January Wrap Up: Odds/Ends

Just some leftover shots from this month that never made it to a post of their own ...

Last year's blog is in the books...

Josh has taken to donating plasma.  But does it count as donating if he is getting paid?  He is using his plasma cash to fund his greenhouse endeavors.

We have a hankering for Phase 10 since our weekend at the cabin playing games with our Talmadge peeps.

I recently decided I was done making my own laundry detergent for awhile.  So it's kinda funny that I sort of picked up a new DIY thing ... making my own handsoap.  It's a not-really-long story, but I am too tired to type out how I came to this right now.  Anyway.  So easy.  

Taa Daa!

And oh yeah ... we are getting rabbits.  This is happening.  More on that later, I am sure.

 

 

 

 

The momma rabbit, Annie.

More Phase 10, but really ... that squat she chillaxes in every time we play. Get a load of that. 

Another day, another seed catalog in the mail.  Just call me Farmer Brown's wife.

We did a dumb thing and missed the lunar eclipse last night/early morning.  Anna is so mad about it.  But I did happen to take a pic of its astounding glow before I went to bed.  

Anna is taking art classes and loving it.  This stayed at her teacher's house to go in her portfolio but she was so proud to bring it out to the car to show me first. 😍  She said something impressive about vanishing points?  

Peace out, January.  We enjoyed you!

Anna Things

At a birthday party a few weeks ago.  The birthday boy's mom sent me this pic, commenting on how Anna struck this perfect pose in all the pics she took, even the silly shots when craziness was all around her.  So funny.  I kept the pic though because she looks so lovely in it to me. I was struck by how dark her hair looks. I don't typically think of her as this dark.  Something about this shot makes me feel like I can glimpse a teenage Anna already. 

How precious ... them cooperating and her tickling his back.  Reminds me of my childhood.  I always loveddddddd getting my back tickled.

Check out these chompers.  Roots for days!!  Baby teeth Anna had removed at the dentist so we can get on with braces this year. Which is a good thing ... they weren't coming out for a lonnnnnnng time on their own. Dentist's hands hurt after getting them out, she had to squeeze and pull so hard, she said.  😳

Her clipping Noah's toes cracked me up too.  He sure is lucky to have such a helpful sister.

Precious Reading Journal responses ...  She cannot get enough of her missionary books she is reading.

At a recent doctor's appt to check in about how it's going with her ADD meds.  Going so great!  I begrudge our new insurance for making us have to switch to something less expensive. Wish us luck!

Fun fact - the Anna girl logged in at 53 inches tall and a matching 53 pounds! 

Delicious Words

Just a collection of particularly pretty words I have while reading lately that fell so easy on my ears...

sanctum

chamber

courtier

chorister

discord

conceit

zenith
basin

illusory

prurience

quietude

restive

reticence

beneficence

forbearance

wonderment

discourtesy

writ

inlaid

spree

summarily

foible

constable

blandishments

bewilder

mercenary

candyfloss

butterscotch

birdsong

windswept

stronghold

thunderclap

honeysuckle

beeswax

Lasa: Sayings and Sundries at 2.5 Years

Baby girl is exactly 2.5 years old today!  

 

I have been waiting for today to come to finally post a bunch of her latest ways and words (and their translations).  They are precious to me, as is this really capable toddler season she is in. 

Lasa's Sayings and Sundries from 2-2.5 years old...

• Loves to sing Baa Baa Black Sheep and Loves to watch You Tube Kids
• Loves to steal seats and sips of your drink and does it with shameless gusto
• LOVES to announce to all in the house when it is time to go 
• Loves to put on chapstick and band-aids and oil/medicine on any boo-boos
• Insists that sleeping all night was just a nap 
• Always says, "I go church, eat goldfish" when we are going to church.
• The child is as Type A as they come! zippers, doors, messes, routines, napkins...
• First of my children to relocate chairs and such to climb to reach things 😳
• Oh dee-uh - Oh dear (and I have no idea who taught her that one)
• Oh  mannnn!  - when she is disappointed
• Oh fine (sigh) - when she is agreeing but doesn't like it
• Chitway - Chick-Fil-A
• What dat noi? - What's that noise?!!
• I no yike it. - I don't like it.
• filbo - feel better
• JUICY! - what she says when she is trying to be funny
• bite-a-min - vitamin
• Cayfoo, Bubba - Careful, Noah!
• Jesuh boss - Jesus is the boss
• meebee neck time - maybe next time
• nanny nanny hoo hoo - nanny nanny boo boo
• bossy baw - bouncy ball
• ha-you-ya - hallelujah
• caw dow - calm down
• moosee - music
• toshy uhwy tenj me - Miss Toshi already changed me (diaper)
• Jenfoo Hadoo - Miss Jennifer and Miss Heather (her fave PDO teacher)
• oh-jes - oranges
• poofick - perfect
• destic - chapstick
• pay me - play with me
• cuh up me - cover me up (with a blanket)
• dop it - stop it
• moaning - morning
• dat coo - that's cool
• knockenock - knock knock
• escoosie - excuse me (when she toots)
• dohn do dat - don't do that
• hoy up guys - hurry up, guys
• soy, mommy - sorry, mommy
• doe woy - don't worry
• sittin whoa - cinnamon roll
• way ah you? - where are you?
• nakkin - napkin
• dat cwazy - that's crazy (when anything surprises or amuses her)
• I dus yittuh - I am just little.
• I yuh you - I love you.
• uh kay - okay
• wa bow - what about ....?
• aw wee time -  all the time
• toy yite on - turn light on
• wetta me do it - let me do it
• peaaaaaaaase -  pleaaaaaaaaaase!

