Trick or Treat

My little 50's girls were in their element last week with all the Trick or Treat festivities. Any excuse to dress up is their kind of fun!

I can't believe how fast Fall is zooming past us. In no time I will be putting up the Christmas decorations! I can't wait for Thanksgiving, Christmas and then the birth of Baby #3. There is SO much to look forward to!

Fair Day 2008

Last Monday was FAIR DAY! It was so fun to experience it through the eyes of a child....

F- Fun, fun, and more FUN!

A- A LOT of sugar.

I- "I want to stay here forever!" Maddie cried!

R- Rides that make you laugh AND cry!

D- "Do we get to come back next year?"
A- Amazing oohs and aaahs where ever we turned.
Y- "Yes, yes, YES! This is the best day EVER!" Ally exclaimed.


The excitement that they felt could not be contained. The energy and excitement they felt would bounce back and forth between them until you couldn't help but feel the child-like wonder yourself. They were on a natural high of cotton candy, games, prizes won, rides and face painting- tell me what more could a little one imagine!
This WAS the best day ever!

It is hard to describe the amount of fun the girls had at the fair. For Maddie, this was her 2nd time and she knew a little of what to expect but for Ally, it was ALL new for her and her eyes were huge the whole time, taking it all in. Including the rides. A few tears fell from her big eyes after she thought she really wanted to ride like Maddie and then when it actually happened....she had changed her mind....poor thing!

But then there were the rides that KEPT a smile on her face.....And it all ended with sopping wet feet that looked like really pale "old man" feet! They were the funniest looking feet that I have ever seen and when we saw them on the train ride home, it sent us all into uncontrollable giggles. Again, poor Ally!
It was a really fun day! I loved to be able to take both Maddie and Ally and spend this fun time with them before life gets busy with a new little one. And I am so glad that they both showed me how to experience it all through the eyes of a child.....what could be better!

In an Instant

Isn't it amazing how God can change our life in an instant....

One minute we are blessed with TWO beautiful girls and the next minute we find out that we are actually blessed with THREE!! Yes, THREE! Who knew that all of our three bedrooms upstairs would be filled with light pinks and dark pinks and hot pinks (and yes, Maddie, LIGHT GREEN too!)



As I checked on the girls tonight as they were sleeping, one of my favorite parts of the day, I couldn't help but wonder how it would feel to make my "rounds" to the three bedrooms instead of just the two....This is the time of night that my heart just swells with love and amazing contentment as I looked at their sleeping faces cuddled up under their blankets, stuffed poodles, raccoons and kitties, beautifully tranquil in their "warm spots." They are safe and calm and peaceful and they are the most beautiful that I have ever seen them. And to know that I will have one more incredible face to stare at is an unbelievable thought to me. I can't wait to experience my bed time routine with yet ANOTHER precious GIRL.

It is getting late and I am mentally running through my checklist before bed....lunches are packed, clothes are laid out, backpacks are accounted for and all THREE of our girls are tucked safe in their "warm spots"....check, check, check, and CHECK! In an instant, it went from two to three and I have never been happier!

1st Day of Kindergarten

Well, the day has come and with no tears, I might add. With jittery tummy's and the giddiness of what is in store for Maddie today, this was the start of our day:

5:45- Maddie wakes up and comes downstairs.....she is up but not really. She sleeps in our bed for a little bit until I get up at 6:20- Then she is REALLY UP!

7:00- "Let's go, Mom, I am going to be late!" she says! I respond that school isn't open yet and besides Ally isn't even up yet!

7:40- Pictures outside and then we are on our way. Maddie has a beaming smile on her face. "I am so glad that I am big now!" she says.



7:50- We have arrived at Armstrong Elementary! I have barely parked when Maddie exclaims, "Mommy, unlock the door, unlock the door, PLEASE unlock the door!"

7:52- Maddie sees her friend from Bearfoot, K.K., they are not in the same class but they walk in together chatting about their backpacks and hair. :-)

7:55- We say our goodbyes in the classroom, Maddie says "Hello" to her teacher and sits down at her table, across from our neighbor, Hudson, and is already laughing with him! Her beaming smile hasn't changed a bit from this morning, although she already looks bigger sitting in that classroom.

