Living La Vida Loca

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-25T23:15:00.001-07:00

Matty Moo Moo

2012-01-10T15:34:00.000-07:00

Hi my names is Mattea. I was named after Matthew - my mommy's favorite book of the Bible. My name means 'gift of God' and my mommy and daddy remind me daily that I am just that.

I am currently 6 years old but have a birthday coming up shortly. I'm really looking forward to turning 7. Currently, I am in first grade. I love my school, although I was a bit nervous to start there in September. I didn't know a single soul in my class but have definitely gotten to know quite a few friends since then. I'm a pretty friendly girl and talk to just about anyone (sometimes I talk too much).

Did you know that I get to be a cheerleader soon? That's right, Upward Cheerleading starts this Thursday. I am so excited that I'm counting down the days. I'll be on a squad with my sister and many of my closest friends. I can't wait. I also started the cooking club at school this week. Whew, it has been a busy week! I think I'll like cooking club. I'm always willing to help out and measure in the kitchen with mom - except I'm a bit messy. I really need to work on that. Even the simplest tasks like pouring some milk winds up in a pretty big mess. Hey - have you seen the movie 'Ramona and Beezus?' My mom says I remind her a lot of Ramona. Apparently I'm a little flighty and spacey sometimes but my mommy reminds me that I have a heart of gold - and that's all that matters.

As you can see by my picture above, I'm missing quite a few teeth. I love to smile and my mom actually makes me smile more these days because my two front teeth are missing. Mom thinks it is 'absolutely adorable' but I am kind of sick of it actually. I would really love to eat corn on the cob like a normal person.

I have a younger sister whom I love dearly - except for recently. She is "annoying." She really drives me nuts sometimes. She is always copying me and she tattles a lot on me. I yell at her to stop but I don't' think she notices me or sometimes she sticks her fingers in her ears and says she's ignoring me. That's always nice. I love having a sister though. She is a pretty fun girl to play with.

Well, that's kind of me in a nutshell. I enjoy school but I have to be honest and say I miss the playtime I had at home. School is rough and it took me a long time to adjust - but I like it and my friends and can't wait to officially call myself a 2nd grader. So long for now.....

M.O.M

2012-01-10T10:16:00.003-07:00

I love hearing those words - MOM. Except of course when you are trying to make dinner and you hear MOM, MOM, MAMA, MAAAAAMAAAAA, MOM with an ever increasing tone and urgency in your children's voice. Then the word "mom" is just annoying. Just being honest.

Well last night I was awakened to that ever so sweet 'mom' from my youngest Paloma at around 3 am. To be exact, it was "mom, my tummy hurts." Darn it, there goes my chance at a good night sleep once again. Ok, well I trudge out of bed, lay with her in her room, rub her belly and get some nice cold water. Thinking all was good, I made an attempt to meander back to bed. But first, I head downstairs for some water myself. That is when I hear "MOM" with a great urgency. The kind of urgency where you "just know" you need to respond. If you have been a mother for awhile, you know there are those mom calls that you can ignore and those mom calls that you take off sprinting too. Well, this was a drop everything, sprint to the child kind of call. As I rounded the corner to head upstairs, I see my little miss at the top of the stairs, on her knees, puking everywhere. If that didn't bring back memories. Remember this is my child who puked her first year of life. My poor baby was miserable. And that is when I heard that faint little pathetic "mama, I don't feel so well."

St. Baldricks

2012-01-08T22:25:00.004-07:00

Hey Readers...

In March 2010 - I shaved my head in an effort to raise money for pediatric cancer research. I loved participating in the event and would do it again in a heartbeat - if my children wouldn't have such a strong opinion. I am by far jealous of my coworkers who are going through it though - some for the second and third time. Talk about sacrifice.

Going bald was a life changing experience. It changed the way I looked at people, not to mention the way people looked at me. I definitely believe it is one of the best things I have done with my life - and it was stinkin fun. If you want to shave serious time off your morning routine - shave your head. If you want to save money on your salon bill each year - shave your head. If you want to save money on expensive hair products - shave your head. But - do it during the summer. Shaving your head in March is still a very cold experience.

But nonetheless.....Since I am not participating this year, I would encourage you to support those that are. Please take a look at the links below and consider donating to a very worthwhile cause. The children affected will benefit. Let these girls sacrifice their hair if you sacrifice your dollars.

DONATE:

www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mandiekimball

www.stbaldricks.org/participants/MonicaMcAdams

http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/kristenhurless

Paloma's Plug

2012-01-08T21:39:00.002-07:00

Paloma is filled with witty thoughts and funny sayings these days. And what makes them so amusing is that she thinks she is darn right brilliant when she talks. That girl is stinkin hilarious. Here are a few of her famous quotes:
1) "So this is chicken salad without any salad in it right?"

2) "Now when I have acid (acid reflux), it tastes like chicken salad"

3)"Dad, I want a cheeseburger with cheese and no meat"

4)"Dad, I'm going to rub this in your face until your glasses precipitate"

You, as an outside reader may not find the humor in these. I certainly crack a smile every time I read through them. I guess you had to be there......

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-04T21:13:00.000-07:00

Paloma Vs. Daddy - Round 25,095

2011-12-29T15:14:00.004-07:00

Did you really think that Paloma would stop arguing with us simply because it was Christmas Eve? As her parents, we knew better.

Paloma is a strong willed, stubborn little girl. It is her way or the highway.
Now that is good for many different reasons
1) I can't imagine any little boys trying to slip one past Paloma - she will never get taken advantage of. In fact, watch out, she may be the one taking advantage of you!
2) Paloma will most likely never be the victim of bullying by a group of little girls on the playground. She will tell them their behavior is wrong and then properly recite how the "Bible says to not bully." Did you know that the Bible says to "not leave little sisters behind." Yep, it does. She told me so.
3) Paloma will be the one to speak up in class and perhaps correct a teacher on mistaught information. In fact, she already tried to do this with her preschool teacher - last year when she was 3.

But, when you are her parents and she believes that you are wrong every time you open your mouth, it can get a bit annoying. And David's face clearly showed that Christmas Eve. Boy, do we love that little girl though.

Mr. Grinch Delivers

2011-12-29T14:57:00.004-07:00

As many of you may know, I'm not real good in the kitchen. That may be an understatement. For the first few years of my marriage, I didn't cook at all - except perhaps an occasional frozen pizza. But since Dave got his masters degree and took on the full time "worker" role, I took on full time "cook, cleaner, chauffeur, nurse, shopper, bill payer "(you get it right?) I actually kind of like cooking now and enjoy putting together meal plans for the week. I say that only if I get a free minute to myself of uninterrupted time by my children to search through cookbooks and online websites to do this kind of planning.
Well one of the websites I've fallen in love with is pinterest. I have tried to many recipes of there - desserts, dinner meals, beverages, appetizers. I decided to make "Grinch cookies" from a recipe I found on pinterest to take and share for Paloma's class party. Well, my family and I fell in love with them and I have made several batches since then.
So I thought I would pass along the recipe to you. Please let me know if you try and them and how you like them. They are amazing...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettycrockerrecipes/4595758178/

Too Cute Tuesday

2011-12-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Jesus

2011-12-27T08:00:00.005-07:00

A very special thank you to all my friends who came out to join my family and I in celebrating the birth of Jesus. The girls and I decided this was the year to get all our friend together and throw a party. After all, my girls get a party to celebrate their birthday. Why shouldn't Jesus get the same?

The kids enjoyed a plethora of food, birthday cake, Christmas crafts, fellowship and then good old fashion play downstairs in the kid zone area. It was so great to mingle with friends and watch our children gather around and blow out the candles in honor of our Lord. I am so confident there were smiles in heaven that afternoon!

The Look

2011-12-26T23:01:00.001-07:00

Oh my goodness, can you believe that my 6 year old daughter is giving me "the look?" How dare I interrupt her study time.

Whew - there is the smile that I missed. Guess she was just kidding. What a wonderful toothless smile!

Paloma's Performance

2011-12-26T21:26:00.003-07:00

Our sweet little Paloma also had her night to shine. Her preschool class, once again, hosted friends and family to show off skills and talents. The kids sang songs, recited scripture, and even led the crowd in a round of 'Hokey Pokey.' I bet you are all jealous of me...

Congratulations Miss Paloma. You were beautiful and amazing.

We can't call it a night without a special picture with pappa.

It is sad to think this is the last Christmas performance that Paloma and her best friend Jessie will be performing in together. They will be parting ways next year as both girls head off to Kindergarten. I'm not sure Paloma has quite gotten a grasp on that concept yet. She is pretty attached to Miss Jessie.

Paloma was given the very special role of performing sign language as the children sang Silent Night. She was so nervous and would come home rather anxious about her role. But being the stubborn little girl that she is, she refused to let me help her. But when the time came, she did absolutely fantastic. Good job Paloma. We love you and are so proud of you.

First Up - Matty Moo

2011-12-26T21:05:00.002-07:00

Miss Mattea's 1st grade class was not putting on a Christmas program for the parents but rather a "special chapel' that we were all invited to. There would be a lot of singing and a definite celebration to honor Jesus. Mattea was so excited for her upcoming performance. She wouldn't spill any details or drop any little hint about what to expect.

Mattea's music teacher had done a fabulous job of organizing the children. We were very impressed and once again very grateful that Mattea is able to attend this Christian School. The children sang Christmas songs and closed the program with a loud and excited 'Happy Birthday Jesus.' I absolutely love that my daughter can wish Jesus a happy birthday openly in school. Praise God.

And of course, I couldn't leave without a photo op with the star performer. Good job Mattea. We are so proud of you.

Back In Business

2011-12-26T20:49:00.003-07:00

Hello blog friends,

I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted. Our lives have been so busy and chaotic lately that posting has been the farthest thing from my mind. I have so much to catch up on though because despite the chaos, our lives have been pretty darn fun - I will admit.

To begin, Dave and I became "temporary" parents through Nov. and beginning of Dec. We were given the opportunity to foster two beautiful little babies. The first placement was a 4 day old baby boy and the second was a 2 week old baby girl. We were honored and had a blast taking care of newborns again - despite the sleep deprivation. Of course, that seemed to dominate our days/nights/ and every waking minute in between.

And then of course came the holidays. Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas parties and programs for both girls and then the wonderful celebration of our Saviors birth. Whew. That seems to be the last few months in a nutshell. So forgive me for being a bit behind but I do hope to catch back up rather quickly.

Sooooooo, let's go!

How Is Your Love Tank?

2011-10-20T13:44:00.008-06:00

Have you ever asked that question of your spouse? Silly as it may sound - the idea presented itself to me while Dave and I read through the 5 Love Languages Book back when we were dating. The point of the question is to tap into your spouse and find out if you are meeting THEIR needs. Not satisfying your own desires but filling their love tank in the way in which they feel loved. This book was amazing for us because we were able to learn that both Dave and I feel loved in totally different ways. And I realized I was trying to fill his love tank the way that I wanted mine filled. Kind of confusing but if you are intrigued - I encourage you to read the book. There is also a website you can access and take an online test to discover your personal love language.

Anyway, about a year or so ago, I decided to read the 5 Love Languages of Children in an attempt to learn what love language Mattea was speaking. Quickly I realized she is a quality time kind of girl. She loves spending one on one time with both Dave and I. It isn't that she doesn't like hanging out with her sister. I just happen to think that she is feeling deprived of that special time now that her days are spent at school. Because of this lack of quality time, I have seen behaviors emerge from Mattea that I had never experienced before. We were looking at some serious discipline problems. So I decided I would try and use the one week off of school that she had to really meet her needs and fill her emotional love tank.

