Fun Day

Maddie's friend Samuel has been staying with us since Wed boy what a difference it makes having just one more child in the house. He is a great kid though, so sensitive to Maddie's needs of getting dressed and pretending to get married, dancing and all!! He even brought a red suit jacket and clip on tie knowing that this is her favorite thing to do, true love..ha ha ha. Yesterday we all went over to Grandma's house and had a scavenger hunt, the kdis loved it. They all worked together to find the things that they needed. Today they are going to help me with the yard sale, let's hope that this turns out as well as the scavenger hunt:)

What??

I believe that my 4 year old daughter is really picking up on alot more of those little conversations between my hubby and I than previously thought.

The girls and I are on our way home from Maddie's last ballet class and she wants french fries from the "golden arches". Mind you I am trying to lose weight here so I come up with "Sweetie we just don't have the money to buy french fries right now, and besides they are not good for you to eat all the time". We turn the corner and head for home, end of conversation right?...Maddie comes back with "Don't they take credit cards?". I just laughed and held firm on my answer all the while thinking that we are in big trouble when she becomes a teenager and asks to borrow the credit card:0.

The new adventures of "Gus and Jack"

In case anyone was wondering how the "cute little kittens" are coming along....Let's just say that they have managed to get themselves into a little trouble and rely on the soothing commfort of Barbie after a hard day.

All cats are now getting along much better and the hissing fits are almost a thing of the past.

Nature, the way God intended it to be

I believe that sometimes we all take the simplest pleasures right before us for granted. It is in moments like these that we really need to stop and take a moment to reconnect with our creator and enjoy his beauty that surrounds us.

That is exactly what I did on a nature walk, I took a step back and just stood in awe at the beauty that surrounded me. A time to give thanks and remind myself to enjoy life and all that is has to offer.

Rocky Raccoon

We have been camping with Granny and Papa Steve(Thursday-Saturday), and this year we encountered a new friend. His name just kind of slipped out of our mouths and it fit perfectly. After getting the girls to sleep we were enjoying some much needed adult relaxation time, only to be interrupted by "Rocky". My mom heard something, looked over behind Papa Steve, and just about jumped out of her chair!! There was "Rocky" about a foot away looking for a little midnight snack. so we decided since we had two bags of marshmallows, that we would see what would happen and how close this coon would actually get. Well as you can see by the photo, "Rocky", and Michael, were pretty laid back. This Raccoon actually took the marshmallow right off from Michael's shoe!! We sure had some cheap entertainment that night, and I think "Rocky" probably had a stomach ache from all of the marshmallows and Doritos:"(

As cute as he may look he is still a mischievous raccoon.In the middle of that night and the one after, he came back with a couple of his friends and really made a mess of our campsite. They tried to eat a bar of soap, tore open a bag of charcoal, knocked over a tote of empty cans, and tried to take of with small bottles of propane, they really are not that cute.

What a gardener!!

While doing some spring cleaning in the garden this year, Maddie decided to throw down some carrot seeds. A few here and a few there, wherever they landed a carrot sprouted. Mind you this happened in the flower garden where the carrots were surrounded by roses and other pretty big perennials. I'd have to say that Maddie has a pretty green thumb and she is just thrilled to see that those seeds she "threw" down have turned into very tasty carrots:)

Meet Gus and Jack

Maybe we are a little crazy or maybe it is our love for animals, but we have added two new kittens to our family. Gus and Jack are twin brothers, not twins like Thelma and Louise(who you can tell apart) but like identical twins with no distinct differences. It should be interesting trying to keep them straight but boy are they cute!! I know, I know all kittens are cute and they grow into cats but, I think cats are great too. Now to only hope that our house is still intact when we get back from our camping trip next week:0. I will keep you posted on that one.

Bella's garden adventure

It is hard for me to believe how fast the flowers in one of our gardens have grown!! Bella decided that it was time to go in and take a peak. Usually she is leary of walking all the way through, it is jungle like to her. Bella had a fun adventure in there and I was able to capture some really great pictures, all was good that one day in the garden:)

Are you ready for "Maddie Ballerina"?