This year is full of change and excitement. Maddie is going to Kindergarten, the new baby is on the way, I will start working part time in order to pick up Maddie from school, and Ally will be starting a Mother's Day Out program at a local church next week while I work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My mind is reeling will all that I have to be thankful for right now. This is an amazing year and it is full of new things to come and I am ecstatic to see where this "path" takes us!

With a jittery tummy and the giddiness of what is in store for our family, I feel like it is the 1st day of Kindergarten for ME too! I don't know what to expect but I know that I will LOVE it!

Thinking about Maddie

(Maddie had spent the night at Poppy and Baba's. Ally was missing her and had been thinking about Maddie all morning....)

A quote from Ally this morning on our way to school~
"Maddie is WILD, wild like a wolf! AND a lion!"

Oh Ally! You hit the nail on the head! :-)

A Proud Mama

There are many reasons that I am proud of my girls that I have never written out for the "world" to see; however, today I am compelled to write about the recent events that have led to me think of how REALLY proud I am of both of them. Here is a proud Mama's take on it all....

An overview of the past week: It all starts with a game of hide and seek gone wrong...Ally knocked her front tooth back, on Maddie's knee; a 1st trip to the dentist, Ally didn't eat or drink (except very small sips) for almost THREE days, we were worried about dehydration, a trip to the Dr., she has strep, force-feeding her food and liquids AND medicine.....aaahhhh, she is FINALLY eating! Then an ear infection- all in less than a week- what is next!?!?

It was a traumatic week for Ally (and her mommy :-))but during it all she did better than I had expected. Her 1st trip to the dentist, although not under the circumstances that I was wanting, went remarkably well. Her tooth was sore and she wasn't swallowing but she cooperated, took her x-rays and let the Dr. look at her tooth. My sensitive, precious, funny little Ally was brave through it all, the dentist, the Dr. and back to the Dr. again. She is back to her old self and I am proud of the way she is handling her tooth in a "funny" position and all the medicine that she has to still take including ear drops, which until this time have always been hard for her to take. She is evolving into such a big girl with the way she has been handling certain situations and I am so proud of her. She still reverts to her old ways on occasion, like not wanting to go into her class this morning, but how wonderful it is to see her harnessing her emotions for the better.

And then there is Maddie....through Ally's trauma she stepped up her "game" as the big sister. When Ally was laying on the sofa, exhausted from no nourishment, she would kneel down in front of her to reason with her as only a big sister could. "Ally, I will give you a dollar if you drink something!" and "Ally, if you don't drink something, you will have to go to the hospital and you will cry and I don't want you to cry." She tried her best and was even frustrated when it didn't work. She wanted her old Ally back. (We all did!) Maddie reached out and tried to understand Ally's predicament and I am proud of this sweet spirit to her sister b/c I know that she would do this for any one in need.

I know that God put things in our life to remind us that He is there and to lean on Him through it all. It seems that when thing go astray, our human nature is to plan out what steps to take to fix the problem, instead of trusting God to take care of us and those we love. WE didn't get Ally to eat and drink again, the DR. didn't fix the problem but it was the many prayers offered up on Ally's behalf that made all the difference.

Maddie's Prayer: "Dear God, please help Ally to eat and drink again so she will not be sick anymore and please help her tooth to feel better. Amen" A simple prayer but exactly what Ally needed.

A proud Mama's prayer: "Dear God, thank YOU for blessing me with two precious, smart, amazing and testy :-) little girls who I feared that I would never have. They give me joy and fill my heart with a love that only comes from you. I feel blessed, in awe, loved and in love from all that you have given me. Thank you! Amen"

One, Two, THREE!

