Milo is 5, and says he's practically 6

Milo, has made it through one grueling year of preschool (oh, having to leave home is sooooo hard.) But, despite his obvious and inevitable growing up, he is still my sweet little boy who loves to snuggle and sit on laps. His sweetness shows up when Mommy needs it most. Many nights when a weary Mommy tucks in the kids after a rough day, Milo pulls my ear to his lips and says (with his lips actually touching my ear) things like, "I only love you, Momma," or "I love you forever and ever," or "You're my best friend." In his baby blessing, he was blessed to be a support to me, and oh is he ever. Thus, I'm pretty much a push-over when it comes to him wanting anything . . . He's found a reverence and love for prayer which is very special.

He still loves vehicles, but dinos are in the spotlight right now. He loves to find pictures of them on the computer and print them out to study. Milo is my "reader" and always has his nose in a book when there is a break in the action. He is patient. He waits at endless doctor appointments, meetings, lessons - all without complaint. He simply asks after each one, "can we please go home now?" He's a middle child - a great little and big brother. Peter Elias wants only to be like him and with him. Myna loves her partner in play. Milo's favorite pretend game is Spykids where both he and Myna and their cousins or friends have super powers. Myna is Chief, and Milo is Tough. He loves to walk like tough dinosaurs and makes me do it until, I too, have perfected the gait of each. Sometimes, he roars at other kids as an introduction - it's very effective in being unique . . . 

He is unique and wonderful. 

 Don't let this camera face fool you - he's really jumping for joy and has been waiting for months for this moment . . .

 Somehow, I managed to talk him out of a volcano cake with 3 large plastic dinosaurs on it that he gets to keep. Score, plus I used up all the rest of the red frosting :)

 All he asked for were T-Rex toys to play with. So, he got three. He gave one to both Pete and I so that "we can all play together."

 We had a dino-bone hunt.

 Dino-decor.

 Dino-friends.

 Dino-egg dig (oh the days and days of pellet finding in the living room).

 Dino-best friend Carter.

 Dino-drawings by Emily.

 Dino-hunters.

 Enough T-Rexs to make this little boy happy.

 A trip to the Dinosaur bone museum was the other celebration.

 I'd kind-of hoped that the nice guy we asked to take our picture would've included the elephants, but, I guess family is supposed to come first.

As close to a T-rex as NYC has. Happiest sixth year Milosaurus!

Milo is 5, and says he's practically 6

Milo, has made it through one grueling year of preschool (oh, having to leave home is sooooo hard.) But, despite his obvious and inevitable growing up, he is still my sweet little boy who loves to snuggle and sit on laps. His sweetness shows up when Mommy needs it most. Many nights when a weary Mommy tucks in the kids after a rough day, Milo pulls my ear to his lips and says (with his lips actually touching my ear) things like, "I only love you, Momma," or "I love you forever and ever," or "You're my best friend." In his baby blessing, he was blessed to be a support to me, and oh is he ever. Thus, I'm pretty much a push-over when it comes to him wanting anything . . . He's found a reverence and love for prayer which is very special.

He still loves vehicles, but dinos are in the spotlight right now. He loves to find pictures of them on the computer and print them out to study. Milo is my "reader" and always has his nose in a book when there is a break in the action. He is patient. He waits at endless doctor appointments, meetings, lessons - all without complaint. He simply asks after each one, "can we please go home now?" He's a middle child - a great little and big brother. Peter Elias wants only to be like him and with him. Myna loves her partner in play. Milo's favorite pretend game is Spykids where both he and Myna and their cousins or friends have super powers. Myna is Chief, and Milo is Tough. He loves to walk like tough dinosaurs and makes me do it until, I too, have perfected the gait of each. Sometimes, he roars at other kids as an introduction - it's very effective in being unique . . . 

He is unique and wonderful. 

 Don't let this camera face fool you - he's really jumping for joy and has been waiting for months for this moment . . .

 Somehow, I managed to talk him out of a volcano cake with 3 large plastic dinosaurs on it that he gets to keep. Score, plus I used up all the rest of the red frosting :)

 All he asked for were T-Rex toys to play with. So, he got three. He gave one to both Pete and I so that "we can all play together."

 We had a dino-bone hunt.

 Dino-decor.

 Dino-friends.

 Dino-egg dig (oh the days and days of pellet finding in the living room).

 Dino-best friend Carter.

 Dino-drawings by Emily.

 Dino-hunters.

 Enough T-Rexs to make this little boy happy.

 A trip to the Dinosaur bone museum was the other celebration.

 I'd kind-of hoped that the nice guy we asked to take our picture would've included the elephants, but, I guess family is supposed to come first.

As close to a T-rex as NYC has. Happiest sixth year Milosaurus!

Myna is 6

My sweet Myna is six. And, what a wonderful six year old she is. In the last year she learned to ride a bike, grew 4 1/2 feet (I swear), got most of the way to reading and half way to swimming, started Kindergarten, has improved in her art skills tremendously, answers questions with confidence even when strangers ask them, traveled to Mexico, went inside the Montreal Temple during an open house, and continues to surprise and impress us with her thoughtful questions and true compassion.

I mean, for her birthday, this cute girl, who is also known for her earth-shaking desire to never let a thing out of her possession that could ever have been called hers, didn't ask for a party. She wanted to have a family birthday and then deliver flowers to graves and to people who are dying. So, that's what we did. And, it was a beautiful way to celebrate a birthday.

Right before Memorial Day this past year, Myna had her first dance recital. So, being the great mom I am, I bought her a beautiful bouquet of roses as I rushed home from the recital in one car, while Pete brought her home in the other. They were beautiful. She was amazed and entranced. That was Saturday. On Monday, we celebrated Memorial Day. I happened to say out loud that I'd forgotten to pick up some flowers to put on graves of veterans but that we'd just have to find something else. Not too long later, Myna begins packing up all of her precious roses to give to the people we were going to remember. That was one of the proudest moments I've ever had. It was incredible to watch her pass out each one of her roses. I wasn't even mad that she was giving away the flowers I'd spent way too money on.

Also, in that recital, she was placed near the end of her row, right next to a little girl with developmental issues. I know that the teacher trusted Myna to focus and do well despite the fun and crazy dancing going on beside her, and I knew that the teacher understood that Myna would understand and not get upset with the little girl.

I must remember these things for Myna is a gift. I am glad I get to share her with the world - as hard as it has proven to be. I am grateful that Heavenly Father has shared her with me. My Myna.