Well Maddie is all signed up for a six week summer ballet class and I've got to tell you, I'm pretty sure she's ready:)

Just smelling the roses

Finally all of my hard work in the garden is paying off. All seven of our rose bushes are full of leaves, and a few are even producing beautifully scented roses. Being out in the yard this year weeding,transplanting and watering has really brought me closer to our creator and the amazement of his love for us. I feel as though I am growing spiritually right along with the treasures God has provided me right in my backyard.

I think I'll be staying in for a while.

On Thursday night Maddie was running from the Bella kitty(who was trying to lick her big sister) and as Bella went in for the kitty lick Maddie moved leaving Bella face to face with the metal stripping in the doorway!! Well her forehead(right above the eye) instantly swelled up. Over the next few days her eyelid and inside corner of her eye turned black and blue along with the lump on her forehead. Oh but that is not the end of Bella's boo-boo. Saturday my Dad and his wife came over for dinner and as we were getting ready to go outside, Bella tripped over her own feet and fell right into the puppet basket, same eye!! Now she has a scrape one the side of the same eye. As we woke up this morning we noticed that her eye is almost swelled shut, black and blue and red form the scrape. Needless to say we are not going to church today.

Maddie

Bella

I really can't get over how fast time goes by once you have children. It seems like it was just yesterday when we brought Bella home form the hospital. Now she is sitting on a bike and saying new words everyday. I'm trying not to dwell on all of the things I wished I would have done with the girls and enjoy them to the fullest each day. Sometimes it is hard for me but everyday brings more beauty and wonder through these two little angels of mine.

Fitting room question

Does it bother anyone else that when you are shopping for clothes and get to the fitting rooms you are told; "only six at a time!! What, you mean I (a mom of a 2 & 4 yr old), will have to try six things on and then proceed to put my terrribly out of date clothes back on to go outside of the door, grab the rest and then start over again!! While the fitting room attendant is standing right outside the door! Please leave a comment if you have figured out this fitting room mystery. This really is a pet peeve for me, am I the only one??

A day at the Spa

Wouldn't we all love a day at the spa?? Well today was picture day at Madison's preschool so of course I am frantically running around this morning trying to get both girls dolled up and stay that way until picture time. I have not yet been out sandal shopping for them so the only option that will work with their dresses is bare feet and polished toes. Taking one look at their springtime(mud stained)feet I realize that a morning at the foot spa is in order. My girls love getting a foot bath in the foot massage/soaker, with the silky foot cream and pretty polish afterwards. As to how much they really value the effort that goes into it on my part, well just take another look at the picture I took this afternoon, only 3 hours after we returned home from preschool:0. My girls are girly enough to enjoy a day at the spa, but easy going enough to believe that "God made dirt and dirt won't hurt":))

Treasure Tuesday

My treasure today is a Precious Moments figurine from my dear husband. We had only been dating about two months and things were just starting to become deep between us. He told me that he was leaving on a fishing trip with his father and grandfather for a WEEK!! At this point in my life I was living on my own for the first time and Michaels daily visits would brighten my day. Now he was going to be gone for a whole week!! On the day that he would be leaving he stopped by my work and gave me this treasure, knowing that I love Precious Moments and the fact that it is a little guy with all his fishing gear is just what I needed to seal the bond that started between us. He put a lot of thought into this token of love and that is not something that I had been used to. I love him very much and I will always treasure not only this figurine, but also his love for me.

Daddy loves his girls

Ahhh the little corner store and all of it's treasures. Maddie wanted to buy something when we went for our walk and she used her own money to buy some really bright colored play make-up. Oh how delighted she was when Daddy said she could make him beautiful. I think we will keep this picture:))

I Love all the cuteness today

Happy Girl

I love this Picture, pig tails & all:)

Saturday Morning

Maddie & Bella just enjoying the new found umbrella:)

Sorry I just can't help but post this to everyone!!! I am so excited that spring is finally here and when I see a new flower sitting so pretty I can't help but share it:)Yeah Spring, Yeah Spring:) :) :) :)

Treasure Tuesday!!

