Our Little Clowns are Growing Up

These last two years have been filled with so much joy and laughter with our little clowns in our family. This second year went even faster than the first. Some days I try to remember what it was like before Bella and Tristan were here and I can't think of what it was like. They bring so much energy into our home. I admit, it must have been a lot quieter and more mellow, but I would never want to go back and miss out on the joy of watching my children play together and enjoy each other. They have sibling fights and a little competition that we have to work through, but they also have a lot of love for each other. Bella is still our drama queen and lets you know she isn't happy with a high pitched shriek. She often gets into fights over toys because she wants what others have. Lilly has had a hard time getting along with her for this reason and tends to drift towards Tristan and his more easy going nature. This leads to her trying to leave Bella out and we have had to talk with her about being nice to Bella even when it is hard to. She is little and cries a lot now, but some day she will feel really badly that she is left out, and if Lilly puts the work and patience into getting along with her now, Bella will be happier and they will develop a strong relationship. Bella can also be so sweet and considerate of others when she isn't thinking of herself. She loves to help others to be happy. Tristan is full of energy and giggles. He is adventurous and sweet and loves to sing. He is still my mamma's boy and loves to be near me. I love to tickle him to hear his infectious laugh. He is also a scaredy cat. He is often heard saying "ah, scary". I sometimes growl at him pretending to be a lion, and it scared him pretty badly as he backed away from me. Meanwhile, Bella was in the background laughing at me. Which is funny because Bella is more nervous about climbing and other adventurous things and Tristan is more nervous of sounds and objects. But he loves lightning and thunder. One night when he was sick and couldn't sleep, we stood for a little bit and watched the lightning through the window and he was getting so excited when he heard the thunder. I love these kids so much and I'm so grateful every day for the gift of raising them. Their sweet personalities are so fun to watch develop and evolve. Just knowing I have their unconditional love helps me make it through any tough day. And seeing their faces and expressions lifts my spirits.

They got these bikes for their birthday from us. They didn't arrive until the day after their birthday party, but when they came down the stairs after naps, they were so excited to see and ride them around the house.