The Treece Family

Someone Thinks She's a Big Girl

2011-11-07T10:25:00.000-05:00

Making Pumpkin Bread Together

2011-11-02T23:53:00.000-04:00

Add a Dash of Fancy

2011-11-02T17:36:00.000-04:00

We're headed to the grocery store the other day, so I tell the girls to get their jackets and shoes on. I go to the study to get my shopping list, and this is what I come back to:

I always feel underdressed when I'm out with these two.

Hmm ...

2011-11-02T17:31:00.000-04:00

It's like a combination of gangster stance with a ballerina outfit and a Mardi Gras mask. Otherwise known as Verity's normal clothes. :)

The FAIR!!

2011-11-02T17:26:00.000-04:00

I don't know if you know the North Carolina State Fair, but it's kind of a big deal. It's HUGE. We ended up not taking the girls last year, so this year we made a point of going as a family. And we dragged Rere along too. Which turned out to be fantastic because with all those people and the long walks, we definitely were glad for the help.

We had been through the gates maybe 5 minutes before the girls got their first ride. And it was on some ponies!! As adults you look at this and think, "You're charging me how much to ride around in a circle slowly???" But as a child, it's like a gallop through a beautiful meadow.

And then after riding the real ponies, we rode the fake ones. You just can't go to a fair or carnival and not ride the carousel. Except for me. I guarded the stuff and took pictures. Although I really should have switched places with Rere as she gets a bit motion sick. A topic we'll approach again later.

And then it was time for Charissa's first roller coaster ride!! Man was she excited. Since it was one of those itty bitty kiddy rides, she had to go by herself. That didn't seem to phase her at all! She ran up the stairs and climbed aboard the giant dragon/sea serpent with a huge grin on her face.

So about 30 seconds after these pictures were taken, her facial expressions started to change. It became quite clear that she was not feeling well. Thankfully the ride ended shortly after. When she got off I asked her if she liked it and she just whimpered, "I don't want to do that again." Poor thing! She had a bit of an upset stomach before we came to the fair, so we don't know if her tummy got more upset, or she has some motion sickness. Either way, she was a bit pitiful for a few minutes. And just let me brag for a minute about Sweet Verbear. She took it like a champion that she couldn't ride the roller coasters (she's about 2 inches too short). She stood there and watched sister the whole time and clapped and cheered for her.

We did find a ride that was Verity-friendly. It was a big obstacle course that the girls and Britt went through. At the end of the course you get to slide down a very long slide.

I never thought that we would do this, but we let our girls play one of those ridiculous games. They had a dart and had to throw it at the balloons and try to pop them. CJ actually did a great job and popped 2 balloons (out of three throws). I was really impressed.

Verity, on the other hand, didn't hit the board a single time. I was actually more thankful that she didn't hit anyone else with the dart. Do you see the hands held up for protection in the picture? It was necessary.

But the redeeming part of fair games is that you don't have to win to get a prize. Both girls got stuffed tigers with ridiculously long limbs and have velcro on the paws.

In the end, the girls did get to ride on one ride together. It was one of those hot air balloon rides that go up in the air. Theoretically, the basket will spin if you hold onto the black part in the middle and spin it, but that would require your children to have a combined mass of more than 45 pounds and the strength to move it. Oh well. And does anyone notice anything wrong with this picture?

Yup - that's Verity hanging over the side of the basket. She leaned over even farther out, but at the point I had stopped taking pictures and was focused on getting her to sit her hiney back down. That was a moment of panic.

I like this next picture because it displays the girls' personalities really well. Charissa is holding on and looking around her at eye level just enduring the ride, and Verity is barely seated and looking up at the top and totally enthralled.

Did anyone notice anything funny in these pictures? Like the lack of food? The food is what most people go for, and this year we didn't eat a single thing. Nothing. Can you believe that? With Charissa's tummy being upset and then some possible motion sickness, there was nothing at the fair that we really wanted her to eat, so we all skipped the food. But next year, I'm definitely getting some ribbon fries!

All in all, it was the most fun I'd ever had at the fair. And the girls LOVED it. And were totally exhausted. The both dozed off in the car on the way home. :)

Sweet Sisters

2011-11-02T16:38:00.002-04:00

Reading the Bible together before bedtime. I didn't even stage this one. :)

Farm Field Trip

2011-11-02T16:34:00.000-04:00

Charissa had a field trip to a local farm recently and Verity and I got to chaperone. We had a great time seeing the animals and learning about life on a farm. Apparently this farm has been in the family for many generations, so they had an old well, barns, and even a TWO seater outhouse.

The girls got to do some fun things like pulling up the bucket to get water ....

... feed the goats ...

... show off our expertise in milking cows ...

... and "pick" pumpkins.

We had a lot of fun and I'm glad that we were able to go. It was definitely a learning experience. But more so about the fact that Verity is definitely NOT ready for school right now. I spent 90% of the time wrangling the little monkey and trying to keep her focused on the current activity. Charissa did a great job though and demonstrated how she's learned to stay in line and wait her turn. At least we have time before Verity goes to school.

Camping!!

2011-10-11T23:43:00.000-04:00

Guess who went camping over the weekend? Some small people and their daddy! It was a trial run for when they go camping out in the real woods. We thought we should try it out in case one of the girls decided that they hated it or was scared. It's much easier to come inside from the backyard than from a campsite a couple hours away. But they had a great time and loved snuggling with Daddy in the tent.

And what was I doing? Well, I was frying up about 4 dozen Turkish pastries for a party the next day. Hopefully I can make the next camping excursion.

Someone is starting school!

2011-10-11T23:35:00.000-04:00

Verity has been asking to do school since Charissa has been gone at school. So we started doing some "school" last week. We're simply learning colors and shapes. But she's enjoying it and I'm glad she's learning how to sit and work on something.

And look how we've advanced! States and capitals!

Just kidding! She found them and just started playing with them.

A Dramatically Biblical Bedtime

2011-10-05T17:43:00.003-04:00

This afternoon the girls were watching "The Story of Joseph," an animated film about Joseph from the Bible (Genesis 37-50). At one point, the movie shows guards casting Joseph into prison unjustly, and he cries out to God, "Why?! Why have You done this to me?! I didn't deserve this!"

I stopped the video and asked Charissa who Joseph was talking to and why he was upset. Charissa answered correctly that Joseph was talking to God and that he hadn't done anything wrong, then she added, "I feel like Joseph when you put me to bed at night."

Sweet, Pitiful Girl

2011-10-04T00:51:00.000-04:00

Sweet little Verbear wasn't feeling well today. She got sick over the weekend (including throwing up at her little friend's birthday party ... right in front of the food table. Sorry Charity!!) and hasn't recovered yet. This is how Verity spent her day:

Sleeping in the bathroom ...

...asleep in Mama's signature burrito wrap...

...isn't she sweet?

Then she fell off the couch, but that didn't stop her!

This is during nap time ... she looks both pitiful and silly.

Now, I'm not sure if she actually fell asleep, but she laid there for a while and I feel like she gets points for making the effort.

Clearly she's not asleep in this picture, but she laid there in that position for quite a while. So it counts for me.

Such a strange day. But by the end of the day she was feeling better and I'm praying that tomorrow she chippers up a bit more.

2011-09-26T22:04:00.000-04:00

This morning the girls opened a new tube of toothpaste. This particular had My Little Pony characters on it. So the the girls are brushing their teeth when we have this conversation:

CJ: Mmm! It's yummy!
V: Mmm! Tastes like pony!

Hope you too get to enjoy some pony flavored toothpaste one day! :)

V & Papa Ben

2011-09-23T15:47:00.000-04:00

I think this is how I will always remember Papa Ben. He is never without a giant smile and a loud laugh. So glad they popped in for a bit so we could see them last week.

Bye Bye Shoes

2011-09-07T06:18:00.000-04:00

Do your kids have a favorite pair of shoes? Ones that they wear e v e r y s i n g l e d a y? To church, to the park, to a friend's house ... our sparkly white shoes have been faithful all summer. But now they are starting to look a little tired and worn.

So it was time to retire them. I thought about just taking them out of the basket and not even saying anything to the girls about it. But then I realized that as soon as CJ found out her favorite pair of shoes had been stolen away from her, she would be devastated. Best course of action - having a goodbye ceremony. Did I ever think I would have a goodbye ceremony for a pair of shoes? Nope. Funny where life takes you.