Faith has started a Treasure Tuesday and I thought what a great idea so I am going to give it a go:) I don't know how to add links yet so I will put her address in here like this www.http://faithfulmommy.typepad.com/. I hope to figure this out soon:)
So here is my treasure for today, it is a ring that my Grandma Lemmer gave to me not to long before she passed away. I spent alot of time with my grandma Lemmer because my mom, being a single mother, worked alot and I stayed with her most of the time. I loved being at her house. There were always trees to climb, other kids to ride bikes with, cards to be played, old silky nightgowns to get dressed up in, and even old trucks that provided transportation for me and my babies(wherever we might have needed to go:). My grandma was, and her memory still is, very important to me. I only wish that I would have spent more quality time with her, by that I mean talking and learning more about my family history, taking in some wise advice about love, life as she lived it, raising children and so on. But I sometimes was a spoiled, naughty teenager. I hope that she hears my prayers and thoughts of her as I lay down to sleep every night because I will always miss her and love her more than any words can say. Wow, with all that said my tresure is a ring that I had always admired and one day she said that she thought I was old enough to be able to have it. I am not sure how far back this ring goes but I think that it was her mothers at least (like I said a sometimes thoughtless, spolied teenager). I was so excited to finally posess this ring(especially when she passed, it brought a comfort to me)that I wore that ring everyday until after I became pregnant with Maddie and then my finger grew too big and now it no longer fits. So I am just saving it for when Maddie(she is named after her) gets Married. Ya know something blue, and old:) Well thanks Faith for starting this it was really fun:)

Finally:)))

Well here it is....the first flower of the spring season!! I don't remember planting a crocus but hey maybe it was that sign from God telling us that by patiently waitng for spring he is rewarding us with this beauty:) I can't wait for the rest of the wonderful beauties to bloom:) Have a great day everyone!!

Just a little glimpse into my everyday life. My girls are usually at my feet all day long,whining, wanting or needing something. I love them dearly but when you find a hanger in your washing machine you know it's time to teach the girls to play on their own peacefully for at least an hour a day:)

Wow!!

Everybody has a twin right?? Thanks Ruth for saving this picture and I just had to share with all of you. This little girl on the JCPenney catalog is a spitting image of Maddie!! It is kind of strange to see this little girl that looks almost exactly like Maddie and yet have to believe that it is not. I tried to find a picture that best captures the resemblance but if you know Maddie personally you would do a double(or triple) take just as I did:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Well I can't believe that my girls are now 4 & 2!! Where has the time gone? It has made me realize that kids are only kids once and I need to just enjoy every second with them. In these photos the girls are posing with their B-day only party hats. They recieved them from us on their first birthdays and I intend to get a picture of them in these hats on their birthday until they move out of the house:) A tradition that I'm sure they will not appreciate when adolescence hits, but hey I gave birth to them I have the right, right??

A God sent sign of Spring

If you have a hard time seeing from the picture these are the Daffodils that I planted last fall, or maybe the fall before sure where I planted which ones. It doesn't matter though it's green and a sign that God is hearing all of our spring return prayers here in Michigan:)

Trundle bed, more space????

We have been wanting trudle beds for our girls for a long time now.So ourselves and the grandparents went in together and got them for the girls birthdays. I thought we would save a ton of space and the girls would have their own beds... but wow this bed is BIG!! Maybe I just need to get used to the height of it all:) Maddie jumped right up on her bed and claimed herself as the "Princess and the pea". I'm sure we will endure a few bumps and bruises from climbling and jumping (even though these things are not allowed), but it really is nice for them to have their own beds and one of them can easily be hidden away for more space.

