Pondering

So I was thinking...if Satan would not have tempted Eve and if Eve would NOT have eaten the apple in the Garden of Eden..would I not feel like Anne looks in this picture every month?!
Just a thought.
But then maybe the world would be a really calm, peaceful place, filled with women walking around smiling , giggiling and singing all the time!

Just a thought...
Happy Monday!

~chat soon!

Supersized Weekend.

This weekend was packed. (Well, just Saturday...) It was fun. I mean really fun.
We had the Holy Land Adventure at church. They have been advertising it like crazy. Anne has been bringing home info on it, it has been pushed on Sunday services. It looked like something that was...interesting.
It was totally awesome. They transformed the gym at church into a Market Place in Jerusalem. Each store was an activity that was authentic to Jerusalem for the kids to do. So cool! They made dreidel's, necklaces, spice sachet's etc...I was in awe of how much work was put in to this event.
Today our church service was held in the Market Place. It also was amazing. Looking for a church? I'll tell you about ours. ;)

Side note-the lady at the 'spice shop' was telling the girls how the people that lived in the time of Jesus life on earth, did not bathe, they didn't have tubs...they had to wear spices on their clothing so they didn't smell. Without missing a beat, Anne says. YOU KNOW WHAT KATE DID IN OUR TUB TODAY? I almost croaked-Kate pooped in the tub before we left. Gross. Everyone was totally freaked out in our house. But none the less, Anne felt the need to report to the nice lady that Kate pooped in our tub. Luckily, she got distracted mid sentence (probably by me jumping over her-trying to get her to stop talking) and didn't get it all out. :)

We also had Hunter's birthday party, which was at the bowling alley. Who can't LOVE that? The girls have never been bowling and we haven't been bowling since well before kids. It was great time.

Friday

I'm soooo thankful it is Friday.
The weekend is being highly anticipated.
It is cousin Hunter's 4th birthday bowling party.
Anne could scream she is so excited.
It is also Palm Sunday weekend.
I love Palm Sunday.
We're taking the girls to The Holy Land Adventure tomorrow at church. It is a re-creation of a Market Place in Jerusalem. With authentic games, scenery, costumes.
I think the girls will love it.
Anne explained to me that Jesus didn't use medicine.
HE USED SPICES to heal people. Imagine the most excited, astonished voice telling you this. ( The characters from the 'adventure' came to her school to talk about it)
This weekend marks the weekend before Easter Break which I am looking oh so forward to.
I get to spend time with Adam-he is working way to hard and has been super stressed, so we haven't had a lot of quality time lately. I miss him. He's my guy. What can I say?
AND-the weather man says, if we can make it through another grey nasty weekend, we should be home free...for awhile. I think I saw buds on the trees. Cool.
Happy Weekend.
~Chat soon!

Revision.

This was sent to me by my friend Lindsay. She is infamous for motivation...

Psalm 23 For the Work Place

The Lord is my real boss, and I shall not want. He gives me peace, when chaos is all around me. He gently reminds me to pray and do all things without murmuring and complaining.

He reminds me that he is my source and not my job. He restores my sanity everyday and guides my decisions that I might honor him in all that I do.

Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mails, system crashes, unrealistic deadlines, budget cutbacks, gossiping co-workers, discriminating supervisors and an aging body that doesn't cooperate every morning, I still will not stop, for He is with me!

His presence, His peace, and His power will see me through. He raises me up, even when they fail to promote me. He claims me as His own, even when the company threatens to let me go.

His Faithfulness and love is better than any bonus check. His retirement plan beats every 401k there is! When it's all said and done, I'll be working for Him a whole lot longer and for that, I bless His name.

I can see clearly now...

The rain is gone!

It's amazing how a little sun and blue sky can totally change a persons disposition. It's been grey faaaaaaar to long here in MO.

We are so happy you have come back to us, Mr. Blue Sky!

Hope you can stick around awhile!

~Chat soon!

Talk for Tuesday...

On the way to the babysitter, we were at the same intersection we stop at everyday.
Anne says: Why does the light look like that?
(it was a stop light that has the guard/strip things that don't get you confused with the other light-does that make sense?)
Me: So we don't get confused and think our light is a different color.
Anne: Nope! That's not it at all. I think God's little paint brush couldn't get that spot!
Me: Laughed so hard I snorted.

