10 Smile Tuesday

Whew, we had quite the week last week. We just went and went and went... by Sunday night, all three of us were just collapsing from the busyness. I usually lay in bed for at least 1/2 hour just thinking before I fall asleep, but not Sunday. I layed my head down and I was so out, whew! Just one busy week! There were a lot of smiles in it though, so here you go...

1. VBS. Oh, it was just so fun to watch the kids have such a great time and really learn the truth about creationism and be able to refute evolution. Most of it I already knew, but I have to say, it sure was a good refresher for me. Loved it!

2. At the end of the program on Friday the 2 and 3's sang Jesus Love me and repeated the verse, "Your word is truth." John 17:17. It was so fun watching Lilla learn it and say it. She particularly loved to say 17:17! So cute. The peanut is the shortest of the kids. You gotta watch a few seconds in to see just how adorable it gets.


3. On Saturday we had a birthday lunch for my brother at Longhorn. Right after lunch he proposed to his girlfriend! Yes, right there, in Longhorn. We all almost flipped out. Looks like there will be a November wedding. Crazy times!

4. After that birthday party, we went to my good friend, Claudia's, son's 1st birthday party. It's always nice to see my friend and her parents. We couldn't stay long but you gotta love sweet fellowship like that!

5. Following the birthday party, we headed an hour and a half away to my parent's house. We dropped off the peanut and went to my 15 year high school reunion. Something which I thought I'd never do, since I was so shy in high school and never spoke to anyone, but I actually had a really great time just catching up with people and finding out, whatever happened to???

6. The peanut has been doing this new thing lately, when she sees my husband after work she runs up to him, hugs his legs and yells, "I MISS YOU DADDY!!" So precious!

7. Two zucchini and four green beans. Yes, weird I know, but my garden has finally produced something other than lettuce and strawberries. The flood basically rotted the roots of everything so we thought it would be totally dead, there are some things growing finally though, very exciting! The cantalope plants are getting really big too so hopefully something will happen. Along with the pumpkin plants...let's just hope. LOL

8. The other day when my husband came in from mowing he was going to jump in the shower when he passed the peanut while taking off his shirt. She immediatly had to do the exact same thing and follow him around the house doing whatever he did. She's been doing a lot of that lately, she just wants to be like him. It reminds me of how we should be with Jesus, disciples.

9. What happened? This is the question always on the peanut's lips. While it can drive me nuts, I love that she is interested in discovering the world around her and wants to know what's going on.

10. Clothes. My sister in law was so kind to bestow me with another bag of clothes for the peanut on Sunday. As free is my favorite price always, I much appreciate the passing on of clothes!

What are you smiling about today?

Friends

This week at VBS I was the official photographer. I got some great shots of the kiddos, unfortunately, I'm going to choose not to post them since I don't have their parent's permission. Anyway, I was making the slideshow yesterday and the peanut was watching over my shoulder as I went through a bazillion photos. Suddenly she saw a girl in her class and asked me her name. I said, "Raelynn"... she said, "Friend."

Can life get anymore precious?

Reverisble Bird Seed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Totally want to win this for the peanut!!

Reverisble Bird Seed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

10 Smile Tuesday

Another Tuesday, another round of smiles for you that have kept us quite busy this last week!

1. Our biggest smile would have to be Michael's winnings at the county fair, thanks to our local GOP. It actually wound up being a win for the peanut, but it was Michael's name that was drawn out of over 600 others! We couldn't believe it when we heard the message on the answering machine, too fun! Here's the super duper first prize...

The sweetest part is when she got in it she said, "Thank you Daddy." After he said, "You're welcome," he then followed it up with, "You know Lilla, the Bible says that every good and perfect gift is from above, so let's thank Jesus for it." That was met with a, "Thank you Jesus," from the peanut. Just precious.

2. VBS at our church started yesterday, where I am the photographer, so I get to enjoy all the kids doing stuff they love while learning about God. Our theme is from answers in Genesis. It's so neat to hear proof of why we believe in Creationism and see the kids really getting it.

3. The joy on the peanut's face as she played a game at VBS last night. It was so precious to get to watch her from the outside and hear her precious little laughter.

4. An unexpected outing to my parent's house (they live an hour away) on Friday to go swimming. We had such fun just hanging out and enjoying the water!

5. A trip on Saturday to this humungous flea market that my parent's love to go to. We didn't find any ridiculously good deals, but it's the hunt that is really the fun part. It was super hot that day so I think that might have been part of having a hard time really concentrating to buy things.

