10 on Tuesday

It's been awhile since I've done a 10 on Tuesday, so here goes...

1. I'm super giddy that it's November. The leaves are changing and the weather is cooling. I'm looking forward to family outings and drinking hot drinks.

2. I wish these moving boxes would put themselves away so I could just focus on decorating for fall. Instead, all of my decorations are still packed away and the rest of the house is needing an organizing specialist to come step in.

3. I wish I could hire an organizing specialist.

4. I put my baby girl's hair in pig tails today and she looks like such a big girl now. Good thing she still sucks her thumb to remind me she has a little baby left in her. And yes, I know it's probably not really a good thing she still sucks her thumb.

5. Sometimes you just need to put your big girl panties on and get it done. This is how I feel about my life right now. Just push on and get it done so you can sit back and relax already.

6. There is nothing like waking up to a clean kitchen with clear countertops. I wish I would remember that when I look at the dishes in the sink before I go to bed. My mom would be horrified if she knew. I'm working on it.

7. My children are currently sword fighting with their $1 foam swords. I'm wondering who will be the first to cry because they got poked in the head with it.

8. I am loving Edie's kitchen. Her new home is filled with all sorts of inspiration.

9. I'm hoping to get our shoe boxes filled this next weekend for Operation Christmas Child. Are you filling one? You have until Nov. 14-21 to get it done. I think this will be a great way to get our family's hearts ready for the holiday season. You can also view their gift catalog online.

10. I'm almost done reading this book by Lisa Whelchel. I don't believe that homeschooling is for everyone, I certainly never thought it'd be for me, however I do believe that it is every parents responsibility to consider all options regarding their children's schooling before making a decision. Don't base your opinion on hearsay, learn about your options first. I really like Lisa Whelchel and this book is an excellent resource for showing a variety of stories regarding homeschooling. It includes everyone from a typical family scenario and military family to how a single mother makes it work and a father who takes on the homeschool teaching role. It's a quick read as well.

Happy 2nd Birthday Baby Girl

I love planning parties. I had loads of ideas for miss M's 2nd birthday, thanks Pinterest, and yet none of them came to fruition. In fact, I'm not sure there is one homemade item that made it to our little family party...except for the birthday girl herself!

We've had such a worn out, wild ride the last couple of months that I tried to think about what my baby girl would really want. What does she love right now?

And the answer...Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Oh how she loves her some Mickey and Minnie. And while I normally shy away from all things character, I decided to embrace Miss Minnie and shower my little girl with her all Saturday long.

Simple and fun. Perfect.

I downloaded these cute printables from here. I think they added just enough "homemade" touch to satisfy me.

While she had no idea what she did to deserve all of the fun and presents, she definitely picked up on how to unwrap the gifts.

M is getting into playing dress up a little bit and loves to change her shoes and carry a purse around so when I saw this cute Minnie dress on sale I snatched it up. She loved getting to be like Minnie for the afternoon.

I took N to the store a couple of weeks before his sister's birthday to pick out a gift. He was very proud to give it to her and remembered exactly what he had gotten her.

I hope they always stay close.

Oooo-ing over one of her Snap 'n Style dolls.

She will kiss anything that is a baby or is a picture of a baby. The card was no exception.

While she loves to play with her brother's cars and trains, I was glad to get a few girl items in the house for her to enjoy.

When I was at the store I came across this musical birthday card that played the "Hot Diggity Dog" song from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. M thought it was hysterical to keep opening and closing it to get the music to play. We did not.

I'm so thankful the Lord gave me the desires of my heart to have this little girl. I cannot imagine life without her. She is a determined one who already has an opinion of her own, yet she is loving and kind and gives the best snuggles and kisses.

There is nothing like this little girl's love for her daddy. The feeling is mutual.

Love her.

Big brother giving some assistance putting on this princess' shoe.

Perhaps too much sugar?

Can't miss those birthday phone calls from those we love far away.

In honor of the Clubhouse theme song...we had hot dogs.

The little miss gently blew out her candles. I'm surprised she actually blew the flame out she was so gentle.

We topped the night off by watching her new Minnie Mouse dvd.

Happy 2nd Birthday Madeline Grace. We cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for you, and we feel honored to get to be apart of it all.

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!