Little Blips

Our dryer broke down last week, and I'm ashamed to say that it threw me for quite the loop. I was in the middle of painting our guest room, had spent waaaaay too much time at Home Depot, and my poor girls were fending for themselves while I painted.

On a tired evening, I was downstairs trying to redeem myself by keeping up with the laundry at night. I had neglected my normal Monday 3 load day. The dryer shook violently before it died.

We tried everything to revive it, but it was really dead. I tried to be brave, shrug it off, and clean up my kitchen for the night. (By the way, the dishwasher was planning to malfunction in the morning).

So in the midst of half painted walls and piles of wet laundry, I let the frustration take over. I spoke sharply to the other three unsuspecting members of my family. I walked around in a "mood" showing my displeasure.

Now, a week later, I have a dryer again. The dishwasher is fixed, the guest room is painted, and I realize how very insignificant those little blips in my life were. I'm so glad we have a merciful God who forgives.

And Lena won't let me forget my little lesson:

"Remember you were in such a bad mood Mommy? And remember how you had to say sorry because you didn't have a happy heart?"

Yes, I remember.

Blessings

Today my sweet girls played dress up almost all day long. E and I gifted them with a big hatbox full of clothes, hats, and shoes as one of their Christmas gifts. Today, Lena dragged the box out and emptied it on the floor. I had to giggle as I watched her transform her sister into a thing of beauty. As I watched them at play, I thought back to myself as a little girl.

I used to wonder what my life would be like when I was "all grown up." I wondered if God would send me a husband, and if I would have children.

Remembering this makes me all the more thankful for what I have. What a blessing to be able to watch my little girls play dress up. I couldn't help but reach out and give Lena a squeeze as she teetered by in some fluffy slippers.

This stage of parenting is so fulfilling and yet somewhat frightening. The girls are little sponges, and they want to be like mama. When I am doing my hair, they stand behind me in wide eyed amazement. They pay attention to what mama reads, looks at, says, and does.

What a responsibility for E and I. May we glorify God!

Winter Wonderland

We've had a LOT of snow this winter. The above picture was taken after our first major storm. By the end of it all, the Valentine's Day flag you can see in the picture, was completely covered with snow!
What is it about a snowstorm?

Is it the wonder in their eyes?

Or is it the fun we have inside, burrowing under blankets, cooking up a storm, reading, watching movies, taking long naps, and drinking coffee and hot chocolate?



Maybe it is the time that we emerge into the winter wonderland, shoveling, laughing, building, until we are too cold to stay any longer?

Is it that Daddy gets to stay home with us?

I even enjoy those couple of days before an impending storm, the time when I stockpile groceries, books and movies, making sure we are all set for being stuck in the house.

Spring is just around the corner though, and I do look forward to being about to get out and about a bit more.

Hope you are all well.
Love from Us.

We made it through three nights and four days without Daddy! This was the first time I have been apart from E this long, and I am so glad he is safely home again. Selena and I made this calendar while she was blinking back tears after saying goodbye. Each morning she crossed off another day on the calendar. Shana was very sad because she couldn't understand where Daddy was, and kept asking for him.

While my husband was away, I grew to appreciate even more what an active role he plays in our lives, and how he makes our lives brighter. I also grew to appreciate Selena as a big sister to Shana, and mommy's helper.

One of my friends, Sara, came and stayed for one of the nights, and made the time go so much faster. She colored with Lena, read to her, and built towers out of blocks.


Hope you are all well!

Preschool Plans

I have been a terrible blogger this summer, both in posting and in keeping up with other's blogs. I keep intending to write, but then there are so many things to do! I usually settle in with the cold weather, and that is just around the corner.

I can't tell you how I'm feeling about my two girls turning three and one. I am excited that they are growing up, but really, how did that happen? Lena is doing so many things, getting so independent and losing her shyness. My little Shana is walking ... walking. Every night I walk into the girl's room, look at the two tousled heads on their beds, and thank God for His abundant blessings to us.

