"Well, what is it! Is it a boy or a girl?" "Uh-Hu!" -It's a Wonderful Life

We had a bit of a surprise for our parents this December.  Brys mom had to work a board meeting so we left this box on her front porch..... her and Tillman opened it later and I am sure got the same surprise my parents were about to get. 

Kehnley and Sadie were in the dark as well when we walked in with this bad boy...

this is what happened next!

   


                 
   

We all enjoyed some pink cupcakes and were excited about the new baby girl that will soon be in our arms!  It was so sureal to see her on the sonogram and hear those words we have been waiting to hear, it's a.....

GIRL! :) 

 I was shocked out of my mind but Bry had already been calling her by her name all week.  I thought he was just being crazy, but that's 3 for 3 on his record of guessing ahead of time.  Maybe next time I won't even get a sonogram done, I will just ask him :)

He pictures on the sonogram looked so much like Kehnley, but some have told me sadie...

what do you think?

 

Kehnley

Lainey

Its Fun to be 4!

4 years old and its hard to imagine that you are a little girl but with the mind and attitude of someone so much bigger.  I hope you will stay my baby forever but as I see you now, it looks like you will be growng faster than I ever dreamed or could handle.  You are so smart and funny, you say the most clever things like when you and daddy were making a tent in the living room last night and you said "common' mom get your sleep on" :)  Or when you gave me a big hug and said "i love you mom, i think I'll keep you..remember like on Olivia?!"  What a cutie, I think I WILL KEEP YOU! my love ! 
We spent your birthday party with friends and family at the park you love to play at all year and it was a PIRRRRATE party, full of swords, treasure hunts, eye patches, jolly rogers, ring pop treasure and more!  Your daddy and I got you a sonwcone maker for the party in lou of cake...wasnt sure if youd love it like cake.. YOU DID! :)  So daddy bought you your very own smaller one when we were at the beach for you actual birthDAY... he said he just had to have that for his little darling. 

Your favorite present was hard to pick, you got so many great things, but you DID want daddy to put together the barbie scooter we got you the second we got home and rode it all over the house that night and next day....why not outside? not sure lol.  You even hoped on in your birthday suit and rode it to the bath tub silly billy!

Your second fav gift was the barbie house and pool that Cole and Granny got you, I have had to move it since then to your closet bc someone's baby sister likes to slide everyting down the barbie slide and doesnt realize shes a giant compaired to it :)
The DAY of your birthday we were in Florida on vacation and mama made your usual special breakfast and surprises and goodie baskets!  i drew you on a big sheet of paper and made it look JUST like you, Fancy kept moving the picture every day after that on vacation, it was on the back of the bathroom door, in the pantry, sitting in a chair with a dress on haha..you loved it!  the night of your birthday you got to run on the beach and go out to dinner followed by your most FAV part..ICE CREAM!!! :) 

Your fav. things are starting to change, althought you love to play pretend you are getting much more active, and LOUD too haha, I am sure I tell you a few times a week that if you want to scream you need to go out side and do that (what can I say its a mamma thing) You are a dancing and singing queen, making up songs on your guitar, dancing some pretty sweet moves I must say, and teaching sissy all the fun songs to get grovin to!
You love your barbies or course, but your also becoming a sports girl, wanting to play baseball and run run run, you play with the water table fancy got you and thanks to swim lessons you are getting more adventurous at the pool!  You are giving kisses and hugs a lot being really expressive that way and more so with Sadie which really warms my heart!  You are learning so much like how to write your name, read, spell out word families...I am amazed at how quickly you learn!  You bring me my phone every morning and ask what the bible verse of the day is, you always want to know if a song playing if a "jesus song" and you are facinated with going on a trip to ap place like daddy and "speaking spanny" like Dora taught you lol and telling them about Jesus...your so sweet!

A few favorites...
Fav foods: hard to tell but snacking you love goldfish or the mama mixes i make with all kinds of good stuff like cranberries, gold fish, teddys, melts, and yogurt rasins.  You love apple sauce sqeezers.  You also love hotdogs (duh!) and eggs (SHOCKING I KNOW!!)
Fav shows: Old Micky Mouse shows, still Backyardigans, and Olivia and Toot and Puddle oh and can't forget BUBBLE GUPPIES
Fav books: The bible story book, Dr. Seuss ABC, anything by Sandra Boynton (not the hipo, going to bed book, pajama time..)
Fav game: hide and seek, Just Dance, "no you don't"

You are a wonderful artist and love to paint and make art.  I have been so busy casing Sadie that I havent had time to sit with you and make some works of art with you like we used to.  I am going to spend time with you doing that because I know its something that we both miss! You love to paint flowers its your absolute most favorite thing... but probably because you have mastered it and know you do it well :)

You love anything new crayola can throw at cha, like window crayons and sidewalk chalk paint.  I love how inventive you are at using anything you can to make something beautiful!  I pray you never loose that ability!