Charissa put her shoes on and did a last dance. Verity decided she'd rather put the shoes on Buddy. Sweet little girl in her Mr. T shirt. :)

After our goodbyes were said the girls put their shoes inside a box and that was the end.

Have I told them that the shoes are going in the trash? No. But I didn't make up some line about sending them to someone else or saving them either. Poor stinky shoes. They had a good run. :)

They make me smile

2011-09-06T00:02:00.000-04:00

When they play princesses and ponies ...

... when they sit around with sunglasses on ....

... when they cuddle their dolls and tuck them in to bed ...

... in the oven. :)

So glad my job involves so much silliness!!

Well that's a thinker ...

2011-08-31T08:02:00.002-04:00

This morning at the breakfast table Charissa told me that she didn't want to go to school today. When I asked her why, she said "It's too much fun."

I guess she met her quotient of fun.

First Day of School

2011-08-30T16:37:00.001-04:00

My big girl went to school for the first time last week. I know everyone talks about how hard it is to send your little ones off to school, but I think Charissa and I were just so ready for school and so excited for what the year had in store for her, that we weren't sad at all.

On the first day we woke up nice and early so we could have a very special breakfast and have plenty of time to get to school. Here's the little girl in all her first day of school glory:

As a side note, I made Charissa's backpack and it's one of the worst projects I've ever done. It took forever and I made so many mistakes (which is why it probably took forever), and I'm not sure I'll be doing it again. But she has a backpack that doesn't have a Disney Princess or Dora or Hello Kitty and it didn't cost $70, so I guess it was a success. Oh - and she likes it. :)

On her way into the school carrying her gift for the teachers. It's a "love plant." :)

And this is how Verity felt about Charissa's first day of school. She was broken hearted that her sister would go off and leave her all alone. Not really. I think she was more upset that she wasn't allowed to go to school than whether or not Charissa was there. But a mother can dream of daughters who love each other like .... sisters.

Look! They survived the first day of school! And they're still smiling!

This is from the second day of school. Do you think I should start a series called "Mornings with Charissa" in which I catalog every day before she goes to school? Probably not.

Although I couldn't resist taking pictures again this morning!! She was just too funny and being so silly. I had to capture her. Look at that little smirk. I wish I was a better photographer.

And that's more like it. :)

I'm so thankful that we are able to send CJ to school. I know that we are all going to benefit from it.

My New Favorite Book

2011-07-18T21:48:00.000-04:00

I LOVE this book!! I randomly picked it up on our last library run, and I'm so thankful I did. I could read this book everyday and I think it would still make me laugh. Louise: The Adventures of a Chicken is written by Kate DiCamillo who also wrote The Tale of Despereaux (one of my all-time favorite books!) and Because of Winn-Dixie. She has a way with words ... she draws you in and you fall in love with the characters. Here's a little excerpt:

"Louise longed for adventure. She left the henhouse and went to sea, where the water was deep and dark. Louise stood alone on the deck of the ship and let the wind ruffle her feathers. Just as she was thinking that the sea was not quite the adventurous place she had imagined it would be, a pirate ship appeared on the horizon. Louise watched the black-sailed ship draw near. Her heart beat fast within her feathered breast. Here, at last, was true adventure!"

LOVE IT!! You have to check it out and read it! Your children will thank you. Or you could just read it because you like it ...

Puppet Show!

2011-06-30T09:25:00.000-04:00

Last week we made sock puppets and since then we've been having a great time playing with them. The other day the girls asked if they could put on a puppet show, so we threw a blanket over a thin table and made a make-shift puppet stage for them.

Initially the girls told princess stories and one story about Hello Kitty, but with orange hair.

Then after a little bit, daddy took over one of the puppets and he and Charissa acted out a story that they had written earlier in the week. That's right - they wrote and illustrated a book, then turned it into a play, and then performed it. :) It's pretty adorable. You have to turn your volume up, but it's worth the minute to watch.

Jun 29, 2011

They Make Me Laugh

2011-06-29T00:26:00.000-04:00

Fancy Horses

2011-06-27T15:10:00.000-04:00

For Christmas the girls got these little plastic doll sets of Cinderella and Belle. Each set had several different outfits, a horse and carriage, and the doll's love interest (Prince Charming and the Beast). It's been one of the girls favorite toys to play with because they love taking the dresses on and off and acting out the story lines with the dolls - with some major changes of course.

This morning they were playing with their dolls while I was cleaning the kitchen. Verity came running in and said "Help! Help! Skirt on!" Thinking she wanted to put a skirt on Belle, I stopped to help her. But that's not what she wanted. She was asking to put a skirt on Belle's horse. It was so funny! What's also funny was that she realized the skirts wouldn't fit like on Belle, so she had a skirt for each leg.

I just love this picture because Verity looks like a giant and I think it's hilarious.

Not one to be left out, Charissa joined in on the fun and soon both of their horses were all gussied-up and ready to go out on the town. They then started making up stories about how they were Cinderella and Belle's horses and they were off to the woods to do something (I couldn't quite follow what was going on).

It was really fun to watch. And they played for such a long time! But eventually the game was abandoned ...

Catching Up on Some Play Time

2011-06-24T23:19:00.001-04:00

I had intended on having a few play dates this week with some friends, but I ended up getting really sick (like the "I can't breathe" kind of sick), so most of our plans were postponed. However, we were able to go out to the park on Thursday and then the pool today. I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed these little outings with my girls. It's been so long since the three of us have just been able to go play together. We just took our time and had fun being together. We walked trails at the park, we saw a deer (!!), and had a great time climbing up and down all the play equipment. And at the pool we were able to splash around (mostly splashing me) and have a great time with our dear friend Kylie.

One of the most amazing things about these two trips was how easy it was to get packed up and out of the house with only two kids! And how little stuff I had to take! It was unbelievable. I only had to take one small cooler bag to the park yesterday instead of the usual stroller, diaper bag, milk, and then the girls stuff. And I don't take babies to the pool if I have other kids with me. It's just too hard. Instead, we play with our pool in the backyard.

But don't think for one minute it's all grins and giggles without Gillian. Pretty much everyday Charissa asks me when Gillian is coming back, and Verity still corners off certain things as being only for Gillian. Just yesterday Charissa looked at a picture of Gillian and said, "Oh sweet Gilly ... when are you ever coming back to me?" So precious ... and sad. Can't wait for our first playdate with sweet G as her aunt and not her nanny!

The Elbow

2011-06-20T22:53:00.000-04:00

A while ago Charissa hurt her elbow, and since I already had my camera out, I asked her if I could get a picture of the hurt elbow. Like so:

I had no idea what I was starting. Verity apparently thought that an elbow picture was the coolest thing ever, and for a while that's all I got from her:

It may be a million degrees outside, but Verity felt the need for a toboggan.

I caught her before she could really get it up there.

Sweet little girl! She's so silly. Hopefully she'll stop showing me the chicken wing soon!

Bye Bye Baby

2011-06-20T22:12:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday was my last day nannying sweet Gillian. It was a bittersweet day for us. I am looking forward to spending some more intentional time with my girls and being able to do some non-baby-friendly activities (like the library and the pool!). But, the house is quieter. And there's an empty room in my house.

But you can expect to see me around here more! And maybe doing a few more projects. I have a list a mile long of things I want to do, so you maybe see some of that creeping up around here.

Silver Lining of Sickness

2011-05-17T23:08:00.000-04:00

My little girls have been very sick this week. Verity started it on Saturday night and CJ chimed in today. I hate when my girls are sick. They change from bouncy, silly little girls to pitiful little rag-dolls who just lay around. But I am truly thankful that they aren't whiny or irritable.

While I despise that they are sick, I have loved some of the precious moments I have gotten with each of them. Verity and I stayed up almost all night on Saturday. We sat on the couch, watched Anne of Green Gables, and cuddled together. Tonight I sat with Charissa until she fell asleep and we had such wonderful pillow talk. And when she got really sleepy she just cuddled into me and batted those huge lashes of hers and fell asleep in my arms. I can't remember the last time she fell asleep in my arms.

I love these moments. I hope that my girls remember them. I hope they remember that Mama snuggled them and held them close when they were sick. I pray they always know that when they need comforting they can call on me. I'm not afraid to get into the mess with them. I know that I may get sick from them, but I wouldn't trade my sweet time with them at all.