So we are almost ready for preschool. Lena will be three next week, and I've told her that we'll start school when she turns three. Almost every day, she spins around in a circle as quickly as she can, "Mommy, I'm turning three!"

September is our month for apples. Each month will have a different theme.

Our Bible verse for the month: Proverbs 25:11 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver."

Poem: "Apples big, apples small. Guess what? I like them all!"

Song: "Here we go round the apple tree, the apple tree, the apple tree. Here we go round the apple tree -- on a frosty morning." Here we ... climb the ladder, pick the apples, wash the apples, peel the apples, cook the apples."

Books: The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree - Gail Gibbons
Apple Picking Time -- Michele B. Slawson
Johnny Appleseed --Steven Kellogg
How Do Apples Grow? -- Betsy Maestro

Field Trip: Apple picking at a farm nearby

Concepts:
Calendar Concepts
Bible: "A Bible Alphabet" along with "A Bible Alphabet Activity Book" by Alison BrownSequence (first, second, third)
Review Colors
Reading Comprehension
Sorting
Matching
Review Same and Different
Review letter sounds
Hooked on Phonics

So that's our September! I'll be back next weekend with Lena's birthday letter. Hope you are all well and that your summers have been wonderful. I'll be catching up on all of your blogs soon!

See.Taste.Hear.Touch.Smell.

It is 4:49pm.
Wednesday afternoon.

I SEE
One curly headed girl playing "tea" with Mommy's teapot and a sugar bowl.
One precious baby drinking from her bottle while watching every move of her big sister.
A storm brewing outside. A darkening sky.
The flicker of a candle on our dining room table.
Crayon marks on a white toy box.

I TASTE
White chocolate chips melting on my tongue.

I HEAR
A little pretender murmuring to herself as she plays.
The rumblings of thunder.
The crock pot lid as the air pressure from the bubbling cheesy macaroni lifts the lid.
The subtle tapping sounds of my fingers against the keys.

I TOUCH (feel)
The warmth of the laptop on my lap.
Happy and content.
The beginnings of hunger. Glad that dinner is coming soon.

I SMELL
Macaroni and cheese.
The scent of Yankee Home Sweet Home.

And it is a home sweet home ...

Goal Check

goals

In January, I posted a list of some goals that I had for the next 6 months.

Here's how I'm doing - trust me, this is humbling. Let me start by saying that it would have been better if I had even consistently looked at my list.

Continue to do preschool at least 3 times a week with Selena: This I've definitely kept up with. Last week, Lena came down with croup so we didn't have preschool and Shae just came down with it last night, so we may be missing most of this week as well.

Be more organized when it comes to our office: Not doing well at all with this. I think I kept very organized for about three months, but then went through a bout of hip pain and just. gave. up.

It isn't too bad though! I just need to go through and sort some papers, and we'll be neat again in there. The problem with the office is that when entering our house, it is the first room you'll pass! If the window is open, and it often is during this season, you can see it from outside.

Get back to menu planning: Yes - doing this, and it is such a help financially and mentally!

Pack lunches for hubby 4 times a week: Yes, I'm doing this. We're also eating healthier, and drinking loads of water lately. We'd gotten into quite a soda habit, and now I don't crave it at dinner time anymore.

Continue Shana's nighttime sleep training (she now sleeps from 8:30 or 9pm to 4:00 - 5:00 and then back to sleep for two hours): Shana is doing pretty well, but it has been a real training experience. She now goes to bed 6:30-6:45 pm, and on a good night, she'll sleep until 5:00-5:30. Right now, the poor darling is next to me in the swing sleeping with the humidifier on because she can't breathe when she is flat. Having a baby with croup is so scary. I was holding her last night in the bathroom with the shower on full blast crying into her hair because she was struggling to take a breath.

Get the girls to sleep in the same room: We're getting there. Before they were sick, they spent some nights together and it went relatively well.

Get Lena completely potty trained (she wears underwear for half a day now): Almost there, almost there.

Scripture memorization (for myself!): I'm ashamed to say that I have neglected this goal for myself. I have been focusing on it more for Lena. Back on track, Beverly!!

