Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for my wonderful, sweet, mischievously smiling little boy. 

We visited the ENT today to have Murray's ears diagnosed further. Basically today I learned that everything the Dr. originally said is true...and he can sit amazingly still and quiet while someone cleans his ears out. He also looks amazingly cute while getting a hearing test done. Sitting in the sound booth by himself smiling proudly as he says "BEEP". 

We'll get an x-ray and I have to monitor his sleep once for 10 minutes and then we'll go back at the end of April for a follow up where it will be decided for sure our plan of action. Looks like we're headed in the direction of tubes.

I'm thankful to be able to take my son to his dr. appointments. I'm thankful to appreciate his smile and see his achievements. What a great blessing to share my life with this amazing little man!

Wordless Wednesday

Early Birthday Presents in the mail
Thanks Soren and Anders!

 

 

 

 

Hair We Go....

Last weekend my baby sister came to visit. It was wonderful!! It's so rare we get time together just to hang out...and the kids just loved having her. The really love her!


On Saturday morning we decided to treat ourselves to haircuts....
and each donated about 7 inches! It was fun to go through such a drastic change together, and I've found it's always easier to make a huge haircut knowing someone else will benefit from it!


Here's a few "before" shots

 

 

and here are the "after" shots...

 

I look exhausted! Maybe I should start sleeping more...HA!


On a serious note...if you have an extra 6 inches of hair (or more) and want a worthy cause to donate to...here's the website:
http://www.childrenwithhairloss.us/ 


We LOVE this place! They accept all hair and do not throw away any of it. Children get 1 free wig a year...and so much comes along with it! It's a great cause and a wonderful reason to sport a new do.

Thankful Thursday

Last night I stood in my backyard talking over the fence with my neighbor. His daughter and her 3 kids are visiting and Lucy and Murray have loved having kids behind us to play with. There has been a large amount of handing kids back and forth over fences and minimal moms jumping over the fence...unless absolutely necessary...

Lucy and Murray were playing bubbles and sidewalk chalk while the grown ups chatted.

Somehow or another the topic of cancer came up and Bob mentioned a friend who had died at 27 when he was younger. "Not everyone lives a long life..." he said. 

I know it's true. I know it is all in God's timing. I know that each day here on earth is a blessing.

But somehow we just forget. We get lost in the busyness of the day to day, we forget that each moment could be our last. 

Today an email popped up in my inbox. I almost didn't read it. In the hustle and bustle of the day I almost didn't take a moment to check on a friend. But then, I did. I opened it up and clicked on the link. It was an update on a journal a friend of mine has on the caring bridge website. The update was just a few sentences long..."she's coming home...she's under the care of hospice now..."

and just like that today is different. Just like that I'm reminded to love my children just a little more. To hug them one more time. To laugh at them chatting in their bunk beds instead of laying quietly going to sleep. Just like that being able to celebrate Lucy's 6th birthday with hers is an honor... Just like that I'm reminded each day is a blessing...

Just like that I'm reminded "Not everyone lives a long life..."

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when i am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

This may not seem thankful, but it is. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a wife...a mother...to see my children growing each day. I'm thankful for a high school friendship. I'm thankful for a friend who shared her smile and complained about boys with me. Who made gym class and my senior prom something just a little more fun.

I'm thankful that she has a loving husband who has stood by her as she battled this disease. I'm SO thankful that she was able to her sweet baby girl in her arms and watch her grow...even if just for 3 short years. I'm thankful for all the people who love her, who won't let her daughter grow up without knowing her.

I'm thankful God cares for her...

for her family...

in the coming days/weeks/months she has left here with us.

Wordless Wednesday

Lucy created her own "Bunny Hat" completely unassisted...I think it's pretty great!

 

Cloth Diapers

We're using cloth diapers with Ginny and I'm guest blogging over at What Gnau? today talking about it! Check it out...and take a look at my super cute niece while you're there!

Thankful Thursday

The baby is sitting on the wood floor in between the living room and dining room...put there by herself...learning to scoot to find all the treasures left behind by her big brother and sister. 

The biggest is creating a masterpiece with a paintbrush, glue, sparkly poms, and some pipe cleaner. 