Good things that come in threes~

1. Fun Dip- My favorite childhood sugary treat that comes with THREE yummy flavors of cherry, grape and Apple/raspberry.

2. A good book has THREE parts, the beginning, the middle and the end!

3. An "eternity ring" has THREE diamonds representing the past, present and future!

4. The THREE stooges!

5. The THREE wise men.

6. The THREE Olympic medals~ Gold, Silver and Bronze.

7. A genie gives you THREE wishes in a fairy tale.

8. The THREE little pigs taught us a lesson.

9. The sun, the moon and the stars.

10. The Holy Trinity~ The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The number THREE has been consuming me, lately. Can you guess why? For some, you know the reason! Maddie, Ally and the sweet little baby "on the way" makes THREE! I am now 11 weeks and already counting down to the end of January. I am excited and nervous and in disbelief. We are really doing this again! My biggest worry???...how will I fit all the car seats/boosters in my car?!?!? These little things along with my "evening" sickness keep me up at night and keep my mind busy.

And the girls...Maddie and Ally have become so EASY...when did this happen? They fight just a little, Ally is basically out of her tantrum stage as it only rears its ugly head every once in a while, they go to bed WITHOUT getting back out- YEA!, they say yes ma'am and yes sir with only a little reminder at times, and they love helping Mommy clean!....sometimes! (Hey, I will take what I can get!) As with any child, they love to test and whine but they really have become these awesome little people! They are excited about the new baby; Ally wants a girl and Maddie wants a boy. They pray for the baby and for mommy's tummy to feel better every night and I always find it sweet when one of them forgets b/c it seems the other one always remembers the baby in their prayers.

My heart is full and my emotions are on overdrive.(There is so much to do!) This is an amazing time in our life. Diapers and all nighters are in our future and it IS scary b/c our life is so calm right now but it is also wonderful b/c we will see another life develop into something amazing. Thank the Lord for the good things that come in THREES!

Tulle, Makeup and Buns!

The girls have been taking dance at school and we had their dance recital the other day. (Maddie's 3rd and Ally's 1st) They were so excited to perform that they could hardly stand it! Here is a peak into their routines.


For Maddie, this is where she belongs....on stage. She runs to any stage at any time, whether it is the church stage or the stage at the book store, she is made to perform! I can't wait to see where this passion takes her.

I adore this picture! It is the perfect picture to show Ally's personality. She is a wonderful little NUT and she is always trying to make others laugh with her antics!And of course, we all did when she did this during her recital.

The recital is over and they both did amazing. This was Ally's first dance recital and we were so proud of how well she did following all the moves and even adding some of her OWN! :-) You did a great job, girls!

Encore! Encore! (clap, clap, clap)

The truth as I see it now.....

The normal truth of Mother's day is a day of warm and fuzzy feelings. Your kids are smiling extra wide smiles, excited to "celebrate" ANYTHING, your husband is covering you in cards and flowers and maybe trying his hand at breakfast and whispering to the kids to remember to be good for the WHOLE day....all of this is the norm for Mother's day. And the day started this way for me and then we got to church! You would think that this warm and fuzzy feeling would continue through out the day but Ha! not this Mother's day! And the truth is, maybe that isn't such a bad thing. :-)

The sermon was not focused on all a mom does for her family or all that she "puts up with", the sacrifices she makes or even all the time she spends cleaning and cleaning. :-)It was a challenge for us to be BETTER at what we do and in the ways we raise our children. "The time to teach them is NOW!"...this was the statement that stood out to me. At first I was taken off guard because my truth of Mother's day had changed. (Where was my warm and fuzzy sermon that gave me my pat on the back?!?!?) Just when I think that I had covered all my bases, a new truth is revealed, the wool falls from my eyes and I can see that there is still more that I can do for my children. And the more I think about it, the more it makes sense to me now...it was a perfect Mother's day sermon. What a better time to really look back at the way you are raising your children and understanding where you can improve to make sure that you are doing all you can for them than on the day that they are celebrating who YOU are to them.

We pray before every meal and before bedtime, we read bible stories and yes, God does make it into our conversation but is He our total focus in ALL things we do? Probably not. Do I stop to pray with them over the things that seems so small? No. Do they know that they can pray for anything at anytime? I THINK so. Do I spend the time to memorize scripture with them? Not so far~(Thanks for the SUBTLE hint, Poppy!) They are too young, I will start when they are older....the truth??...the time to start is now. If they can sing a Hannah Montana song by heart then they can memorize a bible verse, right?!?!? :-)

So, the truth is that I have been convicted this Mother's day and it took me a while to grasp it and take it all in. It is not about me but still, even on Mother's day, it is about them. Those two sweet little faces that are entrusted to me are still looking up to me for guidance on MY special day. And I need to be the mother that shows them the power of prayer and the power of God's word NOW and in their future. The truth is that they NEED me to be this person in their lives. This is the truth for ME as I see it now....

