Oldest and Youngest

Enjoying breakfast out after Gracie's orthodontist appointment.

Nyla and Tippy

The farm kitties are extremely friendly and come running up to the children every time they visit. They have been a huge sourcre of entertainment for the little ones this year. I just hope they can survive the cold this winter.
 

 

Nyla Picking Out Peanut's Feet

This beautiful fall weather has brought us lots of opportunities for fun at the farm. Nyla, now just 3 1/2, takes great pride in taking care of her pony. She is learning there is lots to do before she can hop on for a ride! 
 

 

Halloween 2013

This year we only had 4 kids in costumes. Gracie went to her friend Lena's house to watch a scary movie.
Nyla was a cute little Zebra

Luke was a mean looking Hulk!

Marshall was a very serious Iron Man!

 

Gemma and her friend Addie prowled the neighborhood as cat burglars!

 

The Marshmallow Test

I recently was reading about how children's ability to delay gratification corellated with their prospects for success later in life.  The article referenced "The Marshmallow Test" for children, so I conducted my own informal research study on the back deck with the kids.

Gracie, Gemma, Luke, Marshall and Nyla were each given one large marshmallow with these instructions.  "You may eat this marshmallow at any time.  However, if you can wait for five minutes before you eat it, I will give you a second marshmallow."

Gracie, 12: walked off to visit with a friend and came back 5 minutes later.  No sweat.
Gemma, 10: sat still and tried to get Luke to eat his marshmallow.
Luke, 8: stared at his marshmallow and fought the good fight against his instincts.
Marshall, 5: held his marshmallow in his hands and licked his fingers--but didn't take a bite.
Nyla, 3:  Nyla waited mere miliseconds before shoving the entire marshmallow in her mouth.  With gusto.

After five minutes, I announced, "Congratulations to those of you who were able to wait!  You may have your marshmallow AND here's a second one to enjoy.  Don't tell your mother that I gave you two large marshmallows in the name of science, please."

"Nyla, you don't get a second marshmallow because..."  Like a lioness after its prey, Nyla LEAPED up on the deck table and crossed it as she lunged at my throat. "I WANT A MARSHMALLOW!!!!!!  I WANT A MARSHMALLOW!!!!

Study conclusion: Delayed gratification skills are helpful but not necessary to get marshmallows when the subject can take the entire bag using hostile force.  :)

Nyla's 1st Day of Preschool

Yesterday was Nyla's 1st day of preschool.  Not quite 3 1/2 yet, she is wise beyond her years.  We are having a terrible time convincing her to sleep in her own bed and even if she starts there, we always have a visitor in our bed by morning. This is how our conversation went this morning:

ME: Nyla, now that you're a big girl and going to preschool,  you can start sleeping all night in your "big-girl bed".
NYLA: Mommy! I'm still just a little girl! I'm only going to preschool, not big girl school! I'm still too little to sleep all alone!  You only sleep alone when you're in big girl school!

 

 

An Exhausting Day at The Pool!

Nyla played hard at the pool today!
 

Captain America...

.....and his loyal side-kick, "Flower Girl" are now protecting the Seevers household! We are big fans of the Marvel Heros and I got this idea after Marshall took the cat food trash can lid out of the barn and started using it as a shield.  I got the lids at Orcheln's for $2 a piece because they had more lids than cans. Oh, and Flower Girl's powers??  The crystals on her shield are magic and she melts things with her cuteness!
 

 

Mommy's Kitchen "Helper"

Yesterday Nyla entered my bedroom and said, "Mommy, I love you!!"
ME: "Ahhh, I love you too Nyla".
NYLA:"And I'm really, really sorry I made a big mess in your kitchen".
ME: "Uh Oh!  Really? What did you do?"
NYLA: "Well I had to cook something and I was being your really good helper, but then I made a  big mess. I'm really, really sorry I made a big mess in your kitchen Mommy.....and I love you sooooooo much".

The picture below is what I found when I went downstairs!  I was really trying to be mad but this was so ridiculous that I couldn't help but laugh about it.

Then later after being scolded for attempting to get into my spice drawer again, she says to Scott, "Well then which ones are the "yes-yes" drawers Daddy?"

 

Happy Valentine's Day 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Nyla's Observation

I was putting on make-up in my bathroom when Nyla (now 2 1/2)  walked in and said, "Mommy, did you know I don't have a "PEANUT"?  I replied, "You don't?  Well who does? (thinking we were talking about the Planter's type)"  She went on to explain, "Marshall and Luke and Daddy have a "peanut", but I don't have a "peanut" and you don't have a "peanut" either!  All I could say was, "Nyla, you're absolutely right about that!"

My Little Lady Bug

Nyla was so excited to dress up for her pre-school Halloween party today!!

 

 

 

Nyla is 2 1/2!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ghosts?

The last several days we've been having a very hard time getting Nyla down for naps and bedtime. She begs and begs to sleep in our bed and cries bloody murder until either I give in or she falls asleep.  A few minutes ago, Nyla (28mo) was on the changing table where she calmly explained to me that there was a girl in her room who was waving at her. Here is word for word what she said:

Nyla:"Mommy there is a girl in my room".
ME: Where?
Nyla: She was over there (pointing to an area next to her dollhouse)
ME: Is she there now?
Nyla: "No, but she scares me. She was waving at me".
ME: When?
Nyla: "When I was in my crib."
ME: Is she happy or sad?
Nyla: "Sad".
ME: Is she ugly or pretty?
Nyla: "Ugly".
ME: Is she mean to you?
Nyla: "No, she's not mean, but she scary to me"
ME: "Does she talk to you?
Nyla: "No, she waves at me". She couldn't help me get out of my crib. She scary to me. When I go to your bed she can't wave at me."

I RAN downstairs to write this down so I wouldn't forget her exact words.  I figure we either have a ghost or a VERY clever and imaginative 2year-old!!  Either way, how can I deny her my bed after hearing THAT?

Update 8/22-5:18pm-While changing another diaper Nyla said, "Mommy, I'm scared of the girl that waves at me. When she goes back to her own house, I can sleep in my crib".  I purposely have made no mention of  "the girl" and in fact tried to talk about other things while in her room to keep her mind off it, but she brought it up a second time.

Marshall, Nyla and Peanut

 

The Jungle

On our trip to Wisconsin we often drove through heavily wooded areas, something our Nebraska-born children don't see very often.  As we arrived in Dubuque, Iowa and drove along the river bluffs Nyla said, "Gracie! Are you scared of this JUNGLE? I am so scared in this jungle!"  For the rest of the trip, she referred to all wooded areas as THE JUNGLE and kept a look-out for lions and tigers and bears! Oh my!

Brushing Peanut

Nyla said, "Peanut is my fav-o-wit ho-wus!

 

 

Santa on the Square

After waiting in line for almost 2 hours in freezing temperatures, we got to see Santa. I think their noses are as red as Rudolph's!