New Friends

Today we got together with some "new" friends. Julia used to work with my mom a few years ago, then over the last several months we've been talking through e-mail about adoption, a few months ago they adopted their second daughter Hannah... and today we were finally able to get our four curly girls together. Hopefully she doesn't mind but I am going to post a couple pictures up here -- she took them, I totally forgot my camera today, which is actually no surprise for how scatterbrained I have been. The girls had such a good time getting to play with a new friend and getting to hold another. This was Amelia's first time holding a baby -- although she really just wanted her to lay on her lap, so I don't know if that counts as holding. :)

When we first saw them, Amelia said "She got same color as me!" Amelia has been noticing her skin color more lately, or at least I think so. Last week, she picked up one of the brown baby dolls the girls have, brought it to me, pressed it against her cheek and said "she look like me" and I said "Yes, she has beautiful brown skin, just like you. " Then she said "She look like Daddy too"..... hmmm, maybe its the brown eyes. :)

For my cousin who asked....

.... Amelia's birthday pictures will still be coming. So, here's the problem. We had a really girly party, all pink and tulle, Amelia had a fru fru pettiskirt that mommy made her, real tea in real china cups, fancy little finger foods, the princess castle, you know - the frills...... so I told my hubby (and the other men like my dad and brother) "There's really no need for you to stay, we'll just make it all girls" (and Garrett, don't make fun of him, he's going to be a very secure manly man) I didn't think that one all the way through...... With no hubby there to help me, it was harder for me to serve tea, make sure Amelia wasn't burning herself on the candles, stop the kids from breaking the cups as Isabella screams out "Let's do Cheers!" --- yeah, we're having an Irish Pub party for her. So I didn't get alot of pictures, but thankfully my mom got some, so as soon as I get some from her, I will post them.

Amelia's cursing problem

Amelia isn't the clearest talker and has a few words that end up sounding like a particular cuss word. It first started when she was singing this little kids song..... "Before I split, split, split I chill....... I say Father have your will." But then last night we had fish for dinner and she asked me "Mommy is that ______?" a couple times and finally I could get around to answering "Yes honey, its FISH" Then Isabella would say "Yum, this is good chicken mommy" and Amelia would correct her and tell her that it wasn't chicken and what it was.

And what is it about parents like us that find this absolutely hysterical. I mean if she really said one, I'd be mortified. Do you remember 3 years ago when Isabella kept saying "Oh crap!" and I was to blame..... This is different, Amelia has no idea what she is saying. She has no idea why mommy and daddy can't stop laughing. She thinks its her silly faces.She has no idea why mommy makes her call daddy and leave a message screaming "I love fish" or why she has to call Auntie Becky and tell her. Oh no, I think she might have just figured it out. And now that she knows what she's saying she wasn't too pleased that we ate that for dinner.

I'm just glad she didn't scream it out at the acquarium a couple weeks ago.

(Sorry if I've offended anyone, I have a very strange sense of humor. :)

Easter

(Yes, Isabella was climbing the tree in her Easter dress)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. Ours was very nice. It seemed like our Easter worship actually started on Wednesday, Kenny and I were able to go to a concert with Christ Tomlin and Israel Houghton/New Breed. Wonderful, nothing like having a date night with your husband and then you go and get refreshed spiritually as well. :) Easter morning on the other hand was not so worshipful as we somehow, even though I had gotten things ready the night before, still ended up feeling a little frustrated and rushed. Is it just me, or do a lot of Sundays seem like you are getting attacked? Ok, maybe just me. Thankfully, we have a few minutes on our way to church to recover and pray. :)

And how great it is when you come truly wanting to worship God to know that God is wanting that too. This song was my favorite in the service and is a favorite of mine in general.

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

And make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross

My sin upon His shoulder

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

If you've never heard this song, go listen to it. I've heard a few different version of it, but they are all pretty close. If nothing else, go listen to Nicole Nordeman or Sarah Sadler sing it, those are 2 of my favorites. Beautiful! What a perfect reminder of just what Christ's death and resurrection means for us.

