The Greatest Show on Earth {and other stuff}

Justin took the kids to daycare Friday, so I left to this...

That afternoon we headed to Birmingham with the girl in search

of "the greatest show on earth" (her first circus:). She was so

mesmerized that she couldn't even turn her head for a pic...

...and she could barely eat her cotton candy.

We agreed that this was our favorite part...

Saturday we headed to Michael's birthday party...

Emma and her future brother-in-law:)

Today I picked up two giddy girls early from daycare...

just in time to watch the Aggies play a 1:30PM ballgame.

On another note, the girl has had a really good day. She took a late nap (which does wonders for her attitude), and she wanted to love and snuggle this evening (as opposed to growl and argue:/). One of the blogs I read had a link to this post...and if you're raising a "strong-willed fountain dancer" you should read it. I have definitely decided that God gave me Emma to teach me patience. I do want her to be a good and sweet girl, but more than that I want her to be a girl who has a passion for Christ and does great things for the glory of His kingdom. I think I'll readjust the wording in my prayers tonight. :)





Luke: 16 Months

Luke, you are sixteen months old!

Here's what you're up to these days...

• You weigh about 27lbs and are approximately 33 inches long.
• You are wearing 12 and 18 month clothes and size 5 diapers.
• You still sleep great at night, and you are getting better about staying up a little later on the weekends and sleeping until 8 or 9AM.
• You may nap...you may not. Some days you will nap 2 hours and some days you might nap 20 minutes.
• You are a great eater and you still love milk. You tolerate juice and drink water fairly well.
• You are almost completely off baby food...by your own choice. Not only do you want table food, but you want to feed it to yourself...with a fork or spoon...in a bowl. Surprisingly this hasn't been as messy as it sounds...and I hope that continues:)
• You still love the squeeze pouch foods, puffs, and melts.
• You love to take a bath play in the bath.
• You walk (run) EVERYWHERE, and you're fearless.
• You have had your first (and it may be wishful thinking, but I'm hoping last) stitches. :(
• You are into everything, and you never slow down!
• You are very inquisitive...if you want to figure out how to do something you watch closely and then try it out for yourself...no matter how dangerous it may be. For example, you see Emma climb into the tub so you think you can do it yourself. It's really a wonder you've only had stitches once, ha!
• You are also very smart, and you know what we are saying...you don't always like it, but you know! If we tell you no, you get the pitiful face and look as if your heart is shattered. You would think that since you're my "baby" it would break my heart...but your sister helped me grow thick skin. I don't like to see that face, but I do know it will be gone in a flash...and you'll be getting into something else.
• We (I) have had to start popping your hand. This, too, breaks your heart...and this is one thing my skin hasn't thickened about...it breaks mine too. Mostly, you get a pop when you get out of your high chair and stand straight up (again, it's a wonder you haven't had more stitches).
• Your vocabulary is growing, growing, growing! Some of the words you have added this month are "ball", "cookie" (you will walk to the kitchen counter, hold your hands up, and say "cookie"), "Jesus" & "Bible" (melt my heart), "Reese", "Addie" (which sounds a lot like a-ee and is so sweet), "cow" (and moo), and "car" (and a plethora of car sounds). It's hard to remember all the new things you say, since you are beginning to repeat so many things!
• You have had your second haircut! (Who says boys are cheaper?)
• You have a whoppin' 14 teeth! (6 on top, 8 on bottom)
• You have blessed me in more ways than I can count. If God chooses to never loan me another baby, I am perfectly content (and beyond thankful) that He gave me you and your sister. You make my life so much more...in so many ways. I love you Luke Man. Happy 16 months!

Survival

Brooke's Real Life post inspired me.

I love my life. I love my kids. I wouldn't trade a single meltdown, sleepless night, tantrum, or dirty diaper for anything in this world...but let's face it...being a mama is hard work.

Some (most) days I feel like I'm in quicksand. I get one mess cleaned up, one supper cooked, one load of laundry done (hopefully all in the same day;), just to find three more waiting in each of their places.

If you show up at my house between the hours of 4-8PM don't expect to see perfection. As a matter of fact, come prepared to watch your every step in hopes that you don't trip and fall over toys strewn all throughout the living room and kitchen. (I try to limit the disaster area to those two rooms.)