We celebrated her school break at the salon with a wonderful pedicure. I was hoping this would satisfy that desire for one on one time and also boost her mood. Attending first grade has meant that she has had to make adjustments to her prior lifestyle - and she hasn't exactly been thrilled about it. Life ain't like it was in kindergarten baby! As the year progresses, things are improving but in those first few weeks, I would hear a lot of whining and complaining about how she no longer gets to play because we "make her go to school." Or sometimes I would hear, "I never even get to see you mom, I'm ALWAYS at school." My heart broke 2/3 of the time. My poor baby was missing me and the time we had together. The other 1/3 of the time I was annoyed and told her to "buck up, this is your new life. Get used to it." Yep, not the most compassionate mom.

So seeing and recognizing opportunities to meet and fill Mattea's love tank has been on my priority list. She is a much more pleasant child when her emotional needs are met. And who can blame her, so am I? I know when my love tank is filled and my emotional needs are met, I'm a much happier person. Funny how that works. So, the salon trip was a success. We both had fun and we both left with pretty toes. Now, to try and tackle the overwhelming task of interpreting Miss Paloma's love language. Wish me luck....

A Whole New Me

2011-10-16T10:51:00.007-06:00

For those of you who may not know my background, let me fill you in. I grew up going to a Lutheran Church when I was younger but was deficient in all things God. I learned the Lord's Prayer, I learned about Noah and the Ark, and I learned about sin, but during that time, someone failed to tell me about Jesus.

Nobody really told me about the remarkable sacrifice that was made for me nor how incredibly special I was. They forgot to tell me that Jesus was my friend or perhaps how I need to call upon Him during times of trial.

It wasn't until high school that a friend of mine took me aside and explained the "big" picture to me. Aha! I felt like the light had been turned on. I was 16 at the time. I made a commitment at that time to live my life in a whole new way. I would live it for Christ. I would follow the 10 commandments, speak wholesome words, and deny all things bad for me. Yep, I was going to do it and I did - for about 6 months. Then the fleshly "fun" life I had had before seemed much more appealing. I started college and lived with a group of wonderful Christian girls that provided me with good examples but still I was having much more fun sinning day in and day out. Whether it was my thoughts, my words, or my actions, I was not representing Christ in a good way. Many knew I had made my commitment to Christ yet my lifestyle didn't reflect it.

Skip ahead a few years to a situation in which brought me to my knees. Not really wanting to elaborate on it now, I decided at that very moment, my life would change. It had to. I had no other choice. I could no longer continue on the path that I was currently walking. I once again surrendered my life to Christ and the rest is history.

Fast forward 17 years, there was a life changing event that happened in my life and that of my husband. At that moment it hit us - life is unpredictable. Life is short. Life is not promised tomorrow morning. We decided it was time to get our act together, set an example for our children, and become baptized as commanded by God. It was an amazing and life changing weekend for me and I know it hit Dave hard as well. Dave's testimony is a bit different than mine but simply his story to tell. I hope that one day he will become more open about it - but for now, this is my side of things. My children have inquired about baptism, bragged to their friends about it, and practiced baptizing their baby dolls in the bathtub. God is working miracles - and the work He started will continue. Oh happy day!

Wondeful Words to Ponder

2011-10-08T10:06:00.001-06:00

I looked at the older woman and wondered what it meant.
Do we tell with our body about the life we have spent?

The wrinkles on her face, the posture of her back.
The fingers softly bent, the joy in her laugh.

I'd seen other faces marked with a frown and scorn.
Their presence seemed quite harsh, their spirit very worn.

But in this woman was a beauty, despite the evidence of time.
Peace in her cloudy eyes and laughter behind her laugh lines.

She had a grace about her, though her body was now slow.
For she had learned the joy of being, and in her heart she knows.

She spent her life in celebration, choosing joy to be found
In whatever life gave her she stood on His solid ground.

Lord, may the markings on my body be like hers in some way
That I loved and laughed and gave and celebrated every single day.

Lisa TerKeurst
Am I Messing Up My Kids?

Meet My Little Miss

2011-09-30T22:23:00.006-06:00

Hi - my name is Paloma. I am a very sweet, silly, sassy little 4 year old. There are some days that my momma thinks I'm going on 14 - but rest assured, I'm only 4. I am very excited to be turning 5 though. When I turn 5, my whole life will be different. Did you know I'm a New Years Baby? I am. I make sure to tell everybody who doesn't know. People sometimes ask me when my birthday is. I just simply say that I'm a New Years baby. It is much easier to remember than saying Dec. 31.

I am in my second year at preschool and learning so much these days. I'm lucky enough to once again be in the same class as my best friend Jessie. I have a wonderful teacher who is very patient with me. I can write my name, count to 100 (although sometimes I tell my mom I don't know how because it takes a lot longer to count to 100 than it does to count to 10.) I am starting to read and really working on improving my coloring. In fact, just the other day I told my sister that I color much better than her. She told me that was the truth and I wasn't lying.

I just finished another round of swimming lessons where I was the only girl and swam so much better than those other boys. I even passed into the next group. Today I can say that I'm an official 'Ray.' I'd like to stop swimming now and take up ballet. I'm dying to dance like a princess but my mommy just can't seem to get her act together and get me started. Speaking of princesses - did you know that I'm going to visit Princess Cate someday. I keep asking if we can go to the castle and my mommy keeps telling me 'someday when I get a job.' I take that to mean that it might be awhile yet. I really like Princess Cate, I dress like her and try to do my hair like her. I even wore high heels to the gym the other day so I could practice walking like a princess. I can't wait until I can be a princess.

These days I spend my time between school and home. I miss my sister dearly - who went off to 1st grade this year. But it isn't all bad - in fact, I told my friend the other day that 'it isn't all bad having sissy in school.' I get to spend all day with mommy. We have hung out and had donut day (a lot), spend some time together at Roaring Springs, worked out together, taken several bike rides, did crafts, and colored a whole lot of pictures. I have to admit that I kind of like having mommy to myself. I like it so much that I get very moody and naughty when we pick up Mattea. Only being honest!

So I hope I have given you a glimpse into my life. I am a fun little girl - sometimes a little bossy - but fun, nonetheless. I love to snuggle and get hugs so if you want to be my friend then "text me." Cause I'm getting pretty good at texting. Yep, even learned to call my daddy's business associates the other day. Pretty stunning for a 4 year old huh?

And the baby is launched....

2011-09-11T09:08:00.002-06:00

The day finally came. After waiting 3 weeks after her sister started school, Paloma's big day finally came.
She was so excited to be starting preschool this year. She missed her friends, she missed learning, and most of all she missed not being like her big sister. After watching Mattea head off to school each morning, Paloma wanted the very same thing.

Paloma picked out her entire outfit and even did her own hair that morning. My sweet baby is growing up - snuffle. But the independence is kind of nice (I will admit.)
Daddy was there for the big even on Sept 7th (which happened to also be our 9th wedding anniversary - Love you babe~)

She practically ran into her classroom to sit down begin her big day. She was gracious enough to pose for a couple of pictures and then it was time for me to leave - because she was obviously done with her dad and I. She has an amazing teacher and a godly staff who will watch over her and teach her God's word. We are grateful and look forward to another amazing year at the Children's Academy.
Love you Honey!!!

ME!

2011-08-28T00:00:00.001-06:00

H - happy (but I can be kind of moody), healthy (except those times when I eat ice cream for dinner, hardworking (it is a trait I learned from my father), hot dog roaster (Yes, after giving up the disgusting food for quite some time, with my children around, I have been known to roast a hot dog a time or two during a family camping trip. I may add that I only eat turkey hot dogs though....)

E -enthusiastic (if there is a cause that I am passionate about, I jump in with both feet), energetic (I am an "on the go" kind of gal. I love staying busy. I have been known to do chores well into the wee hours of the morning), empathetic (I would definitely say that I am an empathetic person - I'm sure my kids would not always agree with that comment though....), Eggo Waffles (one of my all time favorite foods. I eat them daily and could literally survive on a deserted island if I had plenty of Eggo waffles with me)

A -anxious (though I am working on turning my anxieties over to Christ, I am still a high strung, anxiety prone person), ambitious (I have never been satisfied with the status quo. I strive to be the best that I can be. For many years, my ambition was centered around my career and becoming the best nurse I could possibly be. Now my roles have changed, and my ambition lies in becoming the best wife and mother God will allow me to be), auburn (No not really. By nature, I have a rather thick brown head of hair. But before shaving it in March of 2010, I couldn't for the life of me remember what my natural hair color was. I had relied on the bottle for far too long)

T -talkative (but I am really striving to become a better listener), tall(I am not. In fact, I am only 5 feet 2), terrible cook (I want so badly to become Betty Crocker but this trait I do not possess), tired(although I may report being an energetic person, I live my life in a state of "tiredness"), thankful (I have an amazing husband and two beautiful little girls. I truly try and thank God daily for those blessings in my life), thoughtful (I do my best to try and remember every birthday and anniversary from friends and family. I have a systematic way of doing this - but of course it fails every once and awhile. I love being able to send out birthday cards to the children of my friends - some whom have never met me. They receive a birthday card yearly from a crazy lady in Idaho whom they have never met in their life. Kind of like receiving a letter from Santa Clause)

H - Heart healthy (I am so passionate about remaining fit and keeping this one and only body in the best shape possible. I have very good cholesterol numbers may I add), H (the name in which David now calls me. Not Heather, lovey, or wifey. Just H),

E -exercise aholic(I love working out - I am a better mother and wife when I get my endorphin rush for the day), excited (I have always been a Christmas present snooper. I hate having to "wait" until Christmas morning. I love opening presents and I'm much to excited to have to wait so I end up finding my presents before they even make it under the tree), elaborate (over the top might be a better phrase. It is all about the details. Whether you are throwing a lovely party for adult friends or a tea party for all the best dolls, the fun is in the details. Sometimes it is Ok to go over the top), evolutionist (That I am not. I believe in God the Father. I believe in Jesus, and I believe He died on a cross so that I would be forgiven for my sins. I, under no circumstances, believe I evolved from monkeys)

R -runner(I took up running to impress my husband - crazy huh? I don't really like it but I have now found myself addicted. It's as if I can't stop), rewinder (I have a tendency to "rewind" life over and over again. I play out conversations over and over again. Although I tend to live life without regrets, I do find myself replaying life), remote relative (Both Dave and I live rather far from our families which poses a problem sometimes. When we graduated college 10 years ago, we packed a U haul and headed south to New Mexico - not knowing a single soul. After having two children, we realized Idaho would be a better fit for us - so here we are. Our family remains thousands of miles away), rambler (I found myself annoyed with my oldest daughter when she would come home from school and give me a play by play account of everything that had happened that day. Ummm, the reason I'm so annoyed is because I do the same darn thing. I love providing details and making stories that were meant to last 2 min last 22 minutes. For some reason, I'm obsessed with details)

And this is me in a nutshell - an overview - if you must - for all of my new readers. I'm sure I could sit here for another 2 hours coming up with descriptions of me and who I have evolved in over the years - but I won't bore you with all those DETAILS. I'll let you read through my blog and fill in the blanks.

Paloma's Plug

2011-08-27T22:46:00.001-06:00

As I see Paloma's little curls come toddling around the corner this AM (rather early I made add):

"Mom, I was so tired, I just haaaad to wake up."

Thinking to myself, hmmmm this kid is weird. Love her to bunches.

