Monster truck party

So much work for me. The weather was warm with no snow, amazing! Tried to do some art activities which was a bad idea. Organized birthday party activities for 8, 4 year olds was not the smartest. They had fun racing their box cars. 

He liked his new bike. But still loves his scooter the best. 

Loved the donut wheels on this cake. Brilliant! 

Look who's 2!

Baby girl! We had fun at her princess party. She is such a fun, independent, determined girl. She loves playing with little people and her brother. So is a do it yourself, girl. She is a tornado, leaving destruction in her path. She is always moving. Can sit still to be read to or watch a show she likes. She likes to play with her play food. She is a sweet girl and such a good talker. Little smarty. Love her. She can be a tease. 

What did you say!!!!!

I am not sure what prompted this little girl .... 

But she has started to ask to go on the potty. I am sure I will ruin it because I clearly don't know how to potty train... I still have to force carter every few hours😔. But she has successfully gone both poop and pee in the potty. She may be fully potty trained before my 4 1/2 year old. Oh course he loves to ask her and encourage her to go, so maybe he will potty train her for me. She sees carter insist on me holding his hand to go on the potty, so she needs her hands held too. 

They truly are so cute together. She will be sad when he goes back to preschool. And I got sad as I was buying clothes today and realized I will not be buying toddler clothes for him much longer. It's a sad day. One that people say comes all too fast. How can you want them to grow up and not want them to grow up at the same time. Love my kids and want to enjoy each stage of life with them and realize how precious it is.

We have ridden in a few parades this week, which my kids love. It's grandpa hickmans love too and one day the tradition will die with him. So happy to be apart of it while we can.

Family! It's all that matters!

Ahhhhh summertime!

Summer is going so fast. Carter finished preschool and his first round of indoor soccer. He loved them both. He was the hardest playing, goal scoring kid on the team. I was a yelling maniac on the sidelines but he really was the star of the team and loved it. He can't wait for soccer to start again in a few weeks. This time he will be on the same team as his best friend from preschool, Braxton. 

Delany has finally discovered a love for paw patrols and the iPad. So now maybe we will travel with her😏. She is such a fun girl and talking up a storm. She also loves singing. Happy birthday is a favorite, as is cheese sandwich, a song carter made up when he was about her age. She loves her brother. They hug and play so good. Carter will go talk to her in her room when she is in timeout. Or hug her when she gets hurt. She loves having him around and keeping up with him.

Summer has been full. A Hickman family trip to California and weekend in Orem and boise. We love spending time with cousins and family. Still excited to head to Canada in a few weeks too.

Lany is a hooligan. I think she will be a dancer or gymnast. 

Carter loves to help parent Delany! He is a good big brother.

Hike to bridal veil falls in Orem. Carter is a great hiker. 

Boise for the 4th of July. The alands house really is a fun place to hang out.

Delany asks about grandma, grandpa, and Tami almost everyday. She loves spending time with family.

Carter finally got over his fear of water this summer. Between swimming on vacation and swim lessons he is becoming a fish. Diving under the water and jumping in, he is getting so big.

We haven't started building yet, but hopefully soon. I am teaching lots of Pilates and trying to keep up with the kids. Blessed life. Enjoying this stage.

Overwhelmed with gratitude

I have two of the best kids. Delany loves watching videos of her and carter, so the last few days we have been watching videos mostly of carter when he was a little older than her. They are adorable....beyond cute. It makes me see these little people and how amazing they are. Sometimes I get caught up in the day to day and take them for granted. But these kids are so sweet and so special. I hope I show them and make them feel that way enough.

Carter is so kind and patient with Delany. He loves all little kids, or kids in general. He wakes friends at very park we go to. Is nice to everyone he meets. He takes care of Delany and is so cute with her. Says, come on girl. Takes her by the hand and leads her where she needs to be. He sits her on his lap so she can drive the kids 4-wheeler. He hugs are and loves to have her around. He has been playing soccer for the last 6 weeks. He is the hardest working kid on the team. He listens to the advice we give him and does it to be better. Every week he scored 2 goals. Except the last two weeks he has scored 6 both games. He doesn't give up or get mad, he just gives it his all. I am so proud of the person he is. He amazes me. He still takes naps, loves to snuggle his mom, and is a happy boy. It's his last week of preschool and I can't believe the year is over. I have heard every person I. The world say it, that they grow up so fast but it is crazy. I love my kids.