Quick overdue ending to Disney pics

Who cares that its been almost 2 months since Disney..... I still wanted you guys to see more of the pictures, but I didn't feel like uploading them all on here so I'm attaching a Flickr slide show so you can see them if you want, and ignore them if you just don't care. I won't care either way, I am still living in the post Disney days, still "riding" the rides every day and wishing we were still there. And by riding the rides, I mean the girls like to pretend we are riding the rides..... very cute at first..... two months later its a little depressing. And every day is not an exaggeration at all, literally, .....ask my husband, ......or my mom (Amelia would ask me to "pretend we're at Disney" in the car, or the lazy river at the beach) Just last night we were riding several rides as we were swinging on the swings. She misses it as much as I do. She also asked if we could go back, and then provided me with 2 pennies out of "Sissy's" purse to help with the cost.

Wednesday at Disney, my parents came and joined us for a couple days. The girls had no idea and we just told them we needed to go meet some friends at the front of the park. They were pretty excited when they saw it was Papa and Noni. Papa then had to carry both of them around and Amelia quickly cuddled in and took her first nap of the week. :) That afternoon we did Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for Isabella and she loved this. Really, what girl doesn't like getting pampered? Amelia was too young, but we brought her a princess dress, put her hair up and Isabella helped put some makeup on her and she was just thrilled that mommy let her wear a dress up dress in public. The next morning we went to breakfast with characters at the Animal Kingdom, and no, I don't normally let my girls eat cupcakes for breakfast. We were celebrating Isabella's Gotcha Day while we were there and the lady at the Animal Kingdom was the only one that noticed that and made a big deal about it. If you have your birthday, anniversary, etc there they bring you cupcakes or something, but no one really thought much of the Gotcha Day, but the lady at the Tusker House had adopted, so she knew what a special time it is to celebrate. In the pictures, Isabella was very concerned that Goofy blew out her candle .... she's still bitter. Oh and another funny thing at Animal Kingdom, my girls don't know ALL of the Disney characters, actually alot of them they didn't, but still got their picture with. Jimminy Cricket was one of these, when Isabella saw him she asked Kenny "Is that Cricket on the Hearth?" I am laughing as I type this, because I'm sure most of you have no idea who that is, but it was a horrible Christmas cartoon we watched this year that Isabella for some reason loved. (Actually a story by Charles Dickens, but hopefully better than the cartoon) I think she would have been happier if Daddy had told her yes. :) I am going to post one picture here that makes me laugh so hard. We went to Hollywood Studios, not our favorite park, but loved the Sci Fi Theatre. Outside the restaurant there was a "Scary" billboard --- trying to convince onlookers that the movies inside are scary. I told my girls to give me a scary face and this is what Amelia did:

Everyone around us was cracking up.

Isabella did get to march around with the High School Musical show, but for some reason I haven't uploaded those pictures, hmmm, I will have to look for them. She wasn't overly impressed because it wasn't the characters of HSM. When she saw them singing she said "Where's high school musical?" I said "This is it" She said "No its not......... Oh, I think its the Jonas Brothers." WHAT? How does she even know who the Jonas Brothers are? Do I already have to start searching her bedroom for music she's hiding from me? HA :) The very best part of Hollywood Studios was Fantasmic -- amazing! I'd go back to the park just for that. And for my girls, half the fun was doing the wave with the crowd waiting for the show to start. I guess we've really sheltered them, this was their first time doing the wave.... their excitement in the pictures speaks for themselves. Saturday was Valentine's Day and our last day at a park, sniff, sniff. We just enjoyed every last minute of it, went to dinner with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet -- but not Rabbit, which Isabella was slightly disappointed about; then ended the night and our time there with the Spectro Magic Parade. Just perfect!

Menu Plan.....