We Are All Still Standing

2011-08-26T21:37:00.003-06:00

Well, the day has come. My little Mattea grew up before my eyes (I promise, I only blinked for a minute) and on August 18th, we found ourselves getting her ready for the first day of 1st grade. We are blessed enough to have gotten her into a private Christian school and although I felt confident she was going to be in a safe and loving environment, I was beyond nervous about dropping her off in the care of others for more hours in a day than I would be with her.

She was more than excited to go, but of course as her mother, I was not. Selfish huh? Well, as much as I tried to deny it, the day had arrived. Mattea and I had done some school shopping, got a new haircut, received a manicure/pedicure, and packed a lunch and so at approximately 8 am on that Thursday morning, the entire family walked Miss Mattea into school. Because she had not gone to school there for Kindergarten, she didn't know a single soul but was warmly welcomed by a very loving and affectionate teacher - whom Matty took to right away.

Mattea found her desk and began unpacking her "goods." Of course her sister wasn't that far behind, intrigued at everything that was happening. All the children and their parents seemed so nice - making sure to include introductions early. I do hope to get to know some of these great ladies better as the school year progresses.

And as the 1st week came to a close, we had feelings of happiness, frustration, exhaustion, and overwhelmingness. Not just from Mattea - but from me as well. It has definitely been an adjustment sending one child off to school all day. Although I was nervous about it at first, I will totally admit that I'm having a blast hanging out with Paloma 1 on 1. She is such a fun and zany little girl - I have a lot to learn from her. So here is a toast to the new school year. May God use my little girl to how He sees fit and may I remain standing by the time the year is complete.

Way To Go Daddy

2011-07-24T07:25:00.003-06:00

We are so proud of our daddy. Look at "Sally Salmon." Isn't she beautiful?

During our trip to McCall, David went salmon fishing and caught a 19lb, 39 inch salmon. Our family got over 10 lbs of fish out of the deal. He said it was a struggle to bring it in, but so worth it.

The kids were delighted at daddy's big catch and couldn't wait to get their picture taken with her. Yahoo. Dinner to be served at our house at a later date.....

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-13T00:00:00.001-06:00

Fun???

2011-07-12T08:09:00.005-06:00

Fun?

Really.....

Our family?

No way......

What would be your first clue.

I can't wait to get home and update my blog. We are having an amazing time. The kids are exhausted, the adults are exhausted but we are enjoying every minute of our impromptu trip to McCall. We are eating well, taking in a lot of sunshine, overall - simply enjoying being in each other's company. We are blessed to have been able to run away for a few days. It will be back to reality soon. Stay tuned......

A Summer Snack

2011-06-20T08:29:00.002-06:00

I am so excited to report that my fruits and vegetables are starting to grow.....This is only a small sampling of what I have harvested so far. The radishes are picked and cut and the strawberries are growing like crazy. The girls and I go out about every other day and pick about a colander full. They are small but super sweet. I have a pleuthra of apples on the the three trees and plenty of blueberries that will need picking in the upcoming weeks.

I love summer and I especially love fresh food - especially when it the result of our hard work. Here's to a hearty, healthy summer.

If Your Anything Like Me.....

2011-06-19T22:24:00.014-06:00

This post came to my inbox back in April. I was so excited to read it and then pass along to you guys through my blog. It came at an absolutely perfect time. I was frustrated and anxious about my to do list that day. It seemed as if my children were moving in slow motion, the piles of laundry were growing by leaps and bounds, and my floors had little dust bunnies flying all over them. For some reason I could not get my act together. Now if you know me at all, you may know that I am a perfectionist. I always have been and am convinced that I will be until the day that I die. I don't always think it is the best quality to have but it is certainly the way that God designed me. I am passionate about my job, I am passionate about my marriage, I am passionate about my children, and I am passionate about my house - cleaning that is. I thrive when my house is clean, organized and smells like bleach and pine sol. After reading this great devotion though, I am once again reminded what is important. I will not stand at the gates of heaven and be let in solely because my carpets were vacuumed and my toilets scrubbed with a toothbrush. I will not sit at the feet of Jesus because I polished my counters several times a day or dusted until my fingers were raw. Take a moment to read this devotion and reorganize your day. In the long run, you'll be happier that you did. I was.

The Sweet Smell of PineSol™

22 Apr 2011

T. Suzanne Eller

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

I admit it. I’m the world’s worst when it comes to preserving photos. I have boxes of photos stacked in various cubbyholes. I tried to organize the pictures once. I divided them and placed them in large envelopes. My next step was to put them in albums. They are still in the envelopes — stacked in a box.

My children Melissa, Ryan, and Leslie are now in their 20′s and newly married. The chances of me ever getting these precious memories organized are slim to none, but I’m realizing something powerful. Memories aren’t limited to pictures.

Remember when, Mom? is a common phrase in my house now. We have become the hub, a privilege once reserved for my husband’s parents. At holidays and special weekends, they drive up and unload luggage and pile into the guest rooms. We laugh and reminisce a lot around the table. Remember when we went on treasure hunts in the pasture? Remember when you jumped on the bed and popped Ryan up in the air so high it scared you? Remember that yellow Slip-n-Slide™?

I do remember. But I also remember a young mom with three little ones who worried that her house wasn’t spotless when an unexpected guest showed up. I remember the angst of trying to do everything and the fatigue when my day ended before my chores did.

I also remember days that I threw caution to the wind and jumped on the bed, even though it might make others frown. I grabbed a shovel and gave the kids plastic buckets and we looked for old bottles and trinkets at the abandoned homestead nearby. We mixed dishwashing liquid and water and I laughed out loud as the kids flew like greased lightening across the yellow slippery slide.

Some of those memories were captured in that pre-digital age, but most were not. However, they are etched on the heart of my young adult children.

What they don’t reminisce about is the sweet, sweet smell of PineSol™. Whether my house was perfect or how it compared to others’ is not even on their radar.

Why did I worry so?

Is it good to have order and structure? Sure. But don’t allow the pressure to be the perfect mom keep you from the simplicity of playing with your children. The unmade bed will still be there when you are through, but I promise that a child will grow quickly.

Take a moment today and look past the clutter and the to-do list and be a child again. It might not be a picture-perfect moment, but it will be a memory.

Dear Lord, time passes so fast. Slow me down. Let me enjoy the smallest pleasures. Let me play with my child instead of only knocking down a to-do list. Let me laugh with my teen instead of fussing at him. Thank You for sweet memories, Amen.

Yee Haw!

2011-06-19T16:43:00.004-06:00

Who can resist a little down home fun? Nothing like putting on your black leather boots, your busting with bling cowgirl hat, and heading out to the local rodeo. Since grandma and grandpa were in town and have never experienced a rodeo, our family decided to show them a heel kicking, bull snorting good time.

My little Paloma put on her pink cowgirl boots and thought she was all that. And since Mattea doesn't own a pair of boots but wanted to dress just like her sister, she donned her black "hooker" boots and decided she was just as cool. How in the world could I possibly resist.

It was a beautiful evening. The girls love watching the action and I love watching their faces. After a little cotton candy, a whole lot of hootin and hollerin, and several trips to the port a potty, we closed the evening after the big bull riding event. We sure hope grandma and grandpa had fun. Although we are not a buckle wearing, cow riding, square dancing family, we absolutely love the rodeo and can't wait to take in another event. Yee Haw!!

Meet My Husband

2011-06-19T14:57:00.007-06:00

I was so excited to log on today and find that I have a few new followers. I love being able to share my thoughts, ideas, and photos with all my friends and family. But I must say, I love knowing there are others out there who log on and read as well. So, for those of you "new" readers, I wanted to use this post to introduce you to a very special man on this very special day.

Today is Fathers Day. It is truly an honor that I am able to blog about one of the most special daddies I know - my husband David.

David and I have been married for almost 9 years. We have two amazing little girls - Mattea & Paloma. I will be honest, when we were expecting our first daughter Mattea, I was nervous about how David would handle the new addition. He was such a caring and compassionate man towards me but how in the world would he be toward a crying, screaming, pooping newborn at 3 am. I'm not going to lie - I had visions of a grown man packing his bags after having to endure watching a very long delivery process.

But to my surprise, David embraced fatherhood from day 1. He jumped right in and loved on our little daughter from the moment she arrived. He snuggled her, changed her diaper, comforted her, and catered to her every need. In fact, I remember one night putting her to bed and just watching her breathe when Dave came up behind me and said, "You know Heather, we may not be able to give this little girl a new car when she grows up or all the toys in the world, but we will love her like no other." It melted my heart.

I also remember talking to David very early on (within weeks of Mattea's birth) about how important it is to read to our kids. Not even a day later, I walked in to find Mattea snuggled up on Dave's chest listening to her daddy read biological journals that he was reading for his Master's class.

These are just a couple of examples of precious memories I have of David and our children. Even now as they are growing and changing from babies, to little girls, to emotional young ladies, David continues to do an incredible job of meeting their needs and being the fleshly father they can rely on. Happy Fathers Day to the love of my life -you are a living example of what being a father really means! We are all blessed to have you in our lives.

Here is a photo of David opening the gift that Paloma made him at school last night. It was a copy of her foot prints with a very touching little poem on it.

How cute are those little feet? To treasure these memories forever....

The girls and I decided to do a recordable book for daddy this year. It was fun. One afternoon or should I say several afternoons, we would sit down and I would interview them and then I would record their answers in this very special book. I hope David enjoys listening to some of those ridiculous answers for years to come.

So as I'm writing this post, the girls and I are at an indoor play place passing time until our very special daddy comes home. We pondered what to do that would be special enough for such a special individual and came to the conclusion we would give him a day to himself. So he is currently salmon fishing in northern Idaho with one of his friends. We sincerely hope he is having a wonderful time. We love you Babe!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-08T19:22:00.002-06:00

Paloma's Plug

2011-06-08T19:20:00.003-06:00

As I was cleaning the other day, I happened to pass Paloma in the hall. She stopped me and said,
"Mama, have you been cleaning toilets?"

Finding it odd that she asked, I kindly said "No, why?"

Her reply, "Oh, because you smell like toilet water."

Thanks honey....

It's Graduation Time

2011-05-28T21:24:00.004-06:00

Well, the end of May is here - which means school is out. Yes, we are officially done with school as of this past week. It has been a great year for both girls but we are sure glad to be done. I will definitely miss my morning breaks and "free time" but we are all looking forward to the fun and freedom of summer.

My sweet little Paloma was first up to "graduate" from her first year of preschool. All of the kids and teachers work hard to put together a nice end of year program for the parents. They sing songs, recite Bible versus, and play instruments. I totally remember sitting there watching Mattea when she was 4 having her end of the year program in Mrs. Wiseman's class. And now here we are watching Paloma. De ja vu!

Here is Paloma and her very best friend Jessie. She has clung to this girl since the day she started school. It is really very sweet to have watched. Luckily, they will get to be in the same class next year.

As soon as Paloma finished, we headed upstairs to watch my little Matty graduate from The Children's Academy where she has been going to school for the past 3 years. She is now officially off to 1st grade. How scary is that?

The teacher has done an amazing job with these kids and they put on a great program for us. Their knowledge radiated from them along with their hear for Christ. Here is a final picture with one of her very good friends Ella. Unfortunately, these girls will not be going to school together next year, but we hope to remain good friends despite of of the circumstances.

My little girl who looks much too grown up.

