Yumalicious

It's been a pretty good couple of weeks. Pantera has adjusted very well to being 5. When she was 4 she would use not being 5 as an excuse for almost everything she would or wouldn't do. Like when we would do "school" and she didn't want to try at her flashcards she would say "I can't read, I'm not 5 yet!" Funny thing is, all those things she said she would do when she was 5, she is actually doing! She was reading sentences for me yesterday. When I tell her what a good job she is doing she replies "It's because I am 5 now." She also has a new independent streak, she loves to make her own breakfast and lunch. She is quite a cook and even made up her own sandwich recipe, she calls it "Yumalicious," you may know it as a bologna sandwich, she is so proud of this that I would never dream of telling her it's been done before...many times.

The weather has been great out here. Pantera went outside to a trampoline full of leafs the other day and exclaimed "It's a miracle!" We took time on Saturday to put out bird food and fill the bird bath. Both kids ended up soaking wet and in the tub afterwards. It was so exciting to see all the birds in our yard the next day. I love cardinals, they are so beautiful.

Zeke is becoming more and more of a little antagonist everyday. He loves to tease us! I will ask him to say mama and he smiles and calls me "Nanana" which is how he says banana, then he laughs. He had really bad gas yesterday morning, after one really loud one he waves his chubby little hand in front of his face and says "I farf." He is just so sweet and getting big so fast! He tries to do everything his sister does, down to playing with transformers. He tries to say Bumblebee (which is Tera's favorite) and it comes out "Bubaba" I just love the way he looks up to her.

We found out on Friday we are having another little girl! Hopefully all goes well between now and then.

Does a dinosaur ROAR?!?

Earlier this week we were listening to the radio, they were advertising for "Ladies Night" at some bar or club. Pantera got really excited and says "Tomorrow's Ladies Night! Are we going?" She was also super pumped because they were going to sing her happy birthday in Primary today. In her primary you get to hold maracas while they sing to you. She had a different plan she would "Take off her shaky high-tops and use those as maracas. And all the kids will say 'Wow, Tera doesn't even need instruments!'"

Zeke is getting more talkative by the minute. He says "Nanana" for banana. Today while we were looking at pictures in the hall he said Jesus, before I even reminded him who it was!!! It made me so happy. When I tried to show anyone else he just says "Who dat?" He will also roar like a dinosaur if you ask him to, so cute!

Happy Birthday Pantera!

Pantera turned 5 today! I can't believe how fast the past 5 years have gone by. She woke Jess up this morning by saying "Dad, am I 5 today?" When he told her yes, she was so excited! She has been sounding out words today. You see, whenever I try to get her to read she gets really frusterated and tells me "I'm not 5 mom!" Now that she is, obviously reading is something that should come naturally. I just love her, I am so grateful to be her mom. Happy Birthday Pantera!!!

Update

I hate it when I get so far behind blogging that it seems overwhelming to update! Here it goes. Zeke is walking. He started around his birthday and is nearly pro now. The problem is he is walking in soft sole shoes cuz his feet are to fat for regular shoes, so really he will have to learn all over again with shoes on. The last month has been one giant countdown until Pantera's birthday, this is the most excited I have ever seen her!

We had family come into town. My sister and Jess' brother came into town with my super cute nephews! Papa with the dogs (AKA my dad) was able to come out as well, it was so much fun! Andrew, the oldest, documented the trip with his new found writing skills and drew pictures to go along with it. Andrew has always had a special spot in my heart (ok they all do!) and he knows how to make sure it stays that way. He wrote about me 3 times in his entries, it made my whole life! Ryan is always good to see because he reminds me that Pantera is normal. They are only 3 months apart and are going through so many of the same things, life is hard when you are 5! I can't believe how big Jordan is, he will be 3 next month and he is obsessed with Star Wars. We went to Fort Necessity and he insisted on having his picture taken in front of a colonial sword because he thought it belonged to "Matter Yoda."

We also had our primary program last week. Pantera was asked to give a talk this year. She informed me "I only like to talk when they don't want me to!" So the night before the program, Jess' brother Jake came downstairs and told us "Pantera just asked me to do her a favor, take her talk, rip it up and throw it in the garbage." She is something else! She did give her talk and did a very good job.

You belong with me-e-e-e!

Last week I took the kids to a little zoo. There were not that many exotic animals, but they had the HUGEST petting area I have ever seen! Pantera was in heaven! Not only did you get to pet them but they give you food to give the animals so they all come right up to the side of the cages. Pantera kept saying "Can you believe how much they love me?" She was the one holding the food. The Zeke had his first pony ride and was very serious about it. I don't think he cracked a smile once but he was not ready to get off when it was over. He also enjoyed kicking the baby sheep in the head.

Pantera has a great ability to misinterpret lyrics. This week it was Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me." Pantera is constantly singing this song and I hear her once again but picked up on what she was saying this time "Can't you see that I'm the one who wants to stab you?" (It really says "Can't you see that I'm the one who understands you.") Yes.

Grooming

This morning while I was preoccupied by something, Pantera was saying "The cat thinks I'm his mom when I do this." I was only half way paying attention (the longer I'm a mom the better I seem to be at this) and said something like, I'm sure he does. Then she said it again and I looked over to see her licking the cats head, gross!
Zeke threw his first real temper tantrum today! I let them ride on a merry-go-round at Wal-Mart, when I went to take him out he freaked! Full blown screaming and tears, I thought it was cute only because it was his first one and he was being so assertive about what he wanted. Every time anyone would talk to him in the store he buried his face in my chest, then Pantera tells them "He's shy" then proceeds to talks their ears off.

Lacey broke 2 collars in 3 days. She is such a strong dog for her size. I wish I was half as ripped as she is! She is also starting to get really protective over us. Our neighbor was mowing his yard today, she was not happy with that! She would go back and forth from the window she could see him from to the spot where Zeke was sleeping to make sure he was ok. She might serve a purpose after all;)

For your listening pleasure...