A Bit of What Our Life Looks Like

2011-03-24T16:40:00.000-04:00

The other day I walked into the girls room to find Charissa reading a book to Gillian. She wasn't actually reading this book, but she was quoting it - and adding some great inflections.

This look on Gillian's face is what caused me to dub her Senorita Suspiciousa when she first started spending her days with us. She would furrow her brow and look at your like you were crazy all the time. Such a funny baby!

And what was Verity doing while the other two were being so precious? She was sitting in the living room crying because she couldn't get her size 8 foot into her size 6 pair of shoes. To be fair, they were the most adorable pair of shoes she ever owned. But they are WAAAAY too small now. Poor little girl.

Making Your Dolls Modest

2011-03-23T13:15:00.000-04:00

I ran across this blog entry Modest is Always Hottest and thought it was so great! I never would have thought to draw on a modest bathing suit on the girls' dolls. I know it might seem silly, but it bugs me a bit when I see these tiny naked dolls laying all over our house. No one else gets to run around naked so I don't see why they get to.

If any of you are irritated by nude dolls as well, get out your sharpies and get to work!

I Think I'm Turning Into Suzy Homemaker

2011-03-22T20:32:00.000-04:00

I made bagels today. That's right - made from scratch, cooked at home, bagels! And they were delicious! Beyond delicious. It was a battle to eat just one. I thought I loved bagels before, but man - it's a new kind of love. Usually when I make something from scratch I find it to be comparable with the store version - but not bagels. I think we'll be a homemade bagel family from now on. Which suits us fine since some certain little girls think the morning is incomplete without bagels and at $4 for 6 bagels, their mornings are often incomplete.

Here's the recipe for bagels so that you too can enjoy the delicious aroma wafting throughout your house, and delight in biting into a fresh, hot bagel. You'll thank me later. (And honestly the hardest part was trying to get them all uniform in shape and size.)

Boiled Bagels

Ingredients

4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar

Directions

In large bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups flour and yeast. Mix water, 3 tablespoons sugar and salt together, and add to the dry ingredients. Beat with a mixer for half a minute at a low speed, scraping the sides of the bowl clean. Beat at a higher speed for 3 minutes. Then, by hand, mix in enough flour to make a moderately stiff dough.
Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (8-10 minutes). Cover, let rest for 15 minutes.
Cut into 12 portions, shape into smooth balls. Poke a hole in the center with your finger, and gently enlarge the hole while working the bagel into a uniform shape. Cover, let rise 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, start a gallon of water boiling. Put 1 tablespoon of sugar in it, mix it around a bit. Reduce to simmering.
When the bagels are ready, put 4 or 5 bagels into the water, and cook 7 minutes, turning once. Drain them. Place on a greased baking sheet, and bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven, eat hot or cold.

I Really Could Have Used This A Lot Earlier

2011-03-02T13:25:00.001-05:00

Source

I mean really - how confusing is all that? True, most of us weren't tested on the Commonwealth Realm or British Overseas Territories, but there are still to remember. If you want to see another example, I really like this one:

Source

So much clearer than what I remember being taught.

Almost ... almost ...

2011-02-23T12:05:00.002-05:00

I have some things I want to tell you. But not yet.
I have some things I want to show you. But not yet.

Work is in progress ...

For the Next Baby, I'm Stocking Up on These!

2011-02-15T21:48:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of Podee Bottles? I just found out about them, and I so wished I had them when my girls were babies. Not for the everyday feedings, but for car trips, and grocery trips, and those times when they suddenly decided they were hungry right as I'm at a crucial moment in making dinner. Better believe I'm going to have a couple of these on hand for the next baby!

Recent Readings

2011-02-15T16:21:00.000-05:00

Last week we started listening to Charlotte's Web in the car. When I first started it, both girls hated it. They would cry and moan when they heard the author start reading. It was pathetic. But after a couple days they started to enjoy it and have since started quoting it around the house (including a random reference to goslings).

I have a favorite quote as well (spoken by John Arable): "Fern was up at daylight trying to rid the world of injustice. As a result she now has a pig. Just shows what can happen if a person gets out of bed promptly."

Love it.

Could Be a Long Search ...

2011-02-11T18:16:00.000-05:00

CJ was looking through one of my children's clothing catalogs and she said, "I just can't find it!" When I asked her what she was looking for she said, "A dictionary dress. It's a beautiful dress with lots of colors."

That sweet girl is on a long search ...

At least she tried!

2011-02-11T10:52:00.000-05:00

I asked Verity to get the paci for me that was right behind her. First attempt, she brought me a squeaky giraffe toy. Second attempt, a blanket. Third - some plastic rings. Fourth - another toy. Fifth - a sock. Sixth - a toy car. And seventh - the paci.

She was honestly making an effort. And it was a good thing that Gillian wasn't in a hurry.

My 3 Favorite Girls

2011-01-17T14:45:00.000-05:00

And if you look closely, you can see one of them spitting up. :)

Oh the Duchess!

2011-01-14T13:13:00.000-05:00

Since we are the car everyday for at least an hour, I thought it was a good opportunity to listen to some books on tape. We got a smattering of Dr. Seuss, James and the Giant Peach, Charlotte's Web, Anne of Green Gables, and Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass. Right now we are listening to Alice and Wonderland and really enjoying it. The girls haven't seen the movie, so it's brand new to them. I read the book years and years ago, but it's so different when you listen to it. I wondered if the girls were going to be able to enjoy this book as it was above their level, but all day long I hear things like "Oh the Duchess! Oh the Duchess!" or "I'm going to be late!" or, my personal favorite, "Do cats eat bats? Do bats eat cats?" And since the story is told in an English accent, CJ is trying her best to imitate it. It's actually pretty good.

I think Charlotte's Web is next. Can't wait for the Wilbur discussions!

Overheard During Bible Time

2011-01-03T18:45:00.000-05:00

Britt: Charissa, do you know any differences between Adam and Jesus?

Charissa: I think Jesus had a bigger mustache.

Verity Turns Two!

2011-01-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

Little Miss Verity turned two on Christmas Day. While she had no idea what was going on, she did enjoy a little birthday party on Christmas Eve. Last year we celebrated her birthday on Christmas, but it was just way too much present-opening for a kid who doesn't understand what's going on. Maybe next year when she understands birthdays we'll return to Christmas Day.

So we played a little Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Everyone was a really good sport and wore the mask, spun and tried to locate the donkey's tail. Verity on the other hand, didn't want to play at all. We finally convinced her to play - without the mask - but even then she didn't put the ribbon on the tail.

That's her light green one on the edge of the right side.

And then there is my brother who decided to take it in another direction ...

While we were opening presents Verity got a little distracted by all the picture-taking and wanted to play with Uncle Bobby's camera. He so nicely obliged, but I'm thinking Ver-bear needs a few lessons.

This year, I made Verity a 5 layer lemon rainbow cake, with raspberry filling, and buttercream frosting. I wish I had gotten a picture of this inside, but I totally forgot. It's rather plain on the outside, except for the beautiful decorations Charissa picked out. Charissa and Nana were on the party planning committee so Charissa picked out all of "Verity's favorites" to go on top of the cake. So there's Pooh, Belle, Minnie Mouse, Ariel, and Tigger. All of which are now residing in their doll house.

After we came home from my parents, we had another small celebration. She's wearing her "Miss December" shirt. I love this birthday design because she can wear it beyond just her birthday without it being false advertising.

And this is the moment when Verity singed her hair on the candles. Thankfully, she wasn't burned (she didn't even notice), and because of the "natural layering" (i.e. slow and random growth), you can't really tell.

We went in for Verity's 2 year check up last week and we were given a 100% clean bill of health. She's right where she's supposed to be on all her milestones and she's GROWING! While only 23.5 pounds (12%) , she's now 35 inches tall (76%). Looks like she's going to be a bean pole.

So thankful for my little Ver-bear. Everyday she makes me laugh. And she's the sweetest snuggler ever! Can't wait to see how she grows in the next year!