Restart my prayer journal and keep it up!! I've been jotting prayer requests down and definitely remembering to pray for them. I need to get an actual journal that I can record the requests in, but I've been doing pretty well with this goal.

Ok, I don't feel too badly after going through this list. There are some things that I really need to work on, but generally we're getting there. How are you doing with your to-do items?

Ever Striving

How thankful I am that we have a God who is just, but merciful as well. Being a wife and mom has made me more aware of where I am lacking and how I need to keep striving.

I think the hardest thing for me right now is getting up early. I so long to be like the Proverbs 31 woman who "rises while it is yet night." I have read some of your blogs and know that many of you are doing so well with this! If you are either doing well in this area, or struggling some like I am, I would love to hear from you!!

Here's our evening to morning routine:

7 PM: The girls now go to bed at the same time, Lena sometimes slightly later then Shae. Lena so looks forward to her time with Daddy, and talks about it off and on throughout the day. After dinner and devotions, the two of them usually have playtime. I clean up the kitchen, make lunch for the next day and make a pot of decaf coffee. Shae and I then have a few moments to relax, cuddle (which she doesn't really like to do too much unless she's sleepy), and I give her her last feeding.

7:30PM-10:30PM:When the girls are safely in bed, I look forward to my time with my husband! We talk, drink a cup of decaf, take care of household business, and watch a movie at times. In the summer, we are sometimes outside talking to the neighbors. I'm telling you ladies, when I don't get this time, I miss it soooo much.

I guess all of this is to say that I don't really want to go to bed any earlier.

Anywhere from 4:30-5:30am: Shana wants to eat - she'll go back to sleep until about 6:30.

6:15 ish AM: Husband is up, I am usually struggling to even want to open my eyes. What I wish I did was get up to make him a hot breakfast with a bright smile and happy inside!

He rarely gets a hot breakfast during the week if he leaves before 7am - I will sometimes make something the night before, but have fallen off the path with this too!!

7:30AM: If husband is still home, we eat breakfast together, but if not, I am up with the girls to start our day.

By the way, I do get quiet time with the Lord! Lena has quiet reading time at 8:30-9:30 in her room. Shana naps at the same time. So I usually have an hour to myself in the morning.

I am NOT a morning person, friends. I am perfectly happy after I down that first cup of coffee, but before that, I am a shell of my real self! Any ideas? I want to do better with this.

Husband and Shana are ever so happy in the morning. They smile and laugh to welcome the day. Lena and I are ve-ry quiet for an hour or so.

Also, I'm looking for recipes for make ahead breakfasts. I may be a little delirious in the morning, but I am perfectly able to turn my oven on and warm something up!

Christmas Cookie Fun

Baking with Mommy is so much fun!

We danced around the kitchen singing, "Ta-daa!"

Lena was amazed.
"Mommy, two rollers!"

Frequent breaks to kiss baby Shae Shae were taken

All ready to paint the cookies with icing!

Finished product to serve to Daddy. I think my little helper may have taken a couple of bites!

A Little of This and a Little of That

Thanksgiving was full of lovely smells and tastes. We visited Mr. S's side of the family. Much time was spent in the kitchen talking, cooking and tasting. So enjoyable ...

tired after all the festivities

We've been "Christmasfying" our house, and having fun in the process. We got a "real" tree for the first time, which was fun for Lena. We made it a fun process, and stopped at Smokin' Lil's afterward to bring home some yummy Southern BBQ.

I wanted to let her help me trim the tree, but abandoned that idea after about ten minutes of too much fun! While she was upstairs snuggly wuggly in her chair watching Little Bear, I snuck into the girls room and put up their little tree. Ah - it does resemble Charlie Brown's Christmas tree, but it is special nonetheless. We weren't disappointed at Lena's reaction when she saw her special surprise. After kissing the tree and running around her room in delight, she pulled at Shana's sleeper, saying "Look baby Shae Shae, its for you!!"