And of course, a few shots with mom and dad to tuck away in the scrapbook. As I always say, I was a bit sad to see another ending occur, but am very excited to see what God does with my girls in the upcoming year. It will definitely be a year of change for all of us but we are ready to tackle all that comes our way. Congratulations girls. Mom and dad love you very much!

Untitled

2011-05-09T14:26:00.008-06:00

As the old saying goes....

WHEN LIFE GIVE YOU LEMONS, MAKE LEMONADE

What a corny little saying. Although I find myself saying it a lot, it is a rather annoying saying.

When one finds themselves with a plate full of lemons, the last thing one wants to do it turn around and make lemonade. Really! I have found in the past that when I have been dished out a plate full of "unfairness" I would rather wallow in self pity than to turn around and pretend to be Little Miss Happy Hannah.

After studying the book of James though, it has become so clear that God uses us daily - in good situations and bad. He uses circumstances in ways that are beyond our comprehension. In ways that we cannot see or understand, he orchestrates events to fall into place with accordance to His plan. Our tests and our trials are not meant to bring us down but rather to build us up and bring us closer to Him. I have been tested in the past and quite frankly never rose to the challenge. I never used past mistakes, past pain, or past unfairness to draw myself closer to Christ. In fact, if anything, they pushed me farther. I have learned through the years that is not my calling. It has taken some time and some maturity for me to come to these conclusions but alas here I am.

Dave and I have definitely been trialed this year. Of course, like any married couple, we have been trialed before in the last 8.5 years that we have been married. We were trialed as a couple when we chose to uproot and move to New Mexico, not knowing a single soul. We were trialed during the first year of our marriage when we were forced to pay the government for taxes and pay for a ridiculous leg surgery on a dog we had just adopted - all while not making a whole lot of money. We were trialed as a couple when we gave birth to our first born while David was attending grad school. We were again trialed in 2007 when Paloma was born/Dave defended his thesis/we sold our house/moved across country to a whole new state to begin our new life together. The trials continued as Dave's job evolved and began requiring a whole lot more travel. Travel is not necessarily bad, but it does prove challenging when you are the mother of two young children, no support systems, living in a whole new state. I relied on David and his work was pulling him from me. I could go on about the numerous ways that we have been tested as a couple. God has been gracious with us and gotten us through these challenges.

And then......Dec 2010 rolled along and once again, Dave and I found ourselves under attack. Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you. And just when you think life is good, you realize - well, that you have been handed a plate of lemons. There they are. Staring right at you. They are sour, and will burn your wounds if cut open. The acid will seep into the cuts in your hand, and you will feel pain. And that is where we were. Again, challenged. This time was different though. Although we found ourselves in a wrestling match with Satan, we decided to step back, take a second to breathe, and cut those lemons open and make some lemonade. The process was long and agonizing. Our wounds hurt as the juice from the lemons dripped in. The taste in our mouth was sour. It was not a fun process by any means BUT.....the end result is great.

Rather than turning and running from God, in this situation we drew closer. Using this particular trial, we allowed Christ to take our hearts and mold them into the people He desired us to be. We really had no other option but to turn toward Christ, cling to Him, and trust that since he brought us to the situation, he would bring us through the situation. And we believe that whole heartily. What doesn't kill us will make us stronger - another corny saying - but oh so true.

So here we are today. I stand in amazement of the wonderful man that God provided for me. I stand in amazement of the two beautiful children that I have been given. I stand in amazement of the life that I have been given. I deserve none of it. I am a sinful, selfish, self-centered person. By God's grace I am forgiven for my wrongs and my slate is wiped clean daily. Praise God. Though I/we may have suffered pain,disappointment and resentment, we hope to be living examples of what Christ can do in your life. My prayer is that through time our story can be shared and others can witness first hand the miracle that God can do in two very broken lives.

Mother's Day Adventure

2011-05-09T07:08:00.006-06:00

Happy Mothers Day to all my mommy friends reading. I love Mothers Day! This year turned out to be a cold, rainy, overcast day - but we didn't let that spoil the mood. I woke yesterday morning, got myself and the girls ready for church, and then sat back and let Dave take us on an orchestrated Mother's Day adventure.

Great photo op! After church, the girls and I were quickly whisked away to a great Mother's Day brunch. The girls ate enormous amount of food - I ate enormous amounts of dessert. It is all fat free on Mother's Day right?

After that, we jumped into the car and headed out of town for a drive. Neither myself or the kids knew where we were going. All I knew is we had plenty of bottled water and a few bags packed in the car. Didn't know what was in the bags but Dave had informed me to pack a change of clothes.

We ended up about an hour out of town at the hot springs. They have built a pool around the natural occurring hot springs and so the family spent the afternoon swimming in some amazingly warm, natural water.

Of course, the girls will never pass up an opportunity to go swimming. They had a blast, we had a blast, and we all worked off some much needed energy. Dave had taken care of everything, packed the girls' swimming suits, towels, change of clothes, shower goodies. He had even packed my swimming suit - not just 1 but 3. When I asked why he packed 3 he said "I wasn't sure what kind of day it would be" (in code for meaning bloated vs. not bloated / 1 piece vs. 2 piece) What a thoughtful gentleman. It was home for peanut butter sandwiches and off to U Swirl for ice cream. What an amazing day. A huge thanks to my family for making my day extra special. I love you guys very much.

This Is Why I Love Them

2011-05-06T12:00:00.002-06:00

Dinner is served

2011-05-06T11:14:00.002-06:00

We are so proud of our daddy for the wonderful dinner we had the other night. After a rather fruitful fishing trip a few weeks back, David served up some fresh, home grown fish. Who can get any more natural than that. We can't wait to send him back out for another fishing adventure. I'm sure he can't wait to get out as well.

Easter Morning Fun

2011-05-06T11:02:00.003-06:00

Don't' my girls look amazing in the morning?? Put aside the bedhead and concentrate on the lovely smiles of my two darlings the morning of Easter. They came downstairs and proclaimed that Jesus had risen! Yahoo! And then..... they spotted their baskets.

They were so excited. There is no Easter Bunny at our house. We keep the Easter celebration strictly for Jesus. But the girls no that although a big old bunny doesn't come hopping through their house, they won't get left out of the fun of Easter baskets. Mommy and Daddy know how to deliver.

When I asked Paloma what she wanted for Easter, she replied "a big chocolate bunny." That's all she wanted. The sad thing is she got maybe two bites of her bunny and her daddy "nibbled" on the rest. When she discovered the eaten bunny a couple of days ago, she was devastated and erupted into tears. After calling her daddy to let him know how disappointed she was in him, he replaced her bunny with a mega size chocolate bar. She was less than impressed.

Hello. What is an Easter basket without undies? Yes, we are practical in these parts of the woods. Mattea was delighted with her gift though because they had 'peace signs' on them. Apparently that is the new thing.

Hope everyone had a great Easter and celebrated the glorious resurrection of Christ.

Let's Be Honest

2011-05-04T22:43:00.012-06:00

This happens to be the devotion that came across my email today from Proverbs 31 Ministries. Take a moment to read and then tell me if you have ever felt yourself in this situation. Because if I am going to be brutally honest - I will say that I have almost handed in my pink slip before (on more than one occasion.) Really ladies - we are not alone. There are more of us "basket cased, non showered, over worked, under appreciated, I can't do this anymore moms" out there. The reminder in this devotion is 'no - we can't do this BUT yes - He can do this.'

http://devotions.proverbs31.org/2011/05/sometimes-i-just-wanna-quit.html

Sometimes I Just Wanna Quit
4 May 2011
Renee Swope

“You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.” Psalm 18:35 (NIV, 1984)

Devotion:
I love my kids, but I haven’t always liked being a mom.

Once my boys became toddlers who wouldn’t listen to me or do what I told them, I kind of panicked. I looked around at other moms who seemed to know what they were doing and wondered, “What is wrong with me?”

Their children seemed to listen when they told them no. Why wouldn’t my child keep his hands to himself or stay in the cart at the grocery store? Why did he not understand when I told him I could not buy everything his little hand could touch? And how come no one told me that being a mom would be so hard?

I felt like such a failure.
Almost every day I would compare how I felt on the inside to how other moms looked like they had it all together on the outside.

I held up my feelings of inadequacy and thoughts of insecurity in contrast to moms who dressed their children in matching outfits and adorned themselves with attitudes of grace and wisdom. I wondered how in the world they pulled it off with a smile. I could barely get a shower, get my kids dressed and get us out the door before lunch.

I just wanted to quit.
One day I came home from running too many errands with two very tired and fussy kids. I put them down for an early nap and started looking for pink construction paper so I could write “I QUIT” on it. I’d decided to turn in my “pink slip” to my husband when he came home from work that day.

It was just too hard, and I was tired of feeling like I would never be “good enough” as a mom.

But instead, I needed a new place to start.
I didn’t really start becoming the mom God created me to be until the day I was ready to quit. That afternoon I fell on my knees before God and choked out the words, “I can’t do this.”

And in that place of surrender, His peace came over me. His gentleness calmed my nerves. I felt like God bent down before me and spoke to my heart: You are right, Renee. In your strength and through your perspective, you can’t do this. But with My promises, My presence and My power — all things are possible. I will help you become a great mom.

Looking back on that day, I’m reminded of our key verse in Psalm 19:35, “You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.”

When we acknowledge that on our own we are a mess, God rushes to our side to help us. He bends down to show us that with His grace, wisdom and guidance, we can become the mom He is calling us to be, the mom our kids need us to be, and the mom we want to be!

Dear Lord, I need Your shield of victory to protect me from discouragement. I pray that You would extend Your right hand to sustain me; Your grace to strengthen me; and Your wisdom to lead me. Thank You for Jesus, who stooped down to make me great because of Your great love for me. Today, I want to find a new starting place with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

My Girls..

2011-05-04T22:02:00.002-06:00

They have a love/hate relationship these days...

Easter Egg Hunt

2011-04-25T11:59:00.003-06:00

Saturday was a glorious day. The sunshine was outside, the girls were happy and in good moods, and both Dave and I were craving some serious chocolate. So with that in mind, we packed up our girls and headed out to the annual
Easter Egg Hunt at church. It was amazing. The weather was so nice and cooperative compared to last year. The girls were so excited and quite frankly, so were Dave and I.

The girls got plenty of eggs for their baskets and had a blast counting and sorting their candy. I'm not going to lie, Dave and I have had fun raiding their baskets after bedtime. Happy Easter everyone. It is an amazing time of year.....

As you can tell, they had their game face on. They were not screwing around. It was all business once the green light was given.

Got Milk?

2011-04-24T16:56:00.005-06:00

Well, we have been one busy family lately. If it hasn't been school, swimming, traveling, etc it has been a fun filled trip with friends to none other than the dairy farm. You heard it right - Mattea's class was fortunate enough to visit a dairy farm. And Paloma and I were lucky enough to accompany her. In the above picture, they met up with Mattea's best friend Ella and they walked excitedly into the barn.

Here are the ladies hard at work. Kind of brings back memories from the old nursing/pumping days huh? I remember plenty of times feeling like a cow up for milking....

She was all smiles.

Catching a photo with a newborn calf.

Mattea's kindergarten class. It is so sad to think that the year with these kids is almost over and we will working our way to 1st grade. My how time flies...

Keep Your Friends Close and Your Enemies......

2011-04-14T00:56:00.000-06:00

(on a side note -this post was written awhile back and I'm now just getting around to editing and updating. I have since finished the entire book and highly recommend it to any married couple.)

Closer - Right. The well known statement "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." I'm here to argue that statement. After a week of enlightenment, reflection, and a whole lot of soul searching, I'm here to say "Keep your friends close and push your enemies far." (Or at least one enemy.)