6. Meeting up with my sister and her daughter's for an impromptu playdate today. We got some yummy Panera (they have a really incredible Strawberry/Mandarin/Blueberry/Walnut salad with poppyseed dressing that is sooooo fabulous there!) and then went to a local park and had a lovely little walk in the park.

7. A delicous new recipe I tried for a Maple Sausage Egg Casserole. Seriously fabulous!

8. My women's bible study on Thursday night. We are doing a survey of the new testament, and it is really interesting and has been great for getting to know some other MOPS women.

9. Holding hands. While we were at the flea market, my parent's took the peanut for awhile while Michael and I sifted the aisles. We are rarely alone so it was so sweet just walking hand in hand and talking about "things".

10. Our local 4-H fair. We learned about composting, goats and just enjoyed the animals. The peanut had a blast going from stall to stall with the animals. We went three times in the week they were here and just had fun. We totally decided to get a goat because they were so sweet. Then, we realized how they have a tendency to eat everything and it's brother and we decided not to be eaten out of retirement someday. :) Maybe we'll just stick with chickens!!

So what are you smiling about today? Do tell!

150

I got to hear the baby's heart beat again yesterday. Those 150 beats a minute may be one of the most precious sounds I've heard in my life.

That's all I wanted to say. :)

Wordless Wednesday - Being a Kid

Energize Me

Do you ever just have those days when you just feel worn down? You want nothing else on your plate, you want no more conversations, you think staring at a blank wall all day actually seems appealing.

Well today is one of those days for me. I just feel like I have nothing left to give. Pregnancy is probably part of it, and lack of really good sleep is a contributer, but I think the larger part is something much bigger: the peanut!

She's saying, "No pictures Mama!!"

She has just been such a firecracker lately. High energy, crabby, fit throwing, screaming MINE to anyone with eardrums, low patience levels, selfish...oh, how I could go on. She is just an absolute pill right now and I have to tell you, my own patience level has worn pretty thin in the last few weeks.

It's funny, when I was pregnant with the peanut my husband prayed for a strong willed child. His thought was once she becomes a Christian she will not be swayed by the ways of the world, but will be a leader. She will come out fighting for what she believes in and never back down. That is what we hope for.

Well, God does answer prayer, as we know. And he answered this one in a big way. She is certainly one of the strongest willed children I have ever known. She just has a philosophy on the way her world should be and darned if it doesn't go that way, she is going to let you know about it. Oh people, good times.

So, I am praying that God will give me strength and energy in the days to come. That I will not back down from parenting her in a Godly way and not just giving in to her because I'm tired. It is difficult, but I know that God has given me the tools to do just that, so I have to so her heart will be turned to Him.

Now, will someone please pass me a Redbull? :)

A few things

First of all, my friend Carrie, at Carrie's Crafty Cottage (I'm bad at linking, you'll have to just go to my links list) is having a giveaway for some very cute homemade cards. I'm always in for a giveaway, so, here's hoping!

Also, I just had to put down in writing what the peanut said yesterday.

Me: Would you like me to make you chicken nuggets for dinner?

Peanut: Happy Meal!

Me: A happy meal? What's in a happy meal?

Peanut: French Fries, my favorite!

Oh my, what are we teaching our child? It was so cute though. I had no idea she knew the words happy meal or favorite. Oh, what they pick up everyday! Fun times!

And then, last week on the 4th, it was rainy so we were all playing trivial pursuit. The guys were tossing back and forth answers and suddenly, at a quiet point, when Michael has just offered his best guess, she pipes in, "Hmmm...Could be."

She certainly keeps us laughing!

10 Smile Tuesday

I hope you all had a fun and relaxing holiday weekend. Ours was super wet and brrrr...was it cold?!?! That was so strange. Usually the 4th we are so hot it's like you just want to peel the clothes off. This one we were putting clothes on, yep, sweatshirts and jackets. Soooo odd. But still, we were with lots and lots and lots of family this weekend, so a good time was had! Here are some 10 smiles from it!

1. Meeting my brother's new girlfriend for the first time. My brother never has a girlfriend. He is way too shy and introverted but he finally braved the waters, went on Eharmony, and met someone. And, I really liked her! She was just like us. We just sat around and talked all night, laughed a bit, cried a bit (hey, we are girls after all!) and just had a super time. Don't you just love meeting someone and making an instant friend?

