Berenstain Bears

Miriam has taken quite a liking to the Berenstain Bears lately. I love this because these books are classics to me! I have so many wonderful memories of reading them when I was younger. So, in a stop to the library last week, we found some Berenstain Bears movies that Miriam loves equally as much as the books. I took a video of her the other day singing the theme song and wanted to share it. It probably is even more fun to listen to if you listen to the real theme song before you see Miriam sing it. Otherwise, follow along with the lyrics below. She only sings part of it and makes up a lot of it, but we love it. Enjoy!

Somewhere deep in Bear Country

Lives the Berenstain Bear family

They're kind of furry around the torso

They're a lot like people, only more so

The bear fact is that

They're just like you and me

The only difference

Is they live in a tree

The Berenstain Bears

When things go wrong as things might do

The Berenstain Bears will find a way through

Mama, Papa, Sister and Brother

They'll always be there for each other

The bear fact is that

They can be sweet as honey

Sometimes you'll find

They might be just plain funny

The Berenstain Bears

The Berenstain Bears

the feeling is mutual.

This little girl loves her Papa. The biggest smiles I see from her are when she sees him. I'm not sure what Matt is going to do with two girls that have him wrapped around their finger.

abc's of our day

Apple Orchard

We enjoyed the finally sunny weather to go take a trip to the apple orchard. Miriam enjoyed playing on the hay bales, walking through a tunnel with pumpkin vines and eating the apples. Abbie just smiled at everything.

Bath time

It's been fun putting the girls together in the bath now that Abbie can sit up. They both love to splash in the bubbles and play with their toy boats.

Colors

Driving around to get to the apple orchard gave us a great view of all the fall colors. It is so beautiful here this time of year. I love fall! Of course it means colder temperatures are on the way, but there are just so many things to enjoy about this season.

And those were the abc's of our day!

rain, rain and more rain

The midwest has experienced quite the wet weather in the past 48 hours. Where we are, about 4" of rain fell in one day, although there may be more coming our way. The river flowing through town is expected to crest in the next day. Thankfully, not many homes or businesses have been affected by the flooding.

However, back in my hometown, they are experiencing some of the worst flooding in the town's history. Streets are closed all over the city and much of the town is under water. I'm thankful that everyone is safe and that my parents' house has stayed dry despite the near 10" of rain they got. My dad sent me a few pictures of the house I grew up in this afternoon. We often experienced flooding when we lived there because there is a river that essentially flows through the back yard, but I have never seen anything like this.

And here is a park closer to my parents' house. There is a bike trail that goes under that bridge. Again, wow. So thankful everyone is okay!

the grand unedited tour

As I typically show pictures of the girls, I have yet to show what their room looks like. So today as Miriam was playing over at a friend's house, I decided to snap a few pictures of their room. {Disclaimer: I didn't clean up the room at all before I took pictures, so this is what it really looks like.}

My friend Beth made the name signs and my lovely sister purchased the letters for us. This is hanging above the changing table.

A few months ago, I found these vintage letter blocks at a "Junk Market" in the twin cities. Basically, there were lots of booths set up of people's antiques and other things for sale. My sister-in-law suggested I glue the letters together to spell their names. I love them!

And there's everything in the corner. I guess I should have tied back the curtains.

Scoot over a little to the right and here is Abbie's crib.

And there's Abbie! She was playing on the floor as I was snapping pictures. The rug behind her I crocheted out of old t-shirts. It was really fun to put together.

Turn right again and here is Miriam's dresser and bookshelf.

And the doorway (and messy bookshelf).

Hi Abbie!

{She says "hi!"}

And this is looking in from the doorway --Miriam's (unmade) bed. And a basket for laundry I forgot to bring downstairs.

There. I made her bed. A little better, at least.

So there you have it! I really love their room. Much of the furniture and decorations have been given to us and I love how it all fits together. I also had a yellow room while growing up and it's just such a happy color! Miriam always comments how she likes the yellow, too. The girls have even been successfully sleeping together for a few weeks now. Abbie's had a bit of a cold as of late, so she's occasionally been waking at night again. Because of that, we've occasionally moved Miriam back to the bed in the basement, but we're glad that most nights have been going really well!

reflections from a cubbie

Last night I took Miriam to her first night as a Cubbie at a church in her grandpa and grandma's town. For those unfamiliar with Cubbies, it is the 3-5-year-old AWANA class where kids hear Bible stories, practice memorizing Scripture and learn about Jesus. It's hard for me to believe that Miriam is even old enough to be in a class like that. I wasn't really sure how she would do since she hasn't ever been a part of a structured group setting before. Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. This typically spunky, talkative, inquisitive, and social little girl did a very good job listening to her teacher, following directions and learning what it meant to stand and walk in a line (however, she did somehow manage to be near the end of the line when she started and be second in line at the destination. We'll need to work on that one). I even snuck out for a bit just to see how she would do without me there. Then I snuck back in without her seeing me and was able to watch without her knowing. Again, I was so proud of how she did. I'm also just excited for this opportunity for her to have another place to hear of God's Word. She already has started memorizing Scripture at home and I love that Cubbies gives us another chance to work on it regularly.

