Sunday Shoes

I think these Nike Free Mary Jane's are so cute. You could always use a good pair of running around shoes and the orange just adds to the apeel (get it...orange...peel!)

So I will be in Amish country for the next couple of days. I totally love going to Lancaster and seeing the horse and buggies. I love that two communities that are totally different can coexist with each other. One of my favorite things is seeing stalls for horses at the local grocery store. (I want to know if the store employee's have to pick up after the horse mess?!) It's also fun to see good friends and enjoy each other's company. Lot's of laughs, good conversation, fun playing the Wii, and most importantly...seeing the season premiere of The Office together!! I won't be posting for a few days but I'll be back for Sunday Shoes!!! Don't want to miss any shoes now! Just a little note...I've been walking with some good friends for a few weeks now and this week I have added in a bit of running. I have already run/walked fourteen miles this week and have a few days to go. Hopefully I'll keep it up on vacation...nothing crazy but at least something!

Kissing in Kindergarten!!!

Today M came home from Kindergarten and told a pretty funny story. She said a red headed boy (she doesn't remember his name) tried kissing a girl in her class at lunch time. The girl, Riley, didn't like the idea so she kicked the boy in the legs as he attempted to kiss her. I thought that was so funny. I guess if all girls kissed boys in the shines when they tried to kiss them a lot of problems could be avoided! What about you....has anyone ever tried to kiss you with out you wanting them to? What did you do? Did you avoid with a kick to the legs, some other tactic, or just suck it up and take the kiss?!! Leave a comment and let me know!

Wordless Wednesday

Flour Fun!

Who knew a little flour plus two little girls would equal so much fun. I gave the girls each a pan filled with flour and a couple of digging toys (spoons, cookie cutters, etc.) and they played for over an hour. Yes, we had flour every where and they started pretending it was lipstick towards the end, but it was worth the mess!

Show of Talent!!

Our ward had a chili cook off and talent show last Friday night which was a lot of fun. M and her friends C, and K got up and told jokes. They did so well, especially since there were a ton of people there. One guy got up and stuck a nail up

his nose which was quite interesting! We had lots of good food and a lot of fun entertainment!

M is showing off the necklace I won for placing first in the roll competition...I guess it runs in the family!

We're back!

The girls started gymnastics up again this past week after taking the summer off! They were both so excited to go. M is doing ballet and gymnastics and B is in a parent/child class. She had lots of fun with the drinking fountain and was upset when they didn't get in the harness and swing over the trampoline! Hopefully this week they will get to do that!

Sunday Shoes

I love my new shoes from Target...of course! They kind of remind me of Betty Boop shoes. Super cute with shorts, pants, and skits and only twenty bucks!!

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday's Tip

If you have had a blah day and just don't know what to do to make you feel better, may I make a suggestion....have a CHOCOLATE shake while watching the BIGGEST loser...you may or may not feel better!

Sunday Shoes- Heels that can kick!

So, who wouldn't want totally cute heels with nike air cushioning technology! Seems like the designer at Cole Haan (who used to design for Nike) has married beauty and comfort. They might be a bit pricier but I would love to try them out...let's see if R wants me to though!

Emotional

This last week was really emotional for me! M had her tonsils out last Monday. It was hard for me to make the decision because she had never been sick due to her tonsils. Her tonsils were enlarged which causes her to snore and wake up several nights a week. She often wakes up tired so the doctors felt taking her tonsils out would help her sleep better.
She was so scared when we went to the surgery center and didn't want anyone touching her. The nurse gave her a shot of medicine through the nose which looked really yuckie but within minutes it made M laugh at just about anything.
M was playing with the mask they would use during surgery and kept finding the hole where the air hose would eventually go. She thought it was soooo funny! She also got a new webkinz and a stuffed animal from the hospital to try and put her at ease.

Everything went well with the surgery except that I cried like a baby when I saw her for the first time. It was so hard seeing her on this big bed and still being kind of out of it. We stayed at the hospital for about three hours before we headed home. On the way home M said she didn't want the animal the hospital gave her. I
suggested we give it to B but she insisted that
she wanted to give it back to the doctor and no

one else should have it. I thought it was pretty funny...she wanted that doctor to know that surgery wasn't worth a silly stuffed animal! (She has since accepted the stuffed animal as one of her own if any of you are worried!)