Learning About the Real St. Nick

2010-12-17T16:15:00.000-05:00

A couple weeks I go I read a friend's blog about redeeming Santa Claus. She talked about how we can't avoid Santa as our children get older, and it's better to prepare them for that than to have to explain later. Now I know a lot of you love Santa and it brings back warm memories from your childhood, which is perfectly fine. Britt and I both grew up in homes that didn't use Santa in our Christmas traditions. So for us, we just don't do it. I never felt like I missed out on anything. Christmas still had joy and suspense and all the wonder I needed.

Ok - back to the present. This year Charissa has been much more inquisitive about all the Santas she sees around town. We got the book The Legend of St. Nicholas: A Story of Christmas Giving last year and we just LOVE it! It's such a wonderful way to teach the girls about who the real St. Nicholas was and how he really sought to honor God by giving to others. (Also - if you're looking for wonderful books on Christmas trees and stockings I would recommend The Legend of the Christmas Tree and Legend of the Christmas Stocking. They help teach about the origins of these traditions and how they point to Christ.)

This year we decided to go on a "St. Nicholas Run." We knew of some people in need, bought them some things, and went out real early one morning to drop everything off. As we drove out there we read the story of St. Nick and discussed why we should give to others in need. And it was really fun to teach the girls about giving in a way where we don't get any of the credit. That way the recipient can only thank God and not us. (As it turns out, we were seen making our escape, but we really did try to go unnoticed.)

I hope this is going to be a new Christmas tradition for us. While I don't really see anything wrong with celebrating Santa, if I can, I'd rather point my girls to Christ and show them how St. Nick's faith prompted him to give generously. And as they get older, I'd prefer that they view Christmas as a time of giving to those in need rather than a time of receiving.

If You Joined Us for Dinner Last Night ...

2010-12-17T09:37:00.001-05:00

You might have heard Charissa asking for more "mani-potty." :)

A Future Career in the Making

2010-12-02T15:51:00.000-05:00

When we got out our Christmas decorations over the weekend, Charissa grabbed a bag of the round ornaments and disappeared into her room. She came out after awhile and declared that she was finished. So off we go to her room and look how she decorated!

She had spread them out all over her room. She had also grabbed an empty bowl and put a bunch of ornaments in them and put that on the kitchen table. I'm telling you - she has an eye for decor.

Funny CJ

2010-11-15T12:13:00.000-05:00

While doing school today:

(we're looking for words that start with "s")
Me: What's the next picture?
CJ: Ssss-ock!
Me: Does that start with a "s"?
CJ: No. It's a yucky sock.

Messing Around with iPhoto

2010-10-19T10:11:00.001-04:00

Doesn't it look like a painting?

My Young Picasso

2010-10-18T23:56:00.000-04:00

Do you have one of those kids that loves to draw? One who comes up with all sorts of pictures with elaborate concepts? Well ... CJ isn't one of those kids. She's never loved to draw. And now that she's "older", she's become frustrated that her drawings don't "look right." We've tried to do nothing but encourage her in her efforts, but she was still hesitant. I recently picked up a book at The Homeschool Gathering Place called Draw Right Now. It makes drawing so easy! Step-by-step instructions where a complicated image is made up of a series of incredibly easy steps. It's awesome! And this was Charissa's first attempt at a chicken:

Sure - you may not have known what it was if I hadn't told you, but considering that before this she was basically scribbling - I'm floored. Later that day she even drew another chicken, and while it deviated heavily from the first, I could see that she was drawing it out step-by-step and was thinking through it.

Worth every penny to see Charissa happy and confident in her drawings.

Family Workouts

2010-10-18T23:39:00.000-04:00

Recently we've been using the P90X DVDs to work out. The girls woke up super early one day and caught me in the act, but ended up liking the videos. They even got in on it too. So now we sometimes watch them at night with the girls.

Do you think we should tell Tony Horton that he has a new demographic interested in his product?

Quitter ...

2010-10-15T18:50:00.000-04:00

The other day at lunch I went outside to turn the sprinkler on. I was gone no more than 2 minutes, and when I returned I found this:

Completely passed out into her food. After the initial panic to make sure she wasn't dead after choking on her pizza, I laughed and then decided I had to take a picture. Not only because it's just so funny, but also because it's so Verity. She runs, runs, runs, and then she stops. Suddenly and with no warning ... and anywhere.

Love that girl.

Oh the Drama!!

2010-10-08T21:57:00.001-04:00

Tonight we were talking at the dinner table when Britt and I started talking to Charissa about learning to read. I got a new book today called Teach your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Engelmann, and I'm very excited to start going through it was Charissa. No lie - she's ready for it. And this is the conversation she and Britt had:

Britt: Aren't you excited to learn to read? You'll be able to read your own books. Doesn't that sound like fun?

*long dramatic pause, hangs her head*

Charissa: Sounds like a lot of work.

We laughed so hard! Oh the drama! Charissa didn't exactly understand why it was funny, so she kept saying it with a different word at the end of the phrase. So it became, "Sounds like a lot of dance!", "Sounds like a lot of food!", and on and on.

You never know with that one ...

Love

2010-09-28T00:04:00.000-04:00

The World Through Her Eyes

2010-08-31T12:18:00.000-04:00

Today we were out running errands and as we were driving along Charissa was commenting on and questioning all that she saw (as usual). We were at a light when we saw a small bulldozer/digger thing (we're girls - we don't know what they're called) making a hole in the ground. This was our conversation:

CJ: What's that digger doing?
Me: I don't know. Making a hole I guess.
CJ: Hmm ... I think he's building a home. For a squirrel!
Me: A home for a squirrel?
CJ: Yah. Isn't that so nice of them? They are building a home for a squirrel. Now the squirrel can be dry when it rains!

Oh that funny little girl. I'd love to be able to see the world through her eyes.

Starting to Move On

2010-08-27T01:02:00.000-04:00

When I was lesson planning for CJ's preschool, I decided that I wanted to start each day by going over the calendar. She could learn the months, the days of the week, and by counting up to the day, it was good way to refresh numbers. Plus we already had a calendar from the spring when we did some Montessori work. The problem was that our calendar hadn't been touched in months. Five, to be exact. And, this is what it looks like:

This calendar can serve as a visual representation of my life for the past five months. It's been stuck. That was the week that we lost Lucas. And my world has been on hold. After the initial phase, I was getting out of bed, I was seeing people, I cleaned, I cooked, I played with the girls ... but I wasn't moving on. I was living in the loss. Sure, I could now think about Lucas without feeling like I was having a panic attack, but I wasn't myself.

I feel like in the last few weeks I've been able to return. And while I am still hurting, the pain is now a part of my life, and not my whole life. I don't think I'll ever be free of it, but in some ways I don't ever want to. The pain reminds me of how much I love my son. How I would have done anything to save him, had it been in my power. How I would have loved to see my girls getting excited about a little brother. I would have been almost 35 weeks pregnant.

The calendar now has the month of August on it. They say life has a way of catching up on you, but I feel like I'm finally catching up on life.

PS - I recently finished a quilt for Lucas. If you want to see it you can go to my other blog.

Things I Love - The Pioneer Woman Cooks

2010-08-26T23:51:00.000-04:00

I got this cookbook about 3 weeks ago and I LOVE it. First of all, it's not just a cookbook. It chronicles how Ree Drummond transitioned from city-girl to ranch-wife. There are beautiful pictures of their farm and she talks about daily life on the a ranch. So it's a really fun read. And the recipes - A-MAZING! So first of all, the ingredients are all simple things you've actually heard of. You don't have to go to three different stores to find everything you need for one meal. Second, they are things MEN will eat. And want to eat. These aren't fancy salads and entrees, but meats and hearty sides. My favorite so far - steak sandwiches. I think I could eat this every week. Ok - but let me tell you my third and biggest reason why I love this book - there are pictures for every step in each recipe. That's right - no more wondering what your food should look like, no more wondering what the step really means - you can just see it. It's marvelous.

What I Love About It:

Easy, delicious, family pleasing recipes
Pictures, pictures, pictures!!
There are recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

What I'm Not Crazy About:

Um .... I got nothing.

In Summation: Go out and buy it. Your family will thank you.

Preschool Has Started in Earnest!

