Tails!
Love them on my kindergartner!
Love them on my kindergartner! Thursday, November 12, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Time Dyslexia
I spent the bulk of the morning with the small peeps in the tire shop -- again. It's on my to-do list for tomorrow to have the oil changed in the grocery-getter. Everything in life requires so much maintenance. I feel like all I've accomplished today is one task, on one vehicle. While I did workout this morning, a little maintenance on the ole' body, and a short quiet time, a much-needed refreshing for the Spirit, I've done virtually nothing to maintain the house that needs scrubbing, the trim that needs painting, the eyebrows that are screaming for a waxing, the yard that's knee-deep in wild onions, the kids' check-ups, socks that need darning (is that still a word?), grocery-getting, any of the 80 nails that I'm responsible for clipping -- 96 if you count the dog's, relationships with friends and family . . . everything requires so much maintenance. Let alone the time required for growth in any way.
42 -- not 24. That's how many hours it would take to live your life "right." Nick read an article not too long ago that said if we follow every recommendation for our lives, from getting 8 hours of sleep to brushing and flossing for 2-3 minutes twice/day, it would take 42 hours to get it all done.
So I'm not crazy! There isn't enough time for all the things I need to do!
Now I'm discouraged. I'll never accomplish it all, so maybe I should just sit on the couch, watch a little "Baby Story," and drown my overwhelmed spirit.
Then God speaks: Prioritize and Pray.
I know that I am torn in a gazillion different directions every day, and there is no way I'll accomplish everything. However, God will provide me the time I need to complete the tasks He has for me. Using a lack of time as an excuse to not fulfill God-glorifying tasks in our lives is a lie. God only gave Jesus 33 years, only 3 of which were years of full-time ministry, to save the world!
So, do I really not have the time to cook nutritious meals for my family to sit down together and eat each evening? Do I really not have time for Bible study every day? Do I really not have the time to stop what I'm doing and effectively rebuke and train my children, as opposed to yelling at them across the house? Do I really not have time to take care of the temple of God by exercising every day? Do I really not have the time to listen to my husband and love, encourage, and serve him daily?
I do not have time to seek after all of the selfish desires of my heart, to run after every entertaining, yet empty, opportunity for my children, or follow the many misleadings of the world.
However, by God's grace, I do have the time to do the things He calls me to do. I will not believe the lie of the world that I don't have enough time. Prioritize and Pray.
42 -- not 24. That's how many hours it would take to live your life "right." Nick read an article not too long ago that said if we follow every recommendation for our lives, from getting 8 hours of sleep to brushing and flossing for 2-3 minutes twice/day, it would take 42 hours to get it all done.
So I'm not crazy! There isn't enough time for all the things I need to do!
Now I'm discouraged. I'll never accomplish it all, so maybe I should just sit on the couch, watch a little "Baby Story," and drown my overwhelmed spirit.
Then God speaks: Prioritize and Pray.
I know that I am torn in a gazillion different directions every day, and there is no way I'll accomplish everything. However, God will provide me the time I need to complete the tasks He has for me. Using a lack of time as an excuse to not fulfill God-glorifying tasks in our lives is a lie. God only gave Jesus 33 years, only 3 of which were years of full-time ministry, to save the world!
So, do I really not have the time to cook nutritious meals for my family to sit down together and eat each evening? Do I really not have time for Bible study every day? Do I really not have the time to stop what I'm doing and effectively rebuke and train my children, as opposed to yelling at them across the house? Do I really not have time to take care of the temple of God by exercising every day? Do I really not have the time to listen to my husband and love, encourage, and serve him daily?
I do not have time to seek after all of the selfish desires of my heart, to run after every entertaining, yet empty, opportunity for my children, or follow the many misleadings of the world.
However, by God's grace, I do have the time to do the things He calls me to do. I will not believe the lie of the world that I don't have enough time. Prioritize and Pray.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Thanksgiving Tablecloth
Fun Thanksgiving tradition I saw in a magazine . . . .
Using fabric pens, have family members take turns writing what they're thankful for on a linen tablecloth, trace around youngsters' hands, document important family events for that year . . . and reuse the tablecloth each year, adding to the memories.
Using fabric pens, have family members take turns writing what they're thankful for on a linen tablecloth, trace around youngsters' hands, document important family events for that year . . . and reuse the tablecloth each year, adding to the memories.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Happy Halloween
We had such a fun time tonight at the Fall Festival. Our church sponsors an all-out carnival, complete with dozens of carnival games, pony rides, bounce-a-rounds, face painting and more candy than a pre-schooler can haul around. Abi and Brandon were certainly old enough this year to love the games and had a great time seeing their friends and what they dressed up as.
Camryn didn't care one bit about any of it . . . just the end result. By the end of the night, she was opening candy and then just staring at it, as if to say "I really want to eat this, but I just can't." She'd hand it over to me and say, "Trash." Five minutes later, she was back in the plastic pumpkin, opening another piece, only to end up trashing it, too.
After the Fall Festival, we scored a free hot dog at Sonic for everyone and set off trick-or-treating in a neighborhood where several friends live. The kids had such a fabulous time. I'm just thankful that tonight is when we set the clocks back and gain an hour to sleep off some of this sugar!
P.S. Any of you who knew me and Nick in high school might recognize these costumes from our sophomore year . . . the stuffing has sagged down a little, but hasn't everything!!
Nick and Mischelle, Halloween 1993
Camryn didn't care one bit about any of it . . . just the end result. By the end of the night, she was opening candy and then just staring at it, as if to say "I really want to eat this, but I just can't." She'd hand it over to me and say, "Trash." Five minutes later, she was back in the plastic pumpkin, opening another piece, only to end up trashing it, too.
