Humpty Dumpty had a hard life

Forget all that fallin' off a wall business. Humpty Dumpty's life has gotten markedly harder since Logan found out about him. Logan made a Humpty Dumpty puppet... and then ripped it up... and he also reinacted Humpty's fall over and over and over and over...So with Easter approaching we did so egg activities. My ideas came from Hubbard's Cupboards 2s curriculum. Some of them I modified to fit my almost 2 YO.

1. We read the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty.

2. We made a shape Humpty Dumpty (oval- body, rectangles- arms/legs, triangles- hands). Logan got to use "real" glue because I couldn't find the glue sticks. Then Logan ripped up Humpty and we had to tape him back together, Oh well! They say the sign of a good preschool craft is that it allows each child to express individuality. I guess he was just puttin' on his artistic flair.

3. We did 2 matching games-- one with matching sounds, one with matching patterned eggs. I filled eggs with a variety of materials (pennies, rice, beans) and then we shook them and he matched the sounds. Suprisingly this was the one he could do. I thought it would be too abstract. He must be an auditory learner? I also cut eggs out of scrapbook paper and he was supposed to match those. I thought he'd be good at that because he can do matching games but the patterns were too much for him. I think i should have cut out solid color eggs and let him sort by color.

4. He also had fun just playing with the eggs, playing with easter grass, and hunting for eggs, oh, and throwing eggs!

5. We made Humpty's wall with a shoebox and reinacted the rhyme with a plastic egg. Sounds hokey but he loved it and I've seen him playing Humpty Dumpty a lot since then. It cracks him up when Humpty falls!

6. I wrote out the rhyme on large paper-- while Logan watched (I wrote fast)-- I think it's important to model writing for kids... even young kids. I had read in "The Baby Read-a-loud Handbook" that children in Logan's age group enjoy hving familiar rhymes posted...um, they weren't kidding. He treasured that junky piece of paper so much he had to put it in his pack n play and play with it for 10 minutes! The love affair might have had something to do with the stickers we put on it, too.

Don't worry... I'm not just teaching my kid about easter eggs. We're going to do some activities that focus on Jesus's death and resurrection tooo and I'll try to post about those... just got to figure out what we're going to do.

For now, I'm off to read Humpty Dumpty for the 9,000th time.

The Girls

On Monday night I got to go out for coffee with my 3 college roomate/suitemates, Jessica, Holly, and Kate. It was a bittersweet evening that resulted in some reflection on my part. I decided to post my thoughts on my blog-- even though it's not a baby story. (Although here is the baby story part of it... my husband stayed home and took care of the babies for me. Isn't he awesome?)
I've known Jessica the longest. Jessica's family moved to our church sometime around middle school. We were in the same circle of friends but didn't become close friends until college when we took lots of trips back and forth to Mobap in the $100 luxury car!

If I had to come up with one word to describe Jess, I'd say "maternal". She would hate that but it's a good thing... let me elaborate. Jessica is the responsible one. Jessica is probably the ONE REASON we all still get together and stay in contact. She remembers all the important dates- birthdays, kids birthdays, sometimes even the birthdays of our siblings kids! She organizes the get togethers and play dates. I remember back in youth group, telling Jessica, "You're the mature one so you should do blah, blah, blah." And I think she hated it. BUT her maternal instinct has not only benefited our bond as friends, she is also a FANTASTIC mother to 2 kids. She doesn't baby or spoil her kids but she's not too harsh. I'm sure she never forgets a playdate or special event at school!
Jessica is also good at talking. She knows this to be true... she probably can talk the most of all of us. But here's the thing, she's not boring. I could (and probably have) listen to Jess talk on a several hour road trip without getting bored. Maybe it's because we have a lot in common She also can and will talk to anyone and can put people at ease in a matter of minutes.


I met Holly freshman year at Mobap. We had a few classes together. I remember that she had curly hair some days and straight hair other days and she told me I wore a lot of vests (which I did). I have no idea when we went from being classmates to being best friends but somewhere along that year it happened! We were pretty much the crazy, silly girls on campus. I think some people loved us. I know that some people (the baseball players that lived below our dorm room) hated us. But we didn't care either way. We just had a lot of fun and laughed A LOT... well except for that one night that the baseball players made us cry! There are way too many silly memories to record here but the real reason Holly was my best friend in college was because she could be really, really deep. We could talk about anything and everything and nothing. I really think we challenged each other to grow stronger in our walks with God.
When I lived with Holly for 2 years, I discovered a great character trait of Holly. She is very emphathetic. She can't watch those commercials of starving children without bawling. Actually she can't even talk about those commercials. Actually, if she reads this, she's probably crying by the end of this sentence thinking about it. She has such a kind heart. I see this in her now as she interacts with her children. She seems to try to understand where they are coming from. She has 4 kids but she remains positive, energetic, and under control.


Kate joined our gang when she got paired up with Jessica as a roommate. Eventually Jessica and Kate became suitemates with Holly and me. Kate is smart and funny, but mostly I think she's passionate. I remember in college she wrote a strongly worded letter to the dean when an unpopular but highly qualified professor got fired. She felt like Mobap needed people like him to make it better academically. We convinced her to scrap some of her strongly worded essay to the dean... but I loved her passion!
Kate has been through some tough stuff during the past few years but instead of withering away and having a pity party, she used her passion to push on. She knew that God had better for her and she became determined to pursue whatever that was. This choice led her to her husband, Kyle, whom she is passionate about.

She is also an amazing writer. She will most likely be famous someday. If you want to read a real blog, go here: seriously, it's a great blog that is relevant to probably every reader of my blog... all 5 of you.
Here is the bittersweet part. Last night was probably our last time to hang out as a foursome for a long, long time. Kate's family is being relocated to Boston. Holly's family is going to Oklahoma to start a church. How I would love to keep them here and meet up for coffee and long chats every couple of months. But I've come to this conclusion, women in other parts of the country need the friendships that these ladies are going to provide. To keep that many women with amazing gifts all in one city would just be wrong. Luckily, God is letting me keep one in the STL area... and it's the one who is off all summer. Jess, get ready for the playdates!

When the rest of the world encounters these ladies, they'll think they are phenomenal women. And they'll be right. But to me, they'll always just be my girls.

Diggin' in the dirt

Logan got to help plant potatoes at Grandpa Bradley's last week. His cousin's Nick and Alex were there to help. Logan and Alex worked all afternoon and Nick helped when he got home from school. Tyson stayed inside with mommy and Aunt Julie. Since I wasn't there for the actual planting, I figured I'd let my mom or dad guest blog about it. (Actually I just stole their captions off facebook!)
The boys liked working in the garden with Grandpa and were actually pretty good help. Nobody got clobbered with a rake or a shovel.


Alex had a shovel so he dug the hole. Logan threw the potato in the hole (or wherever it went), and Nick used the rake to cover the potatoes.

The boys took their jobs very seriously. Their payday will come in a few months when they get to help eat the potatoes.

Brothers

Job Posting

WANTED: A professional photographer to follow my children around all day and document the moments I miss or am incapable of getting as good pictures. Payment is not available-- well, I could pay you in chocolate chip cookies. I make really good chocolate chip cookies.

Here are a few pictures of my picture taking fails.

1. Trying to get a picture of Tyson smiling at Jessica. Can't you tell that's the focus of the picture? Oh, and my cute friends Holly and Jessica. Oh, and Holly's cutie, Sloan, in the background!

2. Not sure what I was trying to take a picture of but look at Holly's other cute girl, Margo. That girl is her momma. I don't see her much but I love that kid... and her momma. (BTW, Margo was my flower girl. Look how she's grown!)

3. Ok, I actually sort of love this picture. No one is looking at the camera but look at these 3 cute boys stopping for a drink break at the McDonald's playplace. L-R : Everett (Holly's) Logan (mine), Caleb (Jessica). Wish Kellen could have been there. (BTW, Logan is the youngest... and possibly the biggest!)

4. Wait, you can't see this one??? That's because I was messing with a fussy baby while most of my friends kids and my kid sat down for a picture. Hopefully Jessica got a good one of 6/8 kids!