If you show up at my house between the hours of 7:30-8:30/9PM expect to hear some (a lot of) crying...from the girl mostly, although she has begun waking the boy up and getting him to join in. Oh joy:/

At the end of the day when I finally sit down to a minute of peace and quiet (hopefully) and a lukewarm (if I'm lucky) meal I usually feel exhausted (understatement). I also feel extremely blessed.

I know that "this too shall pass", so I try to enjoy these days of pure survival (as much as one can when they are in the here and now:).

Bring on the Rain

I love the rain...for purely selfish reasons, but I love it nonetheless.

More specifically, I love rainy Saturdays. Now, I wouldn't want it to rain every Saturday, but one about every six weeks would be nice.

Rainy Saturdays = Husband at home...Doing chores? Watching the babes while I do chores? Doesn't really matter...I love having him around...sometimes;)

This was one of those Saturdays, and I loved every single second of it!

We didn't do much, but here are some pics of lately...

Thursday night we went to see the

Aggies play...Can you spot the girl?

Yep, she's in her favorite spot...with the cheerleaders!

Friday night was horse sale night...

Luke's new favorite thing to do is feed himself with a fork...

Today we had a three hour delay due to weather.

Emma decided she could fix her own breakfast...

...and since you can't go to kindergarten unless you know

how to tie your own shoes, she's been practicing that too:)

Just because he's so stinkin' cute...

What do you see?

Saturday morning at 3:30AM my alarm went off. I got up, scurried around getting together last minute things, and got everybody loaded into the car. We had to be at the church by 4:30AM, and the bus left at 5AM. We headed to Boone, North Carolina with 60 of our closest friends/family (really:).

A lot of fun and laughs were shared during our 3-day trip, but most importantly we were able to worship our God. While I must admit that the boy kept us from hearing either message Mark preached, the song services were amazing. (I did get to peer into the window and watch, and I plan to watch the video soon.)

The theme of our trip was "What do you see?".

I see a world that is corrupt. I see children who are hungry. I see parents who are on drugs. I see lost people in my backyard.

I also see God. I see light through Him. I see a way out.

As a Christian, it is my responsibility to witness and to share His word. Everybody has their own platform. I believe mine is as a mother. As simple as it sounds, it is my responsibility as a parent to teach my children about God. It is my responsibility to pray for them...to pray with them. It is my responsibility to lead by example. People often say children look and act like their parents. I see myself in my daughter quite often...the good and the bad. (I see the good and the bad of her daddy too, but this post is about bettering myself so I'll leave him out of this;) It is my mission to take a step back and see a better me in my children...to lead them by a better example.

I have no idea if this is the point God was trying to make through Mark's message, but this is what I got from the experience. What do you see?

Our trip in pics...and a few captions:)

After a long bus ride (and no nap for this girl) we

got to our room, changed clothes in preparation for

night skiing, and headed to the first worship service.



After a little bus trouble (there was so much snow and

not enough salt/sand on the ground...the bus couldn't make

it all the way up the mountain, so we had to "hike" the rest of

the way, ha!) we finally made it! *I forgot my camera at the

hotel, so please excuse the quality of the following pics:)

Megan helped E get her skis on...

She's ready...

...and they're off!

Thanks Logan and Megan for taking my girl to the

top and getting her back down safely! She was so

worn out that she crashed on Megan's lap on the bus

ride back to the hotel. Here she was the next morning...

Sunday Justin and I took the girls tubing...

It was so windy outside that we decided to let Luke hang out

inside with Teresa, Papa, and the rest of the crew. I did take

him out to sit in the snow for a minute, but he wasn't quite

sure what to think...maybe it was all the clothes, ha!

After the worship service that night the whole crew went

to eat at Golden Corral, where the kids got a sugar high...

Then a few friendly hands of cards were played...

Monday morning looked like this...

Down to the lobby for breakfast and group pics...

Emma and her new BFF, Rita (aka "the other Megan")...E took

right up with Rita and insisted on being attached to her the

entire trip...thanks, Rita, for being so sweet to my girl! :)

Luke & Kayla (who was Luke's size just yesterday!)

The wild-haired boy on the bus ride home...

Sweet babies (who weren't sweet the entire bus trip, but did pretty

well considering the circumstances) about the time we hit CC! :)