2. Fireworks. This is the first time the peanut really got to enjoy the fireworks as she was so young in the past. She was just watching in amazement as they went off. We got two nights in a row of them so it was good stuff. Here's my favorite picture of her watching them:

3. Water guns. The peanut has never seen one before, but boy did she love it! Her cousins were all running around with them so she jumped in on the fun and had a blast! She still has a bit of a hard time with pushing the button but she developed her own method, with two fingers, good times!4. Corn. What says the 4th better than good old fashioned buttery corn? The peanut could not get enough! She loved it on the cob. Yummo!5. Bingo. The peanut joined me for a game and won on her first try. She won a jump rope out of it. She loved it and was walking around saying, "I play Bingo!" all night!

6. Watermelon. Has anyone else noticed watermelon being better this year than they remember in the near past? I'm serious, this last week I could not get enough, fantastic!

7. Cousins. The peanut had three straight days of playing with her cousins. She really had a blast, but, boy, was she worn out! She loved every minute of it though and has been saying their names ever since in anticipation of more playing!

8. Elephant Ears. Now I know there are a lot of few smiles on this post, but really, that is one good fourth to a foody! So we went to the itty bitty festival in my parents town, where it had poured all day, so no one was there, and got an Elephant Ear that was THE single best elephant ear I've ever had. I think it had to do with them not feeling rushed, but it was fabulous!

9. Fireworks in my belly. I can't be for sure but I think I might be feeling the first movements, here and there. I lay in bed trying to concentrate, but I think it's just a random tickle here, a random tickle there. The best part of pregnancy, in my own humble opinion!

10. Celebrating our countrie's freedom. I know we have a lot of unresolved issues in this country and everyone believes it's going to dogs, but really, when I think of other countries and all of their religious and political persecutions, I'm sure glad to be in this one!

What are you smiling about today?

Entry

And for my last minute entry for the photo contest that Christine at http://www.arewethereyetmom.com/ is giving:

Really not one of my best pictures. Shot with my old, old camera several years ago. What can I say? I haven't been to a wedding in awhile (everyone I know is married these days!!) so I had to choose an old shot. This was the most fun I could find, and you know, I just roll that way. LOL

So go vote for me!

Ten Smiles...a day late

I meant to post yesterday but tootie never took a nap so I just never had a real moment to spend on this post. We've been having a busy, but good last week. I've not really been posting as it doesn't seem I have too much to say right now, but I do have some smiles to share!

1. For those of you who have been with me for awhile, you'll remember that back in March I lost my wedding bands. Never did find them and I still can't imagine how they got off my finger. But anyway, I never got a real replacement. I just wore an inexpensive little ring that we were calling the five year ring. We knew we would replace it someday, not just yet. Anyway, last week we went to a jewlery store that was in it's last two days of business. So, of course, they were seriously trying to unload merchandise. We weren't expecting to find anything, but walked out of the store, with...

So yes, I look like I'm married again. Woo hoo! It is actually way nicer than my old ring, and the only way we could afford it was 85% off the original price!! I am so not kidding. We almost fell over and said, "SOLD!!" I need to get it sodered still but don't want to let go of it quite yet. LOL

2. Fun in the sun. Last week we finally had some nice days when Michael was off work so we got to enjoy the pool. Great way to cool off and just enjoy summer!

3. Garage Sale Awesome Deal. So on Saturday we decided to go garage saleing again and what I was looking for is one of those Little Tike houses for the backyard. Totally found one at the first place we stopped at. I told Michael if it was anymore than $30 we wouldn't buy it. (They are like $140 new) I could hardly believe it when they said $5!! Then, they delivered to our house!! They totally had to have spent that much in gas just getting it here, probably more. And the peanut is crazy about that thing. She says, "My house." And tells me she needs food for the table. So cute!

4. Festivals. I love festival season, my favorite part about summer. We had a little art one in our town this weekend and I found someone willing to make me a sling for $18. Very cool since I am always seeing them online for like $60!

5. New bible study. Some girls from my MOPS group have decided to do a small bible study this summer. I'm excited to learn some new stuff and to make some new friends. It should be good!

6. Church picnic. On Sunday we had our bi-annual church picnic. It's walys fun to eat yummy foods and hang out with great people!

7. Hospital. My insurance fixed their differences with the hospital we wanted to deliver at so we get to go back there, yahoo! It's close to my in-laws and has a NICU so we just prefer that to our local itty bitty hospital.

8. Pesto Pasta. So my Basil has suddenly gone nuts so I've been making Pesto like crazy. I just put it on some bow tie pasta and it it sooooo yummy!

9. This picture, because dang, my little girl is C-U-T-E!!!

10. New clothes. I got some clearance maternity stuff from Babies-R-Us last week and then I went to this kids retail store where they were clearancing their maternity stuff. So, I got a like new Motherhood Linen summer outfit (black and tan) for $5!! I love a bargain!!

What are you smiling about this week?