This past week M stayed home from school, has hardly eaten a thing, and has been a little unlike herself. She gets grumpy and hates taking her medicine that she insists smells like throw up. She tells me she can't wait for me to get my tonsils out so I have to "try the medicine that tastes like throw up...it really does mom!" I hope in the end the surgery was worth it but I guess only time will tell. She has been awake three times in the middle of the night complaining of bad dreams since the surgery. Hopefully this next week will be a better one with the return of school, a schedule, and hopefully food.

It is so hard making decisions like this for your children. I just wish I could have gone through all the pain for her. I feel so sad for her and hope this won't be a memory that is vivid in her mind. She is so sweet and I hope everything works out in the end.

Wordless Wednesday

I know I'm a bit late but I thought I would post about this past labor day. It was a crazy but fun day. It started off with M having to get her blood drawn since she is getting her tonsils out tomorrow. She was okay with the whole situation until the nurse showed her how small the needle she would be using was. Once the needle word was thrown out there she lost it. After one failed attempt, one collapsed vein, one wailing child, one crying mommy holding said child down, and several promises of whatever toys she wanted you would buy...her blood was finally drawn. During the whole process I offered

to buy several things for M but she turned them all down saying she would rather not have her blood drawn. Needless to say, the blood was drawn and all ended well. I don't want her to go through it again but I guess the end results will make her healthier.

After the blood lose/draw we went to some good friends house for a huge labor day picnic. They live on an awesome piece of land and had invited the whole ward! The kids loved playing with their friends and the adults had fun too. R played football, volleyball, and ultimate frisbee...
his favorite. I enjoyed talking with friends and

meeting new people in the ward.

We left the picnic about 7:30 and came home to go night swimming with our neighbors. We all had so much fun. The girls loved the smores and we all enjoyed swimming in the pool. B was the last one in and kept screaming when we tried to take her out! She loves the water. When we finally took her out we all sat by the fire and she started to doze off on R's shoulder. I guess with it being 10:15 at night she was pretty tired. (She hadn't napped all day)

When we got home M was hungry since she was too busy playing to really eat much at the picnic. R got her a bowl of cereal but she feel asleep after a few bites! Notice the pink dog on the table?! That was her gift for getting blood work done. Her new "webkinz." She couldn't decide between that one and another dog so mommy bought the other dog behind her back to give her on surgery day. We had a great labor day, even with the sad start to the day.

Yummy Snack

My sister A and I discovered a delicious bakery pretty close to my house! They have the best sandwiches and cookies. Yesterday I went with R and the girls. I brought home part of an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie and a double chocolate cookie as well as the BEST creme soda ever! (And yes, diet is delicious!) The cookie was in bits before the picture because I just couldn't wait to sample it before I got to the camera! ENJOY!! (A and I tried to go the day she left and the bakery was randomly closed. Sorry to taunt you with the pictures A!!)

Sunday Shoes- Cheetah Girl!!

These are M's "cheetah girl" shoes! Anything with a cheetah print that she owns is called her cheetah girl item. I would totally wear these shoes if they came in my size! I have been looking for some pretty cheetah print high heels but have not found luck so far. I will keep looking though!

Wordless Wednesday

Comming Home

Getting home from school was a much better experience than going to school!!! M had a smile on her face from ear to ear!! She gave B a big hug and was so excited. She told me she colored, had music class, ate lunch with her friends (but didn't eat much from what was left in her lunch box...she probably socialized more than anything!), collected acorns at recess and played on the two "huge" slides! It makes me so happy that she had fun. She told me that she missed B, R, and I but wanted to go to school everyday. In her words..."I don't want there to be a last day of school." My, what a difference a day makes!

First Day of School!

