27 February 2009

protective

The other day, Madeline bumped her head somewhere on the couch and started crying. All of a sudden I look over and see Grant walk over to the couch and start pounding on it, saying, "Don't hit my sister!"

26 February 2009

best day ever

Madeline blurted out, "Today is the best day I ever had!"
I asked her why, wondering what was special about our very ordinary day.
"I don't know...it just is!" She couldn't find the words, but I reflected on what was great.

Breakfast together.
Park and picnic together.
Reading and rest time together.
Library visit.
Singing class.
Watching "Annie" together for the first time.

I can understand why it was a fun day, but the best day ever?
She has her reasons, and for now, I'll just bask in the glow of her excitement for today!

25 February 2009

Madeline's wish

She tells me this morning, "Mom, I wish I could take God to Disneyland and He could meet all the princesses!"

24 February 2009

kite maker


-"Mommy, can I make a kite?"
-"Sure!"

She gets out the scissors, tape, paper, markers, crayons and hums while she begins creating what looks beautiful in her mind. In the end, she decides that it's not a kite, but a decoration for our house.

no feet on the table? ha!



23 February 2009

"Mommy, I do wear my glasses!"

Madeline's Mommy Assessment!




1. What is something mom always says to you?
Are you gonna live? Because when I get an ouchie, you just want to say that just for fun.

2. What makes mom happy?
When we give her luvies.

3. What makes mom sad?
When we be mean to you.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
When she tickles me.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
She liked to play with her little sister.

6. How old is your mom?
32 and a half

7. How tall is your mom?
uhhhh...medium?

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Read all day.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
She has time by herself.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Being a princess!

11. What is your mom really good at?
Telling about feelings.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Telling stories.

13. What does your mom do for a job?
Teaches piano.

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
Salad and broccoli.

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
That she's so beautiful.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Strawberry Shortcake, because a long time ago she gave us strawberries.

17. What do you and your mom do together?
We have special time with dollies and stuff.

18. How are you and your mom the same?
That we have green pretty eyes with black eyelashes.

19. How are you and your mom different?
Cause she has brown hair and I have blonde.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Because she told me that she loves me.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
That he sasses her alot!

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
To Bible study.

22 February 2009

my 1/2 birthday


I love the fact that i married into a family that celebrates the 1/2's in my life! Madeline proudly announces that I am now 32 and a half! Thank you, sweet family (and Teseena too!), for a very unexpectedly special day!

21 February 2009

haircut time!



I have been looking at Evan's long locks lately
and have been wondering how I'm going to
get him to let me cut his hair...well, after we
wrestled it out and I finally won, I found an
even sweeter big boy face underneath all that hair!

20 February 2009

sweetness





still learning

Being a mom is more than I ever imagined...it requires more of myself, places in my heart that I never knew existed. It is what makes me belly laugh out loud and cry so hard that it hurts. It is interwoven in the depths of my soul, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The last several weeks I have left me exhausted with runny noses, whopping cough, vomit (no need to elaborate on this one), headaches, body aches, sore throats, changing sheets, washing sheets, putting sheets back on, taking them off to wash them again, going to bed, waking up listening to Evan talk/sing/cry for two hours, going back to sleep for a couple of hours, going to the doctor, waiting for an hour while Evan tantrums on the floor, going to the pharmacy, driving Madeline to singing class and wondering how I'm going to entertain two boys for one whole hour, and the list could grow and grow. I can't believe how the days fly by when there's so much going on....so many unplanned events and glitches. Which is just part of life, but so hard for me to adjust to sometimes. On the one hand, I enjoy having spontaneity and those lovely moments that come out of nowhere and on the other hand, I thrive on having a schedule.

I hit a low this week when I realized (once again) that I can't do this by myself. Nathan reminded me that I need to pray and ask the Lord what I'm to be doing each day with these beautiful children He's blessed me with. In fact, I find that my best days consist of me asking Him each moment that I remember, what it is He would have me to do with them. And those are the days I play more, laugh more, stop worrying so much about the house/chores, and just E-N-J-O-Y these moments. I sometimes cry when I see pictures of when Madeline was such a little baby. I miss those days, and it's only been a few years. How much more will I miss them when they are adolescents? I don't want to miss out on today because I am too hung up on details, details, details.

I'm trying to pray more. I'm asking the Lord to show me how to use my time. I don't want to look back on this time with regret, even in the middle of the chaos and sleeplessness. I know it will pass, but I want to pass through each stage with courage and faith in the Lord, a stronger faith than in the previous stage. I recently attended the Wholehearted Mother's conference and one of the things that stood out was how she pursues a daily life of faith with her children. Perfection is not the goal; building children of strong faith in Christ and a desire to walk with Him their whole lives - that is the goal. That is the point of this life. Not to be the perfect mom. But to be their mom, to the best of my ability, and to leave the rest up to the Lord. To believe that He will pick up where I'm unable to go.

19 February 2009

sunshine day








a busted lip

Yep...Evan got his first busted lip...right after he walked up to Grant and whacked him on the head as hard as he could, then Grant whacked him back.

The only good news: Evan didn't whack Grant for the rest of the afternoon. That's improvement. Not sure if letting Grant whack him back is the best answer, but Evan doesn't seem to care as much when I correct him as when his brother lets him know he's had enough!

04 February 2009

relaxed

Grant giving me that handsome boy look of his...



Grant enjoying his silly foam...


Madeline was so sick she fell asleep on the couch for 3 hours (while piano students came in and out)...she was exhausted!

03 February 2009

potty training...

Has officially begun! Actually, I'm the one who is trained to ask if Grant has to go, run him as fast as I can to the bathroom, listen to him do his business, wipe him, wash his hands and give him a chocolate chip reward and I'm training well! But I couldn't resist showing him off in his cute big boy underwear!


I always tell him "Daddy wears big boy underwear, not diapers! Papa wears big boy underwear, Pops wears big boy underwear, Poppy wears big boy underwear..." Hoping he'll want to be part of this big boy underwear crowd.