Rene Zelleweger Smile

No, not Mona Lisa smile. Rene Zellweger, don't you think?

More and more these days I find I can't remember much of the cute stuff that Rhianwen is constantly doing. I'm so much in a fog by the time the kiddos go to bed I just forget to recap the day in my head! So, that is why the blog has lacked some luster of late!

Rhianwen has been having fun drawing. She actually can draw a circle with dots and slashes inside of it thus opening a whole new realm of expression for her. Mainly, one of drawing Nanny Kim. Nanny Kim gets drawn a lot. Rhianwen will say, "Draw Geen Nanny Kim! Draw Geen Nanny Kim!" and she'll wait until I say, "Are you going to draw a green Nanny Kim?" at which point she will say, "Yeah." and do it. Why I have to repeat what she says, I'm not sure. Perhaps she's using me as a sounding board. Thinking of drawing always makes me think of Uncle Christopher who had me insanely jealous when we were little. He is 18 months younger than me but has always been able to outdraw me...well just about. My people looked like string beans (literally) and his looked like Da Vinci masterpieces. He always won drawing prizes at school. We'd wander around the house trying to copy the pictures hanging on the wall. His were always much closer than mine! I still wish I had the talent to draw, but I am so glad he has that ability! Especially since most of our paintings are from him...so cool. I feel like we have an art studio right here in our house. But I digress.

Uncle Christopher sent an email with a link to, in his opinion, the best ever version of the Ode to Joy (http://vimeo.com/1351444). I decided to show Rhianwen since it is high time we started her classical training. She loved it until the end at which point she cried and said, "No more monsters!" not because she didn't like monsters but b/c it was too chaotic. I said, "Ok, no more monsters." Then a little while later, she said, "Watch monsters?" and I said, "Do you want to watch monsters again?" "Yeah." "Okaaay", I said. And I played it for her while I went down to our room to put some things away. I could tell when the end came b/c I heard a distraught toddler running down the hall crying, "No more monsters!" Crazy girl.

She's also figured out that the stereo remote is not a cell phone. I was back in our room the other day and heard this wicked bass coming from somewhere. I thought, "Who in the WORLD is playing music that loud this early in the morning?!" I wandered on down to the family room and discovered, oh, it's my daughter. She looked at me all excited, was jumping up and down, and saying, "Moosic! Moosic!". Nice.

Rhianwen's been trying to play the piano some more. Elmo has been her role model in this area. He plays the tune Jingle Bells to everything, something Rhianwen attempts to duplicate. She's also been having fun with her slide/playcube outside pretending it's her house. We've cooked many meals (mainly popsicles and yogurt) for Grandma Nanny Kim and Grandpa. Not sure why they are the chosen recipients of the meals, but there you have it. Sometimes Rhianwen remembers to put the popsicles in the freezer, but most of the time they end up in the microwave or oven.

We went to an huge consignment sale this week and got tons of clothes for Alden and Rhi for dirt cheap. I found myself wishing I could look as stylish as they do!

Looking handsome in a new fall outfit.

The fashionista.

We've also started Wednesday morning women's Bible study. This particular Wed. was our first. We got ready with no electricity and with no daddy. Amazingly, we were early. Mommy was exhausted by the time we got back, Rhianwen and Alden and Mommy were famished. Why is it when you try to do something that will feed you spiritually, you end up unfocusedly juggling babies and then coming home a big grump? At least, that's what I did! I hate it. Most days I have the hardest time being patient and loving, especially to my overly emotional toddler. I get to the end of the day and feel like I've failed miserably at setting a good example, serving, being joyful, loving, patient etc. and convinced that I am ruining my children. I keep praying for victory, but I feel like I end up just struggling even more or just losing it completely. I heard a song the other day on the radio by Sanctus Real called Whatever You're Doing, and it really spoke to my heart. Here's a small bit from the lyrics

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life something Heavenly

Yep. I just have to remind myself that every day!

Saturday mornings at our house (notice Rhianwen's favorite pj's...Tinker Bell and new shoes).

Daddy's boy.

Alden is a little honey. Smiling up a storm and being wildly distracting in Bible study and church (and not just to me!). Nursery doesn't take babies less than 12 weeks of age...3 weeks to go!!! He's playing with toys that hang down in front of him, getting stronger arms during tummy time, and has passed the 2 month mark! Can you believe it?! I can't. I did decide to let him dictate at night...he's doing b/t 5 and 7h at most, and I did drop the last feeding of the night (the one around 10pm). So far, he doesn't look like he's suffered from it :) Oh, he also got his first cold ever (probably the one his sister had). He's not too bad thankfully, and it hasn't affected his appetite or attitude (wish I could say that of Rhianwen!) other than that he may be slightly more tired earlier during his wake cycle. He's going on his first trip this week. We'll be going to Saluda, NC (mountains), renting an A-frame. My parents will rent another. It will be very interesting to see what happens! I hope it will be fun.

What a long post! And I thought I didn't have anything to say! Lastly, I've decided to try to remember to list the story of the week aka the one that Rhianwen wants read over and over and over and over again. This week's: Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey.