Twirls 'n Curls

Bite-sized Fun

2012-02-11T15:41:00.000-08:00

It's no secret my girls love to help me in the kitchen. Most nights, at least one of them helps me prepare dinner, sometimes all three. And when they find snacks they can make for the family "all by themselves," like these Mozzarella Bites from Farm Rich, they are thrilled.

Here is my 7 year old, the "boss" of the kitchen, telling her sisters how to prepare them:

1. Open bag and pour into pan.

2. Flatten into a single layer.

3. Heat in a 400 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.

4. Pose for a cheesy picture with the bag :)

5. Eat... and enjoy!!

This, of course, was the best part. The reviews were unanimous:

7-year old: "These are really good, Mom, can I make them again tomorrow?"

4-year old: "Yum, do they have string cheese in them?"

2-year old: "Mmmmm!"

Dad: "These are really good. And they would be amazing with pizza sauce!" (I confess I did serve them plain, and they were still great!!)

Mom: "I love that they're bite sized, so there's less waste from half-eaten food. And because they're filled with cheese, they make a hearty snack so my kids aren't hungry ten minutes later."

Bottom line: Farm Rich Mozzarella bites are simple to prepare and delicious to eat! Try 'em and see for yourself :)

Ode to Sisterhood

2012-02-09T22:07:00.000-08:00

We went on a field trip and then to the park today, and the pictures inspired this little poem:

Sisters will cheer you on when you're on top of the world...

And they'll draw you out of your shell when you're afraid.

Too tired to go on alone?

Sisters will give you a push when you need it the most.

And when your world seems upside down,

A sister will be right there beside you...

And you can count her to carry you through!

Blessed to watch these sisters develop friendships...


And blessed with two sisters of my own - love you both!

Moments to Remember I

2012-02-05T07:54:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not, when you're with your children 24/7, and they're expected to learn academics mainly from you, there are frustrating moments once in awhile. A homeschooling friend of mine created a "Moments to Remember" link up to remind us to focus on the amazing benefits of homeschooling - watching your kids play together, focused time with each child, that pure delight when your child finally "gets it." Here are some of our moments from this week:

"Q" is for Queen

Queen Nattie has recently started trying to create actual pictures and trace letters on our white board. She had a lot of fun this week making smiley faces and tracing lines. :)

"Q" is for Quilt

Hannah was so proud of her wrapping paper quilt - she made a different pattern on each line. I was impressed that she stayed still long enough to complete it!

We also took a trip to Grandma's for a quilting lesson. My mother-in-law is a wonderful seamstress and quilter; she has made beautiful quilts for each of us over the years. The girls loved seeing quilts that have been in our family for generations, and Linsey especially took right to quilting. Grandma enjoyed passing down her knowledge to her granddaughters, and me? I got to take a nap :)

Letter of the Week - P

2012-02-01T21:37:00.000-08:00

Last week we had the most fun with the letter "P" for Hannah's preschool (I love it when there are activities all 3 girls can enjoy!) We've gone through the alphabet with a letter by letter emphasis, just to give some structure to our days and streamline activities.

"P" is for...Penguins

We learned facts about penguins and made these adorable crafts, found here. (The only change we made was to use construction paper, since we had no paper plates on hand.) My girls all love penguins and had fun trying to imitate their walk. The first time we saw penguins at the zoo, Hannah bravely remarked, "I'm not afraid of penguins, they waddle!"

"P" is for... Painting

Linsey's art is through the K12 curriculum, so I just have the younger girls to modified versions of whatever she is doing, which happened to be painting this week. (This shirt was trashed when Nattie finished! "Tummy to the table" does NOT apply in painting.)

"P" is for... Policemen

We set aside a day to read and learn about policemen, and review how to call 911. Here Hannah is making "police patterns." We even took our fingerprints!

"P" is for... Endless Possibilities

One day for lunch we reviewed the steps to making pizza and then assembled our own. Another day we ate pickles and peaches and read "Pinkalicious," a household favorite. You can explore pumpkins and pigs and potato chips, eat pudding and pie and pepperoni at the park! For more great ideas, check out Tot School, First School, and Letter of the Week. This site also has great questions, songs, and games for each letter.

"P" is for... My Princesses

Technically, they're ballerinas in this pic... but aren't they cute?!

Living Words I

2012-01-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

"I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."

Psalm 139:14

My two-year old just adores her belly button and often shows it to friends and strangers alike. I can't think of a better way for little ones to delight their Creator, than by delighting in the way He made them. Today, rejoice in the way God made you, and give Him glory for it!

(This is the first in the ongoing series of photos "Living Words" that illustrate a Scripture passage in a real way to me.)

Three Little Chairs

2012-01-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

My youngest, who is 2 1/2, loves to organize. I walked out on our patio one day to find these pint-sized chairs perfectly arranged in a half circle, and that's when it struck me... One day, this is what I'll come home to.

Quiet. Order. Vacancy.
(Doesn't sound so bad, huh?)

No screaming little girls on the trampoline.

No giggles from the swingset.

No painting mess on the picnic table.

Just empty little chairs - and the memories of what we did in them. This thought inspired me. I have such a short time to influence these precious lives before they go off on their own into the world! And part of their success will be determined by the lessons they learned in these little chairs: hearing Bible stories that teach them to obey God, no matter what; rooting for each other at soccer games; having campfires in our backyard as a family. I wonder, What else do I need to teach them, while they're still in these little chairs?

Whenever I see these chairs now, it reminds me to make every day count with my kids. I tell myself that the girls ~~hopefully~~ probably won't remember the laundry piles, but they will definitely remember if I was stressed out about them. They may not remember how many goals they scored in peewee soccer, but they will remember that I was always on the sidelines, cheering them on. And when they are grown and out of the house, I'd rather miss the mess than those memories :)

2011-12-18T08:21:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Hope you are enjoying lots of family time, as we are!

Giving Thanks

2011-11-30T20:05:00.001-08:00

For amazing family time

and the silly pictures to prove it...

We give thanks.

For a daddy who carves amazing jack o'lanterns

and makes campfires in our backyard...

We give thanks.

For crazy girls dressed up like bugs,

For pumpkin seeds,

and Cleopatra too...

We give thanks.

For all the memories of this season,

And for those still to come...

We give thanks.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and

cometh down from the Father of lights..."

James 1:17

Chuck E. Cheese

2011-11-14T21:39:00.000-08:00

Nothing says "I love you" like a birthday party. Nothing says "I like you" more than an invitation to a birthday party. And no one can say "Happy Birthday, Kid" like a giant mouse. So naturally, nothing compares to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. I had managed to avoid this experience for my first 7 years of motherhood, but no longer. My kids were invited to a party there a few weeks ago, and our lives will never be the same.

They saw the craziness, and jumped in headfirst. I made the mistake of taking all three girls by myself to the party on a Saturday. Never again. Chaos doesn't begin to describe the scene there, and they loved it.

Every heart-racing mini-ride.

Every obnoxiously loud siren.

Every larger-than-life "noo-noon"

2 hours later, I attempted a feeble plea, "Mommy will bring you back here next week so we can finish using your tokens and get prizes when it's not so crowded!" They looked at me with big, glazed eyes, in the way that only sugar-crazed, overpartied kids can. And I realized there was NO WAY I was getting them out of there until they had spent every last token and cashed in every single ticket.

Nearly an hour later, we were deciding how to spend the tickets when the girls spotted giant lollipops. "We want those!" they cried. Deciding we had just enough tickets, I approached the busy cashier confidently. "We'll take 3 lollipops." I gave her the tickets, and, just my luck, the lollipops had been mismarked. They were EACH about the number of tickets we had. I sighed, dreading to tell my exhausted princesses the bad news.

Then a voice from behind the counter spoke up. "You know, you can always pay the ticket difference."

At this point, it didn't matter how much that difference was. (But for the record, it was only $1.92) Without hesitation, I reached for my wallet, "We'll take it. And God bless you!"

Natalie's first love

Quick Freebies

2011-11-09T16:31:00.000-08:00

I promise a real post is coming soon, but if you're interested, here are two freebies I've found online this week:

1. From Penzey's Spices
Free "Kind" sampler box of four spices: 82440C,
These next 2 are free with a purchase, I believe:
Free teacher's box sampler: 83018C
Free 1/2 c jar of "Forward" spice: 15958C

I LOVE Penzey's spices and have found that by ordering the ones I really like in bulk bags rather than jars, they are very comparable to other store-brand spices, and soo much better!

2. From Birthday Express, you can get an adorable customized keepsake scroll with your child's name and important information that happened on their birthday. I bought one for each of my girls to put in their baby books, which had good intentions but need a little help :) You do have to do multiples on separate orders but you can use the same coupon code. I paid $4.95 each shipping.

Offer code: FREESCROLL, or you can also try YE629. Both worked for me today. Yay! I love free deals :)

Happy shopping!

3rd Down

2011-11-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

I had my third little girl 2 years ago, and I feel like I've been running ever since. They say that the transition from two to three kids is the true test of a mother, probably because you have more kids than you have hands. "If you can handle three kids, you can handle a dozen!" they say. I don't know about that, but I'm amazed at the difference in my parenting from #1 to #3. You can call it redefining priorities, or a change of perspective, but I call it survival. For example,

My first daughter was allowed to dress up in a designated costume between the hours of 3-5 pm. After her afternoon nap, but before dinner and a bath. I recently peeled my youngest out of not 1, but 3 costumes after 24 consecutive hours of wear.

I read all the child training books with #1 and was convinced that 2 year olds should be able to sit quietly and happily beside their busy mothers for several hours, doing nothing. After two very active daughters consistently disproved this theory, I distracted #3 with cotton candy the other day. And it worked.

I carried #1 wherever we went, #2 went into the bulky double stroller with #1. #3, not so picky, plops down whenever she's tired. Who knew kids were so easy?

After my older girls randomly stripped down at very awkward moments, I learned the secret of the swimsuit. Little girls love swimsuits. If you put one on over their clothes, they can't bring themselves to take off the suit in order to get their clothes off. Of course, then your kid is wearing a swimsuit, but at least they're clothed...

Foiled again!!

Usually.

And finally, probably the most important lesson I've learned from having kids...

Why get mad when you can get a picture instead?

My Name is Mama

2011-10-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

"Oh, that's a nice drawing," I told the little boy in my first-grade class. "Are you done?"
"Just a minute," he said, "It's for my mom, I just need to write her name on it." Then he carefully scrawled, in his best six-year old writing, the letters "M-O-M."

My mind went back to an earlier conversation I had with my own daughter, who is his age. "Look Mama! I made this picture of you. It even has your name on it. See? It says 'Mama!' And I wrote 'I love you' a bunch of times because I love you a LOT!!"

That's when it dawned on me. To her, my name is Mama. The more I thought about it, the deeper I felt this statement. There's no other role I play that changes my entire name. I don't go by wife, or cousin, or teacher, though I am all of those things. I retain my identity, who I've been my whole life. But being a mom is different. It's not just a part of my life - it changes all aspects of it. And it doesn't matter whether you carried your child for 9 months or you brought him home from 6,000 miles away. The moment you hold that child in your arms, a mama is born, and there's no turning back.

Mama cheers on other people's kids in t-ball, and wipes their faces after cotton candy.

A mama's heart rages when she sees any kid being treated unfairly.

Mamas cry at sad movies and movies with happy endings too.

Some of mama's best friends are under 4 feet tall and live in her house.

Being a mama changes who you are, and that's ok. I'm not Liz to my kids. My name is Mama, and I love it. They have no idea that I had imaginary friends to keep me company as a kid, or that I was class president in high school (some turnaround huh?), and they really don't care. I'm Mama, and that's all that matters. I'm the one that gets up with them in the middle of the night, who holds them when they're sick or afraid. When you're a mama, you might not get 8 hours of uninterrupted beauty sleep each night, but you don't mind [too much]. It's all part of being...who you are. Mama.

And while only time will tell, I suppose I'll probably stay a mama forever. If I'm anything like my mom (and I hope I am!) I'll go over to my daughter's house in twenty years or so and I'll instinctively pick up stray toys and help her fold the mound of laundry by the couch. Then I'll ask her how her day was and if she needs anything. Not because I have to, but because I'm her mama, and that's just what mamas do.

Question: How has being a mom changed you?

Science Fun

2011-10-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

School is really rolling along, as you can see. :)

Having 7 kids together (I do a co-op with a friend) from 6 months to 8 years old is challenging, but the kids are having a great time, and so are we.

First grade is studying weather right now, and I just had to share these cute devices we made!

The first one is a weather vane. I was so suprised that it actually worked!! You can find directions for a similar vane here, though ours didn't call for the plastic cup. It was really easy!

The second device is an anemometer, used for measuring wind speed. Directions are very basic:

1. Tape 2 straws together to make an "x."
2. Punch a hole in each styrofoam or plastic cup about an inch away from the top.
3. Poke a straw end through each cup about an inch or so, bend, and secure with tape to the inside of cup. Be sure cups are all facing the same direction.
4. Push a tack through the center of the straws (where the "x" is formed) and push gently into the eraser of an unused pencil just far enough to secure. Straws should spin easily when blown.

The kids love going out and recording the weather using devices they've made, and I feel like a cross between Handy Manny and Martha Stewart - it's great!!

Digital Scrapbooking Software Winner

2011-10-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

And the winner is....

Wait for it...

Mom4Less! (Number was chosen through randomizer.org.) She has been contacted and has one week to contact me for more information, otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

A big thanks to all who participated in my first giveaway, and there's more good news!! Even if you didn't win, you can still get this great software at a great price, and just in time for the holidays! My Memories Suite has given me the go ahead to offer a $10 discount for their basic software, (bringing it to less than $30!) PLUS another $10 in downloads from their site. Just follow this link for the software and copy and paste the code STMMMS73689 in the coupon/promo code box. That's it!

Thanks again for joining in, have a great day!

He Said, She Said...Nothing

2011-10-12T22:35:00.000-07:00

My husband, who is a pastor, occasionally asks me to do a skit with him as an introduction to his message. Not too long ago, he was teaching on communication in marriage, and our skit went something like this:

    (Tom walks through door)
    Me: Hi, Sweetheart! (kiss) How was work today?
    Tom: Ok.
    Me: Did anything exciting happen?
    Tom: No.
    Me: Oh, ok. Well, what do you want for dinner?
    Tom: (Man grunt).
    Me: Your mom wants us to come over for dinner next week, do you think Tuesday sounds good?
    Tom: I dunno.
    Me: She really wanted to set a day. Please can we go Tuesday? I checked and our calendar is wide open.
    Tom: Sure. Whatever.
    Me: Oh, thank you, Sweetheart! (big kiss on cheek)

For the record - HE wrote this. Not me. I hadn't read it until we started practicing, and about halfway through, somewhere around the man grunt, I started sounding a little frustrated as I tried to pry answers out of him. After all, we wanted this conversation to sound realistic, and that's how I usually respond! But Tom stopped me, "No, no, Sweetie, don't sound like that in the skit. Act like you did when we were dating." Ouch.

I totally understood what he meant, but his comment stung. I thought, He's right. Why did I have all the patience in the world for him before we were married, and now I don't? What happened?

After 10 years of marriage, any wife can tell you exactly what happens. We have one too many conversations like the one above. We put ourselves out there too many times and get tired of being hurt or ignored. You can probably relate. But when, really, is it ok to give your spouse a piece of your mind? to lose your temper? to stop talking altogether? I don't know the exact answer, but here are a few I found in the Bible:

Forgive "seventy times seven..." (Matthew 18:22)
"Let your speech be always with grace..." (Colossians 4:6)
Be "kind...tenderhearted...forgiving one another..." (Ephesians 4:32)
"The fruit of the Spirit is love...peace...patience...gentleness..." (Galatians 5:22)
Don't repay "evil for evil, or railing for railing." (I Peter 3:9)

Ouch. For the record, I didn't write those either. And I'm not saying they're easy. I'm saying those responses are much more biblical than mine often are. And, if I'm honest, that's exactly how I want others to treat me. To be kind to me when I'm in a bad mood. To forgive me and love me when I'm not very lovable to them.

So let's test this: What if, for just one week, we treated our spouses the way the Bible tells us to? The way that came so naturally when we first met? Just for a week. How might our relationship change? I don't know, but I'm pretty sure it would improve! So, for the next week, I'm going to try my best...
   1) not to respond to or talk about my husband in an unkind manner,
   2) to forgive easily, and
   3) to encourage daily.

You know, the way I did "when we were dating." I'll let you know the results, and I have to tell you... I can't wait to see them myself!! If you want to try this too, let me know so I can pray for ya! I have the feeling we're gonna need it. :)

My First Giveaway!! Digital Scrapbooking Software

2011-10-07T16:36:00.000-07:00

I have been tossing around the idea of doing a few giveaways and reviews for awhile, so when My Memories Suite emailed and asked me to host a giveaway for Amazon's #1 ranked digital scrapbooking software, I jumped at the chance!

I love traditional scrapbooking. I've done several books of my own and some for friends, but having a lot of small children around and a lot of small (expensive) scrapbooking material is a bad combination, especially because I don't have a workroom to close off. Over the past few weeks, I've fallen in love with digital scrapbooking. The Memories Suite has so many options - when I make a digital scrapbook, I can add video, text, embellishments, music, you name it! I started with some of their templates (tons of options!) to save time and learn my way around the program, then I customized them a bit. Plus, you can go online after the initial download and choose from even more layouts, or start from scratch and make your own book. You can even print it! Here are a few pages from one I'm working on, from a recent trip to Chicago with my youngest:

For me, digital scrapbooking does exactly what I need for this stage of my life - it preserves family memories in a fun, creative way, without the hassle and expense of a bunch of equipment and embellishments that my toddler will probably eat at some point.

And - here's the best part! I am allowed to give away one copy of their digital scrapbooking software for FREE!! All you have to do to qualify is:

1) Follow/Friend me via Google Friend Connect or Facebook :)

2) Go to www.MyMemories.com, find a layout or "scrapbooking kit" you like, and leave me a comment with the name of the kit and what kind of subject you'd use it for (i.e. daughter's bday, wedding, etc.). You can do this every day if you want!!

Bonus entry: Follow me on Twitter here (leave me a comment that you did)
Bonus entry: 'Like' MyMemories on Facebook (leave me a comment that you did)

That's it!! I will take entries through next Friday, October 14, and randomly choose and announce the winner on Saturday. (Winner will also be notified via email.)

Do check back on Saturday, because if you don't win, I will be giving out a code that will give you $10 off your digital scrapbook software plus a $10 coupon for additional downloads, that's a great deal!! So enough talk, go to MyMemories.com now and check it out yourself!

Field Trips

2011-10-02T16:05:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows the best part of school is going on field trips! Between teacher meetings, appointments, and even a couple of planned educational activities, our school year so far has been packed with fun places to go.

The kids loved these carved trees at a nearby park!

Nattie climbing her first tree... stump :)

My kids are enrolled in a virtual online academy that uses the K12 curriculum. It's creative, innovative, challenging and fun. I love that the school organizes (optional) activities and field trips for the kids to do. They also let us know about businesses in our area that offer homeschooling events, such as Six Flags, Legoland, and the local Performing Arts Center. (if you homeschool, these are worth checking out!) We couldn't possibly attend every event, but a few weeks ago we had a great time a school-sponsored park day where the kids got to make their own t-shirts, eat ice cream, and just have fun!

2nd field trip: A nearby library has a huge booksale twice a year. There was an entire wall of kids books at $.25 apiece! Most other books are $.50, which is still a great deal! The kids sat and looked at books for the longest time and each walked out with a bag full. We won't even talk about how many books the mommies bought!! If you've never attended one of these, just google "used book sales in [your area]. You can get some great deals!

Aren't they a studious bunch??

So I'm looking for ideas... whether you homeschool or not, what are some of your favorite field trips for elementary-aged kids?

Chef School 201

2011-09-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Rule #1 - No licking the spoon until we're done stirring!

I've noticed something. My kids seem to misbehave most when I'm busy trying to do my own work. You know how it goes. It's late afternoon and I'm scrambling to pick up the house, get dinner on the table, and keep 3 grumpy kids from killing each other. After dinner, the saga continues.

Play outside. ("Been there.")
       Play inside. ("Done that.")
             Clean your room. ("Over it.")
                    Find something to do. ("But I'm b-o-r-e-d!")
                           Leave your sister alone. ("She started it!")

I needed a change from the "Now you all play nice while Mommy cooks" routine, or at least one of us wasn't going to make it. New plan: My older girls, who are 4 and 6, rotate in helping me prepare dinner, expanding Chef School to include daily responsibilities in the kitchen. They help me mash and stir, heat and butter, set the table...and they love it. The other daughter helps me clean up from dinner that night... and they love it. I love it too.

~ I get one-on-one time with my kids, talking and laughing, and we're getting a chore done!

~ Miraculously, having only 2 children playing together really cuts down on the bickering, and the older girls each enjoy alone time with our toddler.

~ They are learning tons of valuable life skills, which I intend to let them "practice" more and more at my house! (hello, day off!)

But the best compliment I could get came this afternoon, when Linsey and her friend were making "soup" in my kitchen. As they were cleaning up, I asked her friend, "Do you help your mom wash dishes at home?"

Immediately Linsey interrupted, "Oh, no. She doesn't get to do chores like us at her house! She has to play in her room while her mom does the dishes." Lol, I know it will change eventually, but I'm really hoping that attitude of "getting to do chores" will stick around for a few more years!

How do you involve your kids in the kitchen?

Friendship Lessons

2011-09-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

On a recent vacation to the Grand Canyon, we had the chance to visit a local deer farm. It was incredible (and slightly overwhelming at times!) to be so close to so many deer at once! Along the way, the girls picked up some important lessons about friendship as well:

1. Apparently, a kiss on the hand is not a universal sign of affection.

2. Sharing food is a sure way to win friends...

and more friends...but

3. You can definitely have too much of a good thing!

4. Always look new acquaintances in the eye, for safety reasons.

5. A good friend will respect your personal space,

while others are just downright nosy.

6. It's ok to be different, you won't (and shouldn't) always blend in.

7. If your real friends aren't working out so well,

then find some imaginary ones.

8. And finally, to test a friend's loyalty...

grab their tail and give it a good tug!

(Go ahead, I DARE you!!)

Monday Morning News

2011-09-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning, my name is Liz and I'm filling in for Phil today, Monday, September 12, 2011.

~The top HEADLINE for today:

Homeschoolers across America report that they have seen an increase in family unity and togetherness by schooling at home, as well as creative learning by even the youngest of students. "They love learning," says one mom in southern California, "to the point that it gets all over them, you know? It just kind of...spills out." Indeed ma'am, a picture is worth 1,000 words.

~"I've been on a diet two weeks, and all I lost is 14 days," moans a local housewife who chooses remain anonymous. She is thinking of suing her Internet company for their slow service. "It takes me so long to load Facebook each morning, I simply don't have time to excercise. This is an outrage, it just doesn't add up." It may not, but those pounds sure do...

~ This Just In: Local father caught on camera being absolutely adorable with his daughter. Investigators wonder if this behavior is normal, or if he was perhaps...FRAMED. :)

~ In other news, Hannah, the second of three girls in her family, has been spotted riding through the neighborhood without her training wheels. She seems to be unalarmed, but local parents are terrified this will become an epidemic and are hesitant to RIDE this out. Any information leading to the whereabouts of the missing training wheels would be appreciated.

~ Finally, aspiring singer/songwriter known as "Linsey" has given up on her promising career in music and has instead turned to cosmetology. After a recent benefit concert in the Front Yard, a popular youth hangout, she gave pedicures to local underprivileged children. If you are interested in booking her for either a manicure or a vocal concert, her agent's contact information is listed on the right-hand side of your screen.

Thank you, again this is Liz, filling in for Phil for your Monday morning report.

Lowercase Letters

Tumbling Over

2011-09-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

Family Update: My older two girls recently started tumbling class, and they absolutely love it! It's great for me too, we do one sport a season, and they were going to be on different soccer teams this year. That meant someone would have practice every night, plus 2 games on Saturday. They are in the same tumbling class, and it's one night a week! Plus, it's super easy to practice at home too.

The class was adorable, all the girls in their gymnastics clothes trying to stretch and act like professionals already.

Both our girls could use a little help in the coordination department (my genes, unfortunately), so this is really good for them. By the time I was Hannah's age, I had broken my arm and gotten stitches in my lip!

Their teacher was super nice, professional, and has oodles of patience, she's amazing!

Hannah asks every day if it's time for class again, and they practice all the time. Lots of fun for my energetic girlies!!

Why I Love Being a Mom: #4 Firsts

2011-09-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

(Click here or here for other posts in this topic)

One of my favorite parts of parenting is getting to experience all of the "firsts" of life with my kids: you know, first teeth, first steps, first time watching a 3D movie...

Those firsts.

Big firsts, like the ominous first trip to the dentist.

Disastrous firsts, like the time Linsey tried to cut her own hair.

Unforgettable firsts, like when Hannah realized she was a big sister.

Adorable firsts, like the first time Nattie tried to drink from a water fountain.

I got to be there. For each one. Because I'm their mom. There's nothing quite like the first time my kids finally mastered a two wheeler, or started their first day of school. And with my oldest being only 6, I know I've barely scratched the surface of "firsts" that will happen. I love them. I dread them. I fear them. But no matter how I feel about my kids growing up, I am determined to treasure each new "first" that comes along, because they are God's special gift to me as a mom.

What "first" memories do you especially cherish?

Light at the End of the Tunnel

2011-09-03T18:20:00.000-07:00

While my daughters were swimming at a relative's pool on vacation, our youngest slipped out of her floating ring and began to go under. I quickly tossed my phone on the grass and jumped in to rescue her, fully clothed. No drama there - she was fine, just a little scared, so she wanted to get out of the pool. Cue drama: As soon as I helped her out, she ran over to where my iPhone was lying (safely) in the grass and picked it up to return to me. "Here you go Mama, pho-one!"

The scene to follow unfolded in slow motion. "No no, sweetie, Mama doesn't want her phone in the water!" (That's why I threw it out before saving you!) I could hear the wheels turning in her two-year old mind. She looked at me briefly, smiled, and threw the phone like a skipping rock. Only it didn't skip, it sunk. "No-o-o-o-o-o!" I cried, diving under to grab the phone before it touched the bottom of the pool.

After sitting a couple days in a bag of rice, I'm happy to say that my phone still works. As long as it doesn't get too hot and I don't try to turn it off. And the camera flash is permanently on, so it's bright and the battery drains quickly. After watching Pollyanna with my girls the other day, I was inspired to come up with a list of reasons I'm glad my phone has some new tweaks:

1. Before my phone glowed in the dark, I would constantly lose it in my purse. Now I can always find it in under 3 seconds.

2. On vacation, we discovered that the light on the back of my phone is so bright, it glows right through my back pocket. So now my husband intentionally walks behind me, lets out a whistle, and calls me his glowbug. Now tell me...what other phone offers that much sex appeal?

3. "Mom, I want to read but it's too dark in the car!" "Honey, I know it's dark, but could you find a tissue?" "No problem, guys, thanks to Natalie, my phone is also a FLASHLIGHT!!" Even when the battery's dead. It's that good.

4. I used to be afraid that someone would take my phone when I wasn't looking. But the chances of that have gone w-a-a-a-y down now. It's cracked down the front, the flash never goes off... not prime real estate, ya know? And if it ever IS stolen, we live in a small community, so all I have to do to get it back is to find the person whose pocket glows in the dark. :)

Family Vacation, Take I

2011-08-31T22:48:00.000-07:00

Summer is...

a time to have some of those important "firsts" in your life,

and rekindle friendships, some old... (no offense, Mom!)

... some new.

It's a time to gaze in wonder at God's creation,

And learn some important lessons as you do.

Summer is a time for family bonding,

for wading in the pond-ing,

And just plain ol' summertime fun!!

Enjoy the last of these summer days!!

First Week of School

2011-08-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

First Day of School Outfits :)

This last month of summer has absolutely flown by! I have some amazing pics of our family vacation to AZ that I will post later, but vacation was quickly overshadowed by the start of school about 4 days later. (We homeschool - my oldest is enrolled in an online virtual charter academy called K12, click here for a post on that). Here are a few snapshots from this week that remind me of why I love teaching my kids:

~ There's nothing like teaching your kids something and watching their eyes light up as they "get it." This is Hannah's first official pre-school year, and we are using the "Letter of the Week" method (I get lots of ideas here). She gets so excited, and that makes me love teaching her even more!

Natalie sorting out her blocks by color

~ We teamed up with some good friends for homeschooling this year, and they are doing fantastic in their first year. One thing the kids love: Learning outside when it's nice!

~ Between the two of us mommies, we are responsible for 7 kiddos, three of whom are under 3! So we have had several "field trips" to the thrift store to find learning center/ quiet time activities (the racket wasn't one we picked!!) I love field trips that involve shopping!

~ And the best part of school starting again, our kiddos are so tired at the end of the day that they actually look forward to bedtime! As much as you can when you're a kid, anyway...

Why I Love Being a Mom: #3 Bedtime

2011-08-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Now at first this may sound cruel, Do you only like your kids while they're sleeping? Let me assure you this is not the case. They're just so...peaceful. And still. And...clean. After a long day, seeing my kids sleeping angelically in their beds reminds me of just how precious they are, and what a gift God has given me. It even makes me miss them a little bit when they sleep in!

Plus, they're just so cute when they're asleep! Seriously, I have been known to flip on their light and snap a pic at midnight.

And you know what else I love about bedtime? BEDHEAD!!

Fun School

2011-08-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Contrary to what some of my pictures may tell you, we really have been productive this summer. Once in awhile I'll go into teacher mode and call it "Fun School." Mostly though, we go on little adventures or just learn through the activities we do:

~ My parents taught me to respect and learn from those older than I was, and I want to teach the same to my daughters. So very regularly, we walk around our neighborhood and visit different elderly friends, many of whom are church members.

~The kids have been on a greedy kick lately (more on that later), so we are letting them earn their own money by sorting cans and bottles for recycling. Great for the environment and our pockets too!

~ Hannah wants to help in the kitchen all the time! Here she is at her grandma's house washing dishes.

~ And finally, after a busy summer, they're learning the value of a job well done. :)

The Art of Femininity

2011-08-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Since we've had a little extra time this school break, we've decided it's time to teach Nattie the ways of a woman. They're never too young to start! Here's what we've been working on this past month:

1. Make sure your skin is protected at all times.

2. It will seem like there is less laundry to fold

if you put on more clothes while folding.

3. However, there really will be less laundry if you simply don't wear anything.

4. Costco is a girl's best friend.

5. Men like it when you share with them.

Especially if it's water, and you get it right in their eyes.

6. You can't put a price tag on fun!!

Saddle Ridge Ranch

2011-07-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

What an amazing week we just had! I've never been so relieved something was over but so sad to see it end. Our small-town church hosted over 100 kids in a rootin'-tootin,' over the top Western themed Vacation Bible School!

Here's a little taste of our week:

The decorations:
Our church volunteers do a fantastic job transforming the auditorium into whatever the theme calls for - a space ship, an underwater adventure, a jungle, and now a ranch, complete w/ caverns and waterfalls:

The crafts:

I walked in on thirty 1st-2nd graders making this craft, and it was crazy! But the teachers did a fantastic job of staying calm, helping each child make their handprints, and NOT spilling any paint. Each night I was amazed at what the kids brought home. Love our church!!

The volunteers:
We had around 80 kids each night, plus at least 30 volunteers from the church. Many came straight from work and hadn't even had dinner yet! They taught, they cooked, they counted pennies for our offering to build a well for children in Africa. I was humbled and so grateful for all the help they provided.

The after-effects:
My kids counted down the hours till church each day and came home and crashed each night, it was great!

More importantly, kids were saved, parents are encouraged, and I'm going on vacation SOON!! And that deserves a "YEEEHAW!!" :)

Why I Love Being a Mom: #2 Incriminating Photos

2011-07-23T20:00:00.000-07:00

So the first time I went to my future in-laws' house, it took about ten minutes before his mom and sisters asked excitedly, "So you wanna see some embarrassing pictures of Tom when he was little??" Giggle. "He's even naked in a few of them!"

And I, the ever sweet, innocent Bible-college girlfriend, replied, "Of course!!" Out came the old photo albums, and so began the bond that has held us close for more than a decade. And while I admit I thought it was a little harsh that my parents returned the favor when Tom came to our house, I now realize it's one of the perks of being a parent. Kids do crazy things. Embarrassing things. Things we spend weeks cleaning up or apologizing for. And it's only fair that we occasionally catch them on camera, put music to the pictures, and show them at every family gathering until they're sixty and we've lost our marbles.

So here are a few of our favorites, besides those naked ones we're saving for our daughters' first potential beaus:

Linsey as the hobo diva

Hannah as Voldemort


And, of course, Natalie as herself :)

Question: What do you love about being a parent?

The Little Things, Part 2

2011-07-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

Last week we talked about how a "little" sin in our lives, left unchecked, can grow out of control very quickly (click here for the whole story).

On the flip side, I've also noticed it's the "little things" in life that have the potential to lift my spirits and get me through the day.

A smile...

A hug,

Having my kids get along for more than 5 minutes...

(ok, that's a big thing!)

Sure, Disneyland and romantic getaways are great memory-makers, but they're not a part of our everyday lives. Psalm 118:24 says today is the day the Lord has made, and I really believe there is something special in each today I am given. So here are two goals I've made to remind myself it's the little things that count:

1. Take time each day to do something that makes you happy.

I'm talking about those little luxuries that recharge you...Take a walk. Run through the sprinkler with your kids. Try a new recipe. Write in your journal. And if you feel guilty taking 20 or 30 minutes for yourself, think of it as a favor to your kids - remember the saying? If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

2. Take time each day to do something that makes someone else happy.

Hebrews 13:13 has always challenged me, "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." God knows it's sometimes inconvenient to help others, and He is pleased when we make the effort. Or perhaps it's our kids who need a little more attention today than we want to give. Let me encourage you to stop what you're doing and call the friend who's been on your heart, or read that book with your four-year old. I'm sure you'll find out, like me, that those little things you do for others will bring you joy too, because it really is "more blessed to give than to receive."

Goodmorninggirls.org

Confessions of a Fashion No-How

2011-07-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

~ First confession: Last Sunday - which happened to be Baby Dedication Day and happened to be when we dedicated our little Nattie to the Lord - we inadvertently locked her in the church building. After church, she followed Tom into the office building and went into one of the side rooms to look for leftover soda in the recycling bin (eww!). Not knowing she was in there, he turned out all the lights and locked up. About a minute later I was frantically looking around for her outside when I heard the door rattle and Nattie begin to wail. I quickly opened the door, and there she stood, empty Dr. Pepper can in hand. Talk about guilt!! Lol but it will make for a great story when she's older.

Before.

After.

*We didn't really take her pic after leaving her at church, that would be cruel.

This was from the other day at breakfast but is a pretty accurate rendition.

She has this crying thing down to a science.

~ I. Got. My. First. Pedicure. LOVED it!! One of my good friends does nails has been wanting to give me one forever, so finally for my birthday, she gave me a gift certificate for a pedi at her house. Soo relaxing, and nearly two weeks later, they still look great!

~ On Friday we went with another friend to a feline conservatory not too far away. There were peacocks roaming free and you can see leopards, tigers, pumas, etc., from about 5 feet away! I confess it was slighly unnerving to watch my two-year old follow this panther back and forth, growling along with it. But all in all, a great experience!

~ Our 4 year old, who hates to have her hair brushed and usually wears all one color, has suddenly become fashion-conscious. She asks me every day to "make her hair" and help her pick out a cute outfit. Then, she looks in the mirror, squeals, and says, "Everyone will LOVE me!!" Sigh. She gets that from her father, I think :)

Have a great week!!

Miscellany Monday @ Carissa's Lowercase Letters
Makobi Scribe Blog Hop

The Little Things, Part 1

2011-07-12T23:44:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, I noticed a small toy or two on the floor in the bathroom. Busy and tired, I made a mental note to have the girls pick them up later. Then I got sidetracked, and the next morning, they were still there, along with two more toys. (Don't you hate toys w/small parts?! Ugh.) Exasperated, I picked them up, grumbling inwardly about how easily clutter accumulates.

I'm a very laid-back person, so many times I'll notice a small area I should probably clean up, but then I get busy doing other things. It's no big deal, I think, I'll get to it later. Soon, that small mess has blown up so that I can't even see the floor, and I become overwhelmed. And I am reminded once again that as the mom, I must be diligent to attack even the small piles, or they will overtake my house.

It's the same way with sin in our lives. God, knowing about this clutter principle long before I did, warns us in Hebrews 12:1 to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which...so easily besets us." Every bad attitude I have. Every twinge of resentment. Every grudge I want to hold on to. God says to lay them aside. Get rid of them, before they multiply and take over your house! Or your life, you get the idea.

So this week, when you notice something out of place - whether it's a stray sock or a bad attitude, purpose with me to get rid of it now, before it grows out of control. You'll be glad you did!

www.goodmorninggirls.org

Chef School II

2011-07-10T07:59:00.000-07:00

For last week's Chef School, Linsey(6) decided she was ready to make her first meal "all by herself" - with me over her shoulder coaching her, of course! Someone got us "The Fix It and Forget It Kids' Cookbook," and she loved being able to follow along the easy steps and come up with her own meal plan:

Linsey's Menu
Slow roasted ham w/brown sugar
Crockpot mac 'n cheese
Salad (just shredded lettuce b/c we ran out of time)
Chocolate dipped pretzels

First, she made the mac 'n cheese - she did so well reading the recipe! Only a little help needed.

Then, she rubbed brown sugar all over the ham and learned how to make a foil tent (I put it in the oven)

Finally, she melted chocolate chips in a smaller crockpot to dip the pretzels - each one had at least 3 different kinds of sprinkles! These she did completely alone. The crockpot was great because the chocolate wasn't hot enough to burn little fingers. :)

Even though her solo dinner took me a bit more time than normal...

1) we had a great time together in the kitchen,
2) it was so worth it to see the pride it gave her to accomplish this task, and
3) I'm hoping that logging these hours now will free me of some cooking in years to come!

Love my girlies!!

Instapicture

2011-07-08T04:00:00.000-07:00

There is an amazing app for the iPhone called Instagram, I love love love it! It lets you snap pics (or use ones you've taken w/your phone's default camera), then crop them and choose from a dozen different filters to give your photos a chic, often vintage look. You can easily share them on Twitter/Facebook, and your friends can also view your pics and comment from their phones. So much fun!

Here are a few recent Instagram pics, with some different filters and adorable models:

Rockin' it 80's style


"Window Shopping"

1st summer on a bike, already ditched the training wheels!

Fashion Diva - 3 homemade necklaces and bracelets...beading it up this summer!

I gave her a penny to be still for 5 minutes. Soo worth it!

"Sometimes you feel like a... sugar snap pea!?"

Why I Love Being a Mom: #1 Dinnertime

2011-07-07T11:55:00.000-07:00

#1 Dinnertime is never boring. Ever. No matter how hard we try. There are more spills, songs, and silly giggles than I can count, and it's always an adventure!

It's at the dinner table we find out all the interesting facts of the day - which ponies have been good that day (Starlight), who Linsey's newest BFF is (Anna today), and where Natalie puts her peas (under the table and in her nose).

We learn manners: how (not) to hold our cups, how (not) to sing at the table, and how (not) to sit still, among other things.

But more importantly, it's a time where we all enjoy just being together, mostly...and isn't that what family is all about?

What does dinnertime look like at your house?

Link it up!
Makobi Scribe

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day! The holiday has just officially started, but we've been celebrating all week!

I found some great 4th of July printables here, the girls had fun with this paint by number. Today we will be learning more about Independence Day w/some of her other papers. They also painted a bunch of coloring sheets from this site. I'm so glad creative people share their resources!

The girls did a great job singing "This Land is Your Land" and "My Country Tis of Thee" in our church's patriotic program...

And I promised them they could dye their hair blue after the program - I just couldn't let them sing in front of the church w/blue hair, call me old-fashioned... :)

Then we came home and made red, white, and blue firecracker cupcakes.

The original recipe is super easy from my friend here, and her cupcakes always look so perfect! You have to check them out. My girls had so much fun, layering the different colored cake batter, then decorating the cupcakes after I frosted them. Family bonding at its best - in the kitchen!

I had "help" filling the liners, as you can see from the mess!

Didn't have pull-n-peel licorice, so we "fringed" regular licorice.

We're rounding out today with a water fight at the park, a bbq, and some fireworks. All in all, a great way to spend my birthday - and America's, with the people I love most!!

Sportin' their reds, whites, and blues :)

Linkin' up:

A Not So Moody Monday

Wand-ering at Home

2011-07-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

We've had a blast being out of school (every couple days Linsey asks if it's still summer!), but I noticed immediately the need to have some kind of structure. So every day we're home (which isn't as many as I thought!), we've been spending awhile playing online games together, having Bible time, and, of course, crafts.

Here are the wands from our first craft time, I believe I bought a 3-pack at Target for about $1.50. We decorated them using leftover craft materials, but you could definitely go all out with glitter, jewels, etc. Just please don't tell my girls that =)

Hannah decorated hers using foam stickers

- her favorite number (and age) is 4 :)

Nattie, 2, had a ball putting Dora stickers and foam chicks on her wand.

Linsey, my artist, colored hers like a butterfly and added googly eyes.

The only trouble we had was convincing Nattie it wasn't a lollipop!

Summer Reminders II

2011-07-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

~When you get stuck, don't be afraid to ask for help.~

~Being comfortable with who you are today

plays a big part in who you will be tomorrow.~

~With a little extra effort, you can make anything special.~

Summer Reminders I

2011-06-24T21:39:00.000-07:00

Inspired by my three little blondies:

~There is no challenge that, given enough time, you can't lick.~

~If you don't like the way today looks,
you might need to change your perspective.~

~When it comes to looking good in a swimsuit, confidence is everything.~

Time and Again

2011-06-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

As I set my alarm and slid into bed, I realized I had done it again. When I woke up that morning, I had every intention of reading my Bible. But somehow...life happened. The kids got up early. One wet the bed. Laundry. Cooking. Cleaning. Time had gotten away from me, and I found myself in bed praying pitifully, "God, I'm sorry...I'll try to do better tomorrow."

For just a minute, I couldn't help thinking God was angry at me. That He would take revenge by not answering my prayers, or I'd fall and break my arm the next day. Then it was as if God whispered, "You know me better than that. I love you. Yes, it hurts when you don't spend time with me, but I'm not mad at you. I'll always be here for you."

Then, my thoughts oddly turned to my husband, who had not yet come to bed. To be honest, I'm sometimes grumpy when he doesn't do things on my timetable, and I let him know it. Like fixing the sink that won't drain. Or wrapping up on the computer to come to bed with me. That's when I realized God was teaching me something. How hypocritical of me to beg God for mercy for putting Him off, then to be angry with my husband for doing the same to me (see Jesus' parable in Matthew 18).

This can apply to any of our relationships. If God, in His patience, can forgive me when I wrong Him and love me just the way I am, shouldn't I do the same for others? So I vowed to put this lesson into practice, starting that night when my husband finally came to bed. And let me tell you, as I snuggled in close, I was never so glad that I had kept my mouth shut.

Love...beareth all things,

hopeth all things, endureth all things...

I Corinthians 13:7

Linked to:

http://www.goodmorninggirls.org

Summer is Here

2011-06-21T22:55:00.000-07:00

Lovin' being out of school, and out in the warm weather! Here's what summer looks like so far at our house...

Pickin' flowers for my mama,

Later nights, less bedtime drama,

No more training wheels, I fear...

Aren't you glad that summer's here?

Sportin' shades to tame the sun,

Brushin' up on summer fun,

School is done, and smiles appear ...

It's official! Summer's here!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

2011-06-12T16:48:00.000-07:00

Linsey just finished her second baseball season, and she loved it! I did too, it's really turned into a fun family event.


Linsey at bat in coach pitch

The catching equipment was heavier than she was!

The baseball field is connected to our local park, so Hannah learned how to climb the monkey bars and Linsey hit her first home run, all in the same day!

And Nattie discovered there is much candy to be found inside bat bags...

and under the bleachers...

and a ton of tree sap behind the ball field!

Even though baseball season is over, we're planning lots of trips to the park...how are you going to keep active this summer?

That's My Nattie

2011-06-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

Time seems to be just flying by - I can't believe my youngest turned 2 this past week! Here she is, in all of her glory:

Though fiercely independent,

She's totally a clown.

Naturally mischievous,

with smiles all around.

She's a techno-whiz

Who loves music too,

Keep your distance while she's eating,

if you know what's good for you.

And though sometimes

her cuteness drives me batty,

I wouldn't trade the world

for my precious little Nattie!

Happy birthday, Natalie! We love you!

Nuggets of Wisdom

2011-06-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

I've loved all the Sneaky Chef recipes I've tried so far, even though my family knows about all the extra veggies I put in. But the other day, I went a little too far. The recipe for Chicken Nuggets called for dipping chicken bits into spinach puree, then into bread crumbs. Well, I didn't think enough spinach was getting on there, so I kept dipping. Over. And over. It took forever. And the chicken nuggets came out very...green. (I'll spare you the picture. It was that bad!)

As soon as Tom got home, I warned him that dinner would be "different," and to p-l-e-a-s-e go along with it. Amazingly, he did. The kids seemed to like them too, since they love spinach, but they definitely won't become a family favorite. In fact, our after-dinner conversation went something like this:

Me: "So what did you think?"

Hannah: "These are ok, but I thought chicken nuggets came in dinosaur shapes! Those are sooo good. My friend's mom makes those!"

Tom: "They were very ... green."

Linsey enters from the other room: "I liked them, but do you know what's even better than that? Those dinosaur-shapped nuggets. Do you know how to make dinosaur nuggets?"

Sigh. "No."

"Well, our neighbor does, we had them the other day! Maybe she could teach you." So sure enough, I told her the story, and she smiled and gave me her secret recipe:

I wonder if the Sneaky Chef knows about these!!

P.S. To make your own (non-dinosaur nuggets) deceptively delicious, click here for the recipe I used.

Love Wins

2011-05-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

"A friend loveth at all times."

Proverbs 17:17

Chef School I

2011-05-27T15:18:00.000-07:00

My girls love to help me cook, and I have great memories of helping my mom in the kitchen. Determined to carry on the tradition, I started Chef School with the kiddos a few weeks ago. My husband, who is a pastor, is busy at church most of the weekend, so it's the perfect time to get messy, and there's no time crunch. We always have a bunch of people over on Sunday night, so the girls help me cook on Saturday. (They help at other times too, but I plan to use this time to teach specific skills.)

Project #1 - Peeling potatoes

Someone gave us 15 pounds of potatoes that needed to be used fast. So, aprons on and peelers in hand, garbage bags laid out on the grass, we set to work. I taught them to peel away from their bodies, just like I learned, to minimize accidents. My oldest peeled 5, the middle peeled 1, and I peeled about 453. But it was so much fun spending that time together! Look for more Chef School posts coming soon!

P.S. Click here for our favorite make ahead mashed potato recipe. It's delicious!

Even my toddler got in on the action :)

Miracles: Do They Still Happen?

2011-05-20T15:16:00.000-07:00

Our house was abuzz with excitement when the caterpillars we ordered began to emerge from their chrysallises as beautiful butterflies (click here to order your own!). Hannah, 4, was especially amazed. "Mama, it's a miracle!" She exclaimed. I opened my mouth to correct her with something like, "Not really, honey, it happens all the time..." but I stopped myself, and I'm glad I did.

By definition, a miracle is "an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God." Just because God happens to be in the miracle making business, like keeping planets in orbit and bringing nearly 500,000 babies into the world each day (answers.com), does that make any of these events less miraculous? If we're not careful, though, we can get so used to seeing miracles happen firsthand that they become commonplace. Sometimes we even forget about Who really made them happen.

So let's take our cues from the children God wisely placed in our lives. This spring, marvel at the way a flower bursts forth from the ground. Gaze at the ants and wonder how such tiny creatures accomplish so much (Prov 30:25). When you see the stars twinkling tonight, smile and reach out to touch them. In doing so, their Creator might just touch you instead. And remember, whether we realize it or not, miracles are happening around us every day.

Question: What miracles have you noticed lately?

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:

also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man

can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end."

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Linked up below and with Hop Along Friday

A Tribute to Sisters

2011-05-18T14:45:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy watching little friendships develop between our girls, now 6, 4, and 2 next week, which inspired this post. I found most of the quotes below here.

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. ~ M. Garretty

My sister taught me everything I really needed to know,

and she was only in sixth grade at the time. ~ Linda Sunshine

A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and

very much not ourselves, a special kind of double. ~ Toni Morrison

In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolate chips.

What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it? ~ Jenny DeVries

A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit,

and a golden thread to the meaning of life. ~ Isadora James

My First Photo Book

2011-05-18T11:11:00.001-07:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

I just made my first photo book, I plan to make one for each daughter. This is from my oldest daughter's first year. Love it!

P.S. Groupon has great deals, I made this one for under $20!

Little Things

2011-05-09T07:42:00.000-07:00

The older I get, the more I realize it's the little memories that make life so sweet, not just the big events and milestones. Here are some of our fun "little things" lately for this Miscellany Monday:

~ I had such a nice Mother's Day - Linsey made me a picture, Hannah made me a craft in Sunday School, and Natalie sang "Happy Birthday to You" for me all day. Today has been even better - Tom made me breakfast and we're going out to sushi tomorrow!

~We are in the process of hatching ladybugs and caterpillars - Hannah's dresser looks like a science fair. According to my observations, these insects eat and eat until they're about 3 times their normal size, curl up and sleep for a week or two, and emerge with new bodies. All I can say is, Where do I sign up??

~ My 2-year old is Dora-obsessed. She watches it so intently that she mixes English and Spanish words. She'll point at a door, stare at it, and say, "Abre!" to open it, just like Dora. When I call her name, she doesn't say yes, she says "Si?" She calls Daddy "Poppy." She can count in Spanish, too - other moms think I'm this super-educating nut, but really I'd be happy if I could just understand her English...

~ It's hit 90 a couple times lately, so the other day we got out our kiddie pool and the girls spent all afternoon in it while I cleaned the garage. They loved it!

~ We ordered bikes for our older girls, and I spent 4 hours on Friday trying to assemble them. (I am so not a "handyman woman!") On Linsey's bike, I was sure the pedal was the wrong size. Linsey was crying that she would never ride her bike, so in desperation, I jammed a metal chopstick where the pedal went an duct-taped it on. When I told her she to ride her bike, she just looked at me. "Uhh...I don't wanna ride that, Mama...I'm afraid one of my friends will see me and laugh at me!" She smiled, "You and your crazy ideas..." Ironically, my husband said the same thing when he got home, and he had both bikes fixed in about 10 minutes, after I cried on his shoulder. What a guy!

Easter Week

2011-04-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

This year we had an amazing week leading up to Easter Sunday. With so many great memories and new traditions, I just had to share:

1. We began our celebration of the resurrection by attending a Passover Seder with our Jewish neighbors. The girls each got their own kippa (yamaka) and a coloring book explaining the dinner. The food was amazing, and it was such a moving experience to see Old Testament traditions actually performed by some of God's people. The feast celebrates how God led His people out of slavery in Egypt to their own nation, and there are many parallels to the cross as well.

2. On a slightly less spiritual note, the girls loved coloring Easter eggs with a dear friend from church. We did this while my 1-year old napped one day, and it was great just to be able to focus on the older ones for awhile.

3. I let the girls dress up for their Easter egg hunt this year, so a ladybug, a lion, and a cute little rabbit scampered across our yard looking for candy.

4. On good Friday we acted out the Easter story, complete with palm leaves and an empty tomb. I rolled a big microwave cart over our outdoor fireplace, it was perfect! At least the girls were impressed :)

Singing "Our God is An Awesome God"

5. We let the girls have their Easter baskets on Saturday because our Sunday was going to be very hectic. Before they got up, I wrote out a treasure hunt for each basket with clues like "Roses are red, violets are blue, you'll find a surprise where you put your shoes!" They had to wear their bunny masks on the hunt, it was too cute. I bought some small toys and jewelry at Target this year (love that $1 aisle!) so they didn't have as much candy. Will definitely do this treasure hunt again! Linsey was super excited to be able to read the clues all by herself.

6. As a family that evening, we read the story of Christ's resurrection in John and prayed together. Then Sunday morning we got up bright and early to sing in our church musical at 8:30 and 10:30am. The adult and children's choirs both did a fantastic job, and several received Christ as Savior that day. Praise the Lord!

7. After church we had a great brunch with my husband's family and stayed there for awhile, then we went to their (huge) church for a great drama/musical presentation. My older girls loved it. The play inspired questions like, "Why did Jesus have to die, Mama?" "That man is really still alive in real life, right?" "Where is the donkey? I thought Jesus rode a donkey." It was fantastic!

Thanks for letting me share our memories with you, I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating Christ's resurrection as well!

There's No Place Like Home

2011-04-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

Hugs and kisses at the door,

Laundry sprinkled on the floor,

Pillow fights with giggles galore,

My favorite place to be is home.

Little feet run down the hall,

"Mama, I love you the most of all!"
"Treasure the time your children are small..."
My favorite place to be is home.

A place where booboos are always kissed,

And chances to laugh are rarely missed.

The place that's at the top of my list

Is our amazing, crazy home.

Where the weary find some rest,

Where I don't need to pass the test.

I think that Dorothy said it best,

There's just no place like home.

A Mother's Advice

2011-04-22T16:44:00.000-07:00

In whoopie cushions, as in life...

Not every great idea needs to be acted upon. =)

Terribly Two

2011-04-20T11:00:00.000-07:00

I can't believe our youngest will be two next month! She is bubbly, energetic (keeps me on my toes!), and incredibly photogenic. Here are a few of our favorite recent pics:

I <3 Dora!!

I <3 Grandma's house!

I <3 doing things myself!!

I <3 music!

Love One Another

2011-04-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

"Be ye kind, one to another; be ye kind one to another; be ye kind, one to another - Ephesians 4:32." We sang our hearts out during Bible time, then we each told something we could do that day to be kind to each other. Linsey was especially thoughtful, "I can do something with Hannah that she wants to do, even if I don't want to."

I was excited to see how this played out during our day, and several times as I reminded the girls to "be kind," it actually seemed to be working! That afternoon, though, Hannah really wanted to play something Linsey thought was 'babyish.' When I heard them arguing, I pulled Linsey aside and reminded her of the lesson we'd had earlier. "You said you would be kind to Hannah by doing something she wanted to do, and now's your chance."

"But Mama," she cried, "I didn't really mean it!"

To her credit, she soon relented and played with her sister, but her honesty got me thinking. I'm often convicted when I read the Bible or hear a sermon, and I vow to do better. But when it's time to act on that conviction, maybe by getting up earlier to read the Bible or biting my tongue when criticized, I groan inside, "But I didn't really mean it, God!"

Even worse, I excuse myself by reasoning that if God wanted this, He would magically make me a morning person, or take away my bad temper. But it doesn't work like like that. Philippians 4:13 says God gives us strength to do His will, but we still have to put forth the "get up and do it." This week, let's determine not only to desire change, but also to implement it in our daily lives.

Important Reminder

2011-04-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

If you're trying to send something back, always use the original packaging.

Caught in the Act

2011-04-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love magazines. I'm convinced that Good Housekeeping will one day publish an article that will solve all my organizational problems in 3 easy steps, and I fear that if I canceled my subscription to Family Fun, my family wouldn't have any fun. So when the magazine in question promised five "tried and true romance tactics," I eagerly read on.

This article assured me that simply replacing the regular lightbulb near our bed with a red bulb would both create a sensuous ambience and cleverly conceal any personal flaws I might be self-conscious about. Just what I needed!! So on our next trip to Wal-Mart, I went all out and bought the party pack of red bulbs, feeling adventurous already. (I'm blushing, knowing that my mom is reading this right now!)

The bulbs did their job, I suppose, but the real adventure came a few months later. I was watching a friend's three kiddos along with my three, and they were all quiet. You know, tooooo quiet. I realized something was up, so I tiptoed to the back of the house. Sure enough, I had been careless and forgotten to put the regular bulb back in, and the six children were all huddled in my room, gazing in awe at the love goddess lamp. "WHAT are you doing in my room?" I practically shouted.

"Well, Mama," Linsey's voice trembled, "I just wanted to show them your cool lamp and how it turns your room a different color!"

"GET. OUT."

The kids' parents are good friends of ours, and I was mortified that I'd hear about this little incident again, but so far, so good. And I haven't bought any more red bulbs, but I comfort myself with the fact that it will only be 16 years until my youngest goes off to college, and we'll have the house to ourselves. I'll probably need the party pack of colored lights even more then :)

Brush It Off

2011-04-10T16:05:00.000-07:00

Hannah and Linsey went to the dentist last week, it was Hannah's first time. They looked so little in those big chairs!

Linsey showing her sister the ropes first

Hannah dutifully obeying Linsey's, "Open wide!"

The dentist told them they did a good job brushing (no cavities!!) and to make sure they brushed twice a day, every day. So to celebrate, I sprang for battery-powered toothbrushes rather than candy. These came with sheets of stickers so you can customize them, how adorable is that??

When we got home, the girls begged to use their new toothbrushes. Hannah finished, turned it off, and told me she needed to brush again. I told her once was fine for now, and her big eyes filled with tears. "But Mama," she said, "the dentist said I had to do it twice!!"

Good, clean fun!!

Stove Top Bonnets

2011-04-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

I made a super easy craft super hard. Go figure. We were studying Abe Lincoln in history - "Was he the President before Obama, Mom?" - and there was a super cute idea for making stovetop hats. After seeing a few pictures of Lincoln with one on, Linsey was all in - she is obsessed with the Presidents, probably because her long-term goal is to rule the world. My only glitch was that I had 12" paper instead of 18." I am the queen of improvising, and they have small heads. No problem!

They customized their hats and I cut out the brims, mildly concerned that the holes for their heads were about 3" wide. When the girls tried the hats on, immediate giggles ensued. It was a balancing act just keeping them on their heads, they looked like really bad tightrope walkers. After 12 shots I finally got one of each girl w/the hat actually on, then after the pics we punched holes in the brims and looped yarn around their chins bonnet-style. Even Lincoln would have been proud!!

Top 10 Things to Do in the Bathroom

2011-04-07T17:21:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, you'd think this was obvious. But recently, while at several different stores/restaurant (aka PUBLIC PLACES), my kiddos have taught me several new tricks:

10) Sing "Tinkle, Tinkle, Little Star" at the top of your lungs, followed by "It's Raining, It's Pouring."

9) Flush 5 times consecutively, while other people are seated on the potty.

8) Repeatedly wave your hand in front of the paper towel dispenser so that a l-o-n-g sheet comes out. Then leave it.

7) If there is a hand dryer rather than paper towels, stick your head under and yell as loudly as you can.

6) Offer to get other people in the stall toilet paper, but only give them one square.

5) Rummage through your mom's purse while she is unable to stop you.

4) Take out the toilet seat covers one by one and sit on them on the floor, to test them out before actually using them.

3) Strategically unlock the stall door and exit when your mom is extremely exposed.

2) Look under the stalls to see who is where, then scoot under if they look friendly.

1) While mom thinks you're playing quietly, flush all your toys down the employee commode!


So busted!!

Let me know if I've missed one!! =)

Blog hops:

Wanna Getaway

2011-04-04T16:24:00.000-07:00

That's the name for Southwest's lowfare tickets. And it's appealing - who doesn't need a break from the busyness of life? There are non-negotiables, like work and school. And the great things, like family activities and church. But too much of anything, even something good, is still too much. And many times, our marriages get put on the back burner because those seemingly urgent matters crowd it out.

The good news - you don't have to have loads of time (or money!) to make your marriage a priority, just a little creativity. Here are a few habits we've developed over the years that may be a good place to start:

1. Stolen Moments
Tom and I rarely pass each other without touching. A friend came over the other day and was amazed that in a short conversation, he had called me 5 different pet names! We flirt while we do the dishes, and we kiss whenever we leave. We set the kids' bedtime and stick to it, ensuring we have a couple hours of (almost) alone time to play a game or watch TV while we sit close. (Isn't that what dating was like?) We don't drink, but we always have a bottle of sparkling cider ready, just for us. If your kids are older and stay up late, go in your room and shut the door. Trust me, they won't follow you! Oh, and go to bed together. It's so worth it!

2. Date Night
We shoot for one of these every few weeks, just a time we can get away for without the kids and reconnect, to remember why we liked each other in the first place. It can be an hour, or an afternoon, but make sure you do this frequently. Our oldest wanted to go with us last week, and complained, "But you've had LOTS of dates with Daddy!" I simply replied, "Yes, and that is for YOUR own good!" A great marriage = happy, secure kiddos.

3. The Great Escape
After waiting several years for my husband to whisk me away from the mounds of laundry and dishes, I realized it wasn't going to happen. I could either pout and nag (big incentive for him!), or I could take matters into my own hands. So once or twice a year, I plan an overnight getaway, just the two of us. I've gotten deals on groupon.com or just booked a decent hotel w/breakfast, you'll find the location doesn't matter nearly as much as the company :)

So if you're overcommitted and under-communicating, pick one of these ideas and get to work! You -and your husband, and your kids- will be glad you did.

Sweet Enough

2011-03-25T16:07:00.000-07:00

This afternoon Tom and I returned from an overnight getaway, and I remembered too late my promise to "bring back a surprise" if the girls were good. Scrambling in my emergency fun box, I came up with some candy necklaces. "Perfect!" I thought. I gave Hannah (4) hers first, and she munched away happily. Linsey(6), was slightly more suspicious.

"Are these for Christmas?" she asked doubtfully. "Mine has a Christmas tree on it."

"Those are regular trees, and the necklace is for anytime, " I assured her quickly.

Still doubtful, she looked at me questioningly, "Then why does Hannah's have Santa on it?"

"JUST EAT your candy!"

And the moral of the story is...

Never look a gift horse in the mouth!!

Living What They Learn

2011-03-22T16:41:00.000-07:00

As parents, we know our kids will grow up to become just like us (more on that in this post), so I wanted to share a few values I'm trying to teach my three little mamas-in-training:

~Look for the good in unexpected places~

~Don't be afraid to try new things...~

~...but always ask permission first!~

Failed haircut attempt

~It's okay to cry~

~Family is forever. Be there for each other~

And, most importantly...

~Always, always, always be yourself!!~

Question: What values are important for you to pass on to your kids?

You Can Do It!

2011-03-18T20:39:00.000-07:00

Keep hanging on!

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Philippians 4:13

Lovin' Life

2011-03-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

We've had such a busy, fun week, I just had to share a few highlights:

1 ~ We just had a big birthday party for Hannah, who turns 4 this week. I mean, 18 little people running around my house and eating everything in sight. It was chaos, and I loved it! I had a bunch of creative games planned, but by far their favorite was "Monkey, Monkey, Banana," like duck-duck-goose only they tagged each other with an inflatable monkey. Next time I'll stick to the classics!

Holy cow, it's MY birthday?!?

2 ~ My sister bought me a Sneaky Chef cookbook awhile back, and I am totally addicted. It's all about sneaking veggies into regular recipes. I've added pureed carrots to orange chicken, pureed cauliflower to tuna salad, and sweet potato to french toast, all with great results! Even my husband is "willingly ignorant" and has enjoyed the new recipes, as long as I don't tell him what's in them. There are some free recipes and tons of resources from the author here.

3 ~ I scored an amazing deal at groupon.com for an overnight getaway with my husband, which we're taking in a couple weeks. It's an awesome bed and breakfast and two top-notch meals, all for under $100! Can't wait! If you aren't signed up, you should definitely check it out. They send you offers for great deals in your area - I've gotten everything from sushi restaurants to Gap coupons and even photobooks at a great price. I've heard about other sites like this, does anyone know of another one?

4 ~ On top of the party Saturday, we had friends over on Friday and about 20 people over after church last night. I wanted to kick Mr. Daylight Savings time out the window this morning! My sole motivation for getting up and going to the gym was Linsey's giggle the other day, "Mommy, your tummy jiggles when you pat it!" Talk about perspective =)

May your tummy jiggle with laughter too, as you remember how blessed you are. Have a great week!!

Daddy's Girls

2011-03-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

Lately I've caught myself watching my husband interact with our girls. I know I should be spending time on my own activities, but I just can't seem to tear myself away. How blessed they are, I think to myself, to have a daddy who loves spending time with them. How blessed I am to have a husband who comes home every night to a slightly messy, often chaotic household with 4 women vying for his attention! If you grew up in a home like ours, (and especially if you didn't!) you understand the importance of a healthy father/daughter relationship, and you know they are hard to come by.

So here are a few principles I've committed to, as a wife/mother, to help their relationship grow:

1. Never speak negatively to or about my husband in front of our children. I've always tried not to speak negatively about Tom in public, and I am becoming more aware of how I talk to him in front of my girls as well. Kids hear hurtful comments and don't understand that we were just "letting off steam." My girls' opinion of their dad (and our marriage) is way more important to me than winning an argument.

2. Don't criticize the way Daddy spends time with the kids. My husband lets the girls watch lots of cartoons and stay up late, but he thinks room cleaning and the quiet game should be ranked up there with Disneyland for fun things to do. He skips pages on books and wrestles all three kids at once...and they LOVE every minute they spend with him! It's good for them to have their own traditions, even if you don't understand them. So let him jump in on bathing the kids or reading bedtime stories, but let him do it his way.

Nattie's new favorite - tummy time w/Dad

3. Clue him in. If your daughter's recital coming up, don't assume he remembered to get that night off. Remind him! If your son had a hard day at school and needs encouragement, your husband probably won't pick up the subtle clues like you did. Men just don't process life the same way women do, and many times we think they're insensitive when they really just don't know what they're missing. You're a team, so work together!

4. Build your husband up in your children's eyes. I take every opportunity I can to say, "Daddy wants to do ________ with you," or "Daddy bought ___________ for you," even if the activity or gift was my idea. Most kids don't have trouble being close to their mom, so giving your husband a boost isn't hurting you at all, and it will help him out immensely. Encourage older kids to show their dad a good school paper or drawing they're proud of when he comes home, so he can remind them of their importance to him. You won't regret it.

What are some ways you help your husband connect with your kids?

De-Stressed

2011-03-06T15:53:00.000-08:00

Ever feel like this?

After having 3 little girls in 4 years, I relate too well to this overused, unappreciated little fairy. I have days when nothing seems to go right, when it seems like everyone I know has conspired to make me as frustrated as they can.

When I feel that way, I've found it's usually because I'm giving out more than I'm taking in. So I stop and evaluate what is making me "lose my head," so to speak. And it's probably more than just the spilled drink that set me off. Maybe I'm physically exhausted from being up at night with a sick kid. Or I haven't made time to relax because I'm so busy taking care of the needs of others. Often when I'm busy, my time with God doesn't scream quite as loudly as my children do, so He gets pushed to the bottom of my list. Then I feel guilt on top of the stress I already have.

Once I pinpoint what is making me stressed, I take steps to resolve it. Fast. Because no one wants to be around a grumpy mommy. If I'm worn out physically, I've learned that the most spiritual thing I can do is to take a nap. When I go for weeks reading only books by Dr. Seuss and hearing "The Map" sing its little heart out, I make plans to do something I love, without feeling guilty. I'll look at old photos, run a bubble bath and soak, or read a magazine.

And when the Holy Spirit convicts me that I've put other concerns before God, I readily confess it and ask Him to help me do better. Because He deserves it. And because the best days I have are when I seek Him first...I'm often amazed at how my to-do list falls into place after I've taken care of my #1 priority. And on those days when things don't go my way, I'm much better equipped to handle them after I've spent time with my Savior.

Matthew 6:33

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;

and all these things shall be added unto you."

What are some ways that you like to "de-stress?"

Art Debut

2011-03-02T09:46:00.000-08:00

Our older girls, 3 and 6, were so excited to have their artwork featured in a local art show last night! For being a small town, we have some amazing talent. So all day, the girls kept reminding me, "Don't forget about the art show, Mom!!" and, "What time is it? Is that close to 6?"

When we arrived, we were led to two rooms filled with different paintings and sculptures from local artists. The first thing the hostess told us was to look carefully around at all the artwork, because we all got to vote for our favorite artist. Linsey's eyes got huge. Then cookies were mentioned, and Hannah's eyes got huge. I took her to get one, and Linsey wandered away for a few minutes. She came back really excited and whispered in my ear, "Mom, let's go vote! I looked at all the pictures, and I'm my favorite artist!" And that's when I knew she was destined to be famous...don't all great talents think their work is the best? :)

Linsey had a giant card and a basket of fruit displayed

"Polka Dots" by Hannah :)

Confessions of a Mom

2011-02-28T10:01:00.000-08:00

They say confession is good for the soul, so here goes...

1. I joined the gym a few weeks ago, and I love it. But admittedly, my main incentive at this point for getting up early and going is that for half an hour, I am off duty as a mommy. And I get to go to the bathroom all by myself.

2. Last week I was officially kicked out of church. During evening service, I let my wiggly one-year old play with my Smartphone on silent, not realizing that videos would still play. Loudly. So during a quiet moment of meditation, the entire church heard, "ELMO so happy to SEE you!" Maybe he was, but my husband/pastor wasn't. Worse, she later escaped from my claw-like grasp and started running down the aisle towards her dad with outstretched arms. Everyone said that was the most entertaining service they'd been to in a long time! Everyone, of course, except my husband :)

My Diva/Devil in training :)

3. So sad: I want to play Words with Friends on my iPhone, but I don't have any friends...at least not any who play. And I found out that my most popular blog post (by far) is the one with an American flag clipart that people copy from my site. Depressing realizations for this not-so-supermom... =)

4. Our 4-year old is officially banned from art supplies. She glued all her artwork to the wall the other day while I was lying down, for a "s'prise." Boy, was it! Then, as we were getting ready for church, I found her on the couch, meticulously cutting out the itchy crinoline from the underside of her dress. All I can say is, smart girl for that! But she's not using scissors or glue again till she's 30.

Have a great week!!

Fun blog hops @ www.carissagraham.com singleparentretreat.com
http://the-chunkymonkey.blogspot.com http://www.kdbuggie.blogspot.com/

New Dishwasher Review

2011-02-23T00:35:00.000-08:00

My conclusion: Cute, compact model, but noisy and inefficient. As a dishwasher, I hope I can get my money back. As a daughter, she's a keeper :)

True Colors

2011-02-23T00:22:00.000-08:00

As the mommy of three little girls, I am constantly amazed at how differently they approach life, and thus, art. Linsey, 6, is very polychromatic. She loves surprises and is always challenging the norm, often coming up with better ideas and new clothing trends. Her life is a vibrant splash of patterns and colors.

Hannah, on the other hand, is monochromatic all the way. Almost 4, she is introverted, extremely thoughtful, and has habits and rituals I don't dare mess with. Her idea of matching is wearing the same color from head to toe. ("even my underwears!")

I'm sure you've wondered in your own family, How can kids from the same home be so different? And, more importantly, What do you do with that? Here are a few tips I've learned and gathered in my never-ending quest to raise kids who love God, me, and each other:

1. Loving them equally does not mean treating them the same. Our oldest is very forthright and stubborn, while our middle girl is extremely sensitive. We learned quickly that we needed an entirely different approach to parenting with her and even a different set of rules in some cases.

2. In general, avoid comparing your kids to one another. Saying things like, "I wish you obeyed like Sarah does!" will only cause them to resent each other. Even in your own mind, accept the fact that you are raising very unique individuals who happened to be born in the same family.

3. Encourage your children to be unique. Who says they all have to play soccer? Have your kids explore a variety of hobbies to see what they are interested in, and follow their interests. Let them "teach" you what they are learning in piano, t-ball, or art class. Spending time with them doing activities they love shows their interests are important to you.

4. Teach your kids to be each other's cheerleader. You can cheer your heart out at a t-ball game, but it's not the same as an older sibling rooting on a younger one. Even where their interests differ, teach your kids to support one another. In this harsh world, kids need to know their family is pulling for them.

What are some things that have helped you in raising your unique kids?

Two Thumbs Up

2011-02-01T23:24:00.000-08:00

That's what we were going for. For the past year or so, Hannah (3) hasn't been able to extend her left thumb, and she had trigger thumb release surgery last week. We went to a children's hospital, which was a fantastic experience. Everyone was very friendly and trained especially in working with kids, Hannah didn't even cry once while we were there.

We played a few games...

Got some new jammies...

Had fun with the monitors...

Then we snuggled up tight...

Ate popsicles in bed (I NEVER let her do that!)...

Watched a little Elmo...

and before we knew it, we were ready to go home! The surgery only took half an hour, and start to finish it was about 4 hours in the hospital. This was our first (and hopefully last!) hospital experience, and we're so thankful it's over! And was it a success, you ask?

Thumbs up!

Personal Message from Steve Jobs

2011-01-26T23:19:00.000-08:00

At Apple, keeping in touch is what we're all about.

*We <3 our Apple iPhones!*

It's Monday.

2011-01-17T20:09:00.000-08:00

I haven't written a miscellaneous post in ages, and my randomness has been adding up:

1. My oldest is growing up too fast, and she loves it. Her favorite expression is, "I haven't done that since I was five!" The only thing is, her birthday was just last week! She lost her first tooth this morning, and I was surprised to feel a little sad and nostalgic. I mean, I'm the one who saw that tooth finally popping through when she was 9 months old, and I was so proud! Now she's the proud one, and the tooth is in a baggie under her pillow...

Her self-confidence is amazing. She saw this picture and gasped, "Don't I look prettier than I was before?!"

2. Dinner Fail: I had a crazy-busy day yesterday, even busier than usual for a Sunday, so in the morning I put a package of tortillas in the cool oven to thaw for a quick dinner. Then, later at the store, I decided to grab some pizzas because we were having company. I rushed home, preheated the oven to 425, and didn't even think about the tortillas until I smelled something akin to a melting Barbie doll. Don't ask me how I know what melting Barbie smells like, just take my word for it...and always check the oven before turning it on :)

3. My three-year old, Hannah, has fashion "no how." She either wears one color from top to bottom ("I match, Mama!") or she looks like this:

4. I'm determined to read the Bible through this year - usually I get midway through and I become impatient, so I start doing my own Bible studies, rereading books I really like, etc. (which is ok, I just want to finish what I start for once!) Ownit365.com and YouVersion have some great plans if you're interested.

5. I overheard a conversation between my girls yesterday that made me smile. "Well, I'll give you one more chance. And then, I'll turn you into a GOON!" Hannah sighed, "Ok, ok, I'll stop touching you!!" I thought about going in there and reminding Hannah that Linsey couldn't really turn her into a goon, but, being a little sister myself, I know she'll figure things out soon enough. In the meantime, I'll let Linsey enjoy her reign.

Happy Birthday, Linsey!

2011-01-13T23:01:00.000-08:00

I walked right into it. After surviving (and enjoying!) the busy Christmas season, I just didn't have the energy to throw Linsey a super-mega birthday party two weeks later, like we've done the past couple of years. So I casually mentioned to her that maybe we could get a couple of her friends together to go to the movies and possibly sleep over. Well, a couple became three, then four, then six little kids in all...and I just had to write about our fun, in honor of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie:"

If You Take Six Kids to the Movies

If you take six kids to the movies, they'll probably want to order some popcorn (a BIG one!).

If you divide the large popcorn evenly among six kids, you're going to need to get the free refill.

If you refill the large popcorn and continue to let the kids eat to their heart's content, they're going to be thirsty. Really thirsty.

If they get thirsty, you're either going to have to cough up a lot more money for soda, or fill up their six popcorn cups with water one at a time, which will take for-e-ver.

Once they've had a drink, they'll probably want some more popcorn (in the same cup).

If they want more popcorn, they will ultimately want more water, and on the cycle goes.

If you give six kids more water just so they'll stop asking, they'll eventually have to go to the bathroom.

And once you've taken six kids to the bathroom, you've probably missed most of the movie. But no one else noticed, and you don't really mind.

If you go to McDonald's afterwards, they'll probably be too full of popcorn to eat a Happy Meal, but you'll order them each one anyway, because they want the neat-looking toys.

But even if they're full of popcorn and playing with toys, six kids can still sing Happy Birthday at the top of their lungs, and eat lots of cake.

And if six kids eat lots of cake, they're going to crash on the way home (ok, I was lucky).

