A new skill...and a request

The girls have been using tableware for quite awhile now, but I noticed this morning that they are actually using them as originally intended! In the beginning, they just held the spoon in one hand, and used the other hand to eat. It progressed to using the spoon as a means to pick up the food off of the plate, but they would still take the food off of their spoon and use their hand to get it to their mouth. Each stage has passed by, with their skills improving each time. Can I tell you how nice it is to just give them a bowl of cereal, and let them eat it on their own? It adds another 45 minutes to my day, and I take full advantage of it! :)

In another news, I got an amazing request this morning from my Miss Emma. We have a very definite morning routine: I go in and pick up their room (miscellaneous stuffed animals, blankets, pacifiers, etc.), change their diapers, get them dressed, and take them directly into the bathroom and sit them on the counter facing the mirror. I then proceed to curl their hair, and fix it for the day. We have been doing this for so long that they sit really well for me, and we have it down to a science. The hard part however, comes in to play when I want to put in a "bow". They don't usually last for very long in their hair, and I put them back in at least 15 times a day. However, on this very fine morning, Emma actually requested to have a "bow" in her hair, the very one that you see in these pictures. It may be a one time thing, but I for one think times may be a changin'.

Can I tell you how much I love that they fold their arms for the prayer?

One month and counting!!

We are down to one month until we close on our new house and move in! The hardwood floors went in this week, and I'm choosing the stain over the weekend. The cabinets go in next week, and the template for the granite will be meausured. There is already paint on the walls, and I know that the next 4 weeks will fly by.

I have a ton to do to get ready though--I'm planning to paint two bookshelves, a desk, a hutch, and make a few things for the walls. Rick is building the armoire for the great room, plus two little tiny beds that fit crib mattresses (weren't planning on that one quite yet...). I still need to settle on a new dining table, and get it ordered. Packing is probably something that will be done a few days before, but my parents are coming and that will be so nice to have them here to help. It's actually seeming real now!!

Wordless Wednesday

Okay, two words.

Little turkey!

The next circus act?

Don't you ever wish you could be a fly on the wall inside your child's room? Well, today that definitely would have come in handy. My girls went down for their nap around 12:30pm, but they were a little wound up. I checked on them several times(to make sure their clothes were still on) before my piano students came, just to make sure they were doing okay. Well, I heard a bunch of giggling and laughing, so I decided to check once again. The door was open a crack, so I peeked inside where I could see Kate's crib. I couldn't see her, so I opened the door a tiny bit more. I still couldn't see her, and realized that she wasn't in the crib. I kind of panicked, thinking she must have figured out how to climb out, but wondered why she hadn't come downstairs. All of these thought happened in literally 1 second. I pushed the door all the way open, and didn't see Kate anywhere. Finally, I looked the last place I would ever have thought of...Emma's crib. There she was, in all her glory, having the time of her life. I honestly have no idea how she accomplished it. I have a Houdini, and an Evil Knievel!!

A few minutes later I was changing Emma's diaper, and saw something on the floor. I couldn't tell what it was, so as soon as I was finished I went over and picked it up. It was a HUGE chunk of Kate's hair. Emma must have "helped" her over the side, once she got up high enough. Seriously. I think I'm in for a very interesting ride!

It's Easter!

Really, what a fun time of year. To me it's the kickoff to spring, the time when you look forward to warmer days, blossoms, and being outside. YAY!! Even though it's still chilly here, I always know once Easter hits, spring is on its way.

I love Easter for many reasons, especially for its true purpose--celebrating the resurrection of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Last night for FHE we colored eggs, and then had our lesson about Easter. It was actually the girls' first FHE, because they are in bed so early they always miss it. But last night I wanted them there, and even though it was only about 1 minute (literally...we talked about how Jesus loves them, and how he wants us to be nice), it was so wonderful to have my family together and talking about something that is so important to us.

