May Days

Today was an awesome day for our family.  It started with daddy daughter date  - breakfast at Chick-fil-a.  And ended with fireworks.  In between was swimming, a carnival - a new pet goldfish, and lots of smiles.
Here are some pictures...

Ready for their date.

Fireworks...nothing like 'em

Meet Goldie - the newest member of our family - for how long? It's anybody's guess ;)

Did I mention we worked in face painting into the day?

It's amazing how time with your family can make all the cares of the world slip away.  People say "quality not quantity"  but I disagree!  It's both.  Our babies need us, and they need us more than one hour a day.  AND when they do need us, they need all of us.  Not the mindless "uh huh" or " ok baby"  while we are looking at our phone, or thinking something else.  I am guilty of it too.  It is easy to do, just tune out those random jabberings of a three year old.  My girl even reminds me "say yes mama - not  uh hmmm"  which is her way of saying "interact with me, have a conversation with me, realize that I am here, and what I have to say is important"  Then there are days like today, when our girls "lead" us and we just focus on them, their wants, their desires.  And you know what happens?  You come home with a pet goldfish from the carnival!  No, really...what happens is you learn a whole lot about those little kids of yours.  They learn a lot about you (like the swing ride at the carnival makes daddy sick)  - and we all have fun!

Rainy Days

Today was a rainy day... but that didn't stop these two.  Outside time is still outside time.  And in their mind that is something they always get in before nap.  Rain or shine!

One Eye, that is all we ever see of this girl.  That hair always hangs in her face!

This looks like trouble...

Mary Poppins wanna be?

Lowfat Apple Crisp

Yesterday I felt adventurous. That, and I had lots of random ingredients I needed to use. Like.... a pie crust, 3 granny smith apples that were ripe, and some granola. So...voila, my lowfat apple crisp was born. It goes like this. Put the pie crust in your pie pan. I melted a little - by little - I mean 1tbs of butter and spread it on the bottom of the crust. Then I lightly sprinkled some brown sugar on the crust.


Next, I peeled and sliced my apples on a mandoline (for consistency in size) and spread them out in the pan. I was going for the whole beautiful circle you see in magazines when people are making these crisps or tarts, but I had help from my big girl, so mine is even more beautiful!


Then came a light drizzle of lemon juice, more butter - approx. 1 more tbs and more brown sugar.


Then a light (about 1/3 cup) topping of granola.


I baked at 350 for about 30 minutes and it turned out to be delicious. I served with low fat cool whip, but frozen yogurt or low fat icecream would have been even better. All and all it was fairly low in fat and calories per slice. And it turned out really well. Things I would have done differently: I wanted my granola softer so I baked the pie covered in foil. If you wanted it "crisp" hence the name - then Bake without. Also, I used two apples and should have used all three. Now I am stuck with one ripe granny smith and a "crisp" that could use a few more apples. All in all, I was really pleased. Recipe listed below: 3 Granny Smith apples - peeled and sliced 1 unbaked pie crust 2 tbs butter (divided) 1/3 cup brown sugar (divided) 2 tbs lemon juice 1/3 cup granola Preheat oven to 350 Line the pie shell in the pie plate. Brush with 1 tbs melted butter. Sprinkle 2 tbs of the brown sugar over the pie crust. Line with apples. Drizzle lemon juice over the apples. Top with remaining brown sugar and melted butter. Sprinkle 1/3 c. Granola over the top. Bake 350 for approx. 30 min. Enjoy! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Coffee Filter Snowflakes

My baby girl experienced a little stir craziness...is that a word(s)? Anyway. She was a little bored and so we got busy with a classic craft - snowflakes made from coffee filters. These were a blast. She is 3 and still getting used to scissors, but with mama's help, they were a success.


We even took the scraps from the snowflakes and glued them on a black background to make what I affectionately call "snowflake night"





She loves glue, so obiviously, it was a smashing success.


Then of course, big sister - not to be out-done had to try her hand at them.


Tomorrow I think we will string them together to make a snowflake garland - or something. As a side note - yes, both my children were in their pajamas when these pictures were taken. And it may or may not have been late morning...late afternoon? Who cares - we love our jammies at this house! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! It's 2012. Actually, at the time I write this post, it is 12:11. You are thinking... what a dork, it is midnight and she sits down at her computer to write. Well, yes. There are actually many many things going through my head right now. One is kind of like a year in review of different memories from this past year flashing through my mind. Another is what many of my friends are doing tonight. It runs the gamet from those celebrating with a new baby, to those beginning this new year after losing their spouse in 2011. My heart rejoices and aches all at the same time. How can that be? So many emotions at once.

I do realize how blessed I am. And look with anticipation to 2112. I plan in the next few days to do a "mental inventory" of my goals and mission statement from 2011. And I plan to form, with the help of my entire family, a new mission statement for 2012.