************************************************************************************
Anne was in our bed. It was time for bed. She needed to move to her room.
Me: Time to go to bed.
Anne: Oh, just a minute more pwwwwwwweeeeeeeeaaaaaaassssssseeeeeee.....
(that pwease thing gets me every time!)
Me: Okay, just a minute but when daddy comes to bed, it's time to go.
Anne: I love you.
Me: I love you too.
Anne: You know why I love you?
Me: Because you're pretty.
Heart swells...
Dad comes in...
Dad: Anne, it's time to go to bed.
Anne: I love you.
Dad: I love you to the Moon and Back!
Anne: Nope, I love you to the Moon and Back and around again!

*She got to stay in our bed...until she fell asleep;)*
~Chat soon!

Rolling with it...

There is a McDonald's located at the corner right by my work.
It is a horrible location because it calls my name each and every day.
Sometimes I give in.
Today was one of the days.
I went to the drive through ordered my sausage biscuit, and large diet coke, and pulled around.
The lady said it was $3.18. I gave her $20.18.
She gave me $17.and some change back.
I got confused. (never have admitted to being good at math-indeed I STINK!)
I knew I shouldn't have gotten coins back.
I waited for her to come back.
She slammed the window open and said 'yeah?!'
Ummm. I think you gave me the wrong amount of money.
I gave you $20.18.
YEAH! AND I GAVE YOU 17.84 SO I GUESS I GAVE YOU TOO MUCH?
YOU ARE GIVING IT BACK?
Oh crap! I thought she didn't give me enough-that was the point, I was shorted. In reality, I was given a little too much!
So I smiled and said, "yes, you gave me too much-here you go!"
And tossed the money into her palm.
The oh-so-cranky window lady looked at me like I WAS NUTS. (i really am, but she doesn't need to know.)
I didn't know what else to do besides smile, nod my head and say THANKS! HAVE A GREAT DAY!
I rolled to the next window, got my oh so nutritious breakfast and went on my way. Thinking the whole time, how I should be really aggravated. That lady was so ridiculous. Then I thought about this...

a great song by-Jimmy Buffets here are part of the lyrics...

Don't try to shake it, just nod your head
Breathe in, breathe out, move on
*Adam has turned me into a closet Buffet fan...*

I think more people need to have this ringing in their heads...Breathe in, breathe out, move on!!!
And really, I should have been the miffed one. I returned 80 some odd cents that, that lady GAVE to ME!
HA!
~Chat soon!

In case you missed it...

Happy Spring!

I write this after we all just peeled off our coats and layered on sweats since we got home from church. ;)

~chat soon!

Lucky Charms & Helicopters...

It's been a week. It really has.
It was even a short one.
My place of employment. ;) Is going through some m.a.j.o.r. changes. Due to the changes, we, the employees are feeling an uncomfortable feeling of insecurity and uncertainty to put it mildly. It sucks. There is NO other way to put it. I have taken a lot of it to heart and frankly, it's wearing on me. My patience, my sleep ability, or inability to sleep, my appetite. Everything.
So, Adam picked up the girls and told me to 'go home and take it easy.'
Well, that is really not a known thing for me to do.
So I went to Target and the grocery store.
I forgot my list for the grocery. So I had to go on memory. Which wasn't worth dirt.
After getting to the check out, I realized I forgot THREE major ingredients for either dinner tonight, or dinner tomorrow.
So, I did what any good woman does. I paid. Smiled. Said my goodbyes to the cashier and parked my cart! HA!
I did.
Then I went BACK and finished my shopping. I laughed the whole way through. What else do you do?
Shortly after I got home, the girls and Adam arrived.
I was happy to see them all.
The girls found out I brought home an extra box of Lucky Charms from school that was left over from a project. Major treat.
They wanted some immediately. So I doled it out. Anne pranced off as did Kate.
I looked out on the deck and there was our sweet Katherine.
Perched on cushions, arranged just so, Curious George tucked right next to her.
She has this insanely cute way of telling you to 'sit'. She even gets the chair. How can you not?
Anyway, we sat for awhile and she munched and then was completely smitten by a helicopter. She even waved it goodbye.
Really. There isn't ANYTHING in the world that can change my mood faster then my chicks. Kate did her job.
And I am grateful.
My life really is good

Call HER!

Mother Nature needs to know that SPRING HAS TO COME SOON!
In fact, Saturday is the first day of Spring.
Someone needs to give Ms. Nature a call.
Forecast calls for snow Saturday. SNOW!
The girls are resorting to jumping into a box for fun! ha!
~Chat soon!

talk-UPDATED

Driving home one evening Anne says "Mom why are there 3 crosses up there?" (We were at a stoplight and on top of the hill there were the crosses next to the sign of a church.)
I said..."to symbolize that Jesus died."
Anne says...in the MOST dramatic, sad tone..."JESUS DIED?" And truly looked if she were going to cry.
I replied. Yes, to take our sins away, we'll talk about all of that later.
(guess I should have taken seriously the note from preschool saying that when we discuss lent and Easter we need to explain the WHOLE story-full circle...each time. Don't leave anything else, or it will freak the kids out.)
Super mom award AGAIN!

I tucked Anne in, she said "where are you going?"
I said, 'to turn the lights off'
Anne says-"Are you going on the computer?"
I said, "I'm going to turn the lights off"
Anne says- "okay"
I come back (after turning the lights off)...
Anne says-"I just miss our snuggle time. Do you think tomowoah (tomorrow) we could play games and read...NO COMPUTER!"
I say-"sure, you bet!"
And cry...
i admit, i have been using too much 'free time' decompressing on the computer. futzing with pictures, searching for fun ideas to do with the kids...don't worry, I got the hint-loud and clear. While talking to a coworker I realized I don't think it was so much the time on the computer as it was Anne analyzing time. She wanted me to snuggle with her, so if I was fibbing and saying I was going to turn the lights off and really went to the computer I would have been gone a lot longer...I have rid myself of MOST of the mother guilt now. ;)

Mom, what do you teach at school first?
Um...Reading
Then what?
Writing, like how to write stories, sentences spelling that sort of thing.
Oh, then what?
Uh..Math
I LOVE Math-that is what I want to learn.
Good.
So, when do you teach important things?
Like what?
LIKE SHARING!

~Chat soon!

Interesting...

So, yesterday, we got our Census paperwork in the mail. I got kind of sweaty, thinking that we really NEEDED to make SURE that this GOT DONE! I overheard Adam shuffling through the paper muttering something about it...I told him I would take care of it and that was the end of that.
So tonight, before dinner, I opened the envelope, and realized I HAVE NO MEMORY OF FILLING ONE OF THESE OUT...beads of sweat again...
DUH! 10 years ago, I was not married, and living with mom and dad. I need not fill out a census at that point.
I got out my favorite black ink pen, and SAT DOWN. (that right there folks is a big deal...I really don't sit too much!)
I read the directions-twice.
I started the task.
Filled in all of our info.
And was done.
That was it.
They only wanted our names.
Our birth dates.
And our phone number?????
Weird.
I even checked the envelope in case I missed some paper work.
Nope.
That was it.
Only our names and birth dates and phone numbers...(and a few other simple questions)
Seriously.
They have been talking about this SINCE LAST SPRING.
Okay.
I really thought, it was going to take me awhile.
Especially the way Adam was carrying on.
Easy enough.
I have completed my civic duty.
Our household is present and accounted for!

~Chat soon

Welcome...

Jacob Henry

7 pounds 14 ounces

20 1/2 inches

Baby and Momma doing good.

Prayers were answered.

Isn't he adorable, and doesn't Susan look like she just went shopping...seriously.
Someday I'll post the picture of what this momma looked like after delivery. (gross!)
Never mind that thought, people wouldn't sleep for days...and I mean it!
We welcome the new addition to our family. He is the first boy...for any of us! What is he in for?!
Hugs and kisses Suz, Doug, Ellen and Baby Jacob!
~Chat soon!

Baby Day

Picture courtesy of their Picasa site! ;)

Today, this sweet little family pictured above becomes a family of four.
My dear sister will be giving birth to their second child.
They live in Arizona,
I hate that.
I
love Arizona, and I love my sister, but hate the fact that they live there and we live in Missouri.
But...absence makes the heart grow fonder for sure!
Luckily, with the help of modern technology, and the luxury of Skype...we should see the baby with our very own eyes, by the end of today!
Love you, Suz!

~Chat soon!

long weekend...

This weekend was a long one. It was good.

Today, we finally saw sun.

Annie came over with Aunt Linda, we picked out Anne's flower girl dress. Anne and Kate were WHACK JOBS! Don't you just hate that?

We took an over due visit to the library. Kate decided to NOT take every book at her height off the shelf...it was a good day.
Just a few pictures to share...