We had a brunch at our house last weekend, and my sis-in-law gifted me with a couple of recipes from her never ending supply of cookbooks and magazines. I wanted to share this recipe with you ...

Upside-Down Banana-Walnut French Toast Recipe 1 hour 15 min prep

An ooey-gooey do-ahead (1-24 hours) egg bake that will knock your socks off.

SERVES 10

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

1/4 cup corn syrup

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

3 medium bananas, sliced

1 loaf sliced unfrosted firm cinnamon-swirl bread

6 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Spray bottom and sides of a 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray or grease with shortening. In a large bowl, stir together first four (4) ingredients then gently stir in the bananas. Spoon this mixture into the baking dish.

2. Reserving heels of bread for another use (feed the birds, they love cinnamon bread) arrange 2 layers of bread on banana mixture, tearing bread to fit if needed.

3. In a medium-size bowl, beat eggs, milk and vanilla until well mixed. Pour over bread. Cover tightly and refrigerate at least 1 hour but no longer than 24 hours.

4. Heat oven to 325°. Uncover casserole and bake 45-50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve portions upside-down, spooning sauce from bottom of dish over each serving.

We're still spending a lot of time at home. Shana has gotten sick twice already, and she is only 8 weeks old. It has been really cold too. We are finding plenty to do at home. Lately it has been a never ending round of tea parties. Lena, basket over her arm, cooks many delicacies that Shana and I are obligated to try.

happy Shae Shae

Shana is growing quickly and I have learned to cherish these times. I don't know when Lena grew so fast. I must have blinked -- so I'm keeping my eyes open this time!


Hope your home is full of love and warmth and wonderful memories this week ...

A little Update on Us

I just wanted to stop in and give everyone a little update on our family. We are starting to get ready for the new member of our family.

For those of you who don't know me personally, I am a bit of a whirlwind at times! I give myself lists of self-imposed obligations and run around like a chicken with her head chopped off trying to fulfill them. Just this past weekend, I realized (ok - my husband helped me to realize) that we simply weren't going to get all of these things finished in the 4-6 weeks we have left.

We prioritized my lists, and I prayed a few times. I feel so much better now! I have calmed down, and I'm sleeping at night again.

Lena is busy helping Mommy fold little onesies and gowns and putting flowers on the wall of her room. We went and got wooden letters which I am painting, so both girls can have their names on the wall. She is also busy being a Lil' Kicker on her new soccer team.

Pardon the darkness of the video - all of the basement lights weren't on!

Daddy is studying, working, calming Mommy down, taking Lena to soccer, carrying baskets of laundry up and down the stairs and putting up shelves in the garage.

And - fall is almost here! I was so excited to put mums on our front step, take out my leaf decorations, and start stocking up on yummy delicious scented candles.

When we get a taste of a cool breeze, I feel so excited and happy inside. I know it is rather silly, but I just love this time of the year. It reminds me of such happy things: my engagement, wedding, and Selena's birth.

How are all of you? Sending love from my house to yours.

These Days Are Filled ...

with ...


prayer and hope

reflecting on the sovereignty of God


working on VBS


enjoying "just Selena" time


organizing and planning


fun family fridays and saturdays

and dreaming of our new baby.

These are the things that have kept me from updating regularly. I just wanted to say a quick hello from my little home. I'm having some pregnancy associated sciatica again, so I'm trying to rest up for the weekend to come.

Much love to all of you.

Homey Home

No matter where she has been, Selena is always happy to come "homey home." When she talks about her extended family, she wants to know if they are "homey home." I love hearing her happy voice proclaiming that we are home as we turn onto our street.

A book I am reading, Walking with the Women of the Bible by Elizabeth George, says:

"A Christian home is earth's sweetest picture of heaven and a welcome relief in our stressed and weary society..."

We are in the process of organizing our little haven. I must admit, it has been humbling to watch my husband organizing the refrigerator and bedroom closet. I feel like these are things that I should have been on top of. But these are all learning experiences! I thank God that he is so willing to pitch in and help.