After the Fall Festival, we scored a free hot dog at Sonic for everyone and set off trick-or-treating in a neighborhood where several friends live. The kids had such a fabulous time. I'm just thankful that tonight is when we set the clocks back and gain an hour to sleep off some of this sugar!
P.S. Any of you who knew me and Nick in high school might recognize these costumes from our sophomore year . . . the stuffing has sagged down a little, but hasn't everything!!
Nick and Mischelle, Halloween 1993
I Can See Clearly Now . . .
Other than being the lyrics of a song my mother sang relentlessly when I was a child, "I Can See Clearly Now" is what Abi is saying now that she has her glasses.
I got that "You're a crappy mom -- your kid can't see" letter in the mail on Monday. So, we went to the eye doctor, and, sure enough, she can't see. Who knew? You take 'em to the dentist, get their vaccinations, schedule well-child visits -- but don't consider that your 5-year-old has vision three times worse than yours!
Abi enjoyed browsing through the frames and trying on countless pair. She finally selected an adorable black pair with pink on the inside.
Despite the silly voice, I think she's pretty excited about them. I wanted to make this as positive of an experience for her as possible. I'm just hoping that "Four-Eye" jokes have gone out-of-style since I was a kid. :o)
I got that "You're a crappy mom -- your kid can't see" letter in the mail on Monday. So, we went to the eye doctor, and, sure enough, she can't see. Who knew? You take 'em to the dentist, get their vaccinations, schedule well-child visits -- but don't consider that your 5-year-old has vision three times worse than yours!
Abi enjoyed browsing through the frames and trying on countless pair. She finally selected an adorable black pair with pink on the inside.
Despite the silly voice, I think she's pretty excited about them. I wanted to make this as positive of an experience for her as possible. I'm just hoping that "Four-Eye" jokes have gone out-of-style since I was a kid. :o)
Friday, October 30, 2009
Happy Eating!
Just wanted to share a fun Halloween dinner idea. I saw this pizza on an advertisement for Papa Murphy's and thought, "We can do that!" So, we're having Pumpkin Pizza for dinner on Halloween Eve.
Now that our pumpkin pizza has baked, I thought I'd post a picture to show you just how easy it is. And a few pumpkin cakes for dessert.
Now that our pumpkin pizza has baked, I thought I'd post a picture to show you just how easy it is. And a few pumpkin cakes for dessert.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Put on a new roll, Puhleez!
If your house is like our house, this is a familiar sight in the bathroom. How it gets that way in your house might be slightly different, however . . .
"Oh, Mom! I don't know what happened! It just wouldn't stop unrolling -- for 10 minutes!"Thursday, October 22, 2009
Our Life in Pictures
I LUV pudding!
Momma said, "Try walking in my shoes for a day!" I'm taking her up on it!
"Quit touching me!"
Who's the bigger Princess - Abi or Bella?
Who's the boss, now, Bruddah!
I just can't reach it!
Cousin Katie's baby shower!
Absolutely exhausted!
Look, Mommy, what I colored for you -- my face!Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Cam: Jekyll and Hyde Style
Camryn has two sides to her seemingly-two-year-old-but-not-quite-there-yet self:
furiously irritated and ecstatically happy!
Here's a sampling of each (and a few sweet kisses):
furiously irritated and ecstatically happy!
Here's a sampling of each (and a few sweet kisses):
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Bragging Rights
After dinner Wednesday, Nick and I decided to take the kids on a quick, spontaneous fishing expedition to the small lake here in town.
Almost right away, Brandon got a nibble on his line, and, with Daddy's help, he reeled in a nice little catfish. He was incredibly excited and simultaneously very apprehensive. He wanted to eat it and not throw it back -- it might have counted as a light hors d'oeuvre. 
Abi likes playing with the worms, bossing Camryn around, dragging the dog around by her leash, and occasionally holding a pole, just long enough to sufficiently tangle the line that I have to spend several minutes undoing what she did in seconds. So, I figured I deserved a cast or two with her pole. Lo and behold, I caught a whopper!! of a catfish! The problem is in who owns bragging rights . . . she kept calling it "my fish" and even posed with said fish in a photo (to be able to show Grandpa and Grandma). I said, "But, Abi, I cast the line, I hooked the fish, I reeled it in -- I believe that's MY fish." She said, "But, Mother, you caught it with MY pole!"
Maybe Uncle Matt can give us some legal advice on who actually owns the Bragging Rights to this fish!
Almost right away, Brandon got a nibble on his line, and, with Daddy's help, he reeled in a nice little catfish. He was incredibly excited and simultaneously very apprehensive. He wanted to eat it and not throw it back -- it might have counted as a light hors d'oeuvre. 
Abi likes playing with the worms, bossing Camryn around, dragging the dog around by her leash, and occasionally holding a pole, just long enough to sufficiently tangle the line that I have to spend several minutes undoing what she did in seconds. So, I figured I deserved a cast or two with her pole. Lo and behold, I caught a whopper!! of a catfish! The problem is in who owns bragging rights . . . she kept calling it "my fish" and even posed with said fish in a photo (to be able to show Grandpa and Grandma). I said, "But, Abi, I cast the line, I hooked the fish, I reeled it in -- I believe that's MY fish." She said, "But, Mother, you caught it with MY pole!"Maybe Uncle Matt can give us some legal advice on who actually owns the Bragging Rights to this fish!
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