7 years + 17 years

Mercer turned 7! 

He does act a lot older sometimes, but he also still acts like he's a little boy sometimes.
















He asked to go to a nearby pizza restaurant on his actual birthday and then we went home / had cupcakes.

We had a bowling party for him to celebrate his big day.  It was a lot of fun!  And - definitely the way to go because the swanky bowling alley took care of everything!  Well... almost everything.  

Todd was in charge of keeping things going smoothly on the alleys while Rose Marie and I took turns chasing Isabella.  An active 2 year old at the bowling alley -- not too relaxing, but overall it was more relaxing than cleaning the house before and after a party PLUS chasing the 2 year old as well.  It was hard to get a good photo of her.  She was being a little stubborn and wouldn't smile.  Oh well.

Mercer's updated stats:  4', 3"  (93%).... 61.8 lbs (88%)

Todd & I rang in 17 years of marriage.   We went out to dinner and went for a scoop of ice cream at a trendy little craft ice cream shop.  Also - although a little cheesy - we rode the ferris wheel that's set up downtown.  (a night-time selfie to prove we were on the thing as seen in the background~)

Mercer has started baseball again.  The team name.... the Mets.  hmmm....

Isabella's tumble tots class has ended.  She knows that when she puts on her little blue leotard where she's going.  She pats her belly when she wears it and says "tumble."

She is at this REALLY great age.  She has been learning how to count, learning colors, and shapes.  Mercer grabbed onto this really quickly too when he moved up to the toddler room.  It is fascinating to watch.  But - it means that they seem more grown-up and a little less baby-ish.  (sniff sniff!)  A cute side effect of the toddler room, however, is her learning to sing songs such as the itsy-bitsy spider... baa baa black sheep... etc.  LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!

Mercer and I have been doing some mission / service things together lately.  At church, he's in a group called Mission Possible Kids.  One recent project had the kids making "inspiration rocks" and later - delivering them to residents of a nearby nursing home.    Tonight, he and I went to an event where (collectively) all of us made 25,000 meals to be shipped to a poor country to help counteract huger (location t.b.d.).  A little pack of vitamins and minerals went into each bag, a scoop full of protein, some freeze-dried vegetables, and some rice.    

Mercer and I also went to this venue that had some room vignettes set up depicting different stages in 3 children's lives.  The venue - called the Compassion Project - raises money to send children in developing countries to school.  Mercer asked about the rooms and wondered why they were so small / where the rest of the houses were.  I'm glad that we had the opportunity to talk about how the rooms were pretty much all that an entire family had -- something that was smaller than our kitchen... and that we are extremely fortunate to have all that we do.

Here is a sweet little photo (that I LOVE) of the kids.  Mercer was in the kitchen doing his homework.  Isabella came up to him and hugged him.  He hugged her back.  By the time I grabbed my camera, they had turned around.  I wanted to get the shot of them hugging without them knowing, but this one was cute too!

sleeping with the animals + valentines

Mercer and I did something fun this month... we spent the night at the zoo!

We were supposed to do this back in December (for my birthday) but it was cancelled.  The theme this month "love birds" in honor of Valentine's Day.

The instructor had a presentation about birds including information on the coloration / feather types / beak types / eggs / etc.  It was interesting.  The kids did a craft.  Then we went to a research building to have an animal "encounter."  Our guide showed the kids a hedgehog and another spiky animal that was really tiny.  She brought out a boa constrictor too  (we got to touch all three of these).  Then she brought out a porcupine.  It was ADORABLE!!  (it was my favorite)  We were not allowed to touch the porcupine, of course.  When asking Mercer about which was his favorite, he gave his usual reply:  "all of them!"

There was a small group of us -- about a dozen in total including 7 kids 12, 10, 9, and 8.  Mercer was the youngest and he kept trying to talk with the group of 12 year old boys.  The guide told us about having groups of "Night Crawlers" that were about 200 people & how crazy that was.  (no doubt!)  Our small group walked as a group through the zoo to the other side (about 15 minutes or so).  We hung out in the darkened reptile house for awhile and looked in on the cages with mini flash-lights.  We also visited the kitchen where all of the food is prepped for the zoo.  (There were all sorts of frozen mice, rats, and rabbits that they showed us that they defrost for the carnivorous animals.)  Don't look too closely at what's in the baggie in this photo if you get squeamish.

We slept on the concrete floor of an education building and bunked down for the night.  The only thing I could hear was an owl hooting throughout the night (and then starting around 4 am... someones cell phone messenger.  Argh!)


We woke, packed up our sleeping bags and took them back to the cars, had breakfast, then went on a 2 hour private tour of several other areas of the zoo.  

