On the up and up

We survived another week of the stomach flu at our house.  After hibernating in our house all week, I think we are in the clear (knock on wood).  

Early in the week, Parker drew this picture of himself and Dave playing basketball.  I just love it: 

Here's another picture of Kam's haircut....as traumatic as it was when I found she had cut her own hair, I'm really kind of liking the short look on her....and she was so excited earlier this week when she concluded that she STILL has Rapunzel hair!!  She has the short brown (after Flynn cut it) look.  She is thrilled.

 On Tuesday morning, I went in the kids' room to see this.  Kam had climbed into Parker's bed just so they could talk and hang out....melts my heart.  It was a great way to start the day.....every time they started arguing throughout the day, I let my mind go back to the sweet beginning they had.  I know they really love each other....they just like to hide it.....frequently.

Monday night we had a Family Home Evening lesson and what a traumatic lesson it was.  We've been wanting to teach Parker to have a little better sportsmanship.....actually we've been wanting to teach him that since birth....as I've mentioned before, he was born a bit competitive.  We decided to play the game Zingo.  Dave and I decided that he would be a good sport and I would be a poor sport/very cocky while we played.  Prior to starting the game, we told the kids to pay attention to how we were acting and at the end of the game, they had to tell us if mom or dad was more fun to play with.  To make a long story short.....I was cocky and whiny throughout the game and I happened to end up winning.  Kambri was oblivious to how I was acting.....just happy to be alive in her carefree little way.  Parker started SOBBING at the end of the game and said, "Mom, how do you think that makes me feel when you act like that?  Would you like it if I was acting how you were acting?  I don't like playing with you when you act like that."  Well, I felt horrible making him cry....that wasn't my intention.....and I'm not sure I'd recommend it as a parenting strategy....but we are hoping it sunk in a little.   We went on to have a good conversation and play the game several more times.  We had a great time.  Since then when we've played games and he starts acting a little cocky or upset that he's not winning, we just say, "Remember how you felt when mom acted like that?" and he behaves immediately.

Tuesday night we had game night again.  We pulled out a fun lego game that Parker got for Christmas and we played Princess Yahtzee.  You will be happy to know that everyone (including me) had good sportsmanship.

And.....after making it 8 days without catching the yucky stomach bug that we all had, Parker finally succumbed on Wednesday.  He pretty much spent the day like this:

He went two days without eating anything....we KNOW something is wrong when our Parker won't eat anything.  So glad he is feeling better now!

And after having the stomach flu for whopping 8 days, this little hoodlum is up to her usual antics (for which we are very grateful).  Now we are just trying to fatten her back up...eight days of puking makes for a skinny little baby.  I love her crazy hair in this picture (so typical for her) and that she's tearing up a magazine.  I'll always remember the day she spent half the day being entertained with a magazine.....because usually I struggle to keep her entertained for even five minutes.  Sadly, the magic of the magazine is now over...that was so yesterday for her.  She no longer has interest.  Oh well....just happy she can keep food down now....and that her adorable smile is back.  

By the way....I think we have an official first word from our little Lyddi.  She can say things like mama and dada...but I'm not sure she associates those with us yet.  Her first word that I can confidently say she says in the proper context is ............  "ah-gee" or sometimes "n-gee" .  For doggy.  Figures.  She says it every time she sees Champ.