2010-08-17T21:08:00.000-04:00

My desk is surrounded by textbooks and flashcards and charts and workbooks! And it's only preschool! But we're doing this thing right. This week we're just focusing on getting in the habit of school and going over 3 subjects: math, letters, and writing. Next week we are going to start ALL subjects. And what are we going to cover? Math, letters, writing, social studies, geography, biology (with a focus on botany), coloring, fine motor skills, science, time concepts (months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, etc), money ... and on and on. Well, not too much more. I mean ... it's not like we're doing AP work here, but kids learn a lot in preschool. Of course I don't know from personal experience since I skipped preschool, but from what I'm gathering, they do learn a lot.

So far I've enjoyed our first two days. It gives me some good one-on-one time with CJ and she seems to really love it. She asks for "school time" throughout the day and goes and looks through her books by herself. I'm hoping that her love for learning increases throughout the year.

Silly Girls

2010-08-16T22:39:00.000-04:00

Most mornings after breakfast I send the girls into their room to make their beds and change their clothes. Of course, Verity isn't able to do either, but it gets her in the habit of seeing what needs to be done. Well this morning I go into their room and discover that Verity has put on 4 pairs of undies over her pajamas. Like so:

Well, truth be told, she had them in various levels around her legs. She couldn't quite get them up. When she saw me she made a great show of how proud she was of herself and then asked for help to finish the job.

And today, the big sister joined in the fun. She decided to dress in her fluffy skirt and a pink shirt - which is backwards.

And how about how CJ looks taller than the couch? I was on the floor when I took the picture and I must have angled it just right to make her look like a giant.

Later in the morning CJ decided to measure Verity a la Mary Poppins. Her reading was "A good little sis."

Love those girls!

Things I Love - Minky Retractable Clothes Line

2010-08-16T10:11:00.002-04:00

This summer I taught sewing lessons to a couple teenage sisters that go to our church. We had a blast sewing together and their enthusiasm to learn was so refreshing. But while I was at their house, I found something else that I loved (besides their mother's banana bread) - a retractable clothes line!

I loved the idea of hanging my clothes up outside, but I couldn't get excited about a clothesline hanging up all the time. I like things put away when I'm not using them, and having to keep a clothesline up would irritate me. So you can imagine how super excited I was about finding the Minky Retractable Clothes Line. It's so easy to install (at least it was for Britt), and the cord is an amazing 49 feet long! You could hang A LOT of clothes on that. I think we only have ours set up to extend 20 feet, but I'm not hanging up all our clothes. Lowes carries it, but I'm not sure if they are going to consider it "seasonal" and they'll stop carrying it soon. But it's in the section with ironing boards and closet shelving/organizers.

What I Love About It:

At $14 it's cheap! And no additional hardware is needed.
Small isn't really noticeable hanging up on our fence. For those of you who live in neighborhoods where clotheslines are frowned upon, this does give you a good option that shouldn't annoy your neighbors.
L-O-N-G!!
Verity's diapers have never smelled so fresh! :)

What I'm Not Crazy About:

Since it is retractable, you have to twist the cord around a little part on the bottom to ensure that it doesn't keep expanding as you put clothes on it. It took a time or two to get it right, but it's not a problem any more.

In Summation: Love it! Those using cloth diapers really need to get one. And so should the rest of you.

A Very Special Day

2010-08-13T21:35:00.000-04:00

Do you know who this baby is? This is my NIECE!!! That's right everyone - I am now an aunt! Which I've only been waiting on for like 6 years. My sister-in-law only labored for 8 hours, and had NO drugs. Nothing. At. All. She's my new hero. And look at that sweet face!

I didn't know how I was going to feel holding this new little one. So many of my dear friends have had babies and I wondered if it would be the same as that. But this was so different. When I held her I almost wanted to cry. That was MY niece. She is always going to be in my life. She's family. I get the privilege of watching her hopefully grow into a Godly woman. Such an occasion should not be taken lightly. Which is why I made these:

The girls definitely needed to be showing their support of little Gillian. And they were both so excited. Charissa was hopping down the hall and couldn't wait to finally meet her cousin. Verity kept wanting to stroke her head and would say, "Bay-bee". So sweet!

And do you know what else is sweet? How close sisters can be. Like so:

I'd like to imagine CJ is saying, "Now tell me the truth, Verity. Does my armpit stink?"

So glad to have another little girl in the family!!

Faces to Love

2010-08-11T00:20:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, it's best to not worry about the mess. Not worry if they get their Sunday dress dirty. But just relish the time when they are small and I can make them delightfully happy by sharing the batter bowl with them.

Things I Love - Aladdin Recycled & Recyclable Snack Container

2010-08-09T20:45:00.002-04:00

I was at Target two weeks ago with Charissa and we decided to look through the back-to-school section, more for nostalgic reasons than looking for anything particular. But we stumbled across Aladdin Recycled & Recyclable Snack Container. We love it! I quickly snatched up one for each girl. Imagine - no more crushed goldfish/cheerios/crackers in baggies at the bottom of your purse or diaper bag!

Things I Love About It:

The container is slim and fits easily in my purse
The lid lifts and folds to flat against the body so it's not always in the way
It's the right size for a single-serving snack for toddlers/preschoolers
At $6.99 it's not unreasonably priced. It's about the price of two boxes of ziploc bags, so it'll pay for itself quickly.
No more bags!! Not only is that better for the crumbs in my purse, but it's a more eco-friendly.

What I'm Not Crazy About:

The whole in the top where the snack comes out is just big enough for Verity to put her hand in, but when she has the food in her hand she can't get it back out. It's like one of those monkey traps ... except Verity is not of "low intelligence." So each time we get it out we have to have a relearning session where we show her how to pour the food into her hand.

In summation: I like it, my girls like it, and my purse is cleaner because of it. It's a win, win, win!

Also, while we were there we got "lunch purses." Charissa got a ladybug, and Verity got a lady-frog (she has long eyelashes). One of my favorite things about them is that they come with matching icepacks. A-dorable. And before you become worried about how much I spent on them, at Target the lunch bags were only $8 - not $40 like on Amazon.

Book Review - Private by James Patterson

2010-08-08T22:11:00.000-04:00

I read the book Private by James Patterson last week. I'm a huge fan of the mystery genre, so it's kind of surprising that I haven't read a book by James Patterson yet, but this was my first one. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. I read the whole 400-page book in less than 24 hours (which is fast even for me).

Here's the summary from Amazon:

The police can't help you
Former CIA agent Jack Morgan runs Private, a renowned investigation company with branches around the globe. It is where you go when you need maximum force and maximum discretion. The secrets of the most influential men and women on the planet come to Jack daily--and his staff of investigators uses the world's most advanced forensic tools to make and break their cases.
The press will destroy you
Jack is already deep into the investigation of a multi-million dollar NFL gambling scandal and the unsolved slayings of 18 schoolgirls when he learns of a horrific murder close to home: his best friend's wife, Jack's former lover, has been killed. It nearly pushes him over the edge. Instead, Jack pushes back and devotes all of Private's resources to tracking down her killer.
Only one place to turn: Private
But Jack doesn't have to play by the rules. As he closes in on the killer and chooses between revenge and justice, Morgan has to navigate a workplace love affair that threatens to blow the roof off his plans. With a plot that moves at death-defying speeds, Private is James Patterson sleekest, most exciting thriller ever.

My Review:
I don't think it took but one paragraph to be sucked into this book. It was a smooth read that just flowed from page to page - which is part of the reason that it was so hard to put it down. I really liked how there were three separate cases that they were working on because it kept the action moving at all times. But not only were the cases interesting, but the characters had good depth and you began to care about them. The story wasn't all about the crimes, but also about the characters. Lastly - there wasn't a lot of sex or language. Always a bonus.

If you have the time, I would definitely recommend this book.

Vote for our Girls!

2010-07-23T23:37:00.000-04:00

WOW!! It's been about 24 hours since I posted the picture of the girls on the Chick-fil-A contest website, and we've already received 116 votes!! Thanks to everyone who has voted for us!

If you still want/need to vote, you just go here. You have to enter your email address, and it's one vote per email address (so if you have multiples, you can vote a few times!). If you go to the showusthecow.com website you can search for it under the title "Bovine Beauties". To warn you, it's under "Elizabeth" as the parent's name, and the city is Cary (not Raleigh), because the CFA we go to is in Cary. But it's us.

Thanks so much everyone!

