Family work nights

We have a rental property in Norwood that requires some love every so often and tonight was one of those nights.   All of us grabbed our shovels and work gloves and off we went!  It's important for us to teach our kids how much Joe and I value working hard. While digging up some weeds Jack looked at me and said "wow mama, you're a really hard worker!" That meant a lot! 

Elisabeth was so careful to get every last leaf and weed into that trash can! 

And a few moments from today I don't want to forget..

Katie: I am getting so bit up out here

Jack: you're getting bit by Jack. I'm a bug - a LOVE bug!

Jack and I have talked the last few days about needing to get him some new gym shoes because he is growing out of his shoes. Well Jack found these hand-me-downs in the basement and fell instantly in love! "Mama I found new gym shoes in the basement so now we don't have to buy any! And they are the coolest!" I explained that they are his cousin Helenes and that she would be so happy to know he will be able to use them! I love his enthusiasm for Everything! I kept catching him looking at them and getting a big smile ;)

And when we got home Jack begged us to turn Elisabeth into a little green lizard baby with her infant snow suit that he found...

she danced and hopped and wiggled her bum all around in that thing and we laughed soo hard!! 

This girl..ha!

Elisabeth has got a mind of her own and is the best at keeping us entertained! 

Jack is attempting to potty train but Elisabeth seems much more interested and excited about it!

She's always giving me that look of "oh you just caught me."

Birthday Celebrations

Kids birthdays so far have been spent with family! We always do a get together with the March side and Wetterau side! It's a nice chance to spend time celebrating our kids with our siblings and parents! One of these days we will start letting the kids invite friends, but for now this just works for us! Jack really started to understand that it was his birthday! He talked about it for a few days leading up and for months has been saying "my

Birfday is temptember 5th!!" (Not understanding when exactly that was) so when we told him last week we were heading to Cleveland for his birthday he was beside himself!! We then had a great night with Omi and Opa bill and the Meyers when we got home from Cleveland! 

(Missing Michael in this picture!) this birthday was a little extra special though because Auntie Alex came all the way from Arizona to celebrate jacks big day!

The whole weekend was spent doing activities - county fair, bonfires, corn hole, walks, lots of special time with aunts, uncles, grandma and grandpa, and a birthday picnic at the park!

The kids love when Great Grandma March comes overs. She is always so sweet and attentive to them. She helps them put in their shoes, she reads to them and she listens so patiently as Jack tells her stories!

Jacks excitement for his birthday was priceless! He was quick to give 2 thumbs up!

The following Friday evening we celebrated with Omi and Opa Bill, Uncle Dave, Aunt Stefanie, Henry, and Oliver. There is a very active urban farming community in Norwood that has a restaurant they open every Friday night. It's a pizza place and all the ingredients used are grown within 1 mile of the restaurant. We felt like a walk to the local pizza place with my family to celebrate Jack would be the perfect evening and it truly was! 

Jack and his proud Godmama! All the aunts, uncles and grandparents were so generous to Jack on his birthday and couldn't have picked out more perfect gifts for him!

Thank you all for making Jack feel so special on his 3rd birthday!! 

THREE!

As Jack turned 3 this week Joe and I are reflecting on the fact that we have been trying to figure out parenting now for 3 years. Although we still have A LOT to learn we are proud of our little family and feel blessed to be challenged to grow in the ways we have! We got to be in Cleveland the weekend of his birthday to celebrate and it was very memorable!

Jack has been such a blessing to us and over this past year we have watched him

Turn into a loving and caring big brother, an independent and creative thinker, sensitive and sometimes nervous, quick to help others, a story teller, a constant talker, a love for being outside but also just as happy to play with his toys inside, a wild imagination, a small but good eater , a love for sleeping, an outgoing and loving friend, a passion for books and learning, excited for new experiences and adventure, and a very proud boy when he learns something new.

He is getting better at drawing and doing creative art. He can sit for longer and longer periods of time playing with play dough and drawing.

This is his most recent picture of a person he drew "mama, it has arms, and eyes and a mouth and crazy hair just like when I get out of the bath and it even has a heart!" "It kinda looks like a monster guy!"

Jack has been saying such funny things lately and I need to write a few down in hopes that I never forget his cuteness and the way he can make us laugh!

Jacks most common phrases as of lately:

"Mama/Papa I love you!" 

"Hey guys I have an idea"

"Mama I have to tell you something."

Jack: "Mama lets walk to Xavier and I'll bring my sword and we can play king of

The castle and I'll be the dragon and you be the queen!"

Jack: "Mama I wish I had a pick up truck and not a play one a REAL one like Uncle Andrews."

Jack: "Everyone, it's time for story time and breaks out in song 'the itsy bitsy spider.."'

Mama: "Jack can I have some of that lip gloss?"

Jack: "Oh mama I didn't hear any manners"

Jack: "Mama I hear an ambulance. I hope everyone's ok. We should say a prayer for all the people"

Jack seems to have an answer to Everything! And his most often answer in the last few months has been: "I'll do that when I'm 3."

Jack puts goggles on before he sits on potty "I don't want that pee to get in my eyes!" 😂

His favorite things right now are: batman and superman anything, Legos, playdough, trains, cars trucks and anything that moves, coloring, making his sister laugh, the sandbox, dress ups, singing, and reading. He is starting to understand how to make up games and get others involved. He has gotten much better at sharing and often likes to sing a sharing jingle to remind himself. He still won't ever be found far from his blankie or his thumb! 

He loves to sing and will sing along with the children's CDs in the car! He loves to tell stories and always begins with "once upon a time.." He is sweet and caring and shows concern for others emotions. He stops every 30 minutes or so while playing to remind me that he loves me..Joe thinks maybe he has inherited a bit of my separation anxiety problems ;). All in all Jack, you are growing up to be such a great little man! Your enthusiasm for life is contagious and we are proud to be your parents! We love you Jack Clemens!