We love you so much Kehnley and I know that there are so many who are blessed just to know you, hear your encouraging words, your teaching spirit, your funny stories and sweet smile, your infectious laugh..its all just the begining of how great you really are.  I hope you will have a wonderful year learning new things, becoming more confident in your abilities to do things on your own, and being fearless to new places-people-skills-adventures. You my darling are one of a kind and my life is far more colorful with you in it!

Mud Pie Kitchen Project!

my new obsession... Mud Pie Kitchens!  Me and K are going to make one in the weeks ahead, I'll keep you posted! I have a seen a TON but this ones looks pretty great! To be honest K is kind of a tiddy mud pie kitchen girl, she would in no way go for the messy versions of this, even though i have explained it's GONNA get messy when you add in mud :)

However I dont think she needs it as clean as this...

To get her REALLY excited I might have to find a Mud Pie cook book!

Me and my besty when i was little would make all kinds of concoctions outside with flowers plants and grasses.  It was our little make believe wold of run aways and camp outs...I thought it would be fun to help K and S one, someting tells me S will get even more messier than K!! :)

4:8 Mission

Of course this has to follow up a post titled "Boot Scoot and Poopy"...oh the irony! lol
So here's the deal...

I don't want to blog anymore about meaningless things, not that my children and our little life is meaningless, quite the opposite, if you know me you know they are our treasure, our world, our mission field, they are my 24/7 and I take my role in their life more seriously that almost anything else....but remember this....?


"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Phil 4:8

I can't help but desire to filter whatever I spend my time on through this...not just my mind, or my words, but my very essence I want to be characterized by this charge.

So begins the transformation of information. Let's get REAL there are tons of websites, blogs, podcasts and the like about parenting and fun stories and life--and yet there are still those of us staring in the face of the hundredth question from our toddler like "why can't we see God?" going... I wish i could get a a panel of ppl together to talk about this lol.  Most moms in the toddler trenches don't have time to look up a blog, read a book, and google search "explaining the infinite holiness of the creator God to a 3 yr old" goodness- we are lucky to just have everyone dressed all day!

My new form of organization of task and thought (there are many being developed in me as God's way of helping me to resist the born urge I have to live on the fly--free as a bird--letting things happen as they come)--can you guess that I like change and spontaneity?  oh yeah, what was I saying?-OH so yes new forms of organization :) causing me to spend my free time not watching DWTS or Gray's or (fill in the blank) Crashers but instead on planning lessons, gathering resources; for projects, exploration, and enjoyment in teaching my little ppl all about God and how He made them special, especially for a purpose...like most things we think we are doing for the Lord to bless others, it changes us into someone new along the way! 

If you have read the 4:8 Principle (an amazing book on the positive side of thinking & living life) based on the scripture above you would know there is this one part....THE part that I am making my mission, where the author tells his children every night before bed until one amazing night they repeat it back to him almost in a sleepy unison...

"you are a wonderful, beautiful, child of God"

That is my mission, that the little ones of the next generation know this truth without a shadow of a doubt. 

Keep looking for lessons, resources, and (lets be honest) crazy mishaps along the way! (not to mention frequent dance party breaks--every mom needs to work those into the schedule, just to keep her composure--just do it, you'll thank me later!) and please keep in mind my failures: you'll find those here too, because I find that when I crash and burn it, God shows Himself more trustworthy than if I had juggled all the things He throws at me with the greatest of ease.   

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What keeps me passionate about the new ministry God's given me?

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

2 Corinthians 4:7

Boot Scoot and Poopy!

Yay for friends who have family that shows cattle at the Houston Rodeo!  We were like VP backstage passeres on this wild west adventure!  4 things amazed me....
1. my kids wanted to lay on the cows not just pet them
2. they survived even barfing in the car on the way there, having to buy new clothes and target in the interesting side of the reliant center end of town, and napping in the stroller or not at all (kehnley) and getting home after 12 hrs of rodeoing!
3.we bought K a new rodeo outfit for when she goes with Granny and Grandaddy tomorrow and it cost me less that 50 bucks!
4.I ate the entire plate of my fav in the whole world (waited for 7 minutes for it to cook) spinach Alfredo pizza from the Burger Shack and don't regret it one bit!


