Easter and Beyond...

I can't believe it's been over a month since I've posted...a lot has happened.

Grandma Denyse came over the day before Easter to dye eggs with Brooke. Easter was a small celebration with Mike's parents and my mom (Grandpa Ken was visiting Great Grandma Millie in her last few days). The Easter bunny came...because he was so excited that Jesus rose AGAIN! and delivered a few items for both Brooke and Clayton. Brooke was most excited by the jelly beans in the egg and Clayton thought all the eggs were "balls" so he was just thrilled - not to mention that some of the balls made a cool noise when you shook them because of the candy inside.



Sadly, on April 2nd, at the age of 83, Great Grandma Millie lost her battle to cancer. She was an amazing godly woman and will be greatly missed, but we look forward to when we'll join her again in heaven. I explained to Brooke that Grandma had died because Jesus invited her to come home and that we were sad that she wouldn't be with us anymore, but that we are also very happy that she's with Jesus. Brooke's response was, "Mommy, I'm not sad - I'm just happy she's with Jesus." I was able to make 2 trips down to Florida at the beginning of February, one with Brooke - I'm so grateful for that time.



The first weekend in April Clayton and I took a trip with Grandma Nancy to Toledo, OH for cousin Erica's baby shower. Clayton was a good traveler and we were able to catch up with many family members. Matt & Erica recently purchased a new home and we were able to stop by to see that too.

Mike and I then traveled to Florida for Grandma's funeral last week. My saint of a friend, Karen, took care of both kids (while caring for her 2 and being 7 months pregnant!) It was a good visit and the weather was beautiful as we celebrated grandma's life.




So that's been us...here are the stories that I can remember. (Clayton even has a few!)

Brooke was coloring at the kitchen table while I was making dinner and she's saying the letters of her name and Clayton's name and "writing" them out (only a few recognizable). She then says, "Mom - how do you spell "dot com"....can you tell that we live in an age of technology and Internet?! I almost fell over laughing.

Recently Brooke has been very interested in caring for "Little Pooh" - this little stuffed animal. He gets royal treatment of food, snuggling, tucked in at night, etc. Well, a few weeks ago she told me he had a fever in his eye. She kept saying that over the days to come...then finally she said it just a little bit different - she called it an "eye fever". So now it all makes sense to me. She must have heard us say someone had a "high fever." That English language...I'll tell you - tricky, tricky!

And Clayton is still obsessed with dogs - or "bow wow's" as he calls them. I think it's funny that he'll go running for our picture window yelling "bow wow" hoping to see someone walking their dog. So the other day I had bought Cottonelle toilet paper that was sitting in the kitchen waiting to be put away. I found Clayton sitting in front of it shouting "bow wow, bow wow" as though he expected the picture of the puppy on the front to bark back.

Just reporting what's new...

Clayton has begun repeating more words this week - each day he seems to have 1 or 2 more. He's found the power of "more" when eating as well as that the word "juice" in conjuction with pointing at the cabinet does in fact get him a drink. Besides that he'll say the following when asked to, "all done", some version of "thank you", "light", "shoes", "amen", and "Bible". And I love to watch him obey simple instructions. I am just amazed at how a child (and not just mine) can seemingly go from one day not understanding, to understanding the next. For example, "go get your shoes". Clayton can identify which shoes are his, he'll bring them to you, sit down and attempt to "help" you put them on. He can understand "take off your jacket" and his favorite that he'll come running to his chair in the kitchen for "it's time to eat." When looking at picture books he'll point to familiar objects...WOW. I just am continually amazed at how God has designed children to have such amazing little minds!

Brooke I'm sure had many stories this week...but I've found that they are so numerous that unless I write them down, I forget...because that's just who she is. We went swimming tonight at the Y. Brooke was very well behaved and incredibly patient with the number of lines we waited in while shopping today, so I told her she could have a special treat. Turns out the treat was being able to have a night of daddy and mommy all to herself at the Y. She is doing a great job jumping in on her own and after watching her daddy swim, she decided to put her whole face in and start kicking and paddling too. She's really gaining a lot of confidence in the water - I'm excited for what the summer will bring.

Brooke and I went to see Horton Hears a Who with our friends Tommy and Miss Karen on Friday night. (It was a cute movie for those wondering.) Anyhow, through many parts of the movie Brooke alternated between telling me "It's a scary part!" ( I don't think there actually were too many "scary" parts) and asking "Did Horton hear a Who?" She told me her favorite part was when Horton climbed the mountain - because that's silly, elephants can't climb a mountain.

