Miscellaneous

This will be a rather miscellaneous post. I wanted to post a few pics for the grandparents to see. I hope everyone is transitioning well getting back into the swing of things with school starting. We, or should I say, I, am SOOOOO excited Mother's Day Out is in full swing. I take the girls on Wednesday, and today was their first "official" day back. I really can't complain, because where the girls go to MDO, they offer a Summer program. So, we were able to continue going through the Summer with week breaks before and after the program. Let me just say that this has been like God shining light on me from above, because I would be bald if I had to get through the Summer without it. I am truly SO grateful that God has provided the means for the girls to attend MDO. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

So, I caught a pic of Ella this morning...she runs when I get the camera. Then I had to take a picture of the girls' new lunch boxes. Ella's old lunch box was pretty gross, and the zipper broke, so I splurged to get her a new one as well. This is the twins "first" lunch box. They are getting to be such big girls.

She looks like she is in pain...she wasn't...just refusing to stand still and smile

Lunch boxes

The twins new favorite thing - this is a green plastic bowl I keep Ella's play food in her kitchen. Well, when we go upstairs to play, this is the FIRST thing Ruby does. She goes and dumps the food out, and then sits in the bowl. Wes and I will spin them. They LOVE it. However, the totally fight over who gets to sit in it. It's pretty funny to see them both try to sit in it at the same time.

Ruby being a dare-devil

Molly lovin on her Peter Cottontail. This was a gift from grandma at Easter. He sings Peter Cottontail and hops. She LOVES it...and even though she can't say the words, she babbles and hums the tune.

When you have 3 little ones roaming around, you never know what you will happen upon. I think I noticed that Molly had gone missing, and this is where I found her.

The trail of DESTRUCTION from Hurricane Ella and her two spin off tornadoes Molly and Ruby. This is WHY I would go bald without a day of MDO. : )

My Mom and Dad came for a REALLY quick visit a few weeks ago. Here is Neena "pre-tend" sleeping. Ella loves to cover you with a blanket and pat your back.

Here she is checking on Neena

Papa and Ruby

Papa and Ella

Papa and Molly

This is for you, Aunt Vicki. Ella's Great Aunt Vicki lives in Hawaii and brought the girls some adorable Hawaiian dresses. I thought this looked cute on Ella. The other dresses are still a little big, but I know we will wear them next year.

Ella and her "Emma" doll...and Molly playing with her stuffed animals.

Emma was a gift from grandma that we hoped would help fuel her interest in using the big girl potty. She loves the doll and even praises Emma for tinkling in the potty, but when you ask Ella if she wants to go in the big girl potty she says "No, I'm good". She's had success before, but is REALLY being difficult about it lately. I REFUSE to fight with her over it, and having to chase after two other little ones while attempting potty training, SUPER FUN!! So we will be waiting a little longer. I have a feeling that seeing all of her friends use the "big girl" potty at school might coax her.

Yes, I know you feel all the more enlightened hearing about our potty escapades. That's just what happens in THIS exciting house. I KNOW you're jealous! ; )

We are experiencing some REALLY great weather here. It's supposed to continue into the weekend. I am SO excited to get back outdoors.

Hope the rest of your week is great!

Keep the Faith,

The "Dog Days" of Summer

Ok, first things first. Hi, how are ya?? I know it's been a while. I've had many friends tell me, "enough of the donut post already". So, here I am just doing a random post. Honestly, because too much has transpired in the last two months to even attempt at catching everyone up...and, because you have lives of your own to lead. : )

So, I found myself asking...what do the "dog days" of Summer really mean?? Being the information junky that I am...I looked it up...AND...the "dog days" of Summer are the hottest, most sultry days of Summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, they usually fall between July and September. It can also define a time period or event that is very HOT or stagnant or marked by dull lack of progress. YEP, that about SUMS-IT-UP!! We are in fact enduring the "DOG DAYS" of Summer!!

It is SOOOOOOOOOO HOT here and I can TOTALLY relate to the "stagnant" feeling as well. We've gone about two weeks now without our morning or evening walks - something this Mom looks forward to being home with 3 kiddos 2 and under, but it's JUST TOO HOT! I need some new ideas for fun indoor activities. I think the girls have watched more Baby Einstein, Mickey Mouse Club, Special Agent OSO in the last two weeks than we have in the last two years. I KNOW, I KNOW this makes me a terrible Mom, but you can just keep those comments to yourself, OK?