I'm not going to lie, I have indulged in many self-help books over that last few months. Many involving marriage, but several have included parenting books as well. Let's face it, marriage is an up and down roller coaster. Some days are good, and some days are not so good. We have definitely had a few "not so good days" around here - but the good thing is God is here, He knows about it, and He is in control of it all. I remember back in pre-mariatal counseling, our pastor had said marriage is about awaking each morning, rolling over and consciously making the decision to love your spouse whether you feel it or not. Love is a choice, not necessarily a feeling. I guess I never thought I would be one of those people who would ever have to make that choice - boy was I wrong.

But, not to diverge too much from what my original post was about, I will sharply turn right and veer back on course about enemies. To tie things together, because Dave and I have had to endure some rather difficult trials, I am in the process of reading a book entitled "How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong" by Leslie Vernick. Some wonderful and interesting ideas have been taken from this book and I'm only on Chapter 6. The one idea/concept that has totally thrown me for a loop and really changed my entire outlook this week came from Chapter 3. I am dying to share it with you all and challenge you to read the words and really take them to heart.

"remember who your enemy is. It is not your spouse. Satan might have your spouse, but don't let him have you. "

These words have resonated through my mind on several occasions this week after originally reading it on Tuesday. Can you even begin to grasp the concept of what Leslie Vernick is saying? When our spouse speaks or acts unkindly toward us, perhaps acting in an unChristlike way, inflicting pain upon us - he or she is not our enemy. It is Satan. For our spouse has allowed Satan access into their hearts and have acted in a sinful way. BUT that does not mean that Satan can have access to us. Just because we are wronged, we do not have to wrong back. We can deny Satan access to our hearts and counteract that pain and hurt with love and kindness. Oh how hard this can be. Our natural reaction when we are hurt is to hurt back. Our natural tendency is to fight fire with fire BUT that is not what Christ has called us to do. Our goal in life is to live like HE lived.

"...it is God's will for us to be conformed to the image of Christ. Therefore, God will allow difficulties in our lives so that we might be shaped and molded into his character. If we keep this picture in our mind, we can see that it is not our task to mold our spouse; that is God's job We need to search God's Word and pray that he would give us the wisdom to know the right response in each situation we face. Then by faith, we must do it."

I think we all know the destructiveness that Satan can cause - if we let him. We have the free will to invite or deny him access to our heart. We must be on the lookout for the enemy for he lurks at all times, planning his next move and ultimately his next attack. I have realized in my own life, and more so just recently, that if I simply blink Satan has bombarded me with lies, deceit, and wrongful thinking. If my guard is let down at all, he attacks. That is why I must reiterate, "keep your friends close, and push your enemies far." Satan can't hurt you if you don't let him. If he has gotten ahold of your spouse that does not necessarily mean he has gotten ahold of you too. In those difficult and trying times, remember Satan is your enemy, not your spouse. Your spouse is God's special gift to you. He or she was handpicked especially for you. That does not mean that that person will not make bad choices, say mean things, act inappropriately, or even inflict pain. I know I have toward my husband on more than one occasion. What it is saying is that we must be held accountable for our actions aside from and separate from our spouse.

I'm sure you remember the old saying "two wrongs don't make a right." There is something to be said about that. Because an individual may have wronged you or hurt you, I highly encourage you to turn your face to Christ. Do as He did. Turn the other cheek and pray for those who persecute you. It is not an easy task especially when we are hurt or angry at the ones we love the most. But I challenge you to deny Satan access to your heart but instead let Christ steer you forward. And as for your spouse, well at the end of the day they are accountable for themselves. If I spend too much time worrying about the speck in his eye, I do not have time to concentrate on the plank in my eye.
Enough said.......

Spring Break Fun Continues

2011-03-30T22:01:00.004-06:00

And the fun continues.....

Today's fun was none other than ice skating. After running 4 miles this morning, I decided my glutes needed a workout so the kids and I packed up and headed to the ice skating rink - met some friends, talked, exercised, ran off some energy, and enjoyed another leisurely spring break afternoon.

The girls have ice skated before and loved it. We must say the local ice arena does not compare to ice skating at Sea World - sigh.....but we had fun nonetheless. What an absolute perfect family affair. We just happened to be missing daddy in the equation. But I will say that we will be heading back soon. It was so fun and such a good way to get exercise. What could be better?

Tomorrow's events - - -REST!

Spring Break Craft Day

2011-03-30T07:01:00.007-06:00

Yesterday - Tuesday - we decided to head down to the local watershed where the educators and staff are devoted to providing a fun filled, learning opportunity for the kids over spring break. They have various talks and seminars planned not to mention crafts and activities galore. The girls spent the morning painting with plant based paints.

Paloma was painting with raspberries and blueberries while Mattea stuck mostly with carrots and paprika. How fun is that? The colors were surprisingly very vibrant. The girls then moved into making wind socks, making their own paper, constructing bird

feeders and even making candy buildings with which they got to test out whether or not they were "earthquake proof." Of course the girls didn't really care about the presentation as much as they did about the candy they got to eat off their buildings.

The girls were exhausted at the end the end of the day but came home with some very nice arts and crafts. After a quick jaunt to the gym, the girls and I headed to bed early so that we would be well rested for tomorrow's activity - ice skating! Can't wait for the photo op. Stay tuned....

And the Fun Continues.....

2011-03-28T21:37:00.002-06:00

As promised, more spring break fun. Today, the girls and I decided to take in the new Yogi Bear movie at the cheap theater. Oh my goodness, what a ridiculously stupid movie - but the girls laughed and laughed. And, the whole movie seemed very appropriate unlike some of the other movies out there. So tonight, the girls quoted the movie over and over again to their daddy who happened to be working his fanny off today at the office while we got to play and have fun at the theaters (thanks pappa.) Stay tuned for tomorrow's excitement....What is on your spring break schedule?

Just Call Her Brilliant

2011-03-28T15:30:00.003-06:00

So my little Paloma has always been a rather "passive" learner. Fighting me every time I pulled out flashcards or a letter book, she seems to rather pick up on learning through other means. I remember one time even believing she was "slow" because she REFUSED to learn. But to our surprise, she is not slow but rather - ummmm - brilliant. No not really. But her preschool teachers have mentioned they expect so much more out of her because she is "so smart" and "so advanced." Yikes. She will read sentences in Mattea's book that Mattea struggles with. She will recite her sister's Bible verses and even finish Mattea's math homework. No joke. The other day as I was working "actively" with Mattea, Paloma was "passively" doing her homework. I gave her a dry erase board and told her to LEARN. She sat down and wrote all of her numbers from 1-10. Just prior to that she wrote the entire alphabet. I have never sat down and worked with her on writing. I just give her a book. If I tried to guide her the way I did with Mattea, she would throw the pencil down in protest. So, I guess we will stick with what works. Not too bad huh?

Kickin' Off Spring Break

2011-03-28T08:17:00.002-06:00

Well, our family is officially on Spring Break.
No more early mornings, no more homework - it is nothing but relaxing for a week.

I have an entire week of fun and activities planned for the girls and I. Since our weather won't be nice until the end of the week, we have indoor activities planned for the beginning portion of our vacation.

Saturday night started with a good old hockey game. Dave got free tickets to the game from work so we decided - why not?

The girls loved it - loved the excitement and the food the best. They enjoyed so many snacks. We did that in part so Dave and I could watch the second half of the game in peace. The girls started talking too much so we decided we could gain a few minutes to concentrate on the game if we loaded them up with dippin dots and popcorn. It bought us about 10 min.

Girl shot!

Even at 10 pm, they still had quite a bit of energy. Here's to the beginning of a great week....
Stay tuned, we are getting ready to embark on our next adventure soon.

St. Patty's Day Fun

2011-03-28T08:11:00.002-06:00

Who says you have to be Irish to enjoy St. Patricks Day?

Our day consisted of green pancakes, green macaroni, and corned beef and cabbage for supper at Dave's request.

My kids were pooping green for the rest of the week but they sure had fun.

Bring on the Bling

2011-02-26T11:07:00.006-07:00

I am a bit late on compiling this post - but better late than never right?
This is one that I have been so excited to do but just haven't found the time to sort through all the pics. I think we took a total of 190 pictures that day. It was such an exciting and magical day. We wanted Mattea to feel extra special on her "Golden Birthday." Our first born turned 6 on Feb. 6th. Happy Birthday Miss Mattea.

I decided to throw Mattea a princess tea party this year. And I also made the executive decision to have someone else do all the work - mommy was going to relax and enjoy the fun for once. So at a place called '2 B a Kid' we went. The above pictures are of the girls before all the glitz and glam began.

Quick shot of the girls before the guests arrived. Each little girl was allowed to pick out a fancy dress to be worn throughout the entire party.

Mattea, of course, was the first to get her hair done. The lady did a fantastic job of making the girls' hair look extra spectacular.

While each girl got a chance to get their hair and make up done, the remaining girls worked on a project. The project we chose was making a book. Mattea and Paloma are obsessed with making books these days, so they were allowed to design their very own hard cover book.

Aren't my girls gorgeous?

I couldn't help but capture a side view of Paloma. I thought she looked absolutely adorable that day. I have never been able to manage her hair like this lady did. It was amazing.

Paloma taking her turn getting her nails done. Needless to say she bit the polish off the next day. Oh well.

Quick shot with my beauty before the princess came.

And there she is. Our very own guest appearance with Cinderella. Mattea was so surprised. Cinderella made her way in, greeted the girls and then took them upstairs for games and story time.

Story time....Cinderella story of course.

Capturing Mattea amongst all the excitement.

Then it was back to the party room for "tea and cake."

The girls were served "tea" which was more like a fruit punch concoction with whipped creme and sprinkles on top. It was a big hit.

It went over really well with the birthday girl.

All of the beautiful princesses enjoying an afternoon of tea an fellowship.

There is my darling new 6 year old. My time has flown by....

As the party started to wind down, the clock struck 3 and the pretty dresses, shoes, and accessories started to disappear. But the company of good friends did not.

And that wrapped up an absolutely amazing afternoon. I do hope Mattea will remember how much fun we had. I know I couldn't possibly forget.

Father/Daughter Ball - 2011

2011-02-14T10:23:00.002-07:00

Well, it is February. What a great month. During this month of "love" our family celebrates Mattea's birthday, David's birthday, Valentines Day, and of course the Father/Daughter Ball. My girls look forward to this very special night for almost an entire year. And this past Friday marked the unforgettable night.

Paloma was feeling a bit under the weather but she thought she could muster enough energy to get dressed up and head out with daddy and sister for a night of dancing, crafts, and a big chocolate fountain.

A little sisterly love.

Of course, a dance with daddy.

The girls once again had a memorable night out with their father. I am so lucky to have a man in my life who is committed to being in their lives. All of the research suggests the presence of a father in the home is monumental in the outcome of healthy, strong girls/women. Dave and I have talked at length about that. If my girls continue to feel the love of both their heavenly father and their earthly father, we are hoping that is enough to satisfy them. May they always know how much they are loved.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Our Golden Birthday - 6 on the 6th!

2011-02-08T21:21:00.003-07:00

February 6th was a big day at our house. My little Matty Moo turned 6 years old. Nothing like a reason to celebrate. What birthday is bigger than your golden birthday? I wanted so badly to make this year special for her.

Mattea posing with her daddy and her new doll Sydney. She hasn't let that doll out of her site since opening her.