Birthday Blues

Well I am not writing this post to announce that it is my b-day by any means, It has been a horrible day so far and I am just venting I guess. I have been having trouble with my 4 year old and today she pushed me to my breaking point. She has been so disrespectful and mean to everyone today and to make it worse I feel as if it is all my fault. I feel depressed and angry and just plain rotten. Have I failed as a mother? Is it too late to turn things around? And if it isn't the how??!! I don't spank my children, I have tried it in the past, you know the spanking with love and the intent to teach, but I am not a believer of it. I would always get control of myself before a spanking and explain why it was being given, and it was only used as a last resort, but I can't put my belief that hitting teaches hitting, and the fact that it just seems demeaning to me. So today Maddie has had all of her dress up stuff put in a garbage bag in into the closet(only to be earned back one at a time), several time-outs, lost all t.v. privileges for the rest of the day, and then I broke down and set her on the floor and screamed at her to stop at the top of my lungs(now my throat hurts).Let me give you an example: she was jumping on her bed which she knows is not acceptable and when I told her to stop she just stared at me and laughed(now Bella is jumping too,she looks up to her big sis). This is where I scream, I've had enough, I didn't even feel like myself. I mean where did this short fused person come from? I love my girls more than anything and I want them to grow up with good morals and values, but I feel like I don't know how to teach them. Nothing I am doing is working. Maybe I need some outside help myself or I just don't know, I have prayed so much that I wonder if he is even listening??
Well that felt really good to get that off my chest and I'm sure that after a couple of days I will regret putting this on here but oh well.

First Love???

Today Maddie had a party at her preschool in honor of Valentines Day. We were all very excited(again, I just LOVE Valentines Day). Now ever since the day we went to check out the preschool Maddie and (the pastors son) Samuel hit it off. Maddie even calls Bella Samuel when she is playing(yeah they hit it off). Well when we were buying valentines Maddie had to get Samuel a little horse for a special gift to him. Today as we walked into preschool, there stands Samuel dressed in a shirt, tie and blazer holding a pink rose for Maddie. I thought I might cry but I just smiled really big instead. Later his mom and dad told me that he had picked out the outfit to look nice for Maddie:) It's just so sweet and terribly cute that I had to share.
Happy Valentines Day to everyone:)))))

Oops....

Well that last post was suppose to tell a story, but it si backwards. The first picture is suppose to be the end of the story:0 And to think my husband thinks that I should change my major to Web Design!!!!HA HA to him:)Ruthie you will have to help me on this one, lol:)

Love is in the air:))

Happy Valentines Day everyone:) This is my second favorite Holiday:) I warned the preschool when they set out a list of things they would need for the party on Tuesday. I just can't help myself when it comes to pink, purple and pretty hearts!! So here are some pictures that I tried to put together as a collage but failed miserabley:(.. Oh well they are funny..enjoy:))))

Can I cry now???

Today as I was making dinner, my almost 4 year old daughter comes up to me and says "Mommy will you teach me how to read?". Big smile and then, "Of course sweetie", and when she left the room....teary eyes. Has it really been 4 years? Where did the time go?, It seems like yesterday that I was rocking her and gazing into those big blue eyes and wondering what will you look like when you are 2 or I can't wait for those first steps, teeth, words!!! And now she wants to learn how to read....Bittersweet to me. I want them to stay my little babies forever... sometimes:)

Say What?????

This is what I am trying to get through in my Intermediate Algebra class. For some reason I just cannot retain this information, go figure huh?
Determine if the given ordered triple is a solution of the system.
Ex: (-1,3,2)ordered triple
x - 2z = -5
y - 3z = -3
2x - z = -4

I will never be a mathematician and I hope that you can see why. I only understand how to do these problems when the teacher is going through them step by step. As soon as I get home from class I try to finish the homework and draw a blank. I will definately need some tutoring for this class:o

Big Bucks....

Michael has always wanted a son to join him in his love of hunting and fishing. Now my husband loves his little girls wholeheartedly but fears that they will be to girly to hunt or fish. By looking at this picture and hearing little Bella say Big Buck clear as day everytime she sees a deer, I don;t think Michael has to worry about Bella being too "girly". She also loves venison jerky, banging her little fists on the fridge while chanting "more, more". Maddie is always in a dress and putting on an endless amount of jewels, hair clips, and anything pink she can find, but she still says that she wants to be a "Big Buck Hunter" when she grows up. I can easily see at least one of our little "girly girls" joining their daddy in the woods hunting for Big Bucks.

The girls and I went for a little country drive after playing in the snow today and I took along the camera and captured this old barn surrounded with the snow covered trees. Just thought I'd share with all:)

God is amazing

This is what our street looked like this morning, it speaks of God's Grace with the purity and serenity within it. It's things like this that make it worth living in Michigan:)God Bless everyone and have a great day!!