And if they crash on the way home, and you actually make it home in one tattered piece...

ALWAYS remember to put the leftover birthday cake out of the baby's reach!!

And if they had even half as much fun as you did, they're going to ask if you'll take six kids to the movies again next year! And maybe McDonald's, too =)

The Definition of a Mom

2011-01-10T09:26:00.000-08:00

Dictionary.com describes mother as: "a female parent."

That's all we get in the dictionary! Not, death-defying life-bringer, supernanny, premier chef, free chauffeur...just "female parent." So I've taken the liberty of making up a few of my own words to describe our job, words that really should be a part of our English language:

Mamanucleosis – the permanent feeling of exhaustion often associated with being a mother.

Momniscience – the belief small children hold that their mothers know everything; this usually fades away well before the teenage years

Mamachromatic – the color palette of a mother’s wardrobe after giving birth, mainly blacks and grays

Cinemama –the entertaining of young children at the doctor’s office or in a long line without the convenient use of electronics

Mamagram – love notes written on napkins and put in children’s lunchboxes

Momster – what mothers turn into when their children come out of their rooms after bedtime

Premommition – the ability of a mother to foresee what will happen when her child stands at the top of the stairs in a Superman costume or attempts to flush an orange down the toilet

Mamaphone – the mode a mother’s speech morphs into in order to be heard throughout the entire house

Sermoms – a collection of repeated lectures for standard misbehavior

Mamalogue –the conversation SAHM’s carry with themselves throughout their day in an attempt for adult conversation

Momnipresence – the ability of mothers to be in at least two places at once, this

precedes the growth of extra limbs

Momsilectomy – the removal of a woman’s sanity, usually extracted at the onset of labor

Mommopoly – the mother’s trump card: “Everything you have belongs to ME!”

Mamalicious – translated: one hot mama!

You can see the obvious affects of parenting in this before/after picture =)

Winter, California Style

2011-01-09T15:09:00.000-08:00

The girls and I were praying for snow, so we were thrilled to get about an inch or so last week! Our local school was even called off because there were no snow plows - Linsey was only slightly disappointed to find out that home school was still in session :) Here are some of our favorite pics:

"Winter is a time for...

sledding...

and smiling...

for snowmen...

and snow angels...

and for some snow eatin',

blanket wearin',

Daddy-snugglin' fun!"

Happy winter, everyone! Enjoy it, you'll thaw out soon enough =)

True Love's Kiss

2011-01-06T10:15:00.000-08:00

"Mama, Grandma and Grandpa sure love each other," Linsey, our 5-year old, said out of the blue one day.

"Yes, honey, they sure do," I replied.

"Sometimes I even see them kiss!" she added, giggling. Then she thought for a minute, "But I see you and Daddy kiss a lot more than they do."

"Well, Daddy and I are younger than they are. Plus, you're around us a lot more - you see Daddy and me all the time!"

"Yeah," she interrupted, "And you want us to see what true love looks like, for when we grow up and get married, right??"

"Exactly!!"

I've thought about that little conversation so many times this past week. The profound thoughts that come from our kids...the fact that they understand so much more than we think they do. But mostly, the realization that my little girl is intentionally looking to US to see what true love looks like!! And what she learns from our marriage will have a huge impact on the kind of marriage she has one day.

While I'm not nearly ready to think about my little girl getting married (glad I have a few years!), this conversation has inspired me lately. When I'm tempted to lose my temper or complain about something, a little voice inside me whispers, "Is this what true love looks like? Do you really want your kids to remember this about you?"

I know they won't remember me as the perfect mom - I wouldn't even want them to try! But by God's grace, I do hope to show them a little bit of what true love looks like, by loving my husband and family the way God loves me...completely and unconditionally.

And by showering them with lots of kisses :)

Need Your Help

2010-12-26T17:29:00.000-08:00

What do you think for a caption - "Potty Training 101" or "What's Cookin'?"

Leave me a note and let me know!!

At Our House

2010-12-23T16:10:00.000-08:00

"At Our House"

~At our house...

Phrases like "Don't make me use my superpowers!"

and "Ew, don't lick your shoe!" are commonplace.

~At our house...
Years and height are both measured in birthdays - as in, "Wow, in like 50 more birthdays, I'll be as tall as the refrigerator!"

~At our house...
We look to see if our tummies are full, but we try not to look when we hear, "Guess what?! There's a surprise in my panties!"

~At our house...

We prefer Christmas carols like "Go, Tumble Down the Mountain" and "Part the Hair of Angels Sing" over the traditional ones.

~At our house...
We believe anything is possible, and we stick together, no matter what!

Merry Christmas, from our house to yours!!

Ever wonder...

2010-12-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

What are they thinking?!?

My conclusion: Sometimes, you just don't wanna know!!

Vacation, Vacation

2010-12-01T08:02:00.000-08:00

Phew! We recently got back from a week-long vacation in Phoenix, AZ. There were days of shopping, going to the zoo, and, of course, eating! We had such a great time with our extended family, I wanted to share a few of our favorite photos:

Hope you have a great day!!

Return of the Jedi

2010-11-17T17:13:00.000-08:00

Attention, all Younglings! Your Jedi Master-Mama is trying to write a blog about how adorable you are, meanwhile leaving you unsupervised. That means it's time for some...

Marker-eatin',

Web spinnin',

Garbage pickin',

Mess makin',

Hummus eatin' fun!!

Warning: There may be photo evidence of your crimes later!
Happy Wednesday! (Now you can see why I don't blog as often as I'd like!)

Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop
Wordful Wednesday Blog Hop

Lessons I Learned from My Kids

2010-11-11T16:09:00.000-08:00

#1 - Even superwoman needs a break sometimes.

#2 - Never underestimate the power of a Band Aid.

#3 - It's okay to stand out in a crowd.

#4 - You'll get a lot more done if you're not so worried about what others think.

#5 - Everyone has bad days.

#6 - Be who you want your children to become.

Have a great day!!

Dear God

2010-10-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

Dear God,

Today I feel a little overwhelmed. I know You gave me 24 hours every day, but did You really mean for me to use all of them cleaning up after other people? Your Word says to give thanks in all things, so that is what I will try today, since complaining about everything yesterday didn't go so well:

~ I am thankful for the squished grapes and spilled cereal under my feet, and for the children who put them there.

"I only like the yellow..."

~ I am thankful for the mounds of clean laundry sitting in my living room, because that means we all have plenty to wear (or we will, when I fold them).

~ I am thankful for the stacks of dirty dishes, and the food You graciously provided us to eat on them.

Chocolate-dipped fingers - mmm, mmmm, good!

~ I am thankful for the beds I need to make, because that means we were all well enough to get out of them this morning.

~ I am thankful for the phone that won't stop ringing, and the people on the other end who care enough to call.

"Hello? This is the call of the wild..."

~ And God, I'm thankful for comfy pajamas, because at this rate, I'm going to be in them all day!

Love,

Liz

Sharing 101

2010-10-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

Everything in life is better when it's shared.

Fun Blog Hops:

Overwhelmed??

2010-10-25T11:59:00.000-07:00

When there seems no way out, look up.

Psalm 121:1-2

I will life up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord,

which made heaven and earth.

The Swindler

2010-10-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

Linsey, the oldest of our three girls, has the natural ability to make things go her way. I will often give she and her sister a snack or a prize, then, the next time I turn around, Linsey has convinced Hannah to trade. Or do Linsey's chores for her. Or give her the rest of her candy. She can talk her into anything. The funny thing is, like most younger siblings, Hannah seems happy with her servitude most of the time.

What Linsey doesn't understand is why this same method doesn't work on adults - namely, me. The other day, while looking through a magazine, she saw the "mini me" dolls, and decided she had to have one for Christmas (her list has been on the fridge since September). Blond hair, blue eyes, freckles, matching outfits - what's not to love? Our conversation went like this: "Please, Mom?? It's what I REALLY REALLY want!"

"You don't even like dolls!"

"That's because I don't have this one! I would love this one!"

"If I got you that for Christmas, or your birthday (two weeks later), it would be the ONLY present you would get. I don't think you'd like that; your list is pretty long."

Cue water works. "Could I get this doll AND something else?"

"No...actually, if you REALLY want it, that would probably be the ONLY thing you'd get for Christmas AND your birthday! Is that what you want?"

Linsey slowly shook her head and cried. She thought for a long time, then sighed in defeat, "Can I just get it for Thanksgiving then?"

Oh Baby!

2010-10-20T13:49:00.000-07:00

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words - and with Natalie, I'd say they're worth at least that! She doesn't make my posts too often because she doesn't talk much yet, but as you can see from these pics, what she lacks in words she makes up for in character. For my Wordless Wednesday, here is our littlest monkey:

(future blackmail)

Finally worn out!!

Happy Fall, Ya'll

2010-10-19T07:54:00.000-07:00

In the beginning, God made fall.

Towering corn fields, falling leaves,

Bright orange pumpkins; cool, crisp nights.

Then God said, "This is good."

And when the leaves needed raking, and the corn needed picking,

And the electricity bill shot up from the cold,

God gave us children...

To remind us how good His creation really is.

The Magic of Childhood...

2010-10-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

...when a spatula, a grasshopper, and a stick are all you need to have fun. May we never be too old or too proud to learn from our children!

Thought for the Day

2010-10-08T14:46:00.000-07:00

Morning shaving ritual

"Daddy, I wanna be just like you!!"

My goal: To live in such a way that, should my kids grow up to be like me, I will be proud of what they have become.

Great Friends=Great Times

2010-10-06T14:26:00.000-07:00

My kids have been blessed with so many great friends! We have people over every week, and we all love it. This past weekend was our town's annual parade and festival. The girls had a few friends over one day, then the next day we went to the parade and park. We are so blessed! Here's another collection for Wordless Wednesday @ Tanya's:

Friends - the stuff good times are made of!!

I Mean, Literally

2010-10-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

When we had our first daughter, we knew we had done something right. Linsey was a wonderful baby, she began using complete sentences around 18 months, and she would sit for half an hour or more, just looking at books.

Then Hannah came along. A colicky baby, she was still using caveman grunts at age 2 to communicate. And even now, at three and a half, she falls out of her chair at least once a day because "my body can't stop wiggling!" She's also our sensitive thinker, our best snuggler, and she keeps me laughing all day long. One reason she's so funny is because she thinks very literally. The other day I heard her (literally) bouncing off the walls after bedtime, so I headed for her room. I saw a pink blur dash for the covers and lie down innocently. "Hannah," I said sternly, "were you jumping on the bed?"

"No," she said seriously, "my feet just were tired of lying down." The next day, she weedled all over her bed "because you told me not to get up for ANYTHING!" Sigh. What to do?!?

Earlier this summer we flew to Chicago for vacation. As we were getting our luggage, Hannah announced she had to go potty, even though she had just gone (this is what bouncing does to toddlers). Tired and slightly irritable, I told her she needed to hold it for awhile. A minute later, I looked up as she grabbed her bum and danced frantically, "I'm holding it, Mama, but I still gotta go!!" That's what happened, literally.

Thought for the Day

2010-10-01T18:26:00.000-07:00

Power means holding the remote, even when you don't know what to do with it.