Also - fun update - the potty training is practically done.  

 

That girl rocks pull-ups and big girl underwear multiple days in a row now ... with only accidents when she sleeps, which is fair for this milestone.  Proud of her! And tickled that it went so smoothly ... and so much earlier than I planned to tackle this skill.  So glad to be selling off what was left of our diapers and wipes.  We'll only be keeping pull-ups on hand from here on out ... for days at school or when we are out and about and need some post-potty-training safety netting - ha!  Way to rock turning 2.5, Lasalove!

So Will I

Gosh, I love the artistry and the sermon in this song.  Fave heavy-hitting lines in bold.

So Will I 
(performed by Tori Kelly)

God of creation
There at the start
Before the beginning of time
With no point of reference
You spoke to the dark
And fleshed out the wonder of light

And as You speak
A hundred billion galaxies are born
In the vapor of Your breath the planets form
If the stars were made to worship so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You’ve made
Every burning star
A signal fire of grace
If creation sings Your praises so will I

God of Your promise
You don’t speak in vain
No syllable empty or void
For once You have spoken
All nature and science
Follow the sound of Your voice

And as You speak
A hundred billion creatures catch Your breath
Evolving in pursuit of what You said
If it all reveals Your nature so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You say
Every painted sky
A canvas of Your grace 
If creation still obeys You so will I

If the stars were made to worship so will I
If the mountains bow in reverence so will I
If the oceans roar Your greatness so will I
For if everything exists to lift You high so will I
If the wind goes where You send it so will I
If the rocks cry out in silence so will I
If the sum of all our praises still falls shy
Then we’ll sing again a hundred billion times

God of salvation
You chased down my heart
Through all of my failure and pride
On a hill You created
The light of the world

Abandoned in darkness to die

And as You speak
A hundred billion failures disappear
Where You lost Your life so I could find it here
If You left the grave behind You so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You’ve done
Every part designed in a work of art called love
If You gladly chose surrender so will I

I can see Your heart
Eight billion different ways
Every precious one

A child You died to save
If You gave Your life to love them so will I

Like You would again a hundred billion times
But what measure could amount to Your desire
You’re the One who never leaves the one behind

Snow Days Galore

Last Friday, going into MLK weekend, schools closed for impending snow.  So we skipped school at home too in favor of scooting over to Standing Stone State Park earlier than planned for the same reason.  They were so kind to let us check in early.  Fast forward to Monday, MLK Day.  No sooner had we returned home from that weekend getaway, than more snow and ice landed back in Gallatin.  So fun!  That snow and ice proceeded to close down schools for this entire week.  So, we went ahead and closed school at home for the most part along with them.  So fun!  I think if Josh had had to go to work, I might have had us hit the books as usual, but alas ... he was home, so we indulged and enjoyed a free work/school free mostly week at home.  Bonus holiday!  Thankful.

Another day, Josh rigged up his lawnmower to pull sleds.  Not joking!

 

 

 

They actually went up and down the street, but you know I wasn't leaving the front porch to take any more pics.  It was so cold, it stung!! I don't know how they were standing it.

Don't worry, Lasa did this wipeout on purpose. 

Today, Thursday,  Josh went into work on a two hour delay, so we did an hour of school and then hightailed it to Cathy's house to hang out.  Tomorrow, Josh goes on another two-hour delay, and we will likely finally power through a full school day. Sorry, kids!