SNOW days!

We didn't get a lot of snow this year, but the kids LOVED the snow we got.  Lincoln was really quick and as soon as I opened the back door sprinted onto our first "ice" of the season.  Praise the Lord, he didn't fall and crack his skull!

Once he got over the sheet of ice and onto more of the slush I relaxed and took some pictures.  This one will keep us on our toes.

So, it wasn't much snow the first time, but that didn't keep the littles from "sledding" and spending hours outside.

It also provided for some great nap time snuggles.

And some fun cookie baking and hot chocolate drinking with them!!

Not long after ice storm 1 we got a big snow day.  That was a lot of fun and provided the opportunity for fantastic pictures!

When Mike got home from work he pulled out some supplies and helped the kids sled down our big hill out back!  It was a lot of fun but only lasted during little munchkin's nap.  We all know the trouble he would have brought trying to zoom down that hill.

When he woke up he was ready to play.

I love waking up and seeing this in our backyard.  It's so serene and reminds me to be thankful for every season, in life and in nature.

After a few days, though, we went a little stir crazy.  It all turned to ice and we were no longer able to play in it, so we were just stuck.  

Thankfully it all went away after a few days!!

I was wrong

I thought surely Lincoln would be our first emergency trip for an injury.  But, Logan decided that she was the oldest and needed to set the stage.  And set the stage she did!!  In true fashion, she was putting on some sort of show, closed her eyes, turned around and tried to dramatically fall onto a bed behind her.  Only, the bed wasn't behind her.  Somehow in the chaos she threw her arm behind her and landed on it hard!  We went in for x-rays and, thankfully, nothing was broken, but she had a bad ligament strain so they put her in a sling for 10 days.

She's taking it well, though the more she learns she can't do, the worse it becomes.  Thank goodness it's only 10 days!

This is Lincoln saying, "don't worry, I'll be next."  

Big Birthday Gift

Logan's big birthday gift this year was a ballet barre installed in her room.  She had no idea it was coming and hadn't even asked for one, but with as much time as she spends dancing around, we thought it would be a fun addition.  So, Brody and daddy spent an evening working on it while she was at dance class.

And she was BEYOND thrilled when she got home and found it!!

Here's to years of wearing that barre out with all of the dancing.  

Logan is SIX!

I'm not quite sure how this happened.  She was a baby not even an hour ago, it seems.  But, here it is. Her sixth birthday.  I'll admit, this one has not been as traumatic to me as five was, but it's still another year older, another year passed, another year closer to being fully independent.  Parenting is so bittersweet.

Logan's been up to a lot this year!  Here are a few of the highlights.

Logan "officially" started school, as in, she was of age to start kindergarten, even though we finished that last year.  She learned to read and is reading longer books (and starting chapter books), she can do double digit addition, and has learned to do subtraction in her head.  

Her favorite subject, currently, is science.  We're doing a study on the solar system and it seems to be one of her very favorite things to talk about.  She soaks the information up like a sponge and knows more facts about the planets than I ever knew.

She loves to play outside.  Her favorite toy to play with outdoors is her bike.  She learned to ride a two wheeler this year and is so proud!  It's fun to watch her excel.

She also loves to play inside with her American Girl dolls and her brothers.  They love to play "secret spy" and sneak around taking notes on different subjects.  

She loves to dress up and play princess.  Her favorite princess right now is, of course, Elsa from Frozen.  

Her favorite food is mac and cheese.  Her favorite veggie is broccoli.  She's learning to love a variety of foods though.

She LOVES to help me bake.  Her favorite thing to bake is probably banana bread, though it may be a tie with chocolate chip cookies.

Her favorite color is pink, but she's expanding her color palette and will wear other colors now.  (does anyone remember the phase she went through where if there wasn't pink, she wouldn't put it on?)  

Her favorite movie: Frozen

Her favorite toy: Isabelle, her AG doll.

Her favorite game: Uno

Her favorite pasttime: dance

Her favorite book: The "I can read" Tinkerbell books.

Her favorite TV show: Sofia the First and Wild Kratts.

Her favorite restaurant: Chick-fil-a

What she wants to be when she grows up: a dance teacher

What she looks forward to this year: Losing more teeth (she has two that are really, really ready to come out)

Logan is a huge help around the house.  She is especially helpful with her baby brother.  I'm so thankful for her maturity and willingness to help when it comes to him!!

Logan is a joy.  We have moments.  We butt heads.  But she is so much more than I could ever have asked for or wanted in a daughter.  She refines me daily as a mom and as a child of the Lord.  She shows me beauty in things I wouldn't otherwise see as beautiful.  She loves passionately.  She is joy embodied and I'm so thankful for her.

This year, I learned to relinquish control of the birthday traditions.  We've always gotten whole food cakes for birthdays because they're a special treat, they are SO yummy and it's easy.  But, Logan really wanted a Frozen barbie cake.  So, I stepped out and made it happen.  It wasn't beautiful to me, I saw all of the flaws, but she didn't see any of them.  All she saw was the cake she asked for and was as excited as I've ever seen her.  

Happy Birthday, little love!!

About Lincoln

This blog has sorely been neglected since the birth of our third child.  I've had to prioritize a lot of different areas of our lives because it got really busy really fast after he entered our world.  But I don't want there to be a lack of pictures or stories as they all grow up and so I want to make sure to capture him in as many stages as I can, like I did with his siblings.  So, here's a post all about Lincoln.

Lincoln is another really snuggly baby.  He's busy, and crazy, but he loves nothing more than good hug and frequently will crawl into your lap with a blanket to snuggle you.  It's so sweet, and we are so thankful for moments like that among the chaos.

He LOVES to be around his siblings.  There have only been a few times when Mike has taken the older two out and left me alone with Linc in his short life, but when they're gone he walks around aimlessly looking for playmates.  I'm so glad they have such a special bond with each other and hope it cultivates and grows through the years.

He has an extra special bond with his big sister.  He loves to climb into her lap to read, or hug her, and frequently asks where she is in his own little language.  

Lincoln is by far my best napper.  When he stopped taking two 2 hour naps I was sure we were doomed to have him only napping an hour every afternoon like both of his siblings did.  But, we cut out the morning nap sometime after his first birthday and he naps a solid 3 hours every afternoon.  It's awesome!

He also has an incredible temper.  He hates to be told no!  What kid doesn't?  But this is the reaction he likes to give us.  This was after being told, "No, you can't stick your hand up the vacuum."

He is adventurous as they come.  This kid will climb ANYTHING!  I swear he will be our first ER trip for an injury.  He is fearless and does not like obstacles so he works to conquer them all.

He loves pirates, and super heros and all things boy.  It's fun to watch he and his brother dress up together and play.

His middle name may as well be trouble, because he often finds himself in it.  :)  He's quiet and stealthy and things like this will happen in a matter of seconds if I'm not paying attention.  Mind you, if I could just pick those cards up and restack them, this wouldn't have been a huge deal.  But that's 385 sight words on the ground there that are ordered in a very purposeful way!

I'm so glad God gave me another little boy to love.  They challenge me and take me places I never thought I'd go (to the back of toilets, can I get an amen?), but I love it and wouldn't have it any other way.