Girl's Night

Girl's Night is a big deal in our house.  When daddy is working out of town, I usually pick one night to let the girls stay up a little later, watch a movie, eat cookies, paint toenails...whatever they want.

Well, earlier this week, Jeremy was out of town and getting back really late that night.  So, we decided to invite the girl who lives across the street (she's 6) and her mom over for "Girl's Night".  I called and talked to Marsha and the plans were set.  Until I hung up and Nicole started crying because SHE wanted to invite Sydney.  So....I call again and allow Nicole the chance to invite her little friend over. 

As soon as we get off the phone, Nicole gets mine and Hannah's attention and say (very dramatically).  "O.K. Mommy and Hannah.  We need to clean this place up and get ready for Girl's Night!". 

YES!!!!!  Finally, something sunk in.  When we have special company, we clean up the house!  I was so pleased to hear that this was HER idea.  Until I saw her start into motion!  This was what Nicole meant.

She pulled every pillow down on the floor, created a wall of  sofa pillows and retrieved bed pillows to lay on the floor.  She got all kinds of knick knacks and spread them on her chair as "cookies". 

My house was definitely NOT cleaned up.  But to her...it was Perfect!  She ran to her room, put on her jammies (because really, what is a girl's night without jammies?) and stood by the front door waiting for her little friend. 

Sydney was not quite as impressed with the pillows on the floor idea.  She watched the movie while sitting on the couch (she is older and more mature of course! hehe).  But, the girls all did have a great time.  I got to spend a little bit of time with my neighbor and it was a nice night. 

Even though Nicole didn't actually clean up the house, I am pleased that she tried very hard to make the room look special for her friend...even if her friend didn't get it.

Always the Flowergirl....never the bride

Nicole LOVES to wear her flower girl dress from Justin and Erica's wedding.  Almost daily she wears it.  She even wore it to the airport one time (and got many comments).  Lately, she's been asking me when she can get married.  Obviously my answer is not for at least 30 years.  Just kidding.

Anyway, today she was asking me about getting married and I asked her if she wanted to see my wedding dress.  She got so excited at the thought of it.  So, I pulled it out and immediately she "ooo-ed and awww-ed"over it.  Now, I loved my wedding dress.  It was perfect for me...very simple and just my style, but it's not all frilly and fancy like a lot of dresses out there.  Just simple (like me, right?)  So, I asked her if she wanted to put it on. 

Oh.my.word.  The excitement that came out of that little girl was priceless.  We didn't do all of this in an ideal location, so the pictures aren't wonderful...this was totally impromptu.  I put the veil on her and my little tiara too. 

Hannah was a bit freaked out over the veil for some reason.  But, Nicole just loved it.  My friend Jennifer has a tradition of taking a picture of her daughter in her wedding dress every year on her birthday (her daughter will be three soon I think).  I thought that was such a sweet idea, but never did it.  Well, maybe now I will.  I think it will be fun to see how she fills it out and to document how much she grows every year.   What do you think?

I don't have high hopes of my girls wanting to wear my dress.  If they want to...absolutely they may, but it just might not be their style, and that's ok.  It would be cool however if they used the veil...because it was my mom's veil.  That might be a nice little "something old". 

I don't want these two to grow up to fast, because I know....I KNOW....that the day will come much too soon when their daddy will be walking them down the aisle in a beautiful dress and they will finally get a day to be the princess they pretend to be now at 2 and 4. 

I love to save money!!

I went to Target this morning because they had some great coupons I was hoping to capitalize on.  I bought Jeremy a T-shirt for $2 using a $2/ men's clothing coupon, organic strawberries for $1.49 using a $1/produce item coupon.  I also bought this really cute bathroom organizer thinging for $3.39.  It was on sale for $13.39 and I used a $10/any bathroom item coupon.  I hope it's useful, if not, I'll take it back....but here's hoping.

Anyway....that is not what I got so excited about at Target this morning.  We walked by the meat department, and I saw a ton of $3 off peelie coupons on the packages.  I came on the right day.  They were marking down their meats that would "expire" in the next couple of days.  I usually don't buy meat at Target...but there were a few deals I just couldn't pass up!  Let me share!

8 Count Bone-in Pork Chop reg. $15.42. sale $7.32 with a $3 off coupon.  Final Cost $4.32 (this is enough for 4 meals for us!

Bone -in Strip Steak reg. $8.19 sale for $5.73 with a $3 off coupon.  Final Cost, $2.73 for nearly .9lb steak

Pork Roast $6.49 with a $3 coupon. Final Cost $3.49 (I should get 2 or 3 meals out of that one)

2 packs of Filet Mignon.
1st pack reg. $15.39 marked down to $6.53 with a $3 coupon.  Final Cost $3.53 for 2 Filet Mignons totaling 1.1lbs
2nd pack reg $17.14, marked down to $9.34 with a $3 coupon. Final Cost $6.34 for 2 Filet Mignons, weighing 1.7 pounds total

I also bought 3 packages of 2 count organic chicken breasts.  They were $4.99 each with a $2 coupon. 

