These are the days

When I read the title of this post, I automatically start singing this song in my head. Sometimes when I'm frustrated with how something has been going this day and that day, it can become very hard to see beyond the present and realize that these are the days. The days I want to remember. The days I won't get back. The days that will soon fly by and I'll be wondering where my little kids went that will probably grow taller than I am.

I have a continually growing mound of parenting books on my nightstand that I'm anxious to get read, and I find myself praying throughout the day for God to please give me the answers to reach my children's hearts and turn them toward Him.

The truth is, I have really sweet kids and one of them just happens to be 3. And the other just happens to be an almost 2-year old who likes to mimic everything her older brother does. It's a season of life, and we'll survive.

One day this week I asked my son to pick out a book during reading time. This is what he chose. Oh the irony.

A visit from Nebraska

Opa and Oma came to visit us this weekend. Oma's birthday was just a couple of days prior so we decided to celebrate with a french silk pie from Pioneer Pies.

During their stay we had the opportunity to visit the Science Museum in Oklahoma City. There were tons of things to do there including two shows we were able to see. This is me and my little girl during the live science show.

It was unfortunate that I had just brought my little point and shoot with me as something was wrong with the setting and the photos didn't turn out great at all. I did manage to get a few though. Oma and my husband even had the opportunity to ride on a segway.

Do I see a glimpse of her in the future?

I thought I'd grab a quick photo before Opa and Oma headed home. Unfortunately it was just before nap time but I was able to at least get one for the memory books.

Thanks for the visit Oma and Opa!

Mustang Western Days

When you live in a smaller town, you have small town events. Such as Western Days.



The crowds lined both sides of the street for the mile-long parade.

We are blessed to live near some good friends. And we are doubly blessed that they love our kids and allow their sweaty little bodies to sit on them during the parade.

The parade was a nice, patriotic way to remember the events of September 11th.

The excitement was definitely at the beginning of the parade with the loud firetrucks, bands and athletic teams. Toward the end of the parade, it seemed anyone that had a car could participate.

One very.cool.dude.

The kids loved when the flag passed and everyone stood and applauded.

They both figured out very quickly to stand by the road and hold out your hand if you want candy from the walkers in the parade. They also got some high-fives from the football players.

Later in the afternoon we headed to the carnival (i.e. rides set up in a parking lot). We didn't care about the $5/person rides. We went for the funnel cake.

We were excited to introduce the one-time-a-year funnel cake to the kids.

Of course they were more excited to lick the powdered sugar off of it than to actually eat the cake. They'll learn.

We didn't make it to the rodeo this year, but there's always next time.

10 on Tuesday

I've seen other bloggers do a "10 on Tuesday" approach and thought I'd give it a whirl as a simple way to say what has been going on. Actually, I thought I'd give it a whirl on Tuesday and forgot to publish it. So here is my 10 on Tuesday Thursday. Sometimes it might be interesting, sometimes not.

1. We had a nice Labor Day weekend. We took a day trip to my aunt and uncle's place off of a lake to spend the afternoon with family. I cannot tell you how much I LOVE being able to visit family just for the day and come back and sleep in our own beds. *Bliss*

2. Little Miss is a hitter. This threw me off-guard since her brother never was, however, her brother never had someone taking his things. So, she hits out of frustration when he takes what she has, or what she wants. Or if you tell her no. Sigh. We're working on it.

3. Can I get an Amen for the awesome weather we've been having? Nice weather is the simplest form of motivation.

4. I had been looking for a devotional to do with the kids in the morning at breakfast. We read the Bible story books and such but I wanted something with more discussion questions. We have been using Five-Minute Devotions for Children and are really enjoying it. I'm amazed at the end of the day N can tell his daddy what he learned that morning from it.

5. Have I mentioned we're going to be moving again? I haven't? Well, we are. We're not moving towns, just houses. It's a long story but I do believe God has a plan and so we'll be moving into a different rental house at the end of September. I'm looking forward to the nicer yard, bigger kitchen and overall larger living space for the kids. I am not looking forward to the actual move though. Ugh.