I am late posting these pictures, sorry Shelly! :-)
There is nothing like getting together with family for a relaxing weekend. But as much as we try, sometimes is doesn't turn out that way....the girls get too excited or are "moody" and it can be chaos. However, this visit was REALLY nice. We celebrated my Dad's b-day. (Happy b-day, Daddy!), took a walk around the land, just hung out, and watched the girls play and play.

Maddie and Ally just LOVE their cousins. It is always a huge treat for them to be able to play with Jesse and Elin. Maddie even cried when they left and at that moment I could feel how much she loved them. It was precious. I am so thankful that they have a relationship with their cousins and grandparents. There is nothing like being surrounded by family. We are blessed beyond measure.

Even our sweet Aunt Billie joined us. The girls and I picked her up in Burleson and we all drove together down to Abilene. When I was talking with Maddie about Aunt Billie she asked, "Aunt Billie is a girl??" I said yes. Then after a moment she said "Aunt Billie, I like that name...its an old name!"





I am so happy that the girls have such a longing for family. They LOVE talking about their cousins and Aunts & Uncles and grandparents. They are thrilled to be surrounded by all the love they give. And it make my heart full to know they have this connection and will be blessed from all these amazing people for all their lives!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all! We spent Easter with Brian's parents and we ended up doing the official Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday to get those nice and sunny pictures. There was fun and games and of course, crying and overly tired little girls. (They fell asleep at 8:00 that night, which is AMAZING for Ally at least, since she is my night owl.) There was basketball and horse-back riding after the egg hunt so all in all , it was a wonderfully tiring weekend!

Ally WITH a little attitude~ :-) (Probably b/c she was ready for the egg hunt, enough of these pictures!)

Ally WITHOUT attitude!

....and it is a race for the eggs! Happy Easter, everyone!

A Heartfelt Apology

(This seems like a long story but keep reading...I love the ending.)

Sunday afternoon, the neighborhood girls and Maddie and Ally were playing outside while I planted flowers in the front. They had been out there a while and had started arguing and bickering back and forth like little girls do sometimes. I finally had to sit them all down and give them my "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" lecture. As the arguing continued, I finally had to send the girls home to give each other a break....before they dispersed, one of the little girl's dog got out of the yard and start to make a break for freedom. As it ran down the street with all the little girls screaming behind him, "Come back!", I yelled (while on the phone, sorry, Amy!)for them to stop because who knows how far they would have run after this dog. Well, they all came back except one, Ilaina.

I get off the phone and tell the one little girl to go and tell her Mom and Dad that their dog is on the run. We think that Ilaina should be back once she realizes that the others are not with her any more. Maddie runs to tell Ilaina's mom that "she is lost" and she and I and Maddie set off to find Ilaina. It hasn't been long so we know that they can't be far but where are they?? Our house isn't far from the big cross over street and as we head that way looking up and down the crossing street, she is still no where to be found. At this point, Maddie has tears in her eyes and she is starting to cry. She is afraid that Ilaina is not coming back and I felt so bad for her. It had only been about 10 minutes but I am sure that is felt like an eternity to Maddie. Ilaina's mom and I separate, I go left and she goes right and Ilaina's Mom finds her down the street between some houses. As Maddie sees her she starts to cry harder....she was just so scared for her friend. We all breath a sigh of relief as Maddie and Ilaina hug.

Once we are back inside the house. I pick Maddie up and squeeze her with all of my might and reassure her that Ilaina is alright but this why we don't run off. I put her down and we head into the kitchen. Maddie grabs a pen and note pad and asks me to sit by her at the table for a little bit. I do and she then asks me how to spell "I am sorry for being mean, Ilaina" I tell her and she runs to put the note into Ilaina's mail box.

I can now see some of what was going through Maddie's head as we searched for Ilaina. She was thinking back to something "mean" she had said to Ilaina before she was "lost" and thought that she may never see her again. What a precious heartfelt apology and how incredible of Maddie to realize the need for it to be said.

