In the meantime...

Outside! Sun! Hats! Smiles! It's sooo so so good around here this week.

I've been meaning to come here and dump some stories and photos, but I'm feeling a little held back. I purchased Photoshop Elements and am experiencing quite the learning curve. I feel a little ridiculous, like I'm learning whats a computer is for the first time. So while I figure out how in the world to organize, edit, and get pictures on here, I'll show you some low quality phone pictures (and include a few short stories too).

Josie and Audrey are such typical sisters these days. Josie is constantly taking over what Audrey is doing, telling her how to play, what to play, and where to play. Audrey is learning what buttons to push with her big sister and the screaming is constant (or so it feels) and coming from all directions. But then, there is this sweetness. For example, cheerios are often snacked on after breakfast in the living room (the only food allowed in here). Josie will make sure to give her little sis a handful on the table to make sure she gets a good snack too. If it looks like Audrey has finished her handful, it is promptly replaced. Jo will get her milk and bring it to her (much to my disliking - no milk in the living room!) and will get her a chair and insist that she sit on it right by the table. It can be very sweet.

Josie is so emotional, it seems, all the time. It's quite exhausting for everyone, the constant screaming, hands thrown over her face, laying on the floor, and huge tears all day long. She gets so sad and makes sure to tell us "I was sad about that" when she's ready to move on. Audrey's tantrums are completely different. They are short (but not sweet) and include cute little feet stamping. It's cute now, but I hope she outgrows it. ;) She knows how to scream but is easy to distract. I much prefer her tantrums over the 2 1/2 year old versions.

Conversations are more and more fun. Audrey is talking up a storm, and she is putting more words together to get little thoughts and sentences expressed. Can we just talk about how rewarding it is for all of us when we understand what she is pointing at or wants because she can tell us? And the lfb is also doing awesome with this. He has a speech delay that we've been working on (with professional help too) and lately it's just improving with leaps and bounds. There is a whole lot of learning going on around here. It's just exciting.

Now of course, the real talker that steals the show is big sis Josie. She reads to her sister (and has actually  memorized quite a few stories we have laying around). She asks questions (I love it) and points out all she sees. She gets this cute little frown on her face when she is sincerely asking something she doesn't understand. She sings. Sometimes she even sings right on key. As with every other little girl, she loves the "Let it go" movie and sings all the songs. Her mama may or may not encourage that by singing them too. It's like a living musical around here, much to daddy's dismay.

So that is a snippet of what is going on around here. We are outside a lot (which means I am running around with my head cut off trying to corral all the cattle kids) and the girls are remembering what it's like to sit in the stroller for 45+ minutes while I run/walk in the glorious sunshine. It's been a little trying, especially when one of them screams for over half of it (ahem, AJ), but overall we are enjoying life and this beautiful weather that we've been waiting all winter for.