Quiet Book Swap

So one of my friends had the great idea to do a Quiet Book Swap. The idea behind this is to break up the massive work that the average quiet book requires. Instead of making 15 different pages each woman just makes 15 of the same page. Then we will compile all the different pages women make and send everyone a book that will have one of your pages in it and 14 others made by other women. I think it is a great idea and we are looking for about 15 women (or men) who are committed to doing this.

If you want to participate I've posted the details on my Women in the Scripture blog. I think this will be a lot of fun and so much easier than doing it by yourself.

Also, I guess I should mention-- though I know many of you have figured it out-- that I have been posting a lot on my Women in the Scriptures blog. I've decided to move all my thoughts about life, motherhood, the scriptures, eternity to my other blog. As I've prayed about where God wants me to be spending my time I keep getting the answer to write on that blog... weird I know... but I'm not questioning him. I will keep writing on this blog but probably not as much... and it will mostly be about my kiddos or what is happening in my life. If you start missing me and the strange inner workings of my head then you are welcome to read my Women in the Scripture blog. But don't worry I'll try to keep posting on this one pretty often too.

FIve Years

I can't believe that Jon and I have been married for five years.

Sometimes it seems like we've been married forever and then other times the time feels like it has gone by so fast.

I really love this boy.

I put together a slide show for him for our anniversary. It was so sweet to go back and look through all the pictures we have together.

I hope we get 5x5x5x5x5x5x5x5x5x5 more years together

...at least

Rosie Roo KaChoo

Jon has taken to calling Rose, "Rosie Roo KaChoo" and it is starting to catch on. For some reason it seems to fit this little girl's personality... sweet and goofy. Man I love this little girl. She has all of us, including Asher, wrapped around her little finger and knows how to get what she wants using her feminine charms... and if that fails... tantrums. She is getting really good at tantrums.

This picture was taken way back at Thanksgiving. She is riding the American Girl doll horse at my dad's house. She figured this out herself. Like I said... she is sort of a goof.

All ready to go cross- country skiing. She loves it. Asher on the other hand screams the whole way. We tried to take them a few weeks ago and it took us an hour to go 1/4th of a mile because Asher decided he didn't want to ride on the sled and that he wanted to walk. He kept sinking in the snow and screaming the whole time. We've since got him a fancier sled and he likes it a bit more. Hopefully Rose keeps up her love of cross country skiing because we would love it if one day we made it a family tradition.

Wearing Asher's underwear... don't ask.

We think that Rose might have a milk allergy because for the last several months she has had a really runny nose, runny stools, and was throwing up a lot-- at least once or twice a day. A few weeks ago a friend was talking about her little boy and his milk allergy and a little light bulb went off in my head. As I was researching milk allergies I also found that one of the tell-tell signs of a milk allergy is that it is a child's favorite food. The article I read said that children with food allergies often crave the foods they are allergic to. Rose is a milk and cheese-a-holic.

We've taken her off cows milk the last few weeks and it really seems to be helping. She has stopped throwing up and doesn't have a runny nose anymore. Yesterday though I gave her some pudding that had milk in it-- I caved and gave into a tantrum-- and a few hours her runny nose was back. I'm thinking we are on to something with this.

Do you think she will hate me some day for posting this picture?

Oh, well.

I know it seems WAY early but Rose has really been interested in potty training lately. Several times a day she pats her bottom and says "poo". At first I ignored her thinking she was way to little to start using the potty, but then just a few minutes after she told me she was "poo" she pooped her pants. It has happened several times since. I've been trying to put her on the potty now when she tells me she needs to go. She's only gone once-- and that was sort of fluke-- but I think she is getting ready.

Is 17 and half months way too early to be potty training? I've heard that girls sometimes are ready much earlier than boys. Any suggestions on this one?

Siblings

My two ragamuffins are starting to become good friends. Every day they crack me up. They are double the trouble-- and double the fun. They remind me so much of my little brother and me. It gives me great joy to think about how much they will love each other when they are older.

This picture was taken shortly after Asher called "Mommy, come see the baby do." I went in the kitchen and found that Rose had opened the fridge, found a spoon and was taking scoops out of my freshly made peanut butter bars. Apparently Asher didn't mind helping her.

They both LOVE wearing goggles when we go swimming, especially Rose. They don't fit her head at all, but I think she likes seeing the world in a different color.

Play dough... Rose eats it. Asher smashes it into the carpet. Great fun. They love playing it though so we get it out a lot.

I love how intent her face is here. She insisted on sitting on a chair even though she can hardly see above the table!

I can't wait until it gets warm enough to go outside. We are all going stir crazy. Asher and Rose spend a good portion of the day chasing each other around the house. It would be so much nicer if they could do it in the yard. Alas, we still have a good three months of winter ahead of us.

Somehow we will survive.