Oh and by they way. I sewed a skirt for myself and a dress for Anne, and made a FULL meal courtesy of Julia Child's cookbook-it was DIVINE! ;) I was secretly, VERY proud of myself! (it took a very long time and called for things referred to as 'clarified butter'...what the what?) But I followed all directions and steps and made one heck of a dinner!

Thanks Julia! ;)

~Chat soon!

Playdough...

There is nothing as great as playdough.

I love playdough.
I love the feel, the smell, the therapy behind playing with playdough!
I love how quiet my kids are when they have playdough.
We have not had playdough for awhile.
This weekend the weather has been utterly disgusting, so I thought it was time to bust out the tried and true homemade playdough recipe.
Both girls had a part in making a batch.
They played for hours-literally, in the morning and then again before dinner. Amazing how simple it is to make and how much fun they have.

Here's the recipe...
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 Tbsp cream of tartar
2 tsp food coloring (I just squirt it in there...2 tsp seems like an awful lot)
1 Tbsp vegetable oil (I think mom's recipe uses baby oil)
1 cup water
Mix it all together-stir over medium heat for about 5 minutes...its a gross consistency but go with it.
When it forms into a ball in the center of the pot, turn it off and let it cool. Knead several times on a floured surface.
Store in an airtight container.

~Chat soon!

whispers...

so my very dear, and best friend's mother, mrs. t. talked me into entering a picture on the cutest kid contest.... i did. it's facebook related. if you are a 'fan' of this photog's and interested in 'liking' a picture...click and select your favorite picture...you can vote twice. leave a comment once and like once. if the picture wins. the prize is a sitting and x amount of $$ to pick pictures from. :) Adam's exact words were 'can't you just take our picture?' men!
~Chat soon!

weekend plans...

This weekend marks a four day weekend. Our household is smothering ourselves in r.e.l.a.x.a.t.i.o.n. I think that is a good thing from time to time.
Adam and I LOVE cooking, so we are focusing on trying some new cookbooks we have given each other.
I am attempting to add some items to our spring wardrobe. (via my new friend 'ricky' the sewing machine! ;))
I hope its all we hope for! :)

~Chat soon!

p.s. while i am 'relaxing' i am waiting with bated (is that the right word there?)breath to find out if my favorite sister is going to give birth to a boy or a girl...birthday scheduled for TUESDAY...can't wait!

Dear Friend

I got this in my in box Monday.
I love Max Lucado. He has a way with words that is simply amazing.
He writes children's books that can make me weep-I think I am turning into my mother when I say stuff like that. But it's the truth and I dig my mom, so that is good.
Hope it makes you say....WOW!
~Chat soon!

40 bags...

So awhile back I wrote about getting rid of a bag of something every day of lent. I proceeded full steam ahead. Totally excited. Then I was worried about being defeated by my distract ability.

Guess what? I HAVE KEPT IT UP!

I can't believe it.

I must admit, I have skipped a few days here and there, but have made up for it on the weekends or evenings that I have had more time.
It is unbelievable the amount of things I am eliminating.

Trash, broken things, things that we have kept because, well, we don't know why.

IT IS GREAT.

But, in all honesty, it is slightly embarrassing and humbling.

I am guilty. Totally guilty. I find things on sale, really cheap and get them. Because someday, maybe I could use it. Or buy a pair of pants for the girls because it is $1.17 and what kid doesn't need a pair of knock around pants...

So I am learning, that a) I need to stay away from the clearance section-unless, I need a pair of $1.17 pants. b) I need to purge more. It is so much easier to keep things nice and neat when there is less to keep track of (duh!) c) i am going to work on saying 'no I don't think we need that right now,' when an all to innocent family member or friend wants to hand down something that they don't 'need' any longer.

I have also come up with an idea-I don't think it is my idea, but an idea none the less.
I am going to pack up toys each season, and put them away.
In a safe place.
Then when the season switches, take some out, put some away.
I think the girls will have much more appreciation for what they have.
Adam and I both noticed we just have too much for them to use all the time. I am a firm believer that we don't have as much as some kids do, which is great, in my opinion.
But, we have too much to play with all at once.
So that is that.
What do you think about it? Anyone have another idea? Leave a comment if you have some advice on toy control, or patrol! :)
I don't have a play room for the kids, so toys in the bedrooms are what we have to do. I also converted our foyer coat closet into a play closet during this whole 40 bag process which has been working perfectly.

~Chat soon!

Zingo!