I have a list of things I want to write about, and I really want to write more. I feel good getting my thoughts, accomplishments, ideas, even failures out.

With that being said. "Happy New Year!" May God reveal himself to you in a new and exciting way this year!

Where have you seen God?

There is this thing - called an Emmaus Walk. It is an intensive weekend that you experience in which you "encounter Jesus" as did the men on the walk to Emmaus. It is entirely designed to teach you more about God's love. It is a great experience. Anyway - after your "walk" you are encouraged to join an accountability group. They even give you cards to help in your groups discussions. The first question on the card is "Where have you seen God this week?"
That question has really gotten me thinking. Where have I seen God in the past couple of weeks. I will share some of those with you. (I am getting my niche in this blogging thing - I think I like lists)
1. I saw God in the hundreds of volunteers that came out to serve in the weeks following the rounds of tornados that swept across our part of the country.
2. I saw God in my good friend who asked "Where are all the Mexicans?" It sounds funny and very off color, I know, but she was sincere. In many of the apartments that were destroyed she knew that there were many people from Mexico living in them illegally. She was truly concerned about their health and well being knowing they wouldn't go to FEMA for help, nor any other agency.
3. I saw God in my church family as they rallied around a family in our church that lost their six month old baby.
4. I saw God in my niece as she came to visit me recently and smiled and laughed and lit up the room with her beautiful blue eyes.






5. I saw God in the love I felt for my 5 year old as I watch with tear filled eyes as she danced her little heart out on the stage at her ballet performance.





6. I saw God in the Children's Hospital when I went for a visit there the other day. First in with the father of a boy who is my daughter's age. His twin sister is a friend and was in preschool with my Cinderella. Her brother however, is a special needs child and has always had to fight for everything! And once again he is fighting. But winning - he went home from the hospital today. The second stop was with a family that just delivered their first baby, a boy with spinal bifid a. You can a read more about his story here.
7. I saw God in my daughter when she asked me "If God promised to never flood the earth again, why would he send the Tornados"
8. I felt God when I explained to Cinderella that he didn't send the Tornados, but he allowed them, because He is wise and can work through all things.
9. I saw God in the miracles that we take as hardships, like when my husband tells me he has an unrealistic deadline at work and he'll be tied up for a few weeks. I was heartbroken, but then realized it was only a couple of years ago, we prayed he would hold on to his job because the economy was so unsteady - now he has more work than he can handle.
10. LASTLY - I saw God in the face of my baby girl tonight when she sat in my lap and I smelled the coconut scent of her shampoo, and felt the rapid of her heart and watched her rub her little "softie" that she loves so much. Feeling safe and secure in her mother's arms.





May we all feel that safe and secure in our Father's arms.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

May Days

(This is actually an easter picture, but the shades make it summery don't you think?)
I love the month of May. The anticipation of summer is so exciting. The days warm up (sometimes, more than I want), seniors graduate, you begin to hear the sounds of kid running around outside. It feels so alive. Even though I work full time, it feels like things slow down in the summer. Although, lately we haven't slowed a bit. I am really struggling with this, but I realized this weekend, that my struggles are my own fault. So I have come up with a list of things I am doing to slow down. I want this summer to be fun! I don't want to merely survive it. This thinking process is a direct result of my new years blog in which we formed a family mission statement. Anyway, our mission was to create peace. And I feel we have not really done that great of a job. So back to the reason for this post... my list. Here goes -
1. I am getting a cleaning lady. Yes you heard me right. I am doing it. There is no shame in it, I cannot do everything, and I resent cleaning because I feel it pull me away from my family. So, if I intend to slow down this summer, I am going to get a cleaning lady.
2. I am getting out of some commitments I have previously made. Whether it is at church, with our extended family, with friends, whatever the case may be, I am learning the magic word "no" - I have been trying to learn that word for years. Obviously, still trying.
3. I am being selfish - just a little. I am committing to my daily time with the Lord and to a daily time of exercise. Just for me. How are we going to slow down If I am wound up so tight, it's as thought I might pop at any minute.
4. I am going to try to stop saying "Just a minute" when my girls call for me. Usually I am doing laundry, talking on the phone, cooking dinner, whatever. But what does it say to them when they say "Mommy, You are never going to believe this..." and I reply "Just a minute, I am finishing this load of clothes"
Note for my mom: I still plan to enforce the importance of waiting til I get off the phone for them to tell me something, and getting them to understand the importance of not screaming my name at the top of their lungs when they know I have gone to the bathroom! But I am working on the whole balance thing.
5. Boundaries - I feel this is the most important. I plan to implement healthy boundaries with all things in my life. My work, my relationships, my extracurricular activities - you get my drift. It is really true, that life is about balance, so I will be walking that tight rope, balancing away!
Keep you posted on the progress.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad