What Happened...

one year ago today?

Alright everyone... my very first contest! Please leave your guesses in the comments! Remember you don't have to be a registered user... just click "anonymous" (but be sure to put your name in the comments!) You may guess as many times as you want! I will have a prize for the first person who guesses correctly!

I may start giving hints if everyone starts getting way off track, (like guessing that the kids picked up their toys without being asked...)

If you have never commented on my blog, now's your chance!

Ready, set... GO!

Oh wait... and just because no post seems quite right without a few pictures, here are the kids. They aren't complaining about the weather (like many adults do)... they are simply enjoying what Mother Nature gives us!

South Dakota

It has snowed here. A lot.

And even though she has tried to keep up and continually dig us out,

the snow just keeps coming.

And so, with feelings of exhaustion and defeat, she has given up.

After all, we live in South Dakota.

What's In a Name

Enjoying each stage a little bit longer... it's what Rylee allows us to do.

June 2005 - 1 year 7 months old

She has always enjoyed writing and drawing.

January 2006 - 2 years 2 months old

She's never done it for long periods of time... usually just a few minutes is long enough for her.

October 2006 - almost 3 years old

And though she hasn't always drawn on what she's supposed to...

April 2007 - 3 years 5 months old

she has enjoyed it.

When she was ready, we began teaching her the letters in her name. And we knew the time would come. She would write her name, and we would jump up and down, give her big hugs, and tell her how proud we were of her for working so hard. It would be so exciting to see it.

For awhile, we had to use our imaginations. Some "letters" looked a little silly -- a few extra lines here, an extra loop there -- some letters were written out of order, and some not at all. But, we continued to praise Rylee for trying so hard. And we waited to see it... R-y-l-e-e.

December 2007 - 4 years 1 month old

"lee" for "Rylee"

Rylee really preferred to write her way. She loved writing and drawing on the driveway in the summer. She never really told us about her drawings, but you could tell she loved it by the way her little body hunched over, nose inches from the cement, drawing intently.

August 2008 - 4 years 9 months old

We loved seeing her be creative, but we were still waiting. And we knew the time would come. She would write her name, and we would jump up and down, give her big hugs, and tell her how proud we were of her for working so hard. It would be so exciting to see it.

Letters became more recognizable. "R" for "Rylee." Whenever she saw an "R" she was convinced the word was "Rylee." And her "R" got better and better.

August 2008 - 4 years 9 months old

"R" for "Rylee"

We knew she could do it. Rylee kept trying, and we kept waiting to see it... R-y-l-e-e.

And though she continued her imaginative drawings on the driveway,

September 2009 - 5 years 10 months old

the time came.

We knew it would come, and it did.

She wrote her name.

January 2010 - 6 years 2 months old

All the letters were there. In order. No imagination necessary.

R-y-l-e-e

And we jumped up and down, gave her big hugs, and told her how proud we were of her for working so hard.

It was so exciting to see it. More than we thought it would be.

So, what's in a name?

Patience. Practice. And persistence from a little girl.

In Bed

I said Carter could sleep in bed with me,

but I don't remember saying these other guys could.

I'd Love To!

Me: "Carter, will you please come get your toys off the table? I need to wipe it off."

Carter: "Sure Mom... I'd love to."

Me: (smiling and giggling inside) "Thanks Carter!"

Wow.

I wonder how long his enthusiastic compliance will last!