See, I told you I need a professional to follow us around. Of course, Kate Gosselin claims that her family went on the reality show for that very reason, to "document their lives". I'm sure she wasn't thinking at all about all the money she could make!!! (I wonder what her reasoning is for going on DWTS?) So, maybe the photographer isn't such a great idea. Photographers need not apply. Readers you'll have to stick with my bad photography. Friends, come by and I'll give you the chocolate chip cookies!

Yikes

Tyson has been asleep ALL morning in the swing. He woke up at 7 am, ate, and then screamed for 1 hour! I finally put him in the swing so that I could remain sane. He promptly fell asleep and has remained that way for 3+ hours. I'm wondering, does this mean he will sleep tonight????? I hope so, last night he slept 8 hours in a row! How about a repeat performance, buddy.

Higgins family get-together

We attended the baptism of Jacob Penning, Greg's nephew, on Sunday.

Greg and Aunt Donna were Jacob's godparents. It was good to have all the boys together to celebrate Jacob. We pray that Jacob (and Jared, Logan, and Tyson) will all become fully committed followers of Jesus one day!! My, what 4 men commited to Christ could do in our world!

This is my favorite picture from the day... all of the boys with the dads, uncles, and "pa-pa". Pictured below is Logan with Greg, Jared with Brian, Jacob with Jason, and Tyson with Pa-pa.

Then we tried to get a good picture with Grandma and Grandpa. Let me tell you, getting a toddler and a preschooler to sit still while keeping 2 newborns happy is tough stuff. Getting everyone to look at the camera at the same time is IMPOSSIBLE. Here is our best attempt.

And then the "big boys" were outta there!

Pa-pa however didn't seem to mind all the chaos. He just sat on the couch and held anyone that jumped (or was put) into his lap!!

Great-great day!

Tyson celebrated his 2 motnth "birthday" at Grandma Bradley's house. Three of his Grandma's were there. He got to see Grandma Bradley (and Grandpa Bradley). He also got to see Grandma Hunn. We celebrated her birthday too. She'll be in Krgystan on her actual birthday. Doesn't everyone go to Krgystan for their 79th birthday? (I think that's the right age???)

He also got to see his Great-great Grandma, "Grandma Harman". She was out for the day getting her hair done and stopped by to see us. This is our 5 generations picture.

Logan was there too and so was Alex. Logan was napping during this picture. He had his picture taken with his Grandma's last fall. Alex was playing or taking pictures or something?????

My boys are so lucky to have so many Grandmas, Great-Grandmas, and even a Great-great Grandma to love on them!

Oh, and they also have two Grandpas (Pa-pa).

Cankles

When you're almost 2, cankles are still kinda cool.

So is dressing yourself!

Fortunately

Fortunately, the sun came out and the weather warmed up enough to get the boys out of the house some this weekend.

Unfortunately, a rain (and hail) storm came out of the middle of nowhere and caught Greg and Logan outside.

22

Logan is 22 months old! Here are 22 things about him:

1. Logan is a great big brother. He wakes up in the morning and says, "Where Tyson?" When Tyson cries he says, "It o-tay. shhhhh!" And then he tells me, "Paci!"- meaning "Get the poor boy his pacifier".

2. Logan's favorite foods are cereal, oatmeal, cheese, salad, green beans, and apple juice. He also loves pizza and McDonalds. When my parents took him there last week he said, "I want chicken and fries."

3. Logan likes to watch "Wee-vee" (TV). He loves Barney, Thomas the Tank Engine, Action Bible Songs, and Elmo.

4. Logan likes to play blocks, do puzzles, play with tools, drive his trucks, ride his bike, and play ball. He's busy. Always.

5. Logan loves to run and climb.

6. Logan loves to sing-- especially songs about Jesus.

7. Logan has begun to pray at dinner. He generally says something like, "Pa-pa, Nick, Logan, Da-da, Momma, Jesus, Amen."

8. Logan is very interested in the potty lately. He says, "I go potty." and stands near the bathroom door. He doesn't actually ever go on the potty but it's a step in the right direction.