We had a blast and here is why!!

Precious ones

Here is a sneaky peeky at some pics of some girls that are super special to us!

baby Kairi Ann and her sweet cheeks...

    

...and cousin Addy, who has a birthday coming up!

    

...then there is the wild child with a smile that can melt my heart!



And this little sassy pants always full of surprises :)





Kehnley modeling her new rodeo get up...the middle on is the "im a texan model with attitude, watch out Gisele"

Ps. I am not a photographer, I just love the way these girls make memorable moments I can't help but try to freeze and keep them forever

I almost forgot! Kehnley so happy to have her "baby friend from china" here :)

Valenitine's school here we come

On the way home from MDO today I had a lot of explaining to do about Kehnley's up coming Valentine's party at school on Thursday...

1. I  had to explain how we are we going to make heart shaped samiches
2. Why people wear pink hearts of valentine's day
3. That Kehnley's shirt that says "GAP" with a little heart does NOT say "VAL-WIN-TIMBSSS" as she kept trying to convince me over and over again, adding more SSSS on the TIMBSSS as she exacerbated the word in her case.  I again said "sweetie I will show you when we get home its not Valentine's its GAP...
4. What is GAP?
5. Talked her off the ledge by offering to go get a NEW VAL-WIN-TIMBS shirt from her favorite store (Target) tomorrow.
6. No not to day, tomorrow, you have to take a nap and make valentine's for your class today
7. Listen to her share with eyes clothes that she is not happy about that now, but will be happy about that after she gets some rest in her nap.
8. Who said was going to be (or not be) for valentine's because Kehnley thinks that it's like Halloween and kids are supposed to dress up for every holiday. lol
9. Kehnley then breaks down to me the words to the valentine hokie pokie...I have a feeling we will be dancing this one out with Sadie bug and daddy later.
10. Then she goes into a series of saying "why,why, why, why..." and laughs because she knows it drives mommy a little bonkers :)


Here's my Val-win-timbs loving girl!

Manic Monday

All those of you with little ones (or big ones I dont know those days yet but I am amazed at how you survive day to day, probably like myself- By the Grace of God) if Monday's are the hardest days for your entire household then you know what I am about to talk about!  I don't know what it is, I have many hypothesis' I am testing at the moment, as to what in the world causes my children to become totally malfunctioning and emotionally unstable on a Monday!  My two top guesses are that they are adjusting to losing one of the parenting due who's spent the past two days meeting their every need at every moments request in .25 sec and entertaining them with (literally) a song and dance before any tear would be shed over  ie. the dropper for medicine that is now used as a water shooter in the bath tub, OR the fact that they had such a busy weekend usually they got to bed way too late, added strange foods to their usual diet, and saw way too many people besides just each other.... 

All together I say that because usually on a Monday, when all they can handle is a few diaper changes, 3 meals, a on schedule nap and a quiet day with toys all over the house I just spend the weekend cleaning...I ALWAYS have to go to the store for the essentials (which i was humbled and glad to see some were on another moms must have in the house at all time list) 1.milk (reg and coconut) 2. tortillas 3.string cheese 4.cereal (a diff fav each month) 5.bananas 6.paper towels 7.edema (a new request of kehnley's)

I wish our Kroger didnt have the cars attached to the cart that requires a complete antibacterial wipe down, and biceps like Jillian Micheal's to just maneuver through the produce section.  I wish our Kroger DID have small grocery carts like we used to have so K could push her own cart and fill it with all the things i can mouth to the Checker without her seeing "we are getting any of that" as he pretends to put it on the belt but in a basket behind the counter instead, thank you Checker at no.11! 

The art of shopping has to happen in perfect synchronization with the highest caliber of mood on a Monday which happens between the time slot of after morning nap for Sadie and before snack time and silent morning demands of entertain me  by Kehnley- 10-10:45 so luckily I live exactly 4 min from Kroger door to door!

Hope your Monday isnt Manic and if you feel it going that way do what we do: pray, stop, and drop it like its hot!

Disclaimer- when you put your ipod on shuffle there IS a chance you will go from seds fam worship to jenny from the block any minute...