My sister Susan gave Anne the game Zingo for Christmas.
It has been the best game the girls have ever played.
Both can play-ages 5 and 2. ALONE.
But, it is fast and easy if play with them. Not as daunting as getting up all the ladders and down the chutes on Chutes and Ladders.
If you're looking for a game, that is unique...check it out.
The girls give it 2 thumbs up!

In the heat of the moment

Everyone sad because the 'right person' didn't win.

Anne doing the I WON dance.

~Chat soon!

spring chicks

Here are the girls...
I was just having simple fun with my camera and then picnik.com to add some effects.
Happy Spring.
It's coming.
I'm sure of it!
~Chat soon!

Sharp As Tacks...

So tonight was any random Thursday…and then this…
I was working on a project for a little friend of Anne and Kate’s. Minding my own business.
The girls were occupied.
Adam was hanging out.
We were chatting.
Out of nowhere, Anne comes flying around the corner…very upset.
Here is how it panned out…

A-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
M-Sewing…
A-YOU KNOW WHAT? I’M TIRED OF THIS. YOU SEW 100 DRESSES FOR EVERYONE AND NEVER ONE FOR ME
M-That isn’t true
A-WHY CAN’T YOU MAKE ME ANYTHING??????
M-I make you things all the time
A-I’M SO TIRED OF ALL OF THE SEWING

All the while Anne looks extremely mean. She has this ability to screw with her eye brows. They look as if there is thread pulled through them and someone is yanking them up at very odd angles.
Her tongue was sharp…as if edged in tacks.
Terrible to endure.
Adam turned his back to us, he said he ‘felt sorry’ for me.
I think he was either a)afraid of her turning on him, or b) fighting tears himself.

My eyes for some reason produced LARGE HOT TEARS.
Totally unexpected.
Tears that you get when your mother is so mad she is speechless…you know that look that they give, half laid with guilt the other half anger…ew…just an ugly combo. She then softened her look and said…
YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU MADE ME CRY TOO and sobbed into a huge puddle on my lap…Eventually she calmed down, and happily went ‘shopping’ in the book order her teacher sent home with her today…
I have made approximately FOUR DRESSES in about 5 months time.
REALLY? What the….
She had me up against a wall. Her look, her tone, everything screamed prepubescent. PLUS it had a side dish of my personality...which when pressed, can be feisty. I don’t put up with a lot junk. And if crossed one too many times, I will eventually CRACK. Apparently, she has inherited that trait of mine!
So if anyone was thinking that we sit around every night singing nursery rhymes and playing bored games…FORGET IT!
I’m hoping a good night’s sleep will cure all tacky-tongues!
Luckily, the wounds are only flesh deep, nothing a glass of wine can’t cure. Now I’m stewing of what is to come, say 10 years from now…
~Chat soon!

I spied...

...daffodil greens starting to peek up out of the ground. i'm so excited, i could almost cry! spring is coming. i can smell it. :) bring it on. blue skies, sunscreen, smelling like outside...all of it. bring it on, just bring.it.on!

~chat soon!

rocket science?

Because of my occupation, I see some strange stuff. I really do. I see things that people would flip over, if I told them about. It's not necessarily bad, just at times unbelievable.

Today for instance, I had a deep conversation with a parent who is struggling with her daughters behavior. She was really groping for help. Searching for reasons and answers. Not sure what she was doing right or wrong. It was disheartening to say the least...

It brought to light that many parents/families really.don't.get.it.

Parenting is an overwhelming job, task, duty. But simple all in the same breath. In my opinion you don't need to drown your kiddos in every latest fad, or technology based hand held, make them quiet all the time game. Again, in my humble opinion, YOU MUST DROWN THEM WITH love, affection, emotional stability, routines, and did I mention love? It takes just a few minutes, a hug, a quick game, eye contact, a giggle, including in a wierdo task like making fruit kabobs, simply acknowledging that, that little munckin is important to you... to show them the respect that we as parents so often demand. It is a mutual thing, right folks?

I was saddened by the conversation with the parent, but also somewhat comforted thinking that my chicks are in good hands, most days. I'm not perfect, Adam isn't perfect, we lose our patience, and may very well not give 100%, 100% of the time.

Today I focus on the moments that make my heart swell as a momma and make my kids smile ear to ear, or just purr with satisfaction like little kittens.

After all that, I was reassured that I love my job-both of them, as a teacher and a mom!

~Chat soon!

Birthdays...

February birthdays have come to a close. Adam and his brother Aaron both celebrated their birthdays this past week. We had our family party at Maw-maws house. The kids had a blast.