Lifesong

Top Ten on Tuesday

1. Cuz it's about to be Tuesday, even though right now it's still Monday.

2. A few mornings ago, we were eating breakfast when Ansley grabbed my camera and shouted "LOOK at those clouds!" Then she snapped off several pictures. I'm so glad that I have passed on my memory capturing gene to Ansley.

We have been looking through the Project 365 books lately. The kids will often ask what we were doing on this same exact day one, two, three, or four years ago! And I love that I can tell them exactly what was going on. And sigh over how little my kids were.

3. I pulled a dessert from the oven and the kids ran over to look. I told them it was very hot, but Christian accidentally got too close, and it burned him. This picture actually makes it look better than it does. He cried, but we told him it looked like a light saber burn, and then he was okay with it.

4. I had to wake Avery up after a THREE AND A HALF HOUR nap today. Hallelujah and amen.

5. However, this is how she woke up from her two hour nap last week.

She has had a cold, so that's made her a little fussier than usual. But just a little, because even healthy she is a little fussy. And it's interesting to note that we have never found Avery standing in her crib, not once. My other two always did, but every morning and every after-naptime, she is lying down, talking or crying, but not standing.

6. We've really enjoyed this weather lately. I'm ready for spring. It makes me remember what it was like to get outside and play and run and feel the sunshine, instead of having a) the playroom or b) the Wii to play with indoors. Avery has been really happy outside the past few days!

7. This is how you know Avery doesn't want what you are trying to feed her.

It reminds me of when Christian was little and starting talking he would say "I can't like that." It made me laugh every time! That's what I imagine Avery is saying in this picture.

8. Mimi is really enjoying living here, and we are SO enjoying having her nearby! We see her just about every day, and we have dinner at her house every Sunday. She comes over often during the week for dinner, picks Ansley up from co-op, comes over if I need to run to a doctor's appointment or an emergency Chick-Fil-A run, for lunch, to pick up a child to hang out with her for a few hours, or just to hang out with us. The kids think it's absolutely fabulous, and I must agree!

9. I spent some time with Jillian this evening. I hate eating healthy. Seriously. Is is just hard for me?

10. That's all I got!

Tell me something random about your Tuesday!

These Days

These days are busy. It's a lot to balance - three kids, homeschooling, meals, cleaning, playing.

These days are full. Some days I don't even have a chunk of ten minutes to myself all day. Some days I dream of going to the bathroom by myself.

These days are crazy. There's laughing and yelling, plasma car-ing and silliness. There's sibling arguments and "She did this!" and "He did that!" and "Why can't we.....?"

These days are sweet. Siblings help each other, love each other, teach each other. Some days I'm the one that learns so much.

These days are exhausting. There are moments, say when the baby is screaming and the five year old is crying and the eight year old is sassy (just a hypothetical example), that can tempt even the happiest of spirits to weariness.

These days are precious. Amidst the chaos and the circumstances that just make up life, I savor the joy that my children bring. The sweet baby-turned-toddler smile that is just for me. The triumph of The Boy learning something new. The excitement of The Girl as she is trying to explain something, and really wanting me to understand it.

Some days my mind swirls with questions. "Am I doing this right?" "What can I do to get her to sleep later?" "Will multiplication catch on?" "Why can't I just eat cookies all day?"

But when I just focus on the here and now, I know that I am in a most wonderful season. Even though these days are not without challenges and frustrations, there is much fruit in the midst of the chaos. Even as tears fall and souls become tired, I am aware that

        these

            days

                are

                    beautiful.

Your days are beautiful. I pray that if you are weary today, friend, these words would encourage you.

"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." Isaiah 40:30-31

9:47 am {Sunday}

{Avery fell asleep on the way to church. I wish I could explain to her that this means she is getting up too early!}

A Little Love

I love Valentine's Day. Let's face it, I love celebrating, and holidays and traditions.

I can't remember when or how our Valentine traditions started, but the kids talk about them each year and are so excited.

The night before John and the kids surprised me with several goodies, including a Siri! It was a fun surprise, and the kids were all giggly and whispery waiting for me to put the baby down and come downstairs.

We started the day with our traditional breakfast: chocolate filled hearts. Ansley and Christian LOVE them. Avery was too young this year, but she will be able to join in next year!

My super thoughtful husband picked up some things for Mimi for Valentine's Day, so we headed over to Mimi's to surprise her with some fun things. The kids love surprising Mimi!

Since it was Tuesday, Ansley had her co-op so we dropped her off with valentines for her friends and teachers.

Later that afternoon, Mimi came over to help with the baby so I could make a valentine's meal for John. Avery was pretty grumpy - I think I will continue to blame it on her teeth that haven't come in yet, but I'm sure will be any day now.

I made prime rib, mashed potatoes and green beans with brownies and ice cream for dessert.

After dinner we had the much anticipated event: the scavenger hunt! They both were really excited about this!

Ansley would read the clues and then they would think about it and go running off!

Christian got two Ed Emberley books. He has not stopped drawing.

He and Mimi enjoyed drawing for awhile.

Ansley got a Smashbook with a bunch of pictures to put in it, and some letter stickers. (She has been talking about scrapbooking lately, and if you haven't heard of Smashbooks they are the new scrapbook-type thing.) She was absolutely crazy-excited over this, and she hasn't stopped working on her Smashbook for days!

A fabulous Valentine's Day! I so love my sweet family!

2:26 pm {Monday}

{Ansley's valentines for her teachers and classmates, since her co-op was on Valentine's Day.}

Twelve on Twelve: February

The good news: I remembered February's twelve on twelve project!

The bad news: My camera battery died, so I had to use my iPhone for half the day.

But, nevertheless, I did it! Here's the lowdown from February 12:

1. JonJon and Missy were in town for Avery's party, so we all went to lunch together before they headed back home.

2. We took Mimi home from lunch and stopped in for a little visit. Cooper was happy to see us.

3. What's left of the bunny cake. It was yummy!

4. Making a grocery list. I try to get my grocery shopping done on Sundays so I am prepared with meals for the week and we don't waste money eating out. Also so I don't have to take all three kids to the grocery store because that's not as fun. Grocery shopping is one of my least favorite activities, for the record.

5. I edited 308 pictures from Avery's party. Whew!

6. As a result, I didn't make it to the grocery store. So we all went to eat at Cracker Barrel (with Mimi!), then after dropping Mimi off we all went to the store. We split the list and had a race. I will say it was much more enjoyable than going by myself! Avery enjoyed helping unpack the groceries.

7. A spontaneous shot of the playroom this evening - still keeping it clean!

8. What Avery was wearing this evening when a lady asked Ansley if Avery was her little brother. Not.even.kidding.

9. Avery has really enjoyed playing with all her new toys from her birthday party!

10. Ansley and Christian at bedtime tonight.

11. A late night load of Avery laundry because I realized she had nothing to wear the next day! Oops.

12. Our cozy bed - heading there after a fun-filled, busy weekend!

Avery's First Birthday

I thought about having a sweet little party for Avery's first birthday, with cake and ice cream. Keeping it simple, ya know?

But I can't. It's my LAST FIRST birthday.

I had to go crazy. Pick a theme. (Oh, how I love a theme!) I went with bunnies because Mimi gave Avery this stuffed bunny when she was born, and she LOVES it! So that's what I based the party on.

I made a bunny brunch with an egg and sausage casserole (Avery LOVES eggs!), muffins, grits and fruit.

I had a bunny shirt with Avery's name on it made just for her party. JonJon and Missy came in town to celebrate, and of course Mimi is right down the street, so it was great having everyone here! Here are JonJon and Avery on the morning of her party.

Every year on their first birthday, Mimi has given the kids a rocking chair that she paints with a cushion on it. You don't see the painting or the cusion? Well she hasn't quite finished Avery's, but for tradition's sake, we had to have a picture of the one year old in the rocking chair. Isn't she cute?

She received many cute gifts from Mimi, JonJon and Missy and sweet friends that helped us celebrate. She has been playing with her new toys all week!

Avery had a sweet little bunny smashcake for her to enjoy all on her own. (Another tradition.) It was so cute to see all the kids gathered around to watch Avery dig into her cake. I wish I would have gotten a picture of that! But I was focused on the birthday girl.

