Puzzle Party

Here's the cake...it was fun to make. I wasn't sure about the polka dots, not what I had pictured in my head, but still cute I think.








The Scogin girls! I love this picture! Even though Lindsey and Courtney look so different and so unrelated to me! Wow! Lindsey leaned over and all on her own, too sweet!






Lindsey was serious about coloring her puzzle. It was fun. We ended up with 5 friends, the 5 that Lindsey really wanted to come, so that was perfect! They colored puzzles, had cake and ice cream and opened presents! It was a fun party for all of us. Lindsey got a lot of Dora things...2 games, puzzle, and umbrella. Somehow at this birthday we ended up with lots of games, which is fine, it just means I get to play too! :) I loved games growing up, so maybe she will too. We've been playing Candy Land that Honey and Grangad gave her a lot. The only thing is that right now she just wants to draw "my favorite color" (pink) which means that it is one of those charachter ones, like the candy cane or the gumdrop, and she doesn't care where she is on the board, 1 step away from winning, but if she draws a pink one she gets super excited! Ryan said that it will be more fun to play when she has a sense of competitiveness about it. Martha said she didn't know if Lindsey would ever have that! We'll see I guess. One time she didn't want to go to the pink one that she drew, so maybe she is getting the hang of it. Tough parenting decision making even in Candy Land....do you let her draw a different one or make her go to the one she drew? This time we let her draw a different one, but explained that you have to do whatever your card says the next time. We'll see! It is a fun age, most of the time. She had 2 fits at bedtime/nap in a row 2 days ago, so that battle that we thought might be over became all that it had been with a big fit again. We are still doing stickers, so who knows?! She's "precious in HIS sight" so we know that is how God made her funny little personality right now, I just have to remember to love ALL of her personality sometimes!

Swimming Fun

We've been going to the pool here a couple times a week. The girls only last about an hour, but it is a good outing that tires them out. Courtney found her "freedom" with walking around the kiddie pool! She loves it so much. Lindsey likes both pools, she can "swim" in the kiddie pool by crawling with her hands. She also likes to "jump" off of the step (in the water) into the big pool. She wears her floaties and swims good with them. She doesn't want to go under AT ALL, so we haven't been successful in that. Courtney on the other hand likes to drink the water like a dog out of a bowl! Yes, it is pretty funny! She literally puts her face in the water to drink it. Then comes up shaking her hands and laughing, catches her breath and then does it again! It is pretty funny!

Lindsey got this beach ball from her great-grandmother and cousin for her birthday! She loves it! She knows it is a beach ball, even though she hasn't used it at the beach. It has been a very popular pool toy since she got it last weekend

Day Out

We went yesterday to my college roomate's, Ashley, house. She is so not a pet person, but has a dog, 2 cats and 2 rabbits. Lindsey's loved the rabbits except when they scratched her. Courtney couldn't do much, but this cat sat still long enough for Courtney to touch her. The white bunny was named Snow White and the brown one is Cottontail.

Lindsey is THREE!

As I woke up on Friday, July 20th I thought about all that had gone on...not only over the past 3 years, but what a long day that was 3 years ago when we were all anxiously awaiting the arrival of what would turn out to be our first daughter. We didn't know what she was. The baby would be either Lindsey Lee or Luke Wade. I think she's a perfect Lindsey Lee!

I've learned to love that God made her social with me and shy with others she doesn't know very well. So many times I get frustrated that she won't talk or is attached to me, but I try and remind myself (when I can) that God made her this way and she won't always be attached to me.

Only 4 months ago she wouldn't have anything to do with helping Ryan blow out his candles and last year she didn't have any idea what to do. She's growing up! Thankfully...I guess! She had candles in her toast on her birthday and couldn't wait to have candles again in her cake at her party!

Courtney had to be involved...of course. Little sisters are always in the way I guess. She was great at the party and even got her own "attention" at the end while Lindsey was busy playing. Courtney wore the precious outfit that Lindsey wore on her first birthday. I love it, but wanted Courtney to have her own outfit for her first birthday party. Wait until you see it! Precious!

Just thought I'd add this one to show Lindsey at one! :) Similar? What do you think?

Grangad's Birthday

Monday was my dad's birthday! And no, that isn't a typo in the title. Lindsey forever couldn't say Grandad, but finally said, "Grangrad." Then now dad had decided he would just use that and be called Grangrad since that is what Lindsey said. Well, Lindsey has now turned it into Grangad without the 2nd r. So, who knows what it will end up as!

We bought him this new Razorback hat and of course the girls wanted to put it on. Lindsey insisted on wearing it over her face for some reason...who knows with her moods lately! So, this is the best picture I got out of 6 tries! Mercy!


Of course Dad let her help him open, so I guess it was good practice for this weekend. She won't know what to do with all of our families here and all sorts of presents! It will be fun to watch her get excited!







This was the fun for a little while. Courtney likes to push these toys around and walk now. However, this is the first time she's pushed Lindsey. We were concerned that Lindsey was going to push herslef and take off leaving Courtney face planted on the tile or hardwood. However, Lindsey was super careful and went slow so Courtney wouldn't fall. It was cute watching Courtney think she was SO BIG pushing Lindsey instead of the other way around.

Driving Miss Courtney

Lindsey has gotten so much better about driving her jeep. She can sort of steer, but she likes to "turn the wheel" so she doesn't go straight, ever! She gets bored doing that. Courtney LOVED riding. When Lindsey would stop Courtney would start "rocking" trying to go! She wasn't scared or anything, just along for the ride, like "Driving Miss Daisy."

Fun With Friends

Courtney had her first pizza tonight. At least her first time to hold a slice of pizza and chew or knaw on it! She LOVED it. I figured with nothing on it but cheese, there wasn't much she could get off of the pizza and choke on. She had the best time and all that was left was this piece of crust that was so soggy! Such fun mom times...soggy pizza crust! It was fun to watch her be so big!
This is Lindsey and her friend Paige. Paige's dad had a get together to go to and Lindsey's dad was fishing in a tournament. So, Tracy and I decided it would be fun to hang out and eat pizza. Me being the mom that I am (HA HA HA!) decided it would also be fun to make sugar cookies with hot pink sprinkles. We didn't just make any sugar cookies, I made a "L" and "P" for Lindsey and Paige. They had a blast! Then we made star and heart ones too. So fun.
Courtney was sitting in the sink in water and vinegar! Bless her heart. She's had HORRIBLE diarriah (how do you spell that?!) for about 24 hours now. Her little bottom is so red it looks sun burnt just ALL the way up and down! :( SO SO SO sad. If I just touch her changing her diaper she falls apart. Just FYI--our pediatrician's nurse told me once about putting them in this water and vinegar for diaper rash because it (vinegar) is a cleaning agent. I am sold. It helped her once before, but has really seemed to help this time. She will sit and sit in there, for like 20 min., literally! I'm hoping that tomorrow she will have "normal" diapers and this rash will go away. I don't know who reading this will appreciate it, but she has been LATHERED up in A&D! You know who you are if you appreciate that! :) Thanks Mom!

So Far....

Our prayers are answered!! Lindsey has totally taken to the stickers and chart thing! We'll see how long it lasts! She keeps talking about showing her friends her stickers and getting a new bear!

Pray She Obeys

This is what is now hanging by Lindsey's bed in her room. We have hit a wall with going to bed. Spanking, after spanking, after spanking (well you get the picture!) isn't working. So, let's try something new. I made this chart tonight and we'll start as soon as she gets out of the bath tub in a little bit! She says that she will obey. Her prize after getting an undisclosed (because we aren't sure if this is going to work or not) amount of stickers is going to Build a Bear. She doesn't know even what that is, but I heard it as an example of a prize this week and thought it would be something she liked. I told her she would get a new teddy bear and get to pick out clothes for her new bear, maybe even a princess dress. She was sold!




We had a good family talk. We got the Bible out and read the verse (in Sharon version) and talked about how we have to obey what Jesus tells us to do in the Bible. She was very excited and we talked about the rules. She was sweet and said, "I'm going to obey you, Mommy. I'm going to obey you, Daddy." I think because she's such a pleaser and thrives on our words (so far!) that this will work. Spankings (8 in 3 days 2 weeks ago) don't work for this, at least right now.

I'm thankful for a husband that is willing to go along with ideas (even if they seem far out to him) that I want to try. It is nice to have his support and to hear his encouragment that he gives to Lindsey. We'll see if it works! :)

Funny Girls

Well, potty training is going great! :) Lindsey loves her panties and wants to wear them, when she doesn't want to be naked!!! She will go potty and "forget" to put them back on. Sometimes it is a battle to get them back on. Obviously sometimes I fight it and sometimes I don't! The longer she wears panties, the more I battle it since it has become normal around here to not have a diaper on and stuff! I'm so proud of her, but don't want her walking around with a bare booty!





I just love hat pictures! I can remember a picture like this one of me with my dad's straw golf hat on! This was in the laundry room and I put it on her to distract her while I got the laundry out of the dryer. She left it on and thought it was fun! I love it! What a cutie if I do say so myself!






