Memories

While Leah was here over the holiday weekend, she was entertaining Maddie and Zoe by showing them videos she had on her laptop. They weren't just any videos; they were home videos of themselves. It kept them entertained for quite sometime. Maddie kept begging for more - saying, "Play that game again!"

As they made a game out of picking themselves (as babies) out in the video, I spent those moments reflecting. It was fun to remember little things about them that I had forgotten. Like the sounds they used to make before they were talking (when we thought they never would). I hardly remember those times. And now they are NEVER quiet. Sunday night on the way home from church (and by that I mean during the ENTIRE car ride home) it was like a game of 100 twenty questions. There are moments when all I want is some quiet -
Mommy needs a time out. Looking at those videos made me realize that things are changing so rapidly. I must savor each moment, as it is fleeting. These children that I once wished would finally speak, now will not be quiet. I have blinked my eyes and everything has changed.

I am so grateful for them. For the blessings they are. So pardon me if you frequently find me reminiscing here. I rather enjoy it and maybe it will help me to treasure these days a little bit more.

Who are these kids in their beds and where did my babies go?

The Nut House

For a long weekend, this one sure did seem to fly right by. I think it left us all feeling a little nutty tonight!

For Your Viewing Pleasure

My girls are hams. I think they get that from my dad. They love to have their picture taken and videos made of them singing. As of late, we have added singing songs to our bedtime routine. One of the songs they choose to sing every night is the theme song to Dora the Explorer. They usually don't get all the words right but I hate to correct them because it's so darn cute the way they sing it.

For your viewing pleasure today, I give you Miss Maddie singing said song.

Maddie is easily distracted and has to be reminded of the words from time to time. Zoe, however, is a whole different story. She is usually very focused during her performances. Although we taped her rendition of Dora, I cannot help but share her second selection. Warning: She gets increasingly louder as the song progresses. Why? She's 4, that's why! I guess. Please pardon my laughing in the background at her crescendo (I am sure you can hear me laughing in the background at Maddie also).

Miss Zoe sings her ABCs.

Aren't they the cutest? Next time I think I'll charge admission.

Give Thanks

Our pastor asked us to write down three things God has done in our lives this year, that we are thankful for. Although we will not be able to make it to the Thanksgiving service tonight, I think it is a good assignment. It allows me to reflect on the past year and all that God has done in my life (often despite me). So without further ado (and in no particular order)...

1. I am thankful that God has placed me in a spot in my job that I love. I somewhat recently started working in the Recovery Room. I love what I am doing and I love the people I am working with. It is the first full time job I've had since returning to work 2 1/2 years ago and despite a pay cut it has given me a more regular schedule and eased my anxiety of wondering whether I will have work from day to day.

2. I am thankful for a new friend that God has placed in my life. Kristina has been a huge blessing to me. We have children the same age, share common beliefs, and always have a good time. I think it is so neat how God places people in and out of our lives and He knows exactly who and what we need and when we need it.


3. I am thankful for my family's health. Namely, my children. I know two families that have lost children at a very young age over the course of this year . Many times we take this for granted. Keeping up with these families struggles and loss has made me appreciate and love on my children all the more.

There are so many other things I am thankful for. My prayer is that I will become more aware of God's blessings on my life and live a life of Thanksgiving each and every day.

It's here!

It's a bird. It's a plane. No...it's our new blog design! Here is a shout out to Laura Jane. She designed this fabulous site and don't you think she did a great job? I cannot recommend her enough. She was so easy to work with and has reasonable prices to boot! Really, I can't stop looking at it.

Something tells me

Can you guess what this is? If you guessed burnt cookies, you're right. Burnt Snicker Doodles, that is. It really wouldn't be so bad, if this weren't the second thing I had  nearly turned to ashes burnt in the last two days. But who's counting, right?

Sometimes I wonder if someone or something is trying to tell me to slow down. After all cleaning up from dinner, bathing the kids, and baking cookies probably goes beyond multi-tasking, right? Thankfully I got one burn smell out (which was far worse) before I created the second.

Oh well. My goal is to have a post soon about something I cooked successfully, so I don't give off the idea that I can't cook at all. I promise I can!