The rest of the party goers enjoyed a big bunny cake. I have used the same lady to do my kids cakes every year, and I sent her a picture of Avery's stuffed bunny to duplicate. She did a great job!

She started out slow, but she warmed up quickly to the whole cake idea!

I added an Avery's First Birthday album on the left with more pictures. It was a very sweet and fun day celebrating our one year old!

(I've had some issues with my computer the past few days where it wasn't letting me upload any pictures. I was getting down on my Mac, but then figured out it was my own fault, not the Mac's! Anyway that's why the delay in getting the birthday pics up.)

Almost One

There's probably an abundance of Avery photos lately. I guess that's because babies just do so many cute things and have so many milestones, I just have to capture them!

Avery will be ONE next week. So crazy.

 

She LOVES eggs. As in wants them every single morning. She turns down pancakes, waffles, biscuits.....for eggs. It's crazy and makes me question if she's really related to any of the carb lovers in this house. She's also a huge eater. She seems to always be hungry!

She isn't walking - doesn't even seem close to walking, really. But she loves to watch her siblings when they are outside, which makes me a little sad for her. I know soon enough she will be running around with them, but right now it's a little sad to see her watching them outside, laughing and running, while she's inside.

I think she got tired of watching Ansley and Christian coloring while she couldn't, so today she insisted on coloring. I was surprised that she did so well, because I don't remember the other two coloring this early, but maybe my memory is just bad.

She is super sweet, and we are looking forward to all that one will bring us!

10:47 am

{RARE}

{That The Baby is happy in her carseat.}

Random Thoughts On Wednesday

1. There's been germs circulating over here. It's gone through the whole family, except me. Avery's has held on the longest, in what appears to be a stomach bug. I took her to the doctor today, just to make sure that none of the crazy thoughts spin-cycling around in my head were actually true. They weren't; she's fine. Plus there's no medicine for an attitudinal and clingy one year old. He didn't say those exact words, but I know he wanted to.

2. I'm reading an AMAZING book that I would highly recommend. I read a lot, and most books I read I enjoy and get something/a lot out of. There are many, many books I have read and I think ooh, that's good. I want to remember that. Ooh, I love that! What a great idea! You get the point. But this book is...well it's just amazing. You really should read it, and I'm getting nothing to say that, I promise. It's called 7 and it's by Jen Hatmaker. It's subtitle is "an experimental mutiny against excess" and it's just fabulous. It's funny and inspiring and I am loving it.

3. But I will warn you, it may cause you to think crazy things. For instance, I recently have this overwhelming desire to tornado through my kitchen and throw away every.last.stinking processed food. Every single one of them. And I was making enchiladas the other night and it called for cream of chicken soup. When I pulled out the said soup, I just glanced at the ingredients. WHAT? Why does soup need that many ingredients? So I made my own, which was surprisingly simple AND delicious. Crazy things like that. Reading is dangerous.

4. Avery has been sleeping for almost three hours. Someone, somewhere should just stand up right now and shout Hallelujah! I know I am. But not too loudly, because I don't want to wake her.

5. Avery has entered a bit of a challenging phase. I thought the last baby was supposed to be all laid back and hey you just set me in this corner and I'll entertain myself, but someone didn't send her that memo. She used to have these cutesy nicknames like Bay, or sometimes we add fun endings and call her Bayza or even Bayzabee. Lately her nickname has been The Screamer or perhaps Demon Child. I've never called her that to her face, of course, just under my breath at the dinner table when she won't stop......you guessed it! SCREAMING.

6. There are no pictures on this post because my camera is broken. Or, I can't get it to work and I'm too impatient to figure out why. There's such a fine line. But I really am attached to my camera, possibly as attached as I am to sugar, so I think I have a Lack of Camera Headache today. I would normally say it's a caffeine headache, but I'm tired of blaming caffeine. I would take an Exedrin but that does have caffeine which kind of defeats the point and what if it has soy lecithin in it? What will that do to me?? Maybe I should make my own Excedrin.

7. I think that's all the random thoughts I have for today. I know I feel better. Or, I will, as soon as my Lack of Camera Headache goes away. I would have had time for a nap today if I had known The Baby AKA The Screamer was going to nap for so long, but I never know. Until it's too late.

Any other random thoughts out there today?