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

2010-07-17T20:23:00.000-04:00

I just read about the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation on Molly Piper's blog, and I knew that I needed to share it with you. Their mission statement: "To introduce remembrance photography to parents suffering the loss of a baby with the free gift of professional portraiture. We believe these images serve as an important step in the family's healing process by honoring their child's legacy." I could not support this more. I have two pictures of my son and I would not give them up for anything. They are proof that he was here. Evidence that I had a third child. I am so thankful that I was able to get these pictures.

The Today Show did a piece on them, a few years back. I was crying within the first 45 seconds, but I feel it is worth watching.

I love these photographers are helping families hold on to the memories of their children. You lose a child and that stays with you forever. We don't need to put it on a back shelf and pretend it didn't happen. Having a picture that you can look at and remember all the little details in the days, months and years to come is such a blessing. If I were a better photographer I would definitely join this group.

Guess what we're up to ...

2010-07-16T14:21:00.001-04:00

Seriously?

2010-06-07T22:59:00.000-04:00

Did you know that Rachael Ray makes dog food? It's called "Nutrish."

I told Britt about it and he said, "Ohh ... that's gross." To which I retorted, "Are you kidding me? I bet it's better than the food we eat!"

KIDDING! But seriously ... it's got to be a pretty good dog food. And I bet she sautes it with a little EVOO ...

All kidding aside, I read that she donates a generous portion of the profits from Nutrish to animal shelters and associations. And I can appreciate how she's taken her passion for cooking and food and tried something new. But don't be looking for me to start producing little doggy outfits! I'm sticking to people!

When You Send a Man Shopping ...

2010-05-17T00:05:00.000-04:00

One of Britt's closest friends is getting married in July and we are absolutely thrilled. For years we have been praying for just the right woman, and we're so excited that Stephen found Sarah. Because of how much we love them, and how much we love to throw parties, we're hosting a shower for them in a few weeks. I got the invitations made with matching inserts and envelopes and they were beautiful One of my favorite invitations I've used. I had them all addressed but didn't have stamps so I asked Britt to pick some up on his way home. And this is what he brought me ...

That's right .... the Simpsons. Don't they just scream "Wonderful Shower" and "Marital Bliss".

Oh well ... at least he remembered to get them for me. :)

Mourning on Mother's Day

2010-05-13T20:53:00.001-04:00

For the first time in my life, I was sad on Mother's Day. No, "sad" isn't the right word. I was grieved. The night before as I was washing dishes I began to dread it. I began to wonder how I was going to feel when I walked into church with all the flowers and smiles and babies. It was also a baby dedication Sunday so we had 12 little ones dressed in their finest being dedicated to the Lord with their smiling families all around. Not that I begrudge them a bit. But as I stood there during the worship time and and watched the infants being lovely cradled by their mothers, my heart broke.

I am the mother of a lost child. On March 10th I went in for my 9 week OB appointment and discovered that I had a miscarriage. I hate that word. I hear it and think "missed" and "carry" as if I failed to carry my baby properly. I knew going in to the appointment that there was a likelihood of this, but when the doctor really took his time with the sonogram and then said "hmm..." I knew. And knowing was worse than fearing. Far worse. I thought I would have some relief in knowing, but knowledge extinguished all hope. I knew this pregnancy was different than my others, but I assumed/hoped that it meant we were expecting a boy.

A boy. A son. My son. My son whom I will never get to hold. I will never rock him to sleep. Never kiss his head. Never tickle or wash or play games with. But my son has seen Jesus. He is safe. He is well. He is immensely happy. He has gazed upon the glory of God. And yet I still want him back.

There are emotions that I cannot explain. Sadness that overwhelms me on days that should seemingly be filled with joy. I have often thought of this quote:

How do you pick up the threads of an old life?

How do you go on?

In your heart you begin to understand –

There is no going back

There are some things that time cannot heal

Some hurts that go too deep

That have taken hold

Understand that I do know and believe that God can heal all wounds, I understand this. I feel this some days.

I have found great comfort in the song Restless Are the Waters by Altar White, a band our friend MJ was a part of in college.

Blessed is the one who calms the sea

Restless are the waters within me

Come, He will silence them in time

Still the crashing echos in my mind

Holy is the One who brings His peace

Restless is my heart on days like these

Saying He will call it His alone

In it He will make His glory known

And I know that You have counted every hair on my head

Healed the living and raised the dead

You know just where I am

Cause I know that You are counting every raindrop falling to the ground

You know my thoughts better than I know them myself

So I will wait on the Lord

Whose timing is His own

And I will wait in His hands

Knowing this is not the end

No, this is not the end

I am clinging to that hope.

Looking for a SWAT Team - Mommy Edition

2010-02-23T14:40:00.000-05:00

For the most part, by God's grace, I feel like I can deal with a lot of what the girls throw at me. There haven't been too many times when I've just stood there and wondered how in the world I was going to proceed. Well ... this morning I had one of those moments.

We were out running two quick errands: first to CVS because Southern Savers has convinced me that I need to be "CVS-ing," and then we were going to go to Joann's to pick up 1 pattern (in and out only getting 1 pattern? A SWAT team would have been needed just for that). So we're about 2 minutes away from pulling into the CVS parking lot, when I hear Verity start kind of coughing and struggling. I glance to the back and see that she's throwing up ... a lot. And then Charissa starts squealing and crying because she doesn't know what's wrong with Verity but she knows enough to be disgusted by it.

We pull into the parking lot and I go open Verity's door and just look at her. She was so pitiful! I stood there wondering how in the world I was going to get her cleaned up (without getting sick myself). I was really wishing that someone would come along and rescue me from this task, but no such luck. Thankfully, I had enough supplies in my emergency bag to get her cleaned up and some new clothes put on.

And since I'm one of those crazy people that hates to get so close to my task and not accomplish it, we still went to CVS. It went really well, except Charissa kept telling everyone that Verity threw up "all over herself and it was yucky!" And then on the way home we had the windows down to avoid the smell, but Charissa told me "the wind was messing up her hair." Three years old and already concerned about her hair.

What a morning!

Coffee Filters Aren't Just For Coffee Anymore

2010-02-17T15:34:00.000-05:00

So my mom sent me this email with all these ways you can use {clean} coffee filters. And just because I love all 3 of my readers, I am sharing this list with you. :)

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter....

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."

15.   As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliquéing soft fabrics.

16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.

17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.

19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.

20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies.. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.

21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornamentsfor storage.

22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23. Use them to sprout seeds.. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book..

25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.

Alphabet Cards are a Bit Subjective

2010-02-12T11:42:00.000-05:00

This week we started doing some preschool activities in the morning. We have a set of alphabet cards that has the letter and then a picture with something that starts with that letter. This concept has been around forever I'm sure, and I guess companies try to switch up the objects so that they have something different - but it's posed a bit of a problem for us. Here are the ones that Charissa got wrong:

"H, h, h is for Chicken!" {picture of a hen}
"L, l, l is for salad!" {picture of a leaf}
"P, p, p is for bucket!" {picture of a pail}
"Q, q, q is for blanket!" {picture of a quilt}
"R, r, r is for broom!" {picture of a rake}
"Cross is for train!" {letter "t"}
"Y, y, y is for ball!" {ball of yarn}

It's tough being in preschool. :)

Causing a Ruckus

2010-02-09T14:20:00.003-05:00

I was working in the study during the girls nap time when I heard a lot of noise coming from their room. When I walked in their room, this is what I saw:

Yup, CJ has now found a way to get in the crib. Those two just can't get enough of each other. :)

.:smiles all around:.

2010-02-08T15:29:00.001-05:00

I love this picture. I don't know exactly why, but I do. Probably because I love that baby.

First Ponytail!

2010-02-04T21:04:00.004-05:00

Verity has enough hair to pull up into a ponytail and I just love it! It makes her look so much more like a big girl. And in the last 2 weeks she's started walking as her primary mode of transportation. She still isn't saying anything, but she does shake her head "no" and she clearly communicates through waves, grunts and squeals.

She's Just Like Her Daddy

2010-01-27T21:52:00.002-05:00

Tonight when we were heading home after community group Charissa was sitting in the backseat singing and talking to Verity when she said, "I think we need to pick a place to eat. We need to go to Bo-jangles!" Could she be any more like her Daddy?

She's such a funny little kid.

Still Working on that Definition

2010-01-13T14:14:00.002-05:00

This is a conversation that I had with CJ today while I was getting her ready for naptime:

CJ: That's terrify. Mama, can you say "terrify." (and she says it in that tone that all adults use when trying to get children to say a new word)

Me: Terrify.

