My mom is great and did a lot of wonderful things for us kids growing up. She was always sure to try and preserve memories for us. One of the ways she did this was through video taping big things like birthday parties or sporting events. Unfortunately my mom and video cameras don't get along. We spent most of our teenage years using my mom's poor filming skills to poke fun of her. Today I would like to apologize as publicly as I know how:
"I AM SOOOO SORRY MOM!"
The reason for my apology will be made clearer once you watch the following film (I ashamedly admit) I took last week.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Trouble-Makers with Markers
Last week the girls decided to use their markers for art projects other than paper. Here was what they decided on after deliberating in their room unsupervised for apparently 5 minutes too long:
Oh, and in case you are wondering how I could reward them by taking pictures to laugh at later, I told them I needed evidence to show Daddy why they were being disciplined with not getting to use any of their drawing things. I think it worked, and I got to laugh!
Oh, and in case you are wondering how I could reward them by taking pictures to laugh at later, I told them I needed evidence to show Daddy why they were being disciplined with not getting to use any of their drawing things. I think it worked, and I got to laugh!
Daddy is Home
Now that Allen is home more, he has had the luxury of playing with the girls more often. A couple of days ago he got Lizzie and Ellie their bikes down from the attic.
Last year the girls really struggled getting the idea of "riding" a bike. They wanted to just sit and let someone push them. This year Ellie is still "practicing", but Lizzie did it! She is riding her bike and getting better and better at it. Before we know it she will be wanting to take the training wheels off and ride solo (of course that may be an event for another year). But, it is so much fun watching our little girl become so independent and learn so many things.
In other Lizzie news, she has created her first imaginary friend, or should I say imaginary family members. She has decided that she has kids and her kids do all sorts of things. Luckily her kids don't ever really do anything, usually they just weigh in on things with their opinions (almost as if they get a vote and therefore Lizzie's way is the way to go). Her kids "like" and "don't like" a number of things. They also do things for her that mommy won't, like give her ice cream for dinner, or have a toy in bed, or do any number of things mommy said, "No" to already. Like I said, her kids usually just have their opinions heard, and haven't yet "done" anything. When I tell Lizzie "No." she will just say, "but my kids let me do that. ...They like that... it's okay, my kids say, 'yes'."
Hopefully this will never lead to any major discipline issues, but for now Allen and I think it is cute, and an entertaining way for her to cope with having to be a big sister to a 2 year old and an almost 2 month old.
Last year the girls really struggled getting the idea of "riding" a bike. They wanted to just sit and let someone push them. This year Ellie is still "practicing", but Lizzie did it! She is riding her bike and getting better and better at it. Before we know it she will be wanting to take the training wheels off and ride solo (of course that may be an event for another year). But, it is so much fun watching our little girl become so independent and learn so many things.
In other Lizzie news, she has created her first imaginary friend, or should I say imaginary family members. She has decided that she has kids and her kids do all sorts of things. Luckily her kids don't ever really do anything, usually they just weigh in on things with their opinions (almost as if they get a vote and therefore Lizzie's way is the way to go). Her kids "like" and "don't like" a number of things. They also do things for her that mommy won't, like give her ice cream for dinner, or have a toy in bed, or do any number of things mommy said, "No" to already. Like I said, her kids usually just have their opinions heard, and haven't yet "done" anything. When I tell Lizzie "No." she will just say, "but my kids let me do that. ...They like that... it's okay, my kids say, 'yes'."
Hopefully this will never lead to any major discipline issues, but for now Allen and I think it is cute, and an entertaining way for her to cope with having to be a big sister to a 2 year old and an almost 2 month old.
Remodel
Also, stay tuned for a new look. Now that Allen is finished with Spring Semester (Yeah!!!!!!), he has promised to help me change the layout and over all look of my blog. If you have any ideas, please feel free to share them. I love input, especially on things that I am completely ignorant of, and designing web-stuff is one of those things!
Pics of the Raspberry
Here is Gracie trying to suck her thumb at 1 month old
Gracie making faces for the camera (taken today, not quite 2 months old)
And finally, Gracie wearing the dress that was made for Mommy (me ;-) ) when I was her age by I believe my Grandma Sewell
Mom Young Update
My mom had a CT scan last week. We were all bracing ourselves for the possibility that the news could be quite difficult to take in.
But, PRAISE THE LORD, it wasn't!!!
The lung cancer hasn't grown, the mass in her stomach doesn't appear to be a cancerous tumor, but instead some sort of fluid (they are still figuring it out with tests, etc.), and the pancreatic cancer has had minimal growth.
This is such a relief to me, being so far away, and unable to help out.
Please, continue to pray for her healing, and that God would give the doctors wisdom as to what the mass in her abdomen is, where it's point of origin is, and how best to deal with it (draining, surgery to remove it, just leave it...).