This is the mil dversion of a jam session, the floor really got cut up after i turned the camera off and she saw herself in the dishwasher reflection...there was more bounce for the ounce and shaking what her mamma gave'er!  Ill try and get a shot of that next! :)

Advent and Christmas Traditions

Dear Advent box, how I have missed you.  Last year we had a blast and Kehnley really thought you were magic how you would always have a new fun treat and instructions for a fun day ahead as we counted down the days til Jesus' birthday.  This year I can't wait to see you because she knows a little more and is going to be SO excited to see what you have in store!  Of course we have our nativity advent that helps us keep our days all in a row and as we fill the manger with all the animals and angels I can't help but get a little anxious to see what Sadie will do with you when I am not looking!

Some old some new family traditions to share, please feel free to let me know yours AND use some of ours!

25 stories of Christmas:
This year we are going to wrap a book (some old some new) that are all about Christmas and since Bry misses all the advent full all day while he's away at work, he will be the one to greet her with a new wrapped book every day when he gets home and that will be the book she gets to read at bedtime with us.  I can't wait for her to see the Grinch Stole Christmas Original, and a new book I found called God gave us Christmas!

Hidden Crown:
My husband is German and I looked up years ago German traditions for Christmas, i also asked about some that their family had when he was growing up.  Is mom shared with me how her mom, the boys Granny would decorate the tree and keep it hidden until Christmas eve!  That was the first time they got to see it!  But since I am pretty obsessed with falling asleep on the couch by only the light of the Christmas tree each year (there is just a joy that brings me that I can't express) lol  I couldn't do that one, but hiding a pickle in the tree is a tradition for many Germain homes and who ever finds it gets a special treat.  Well, this year we are hiding a crown. We did something like it last year, but I am going to REALLY hide it good this year and who ever finds it gets to put it on the cake and present it to Jesus for His birthday!  (Hopefully K will find it first! lol)

Christmas bake off:
We have a Christmas baking cookie exchange that I hope to share with some new friends and family this year!  Last year at the Blowey's K had a blast decorating "goodies"  for friends to share, she wanted to eat all those "goodies" as she called them all the time though! 

Shrinky-Dink:
Every year for many years (Bry loves this....well....he's grown to love it) we make shrinky-dink ornaments!  They are SO fun, great keepsakes and make the best gifts!  And it's just amazing seeing all those big drawings and art work shrink down to pretty little ornaments for our tree!  One day when I am old and gray i will have enough shrinky-dinks to cover a tree all on their own!  (And Bry will probably have a billion deer feeder scenes he's created from year to year on his!)

Advent Box:
I get ideas from blogs and websites and my crazy sleepless nights up for hours thinking about things to make and do on the days leading to Christmas that are fun and silly and remind us the joy of the season!  Some are the same each year... some are different.  Here is the first for this year and the sources I have for the rest I will post tomorrow.  (it's been a CRAZY week!)

W. Day 1  Make a wreath for Advent. Talk about what advent means.  Decorate the tree and Bry is bringing the first wrapped book today all about the Christmas tree!!


Speaking of Christmas Tree, this guy wanted in on the fun this year!  Happy Adventing everyone!!

Some Sources:
http://www.familyfun.go.com/ or http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/homemade-christmas-gifts/
http://www.bhg.com/
Book called New Noel
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/
http://holidays.kaboose.com/christmas/
http://christiancrafters.com/Journey-to-the-Manger-cvr.gif

           

             
 

Picture project-October

I am loosing my mind not sure why I am up right now... and whilst I am up I am not sure why I get so distracted by things that are not on the important immediate to do list.. if you know me you know that i obsess about albums, getting them done, looking at pics, capturing our lives as they flash by.  not sure why, i know it has no place in eternity... but them again, it's a ref. to where we have been and where we are going and... ok enough rambling lets get to the good stuff.  So I decided for a few weeks I am going to post random pics I come across while making my albums, just fun ones that I haven't seen in a while that make me smile, enjoy if your looking.

Looked up in the past hour:
how to make potato plantain omelets
Summer fun crafts by skiptomylou.com
Scrumdillydo.blogspot fireworks painting with a salad spinner
Splat mat material to make my own
Kiddly.com paper dolls hopping K and I can make ur own and share with an artsy friend too
& last but not least:
~these pics~

I love this group of pics bc it captures the explorer side of Kehnley, her posing and the amazing cuteness of little kids in jeans, it's amazing to me that they have denim is small and smaller! Her expression as she kisses Fancy just for the picture to be taken then say "let me look" to see herself is priceless!

Day 4: Melt Down!