10. Logan loves to brush his teeth.

11. Logan still loves to read books. He can "read" Brown bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? And he can name all the animals in the Panda Bear version of that book. It's funny to hear him name animals like panther and crane.

12. Logan is learning some funny new words. He knows the word, "remote" and the word, "pretzel".

13. This month Logan is in to asking about Alex. He'll say, "Where Alex?" I'll say, "At home." Then he'll say, "What doing?"

14. They tell us that Logan has a "girlfriend" at church. There is one little girl that he spends every Sunday chasing around the nursery.

15. Logan loves to look out the window for Daddy during the day. He gets so excited when Greg gets home and stands by the door with his lips puckered for a kiss. He loves taking baths with daddy in the evening.

16. On Monday nights, Logan has a night out with mommy. Tyson stays home with daddy. We usually go grocery shopping. Logan sings in the back of the car, "Going Shopping!"

17. Logan loves to laugh and loves to entertain!

Logan likes to go for walks in our neighborhood and see all the doggies. He doesn't ride in the stroller anymore. He usually just walks-- all the way up Anawood, Estates, and down Jeanette and back! Pretty long walk for a 1 year old.

18. Logan can say his ABCs. He only has trouble with W,X.

19. Logan can count to 10 really well. He can almost count to 20 but some of the #s are just "la-teen, da-teen, etc."

20. Logan likes to say "Boo-yah". (He heard it on Sesame Street). I tried to tell him no one has used that word since 1995...

21. Logan loves snacks--- especially fruit snacks-- he now knows how to push a chair over to the pantry and reach the snacks... dangerous!!

22. Logan loves to do dishes. He also likes to sweep and unfold the laundry.

Since Tyson will be 2 months this week, I'll tell you two things about Tyson:

1. When he smiles, he scrunches up his nose.

2. He has started cooing. He says "ooo" "ahh" and "gaa".

Grandma and Grandpa Bradley's House

Tyson took his first Thursday trip to Grandma and Grandpa Bradley's house today. He had fun with his cousins! He even gave his Aunt Julie a smile. (Julie, sorry I didn't get your face... but your hair looks great! Must be because you're a professional actress!)

Grandpa is getting his hands full!!!

Little House in the Big Woods

I made one of the Pioneer Woman's recipes for the first time. I made Chicken Parmigiana. It was DELISH! The only thing is, I'm no pioneer woman. If I'm a pioneer woman, I'm more like Laura Ingalls Wilder in the Little House in the Big Woods than like Ree. You know the Little house book where they lived in a house made of sod and Pa sat by the door at night with his shot gun and to keep the wolves out?

It's just that the pioneer woman = way more glamourous than me. I know, she always says she's just wearing holey yoga pants, but she always looks beautiful in her pictures and her kitchen and her kitchen gear? gorgeous.

I'm a little more, shall we say, rustic.

For instance, The Pioneer woman uses a metal mallet to pound her chicken. Me? I used a toy hammer.

Logan thought cooking with a hammer was great fun! Don't worry, I stopped him before the crackers became crushed crackers.

The pioneer woman has a fancy pepper grinder. I have salt and pepper shakers that look like books.

Remember her great kitchen gear? I've got paper plates. Oh yeah!

By the way, there is no milk in this recipe. It's only on standby there in case a sippy cup needs to be filled.

The thing is, despite not being glamourous or cool like PW, my chicken parm still turned out awesome!

The other thing is, I bounced a baby in a bouncer to keep him happy while I made this wonderful dish. If I can do it, you can too. It's that easy.

As the pioneer woman would say,

Can you guess whose dinner this is? Hint: He ain't no woman. He ain't no child. And he fixes computers for a living. (She would say "and he castrates calves for a living"... but I told you, I ain't pioneer woman. She may be beautiful. She may have a gorgeous kitchen. Her photo taking ability may blow me out of the water. But I got THE BEST MAN IN THE WORLD)

If you have a man that you love. Make this for him.

While I still can...

I'm gonna dress them in matching outfits while I can still get away with it!
(By the way, they both love to lay in Tyson's crib and look at his mobile. This is the boys looking at it together.)