Hello May!

The Downs joined us for a backyard dinner tonight. We've been trying to get this together for weeks, but with birthdays and vacations, it's been a challenge to work something out. Miller just loves his buddy Caden. And, what a fun day to celebrate the grand opening of the sand table. This is yet another toy passed down from our neighbors. It's been sitting on the patio for weeks collecting rain, and looking so lonely without sand or toys. The boys enjoyed scooping, sifting, and car chasing through the sand. At the end of the night, most of the sand was on the grass instead of in the table. While the adults dined on the patio, Caden and Miller ran all over the backyard. They were too busy playing to care about eating!



Our family has a lot to be grateful for on this first weekend in May, great friendships, family and our jobs. Yesterday, I signed my contract for the 09-10 school year. I was nervous about it because other counties have totally eliminated part time positions because of budget cuts. Thank the Lord, he's allowed me another year in my dream job. Bring on May!

Super Duper Car Wash

Miller enjoyed scrubbing up his riding toys at Jack's 2nd birthday party this afternoon. It was fun to watch him with a bucket and sponge in hand give his riding toys a good bath. Well, I think he ended getting most of the soapy bubbles all down his shirt and trunks.Suds were in his eyes and mouth, but he didn't seem to mind. This boy loves to splash. And, what fun to wash cars in the sun with your buds. Once the water at the inflatable car wash was turned on, all the toddlers loved running through the streamers to cool off.




What a perfect sunny day to enjoy splashing around. Miller loved watching Jack blow out his 2 candles on the car cupcakes. And, when Miller discovered he got to eat his very own cupcake with a car on top, he was thrilled.



All the action and excitement overcame Miller after about an hour and a half...or was it remnants of red frosting in his eyes? Our exhausted Super Duper Car Wash worker needed a snack and a nap. He was out in a flash on our ride home! Washing cars is hard work. He left with his very own bucket, sponge and personalized towel for more washing fun at home. On Sunday morning, Miller was still talking all about the bucket, bubbles and birthday boy Jack. Happy, Happy Birthday Jack! We enjoyed celebrating with you.

Fun Times

Our family enjoyed a Saturday of "fun times" this weekend. First on the agenda was our Sunday School Social in Bridgemill. Scott and Emily hosted us for a backyard BBQ. Miller was in awe of the trampoline,sand table, jumpy castle, popcorn and icy machine. It was a toddler's dream come true. On the way, he kept telling us, "Go to party" "Go to party". He loved playing with Caden, Jake and his big boy friend Garrison. If I knew that the sand table was going to be such a hit, I would have brought along a change of clothes. Everyone was laughing when Miller decided to dump a cup of sand all over his newly trimmed head!! What am I going to do with my messy monkey?


Miller jumped his little heart out on the enclosed trampoline. It was protected to the nines with padding and netting. They didn't have all the safety accessories when I was a kid! His hair was sticking up in all directions from the static. Off he went, back and forth between the jumpy castle and the trampoline. He couldn't decide which one he liked better.

We wrapped up the evening at Maddie's Princess themed 4th birthday party right across the street. Miller has a little crush on Maddie. He pretend calls her on his cell phone during the week. To Miller's surprise Cinderella's Jumpy Castle was awaiting him for more bouncy fun. Maddie looked as cute as can be in her princess dress running all over the backyard. After an hour, Miller showed signs that he was all tuckered out. It was off to the bath & OH MY...a sand surprise greeted me in Miller's diaper and in every fold of his arms&legs. The bath tub was left nice and gritty. I guess that's a good sign of a "fun times" Saturday!

Terrific Twos

Miller's done some growing up since my last developmental post at 21 months. He's entered the wonderful world of the terrific two's!!

His little vocabulary is growing by stringing together 3-4 word sentences. Of course, either the subject is left out or the verb is in the wrong tense. Toddler talk can be very amusing. It seems like the word, "NO" with a adamant head shake is becoming the answer to most questions that you ask our independent two year old. I swear this happened on the weekend he turned two. He definitely has his mind made up about most things. I've switched most questions to statements. Instead of, " Are you hungry?" I say..."Time to eat...let's have lunch"

Miller is adding to his repertoire of songs that he belts out at any given time: The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Old McDonald, Jesus Loves Me, I Love You, You Love Me (Barney), Happy Birthday anthem, ABC song, and Ho Ho Ho Hosanna. He chants the "Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar rhyme from one of our favorite books.

His favorite things: Lightening McQueen, Thomas the Train, Cookie & Elmo, The Little People characters and movies, Monster trucks, Matchbox Cars, blocks, puzzles, I Spy books where he has to hunt for a missing object, any activity involving running outside.

Hidden Talents: Miller loves finding shapes and 3D shapes all around him. He surprised Grandmama and mommy at the beach when he pointed to the headrest on her bed and said, "black cylinder". He's mastered capital letters, shapes, colors & identifying numbers to 9. We're working on the counting thing! We can get to 13 with no problem, but beyond that is a stretch. He's beginning to memorize some of the pages from our favorite books. When he spots the picture he'll repeat a key phrase or sentence from the page.
That's our two year old boy in a nutshell. We're loving this stage with our little man!

Easter Sunday

Miller was surprised to see a Thomas the Train Easter basket on Sunday morning. We were on our way out to church when he spotted his goodies. Immediately he grabbed Harvey and said, "Open, open!" It was straight to play on the train table before he was interrupted to go to nursery. He loved seeing all his pals dressed in their Easter best at church. I just love that he has friends to learn about Jesus with each week. We made sure we told Miller how proud we were of his Easter coloring and sticker craft! It's always a surprise to see his latest creation when we pick him up.




This afternoon we joined Grandmama and Poppy along with family friends for an Easter dinner at their home. Miller loved getting a "Little People" video and book from the Easter Bunny at Grandmama and Poppy's house. We capped off the evening with a coconut bunny cake. My very own creation with instructions from my friend Terra. We hope you had a very blessed Easter with your family celebrating our Risen Saviour!

Egg Hunting

Miller had a blast hunting for easter eggs today at our annual neighborhood hunt. And, guess who made a star appearance? You guessed it....the Easter Bunny. Miller couldn't get enough of his cottontailed friend. He kept petting the bunnies fur and giving him high fives.






Last year, Miller was sitting and crawling to the eggs but for the most part we did all the hunting work. What a difference a year makes! As soon as the fence opened for the 0-3 year old age range, there was no hippity hoppity, he bolted right into the backyard to pick out just the perfect eggs for his empty basket. The adults got into the hunt with a fun competition to find the "golden egg". The golden egg, almost like the golden ticket from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, held a Target gift card inside. Krissy, the hostess, stuffed 500 eggs for the hunt! Each child could find 20 eggs. Let's just say we didn't come close. As soon as Miller spotted the slide, the hunt was all over.

A day with Meg & Kate

Miller was thrilled when I told him that he would be playing with his friend Meg and her baby sister Kate today. He kept repeating, "Go see Meg!" We watched the girls today while Heather was off to visit her recovering dad. Juggling three kiddos brought me back to my babysitting days. I conquered the world of five kids at a time way back when, so I knew this couldn't be too hard. And, the Dahlby girls? They're a cinch to take care of. Meg is Miss Independent, showing me the ropes of her momma's kitchen. And, then there's adorable Kate. This baby is the smiliest, easiest little love there is!!



Meg chose the Lightening McQueen placemat for Miller to eat on while she enjoyed Tinker Bell from under her plate. Aren't they cute?



After playing outside, inside, upstairs and downstairs,all three kiddos napped at the same time.... What a fun day!