Have I mentioned how much I love it when the kids say something wrong and it sticks?  The teacher in me doesn't even try to come out to correct them.  We just change the name of whatever it is they're talking about...

Freeze Bumps = goose bumps
Stunk = skunk
Chicken Lake = Chick fil a
Candy Smarts = Smarties
Smellows = marshmallows
Fruit Loops = belt loops

My babies will officially not be babies anymore when they stop telling me they have freeze bumps when it's chilly in the morning.

Some days I can't wait for them to grow up so they can get dressed and make their own beds.  But some days I want them to stay little forever!