Let the gift giving frenzy begin. Some of Mattea's gifts included her Sydney doll, a pair of pajamas, some dress up accessories and a game from Aunt Kim, a Barbie scooter, a doll carriage, her ears pierced, and a scattering of other wonderful things. Thank you all for loving all over my sweet girl.

As I said, the gift giving frenzy just seemed to keep on going. And this would be why we request no gifts at the girls' birthday parties. They are in need of nothing.

And to top off the celebration - a birthday song and sundae at Red Robin where our family enjoyed a nice dinner out with our birthday girl. Happy Happy Birthday Sweetheart. You are an amazing girl.

BUT, the celebrations have only just begun. Stay tuned as next week Mattea hosts her own very fancy tea party at 2 B A Kid with a few of her friends. Should be one fancy good time.

We Did It!

2011-02-05T21:36:00.002-07:00

I have been throwing around the idea for awhile and finally after talking with quite a few moms, I decided it was time to let Mattea get her ears pierced. And what better time that her 6th birthday.

It was a surprise to her today but she has been talking to all her friends about it for quite some time. They have all told her how much it hurts in the beginning but the "stinging" goes away. I was prepared for tears - but to no avail - my baby didn't even flinch. We were all astonished. She kind of just sat there shell shocked for a moment.

She chose a sparkly pair of pink flowers. She loves looking in the mirror in adoration. I love that she loves them. Happy early birthday present love bug.

Show Me Your Team Spirit

2011-02-05T21:25:00.002-07:00

Today was yet another game for our squad. It was team picture day so everyone was looking top notch.

The girls did great and even performed a few new cheers. Upward is a great program and we are so glad Mattea can be a part of it. I think all the girls look absolutely adorable.

My Days

2011-02-02T20:22:00.002-07:00

There are days when the sun is out
and
there are days the clouds overshadow.

There are days when I wake up on time
and
there are days that I simply don't even acknowledge the alarm clock.

There are days when I cook a super nutritious breakfast
and
there are days when a pop tart is all that I can conjure up.

There are days when I brew a pot of coffee and sit down with my Bible to read
and
there are days that I read from the kids Bible for nap time and call it good.

There are days when I meet the day with a smile
and
there are days in which I don't even remember how to smile.

There are days where I am showered, shaved, clothed, and presentable by 7 am
and
there are days that I don't shower at all.

There are days in which I play with my kids from sun up to sun down
and
there are days in which Dora plays with my kids from sun up to sun down.

There are days when I am happy
and
there are days when I am sad.

There are days when I am motivated to prepare a great meal for my family
and
there are days when Ronald McDonald does it for me.

There are days when I am productive
and
there are days where I seem to sit around and do absolutely nothing.

There are days when I am positive
and
there are days when I am negative.

There are days when I am a good wife
and
there are days where I am a bad wife.

There are days I never want to forget
and
there are days I would rather erase.

The wonderful and amazing thing, though, is no matter what kind of day I'm having - Jesus is by my side from the moment I awake to the moment I resign. He supports me through the good and comforts me through the bad. He sees my smile and wipes my tears. He watches over me and loves me through it all.

As for today - it was a good day!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

Guess Who's "Toofless"

2011-02-01T18:50:00.002-07:00

The day FINALLY arrived. After being informed of her very first tooth being loose almost 6 weeks ago, we were finally able to yank it out the other night. I say "we" but really mean "Dave." I hate wiggly, bloody, half rooted teeth. This is the one area of child rearing that I'm using my "Get Out of Jail Free" card. In fact, Dave tried to extract it a couple of weeks ago and it made him sick to his stomach. But, I told him (in a very nice way of course) to man up and yank the sucker out so the Tooth Fairy can come and the anticipation can finally end.

Both are still smiling after the incident so it couldn't have been that bad. I ran to the other room.....

and grabbed my photo later. It was a big day and there was a lot of excitement. I tried so hard to be excited for her but felt very bad about lying to her about some tiny little fairy flying around delivering treasure for a bloody old tooth. We have not lied about a jolly old guy delivering gifts or a giant bunny hopping around delivering eggs. But we are choosing to down right lie about the tooth fairy. I feel blatantly bad about breaking one of the ten commandments but there has to be a clause when it comes to your kids right??? Round 2 will be occurring soon as that very night, Mattea discovered another loose tooth located right next to the new hole. Great.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-12T14:53:00.002-07:00

"Your looking a little droopy"

2011-01-10T21:57:00.004-07:00

Oh the numerous ways I could start off this blog post.........

Actually, I will keep it clean and clarify that that particular statement is one that I use when I am talking to my very best philodendron. Yes, I have a very special plant that I love watering, nurturing, and talking to. It sits in my kitchen and thrives off the sunlight streaming in from my kitchen windows. When I left Albuquerque, I was forced to leave some of my very best plants behind - why? Well, Dave drove here with two dogs, a vacuum cleaner, and some necessities. No room for plants. And me, I jumped on an airplane with a carry on, two car seats, a stroller and two toddlers. No room for plants. Saddened and heart broken, I entrusted my plants to some good friends.

But that was kind of a turning point, I started anew here. Finding new pots, new soil, the right plants. I replanted and started fresh. But I'm not always successful in my plant potting ventures. I've killed many a plant in my day. Every 6 or so I get lucky, manage to keep one alive long enough to establish roots, and thrive if given the bare necessities. Well, I looked up yesterday to my dear plant only to find that I hadn't watered it since arriving back from Christmas vacation - she was looking a little droopy. Goodness, can't imagine why I haven't been paying more attention to that. I only have 2 school age kids, a husband, 2 dogs, a home, a job, a church, friends, and laundry to keep track of. I couldn't for the life of me remember why I hadn't penciled in time to take care of my plant.

Nonetheless, I dropped everything, grabbed the watering can and gave my sweet plant a drink. I waited. I waited some more. 10 min had gone by and it still looked droopy. 2 hours had gone by and it still looked droopy. I then got busy and once again forgot about my plant, until this morning. Eating breakfast with the girls I looked up and saw that my plant had perked up. It looked greener, healthier, vibrant. The leaves were pointing up and I was happy. Yahoo, a little water saved the day. And then I got to thinking.......

How much are our lives and our children's lives much like my plant. Think for a moment about the relationship with your spouse. If you don't take the time and energy to "water" their spirit or "fertilize" their soul, what is that person going to start looking like. Yes, I know that we get busy and time can get away from us, but our spouse will continue to need those basic essentials to continue on in a healthy & happy relationship. Think about the results that can occur if we put all things aside and provide a little TLC. We may not see results immediately but given a bit of time, we will see a thriving, healthy, happy looking person.

Same concept applies to our children. How often do we get caught up in the daily grind, thinking about the next thing on our to do list or the next load of laundry to be folded. We don't stop to provide that little bit of TLC. Our children may not hear an "I love you" or an "I am proud of you" or "Good job." They began to wither, droop if you must. They begin to take on an unpleasant appearance. But all it takes is a bit of intention on our part and voila!!!! - transformation occurs. If you think I'm joking, I challenge you to put aside all negativity and shower your spouse or child with nothing but compliments and see what happens. The child you once thought was becoming a discipline problem will be transformed into a healthier and happier individual. BUT, it does take a bit of work and grooming on our part. Although at times it is not convenient to stop what we are doing, grab the watering can, grab the chair, climb up on the counter and give the plant some water - it is well worth it in the end when you have a beautiful flowering plant. Same thing with the relationships in our lives. It is not always convenient to stop what we are doing, provide praise and encouragement, dish out compliments, listen, and love intentionally. BUT it is well worth it in the end when we have a beautiful flowering individual. Think about it for a moment......

I know that I have killed plenty of plants in my lifetime, and I probably will kill a few more. But, it is definitely time to start taking care of the ones I have living right now!

Let's Go Upward - Let's Go!

2011-01-09T21:14:00.003-07:00

Well here we are - the first week of cheerleading is now complete. The girls had their very first practice on Thursday evening and an all morning cheer clinic on Sat. And, surprisingly enough, everyone survived. I won't lie and say that there wasn't a little bit of anxiety involved going into this week. But, I think our squad is made up of a great group of girls whom I am excited to get to know better.

After a total underestimation of our squad, the girls proved us wrong and went out on Saturday putting on a stellar performance for the parents. Great job girls, lets see where the season leads us....

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl

2011-01-09T15:01:00.003-07:00

Well, as promised, a few pictures of Paloma's big day. Or should I say big week, or perhaps big month. Man, it seems as if we have been celebrating P's birthday for the last month. As you all may know, she is my New Years Eve baby. And because we were gone for Christmas, we literally celebrated Christmas and her "real birthday" within a 24 hour period. Then she celebrated at school with her class in which she got some fancy shmancy cupcakes. Then, 4 days later she celebrates with friends at her birthday party. I'm thinking I'll adapt her methods next year and have a week long celebration.
Nonetheless, it was fun. We decided to invite a few friends over to the community center and make stuffed animals. I had found a woman at a community event this summer that comes to your home and literally has a "build a bear" party similar to that at the Build a Bear store. I decided to try her out and allow Paloma and all her little friends to pick out, stuff, and name their own animal.

But before all the fun festivities could occur, we enjoyed lunch and cupcakes.

Let the stuffing begin.....

The girls were all given a star in which they made a wish and stuffed in their animals. Then the adults helped seal them up.

A group shot of the girls and their animals. How sweet are they?

My Baby Turns 4

2011-01-02T07:09:00.005-07:00

Well, as much as I look forward to ringing in the New Year each year, I am always a bit saddened as well. It not only means the ending of year but the fresh new beginning of another. It also means that my sweet baby girl - Paloma - turns 1 year older. This year, my sweet child turned 4.

What a bright and funny little girl she has blossomed into. She has come such a long way in these past few years. Her dad and I are very proud of her. Currently, she is enrolled in preschool at the Children's Academy. It was a rough start but I think now she is loving it. She has made a very special friend named Jessie, whom she absolutely adores. She loves her teachers - Mrs. Mayer and Miss Barbara. She loves the learning and the craft time. She has begun writing her name, sounding our words from her sister's reading books, and memorizing scripture.

This year's celebration including recovering from an extended stay in San Francisco's airport, a very special breakfast, lots of presents, and a movie with the family.

Paloma is a very lucky little girl and is surrounded by people who love and adore her. She received so many presents from family that she is not quite sure who or what to begin playing with first. So far, she is loving all over her new American Girl Doll - Kirsten, and coloring all of the crafts she got from Grandma T. Since she informed us that she wanted to start reading, we purchased her the Leap From Tag system which she is enjoying as well. Paloma will celebrate her birthday with all of her friends this upcoming Friday (which of course there will be pictures to follow.)

Happy Birthday sweet girl. You are such a blessing and a joy. You keep your daddy and I on our toes. You challenge us, defy us, and even hit us (as was the case last night when she thought she was giving me a love pat but rather ended up giving me a left hook.) You fill our days with laughter and joy and we simply can't imagine life without you. You entered our lives with a bang and quite frankly child, you haven't stopped making that sweet music. We are in awe of your beauty (and of course those cute little curls you have.) God's miracle is before us. We love you to pieces and wish you the best in the upcoming year. Many kisses.
Love, Mom & Dad

Sea World

2010-12-31T15:15:00.003-07:00

The highlight for this trip (although there are many wonderful memories) is sure to be the day we spent as Sea World. The weather was nice, the people were few, and the smiles were many. We arrived very early and walked right in - way different experience than Legoland. We were greeted by some very friendly animals....