Sooooooo... was going to try and be thankful today, turns out when you make that your daily task... you face MUCH opposition! It was a really hard day, Kehnley was on the verge of a melt down every second! It was pretty tough, BUT every time I would start to pray for something silly like "God please dont let this painting fall and break because I dont think I could take it!" I felt conviction to pray for something a LITTLE more substantial...so anyway, I did that, and me and Kehnley had to stop several times and pray together for kind words to come out of our mouths and for loving hearts to be what we had and not meanness (Sadie didnt have to pray because she was being sweet, I had to explain this to Kehnley).

We went to get Snow cones thought it might brighten up her mood. Everything was going great till I had to spend 30 min in the middle of sadies late afternoon nap and woke her up in the process going into the bank to get a new pen number bc the snow cone shack is the only place left in Htown that doesnt take anything but cash. We get our cones and lilly had her ice cone too and we are sitting down to enjoy when kehnley has a few bites and hers falls over, only a super tiny amount falls out and she LOOSES it! I mean, gone, loses her MIND! She grabs hr face like home alone and screams bloody murder and cries and gasps and grabs her mouth and shakes her head like Lilly had just ran off with her ice cone and got hit by a car! it was terrible and HILARIOUS all at the same time, it was one of those parenting moments when you want to die laughing but have to keep your composure at the fear of scaring your child for life.

Her are a few pics of our outing, the best part of the day, except maybe this quiet moment I am having right now and the ab workout I'm gonna have before lights out...

Sadie ate her dinner in the front yard bc... well... why not!





This is right before the melt down! that cup is about to tip over onto the grass...

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Ps. Why is is that one of the nights when Bry is gone, as I am laying sadie down into her bed after just getting her cleaned and dressed, Kehnley takes a break from singing Cruella Devill to call my name across the hall and say "Mom, I pooped in the tub, can you wipe my bottom." Wow... there better be some people coming to Jesus this week, or I'm gonna be ticked! ( just kidding lol) I had to whisper, "step out of the tub and sit on the potty and wait there for me, i'm comin' and baby doll, dont ever do that again please."

The Green Monster

WE INTERRUPT THIS DAY 2 Of BRYSONS VENEZ TRIP TO BRING YOU BREAKING NEWS!

The green monster is on the loose and coming to a tub near you! Thanks Kehnley for reminding this mama what can happen when you leave a 3 yr old in the bath with tub crayons and paint while you dress a clean baby sister in the next room...
YIKES!

I know a girl...

I know a little girl who knows her self so well, she's tall and smart and funny
strawberry soap is her favorite smell
Every morning brings new adventures to explore
she greets me with a smile and kiss
always keeps me wanting more
I know a little girl who catches bubbles and butterflies
she jumps and runs and plays and has the most beautiful blue eyes
She tells me I'm a miracle... God's wonderful beautiful child
these are things I tell her often, to hear them back is wild
I know a little girl shes helpful that's for sure
she helps me cook, clean and sweep; she helps me at the store
She loves to paint and draw and write, she's talented this is true
she always asks me with a grin "can I paint with you?"
When it's time to tuck her in she hugs my neck so tight
it's hard sometimes to leave her with just one kiss good-night
Eskimo, butterfly, princess, frog, bee, and Lilly just to name a few
these are all the different types of kisses she'll try to give to you
I know a little girl whose favorite phrase to say
Is "don't you think it's a beautiful day today?"
Who could ever be down or blue with such a joyful spirit
it brings a smile to any one's face whose lucky enough to hear it!
I know a little girl who treads upon my heart each day
leaving little things
finger prints sandy shoes and colored lip gloss on strings
Three years ago I couldn't have guessed how rich my life would be
with you little one in my arms, so glad God gave you to me.

Happy Birthday sweet Kehnley. Your name is special for many reasons but one is that it means enthusiastic for life and fiery: I have to say even in just these few years you are the embodiment of your name. It's amazing to see your personality grow but especially your enthusiasm for life and learning and just how excited you can be about everyday things. It makes me so proud to be with you all day enjoying life with you. I can't imagine a more fiery little girl, your passionate about so many things and I love that about you! You can certainly use your powers for good OR evil... but mostly you use them for good and when you talk about the things you love and your eyes light up it makes me smile. And when you pray for people and talk about God it brings joy to my heart. And when you dance and give me thumbs up I want to squeal with delight because its like nothing I have ever dreamed of, how fun it is be to be your mom... When you laugh and talk to Sadie and try to make her smile, it's the best version of what I had hoped your relationship would be. I say all this so one day you'll know, in case you don't already, that I've always loved you to pieces, and one of my greatest blessings is to get to show you that each day.