6. Hmmm....I wonder if I can come up with 10 things to say?

7. Our big boy starts his first night of Awana tomorrow at our church. I'm excited to see him in his little vest he'll wear. Hopefully it will be covered in patches by the end of the year! I'm just now realizing I've never sewn a patch on before. Wonder if I'll need to know how to do that. Guess I could always be the mom who glues it on or I've even heard of them being stapled before -- I won't go that far.


8. I am coming up on 23 weeks of being pregnant. Over halfway there!

9. Something I find a little humorous is that when we're out with both of the kids we often get asked if they are twins, even though they are two years apart.

10. This weather makes me anxious to light my pumpkin candle and put up a fall wreath. Not too long from now!

Sweet baby

No, this isn't a glitch. I'm actually doing two posts in one day. I don't know what has come over me! Actually, I thought I'd share our ultrasound photos of our sweet baby girl that we had done yesterday at 22 weeks. She currently weighs 1 lb.

She was quite the photogenic little girl. They were shocked how much she faced forward to get her photos taken. Isn't it amazing what technology can do these days? And isn't God amazing for this precious gift He's given to us?

Yawning.

About to suck her thumb. She did this during our last ultrasound as well. Guess she might take after her sister.

And here she is counting. She looks like she is giving the peace sign here, but during the ultrasound video she was actually counting with her fingers. Here's to girl #2!

It's amazing how much we have already fallen in love with our baby girl. The 4D ultrasound was a fun way for the kids to get to see their baby sister and learn a little bit more about what is to come. What a joy that day will be!

The photo dump

I decided since it's been awhile since I last posted, I'd just do a big photo dump as I go through my camera.

Several weeks ago, when the air conditioner went out in our rental house, we decided to make an impromptu trip to Dallas. We headed to LegoLand first thing in the morning.

One tip if you want to go to things like LegoLand or SeaLife, buy your tickets online ahead of time and get there as soon as it opens. You'll get right in. Unfortunately we did not do this. And did not get right in.

It was so hot out so I was thankful this little LegoLand was indoors, and very small compared to the one we've been to in San Diego.

LegoLand was like heaven to our little guy.

I didn't get the greatest photos while we were there since I was trying to keep track of the little miss while the boys built stuff. There was a raceway that you could set the car you built on.

Amazingly N's kept winning. I think it was because his was simple and the bigger boys kept adding to theirs. I like the message in that. Keep it simple.

There was also a bright pink Lego room for girls. We headed there for our princess.

I think the Lego city is always my favorite. Of course they highlighted all of the Dallas sites.

Because I still had my SeaLife membership from when we lived in Arizona, and the kids got in free, we purchased a duel pass to LegoLand and SeaLife for the hubby and headed there the following day for $10. Can't beat that. And I'll take aquariums over zoos any day.

What shark would you be?

Nothing like looking through a bubble.

Miss M has this thing with dressing up in whatever shoes are around. Apparently if your shorts are laying around she'll also wear those. She was thrilled to be dressed like her brother for the morning.

We like to pretend play around here. N set up his little restaurant counter for us to order food. He also gave us $50 with every order and we didn't even have to pay for the food. Daddy said he might need to double check his business plan before he goes public.

Ready for church. She knows the dolls get left in the car, but they go with us everywhere.

Our handsome boy before church.

One of the things I participated in this summer were two online Busy Bag Swaps. Basically, 30 of us participated from all over and put together one activity 30 times. We mailed those activities to the coordinator and received 30 different activities back. Awesomeness.

The activites are all very simple, and educational. The point is really when you need to give your child something to do for a little bit you have 30 activities to choose from. This activity was the caterpillar counter.

They are made out of the swimming pool noodles (probably on clearance all over now). The pieces are numbered through 20 so the child can put them in order on a string.

These activities will be great when I'm working on preschool activities with my son and little miss is running around. I'll try to share more as we do them in case they give you ideas to create your own!

I'll leave you with two photos of the kids after church last Sunday. I cannot tell you how good it feels for church activities to be starting up again after a long summer, and for us to start to get more involved.

There is nothing better than moving to a new place and starting to put your church family together.

(This is his "take my picture because you took sisters picture" face.)

Five.

We are thrilled to recently find out we will be adding another sweet baby GIRL to our family, come the end of this year. I love how God designs what every family will look like and am thankful ours is growing to a family of 5. Big brother and sister couldn't be happier.

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3