After enjoying some photo ops, we meandered our way through the park. It was so enjoyable and fun. We had plenty of time before our first show started, so we leisurely made our way around the exhibits.

Can you sense the excitement in the air?

First stop - the Blue Horizons Dolphin show. Definitely a great experience. The girls enjoyed watching the dolphins swim, jump, dance. It was a good show. We made sure to stay away from the "soak zone." Those dolphins can produce a pretty big splash.

A nice visit with some of our special friends from Sesame Street. Paloma made sure she got a personal hug from every last one of them.

It wasn't long until we were able to head over to the big stadium for the show that the girls had been waiting for. They wanted to see Shamu. They had been watching him on the 24 hour camera that Sea World's website has set up. Both girls giggled as this massive animal came swimming out (along with some friends) for an absolutely amazing performance. This show was incredible to say the least.

We were amazed and dumbfounded. Again, good thing we stayed out of the "soak zone." Shamu has one big tail which produced some pretty big splashes.

We had a wonderful day as a family and would definitely recommend Sea World to anyone headed out to San Diego. I'm sure the girls would go back in a heartbeat.

This Girl Can Rock It

2010-12-31T14:59:00.002-07:00

No Words Needed

2010-12-25T11:50:00.003-07:00

California Christmas Vacation - Day 1

2010-12-25T11:12:00.008-07:00

What an adventitious day our family had yesterday. After an uneventful flight over to California, we settled into Dave's company condo for the night, only to awaken bright and early (darn time change) and make our way down to Legoland. The kids were excited and so it didn't take much to get them fed, dressed, and loaded into the car for the drive down. We arrived at our destination in good time but found ourselves waiting in the car for over an hour and a half just to get into the park. We were lucky that nobody had to go to the bathroom and nobody had a temper tantrum. Once we were finally parked and able to exit the vehicle, things quickly became apparent of what we were getting ourselves into. We would later learn from another woman who had visited the park over 50 times that yesterday was the busiest she had ever seen it.

Hmmmm, good planning on our part? Oh well, we didn't let the ginormous crowds of people get to us. Although we were not able to ride hardly any rides, the girls had fun walking around, touching everything, staring at people, and of course enjoying some good food.

If this photo doesn't just scream FUN!!!

I love this picture. Paloma's face is priceless.

As you can see by the photos, there were smiles all around. As closing time quickly neared, we were able to make our way over to the aquarium. The girls enjoyed that as well until one of the sharks swam right up to Paloma's face and scared the living daylights out of her. I truly think she had believed she had seen JAWS. Poor baby, I thought she was going to wet her pants. We quickly made our way to the exit, piled into the car and headed home. The girls were exhausted. The parents were exhausted but man was it a good time.

I love seeing the smiles on my girls' faces. They are so excited to be here. We are having a nice vacation and can't wait for the upcoming days. Today is Christmas Eve. We are laying low for now, sitting back and resting. We will be heading out to Christmas Eve service tonight to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-15T21:35:00.001-07:00

Lesson #1

2010-12-15T21:15:00.002-07:00

"We paint on the paper honey, not on our faces...."

She's Got Talent (or not)

2010-12-08T21:48:00.002-07:00

Mattea is definitely taking this cheerleading thing seriously. She is already practicing her moves.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-08T21:42:00.001-07:00

(take notice of what exactly is stuck in her and then ask yourself how in the world she got it stuck there?)

Date Night With Daddy

2010-11-28T21:28:00.005-07:00

A few weeks back, David had suggested taking the girls for an overnight outing to one of the local hotels and spending some concentrated time with our daughters.
-He had some points saved up from travel and was able to book a night for free. The girls were ecstatic to pack an overnight bag and head off for dinner and swimming with their daddy - no mommies allowed.

After work, David picked up his two anxious daughters and headed off to dinner. Then he checked into their room and headed - of course - to the pool. I received text and picture updates through it all. And then after being away from the girls for about 2 hours, I headed over to the hotel to check out the fun. They were swimming, enjoying home baked cookies, and loving all over their daddy.

I consider myself one lucky lady to have such an amazing husband and father who is willing to invest his daughter's lives. I try hard not to take him or his commitment to our family for granted. I know our girls will remember this night for many years to come.

Who Says I'm Not A Fun Mom

2010-11-26T20:57:00.003-07:00

When the weather outside is frightful.......

Yes frightful.....

The temperature is frigid, the snow flurries are everywhere, and the sweet children are going stir crazy. What is a mommy to do?

I'm not sure about you, but this mommy invested in some window crayons and said "Enjoy!"

Sunday Morning Worship

2010-11-19T15:09:00.001-07:00

Paloma's Plug

2010-11-03T22:36:00.002-06:00

I looked over the lunch table today to find my sweet little 3 year old with her finger up her nose. This would be our conversation...

Me: Paloma, why is your finger up your nose?

Paloma: I got some macaroni in my nose.

Me: How did that happen sweetie. Did you stick a noodle up your nose?

Paloma: It went up my froat (throat) and into my nose.

Apparently nobody told her that her mother is a nurse and therefore has taken A & P. Really sister, the things you come up with.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-03T00:00:00.001-06:00

Boring Old Post That Would Interest Nobody Unless You Are Family

2010-10-30T20:43:00.003-06:00

Here are just a few random pictures from the girls' Fall Harvest Parties on Friday.

It was a little challenging this year since they decided to have them on the same day. I was definitely torn between whose class party to attend, and where I should help. I have never been in this situation before.

Paloma sporting a good smile the morning of. I made sure to snap a few pics before the party for I knew once all the treats started coming out, my girls would inevitably wind up messy.

I chose to focus in on Paloma's class since I had assisted with Mattea's parties for the last two years. I did sneak away and head upstairs to see what was happening in the kindergarten class. Mattea looked like she was doing fine. Here Paloma is enjoying some wonderfully sugary snacks - and some carrots and cheese stick too.

Like I said, she seemed to be doing just fine. Next up Thanksgiving Feast. And then the fun really begins.....

Fall Frolic

2010-10-22T18:45:00.002-06:00

It's Fall ~ and we are embracing the change.

What a glorious time of year......

Although the pile of leaves was small, the laughs and giggles were not.

Big News!

2010-10-18T09:15:00.003-06:00

I am so proud to say.....Mattea has finally mastered the 2 wheeler!!!

A huge shout of congratulations to my little Matty. This has been a huge accomplishment that we have been working towards for quite some time. This past week it finally clicked. She has got it. She no longer needs us to start or stop her. She puts on her helmet and rides.

For anyone who knows Matty, concentration has been a big problem. Her little head wanders and that makes it hard to grasp the concept of balance. In fact, she has run into mailboxes before on her bike with training wheels. Now, this problem is not solved. Just this past Saturday, Matty was cruising along feeling like a big girl - turned to watch some activity in the park - and rode right into our light post in the front lawn sending her flying over her handlebars. Luckily, no major injuries occurred. But, I'm a mommy who believes in learning the hard ways. Too many spills and she'll realize she needs to pay attention.

But nonetheless - we are proud of you sweet pea!

Innocence

2010-10-16T21:32:00.003-06:00

Oh what a sweet word. Innocence. I remember bringing my girls home from the hospital, looking intently into their eyes and wondering how on earth anything good be so innocent and precious. Unjaded by this world, naive to bitterness and evil around them. Completely and one hundred percent innocent - that is until they turned 2.

Tonight as I bathed the girls, I had one of those AHA moments. You know, the ones where you catch a glimpse of a totally spontaneous moment and it triggers a bigger, more abstract thought process. That was me - tonight - as I gave my two tired little girls a bath.

There were running around completely naked, carefree, as I filled the bathtub. Mattea, at one point, picked up a book and began reading to her sister - in the buff. And then I catch Paloma come streaking through the bathroom, butt naked herself, carrying a purse and wearing high heels. They were so nonchalant, so not aware of their surroundings. They were caught in the moment and didn't care about much else than that. How awesome to have that kind of freedom. How often do we just run around the house naked - carefree - unashamed of ourselves, our bodies, our flaws. And how often do we come streaking through the bathroom naked in high heels?

My kids had no concept of shame. They just simply were being themselves. I'm sure they would have felt slightly different if it were dad instead of me - but not too different. They are pretty comfortable with themselves. They have no reason not to be. They are still innocent. Sure they have their moments of "privacy" but for the most part they are just coasting through life with that short lived sense of innocence. As I stopped for a moment to take the scene in, I was brought back to the innocence that Adam and Eve enjoyed before the Fall. How beautiful to live life carefree and at peace . These days we run through life ashamed, humiliated by either past/present sin or secret lies that we hide away hoping to never have uncovered. We have lost our sense of innocence. But as we are reminded in the Bible, Jesus commands us to be like children. We are to see life through the eyes of a child - which is so hard to do on some days. But when I see my kids laughing and giggling while running through my house naked, talking and reading without a care in the world, I am in a brief instance reminded of their innocence and how quickly it will fade.

It will not be long before the evil of this world sets in and takes hold of my children's minds and of their hearts. Their innocence will be lost - I dread the day when that comes - when they hear inappropriate talk, see inappropriate scenes on TV, or speak inappropriately. My prayer is that God will protect them for as long as possible and keep them innocent for many days to come.

Stanley, Lanley

2010-10-15T20:19:00.002-06:00

I have gotten a little behind but definitely wanted to take a minute to share a few photos of our "girls only getaway" to Stanley a couple of weeks ago.

We didn't do anything all that spectacular - but to the kids it was an amazing weekend. We stayed in this really old cabin - but to the girls it was a castle. I was a bit unimpressed but they thought it was a hoot. Who was I to rain on their parade.

Daddy was a few miles away hunting and so the girls and I packed up after school and made the drive to the mountains.

The weather was amazing and so cooperative. We played by the water - skipping rocks and swinging in the swing - which was Mattea's favorite.

We drove in to Hailey on Saturday and played in their park, got some coffee, and drove back to Stanley to meet daddy - who took a hiatus from hunting to come visit.

Overall, it was a good getaway. I was away from all the pressures of cooking, housework, yard work, and laundry and could simply enjoy my kids for who and what they were. Although sleep was minimal that weekend - fun was not!

Happy Hair Combing

2010-10-15T20:12:00.002-06:00

Ahhhh, so this is what happens when I let Mattea do her sister's hair......Nice one!

Just For Fun Friday

2010-10-15T20:07:00.000-06:00

Party At The Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-13T20:19:00.002-06:00

Fall is here and we are taking it all in. Although I know that fall signals winter (which I loathe,) I do enjoy the cooler weather, changing leaves, and of course - the pumpkin patch. I was fortunate to have the girls' pumpkin patch field trip on the same day - which was today! The weather started out chilly but warmed up to over 70 degrees. It was perfect.

Both girls were excited as if you couldn't tell. We joined the rest of the kindergarten class for a hayride out to the pumpkin patch to find the "perfect pumpkin."

Paloma found hers (within about 3.5 seconds.) This little girl is so impulsive but it is nice since Mattea is so indecisive. I think we would still be there trying to find the "bestest" one if it was up to Mattea.

But you have to love her anyways - she is such a sweetheart.

It would have been absolutely stupendous if daddy could have been there to join in the fun - but unfortunately someone has to pay the bills right? David is headed off to the woods this weekend so the girls and I are thinking we may just have to visit the other pumpkin patch in town. I simply can't get enough.

You Take my Breath Away

2010-10-13T20:14:00.002-06:00

Paloma is blossoming into such a beautiful and stunning young lady. She is an absolute gem. It is photos like these that take my breath away....