Help has arrived

For the last 3 weeks or so my girls have been assigned with chores. They each have three like feeding the cat and putting away silverware, simple things but helpful. They get $1.25 every week, teaching them to earn money for what they want. Now that the girls are used to doing their chores Madison (My three year old) has been helping out with other things on her own. The other day I had a pile of clean towels on the dining room floor just waiting to be folded and there goes Maddie all on her own, folding the towels. She folded every one of them all by herself (of course she earned a reward magnet) but she was being thoughtful and helpful, two things that I have been working really hard at instilling in my girls. So I am very excited and pleased at the fruits of my labor, and maybe even bragging a little but hey aren't we all entitled to brag about our children a little?

All I want for Christmas is....

My three year old daughter wanted nothing but princess and the Pauper dresses for Christmas this year. I didn't really think that she was serious at first but anytime someone would ask her what she wanted that was her reply. So I panicked because I could not find them in any store and it is what she told Santa she wanted. I finally looked on Ebay and found an ebay store called my dressup trunk and they were great to work with, making sure that we received them in time for Chritmas. Here in this picture Maddie is explaining that her best friend Sophie can only wear the blue dress because the pink Annelise dress is her special one from Santa. How cute that the first thing she thinks of is her friend coming over to get dressed up with her, as they often do.

I've been tagged, so here are 5 weird things about me:

1. When my girls are sleeping I repeatedly check to make sure they are still breathing.

2. I am really particular about my hair being just right when I go out.

3. My husband told me to put that I don't like dogs:)

4. I save an abundance of my girls artwork, clothes, projects, etc., so that they can see first hand what is was like when they were little.

5. I always rush into things without thinking through the whole situation, mostly regretting my decision in the end.

Well it seems that sharing a bed is working out just fine. The girls have been pretty sick the last couple of days and Bella is seeking the comfort of her big sister. What a great Christmas present for me, I thought I would share it with all:)

Now that the girls have eaten all of the boot house we decided to create a "gingerbread house". In a more relaxed environment I believe we did a pretty good job. Mind you the girls did not get to bed until a little after 10 pm because of all the sampling they did while creating , and the fact that the roof is so heavy that we had to put in side supports to keep it from falling down:) but the fun we had doing it was well worth it.

Our first gingerbread house

Today Maddie's preschool hosted a gingerbread house making party. We were both really excited and ended up having some great mother/daughter quality time together. This was actually alot harder than I expected, our roof caved in a couple of times and our house actually resembles a boot more than a house, but the time that Maddie and I got to spend together was priceless.

December 14th, 2005

As I search for a way to make more room for my girls in their bedroom it hits me, Maddie loves Little House on the Prairie and Mary & Laura share a bed:). Being able to remove a bed would provide so much more room for the girls to play and the new treasures that Santa will be bringing our way. So I gave it a try and for two nights they have cuddled, played and willingly slept next to each other. Even little Bella is sleeping longer than the usual 3 hour intervals. I will continue this new bedtime ritual until we are able to get a trundle bed. I can't resist how cute they look all snuggled up to each other too!!

Welcome to the Cat Refuge

Over the last couple of months our front porch has become a favorite spot for lost,sick, and abandoned cats. First there was Nikko (Maddie named him), Nikko had a bad eye but he loved my daughters and all their friends. He was always there and loved any attention, sweet but still not coming inside. We thought about what we were going to do with him because he was so sweet and Maddie especially, grew very attached to him. He disappeared for a couple of days only to return with it's back legs limp. He must have fallen from a tree given how he chased birds and squirrels in our trees in the backyard. So my husband took poor Nikko to the humane society where they put him to sleep, better off he was suffering. We all shed some tears and told Maddie he found a new cat friend and they went off on an adventure together. Then comes Sally, a beautiful long haired black and white cat. Yes Maddie named her too:) Sally is a little on the timid side, I wonder if she has a home just not a loving one. We feed her on the porch and give her a little milk here and there but she runs when she hears a noise. A couple of weeks ago a new fellow appeared, no name yet, Maddie has only seen him once when he made his way through our front door. He is loving and has a very distinguished face, I will keep you updated on the name for I am sure he will posess one soon. Now the other day my husband said there was yet another cat hanging out in the front flower bed!! Tonight I saw him/her for myself and how sad. Nothing but skin and bones and sick with some kind of cold. This is when my husband said " What is this the front porch cat refuge?". This poor cat scarfed down some cat food all the while sniffing and shivering. Being the overly sensitive person that I am I went inside and grabbed my old comfy lounge blanket and wrapped up the cat and put it in the front porch chair. I don't quite know what to make of this new found cat business but I can't just turn my back on a lonely, sick, cold and starving cat.