Little Diva

What else can I say?

Time Flies

I was perusing through some pictures today and found this and had to chuckle. The girls were having a little mud bath after a good rain one day. I can hardly remember my kids having pacifiers. It seems so foreign to me. Evidence that time does truly fly right by.

Blast from the Past

The day they came home from the NICU. Wow! How things have changed!

Some People

I thank God for the people He places in our lives. Today I thank Him for Del and Jean Williams. Two weeks ago we received cards in the mail for Maddie and Zoe's Birthday. They were from Del and Jean. Del and Jean are not people that we see often but they frequently let us know they are thinking of us. The Williams are Meredith and Adriane's grandparents. They are so sweet to think of us on birthdays and anniversaries as well as many other times. There really are no words to describe how much that means to me! Due to the infrequency that we actually see Del and Jean, I don't think Maddie and Zoe really remember them like they do others in our lives. But rest assured as they grow older and can understand our family dynamics (we are still not sure they really grasp that Meredith and Adriane are their sisters since the don't live with us anymore),  I will make sure they know about how wonderful Del and Jean are. Maddie and Zoe have been longing for a Disney Princess dress. So with the money in the cards, that is what they went to Walmart and picked out. They were so proud. They really don't understand how they got them , but I do. Each time I see the blue and green dresses, I am reminded of Del and Jean and encouraged by their giving.

Halloween

A party fit for a princess...or two.

It is unbelievable to me that my sweet girls are four. I mean really wasn't it just yesterday that they made their not so grand   grand entrance? It seems as if it were just last week we were deciding on names and then disagreeing on which one went with Baby A and which with Baby B. I conceded in a fit of post partum hormones. He was right, by the way (relish these words honey, you may never see them again).

It seems as though it is not true. Time tells me it has been four years. Four years since they blessed us with their presence. Four years I cannot imagine being any different. One day I will blog about everything that happened leading up to their arrival but for now, I will leave it at this.

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him."   1 Samuel 1:27

Many little girls think they are a princess. These truly are.

Lesson Learned

Nearly a year ago the girls came up with the brilliant idea that they wanted earrings. Let me clarify. Zoe came up with the idea (I am not really sure how) and Maddie went along for the ride. At the time, I told them they were not quite old enough. My brilliant Zoe, ever the bargainer, comes up with the plan to get them for her next birthday. The fact that it was ten o'clock at night and I was desperate to end the earring discussion and get some shut eye definitely had no part in me agreeing to such a plan. No...never. Okay, desperate times call for desperate measures people. Lesson Learned: Don't ever say things you don't want to follow through with. I wish I could say that was the only lesson. Other Lesson Learned: Don't underestimate your three year old's memory or determination. You can tell where this is going. Not only did my sweet Zoe not forget the little plan, but she brought it up at every possible chance. One could not mention the word "party" without a clarification of whose party it was (because party must equal birthday) and a full length discussion and reminder that she could get earrings at that time. So as the year came to a close, I could tell I was faced with a decision. I could break my promise or keep it. What a valuable lesson for me. The truth is I had to think of what a valuable lesson it would be for my child. So I taught her that promises are meant to be kept. I prepared her for what was entailed and let her make her own choice. My little follower bowed out gracefully but Zoe, she was in her own words " very brave". The Monday before her fourth birthday her Daddy and I took her to Claire's and much to her delight, she got earrings.

Pumpkin Patch

I am going to lay it all out right here and now. I long for the day I can get a good picture of my children at the Pumpkin Patch. Is that too much to ask? I don't really think so. Apparently, my children do. Every year we have gone. Every year this mother has left horribly disappointed. It would be one thing if my children were just generally not photogenic. Such is not the case. They take the cutest pictures....not at the Pumpkin Patch though. I am starting to wonder if maybe these pumpkins are emitting some kind of chemical that changes the personalities of my girls. So without further ado, this is all I've got for you. And the sad thing is, the cutest picture of them doesn't even have the first pumpkin in it (unless you want to count the big wooden painted one). Maybe next year! A mother can always dream, right?

On another note our computer has been in the fritz, so there will be many new posts in the next few days to play catch-up and a great new blog design just around the corner!