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-13T17:02:00.002-06:00

Monday Mishaps

2010-10-04T12:38:00.003-06:00

Well, we have certainly had some interesting stories to tell around here at our house lately. Because I'm finally getting around to telling them, I'm hoping I haven't lost the details that make each story unique.
To begin......
Last night was a night that was very much anticipated. After being away from the comforts of our own house, own beds, own pillows, etc... the girls and I were definitely looking forward to crawling into bed and falling fast asleep. Dave was too of course since he spent a night in the woods in a tent, a night in the car.... As Dave was turning in and closing off the lights, I remember saying to him "Honey, leave the door open. One of the girls is sure to come in tonight." Call it mother's intuition. He said, "no, they are sleeping soundly in their beds. They'll be asleep until morning."
Wrong! Paloma came trotting into our room around 2 am. "Mommy, mommy. It is dark in here. The stairs are so dark. " Me: "Paloma, yes it is very dark in the house. It is nighttime. You are supposed to be sleeping. Why are you wondering around on the stairs anyways?"
Paloma: "Don't you remember, you told me to feed Mr. Kody?"

Yes - Paloma I did tell you to feed Mr. Kody. I'm glad that you are remembering to do your chores but I did ask you to do that like 6 hours ago, I don't know, when it was dinner time perhaps. Silly girl!

So I tucked her safely back into her bed, told her to feed the dogs in the morning, and crossed my fingers nobody else would awaken before the sun came up.

The other story comes to a few days late as previously mentioned. Allow me to preface the story by saying that it is not uncommon for me to wake up in the morning and find David sleeping in some other portions of the house. I go to bed with him but don't always awaken with him. He had horrible insomnia and wakes up several times throughout the night, migrating to different locations quite frequently. Well, on this particular morning that I woke to the blaring alarm, I remember going to bed with David. I remember cuddling up and saying goodnight. But when I awoke, I was not laying next to David, I was laying next to a little Paloma. As I rushed to shut the alarm off and save her another couple hours of sleep, I realized my back was a bit wet. Not thinking much of it, I grabbed my shirt and realized I was drenched. Since I am certainly not nursing any babies right now, I was baffled at what I could be feeling. Then I realized not only was my shirt wet, so were my pants, the sheets, the comforter, etc.....And then it hit me. I was totally drenched in my daughter's pee. Yes, Paloma had crawled into my bed and peed all over it. And not just wet the bed, she drowned the bed. And me. Trying hard not to be disgusted, I stripped down to just about nothing, ran downstairs to wake David (who by the way was wondering why I was running around naked at 5 am) and then dauntingly woke Paloma up and drug her out of bed. She was so sorry and apologized profusely. (She never wets the bed.) And so it goes....One more story in my ever growing book of mothers tales.

Weekend Away

2010-10-04T12:31:00.003-06:00

What did you do this weekend? I'll tell you what we did if you tell me what you did......

Hint: My plans involved mountains, fresh air, nature, rocks, 90 degree weather, shorts, elk, cabins, and a whole lot of time with two of the most beautiful girls around.

Sneak Peak

2010-10-04T12:25:00.002-06:00

Here is a brief look at the girls' new room. We decided to bunk them up several months ago in hopes of 1)creating a strong sisterly bond & 2)Paloma would sleep through the night if she knew her sister was in the same room.

Well, we trialed it for several months. Using their old beds, we just finagled a room and stuck them both in it - stripping it of toys and books and creating a "new" toy room upstairs. After the great debate, we decided it was working - both girls were sleeping good and the situation seemed to be working out as we had planned. Praise God!

We then decided to make the bunk bed purchase. Yahoo, the girls love it but mom hates it. Well, I don't really but it is stinkin darn hard changing sheets on a bunk bed - especially for someone who is vertically challenged. Nonetheless, it is working. I'm in the process of converting Mattea's room into Mattea's/Paloma's room. So I'll have a few more pictures in a few weeks but I thought I would sneak a peak in now. Do you like?

Bondage

2010-09-27T21:15:00.002-06:00

Silly title to my blog post huh? I'm sure the word bondage stirs up an array of different thoughts in people's minds.

Well, the definition of bondage is as follows:

the state of being bound by or subjected to some external power or control.

This particular blog post has everything to do with me and the bondage that I have been dealing with for approximately 20 years. I have been in complete bondage to the scale. Crazy as it sounds, I have been. My bathroom scale has external power and control over me, my emotions, my thoughts, and even my behaviors. For hundreds of days, I have woken up to either elation or disappointment as I make my way to the scale, step on, and look at the blinking number that appears before me. I have been known to go from being a completely happy morning person to a grumpy sour puss after getting on the bathroom scale. I have also been known to let those emotions control me for an entire day not to mention an entire week.

It is absolutely no secret that I have had "food dysfunctions" in the past. (That is the term I am now using to describe what professionals would call an eating disorder. Just so everyone is on the same page...) I have had periods in my life where I am able to cope, deal, and control my "dysfunction" better than others. For example, around the time of my wedding, I was what you would call a dieting nightmare. Obsessed with all things weight. Then despite heavy concerns from my husband, I did become pregnant and actually handled the weight gain rather well - all things considered. And then the waxing and waning continued. Periods where I felt good about myself, and periods where I was an absolute grouch to be around -especially if there was food around.

The very sad part to my story is how fully aware I am of what I am doing, what I am thinking, and how I am acting. I am not oblivious. Because I have been living like this for so long, I am so keenly aware of how much body image, calories, fat, and food affect my life. I'm no dummy. I know that at times I am doing things that I know are unhealthy for me and I would absolutely cringe if I knew my girls were doing - but yet the number on the scale has me pulled in. Many times I will do just about anything to move that number down on the scale.

Well, the point of my long winded story is this....I refuse to live in bondage anymore. I refuse to wake up each morning and dread walking into the bathroom for fear that I will step on the scale and be repulsed by what I see. I refuse to be a hypocrite to my children whom I am constantly telling they are beautiful and perfect because that is how God made them, yet not believe the concept myself. I refuse to be a bad example to the two girls I am called to protect.

So with that being said, I have begun a journey - a journey of self-acceptance. I have a feeling this journey is going to take longer than my 1/2 marathon and I'm going to need twice as much endurance to get me through. I have asked Dave to confiscate my scale (to which he did and hid so I can not sneak a peak.) I woke up the is morning and felt almost naked when I walked in to brush my teeth and looked over to the spot in which my scale has resided. I had the urge to recant my request and ask for it back - but I didn't. I resisted the urge to step on the scale at the gym. I am resisting the call of Satan, who in my mind is telling me this is an area I can't overcome. I resisting the idea that I must live in bondage to my scale. I won't. I have wasted too much of my life being controlled by weight. So in essence, I'm not really sure what I'm hoping to accomplish on my "road to self acceptance." Maybe it is just to live without a scale in my house, maybe it will be to look in the mirror and accept myself for who I am, or maybe it will be to simply lose the idea that I have to count every calorie going into my mouth. Who knows, but what I do know is that I'm ready for this journey to begin.

Who's Choking?

2010-09-27T21:09:00.000-06:00

"Don't worry Paloma, I know the Heimlich maneuver."

You Know You Live In Idaho When

2010-09-27T21:02:00.003-06:00

"Moldability"

2010-09-26T14:35:00.002-06:00

"You know Heather........

Some clay is easier to mold than others." Miss Amber

Untitled

2010-09-22T21:25:00.003-06:00

A careful mom I ought to be,
My little daughter follows me.
I do not dare to go astray,
For fear she'll go the selfsame way.

Not once can I escape her eyes;
Whate'er she sees me do she tries.
Like me she says she's going to be
That little girl who follows me....

I must remember as I go
Through summer sun and winter snow,
I'm molding for the years to be -
That little girl who follows me.

Anonymous

Recipe For A Child

2010-09-08T21:57:00.003-06:00

1 Tbsp. of facts
1 Tbsp. of imagination
1 c. of humor
1 c. of tolerance (I always add extra)
1 c. of understanding
3 c. of love

Place in a large open area with lots of sunshine, stirring slightly from time to time. Don't push or pull. Gently add love and let grow. Then enjoy the fine results you will get.

*Secret ingredient: Jesus.

And.....They're Launched!

2010-09-08T14:45:00.002-06:00

Today was a lonely day for me - kind of. Wednesday - Sept 8th, 2010 marked the first morning I have been without children since ~ well, since I started having kids. Sure, I've had mornings off for appointments or perhaps work meetings. But today was a "true" morning off. As you will read in a minute, Mattea started AM kindergarten last week and today my sweet little Paloma started preschool.

Isn't she a gem? She was beyond excited to be getting dressed, packing her backpack and heading into "school" just like sister. She's only been watching big sis do it for 2 years. Well today was finally her turn. She was excited when I picked her up and couldn't stop chattering the entire ride home. She told me about Piper (her new friend), cheez its(her snack), and of course kid zone. As she was crawling into her car seat, she looks up at me with her magnificent blue eyes and says "mama, my day was awesome. " I love you baby girl!

As for Miss Mattea, she started kindergarten last week. We are fortunate enough to have the means to keep her at her private Christian school this year for kindergarten. This is the same facility in which she has been attending for the last 2 years. She knows the staff and so do I, which is a huge help in calming the anxiety bug.

There is my pretty little princess on her first day. You can sense a bit of apprehension. She was a little nervous (and of course a little tired) but all in all it has been a very positive experience.

Both Dave and I have a good feeling about this upcoming school year. Although it has been an adjustment getting up each morning, juggling homework assignments, and rushing kids in before the bell rings, our family has such a sense of peace about what God is doing in the lives of our children. We are so looking forward to the 2010-2011 school year!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-08T14:44:00.002-06:00

Ponder This

2010-08-26T10:44:00.002-06:00

Briefly checked my facebook account this morning and as I was scrolling through, I found this quote from one of the sites I am connected to entitled "Marriage for Life." It doesn't reference where or who the quote came from, but it is excellent advice.

"A marriage is like a long trip in a tiny rowboat: if one passenger starts to rock the boat, the other has to steady it; otherwise they will go to the bottom together. Even if marriages are made in heaven, man has to be responsible for the maintenance"

Now there is something to think about for the day.....

Hey You...

2010-08-26T01:15:00.002-06:00

Hey You ~

And you ~

And you~

What do you think of our new summer hair do's?

While the kid's got their hair cut, mommy is finally letting hers grow.... New do's all around.

Quote of the Day

2010-08-26T01:11:00.001-06:00

A good husband makes a good wife. A good marriage is not one where perfection reigns: it is a relationship where a healthy perspective overlooks a multitude of “unresolvables.”

James C. Dobson

Inspiration

2010-08-18T16:24:00.004-06:00

What Did I Do Today?
What did I do today?
Today I left some dishes dirty,
The bed got made around 3:30.
The diapers soaked a little longer,
The odor grew a little stronger.
The crumbs I spilled the day before
Are staring at me from the floor.
The fingerprints there on the wall
Will likely be there still next fall.
The dirty strekas on those window panes
Will still be there next time it rains.

"Shame on you," you sit and say,
"Just what did you do today?"

I nursed a baby till he slept,
I held a toddler while she wept.
I played a game of hide-and-seek,
I squeezed a toy so it would squeak.
I pulled a wagon, sang a song,
Taught a child right from wrong.
What did I do this whole day through?
Not much that shows - I guess that's true,
Unless you think that what I've done
Might be important to someone
With bright brown eyes and soft brown hair.
If that is true - I've done my share.

-Author unknown