Also pray that God would continue to guide each of us through this process of unknowns. It has been a challenging journey so far, and we all know that there is more to come, but God has been extremely faithful in giving each of us people in our lives to talk to and that is an amazing blessing.
So thank you for your prayers and for those that have taken the time to sit and listen to me process aloud or read my written words as I struggle with the powerful truths and overcome some of the ugly lies, that have come as a result of the events of this past year. You are wonderful friends, and I love and appreciate each of you very much!
But, PRAISE THE LORD, it wasn't!!!
The lung cancer hasn't grown, the mass in her stomach doesn't appear to be a cancerous tumor, but instead some sort of fluid (they are still figuring it out with tests, etc.), and the pancreatic cancer has had minimal growth.
This is such a relief to me, being so far away, and unable to help out.
Please, continue to pray for her healing, and that God would give the doctors wisdom as to what the mass in her abdomen is, where it's point of origin is, and how best to deal with it (draining, surgery to remove it, just leave it...).
Also pray that God would continue to guide each of us through this process of unknowns. It has been a challenging journey so far, and we all know that there is more to come, but God has been extremely faithful in giving each of us people in our lives to talk to and that is an amazing blessing.
So thank you for your prayers and for those that have taken the time to sit and listen to me process aloud or read my written words as I struggle with the powerful truths and overcome some of the ugly lies, that have come as a result of the events of this past year. You are wonderful friends, and I love and appreciate each of you very much!
2 going on 13
Ellie is two.
I could stop there and let you imagine what the rest of this post might include, but I won't work your brains today.
Here are a couple of Ellie quotes that will give you a glimpse into the growing mind of our independent thinker:
Mommy: You are two Ellie
Ellie: I'm not two, I'm Free!!!
Ellie (with an instructing tone): Babies drip a lot!
In other Ellie news, she is learning to use the potty, and doing very well, so hopefully very soon we will be down to diapering one again! Be praying that it continues to go well. Ellie can be very strong willed and if she gets the idea that going on the toilet is in anyway unpleasant or not advantageous to her, she might abandon ship! That could be real trouble.
I could stop there and let you imagine what the rest of this post might include, but I won't work your brains today.
Here are a couple of Ellie quotes that will give you a glimpse into the growing mind of our independent thinker:
Mommy: You are two Ellie
Ellie: I'm not two, I'm Free!!!
Ellie (with an instructing tone): Babies drip a lot!
In other Ellie news, she is learning to use the potty, and doing very well, so hopefully very soon we will be down to diapering one again! Be praying that it continues to go well. Ellie can be very strong willed and if she gets the idea that going on the toilet is in anyway unpleasant or not advantageous to her, she might abandon ship! That could be real trouble.
Berries Continued
I have decided to call our youngest Gracie. Allen has settled on Raspberry (which is what Malina means in Croatian, Russian, Polish, and a few other eastern European languages). This led to an interesting conversation yesterday with Lizzie:
Lizzie: I am going to call her Strawberry
Allen: Don't you mean Raspberry?
Lizzie: Strawberry!
Allen: But Daddy calls Malina Raspberry
Lizzie: I know! I am going to call her Strawberry.
Allen: yes, but Daddy calls her Raspberry, because that is what her name means in another language, called Croatian
Lizzie: Yes, but I like strawberries, they taste good.
Allen laughs and gives up, unwilling to fight our 3 year old (almost 4 year old) on technicalities.
Lizzie: I am going to call her Strawberry
Allen: Don't you mean Raspberry?
Lizzie: Strawberry!
Allen: But Daddy calls Malina Raspberry
Lizzie: I know! I am going to call her Strawberry.
Allen: yes, but Daddy calls her Raspberry, because that is what her name means in another language, called Croatian
Lizzie: Yes, but I like strawberries, they taste good.
Allen laughs and gives up, unwilling to fight our 3 year old (almost 4 year old) on technicalities.
So many things to say
I have thought of SO MANY posts to share with you all, but unfortunately the subjects of most of the posts have kept me from having the time to sit and type them out :-)
Instead I will just post little bits when I can over the next day or so, and hopefully that will be enough to keep you from giving up on reading my blog altogether!
Instead I will just post little bits when I can over the next day or so, and hopefully that will be enough to keep you from giving up on reading my blog altogether!
Monday, May 04, 2009
A Rose by Any Other Nickname...
So ever since Allen and I decided on Malina Grace for our 3rd daughter's name, we have been struggling to come up with THE "perfect" nickname.
Finally, late last night, I believe we came to a compromise, but in case we change our minds I will wait to share.
Instead I thought I would get your thoughts. What is a good nickname for Malina Grace using any variation on her first or middle name, or even something totally random that fits the personality of our laid back, sweet, little, third child?
Finally, late last night, I believe we came to a compromise, but in case we change our minds I will wait to share.
Instead I thought I would get your thoughts. What is a good nickname for Malina Grace using any variation on her first or middle name, or even something totally random that fits the personality of our laid back, sweet, little, third child?
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