Yesterday, Daddy came home early from work. I felt so happy inside as I looked around our home. A thunderstorm was brewing outside, but inside, the flame of a candle danced merrily. As the wind whipped loudly around the house, a pot of salted water started to bubble on the stove. Our version of bolognese sauce was simmering, as the sounds of Lena and Daddy quoting Mary Poppins floated into the kitchen:

Daddy: "If you invest ...

Lena: "... your tuppence wisely in da bank!"

Together: "Safe! and! Sound!" (laughter from both parties)

I knew I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but Homey Home.

Things I'm Lovin'

About this new big girl bed thing:

1. Being able to kiss her goodnight before I go to bed.

2. Putting a little surprise pile of books at the foot of her bed so that she can read in bed after a nap.

3. Teaching her to straighten up her bed (we try anyway!)

4. Quiet reading time is now quiet room time, but it is even more wonderful now that she has a choice of things to do.

Things still on the burner for this summer:

1. Deciding whether or not to nix the pacifier before baby comes or let her still have it at night and naptime to get her through the rough patches. I'm thinking ahead to mommy - in - the - hospital times! Any advice??

2. We've been talking a lot about the potty. She goes occasionally, but I'd like to try to conquer this before there is an infant around.

Things that are status quo:

1. Our begonia is still living, and thriving!!

2. Spring cleaning is going to drift into summer :-)

3. Mr. S is doing a lot of organizing, and I'm sooooo thankful for his help.

4. Sciatica is on again, off again ... but we are doing well with it. Lena is helping me pick things up off of the floor so I don't have to bend over. She's so grown up now!

5. Mr. S and I have had such nice times together lately - whether it be cooking in our snug kitchen, talking until late in the night wrapped in blankets, or laughing until we feel sick. (If you know Mr. S well, you'll know that he loves to be funny, and his wife loves to laugh at him)! It has been really refreshing to me - and I'm thankful for it.

Just a brief update - hope everyone is well!!!!!

Updates

What is going on at our house today...

What we are doing:

Lena: taking wooden letter blocks out of a basket and lining them up on the couch

talking and singing

spinning and singing

"helping" Mommy by taking clean clothes out of her drawers and putting them in a basket

"helping" Mommy by organizing the books on the bookshelf

quiet reading time

a comfy, cozy nap in "pitty pitty crib"

taking things out of her toybox and putting them back in

coloring

storytime (library books) with mama

stacking pegs and singing

playing with foam letters

Mommy: blogging and ironing (not simultaneously - I'm good but not that good!)

making dinner

changing towels and bed linens

putting clothes away

praying for Daddy to have a good day and to come home safely in the rain

dusting

folding clothes

starting a recipe notebook (Mothers' Day Gift)

taking a nice comfy nap with an ice pack on that pesky SI joint

missing Daddy

taking the clean clothes out of the luandry basket and putting them back in Lena's drawers

guiding Lena to help with placing all the books back on the bookshelf

giving Lena a bath

paying bills

cutting coupons and planning a grocery shopping excursion for tomorrow

mopping floor

stealing some moments to read

Daddy: in his office doing what land surveyor's do ( a lot, I assure you)

feeling tired and most likely, hungry

looking forward to seeing his favorite women (just a guess here!)

What we are reading:

Psalm 150 (Lena chiming in on "Praise the Lord!)

Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free - Nancy Leigh DeMoss

God's Handmaiden - Gilbert Morris

Walking With the Women of the Bible - Elizabeth George (another Mom's day gift)

We're Going on a Bear Hunt - Michael Rosen

What to Expect When Mommy's Having a Baby - Heidi Murkoff

Spot's Colors, Shapes and Numbers - Eric Hill

Noah's Ark - Jerry Pinkney

Who's Knees are These? - Jabari Asim

What we are watching:

Lena - The Letter Factory (unbelievably, no Mary Poppins today)

Mommy - Love's Unfolding Dream (I'm almost through all my ironing!)