So, what has been going on?? Well, we took a long road trip to Texas that started off with my older Brother, Jim, getting married. It was fabulous! I don't have pictures yet, but I did order some from the photographer. I was a Bridesmaid, and Ella was a Flower Girl. So, when I get them, hopefully I can figure out a way to share a few. It was such a fun wedding and was so evident that my Brother, Jim, and his new wife, Lisa, love each other very much. It's so fun to be apart of a wedding where you can FEEL the love, you know?

Our visit continued with spending time with my family for a few days and then heading to Wes's family lakehouse. We really enjoyed our time in Texas. We miss Texas.

Papa and Ella waiting for Nan's grandfather clock to chime

Neena playing with Molly and Ruby

Molly

Ruby

At the lake, going for a walk - that's Uncle Jeff and cousin Reese

Molly and Ruby playing in the water

Right now, we are eagerly awaiting our weekly activities resuming, like bible study, and MDO starts next week - the girls are graduating to their next class, and it's hard for me to grasp that the twins will be moving to the "big kid" class at school and Church. So, I am working on a few things with the twins...we are working on mastering the sippy cup, and learning how to use a spoon. They LOVE trying to use a spoon, they smile every time I give one to them.

Ruby

Molly

Tuesday was Wes's birthday. ELLA L-O-V-E-S anything to do with birthdays - so she was SO excited that she got to sing Happy Birthday, and help blow out the candles...and eat cake...her favorite!

Wes's parents were here for a few days, and we had a WONDERFUL visit. It was so nice to have them here. Wes and his Dad did guy stuff, and the girls hung out around the house and played a ton. I was able to get a sitter Saturday night, and we had a nice "adult" dinner out. That is VERY rare for us. So, it was a real treat!!

AND...this coming weekend we have another special visit, this time with my parents. Turns out my Dad has a delivery in Missouri and will be spending the weekend with us, and Continental had a special this weekend, so my Mom is going to fly in Saturday and go home Monday. Truly a special occurrence, seeing that we usually get to see our family only a few times a year.

Well, I hope ya'll are staying cool (figuratively and realistically) ; )!!

Happy "DOG DAYS" of Summer, Ya'll!!

Keep the Faith,

Good Times

Just a blog about some of our good times lately...

Yummy donuts for breakfast. I know I shouldn't be encouraging a sweet tooth, but donuts are one of my FAVORITE foods (if you could call it a food)...especially sprinkle donuts. It's one of those childhood loves and memories. My Dad LOVES donuts, and it's one of those things we bonded over years ago...and I will never forget it. I think Ella has this bond with her Papa, too. As you might be able to tell from the face below. Growing up, after a week full of hum-drum cereal, many Saturdays or Sundays we would wake up to the treat of donuts for breakfast...or my favorite was getting my OWN bag of donut holes on the way to church on Sunday. It's REALLY all about the little things : )!

Lovin the sprinkles!

On Saturday, Wes took Ella to a local water park that is perfect for children. There is no pool, but a large area with buckets that fill up and spill over in the air, and sprinklers, and such. She just loves it. I stayed home with the twins, but when they got back she still wanted to play in the water, so we got out this topsy-turvy flower that you connect to the hose and it sprays water everywhere. The blue bucket you see is our version of a swimming pool (ha-ha!), no really, I need to make a trip to Wal-Mart for a baby pool. I'm thinking that will be our upcoming weekend outing.

Wes caught this the other day while Ella was watching Elmo Goes Potty. I hope she was taking notes...at least it looks like she was.

AND...here are my munchkins. I don't think they ever sit down. They are SO busy, all-the-time!! We were getting ready for baths in this picture, and for whatever reason, our girls are all fascinated with the bathroom. I'm sure we're not the only ones. We have TWO toilet bandits on our hands...flushing the toilet, playing in the trash, playing with toilet paper- really loads of fun : ). Of course, I had to get out the toilet lock so that no one falls in...but they just think it's the best thing ever.

We started giving the twins their bath together. Ruby was not so fond of the water at first, but she is starting to really like it now. I must say it's not the easiest thing, doing two at once...I know it will get easier as they get older (or maybe I shouldn't make that statement), but I would not attempt if Wes was not present - for safety reasons. BUT, they both really enjoy playing with the bath toys and splashing around.

Ella LOVES taking a bath. It's pretty much a fight to get her OUT of the tub every time. We used to give her a bath first, and then I have started doing her last so that she would have more time to play. However, she is always saying..."My turn...my turn, Momma" when I am giving the twins a bath.

