Muevete En Mi

Each night before bed we sing a string of songs with the kids. We always start with Muevete En Mi first (a Spanish chorus that Jeff taught the kids) followed by Away in a Manger, You are My Sunshine, Hey Diddle Diddle, Country Road (only we sing a North Dakota and Montana version obviously) and Jesus Loves Me. Lately at bedtime I've been giving Benjamin and Ellie their own special cuddle time with their new baby sister, Esther. They sing her a song and give her a hug and kiss goodnight. Tonight they both chose to sing Muevete En Mi (see translation below) to Esther. Here they are with their sweet little voices and their sweet little audience of one...

Spanish:
Muevete en mi muevete en mi
toca mi mente, mi corazon
llena mi vida de tu amor
muevete en mi, Dios espiritu
muevete en mi

English Translation: 
Move in me, move in me
Touch my mind, my heart
Fill my life with your love
Move in me, Spirit of God
Move in me

I pray just as this chorus asks that Benjamin, Ellie and Esther's minds and hearts will be touched by Jesus and that they will come to know and love and follow Him and an early age.

Are you ready for some football?

Benjamin, like every other kid, loves playing outside. I love put my children in ridiculous hats. Here is the result of our two loves coming together. Now if I could just get him to want to wear a hat, that would be great. He wore this one for all of 5 minutes and in that time took it off about 10 times. I know he'd wear it if it were cold enough, but he's got North Dakota blood in his veins and it's going to take a lot more than "chilly" to get him on board.

To make this hat I sort of combined two patterns from the blog Repeat Crafter Me using the basic idea from this football hat pattern and the sizing from this sports beanie. I left off the earflaps and ties because he already has a winter hat with both. If you crochet at all check out her blog. She has a lot of really cute patterns and they are free.

Why I never would have made it as a forensic scientist...

Disclaimer: This is gross.

For a brief period of time I had this dream of becoming a forensic scientist. I'm sure it had something to do with one of the many shows glamorizing the career. Well today I received confirmation it's a good thing it was just a dream. While I was drying out some acorns (because a Google search told me to) for a craft I plan to do with the kids, I spotted a maggot crawling around my baking tray and I just about tossed my cookies. I can handle diapers and boogers and vomit and all of that. Maggots? Not so much. All I gotta say is thank goodness for Google and its warnings to dry the nuts to get rid of the insects or I wouldn't have even bothered to bake them at all....and the kids would be making necklaces out of maggots instead of acorns.

Mom, can I have a credit card?

Today, while making a purchase online, Benjamin asked me what I was holding. Here's how the conversation went down:

Benjamin: Mom, what's that?
Me: It's a credit card.
Benjamin: Mom, can I have a credit card?
Me: No, baby. You're too little for a credit card.
Benjamin: No. I'm big so I need a credit card.
Me: I'm sorry, baby, but you'll have to wait until you're older to get one.
Benjamin: I'm three. I need one. I have to have one.

And so it begins at the tender age of three.

Our babies at one year

Here are pictures of Benjamin and Ellie at one year. I think it's cute how they both have the same look with their little mouths.

Benjamin - 1 year old

Ellie - 1 year old

And even two years later Ben still makes that teensy little smile from time to time.

Benjamin (3 yo) and Ellie (1 yo)

Mama's mustache

I love my sweet little Benjamin. For every frustrating moment I have with him on a typical day there are a dozen more that melt my heart. It's a good thing too because there are times we really need those sweet moments to make it through the day. Case in point....

Benjamin was not speaking very kindly to me.

Me: Benjamin, it hurts my feelings when you talk to me that way.
Ben: Your feelings hurt, mama?
Me: Yes.
Ben: You want me to kiss your feelings?
Me: Yes.
Ben: Where?
Me: (points to mouth)
Ben: Okay. I will kiss it. (Gives me a kiss) You want me to pray for it?
Me: Yes.
Ben: (Puts little hand on my mouth) Dear God, please help mama's mustache to feel better. Amen.

I laughed so hard....then immediately checked to see there was anything on my upper lip. There wasn't so I laughed some more.

Playing School

Benjamin has been to preschool just two mornings now and cannot get enough. Each time I've picked him up he has asked to go back almost immediately. I'm sure he would love to go more than just once a week, but I'm not sure I can part with his funny little ways more than that. And so he has found another way to have school more frequently....during nap time. What I wouldn't give for a video monitor on days like today.

Here's a sample of Benjamin's nap time school:

http://youtu.be/xZT8JGQKmqM

Benjamin's Bedtime Ballads

Every night when Benjamin gets tucked in to bed we sing a series of his favorite songs. The other night his enthusiasm ran quite high as he sang and played drums on his Twilight Turtle. Here is a link to the full concert (audio only). I had to sneak a recording with my phone in my pocket so that he wouldn't get shy.

The first song is in Spanish in case you think you can't understand us...you probably can't ;)

http://youtu.be/rLvaldLIfi8