So, on the way home last night, I asked Miriam a few questions about her night.

"Miriam, what was your favorite part about Cubbies tonight?"

"Holding the Cubbie bear."

"Yeah, I saw you got to do that. And you get to meet Cubbie next week! Did you get to have a treat at Cubbies?"

"Yes. I had a cookie and juice. But I didn't get a chance to have any coffee."

And there you have it. She's grown up even faster than I thought.

what they never told you

For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of being a mom. I would cuddle with my dolls and tuck them into their cradles. I would play house with my friends and insist on being 'the mom'. I would write letters to my future kiddos and tuck them into a box in my closet. I would write scenarios of what my life would be like when I was a mom. And I would pick my top baby names with my friends (some of which I have used). Motherhood was something that I just couldn't wait for. And here I am, after being a mom for three years... still reminding myself that I really am a mom! I am so thankful God has blessed me with two beautiful girls and could not imagine my life without them. So, as I have been reflecting on being a mom, I wanted to write a list of things that 'they' (whoever 'they' are) never told me before that wonderful day just over three years ago when I held my firstborn in my arms.

~~~~~~~~~~

*Not a day goes by when you are not completely exhausted.

*Doing everything with only one hand will be a quickly learned trait.

*The smaller they are, the more luggage they require.

*The 8,000 pockets in diaper bags all have uses.

*You will learn the lyrics of every single kid song ever written. And also memorize the words of every kid book you own.

*Things you vowed you'd never do as a parent, you will do.

*Suddenly you have sympathy for the family in Target with the screaming children (instead of annoyance).

*Seeing your husband step into the role of "father" will make you fall in love with him all over again.

*You will sometimes cry when your baby cries. And it's okay to set her down in her crib and leave the room for a few minutes just to breathe.

*You think it's more fun to shop for your kids than for yourself.

*Garage sales become your best friend.

*There will be some days that you count down the minutes until bedtime. It's okay. Tomorrow is a new day.

*It's okay and necessary to take time for yourself. You will feel guilty, but you need it!

*Sleep when your kids sleep. Even if there's a pile of laundry and dishes stacked to the ceiling.

*Go on a date night (or weekend) as often as you can.

*Grandparents make the best babysitters.

*Your life will never be the same again. In a good way.

*A minivan suddenly has turned into a luxury vehicle.

*You may burst out laughing when you're supposed to be discipling your child because even though what they did was wrong, it was also hilarious.

*Psalm 139 will become more real to you than you ever knew.

*You wonder how you can love a second child as much as your first. But you will. They find a way to make you grow another heart.

*Parenting advice will come from your parents, your in-laws, your neighbor, your friends and the lady standing behind you in the grocery store.

*You finally begin to realize how the hardest job on earth is also the most rewarding.

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So moms, anything you want to add?

a moment in our lives.

This video is a snapshot of a completely normal moment for us all... Miriam reading (which involves using tidbits from all of the stories she currently likes), Abbie grabbing things Miriam is using, Miriam being annoyed that Abbie wants what she has, Abbie chewing and smiling and generally being enthralled with her sister, and me just intervening when necessary. Enjoy.

it's football time!

We are all ready for the Vikings game here --and sporting our purple pride all around (well, except for me who doesn't have anything purple. I best work on that. I do wear my purple/gold Northwestern sweatshirt when it's colder, though). Anyway, here is Matt and the girls showing off their apparel this morning (and yes, Miriam also just has a Northwestern shirt. But it works!).

Go Vikes!

sleeping beauty

a very happy half birthday to you!

Today is Abbie's half birthday! It has become a tradition since Miriam's first half birthday (although not really a tradition, since we didn't really continue it after that first half birthday) to have some sort of dessert and do a mini-celebration. Miriam's first half birthday was celebrated on Leap Year Day 2008 with some cupcakes (that I made):

However, Miriam didn't actually eat any of the cupcakes; she simply smiled by them.

Anyway, seeing as we did something for Miriam, we thought we best continue our sort-of tradition for Abbie's half birthday, too.

And, for the second child... she gets cookies from Sam's Club. Ah well, I do what I can.

Happy Birthday dear, sweet Abbie! We are so thankful for you!