Blinged up

Favorite thing over the weekend:
Bike shopping for Chase with the family.
Chase tested out a few but then a gold flashy one caught his eye. Not a muted flat gold, that would be tolerable.  No this was bright shiny sparkly gold on the entire frame and hubs. Jed said, we could get him a gold tooth to match it.  Jed and I bit our lips to prevent the bursts of giggles from coming forth. 
We pointed out some others and Chase would nicely say that they were nice bikes. But after each he would get back on the gold one and say, "I really love this gold one!"
Thank goodness he is a kid we can easily side track.  We were able to escape without purchasing that hot mess. 
Alas, the hunt continues.

little runner aspirations

I am convinced that Lily will be a runner.  Evidence you say?

1)  She sees workout clothes and asks if the wearer is going running.
2) She is often found trying on everyone's running shoes.
3)  She is fascinated with the treadmill.
4) No matter how entertained she is, she stops what she's doing to watch someone run.  She points out runners in the car.
5) She asks if she can come run too.
6) She always wants to wear her "fast" shoes.  Or she tells you that the shoes she is wearing are fast, even if they are big pink snow boots.
7) She always convinces her siblings to have a race.
8) She is close to beating her brother in said race. And after said race she walks up to an adult slouched over with arms hanging and says "I'm tired" or "I'm dying."  All the while, trying to hide the huge grin on her face.
9) Her cadence is at least triple anyone she's walking with.
10) She runs/trots everywhere. With hard floors all through our home, we definitely know her location.  We even get reminders of this at 1:30 in the morning when she gets up to get a drink.  You jolt awake thinking there's a problem... Nope just Lily moving about.

Mermaid

Lily was talking about wanting to be a mermaid like Ariel.
She said, "mom, I want boobs and a tail. Probably in pink and purple.  That would be beautiful."
Again, I was left speechless. 

lily bits of late

While Lily was brushing my hair with her favorite gold barbie brush, she said, "you can be the kid, and I can be the mom okay!"

I was keeping Lily busy by playing the question game.  After about 10 questions already,  I asked what her favorite holiday was and she said, "mom."  I had to explain what holidays were.

Lily thinks she needs a whole sandwich (like the big kids) rather than her usual half.  When we tell her it's too big she always says, ''well, I can just have the butts, that would be okay.''  Funny girl.  In that rare field of loaf end eaters.  I guess it's a good compromise.

Her thanks

Lily says the best prayers.
She is thankful for everything.
Last night was no exception.
"...and fanks for ours grampa give us chrismis tree."
Grandpa John gave them light up Christmas tree ornaments.
"...and fanks for ours can clean ours rooms."
I told her to clean her room in the morning.
"...and fanks for ours Dixie cans go to heaven."
Grandpa's dog had to be put down suddenly last week. She normally says thanks for Dixie, but since she found out this is her replacement.
"...and fanks for DJ and  Sheri and Braxton and Ryker cans have a new house and dinner wiff us."
We are so excited for their new adventure.

Love our little imp.  She is so stubborn and difficult sometimes, but when it comes to prayer time she doesn't miss anything.

shocked

Lily came up to me with her sweet face on and said, "turn the damn TV on!"
I wasn't positive if I heard her right.  She restated her request.  Followed by her sweetest smile.  
Needless to say I was left with my mouth agap and lost for words.
This girl is going to be the end of us.

when i grow up...

Chase:  When I grow up, I want to be a lifeguard at Raging Waters.

Lily:  When I grow up, I want to be an amulet like Sophia!

In other words, Chase wants to be able to hang at the pool all day, and Lily wants to be a princess with a magical necklace.  Who's the realist here?
At least Chase upgraded from his desire to be a garbage man. Oh wait, I guess he downgraded a bit cause at preschool graduation he wanted to be a police officer.  Hmmm....

Chase's Prayers

Chase has started saying his own prayers. At first he wasn't quite on board, he'd whine "I don't know what to say."
We kept telling him to say what ever he was thankful for.

For a while he wanted to say, "thank you for everything." Or, "...all of the things." And would try to finish.  Of course we didn't let him get away with that.

Now he has been coming up with some very Chase-ish things.
"Thank you for the whole Earth."
"Thank you for the Sun to keep me warm."
"Thank you for my new room and Bayli's new room."
"Thank you for my books."
"Thank you for the plants."
"Thank you for the weeds so I can help mommy."
"Thank you for the animals."
"Thank you for all of the planets and stars." (He sometimes gets sidetracked here and pauses to ask some question about space, lava, or how the Sun warms things.)

He cracks me up.  I love that he is so interested in the world around him.  He is so intrigued by space and lava lately.  I don't have all of the answers to his questions and it frustrates him to no end.
Knowing Chase, he'll figure things out for himself.  Just like his dad, a trial and error kind of guy.  I see a bright future for him.

Garbage?

We purchased new chicks yesterday.
Chase's ''orange'' one died today.

While on the way to take Bayli to swimming, we brought up the dead chick.

Bayli started to tear up.

I began the '' its in a better place'' conversation.

Chase said, ''in the garbage?''

Try explaining heaven after a funny comment like that.

Love that kid.

8, where has the time gone?

Bayli has been so excited for her 8th Birthday.  Too bad she was sick for the big day.  Missing school is not her favorite thing.
Since her birthday was at the beginning of January, she had to be very patient in waiting for her baptism day.
Groundhogs Day will have a new meaning for us.  Sorry Bill Murray, you've been replaced with the smiles of a wonderfully beautiful young lady.

Posing in her awesome "jumper"

A very proud dad in said "matching jumper"

 Bayli had so much love and support from wonderful family, friends, and neighbors.  She was beeming all day long.
She told me that when Jed had confirmed her and gave her a blessing, "I kept my eyes closed through his whole prayer!  And it was a really good one!"
I must say it was a really good one.  He seemed to hit all the key areas that are important and meaningful in her life right now. 

Bayli was lucky to share her special day with two of her wonderful friends.  Aren't they lovely?

Afterwards she had a wonderful time celebrating with her family.  She was so grateful for all of the support that she received.  As soon as her company had left, she started working on her thank-you cards.  Love that girl, she is so grown up!

We were so busy with the days events, that we almost forgot to take pictures of her in her special baptism dress (I love it, not your traditional baptism look).  I'm glad that I remembered to put her special wrist-let from her blessing in her hair.  One of those sentimental gifts from her Aunt Katie that we have cherished and been eager to use for this big day.  The next time she'll wear it is on her wedding day, not so eager for that day!

The world is yours to discover and experience, live worthily and make it count little B!