Big Girl Room

A while ago Piper switched to a true big girl bed.  She told us that she wasn't going to like it because she didn't want Simon to have her bed.  She was quickly convinced and has had no problems at all.  The duvet cover and bedskirt are thanks to Pottery Barn Kids.  The pink sheets are from Bed Bath & Beyond.  I liked this duvet cover but Rick thought that it didn't look girly enough because it was green.  I compromised by installing this Je T'aime Paris wall graphic that I found at Costco.

For some reason she didn't want me to take a picture of her bed.

The second level is a little off-center but oh well.  This was so easy and cheap to put in, and it's removeable.

Skirts

Yes, that is Simon wearing a skirt.  Piper got quite a kick out of it.  It's my family tartan.  He needs a tam to go with it.

Laughs all around

Such a great smile on Simon

How did they coordinate the mouth-opening at the same time?

My Boy

Simon is such a cutie.  He and I had a long afternoon together the other Saturday.  He just melts my heart. 

A New Hat

I made this hat for Simon.  I followed a pattern from my mom but altered it a bit since it was a little big.  It's supposed to look like an old-fashioned football helmet like this.  I'm working on another one in the reverse colors.

Catching Up

Check it out.

 

I found this picture on our computer from our trip to L.A.  Such cuties.

This is from when we played hopscotch one snow day.  Piper enjoyed watching me hop Simon on the hopscotch.  Isn't Simon tall?

 

Grandma Vicki made this sweater.  So pretty.

This is the only snowman we made this winter.  The snow had mostly melted making it amenable to snowman-making.  All the other snow from the season was always too dry.  As it was the grass was very muddy.

Piper rode her bike one warm day a few weeks ago.  I thought it was funny that Piper's coat matched her helmet and knee pads.  Also, she's wearing a skirt but it's hard to tell because her coat is the exact same length so she looks like she's just wearing her coat with tights.

A close-up

Easter Family Home Evening

I do have lots of pics and stories to post.  But for right now I wanted to share the Family Home Evening lesson I've put together for Easter.  It's a compilation of things I've found on the internet with my own personal twist thrown in.  I thought that you out in the blogosphere might like it too.  Enjoy!

Song: He Sent His Son (CS #34)

Lesson: Fill a dozen plastic eggs with the following things. Then relate the story of Christ’s last days, including Passover, betrayal, Atonement, judgment, mocking/torture, death, burial and resurrection. Open the appropriately numbered plastic egg at each phase of the story. You can read the associated scripture or just paraphrase for younger children. It might be a good idea to follow along in the Illustrated Scriptures.

Egg #1: Matt. 26:26, 28 (Sacrament cup or bit of bread)

Egg #2: Matt. 26:14-15 (3 dimes)

Egg #3: Matt. 27:1,2 (Piece of twine, rope, or yarn)

Egg #4: Matt. 27:24 (Piece of soap)

Egg #5: Matt. 27: 28-29 (Piece of velvet or thorns)

Egg #6: Matt. 27: 31-32 (Tiny nail or cross)

Egg #7: Matt. 27: 35 (Dice or dominoes)

Egg #8: Matt. 27: 50-51,54 (Crushed rocks or coarse dirt)

Egg #9: Matt. 27: 58-59 (Strip of white cloth)

Egg #10: Mark 16:1 (Fragrant herbs/spices, stick of cinnamon or rosemary works well)

Egg #11: Matt. 28:2 (One big rock that fits in egg)

Egg #12: Matt. 28:6 (Empty egg)

Activity: Plant or color a picture of flowers and seeds to show how life can come from something which appears to be dead. (I plan to plant quick-growing grass seeds in an emptied out egg shell.)

Song: Did Jesus Really Live Again? (CS #64)

Treat: Resurrection Rolls

Recipe for Resurrection Rolls:

(Each ingredient represents something used to prepare Christ's body for burial.)

Ingredients:

8 large marshmallows

Melted butter (less than 1/2 stick)

Mixture of cinnamon/sugar

Can of refrigerated crescent rolls (makes 8), or you can make scone dough enough for 8 rolls

Directions:

1. Open the can of crescent rolls and separate into triangles.

2. Dip and roll each marshmallow (representing Christ's body) into melted butter. (The butter represents the oils used in anointing the dead body.)

3. Then roll the marshmallow in the cinnamon/sugar mixture. (The cinnamon/sugar represents the spices used to prepare the body for burial.)

4. Place the marshmallow in the center of one crescent triangle. Fold the crescent around the marshmallow and pinch the edges tightly together, leaving no openings. (This represents the linen used for covering the dead.)

5. Place the crescent-wrapped marshmallows on a slightly-greased cookie sheet.

6. Place the tray in the oven (which represents the tomb) and bake according to the package directions.

7. Close the "tomb" tightly and wait. When it's time, open the "tomb" and the marshmallows will have disappeared!

P.S. The marshmallow melts while cooking, leaving only the puffed crescent roll. This represents how Christ rose from the dead. All that remained in the tomb were the linen burial wrappings. These baked rolls take on the appearance of an empty tomb.

Scratching Solved?

I may have solved Simon's scratching dilemma. Yesterday I found a baby electric nail file, just by chance. I used it on him and he didn’t fuss and his nails are much, much smoother.  We'll keep our fingers crossed that this will end the cat-fight looking scratches.

6-month Snapshot

Our little guy Simon is six months old now.  Where did all that time go?  It went much faster with the second kid than with the first.  Here's a snapshot of Simon at six months:

• Simon is still nursing with no supplemental bottles or formula.  I've tried bottles so that Rick and I could go out more but he's not really interested.
• We've started feeding Simon rice cereal, bananas, and sweet potatoes.  He's not a fan of the rice cereal but seems to enjoy the bananas and sweet potatoes.  He doesn't last long in the high chair, usually because he's tired.
• Simon goes to sleep easily.  You swaddle him, squeeze him, and lay him down.  He may cry for a second but he usually has quieted down even before I've gone down the stairs.  He hasn't been staying asleep very well lately though.  He was regularly sleeping four to six hour stretches before we went to bed.  However, I think that his teething has been keeping him awake.  He wakes too if his arms get out of his swaddle.
• Simon will be making two transitions this week.  The first is to the big tub since he's outgrown the baby tub and the second is to the big crib since he's outgrown the cradle.
• Eczema has been an issue for Simon.  He's had it for three or four months, I'd say.  He also has cradle cap.  The cradle cap has been mostly controlled, using Selsun Blue.  The eczema has been harder to deal with.  I grease him up with Aquaphor every day but it doesn't seem to be enough.  He scratches his face and head regularly due to the eczema.  I cannot seem to get his nails short enough.  Even when his nails are short they are still sharp and they are impossible to file.  That's another reason that I still swaddle him.
• Simon loves to smile and laugh.  He is generally a very happy baby.  Piper makes him laugh and they have lots of fun together.  He coos and gurgles all the time too.

He's looking so grown up in this picture.