So my meat, regular price would have been $77.60
I paid $29.48
So, I saved $48.12!!! 
Yippee.  I have enough meat for 12 meals at under $2.50 a piece....not to bad.  Guess we don't need to go out to eat for a while.  I NEVER buy Filet Mignon, because I'm afraid to spend $20 on a steak and it not taste great.  So, this will be fun!

Open Gym

Yesterday we went to a local gymnastics gym with our MOPS group for "Open Gym" time.  Basically, the children get an hour to play on all kind of cool equipment, blow up obstacle courses and whatever else they want to do. 

Hannah did rolls for almost the whole hour

And, she also spent a lot of time running around saying "mommy, mommy, mommy"

Hannah also played on the uneven bars with her friend Hannah Mae (who just turned 5). 

Nicole, well...I hardly saw her at all. She was in her element.  She ran down the trampoline runway and jumped into the foam pit.  She climbed the blow up wall/slide and obstacle course,  she walked on the balance beam.  Check out the video below (she was most proud of walking on the "wood" as she called it. 

3-2-1 Blast Off

One of the great things about dads is that they hate to see their little ones hurt...especially their little girls.  I remember my dad bringing me a special treat or a surprise when I was sick or hurt.  I specifically remember one time when I was...I don't know, 9 or 10 maybe?  I was really sick.  I remember watching The Parent Trap in my bedroom (the cool thing about being sick is having a TV moved into your room:) and I remember my dad walking in my room with a big orange pumpkin cookie (on a stick maybe).  The cookie had orange sprinkles all over it and a painted on jack-o-lantern face.  I just remember my dad being extra sweet to me when I didn't feel well.

Well, It was fun to watch Jeremy do something very similar with Hannah.  He was very concerned over her recent boo-boo (read the post below if you don't know what I'm talking about).  He promised Hannah on Friday morning that he would bring her home a surprise.  All day she looked forward to her "prize".  When he got home, boy did he make good on his word!  He brought home these cool little foamy things that you make into necklaces, airplanes, castles...whatever you want.  A perfect craft for the girls.  He also brought home some 3-D chalk which we enjoyed Saturday morning. 

But, the "big" gift was...a rocket.  Of course, I rolled my eyes when I saw it because we all knew who it was REALLY for, hahaha.  Actually...the girls were excited all weekend long about shooting off the rocket.  Finally, Sunday afternoon we made it to the park.  Watch the video below. (Hannah got to shoot it off first because it was technically for her...I didn't notice until later how quickly she ran away, hahaha...I wish I would have gotten that on camera.  Nicole got a turn too...and please wait for Nate's reaction after the second rocket...classic).

So, Jeremy had to put this rocket together Sunday during naps...which I think he really enjoyed.  I can see model cars, rockets, whatever in my future with Jeremy and Nate.  Then, we went to the park, and prayed that God would keep the rain away for us to shoot it off a couple of times.  (He did...we were literally surrounded on all sides by rain, and just as we were cleaning up, the rain started to fall).  We have a few more engines that we plan to shoot off on a clear day.

Thanks honey for being such a sweet daddy and trying to find something to take Hannah's mind off of her boo-boo.  And, thanks for always finding cool things to do as a family.  As I said yesterday....you are way cooler than I am:-)

Hannah Owey

Last night we took a walk after dinner.  Nicole rode her bike, and Hannah and Nathan rode in the wagon.  About halfway through the walk, Hannah wanted to pull the wagon, so we let her get out and she was actually strong enough to pull Nate around.  It was cute.  We walked about a quarter of the way down the block when Nicole stopped to look at something (she is always starting and stopping on these walks....she sees Everything!).  Hannah was a bit slower than the rest of us (pulling that big ole wagon).  So, I stood behind Nicole talking to her and I heard Hannah coming close.  Just as I realized Hannah was almost right behind me, I heard Jeremy yell "Hannah, watch out".  Unfortunately when someone tells you watch out, you don't know what or where to watch out at.  Hannah turned around, tripped over Nicole's training wheel and literally face planted on the asphalt road. 

Nothing, Nothing cushioned her fall.  Her arms were holding onto the wagon handle, she went face down. S.M.A.C.K.

Jeremy quickly ran and scooped her up and I grabbed the wagon and started hurrying Nicole along.   Hannah was screaming and blood was all over her face and Jeremy's shirt.  I just started hurrying Nicole and Nathan home, while Jeremy held Hannah and tried to comfort her.

When we got home, daddy cleaned her all up and we called Grammy to come over and look at her teeth and mouth.  Grammy worked as a dental assistant for years and years and years...so we trusted her eyes to see if anything was wrong with her teeth and gums.

So, the good news is...Hannah is ok!  Her teeth are not loose.  She has a few cuts inside her mouth, on her lip, her nose and on her forehead.  She relished being held and passed around to every family member at our house, watching Little Bear and holding ice on her lip.

Now daddy is bringing home a surprise for her when he gets off work today.  She is talking find (with a bit of a lisp) and seems to be feeling ok.  But, she's got a fat lip and looks "a little bit like a duck" to quote an anonymous person this morning. 

Poor little Hannah girl.  She has an owey!

Mommy's Handy Helper and other fun photos

This morning, I was trying to pick up a bit and one task was to unload the dishwasher.  Nicole heard me clanging away and quickly came to my rescue.  She asked if she could unload the dishwasher for me.  Of Course my sweet child!

She neatly stacked all the plates and cups, drying them before stacking them on the counter for me to put away later.  When she was finished, she triumphantly came to get me and said "Ta-Da"  Here is what I saw.

Yes, that is an empty dishwasher, minus the knives.  She is SO good about not touching or playing with knives!  I thought it was so sweet that she left them there.


And, now, some random pictures

Nicole captured this picture the other day.  I thought it was really sweet.

A pretty sunset the other night

Nicole has been having fun playing with Nathan lately.  So sweet.

Nate Dawg in Da House!!!!

These are the girl's "funny faces"  They are so silly.

Is it weird....

that I just got a toe nail clipping stuck in my eye?   The joys of clipping 60 little toes and fingers. 

btw...I have a weird obsession with clipping my kid's nails.  I really enjoy doing it.  Instant gratification maybe?

A conversation between sisters (about breastfeeding?)

The other day, my mom heard a quick conversation between the girls.  We were getting ready to go to the beach and they had their bathing suits on.  Hannah has a "Little Mermaid" bathing suit.  To remind you....here is a picture of The Little Mermaid.

Hannah looked down at the mermaid on her bathing suit and pointed to her and said, "Nissey (Nikki)...bow.  Bow".

Then Nicole looked at her and said, "No Hannah, that's not a bow.  That is what keeps the milk inside".

They were talking about Ariel's little shell bathing suit of course. 

Unwholesome talk

It's hot!  Hot, Hot, Hot!!  I know it's hot everywhere right now....but, I still feel like complaining.  It's to hot to go outside in the morning, and to hot to go outside in the evening.  It's insane to go out in the middle of the day.  I'm tired of being inside.  I'm bored and grumpy and ready for a cool day (thankfully...they will be coming soon to our family...more on that later)

I feel like grumbling.  Especially when it's hot.  I just got poop on my hand, my freezer won't freeze, I cut my finger with a can lid, I'm tired and whiny and complainy...and I'm having a hard time thinking of something nice to write on here.  I do have one funny story, but I need to take a picture first...which I'm to lazy or tired...or HOT to do! 

I keep writing more to this post and then deleting it because of how negative it is.  I have been working...for some time now, like months... on having more self control over my tongue.

Ephesians 4:29, 31,32

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear....Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." 

So...if you've had a conversation with me over the past few months and I become silent, it's because I'm trying NOT to grumble, or to speak badly about someone.  'Tis not easy.  There are many times (many, many times) that all I want to do is join in and blast someone...but it is not right.  In fact, it is a sin.  I have been working so very hard on the first part of this verse especially "only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment"  Sometimes the "need of the moment" means I must speak a positive word.  Sometimes, it means not speaking at all.  More often than not, I choose not to speak at all.

BUT...have I really learned anything at all?  I may not speak (or at least, I am trying not to speak) unwholesome talk in front of others...but, I almost always share my views with my dear Jeremy.  I feel like I may rupture inside if I don't share with Somebody what I really think.  As if my thoughts are really that important (because usually they aren't).  It's pride.  I want someone to know what I think...I want someone to acknowledge when I am right...and I want someone to justify how I feel.  Is it ok to share with one person those "unwholemsome thoughts"  The thoughts that are not good for edification, but thoughts that really could be used to tear down and break apart?  I'm pretty sure I shouldn't share those thoughts with anyone...and until I can hold them in...no, not hold them, but lay them down before the Lord and leave them there....then I have learned nothing and have not even come close to following that command.

I have no idea where this came from.  I just wanted to complain about it being hot...and me being tired, lazy and unmotivated.  I'm just in a complaining mood...and I want Someone to feel my pain.  Kind of pathetic....and kind of shows that I'm not as far along as I hoped I was. 

I'll share a funny story soon.