The other day Lindsey got mad that Courtney was getting her crayons and markers so I just told Courtney to go to her cage! HA HA HA! Doesn't Lindsey wish I'm sure! No, since Megan has been staying with us, the dog cages are in the toy room, out in the middle of the house pretty much. They have just become another toy. They've been there for a while, but just last week did Courtney figure out that she could crawl in them! So, of course it was a classic kodak moment for later on! What's funny is the other day when Lindsey did get mad at Courtney and we had a battle, I told her that we couldn't put Courtney in a cage just because she can crawl. Usually Lindsey will move to the table to get out of Courtney's way. A lot of times she'll do it on her own and say, "We have to do this at the table so Courtney won't get it." Funny times!

Branson Trip

Here's the group! All but Grandad who is the photographer! We were getting ready to go into Celebration City the first night we were there. It had rained, but had stopped so we decided to go on. It was fun and Lindsey rode rides as well as the big girls. Courtney was a trooper and rode around in the stroller great! She got out and crawled around on the concrete waving to anyone and everyone who looked at her, as if she was on parade!

Lindsey with Grandad watching the big girls and Daddy ride a ride! She would get so excited when they would come by fast!





Do I really want to ride this?!










This precious face on Lindsey is what she would do as she rode around (whichever ride she was on) and would see us. This train went about -1 mph and each time she would just sit and ride in the small circle and think it was great! Megan was sweet to ride with Lindsey the first night when it was new and she wasn't so sure about it at all. I love that excitement of seeing us everytime like we hadn't been standing there the whole time and saying, "Hey Lindsey" each and every time she went by. So cute and so innocent! She had a blast! I was going to put Courtney on it with Megan, but she didn't have any shoes on. I guess they thought she might lose a toe sitting in that car on a lap! Crazy! Oh well, rules are rules. I didn't even bring shoes to Branson, so she didn't get to ride anything other than the carousel. She didn't know the difference though!

This was the first ride. It was like a ride at the fair, The Scrambler. I wasn't into going in circles, so just Ryan and the big girls rode it. This is the one Lindsey would get so excited to see them come back around by us. It was cute! Ryan was great with the girls, all 4 of them, to do whatever they wanted. He is such a great dad! Sometimes I felt like a party pooper because I wasn't as willing to ride it all!! :) Oh well, someone has to be that way!


What a precious pilot! She was having so much fun!

Courtney found Lindsey each time she came around. It was precious to see them get excited to see eachother! Lindsey would make that same face as she did on the train ride (you can sort of see it through the bars) and Courtney would laugh and laugh!


Lindsey liked riding the bumble bees because she could "drive" with 2 "skeering wheels." These went up and down like the "hairplanes" and she didnt' mind at all. By the second night she was riding all of these things by herself and loving every min. of it. In fact, the day we were leaving she asked if she could go ride the train again!







This was that ride that shoots you straight up in the air and drops you down a few times. Not my sort of ride...but Ryan once again was good to ride it with the big girls! They loved this one. Lindsey wasn't so sure about her Daddy going way up high. Once they started moving, she was ok, but prior to it she didn't like the idea! I don't know what she thought was going to happen.


There was a short (and not very good) Veggie Tales show that we went to see. As timid and shy as Lindsey is, she waited her turn (not so patiently) then ran to Bob and Larry to hug them. She would have stood there as long as we would have let her, but there was a line. So, that is something we will have to do one of these days...find a Veggie Tales show close to go see a real one!

Ryan was such a good sport! Meagn really wanted to ride the American Plunge aka Log Ride. Heather and I opted not to ride something where we'd get soaking wet! So, Ryan was sweet enough (or crazy) to ride with Megan! She loved it!










This move from the girl that doesn't want her face to get wet in the bath tub! I don't get it....

What a good Honey! She (Honey) loves the water, so she loved having an excuse to play in the water with Lindsey and get wet. Lindsey had a good time at the water park with Honey. Lindsey even went down a big slide (2 of them actually!). One the 3 of us rode together and the other one she rode just with Ryan. As I watched them come down and FLIP OVER (remember she doesn't like water in her face, much less to go under water!!!!). I was the mom on the side of the pool where they landed freaking (in every sense of the word!) out and screaming "Get her up!" over and over and over again until I could see her terrified face. Ryan climed out and came over to us, no tears (on anyone!) and she said, "I went under mom!" We were all excited and she said, "I want to ride another one." Ryan and I were both too nervous for her to ride again since they had turned around the wrong way 2 times during the ride and then flipped. We didn't want her to be afraid of the bathtub any more than she already seems to be at times. So, we headed back to the baby wading pool with fountains and played with Honey on the Lazy River!

We had a fun trip, the weather was great, my parents were unbelievable help and loved playing with Lindsey and Courtney. They got to do a couple of their own things, we didn't hold them back too much I don't think!