What we have been up to lately:

It has been an interesting few weeks. After 3.5 years of nothing but sweetness, my son has really started to challenge me, he has attitude, talks back, can fall on the floor screaming over what seems like nothing, and seems to spend the better half of his day teasing his sister.

I have heard and read a lot about 3.5 being a hard age, so I am taking everything with a grain of salt. Trying to start every day new, and really every moment. My mother gave great advice to another mother months ago: Love it out of him, and that is just what I am trying to do. Spend more time playing and less time cooking and cleaning. Involve him more in everyday tasks, help him name his emotions and explain one to one why talking back, calling people bad, and such is just not nice. We see a very smart, curious, thoughtful, and sweet boy everyday as well.

He has more energy than anyone I know. On our daily nature he can be seen RACING along the bluffs and back, and it truly reminds me of walks with Adam and the puppy, Lily when we first started dating.

Often we get back from a 1.5 hour walk in the rain and all he wants to do is play in the backyard. So I realize that between it being cold and wet, he is most likely not getting the exercise he needs.

My daily mantra:

This too shall pass, it is just a stage.

And

Attitude is Everything

The more I live in the moment without worrying about lunch, snacks, dinner, and cleaning this and that, the more calm and grounded my children seem. And then after I have put in my time building forts, playing cars, making puzzles, I can sneak away to prep dinner or prepare lunch.

And while I am having a tougher time with Charlie, Kate continues to be the sweetest, silliest, smartest girl ever. She says everything in complete sentences, including using words like, "I, me and you" correctly. she says things like, I do it my-yelf, and "Have charlie milk? That fine?

She can count to 10, sing her ABCs, and has a great sense of humor. She also has a strong will, has a definite opinion, and loves her daddy more than life itself. All day she cocks her head to one side, put her hands up and says, "Where MY daddy?"

As for me, I am doing well. Building life lasting friendships with women I admire. Knitting and purling whenever I can steal a moment away from the kids, tutoring, exercising, and being silly with the kids.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Kates been: snuggling with Rosie in Lily's new dog bed.

The kids: Play so sweetly one minute and then fight over a toy the next. Tip: Don't have your kids 19 months apart. It wasn't until Kate became 21 months that I realized that most of our problems would have been averted if I had my kids 3 years apart. sigh.

Pa and Aunt Kate continue to spend rich moments with my kids

I took Charlie for his first hot chocolate, he took a bite of the whip cream and said, mmm, then right after I snapped this picture he tried to pick up the whole cup with one hand and dropped it all. over. everything. Peet's was nice enough to give us another, but he didn't even take one sip.

My mom: has been reading to the kids giving me a good 10-20 minute break here and there. divine. She also plays cards, watches George, dominoes, hide and seek with Charlie during "pecial" mama-charlie time