 Here is our early-AM "selfie" with the kangaroos.  They were really active in the morning.  Actually, several of the animals were more active earlier in the day that were not active later.  Two hours later... these same kangaroos that were up jumping around were all laying down sunning, I guess.  (Or just being lazy?)  The same is true for the famed panda bears.  They were up and eating bamboo... but normally when we see them, they're asleep.  

Our tour did consist of the bird section of the zoo - including that loud owl that reminded us of his presence all night long.  Here is a very unusual bird - a double wattled cassowary.  (I really liked this fowl in the next picture with the beautiful blue feathers!)

After that, we were free to stay and play.  

It was a pretty cool experience.  I learned that next time, I'll bring an air mattress to sleep on, though!  I've heard that from several other parents who have also gone to a Night Crawlers event.  (Unfortunately I did not hear this until AFTER Mercer and I went to our adventure.)  Oh well!

Here's a picture of Isabella holding the doll that Mercer gave her the first time he met her.  We take her photo every three months with the doll (now missing its clothes!).  She is 2 years, 3 months old here (Friday the 13th).

Valentine's Day was spread out over several days.  Both of the kids had parties at their school on Friday.  On Saturday, Mercer and I built a valentines foam "centerpiece" that's been on our table.  Saturday we also made cookies and decorated them with a couple of girls from our church.  Sunday, we made heart-shaped pancakes and exchanged cards and books.  (The adults got cards... the kids got a new book each.)  

On Monday, we took these cute photos to send to the grandparents.  (WAYYY LATE) 

And finally, the eating of the treats that were exchanged will go on long into the month.  (Mercer's kissy mouth lolly is still going strong after a couple of hours in / on the mouth.)  


We're behind, but we're getting there!  
Hope yours was happy~   

January happenings

It's the last day of the month and there's not a lot to report - but it's been awhile since I've blogged, so.... here's a little something.  :)

Mercer's basketball season came to an end.   He seemed to really enjoy it.  He played for our city league in a group of kids ages 6-8.  It was quite a step up from the rec league he had been playing for the past couple of winters.  This league is a lot more competitive.

Mercer was one of the youngest players on the team, but the "assistant coach" sees a lot of promise in him especially after he's in this age bracket two more years.  We'll see!  


Enclosed are a couple of pics taken at the end of the season.  There were formal photos scheduled on a game day when everyone was in uniform, however, the photographer did not bring a memory card and could not take team photos.  Thankfully, a parent took a picture at one of the last practices!  There's a "normal" picture and one where the kids are yelling the team name:  go Tarheels~


Isabella started something new:  she started taking a tumble tots class.  This is a class that we signed Mercer up for when he was almost 3.  Seems like a good winter activity to do with young children with lots of energy!  So far, she's enjoying it.  (she looks pretty grown up here, though.  boo!)

We held soup night this year, however, we did a much more compressed version:  we held 2 soup events before my school went back into session.  I've been working a lot (for two green building job deadlines this month).  Todd's been interviewing for new church projects and meeting contractors to build those that he and his colleagues have already designed.  (In fact - he's been there just over a year and is loving it there.)

Over the long weekend, we did get the chance to spend an entire day together just having fun... we found a warm day and went to the zoo.  Isabella is an animal lover.  She enjoyed seeing animals.  The lemurs, giraffes, and gorillas were some of her favorites.  Mercer and Todd got to see a gecko - in the reptile house - stretch out his tongue and snap up a fly about a foot away from him in his cage.  They were there at the PERFECT moment to see this.  As cool as the animals were, the kids really seemed to enjoy the playground(s) the most!  Well, the playgrounds and the carousel.  Isabella had this look on her face (not quite captured here) of amazement and happiness.    It was a really great day!






 

Some new things this new year for Isabella

Here's a series of funny photos.  Isabella likes to make this funny face to get a giggle out of us.  

And - below are a couple of other cute photos....

Since Isabella has been crawling out of the crib, we officially transitioned her to a "toddler bed" by taking the crib rail off and putting on a short rail so she can climb in and out.  It's been tough to get her to sleep many nights, but... we've got to roll with it.  In looking back at the blog when we did the same for Mercer - we had a rough week trying to get him to sleep.  

Mercer was about 1 year, 3 months old when we made the switch for him.

Isabella was about 1 year, 1 1/2 months old when we made this switch for her.

His was more proactive - so he didn't crawl out of the crib.  Hers was more reactive after she had climbed out multiple times.

Isabella also started school in the new year in a new room!  She's now in the toddler room with other 2-3 year olds.  (Her second day there... she bit a kid!  yikes~)  I remember when Mercer first started in the toddler room.  (He was younger for this as well.  20 months, I believe.)  It was AMAZING to watch the rate at which he learned things.  Isabella is older and already talking, knows many colors, can count some.... but -- it will be interesting to watch her rapid development too!