flu, prayers, and puddles

We finally got the flu bug! Just the cold/flu type thankfully! I came down with it on Monday, then Alli got it yesterday. So far that's it. I'm starting to feel a little better, though, so I should have some energy back to deal with the sick kids as they all get it...it's inevitable isn't it?

When I have strange things the kids say, I don't know the best way to lead into it, so here's one thing: Whenever Hannah prays she says, "Dear God, please watch over the people in Haiti and Africa, and the people who Joy prayed for." Her cousin Joy prayed for the children in Cambodia once while we were visiting, and Hannah hasn't forgotten it--except where they were from.

Last week (or was it the week before?) when it was warmer I let the girls go out to splash in the puddles. I thought that would give me a chance to clean the house up a bit. It worked for about 10 minutes! Then Hannah came to the door saying Alli needed my help. I went outside to see what the problem was and Alli was stuck ankle deep in sticky mud! I went after her and got my shoes ankle deep in sticky mud, too. But we got out and came inside and cleaned up. Needless to say, the "cleaner house" wasn't anymore!



We have been playing with these silly balloons lately. We figured out how to make several animals with them. Hannah likes to play with the finished animals. Alli likes to twist them over and over fearlessly until they pop!

Bedtime buddies

The girls always want to take something to bed with them. After they get their PJs on and they're in bed, right as we begin the story, they usually "remember" they forgot a toy they wanted in the living room. So we let them have one trip to get one toy they "forgot" to bring to bed. Hannah's bed is half-full of stuffed animals and dolls. Alli, on the other hand, likes to bring the strangest things to bed with her. The crazy things she has brought to bed have been: a pair of toy garden clippers, the lid of a watering can, a can of pretend soup, a dump truck, a xylophone. Last night she wouldn't go to sleep without a bandaid right across the end of her nose. Usually when she comes in the room carrying her treasure Hannah, Mike, and I can't help but laugh! I can't remember all the funny things she likes to get for bed. I'll have to keep you updated.

Some things I don't want to forget

Lately Hannah has wanted to play "Queen Esther" ALL THE TIME. She dresses up in a fancy dress-up dress, walks regally, and asks if anyone knows a king that she could marry. Sometimes she's playing and I don't know it until she solomnly hands me a rolled up piece of paper as a scroll. Almost every time it says "QSD" which is how she spells Queen Es-Der. This week she has been adding the letters "RRRRR W M K." I thought she was writing that (Haman)Wants Me Killed. But luckily I asked her what it spelled first because she said, "It says, 'I Really Really Really Really Want to Marry a King."

Alli LOVES to help in the kitchen. Anytime I'm in the kitchen she runs to the bathroom, grabs the stool, and joins me. And she's really good help, too. She doesn't mind running things to the trash can, throwing things in the sink, or even just standing and watching. But often I have her shake the spices or stir or taste or spread things or set the table. She and Hannah really like it when I make yeast bread/rolls. (We've been making a lot lately.) They each get some dough and flour and make a big mess, but then who doesn't make a mess with that?

Carrie has been trying to say a few more words lately. She says "daaa" for Yeah when she gets something to work right. Mostly she immitates me still, but she does a good job of getting the important sounds right. Today she copied me saying "pretty." She can already pull up and walk around holding on to a table, chair, etc. She's starting to let go and stand briefly. Today she stood for about three seconds. She really wants to walk, and loves walking while holding on to my fingers. When she was just learning to push up on her arms she would rock back and forth, shifting her weight from one arm to the other. And when she learned to sit she would rock back and forth. Now that she's learning to stand/walk she gets so excited that she straightens out her legs and shifts her weight side to side!