So M wasn't thrilled with going off to school today. She refused to smile for any of the pictures I took. She threw off her shoes, didn't want to wear her backpack, and did a myriad of other things to get out of going to school. I thought we were ok since R and I have been talking about all the fun things to look forward to at school. Last night she seemed ok but once the time got close this morning she said she was scared. Luckily, our neighbor girl, who happens to be one of M's best friends, stood with M and got on the bus with her. We'll see what she looks like after the first day of school...details to come!

Twas the Night Before Kindergarten

Twas the night before Kindergarten

and little children were asleep.

Mother was worrying and had lots of time to think.

How would that child so innocent and fair,

deal throughout the day without her mommy there?

Would she go off all day and worry away,

or would she skip to the bus and spend her day in play?

School is now here and I have a few fears.

Will that innocent child come rushing home in tears?

I love her so much and will miss her sweet touch during the day.

Have I done enough to prepare her to leave on her own?

Questions run through my mind as I think of her alone.

I know the time has come to let her go and grow

But her mother I will always be and I will always love her, of this I know.

Sunday Shoes

I think these are so fun. Anyone looking for a present for me?!!

M beat me playing Wii bowling tonight. M got 204...I got 165. Enough said.

Sunday Caos

B in the sunglasses she wears through most of church. M posing for the camera!

Most Sunday's I will admit I haven't prepared well enough on Saturday (what's that song about Sat. being a special day?!!) therefore my Sunday mornings are a bit chaotic. I am usually rushing to make it to church on time and usually lose my patience at the girls in the process. I seem to get upset at R too even though he has left for church over two hours prior to me leaving. (He seems to get in trouble when he isn't around...sorry dear!) Last week I got upset at the girls before church because they weren't hurrying. I lost my temper and thought how dumb it was that I was getting mad at my kids while trying to get out the door for church. Sounds a bit hypocritical! This week I decided no matter what I would not get angry at the girls while getting ready for church. This meant getting the diaper bag and all our clothes out on Sat. night. It also meant I showered the night before church and had all the items out so I would be ready to put the dinner in the crock pot. I went to bed feeling pretty good. I woke up and got ready and decided we would have time to go to church early so I could make copies before my meetings started. I got the girls up and started to get a bit pressed for time so thought, we'll still try to be early, but if we are just on time I'll be ok with that too! By the time we were all dressed for church (I had taken pictures so you know I was on time!) B decided she didn't want to come out to the car. I thought, fine, roll with the punches, I'll just put my bags and M in the car and go back and try to reason with B to get her in the car. When I went back to the garage door it was locked! Who knew B was even tall enough to reach the lock?!! I paniced a bit and then thought about not losing my patience and trying to resolve the issue. What to do? So here is a list of what followed:

*Call neighbor who has a house key, too bad they are almost at church

*Doesn't some James Bond type open doors with credit cards? I'll give it a try

*Credit card does not work

*Hear B crying so decide to get the neighbors involved

*Barge in on neighbors relaxing Sunday morning and get wire hanger and paper clip from them

*Hanger too big to fit in door lock, paper clip too flimsy

*Neighbor calls back and says his car in the driveway is unlocked and I can go get my key at his house through the garage (apparently his two year old didn't lock it on the way out to church)

*Start losing patience while walking through the grass in high heels (At least I wasn't mad at kids)

*Curse New York for having bumpy grass instead of lush grass

*Get key and open the door to find B playing through the glass door in back with M and our neighbor M!

*Drive to church and listen to non spiritual music, I feel I'm entitled!

*Arrive at church late

Through all this I question weather church is worth it. I decided maybe it isn't worth it right now when it is so hard getting out the door on time, but in the end, eternally, it is worth it. I thought, Lord, why couldn't I have just been on time to church, and then I realized I had learned a more important lesson than being on time. I learned that loving my kids and treating them kindly is more important than being on time. I also realized that maybe at this point in life it would be easier to just skip a few Sundays every once in a while, or not accept callings, but the bigger and more important thing is that I'm showing the Lord I am will to do what he asks of me. Not only am I showing the Lord this but I am teaching my children that too. So, weather I am late to church or not, I am grateful for the gospel and grateful that I am trusted with two of Heavenly Fathers most precious children.