The current fragrance in our home:

Vanilla Hazelnut

What's on the stove:

Mr. S still isn't able to eat anything too chewy, so tonight we are having Easy Shepherd's Pie.

What we are listening to:

Hide Em' In Your Heart - Steve Green

(but I think I'm entitled to at least a half hour of Il Divo at some point in the day!)

Classical Guitar for Lena's nite nite music

what's going on at your house???

Puh-leeeeease Help Me!!!!

Here we go again! Okay, my short term memory isn't quite at its best right now. But this is really ridiculous. Its ok - you can agree with me. Oh wait, I haven't told you the story yet.

1. Took a trip to the Farmer's Market today like the happy little housewife I am.
2. Hubby is away for three days and I wanted to give Lena a special treat.
3. She loves flowers. Loves them. Every time we leave the house, she says goodbye to the daffodils in the front yard. She says good morning and good night to them too.
4. I am not the gardening type, and I have the most purple thumb on the planet. (Isn't that the opposite of green on the color wheel?) But I love flowers too!!
5. I followed these really cool looking "garden-savvy" ladies around hopefully without them realizing it.
6. I got the same flowers they did. They are so pretty! I had never heard of this type of flower before. I thought maybe Lena could care for them herself - with the appropriate purple-thumb supervision of course!
7. By the time I got into the car, I was mostly sure of the name of the flowers.
8. By the time we got home, I had no idea what kind of flowers we had just bought, and there is no identification on them whatsoever.

I NEED SOME HELP!! ANY GREEN THUMBS OUT THERE??

p.s. these flowers also come in red, pink, and white

Valentine's Day and Organized Freezers

Its those little things that make life romantic! When I was a teenager - I can't imagine thinking that something like an organized freezer could make my heart go pitter patter, but it does.

Mr. S says jokingly that every day is Valentine's Day in our house. But he isn't far from the truth. I have trouble keeping the fridge and freezer organized, so yesterday after he brought groceries in for me, he took everything out of the freezer and organized it by type of food. Now that's romantic!

And mom, if you are looking at the foil wrapped package on the top shelf, that's friendship bread for you! I forgot to give it to you on Sunday.

I **love** you, hubby of mine.

My little confession

Friends, I have a problem. I have become a professional "vacuumer." I just looooooove to run my Hoover across the floor!

**Note** - I am not a perfectionist when it comes to being clean or neat, it is just vaccuuming that makes my heart sing.

Do you have a household chore like this? A chore that isn't a chore to you? Lately I sprinkled a little apple cinnamon scent into my vacuum bag and ... oh it has just been lovely! Everytime I vacuum, I wonder what that wonderful smell is. And then I remember, and I vacuum for a little bit longer then I need to.

**Second note** - I promise that if this gets any worse, I will seek help (although my husband thinks I am already at that point)

Please tell me I am not alone!

A busy bee

A little girl rose early in the morning to prepare breakfast for her momma. Donning the apron and chef's hat given to her by PopPop, she hustled and bustled.Her kitchen was topsy - turvy, but no matter!

She carefully selected her ingredients. and placed her creation in the oven.

What a busy-bee!

Hope you enjoy, Momma!

Little comforter

We have been struggling with sickness in our family. Mr. S and Lena have been under the weather for about two weeks now. Consequently, we have been staying indoors.


My dearest daughter and I are quite stir-crazy - and it is making both of us irritable.


Fighting with weariness yesterday, I slumped against the couch and closed my eyes for a moment. I was on the floor playing peg board with Selena. We were stacking the pegs, and I had two in my closed fist.


I noticed that she stopped playing, and through my partly closed eyes I saw her peering at me with concern. She gently opened my hand, pulling on my fingers one by one. She took a peg from my hand and held it right in front of my eyes.


"Okay Momma!" she said, "Awwww Momma."


She briefly laid her head against mine - no matter that she injured my nose in the process - and then looked at me closely.


"Mommy is all better!" I said with a big smile, pulling her close for a hug.

She seemed quite pleased with herself, and I do thank God for my little comforter!

May God continue to build that nurturing spirit in her.
.