How many times have you and I let our anger, pride or grudges get in the way of a heartfelt apology? Many times, I would think....I LOVE learning things from my children. They amaze me with their insights and innocent yet profound actions. I know that this is something that I will take with me from day to day. Never let the moment pass when a heartfelt "I'm sorry" is needed....

Perfection...

I have been thinking a lot about perfection....

It is something that so many people strive for and something that I admit to strive for in some areas of my life. Don't get me wrong, I don't think that this is a bad thing but taken to the extreme it can make a negative impact in your life as well as those around you. Here are my thoughts...

I found myself the other evening worrying about the cleanliness of my house (I don't have a maid) and the laundry that I still needed to do in order to "keep up" with my self-imposed expectations of myself. When my house is a mess and I feel overwhelmed after coming home from work and feeding and bathing the girls and wondering if my house will ever be as clean as I really want, I can get a little cranky. :-) My strive for perfection takes it's toll on my girls and my family. I know that the girls don't care if the laundry is folded and Brian doesn't get upset if the floors are not swept every other day and I hope that my friends wouldn't compare their house to mine if they stopped by and found the counter cluttered with mail I have yet to go through. No one is perfect! (I know that I have said this before but it does us all some good to hear it again, including me!)

In today's world a women has so many roles and with many it is a race to see who can juggle these roles perfectly while attaining the best husband, house, career, children. My heart is torn for those I see striving for this unattainable goal whether they realize it or not and for what I can see in my own life as being too goal-driven. And I admit that it is easy to get caught up in striving for perfection. But no life is perfect and the sooner we all realize this, the more fulfilled we will be. How can we give those around us our ALL when we are so focused on so many "balls in the air." It can be too much and can effect our family as well as our friends even when we think we have it all under control...do we really??

You can spend a lifetime, and, if you're honest with yourself, never once was your work perfect. ~Charlton Heston

I came upon this and I agree. It helps me to realize again that it is not about perfections of our "works" but more about the relationships with others and with God and when we can admit our faults and let others see that we are not perfect, it can bring new meaning into these relationships.

Perfection....now all I have to do is let go, will you?.....

A New Look

I love expressing myself on this blog. It has become something that I look forward to....

I have found that there are a lot of people I know who enjoy this same wonderful way of communicating. And while perusing some of my favorite blog sites, I noticed that one these favorites recieved a "face lift" in the form of an amazing blog design....I clicked on the link to the blog designer jillyblogdesigns.blogspot.com and found a young mom who is using her creativity in a very FUN way. I entered her contest for a free blog design, hoping but never thinking that I would win.

Well......as you can see.....I DID! Thank you, Jill for making my new look suit me to a "T." It is PERFECT!

Pillow Fight!

One minute sweet and innocent.....

The next, all choas begins.....

...watch out, PILLOW FIGHT!

I look up and this is what I see....

(If I look up, this is what I see....two sets of precious eyes on ME!)

I recieve daily devotional emails from an organization, that my sister-in-law told me about, called Proverbs 31 Minitries. While I am not always "current" on reading them, they always speak to me. I read one today that stirred my heart and I wanted to share it with you.

(If I look up, this is what I see....the way my husband looks at me as if we were still newlyweds.)

"Everyday God is there. Everyday we have an opportunity to notice and acknowledge, and see and rejoice. Even when the world is crazy around me, I can still make the choice to see God." When I read this part of the devotion, I knew that this is what my heart needed to hear. I have the CHOICE to notice and acknowledge who God is in my life and all the many ways He is present. If I look down, I see all the negative things in my life, like being frustrated with keeping up with the house and with work, tantrums, feeling overwhelmed with my many "labels". I admit that I have been looking "down" the last few weeks and focusing on the bad. But is it really all THAT bad? The answer is no!

(If I look up, this is what I see....a life FILLED with God's never ending provision and protection for me and my family.)

