How do you stay serious? (beware this could be long, but well worth it)

These past few days have been one mess after another. It seems that my 2 girls have decided that their toys aren't good enough anymore and everything else is better (especially those things they know they shouldn't have). It all started with the cereal and the puzzle.

When Anne was younger we bought her a little pop-up house to play in and it has been a constant fixture in their room since. They love to read in it and talk to each other in it. But it has also become the place to run to and hide from mom and dad when they want to change their diaper, put them to bed or any other unpleasant thing. Recently it has become the place to hide when they have something they know they shouldn't.

The greatest example was the start of this set of frustrating days. Often Anne and Alicia get into the cereal and eat it while walking around the house. Usually it is not much of the problem, because vacuums here are wonderful and it means that they are occupied so I can get things done. This time I heard it all being dumped out somewhere in their room. I ran in and found the girls and all of the cereal spread out in this house. I threw them in their beds and cleaned it up. It was only a couple hours later before the next incident. They were really quiet so I went to check on them. I found them in the house in the middle of another big mess. This time it was a puzzle of mine they had found and dumped out. Of course it had to be a puzzle that I eventually want to make and frame. I just hope I got all the pieces picked up. The house is now in my room until I decide they can use it the right way.

Today's messy event is the best. Since they can't hide in the house, they have found that behind their bedroom door works almost as good. I have found them back there with gum and so many other things. Yesterday, somehow Anne got into my church back and got my lipgloss. I was talking to my mom on the phone and she comes and lays down behind me and leans against me. I thought she was being all cute, cuddly and affectionate. When I was done talking to my mom I found out that she was in fact hiding from me, with my lipgloss.

That brings us to today. I heard something drop in their room and decided to investigate, because it sounded suspicious. I found 2 girls with my chapstick and lipgloss all over their hands, faces and clothes. Alicia even had some on her back. Don't know how that got there.

At this moment, I am so frustrated with them for yet again getting in another thing they shouldn't, expecially something they already were in trouble for. But I was also feeling how funny it was in a way. I knew I needed a picture. I sat them down in time-out and got my picture. This is when they suspected that Mommy saw something funny in it all.Look at her shirt, hands and face. You can't even see how bad it is in this picture.

Here is the proof that they figured out that mom thought it was funny. She has more lipgloss on her other cheek and eyebrow too.

Now this is the part where it gets funny. They are sitting in time-out...on different couches across from each other. They keep standing up, talking to each other, and laughing. Then the best part...Anne decides she wants to pray. So both of them are sitting there with their arms folded, praying. Anne does this about 4 times (during which I am watching and venting my frustrations out on Beate on the phone) and at the end of each one they both say "amen".

So...my question is this: How do you stay serious and discipline you children when they do funny, but naughty things?

Sunday Surprise

On Sunday we had some unexpected visitors and it came at just the perfect time. I have been needing a visit from family for so long, but didn't realize how much until I got the email from Aunt Fran and Uncle Eric saying they were in Germany and wanted to get together that day.

I quickly replied to the email and gave them our phone numbers then got ready for church. All morning and during sacarament meeting I just kept praying that it would work out that we could do something together in the short time that they were here. They called during Sunday School and I arranged to pick up Aunt Fran at another ward building at the end of church. Uncle Eric had to leave right away to get back to work but we would see him that evening when he picked up Aunt Fran.

I raced to pick her up and Jared raced home to clean up our apartment a bit. So they could see it. We met at the Dautel's home and ate some lunch. We decided that we would have Tour-Guide Ray show Aunt Fran around our area and Jared would stay with Alicia who was taking a nap. We had a wonderful afternoon driving around our area, talking and getting pictures. Anne love all the hills that we got to drive down. (Whenever we drive down the slightest decline, she says "down" over and over again and makes sure I know that we are driving down a slide).

Uncle Eric met up with us that even for a traditional german dinner and then we showed them our apartment as they headed out. Uncle Eric will be here for 5 weeks so we hope to see a bit more of him.

I feel so blessed to have such wonderful family who love me. They are always so good to make sure that they come and see me whenever they are near, no matter how far they have to travel. This is me with Aunt Fran while we were doing our site-seeing.

Anne was so patient through all of it and loved pointing out all the fun things to us.
Don't we live in such a beautiful area. We love having visitors. So anyone who wants to come is more than welcome.

She had not had a nap earlier, so by the end of our tour she was gone.

Baby News

On Monday I had my latest appointment for this pregnancy. I had another ultrasound and all is perfect. We even found out the gender. I know everyone will want to know, but Jared and I have decided that only us and the grandparents will know the gender. We want to surprise everyone else. We are also keeping the names a secret too. So much for you all to look forward to in January.

Jared and I were watching Father of the Bride 2 last night and I got so baby-hungry. I can't wait to go into labor and experience the birth of this child and then to hold it and take it home. I am excited to see how the girls react to the the baby also.

Fun At the Fair

Grandma and Grandpa Dautel took the girls with them all day yesterday to give me sick husband and myself a little bit of a break. They took them to the annual fair that Nürnberg has going on right now. The girls couldn't get enough. They walked around with huge eyes taking everything in. They even got to go on some rides. Beate tried to get Anne to ride a horse, but once she Anne got close to it she got too scared.

This is Annie on 2 of the rides that she went on. I am surprised that she did so well and wasn't scared on any of the rides.Alicia even got to go on a ride with Anne and Aunt Rike. This is like the Dumbo ride in DisneyLand. I must have very brave kids, cause she wasn't scared either.

Clothing Adventures

A couple weeks ago we bathed the girls at Gma and Gpa Dautel's house. But I had forgotten to bring extra clothes. So Gpa raided his closet looking for thing they could wear. Anne only wanted to wear something from Aunt Rike and got one of her shirts.

This was the first attempt at something for Alicia to wear (a huge shirt, tied at the bottom), but as you can see it didn't work. So we looked for something else.

This one was the winner. It is actually a huge pair of shorts tied like a halter top. It was hilarious to see her walking around wearing it.

Week of Milestones

Right now I am trying to get the girls to finish their lunch so they can take their nap. Cute little Anne really knows the daily routine. She knows that once lunch is done she needs to take her nap. Usually she is really fine with this, but occasionally has her problems. We’ll see how she does today.

Earlier this week I put Alicia to bed with just water in her bottle, no formula. She didn’t even complain. She has kept it up the rest of the week. I am so proud of her. It also makes me so happy to not have to buy formula for the rest of the year. She also loves to feed herself. Most of the time when we try to feed her things that could potentially be very messy she will throw a real fit. She is quickly learning to use a spoon and a fork by herself. With the really messy things usually she is really good about letting me help her guide the spoon.

We are going to start buying Anne pull-ups though. Gma Dautel bought special seats for their toilette for Annie to use. Since then Anne keeps asking to sit on the toilette when she is there. I guess she is ready to be potty-trained, even if I am not sure if I am. I just don’t know if I have to patience for it, but I guess I have no choice. It will be nice to have her out of diapers before the baby comes though. Anyone have good ideas for how to potty-train a child? I am going to need help. I have no idea how to do this.

Another Day at the Lake

We got a large group together to go to the local lake. I even got in knee deep this time. I am not really a water lover.

Alicia got walked around by Dad, Grandpa and Aunt Rike until she felt comfortable enough to do it on her own.

Of course a trip to the lake wouldn't be complete without food. They kept trying to get into the cooler too. They act like I never feed them.

The girls absolutely loved the water. I was surprised at how well Alicia did. She tends to get scared easily, but couldn't get enough of it.