The boy is coloring with markers...treasures of toys on the bench next to him...

Crumbs are under the table...evidence of lunch just eaten...

The sun is just poking out from behind the clouds.

Today I am thankful...tired, but thankful.

Kensington Farm

Here's a few pictures from our trip to the farm yesterday. We learned a lot and had lots of fun as well. 

 

 

I personally loved that the Mama cow was named Greta and the Grandma was named Gretchen. We couldn't have asked for better weather!

What's the News: Maple Syrup

Lucy wanted to tell you what she learned at the farm yesterday. She was a little nervous so I fed her questions off camera...maybe one day I'll learn how to edit a bit...but here's the unedited news on Maple Syrup (which is DELICIOUS)

Wordless Wednesday

Guess who made her way to the book corner?!?
She's so proud!
 

 

Cupcakes for Ava

I was supposed to make a birthday cake for Ava a few weeks back, but I woke up the morning of her party and couldn't sit up I had hurt my neck so bad. Needless to say, I didn't finish her cake, nor did we make it to her party. She's 3 and didn't really know, but I felt awful. So, when the Troxel clan came down for dinner this past weekend the kids and I made some delicious strawberry shortcake inspired cupcakes. We experimented a bit on the best way to top them. The best part about these cupcakes were the delicious strawberry buttercream frosting I had made fresh and my own homemade fondant. Two things I had tried out just for Ava's birthday! They were both a big hit...and my kiddos LOVED decorating and tasting the cupcakes.

 

 

 

Evangeline Kate 8 months old

8 months old! How are you 3/4 of a year old already?

I know, it's the same every month. I feel like just when I start to accept you're getting to be so big I suddenly have to think of you being 1 month older. I was just accepting that you were a 7 month old and now I have to tell people that you're 8 months old. 

Regardless of my desire for you to stay small you are indeed getting bigger. Here's a few things you've learned in the last month...

You have "go go gadget arms", just when I think something is out of your reach or you'll fall over grabbing it your arms get just a bit further and you can get that desired item. It's quite fun to watch!

You have started scooting with intention. You're not crawling yet, and you're not very fast, but between reaching with those long arms and hopping on your bottom you can make your way throughout the room to get to what you want. The first time you did this it was towards my glass of wine...hmmm...not sure what to think of that!

You're starting to be more vocal. I love listening to you jabber while playing, however I'm blaming your brother on teaching you how to spit and scream. The squeals are enjoyable, but the screaming to get me to pay attention to you...well, we may have to work on that ;)

You have definitely solidified your object permanence recognizing when a toy is hiding or I have walked out of the room. Sometime we use it this skill to play hide and seek...sometimes you just scream until you can see me again.

You're eating...just a bit...YAY! I really was starting to wonder, but just this past week you started swallowing some smushed banana and applesauce. You've also started chewing on small apple slices, a pretzel and a few veggies. It's not much, but it's a start and I'm sure you'll be eating like a champ in no time...you may however prove to be even pickier than your brother and sister as infants though!

You are wearing 18 month clothes...like I said, just slow down in the growing department!

You're hair is growing in fuller, thicker and darker! I may have a dark haired baby yet! Your eyes seem to be a bit darker most days, but they still haven't committed to a color yet. 

You love to people watch, get their attention and flash them a big toothy grin. You certainly know how to lay the charm on thick and everyone just loves it. You're still coming with me to Bible Study on Saturdays and those women just love you. You even came overnight on your first women's retreat last weekend. You were an absolute dream...I'm almost certain you didn't cry at all the entire time! (except in the middle of the night to be fed)

You're definitely a mama's girl. You hardly let anyone else hold you anymore and reach for me if they do. You love your daddy, but reach for me if it's anywhere near time for you to eat. 

We sure do love you Ginny girl! Lucy likes to check on how big your toes are growing and Murray just slobbers you with kisses. I'm excited to see how you are when you're more mobile and can interact with them more...however I'm willing to wait for that stage to come...there's just a few traces left of that sweet baby girl born last July so I'll cling to them as long as I can, I know when they're gone I'll have an exciting toddler in her place!

Wordless Wednesday

"I'm teaching Ginny how to do puzzles" ~Murray