One of the other reasons I love Easter is that it's such a perfect time to instill family traditions, and to spend time together doing fun things. Now that our eggs are colored, we have even more to look forward to. We LOVE making sugar cookies, frosting them, and decorating them for each holiday, so this week we'll set aside a time to that. On Saturday morning the Easter Bunny comes to our house, and then we will be having an Easter Egg Hunt with lots of our friends. Sunday brings being able to go to church and enjoying special lessons, and then eating a yummy Easter dinner. What a fun week!



P.S. If you aren't the type to use a lot of hard-boiled eggs, try coloring them as is instead. No one will eat them hard-boiled at our house, and I was tired of watching all the eggs go to waste. Just let them sit until they are at room temperature (they color better when warm), and color as usual. We have three little kids, and never broken one! We then put them back in their carton, and it is so fun to use colored eggs in cookies, pancakes, and omelets. The kids love choosing which color will go where.

Forgiveness

Dear Mom,

I'm so sorry for arguing. I will try harder to obey you. I have been trying to obey you. I will try harder tomorrow. But can I please come out. I will do extra jobs. Can you give me a different consqinse please.

P.S. Do you still love me?

Love, Ryan (insert heart here)

-as written (in 3rd grade cursive) by Ryan, after he was sent to his room for arguing

Sweet boy.

Pottery Barn deals!

I have been saving up for awhile to get a few things for our new house. I knew I would not only need to spend it carefully because it would go fast, but I also that I would need to choose specific pieces to start with, and then add more over time. That's hard to do sometimes! Well, I happened to be going by Pottery Barn Outlet on my way home from the granite warehouse a few days ago, and I decided to stop in. I totally lucked out! They are currently having a 30% off the whole store sale, with 50% off lighting, furniture and a 70% clearance section. I'm so excited about what I found!

Our playroom is the bonus room over the garage, with loft-like walls and skylights. I found these great alphabet tiles (70% off--never would have spent the money otherwise!) for less than $15. I originally wanted to put them along the top of the walls all the way around the room, but because the ceiling starts slanting only about 4 feet up the wall, I had to re-think my plan. There is one full-size wall that I'm going to put them on, hung by ribbon through the hole at the top of the tile. I'm really thrilled about this find. I had been thinking of doing the alphabet in vinyl lettering, but it would have been much more expensive.



I also found this window drape shade for the playroom window, but mine is a white linen. The walls are a apple-y green, with white trim, so I think it will be perfect!




One thing that will not be new when we move is our family room furniture! That will have to wait a few years. :) I did want to spruce things up a bit with new throw pillows, and I had been on the hunt for awhile, never finding quite the right thing. The room will be a nice medium brown color, with red accents and black frames/furniture pieces. When I found these pillows at PB, I was so excited. I would not have spent the money for the original price, but the sale price brought it down to what I would pay at Target or similar store.


The lampshade in the girl's room was due for a makeover, and I was planning to go to the store today to buy a few things to spruce it up. But when I found this super cute lampshade for only $6.50, I had to snap it up!


I also lucked out and got euro pillow inserts, which I have been deal-searching on since I bought new bedding from PB a month or so ago. It was already cheaper than their online price, so the additional discount sealed the deal.

It was a good day. :)

Revelation

What a GREAT weekend! It truly was one of the best times I've ever had, and I am still floating on cloud nine! Everything about it was amazing--I thoroughly enjoyed the event, the speakers, the food (ever heard of Portillo's?), the car rides, staying up all night talking like we were teenagers again, eating chocolate cake at midnight, and especially my friends. They are so dear to me, and such incredible women. I feel so blessed to have them in my life, and I can't tell you how much I learned from them.

I also came home with a renewed spirit, and with ideas and changes I'd like to make in my life. I feel inspired, lightened, and refreshed. I never realized how much something like this would do for me.

I am so grateful for my husband, who surprised me with this trip, and stayed home with the kids so I could go. It was just what I needed, and I can't wait to go again!