A Wonderful Weekend

This was one of those rare weekends where we didn't have a million different things to do. Elizabeth had soccer practice on Friday night, and after that we went out to dinner with our dear friends Tom and Charlotte to celebrate Charlotte's birthday. Cake at our house afterwords with more of Charlotte's friends felt like real life, full of friends and laughter and community. It felt good! Saturday and Sunday were free, and we had fun. Hobby Lobby on Saturday morning to pick out invitations, decorations, and party favors for Elizabeth's "Garden Girl" party at chick-fil-A! Very exciting. Then a trip to the Easter party at the Secret Garden children's shop -- a lovely afternoon excursion for Elizabeth and me. There was face painting and a cookie walk, door prizes (I won a big one) and a photo session with the Easter Bunny. Very sweet!! Then onto The Chocolate Festival -- picked up Dadday and baby and Aunt Britt and headed to RBC to fight the crowds. And crowded it was. But The girls got to ride a few rides and had fun. We topped it all off with dinner on the patio at Villa Fiesta. A really fun Weekend. Sunday was SS at Rainbow and church at GVC -- the perfect combination. And yummy spaghetti to boot!! Thank you, Lord, for beautiful weather and precious children and family to enjoy it with!! And Oh....we can't forget to mention a big problem that Elizabeth has been having....she doesn't want to go to sleep because every time she closes her eyes she sees a monkey beating up a little girl!! Prayers appreciated. :)

In Sickness and in Health

When you hear those words, you think of marriage vows. Well, they apply to kids, too. When you welcome precious little ones into the world you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into. sleepless nights with coughing and fevers. Day after day of runny noses and coughing fits. Fussy toddlers who refuse to take their medicine. For a busy mom like me who works and manages a family, there is another side to sick kids. Sick kids = time at home. No running around, no play dates, no daycare or preschool or work. Just time at home on the mend. This week I've spent the whole week at home with E.A., who has had bronchitis and now E.C., who has RSV, a respitory virus. Although I don't like for my little ones to be sick, I do enjoy uninterrupted time with them. E.A. is growing up. She can watch a movie now and follow and analyze the plot. (Megamind this week). She has an imagination that is interesting and wonderful. I hear her playing in her room and creating all kind of dramatic interatctions and storylines for her dolls and toys. She can also dole out the discipline when needed! Lots of spankings and time outs for disobedient dolls. When Emily isn't trying to compete with her big sister for attention, she is a true delight all on her own! She loves to laugh and has started singing songs. She sings a,b,c, jingle bells, happy birthday, twinkle twinkle, patty-cake, and counts. She seems kind of mechanical. She likes things that snap together and likes to turn lights on and off. Just today she has started saying "ow" constantly. Ow, my back. Ow, my finger. Ow,Ow, Ow. I'm not sure what to believe. Always changing and fascinating. These beautiful girls. Now, back to the amazing tunneled world of zuzus!

1/1/11

Well...It's time to record some special moments from the last 6 months. My sweet bagy, who was one at the last posting, has now turned 18 months old!! I can hardly believe it!!! Today - 1-1-11 - is her half birthday. She's halfway to 2! She's talking in sentences now, "I want my paci!" I want some milk" Momma, Dora and Boots." and words, "Einstein," "Tubbies," Momma, chocolate!!!" She's extremely polite. "Bless you, Momma." "Thank you." "Yes." "Please." She's a character. She adores and copies her big sister --- jumping around, and off of furniture (oops). She loves to play with shape sorters and to put things into containers. She loves to laugh and giggle and play peek-a-boo. She LOVES to play outside. She already colors - with crayons and markers. She's a firecracker! Not sure if it's because she has an older sister to watch or just the way God made her....but....she can flat pitch a fit! Screaming, wailing, and hitting anyone who gets in her way. When I correct her and tell her not to hit others....she hits herself!! I'm praying this spunky, feisty, energy can be channeled and used for good. Meanwhile, big sister is holding her own. 4 1/2 and growing up too fast! She loves pink, and barbies, and dolls, and anything that's not even remotely scary. That means no bad guys. Which means nothing but preschool-aged shows on PBSKids and nickjr. Dora, Max and Ruby, Blue's Clues, Gullah-Gullah Island, etc. STrawberry Shortcake is OK, and so is Charlie Brown. But most of Disney and Barbie are off limits. Which is fine by me, actually. She loves drawing and painting. She loves being outside. She loves plants and flowers. She loves dogs, but not cats so much because she thinks she's allergic. She's a leader. I pray that strength will serve her well. A new year. Just a few months before my precious E.A. starts Kindergarten. It's hard to imagine. Happy New Year!!