Caught him!

I managed to capture Clayton in action with the laundry shoot and he also somewhat cooperated in talking to the camera. He has about 4 words that he uses all the time - up, ball, mama, and dada.

First Movie and LOTS of stories

Brooke and Mike went on their first official "date" to the movies on Saturday morning. They went to see The Bee Movie. Brooke did well and had a good time.

.

Clayton's favorite thing to do recently is put things down the laundry shoot. Yesterday I found, 4 shoes, a toy horse, pacifier and an empty can he pulled out of the recycler. Who knew laundry would become such a treasure hunt for me! He has also become very difficult to go grocery shopping with because anything that I put into the cart he instantly tries to get ahold of and eat. Maybe I'll start taking snack to the store with me...The kid is a bottomless pit!

.

Brooke is really taking notice to words that are "new" to her and asking questions about them. Here are some recent examples...

Mike prayed at dinner. "Thank you Jesus that Grandpa Kippert is recovering." After we were done, Brooke asked Mike why we covered him up...We asked who...she says, "Grandpa Kippert - why did you cover him up?"

.

Again, Mike and Brooke were praying at bedtime. Brooke usually leads the "thank you" portion and you never quite know what you are going to get. She says, "Thank you Jesus for sins." Mike stopped her and tried to figure out why she had said that....turns out "Jesus forgiving sins" turned into "Jesus for giving sins" (as though they were a gift from him)...I think we got that all straightened out.

.

I was singing and dancing with Brooke when we finished she asks "Why was he sad?" I had no idea what she was talking about and asked who. She says, "Jesus, why was he sad?" I asked what she meant, that I didn't think Jesus was sad. She told me the song said "Jesus Cries"...the song actually said "Jesus Christ" So in my best effort to explain that to a three year old we finally reached the explanation that it's Jesus Christ - two names...kind of like Brooke Stanley. She seemed okay with that answer.

.

Last Brooke story for now - we were baking together yesterday and I let her dump the ingredients in and then push the mixture down in the pan to form the crust. When she finished I told her to brush her hands over the top of the bowl to remove all the oatmeal, flour, sugar, etc. that was now stuck to it. Instead she decided to shake her hands and then brush them together all over the floor. I let her know that wasn't the way I asked her to do it. She very proudly says, "I know - I'm doing it a different way!" I suppose - it also reached the objective of cleaning of her hands. Ughhh...

Poor Little Dude - Why?!

Poor little Clayton man. I took him to the Dr today because the webbing of his toes and fingers turned into open sores by the end of yesterday and this morning he woke up with a rash all over his face, arms, hands, etc. Turns out our little man has impetigo, a yeast infection and good possibility of strep - so he's on antibiotics and a topical cream. All that to say he has still been in a relatively good mood and other than when I'd wash his hands or face after meals didn't act "sick". That is so true to his personality...just look at this picture!

And of course Brooke...we have waited and waited for her to ask her "wh" questions - this was an area she came back delayed in for speech. She's gotten better over the past several weeks, but the infamous "WHY?" started today. I'm wondering why we were wanting this to happen...although probably humerous to those not involved in the conversation.

Listen to this...

"Brooke, be careful walking into the house." (from the car)

"Why?"

"Because it's icy out"

"Why?"

"Because it snowed and it's cold out."

"Why?"

"Because we live in Wisconsin"

"Why?"

"Brooke, go inside."

March, 2, 3, 4

Clayton learned how to march this week also. He doesn't seem to know that his legs are able to march without him yelling. Here's the footage I got...

B-R-O-O-K-E

Brooke learned how to spell her name this week. She's been working on it for a while, but finally got it yesterday! She's so proud.

And another story...only funny because everyone ended up being safe! Brooke and Clayton were playing so nicely in the living room this week that I decided to quick run upstairs and vacuum Brooke's room (about a 90 second job). In that time, Brooke decided that she needed to go to the bathroom. When I heard her in there I immediately knew that Clayton had followed and I raced down the stairs faster than I ever have. Sure enough Clayton followed her...he had climbed into the bathtub and looked at me with a huge proud smile as he played with the bath toys. I then told Brooke that she was not allowed to open doors without permission. To which she replied, "But Clayton was careful when he got in!" (OHHHH...well in that case...as long as he was careful I thought!)