CJ: Terrify. That means that you bring Goliath lunch. David has to bring him lunch.

Clearly, she's missing some details. But she has connected that David was bringing lunch to the battlefield and that something there was terrifying.

Sweet Girls

2009-11-22T21:42:00.002-05:00

A Little Photo Shoot

2009-11-03T22:59:00.003-05:00

It's been a long time since we've done a post-church service photo shot, so we decided to do one this weekend. I know everyone knows this - but taking pictures of two little kids is next to impossible. So here's what we got:

This is what happens when you ask a two year old to smile:

Yah, that looks natural.

At least you know what they look like. And they still do look pretty darn cute.

A Donut Meet & Eat

2009-11-01T21:00:00.004-05:00

Tonight the girls went out on a date with their daddy to Krispy Kreme. {And before you go and feel bad for me, I got to stay at home, crank up the ABBA and clean/dance the evening away with no interruptions. And they brought me a chocolate sprinkled donut when they got home.} While walking into the store, Charissa saw a poster of some donuts and said to Britt, "I've never met those donuts!"

She met, she ate, she conquered.

I Guess There Are Worse Comparisons

2009-10-31T20:40:00.002-04:00

Tonight I was putting away some clothes and CJ asked me what I was doing. I said, "I'm just cleaning up a bit." She paused for a minute and then said, "Mama, I give you time to clean up. Like Cinderella." She then shut the door, but through the door she said "You can come out when you're done."

Funny kid, funny kid.

Tuesday Tip - Research Before You Buy

2009-10-27T11:31:00.003-04:00

A couple weeks ago we thought we were going to have to buy Verity a new carseat. She was barely squeezing in with a normal shirt on, and she couldn't wear a jacket at all. Not a good thing with winter quickly approaching.* We have a Britax Marathon for Charissa which we love because it's so easy to install, and we thought we'd just get another one of those. But, being the crazy person that I am, I wasn't going to do anything until I did a little research. One of my favorite resources is Consumer Reports because they are an independent company that tests products in lots of different ways so you can get a very well-balanced assessment. For instance, for carseats CR checks crash protection, ease of installation, durability, size, and tons of other things. After looking over all the carseats they tested, I wasn't surprised to see that the Britax was high-ranking, but I was surprised that it was #2. And I was even more surprised when I saw what was #1 - the Cosco Scenera. I've seen the Cosco brand around, and I know people that have their carseats, but I was really shocked that the $70 (!!!) carseat beat out the $280 one. The Britax and the Cosco scored the same on every test except one - the crash safety in which the Cosco got a higher score. What in the world! So save $210 and then have a safer car seat? You can bet that we will be buying the Cosco Scenera.

So a half hour at Barnes & Nobles sipping Starbucks with my husband ends up saving us $210. That's a pretty good deal to me. It just goes to show that the most expensive thing is not always the best product. Moral of the story: do a little research before you purchase.

*It turns out that one of the straps was caught on the underside of the carseat and so once we fixed that Verity has a lot more room.

Sometimes We Fall

2009-10-27T00:44:00.000-04:00

Today I took the girls to the doctor to get their flu shots. The medical building hires people to drive around in golf carts and pick people up in the parking lot and drive them to the building (it's a really big parking lot). I normally choose to walk, but today we hitched a ride. When we got up to the building, I was getting up when I stumbled over something , and then fell over the rail on the side, but since I was holding Verity I couldn't do anything to break my fall. I ended up landing directly on my right elbow and somehow hurting the back of my left knee. In a way it was kind of funny because I was laying there on the pavement when all these very nice people start running over to me to make sure that Verity and I were ok, making me feel like I was in a movie. But then the pain set in and nothing was funny anymore. It's been 14 hours and my elbow is still throbbing.

The interesting thing about this whole thing was that I didn't have time to consciously react to what was going on, but instinctively I held onto Verity. In fact, I landed in such a way that she was on top of me, hardly even effected by the fall. It's good to know that my instincts are to protect my babies.

Tuesday Tip - Teacher Discounts!

2009-10-13T14:39:00.005-04:00

A friend of mine recently let me in on the fact that AC Moore and Joann's give discount cards to teachers. You get 10% off at AC Moore, and 15% off at Joann's. Plus you can still use your coupons! Immediately I said, "Sign me up!" Well, actually sign Britt up.

Here's how it works. For AC Moore you just copy your teacher license or home school certificate and mail it in to this address. For Joann's you print off an application here, mail it in, and then when you receive your card you have to have it signed by a store manager before you can use it.

Isn't that a great tip for you to know?

Finally!

2009-10-06T06:27:00.000-04:00

About 4 months later, I've finally listed my products on etsy. While I'm not going to be trying to make a career out of crafting, I do need to sell these things just to get them out of my house.

And I haven't posted anything over at Flowers of Verity in a long time, but a return is in the works! It's not because I haven't been doing anything, it's that I've been doing so much I haven't had time to blog about it. Hopefully I'll be able to update this week.

Silly Kid

2009-10-05T21:56:00.002-04:00

I had put the girls down for a nap, and had started working on some sewing when Charissa came rushing into my "crafting room." She seemed worried and agitated so I asked her what was wrong. And this is what she said: "Mama! I lost it! My belly button is gone!"

I try very hard not to laugh at my children when they are upset, but this was a tough one. When I had my voice under control I showed Charissa that her belly button had in fact not disappeared. Much relieved, she trotted back off to bed.

What do you do with a kid like this? :)

Praying They Are Always This Close

2009-09-30T14:35:00.004-04:00

The other day I let Charissa watch a video for a bit while I was getting dinner ready. I walked back in to check on her and saw that Verity had joined her.

They stayed like this for the longest time. It amazes me how much those two love each other. I'm praying that this continues throughout their lives.

Tuesday Tip - WD40 - Apparently It Can Do Everything

2009-09-29T15:09:00.002-04:00

I read this article over at Repurposeful today and thought it was worth sharing. I love when I find a product that has not one use, not two uses, but about 20+ uses. Which is why I have fallen in love with vinegar and baking soda. But more about that another day. Enjoy!

The Many Different Uses of WD40!

On your car:

Removes road tar and grime from cars.
Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!
Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.

In the kitchen:

Protects silver from tarnishing.
Gives floors that ‘just-waxed’ sheen without making them slippery.
Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
Keeps scissors working smoothly.
It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn’t seem to harm the finish and you won’t have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
Removes splattered grease on stove.

Outdoors:

Keeps flies off cows.
Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
Gives a children’s playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.

In the bathroom:

Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.

Laundry:

Removes lipstick stains. And, if you’ve discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash.
Loosens stubborn zippers.
Removes tomato stains from clothing.
Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.

In the garage:

Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.
Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.

Kids’ stuff:

Restores and cleans chalkboards.
Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.

Around the house:

Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
Untangles jewelry chains.
Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans
Removes all traces of duct tape.

Alternative health care:

Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.

First Word!

2009-09-24T21:23:00.002-04:00

I'm not kidding. At nine months Verity can say "Mama." And not in one of those nonsensical ramblings where babies just go "mamamamamamamama" forever. She calls out for me and says "Mama." You can ask Charissa and Britt - they've both heard it. Actually, Charissa was the one that heard it first. Apparently Verity said "Mama" and Charissa got really excited and kept asking her to say it again. And true to Treece Girl Form, Verity is pronouncing it with a whine. "Daddy" gets to be a happy sound, but "Mama" is a whine that seems to convey "I'm in need of some help and I'm going to make this pitiful sound until you meet my needs."

Tomorrow we go to the doctor for Verity's 9 month check up so hopefully we'll hear that all is well and she's growing on track!

Med School Starts Early

2009-09-23T16:44:00.002-04:00

Last night I repurposed an old white, short-sleeve, button-down shirt of Britt's into a doctor's lab coat for Charissa. It was actually really easy. I followed a pattern I had recently done for a jumper, added sleeves, and moved the breast pocket to the bottom left side.

She's been practicing giving shots and listening to hearts on us all day so I think she likes it.

Fun Songs on Marriage

2009-09-23T11:14:00.003-04:00

This past weekend we went to a dinner and talk with our church on marriage. Our pastor shared these two songs during the evening and Britt and I have been singing them ever since. You'll see why. :)

Finally!