Global Warming.....believe it or not

As I sit diligently working on a "global warming" term paper, I step outside to take a break and I realize that it is warmer outside than it is in our house. The weather all day today was rainy and cold but now at 10 pm there is an almost warm breeze. Global warming? maybe. Ironic? definately.

What do I want to be when I grow up?

If you know me then you know that I am attending a local college to earn a degree in Elementary education. I am currently taking my first EDU class and have been placed in a kindergarten class for my observation fieldwork. I thought this class would be a blast, never did I think that half way into it I would be re-thinking my career choice. I love children and the thought of having my own classroom filled with little learners but, when I was asked to get in front of those kindergartners I felt really uncomfortable and out of place. I am a very shy person and I don't know if I will be able to break out of my comfort zone so to speak. I desprately would love to be a photographer but I don't want to waste the money I've already accumulated in financial aid and student loans. I'm at the crossroads right now and I am really struggling with making a decision. Any comments from you would help, or anyone who knows of local schools that carry a photography program please let me know. How many people really know what they want to be when they grow up?:)

Preschool Pictures

I waited patiently for these pictures and now that I have the order form I am re-thinking the deal I made with my husband. We made a deal that we would not order a ton of pictures like we usually do, there are always too many. Looking at these pictures I wonder how am I suppose to order just a few?... I am trying to change so I will hold up my end of the bargain, as hard as it will be:)

Bed time

Until recently there was never a set bed time routine in our home. Well with mom getting very little sleep and no one wanting to sleep in their own beds, something had to change. So about 2-3 months ago I enforced a bed time routine that I thought would take months to enforce,but to my surprise and delight the girls caught on rather quickly and I believe enjoy it. So much that last night when I got home from class my husband was excitedly telling me how our 19 month old daughter got up from the couch and said to him "beh, beh" he replied with do you want to go to bed?, go ahead and go get in your bed. With that Bella walked into her room pushed her stuffed kitties off her bed and climbed in, with a puckered up face she kissed Dad goodnight and off to dreamland she went!!!! I am still in awe over this one, I mean the girls are no longer rocked or nursed to sleep but to want to go to bed and do it on their own amazes me....Thank you God for such sweet moments my children bring to my life.

Sisters Are....

Being an only child I'm learning, right along with my girls, what it is like to have a sister. When Bella was first born there was a big change in Maddie and not for the best. There was jealousy and a sense of not being the center of attention when the baby was first brought home. I knew that this would all change and they would grow to be best friends...Right? Well it has finally happened they are becoming friends and treating each other the way I would expect sisters to treat each other. It has been a struggle for me (the lonely only) to understand why they haven't always been loving and kind to one another. I have always told them that they need to love each other because God has blessed them with each other and not everyone has a wonderful blessing like that. I've prayed for them to understand that it is much more fun to play together than against each other and I can say now that my prayers have been answered!!! Now I know that siblings will not always get along and there will be battles to tend to, but the way my girls have been playing together and respecting each other is not letting me think about those times right now.

Hullabaloo anyone?

A couple of weeks ago a good friend of mine invited my girls and I over to play a new game they got called Hullabaloo. What a great game!! I had to go out and purchase it myself and it was a wonderful investment. After a long day at the local pumpkin farm and a restful sleep, our whole family decided to pull out the game and just enjoy each others company. You can't help but laugh at the silly dances you are prompted to do if you are the winner. Our family has had a hard time jsut being silly and letting loose lately and Hullabaloo just unlocked the door to our silliness:). I would definately recomend this game to any family if you are in need of some funky dancing and some plain old family fun