Yes, life can be hard, frustrating and discouraging but it is most of the time filled with amazing ups and subtle constants that never fade. "Who will notice Me in all of this today? Who will stop for just a moment and see Me? Who will let their soul linger ever so slightly and simply utter an acknowledgement of Me?" I wonder how often I miss these opportunities to look beyond myself and experience God's gifts...There is something everyday that I can acknowledge as being from God and I need to do that. I need to look UP!

(AS I look up, this is what I see....a FEW piles of laundry that I should have done on Sunday but I also see the laughter that kept me from those piles! The goofy picture above is my proof.)

The power of a new tooth.

Last night, we were having dinner and I noticed Maddie had a funny expression on her face. She said, "Oh, this hurts, I think I have some chicken stuck in my tooth." She walks over to my side of the table, opens her mouth and shows me. To my surprise I see a new molar popping up on the left side of her mouth. "Maddie! It is a new tooth" I told her laughing. You would have thought that she just won a lifetime supply of CANDY....her face lit up and her smile illuminated the room. She was so excited. She walked back to her seat with her shoulders back and standing tall. The words that I had just said transformed her into this REALLY big girl!

After dinner, I had her sit up on the counter so I could really take a good look at this new tooth. I looked at it again, said "Wow!" and gave her a big hug and then set her down as she exclaimed, "You are kidding me! I am so excited...I think that I am going to CRY!" She buried her head in her hands for a moment and then looked up with her watery eyes and then ran to go take a bath with a definite skip in her step.

How fun to see her have this kind of excitement over something that I would normally take for granted! I sometimes wish that I could see the world and experiences through the eyes of a child. It is much more exciting and perfect. She has the sweet innocence and the simple ability to make something so small make a world of difference in her night and ultimately make a world of difference in mine. Ah, the power of a new tooth!

These are a few of my favorite things!

I have noticed lately, that there are some things in my life that really make me smile. Little things....that melt my heart and lift my spirits. They make me think that they are God's little ways of letting me know that He is near. These are a few of my favorite things.......

Lately, in the mornings, Ally has been getting up earlier and coming downstairs. It is funny how I always wake up to hear her feet "padding" down the hallway BEFORE she makes it into our room. It is like our hearts are listening to one another and are perfectly in tune. This has become one of my favorite parts of the day and for those of you who really know me, you know I am not a morning person. So for this to be one of my favorite times of the day is amazing. She comes to the side of my bed. "Can I lay with you a widdle-bit." she says sleepily. She sounds so innocent and precious and perfect, how could I say no. I pull the covers back and she climbs in, immediately snuggling into the crook of my arm as we lay on our sides. Only God could make her fit so perfectly there. We fall back asleep every time and for about thirty more minutes, I am in the most perfect place (on earth!)

The other evening as I was checking on the girls, I went into Maddie's room and she was completely flopped over in her bed. She looked really uncomfortable. I picked her up and held her in my lap and whispered "Are you o.k. Maddie?" I didn't expect a response, so when I heard a very quiet "Yes, Ma'am." I smiled. Even in her sleep she used her manners, my sweet baby. I told her that I was turning off her Christmas lights before I left which she would normally balk at but this time she said another perfect "Yes, Ma'am." I have tucked this moment away in my heart as one of my favorite things. Maddie has been really using her manners without prompting and again, only God could be involved in something like this. :-) I know that He used that surprise in the middle of the night as a way to make me notice how well she has been doing.

My incredible husband got us all golf clubs for Christmas, the girls included. It is his sweet way of making sure we spend time as a family doing something that we all enjoy. We all went this morning to hit some balls and we had the best time aside from Brian being hit in the knee with a club by Ally. Poor Ally was so upset that she had hurt her Daddy, that she was crying when he should have been crying. :-) I couldn't help but smile. Ally was crying in my arms, Brian was biting his lip to keep from crying, Maddie was studiously hitting balls oblivious to the crying, I wanted to be hitting balls instead of listening to the crying...It still makes me smile to think about it all.

After the unfortunate golfing "incident", I was watching my family as they hit balls and laughed and smiled and I knew that this was one of my favorite things....spending time with them, the laughter AND the tears. It all goes hand in hand and that is what makes it perfect. It feels good to know that God has put us here together and there is no other place that I would rather be than with them, in these perfect moments that God has created for us. These moments are engraved in my heart as a few of my favorite things.