Delany is a hand full. She is always into something she shouldn't be but she is determined and knows what she wants. She loves to run and play. She loves her babies (dolls). She wants to be where the action is, although she is usually creating her own action. She wants to do whatever everyone else is doing and isn't afraid to try.

 I feel so blessed to be there mother. 

Don't forget

Some funny things I want to remember about my kids.

Carter is such a cute big brother. He is usually pretty good to Delany. He wants her to come bounce with him or play. Today they were in the tent playing instruments together having a great time. When I went to check on them carter told me to go away. They were content to play with each other. They play foos ball. Carter will chase her saying "tickle monster". The other day Carter and I were building something with his magna formers and Delany kept break it.( normal for her, destructo) I was telling her to stop, Carter took her by the hand and nicely lead her to her car and said "here delany, do you want to play with your car?" He put her inside, shut the door, and gave her a push. It was a humbling moment for me. He is a sensitive kid and I am realizing that more now that he is in preschool. It really bothers hi when kids aren't nice. He likes to read the scriptures and the friend magazine and a kids version of Book of Mormon stories. He Loves playing games on the computer right now. When aunt Tami is here it's Crash of clans. He asks a million times a day if he can play. Jim looked at the credit card statement yesterday and learned Carter had been playing angry birds on his phone and had managed to buy $120 worth of extra birds  and things while he was playing. Yikes! Every time we drive past a car dealership he points out the red car he wants to buy and drive. He also knows what apps he will get on his phone when he get his own. 4 years old going on 16:) he is so happy and fun and a good kid with a big heart. Carter will say what letters words start with and can count to 20 without missing any numbers. The other day he was counting by 2's. He has a good memory.

Delany is also a happy kid and is tough, which is good since she climbs now and is so adventurous. She isn't scared of anything. She is still taking two naps and Carter takes an afternoon nap, which is how I have time to type this. They are good kids. Delany loves four wheeler rides, anything that gets her moving. She has started to sit still for a few minutes for TV shows. She loves animals. She loves to be silly and show off for people. She has a sweet tooth already.....oops. She wants to run on the treadmill. She is starting to say some words and try to copy what we say. Momma, daddy, carter, bubbles, water, happy. Just to name a few she is saying. She loves singing. Since Christmas her and carter will sing Angels We Have Heard On High. They can both sing the tune pretty well. The only thing she sits still for is to read books. They are both book lovers and smarties. She loves water. She stands up to ride her rocking horse. She is a daredevil.

Love these kids of mine. Even though I am sure I am messing them up in lots of ways, but I am trying my best. Hope they forgive me!

Too long

Update- Delany is still taking two naps. She is starting to talk but 90% of what she says is momma. She loves her brother. She loves to sing and dance. She loves to read books. She will grab some books and back up into your lap to get you to read them to her. She wants to climb everything. Even tries to trick ride her rocking horse by standing up on it. She likes to play foosball. She wants my phone. She likes to help and watch when I am cooking. She wants to keep up with carter. 

Carter loves preschool, although swimming is not his favorite. He likes to run the show. He loves to chase Delany and say tickle monster, trying to tickle her. He is on a game kick and wants to play candy land or shoots and ladders. He loves reading and is able to read a few books from memory. He has an amazing memory. He is a good friend and a leader at preschool and church. He likes to follow rules. But he likes to have things his way and can get upset when they don't go the way he wants. He is still good about taking naps. He requires 2 stories, a twirly hug, a kiss, and a song. I love cuddling him. He is still a mommas boy. He loves shows and playing with friends. He is good at playing by himself.

He helps me wrangle Delany and does not bossing her around:) 

I have great kids, a lot of energy but fun and good natured. Love them!