A little side note of randomness....

I just finished reading Bringing Up Girls by James Dobson. If you have a daughter, or know someone who does or if you are a grandparent or involved in a precious girls life in some way...YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!! I read it in a week...but could have read it in a day if given the time and privacy. Since bringing our daughters into this world, I have found my heart SO heavy and burdened for their safety and well-being with the world we live in today. This book arms parents (or those acting as a guardian) with the tools to insure your daughters grow to be lovely, God-fearing, Christ-centered, women. Aside from pointing out the ultimate fact that our daughters need a relationship with Christ...Dobson drives home the reality, the absoluteness, that WE, the parents, are THE DIFFERENCE in our daughters' lives. This is a MUST read.

Well, I hope you and your families are enjoying a little R&R, even if just being able to put your feet up for a few minutes while enjoying a nice Summer evening.

Happy Summer, Ya'll!

Keep the Faith,

Special Weekend

We had such a wonderful weekend and Memorial Day. It was extra special because the girls' "Neena" (my Mom), came for a visit. We spent A LOT of time outside playing and also made two trips to the park....which was very special!! It's rather difficult for us to make it to the park when it's just me and the girls. Things that I used to NOT think twice about with just Ella (trips to the grocery store, running errands, eating out, going to the park, etc) have become a planned event. I REALLY hate this, but it is what it is. So, needless to say, it was SOOO nice to have some help AND the ability to get out of the house for some fun outings.

Ella and Neena building a sand castle

Molly just a swingin'

As you might imagine having two new "adventurous" walkers is quite a challenge. Ella LOVES to play outside, but it's hard to play with Ella and watch the twins. They seem to like playing on a blanket in the grass...and they DO NOT like touching the grass...so it kind of solves the dilemma of them wondering off...atleast for the moment : )!

Ruby, rocking

Ruby, rocking again

Molly, swinging - Molly LOVES to swing, Ruby hates it!!!

Lovin this park and the play equipment - almost completely shaded by beautiful trees

On Memorial Day we headed out to a wonderful farm to pick fresh strawberries. It was SO much fun and it actually turned out to be a perfect day for it because it wasn't too hot.

SOOOO YUMMY!!! Puts the strawberries in the grocery store to COMPLETE shame!!

Neena and Ella before we had to head to the airport

We love you, Neena! Thank you for coming to stay a few days.

Our Sunday church service was dedicated to all of the men and woman that have served or are currently serving our WONDERFUL country. I am OVERWHELMED with gratitude for their sacrifice. I whole-heartedly understand that EVERY freedom I enjoy was and is bought at a price. That my salvation, my soul, was bought at the price of Jesus Christ suffering and dying for me, and that the free country I live in was bought at the price of countless men and woman giving their lives so that I...and my girls could experience freedom. I'll get off my soap box in a second, but many of our freedoms are being squandered. PLEASE, PLEASE appreciate and defend these freedoms that we have been given. Show respect and teach your children how to respect. Honor our servicemen and woman. Honor our country.

Here's to a wonderful Summer!!

Keep the Faith,

Springtime

Lots has happened in our house over the last few weeks...or months, rather. I don't know who was kidding when I decided to start a blog. Not that I am any busier than all of the other mothers out there...I just can't seem to post as often as I would like.

Molly and Ruby turned one at the end of March and my parents (Neena and Papa) came in town for a few days around their birthday. I had a small gathering to celebrate. It was actually Easter weekend...so everything was Easter themed of course.

I had little cupcake toppers personalized with their names with a little bunny or Easter egg. They were so cute!

The girls weren't all too excited about the cake. They had a few bites and then moved on to better things...

I made the cupcakes and their little "smash" cakes. It reminded me of baking little cakes in a mini bake oven when I was young...so fun. I had big plans to make another "big" cake like Ella's, but I decided to keep it simple.

Opening gifts, so fun!

Ella girl doing her favorite thing...eating a "special surprise" she calls it.

We are spending pretty much every pretty day outside playing in the sandbox. Thanks, Grandma Diane! Ella could REALLY live outside. She just L-O-V-E-S it!

AND...my munchkins..,are walking!! GASP...I know. Of course they are a little wobbly, but getting better everyday. I'm not sure how I thought it would get easier after the first year. One Mom + 3 curious WALKING kiddos = TOTAL CHAOS!!! BUT as you might be able to gather seeing the above photos...I wouldn't give it up for A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G!!!!

Hope ya'll are having a fun-filled Spring!!

Keep the Faith,