2009-09-21T12:20:00.002-04:00

Verity finally got a tooth! Her left bottom tooth came in yesterday morning. It's actually the same tooth that Charissa got first, but Charissa got it at 4 months instead of 9 months. Oh well. I do think that Verity is getting the other bottom tooth, but based on how long it took her to get this last one, it might be a while before we see it.

My New Favorite Thing

2009-09-16T15:14:00.003-04:00

I love freezer paper! There are so many wonderful things that you can do with it. The first thing I learned to do with it was freezer paper stenciling. But I only used about 2 feet and I had 28 feet left over, so I started thinking of other things to do with it. Then I used it to cover the table when Charissa and I do arts and crafts because her paints and play-doh don't stick to it and won't seep through. So after I used freezer paper for all sorts of things that it wasn't designed for, I finally used it for what it was - and I really fell in love with it. It's wonderful! I can wrap my portioned out meats, cheeses, and other things like like presents and when I write on it, it doesn't rub off! No more mystery meat!

Go out and get some freezer paper!

I'm Not Sure He'll Be Getting a Promotion Soon

2009-08-20T14:07:00.002-04:00

This is an actual news clip from Cleveland about a bear sighting. It's absolutely ridiculous - and really funny.

Tuesday Tip - How to Make a Starbucks Frappacino at Home

2009-08-11T06:33:00.000-04:00

I'm not a real coffee drinker, but I have come to really love a Starbucks' Blended Carmel Frappacino. It's so delicious! But at $4.50 a pop, it's not a treat I get to enjoy all that often (that and it's not really convenient to pop in and out of a Starbucks with 2 kids in tow). Anyway - I searched online and found a recipe to make a homemade version. I was a bit hesitant because 1) I don't even know how to use my coffee maker, and 2) I didn't want to be disappointed with a horrible copycat. It ended up that my neighbor brewed the coffee for me (another reason I love living next to Julie), and it was D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S! Again, not the coffee expert, but it tasted spot on to me. I no longer feel compelled to go to Starbucks to get my favorite drink.

So for those of you who want to try this at home, here's the recipe. Enjoy!

Starbucks' Blended Frappacino Recipe:

2 c. ice
2/3 c. double strength chilled coffee (the recipe actually calls for triple strength, but I used double strength and it tasted just fine to me)
2/3 c. milk
¼ c. caramel ice cream topping
2 tbsp sugar

Mix it in the blender to the preferred consistency.

Beautiful Girls

2009-08-05T07:27:00.000-04:00

These are some pictures we had taken while we were at the beach in June. Aren't they beautiful?

Charissa actually pulled Verity the whole way home in this wagon. It wasn't just a posed picture.

Sorry Folks!

2009-08-04T21:37:00.003-04:00

So my very good (and helpful) friend Samantha let me know that the link I posted to my Flowers of Verity blog wasn't working. And that's because I didn't do the link right. So for the other 3 of you that want to see it you can go to Flowers of Verity (flowersofverity.blogspot.com) and see what's going on there.

Sorry for the confusion!

Don't Be Jealous Nathan

2009-08-04T17:19:00.003-04:00

I went out to get the mail today and this is what I saw:

Charissa and I watched them through the window for a long time this afternoon. We thought of our friend Nathan and knew that if he was in town he would have been loving the new addition to our yard.

Tuesday Tip - An Easy, Mess-Free Way to Dust Ceiling Fans

2009-08-04T09:47:00.002-04:00

I really don't like to dust my ceiling fans. It seems that more dust gets knocked to the ground and on my head or on my bed than gets on my dust cloth. So it just turns into a sneezy, messy affair. But I ran across an easy way to dust the blades without all the mess! Simply use an old pillow case and slip it around the blades one at a time and wipe them off. The dust goes in the pillow case and not anywhere else. Then all you have to do is take the pillow case outside, turn it inside-out and shake the dust out when you're all done.

Clean fans without the mess! Now all you have to do is muster the desire to go do it. :)

Britt's Seminary Completion Party

2009-07-27T21:13:00.000-04:00

This weekend we had a party to celebrate the fact that Britt finished seminary. To be honest, I don't think a party is enough for all the work he did - I wanted fireworks and spontaneous choreographed singing and dancing focusing on his diligent work and sacrifice. Since that wasn't an option, we had hotdogs instead. But it was pretty fun.

I made little tank tops for the girls that said "I love you" in Greek and Hebrew (Greek for Charissa, Hebrew for Verity).

We had LOTS of people show up for the party ...

... and lots of cars.

We went through over 80 hotdogs that night! One friend even showed us how to eat when your hands are full of children.

A certain baby bundle couldn't handle all the fun and she conked out about halfway through it. It's funny to me that Verity can still fall asleep anywhere. (And I know my mom looks kind of sad or worried in this picture, but she really was having fun.)

The kids were enjoying some basketball, even though most of them couldn't reach the goal.

It was a great night for us just to relax and celebrate 6 years of hard work, sacrifice, commitment and faithfulness. Now on to the next challenge!

She's Really One of Us

2009-07-26T15:28:00.000-04:00

If you asked Britt what his favorite meal was, he would probably say "Rice & Beans." That man is ridiculously easy to please. He loves rice and beans. White rice and black beans. Oh he'll mix it up a little and add salsa, or cheese, or Texas Pete, or a pepper, or corn, or whatever else he can scrounge up, but basically it's still just rice and beans. He'll eat that everyday for lunch. Every day. And then wonder of wonders - Charissa likes it too! She started off with the cheese and black bean quesadilla, but now she's on to just eating plain black beans cold for lunch. I offer sandwiches and other things, but she prefers beans. And since there is so much lovely protein in them, I just let her chomp away.

So now it's Verity's turn at black beans. Our pediatrician recommended feeding her more proteins because she's so hungry all the time. I know there are all sorts of pureed meats, but I just can't bear the smell of them. Beans will have to do. This week I made up a batch of pureed black beans and rice (a complete protein) for Verity and let her have her first taste of it. Do you think she likes it?

She ate every last bit of it up and then wanted more! She is definitely her daddy's child.

I am so thankful for my family that is easy to please! They are such a blessing to me.

Sweet Sisters

2009-07-25T13:15:00.000-04:00

I don't know if two girls could be any sweeter.

He's Done With Seminary!

2009-07-24T07:52:00.000-04:00

Britt finished his last course in seminary last week! We had a little celebration on Thursday when he came home from class.

I thought it would be fun to decorate the car for Britt as well.

It's hard to believe that we're all done with seminary. It's been a constant part of Britt's life ever since I've known him. But I couldn't be happier. No more classes, no more papers, no more nights away from the family.

Now we just have to find a job ...

I Love Two-Year-Olds!

2009-07-22T22:21:00.002-04:00

Two-year-olds are full of boundless energy and crazy sayings. Life is always crazy, but usually fun. Sometimes when we have people over and Charissa is running around crazy and Verity is squealing and the noise is so great that conversation is hard, I look at our guests and say, "I'd like to say that they're acting up for your benefit, but this is just our life."

My friend Dana once made a list of things you could hear her saying throughout the week. Things like "Don't play the piano with your gun" and "Don't wear a blindfold down the stairs." Well I think I'm going to start my own list. Last night you could have heard me saying, "Charissa, don't ride your sister. She's not a horse." Poor Verity. So long suffering. Actually, I think Verity enjoys her sister's company so much that she doesn't care what they do.

And another joy of two-year olds is that they are a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. They know everything! Like tonight we were talking before dinner and Charissa was very excited about her chocolate milk and we were talking about how it comes from "cow milk." She then got very serious and said, "Cow's milk is hot dogs." ?????? What is that about? Totally bizarre.

She keeps me laughing that's for sure.

Tuesday Tip - How to Check for Rotten Eggs

2009-07-21T22:17:00.000-04:00

Just a quick tip for you guys this week - but it can be very helpful.

We don't eat a lot of eggs in our house since Charissa and I don't really care for them. That means that a dozen eggs can sit in our refrigerator for a long time. So how do you know if an egg is still good? It's not like it goes brown around the edges or gets soft. The way to tell if an egg has gone bad is to see if it floats in water. Isn't that cool? Just put the eggs in a large bowl of water and see if they sink or swim. The swimmers get tossed.

Simple, but helpful. :)