.... can't say Monday and I'm almost too late for Tuesday. Again this is mainly for my sake because if I make up my menu plan it really helps me for the entire week. So here it goes:

Monday: Breakfast was different for each of us, I didn't eat anything.

Lunch: Salmon Melts (HERE is the recipe) And can I just say YUUUUUMMMY. I ate mine stuffed in a half a red pepper and the girls I put on top of a piece of whole wheat/flax bread and we all loved it.

Dinner: Baked Chicken Taquitos, corn and homemade refried beans

Tuesday: Breakfast: Brown Rice Farina Lunch: Chicken salad sandwiches (Sorry if I am bragging, but I make some pretty darn good chicken salad) on fresh out of the oven bread and a salad.... we had company for lunch. :)

Dinner: Chickpea and Sweet Potato Curry soup - a vegetarian recipe (If its good, how could it not be with 3 of my favorite things in the title, I'll post the recipe)

Wednesday: Pancakes for the girls, probably just a green/fruit smoothie for me Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: DATE NIGHT AND CONCERT!!!! Can you tell I'm excited? Depending on the time we might go to a Vietnamese restaurant and I will get Vegetarian General's Tofu (had this with Alyssa while she was here and it was SOOO good) if not enough time, we'll grab a salad somewhere and then off to see Chris Tomlin in concert

Thursday: Gymnastic day, something quick for breakfast

Lunch: AB & J sandwiches

Dinner: Tilapia, small salad, carrots with coconut, ginger and chili -- we'll see how Isabella likes these, she doesn't like coconut :) Another new recipe that I might post.

Friday: Breakfast: Egg in a hole

Lunch & Dinner: Kenny has the day off, so I don't know if we will be packing a picnic or going somewhere, we have to look at the weather to see what we're doing.

Saturday: Breakfast: Whole Grain Pancakes or waffle
Lunch: Turkey sandwiches, salad for me

Dinner: Homemade pizza

Sunday: Easter...... I'm assuming lunch with my parents??? Guess I should call my mom and tell her we're expecting that. :)

Have a great day, I'm getting ready to upload some pics today.

Where have I been?

Wow, I know I'm not the best blogger, but a whole month?! I still hadn't even shown you more Disney pictures, now I'm so far behind I don't know how I will catch up. :) The weekend after we had our "blizzard" here it was actually warm and beautiful, so for probably the next week I spent most of my time outside with the girls. I commented to Kenny that week that I felt bad he was slaving away at work while I was forgoing my household duties to enjoy the beautiful weather. The girls and I would play outside, have our lunch as a picnic outside and then they would continue to play as I worked on my ankle and farmers tan sitting and reading a book.... awww, spring! Then the next week it hit me that Amelia's birthday was the 21st and I hadn't really started planning. I knew we were going to do a T party, Teddy Bears, Tiaras, and Tea.... or as we also called it a Teddy Bear Dress Up Tea Party, 3 things that my 3 year old loves! So I kicked it into high gear to sew her an outfit, make the invitations, plan out the decorations and menu, make little bags for tea sets to give away....... I now realize why so many people opt for a party away from home, Isabella's ice skating party was much easier on me. :) We had a blast though and I will DEFINITELY be posting pictures in the next couple days. Then right after the party, I had 2 days to somewhat clean up and prepare for my cousin Alyssa to come in. She came down a few days early and then on the weekend we went to a ladies conference, which was SO good. THEN she left on Sunday and Monday I spent the day doing laundry and packing to go to the beach with my girls and my mom.... and we just got back last night at 10:30. So I really have been pretty much gone from my computer for a month. I have been slacking on m blogging, on facebook and if I had any emails to return I would have been slacking on them. I would be uploading pictures right now, but once again we've spent some time outside working on the yard -- ok, so Kenny is doing the work and I'm mostly supervising. :) And in just a little bit we are going to go downtown and enjoy the rest of the day as a family. I will be back though, I promise, April won't be nearly as busy for me..... or so I think. :)

Snow Day

Hmmmm, what will she do with this snow ball....

Oh, this seems like a fun idea...

Now its on -- Snowball fight!!!

Well, some snow stuck! We got 3 inches last night and first thing this morning it was still here. Our girls were so excited, they skipped breakfast to get ready and go play for a little while. Daddy stayed home until lunch time to play with the girls. We aren't prepared for any kind of snow, the girls had 2 pair of socks on, but all we have is rain boots and they had tights and jeans on ... so needless to say they would play for a litle while and then come back in to warm up, go back out, back in..... They had lots of fun though. Last night was better snow for making snowballs or a snowman, today it was little bit icier -- great for sledding though. We have a small hill in our front yard and Kenny and my dad ended up making a small little jump for the sled. I don't know if my girls realize just how lucky they are to have a Daddy who will stay home and play out in the snow with them.

I love Isabella's face as she goes off a jump.

Amelia squealed with her mouth wide open pretty much every time they slid down the hill.

Daddy even got in on some of the action. :)

The girls had fun with the neighbor girls too.

You can see in the pictures how the snow quickly was melting away.

It doesn't last long, but it sure is fun for a little while.

I just broke out my sandals....

.... and it decided to snow tonight. Snow does crazy things around this house. Isabella was told last night that we might be getting snow today and she has been waiting and praying for it since then. At lunch she prayed "Thank you for the rain, I hope it turns to snow." :) It finally started snowing here about 10 minutes ago. It was kind of like waiting on the cable guy or phone guy -- you end up being the last house that it comes too. Everyone close to us was getting it, but not us. Isabella looked out the window and screamed "ITS SNOWING!" She took off out the back door ..... wearing only her shirt and panties. I guess southern girls don't realize you should at least wear pants and shoes in the snow. I said, "Honey, you need to run and get milk and bread before the blizzard comes." He reminded me that we got that yesterday so I sent him out for dessert. :) Isabella is already begging to make a snow angel and she is convinced that she is going skiing tomorrow. Who knows, maybe some of this will actually stick. I won't be putting my flip flops up though, I'm convinced spring weather will be here soon!

Disney 2

(Can you believe Amelia went and sat in his lap?)

Tuesday, we went to the Animal Kingdom. I both liked it because it was like a zoo and disliked it because it was like a zoo. We're zoo people and with being "Friends of the Zoo" members we have gone to lots of zoo for free. I think I was expecting it to be the best zoo ever, but we have been to the San Diego zoo, so I guess that is one of the best zoos ever. The animal part of it was pretty much just a regular zoo (unless you don't go to zoos much and then it would be exceptional :) Don't get me wrong, I still liked the park and Isabella especially loves animals, so she loved it. Trust me, she'd go to our local zoo a couple times a week and still not get bored. Kenny did get to ride the Expedition Everest ride and said that was good, I didn't get to ride it (sniff, sniff), but I'm not into riding rides by myself -- Isabella wanted to ride it, but was too little. She probably would have liked it too, she loves roller coasters. I won't post pictures of the safari ride, but it was alot of fun. I'm surprised I actually got some pictures of the animals because you are really bouncing around in the jeep. The first time we rode it the guy was great, really fitting the part of the safari driver, the next time (which was on Thurs with my parents) the guy was monotone and boring, which actually made it entertaining in its own right. We were watching some video last night from that Thursday and laughing at how the guy sounds on video. We, of course, saw more characters, my girls really were into seeing the characters. If you don't want to see them, don't point them out. My girls wanted to see Eeyore, which also meant seeing Tigger and Pooh again. Of course, this time we only waited a few minutes to see them. :) Eeyore had horrible penmanship and when we saw him later in the week Isabella said "Oh no, Mommy, Eeyore can't write very good."

We saw Minnie again, her line wasn't long so I agreed the girls could go see her again. We also saw Pocahontas, a very white Pocahontas, which much have confused everyone because we had no one in front of us to see her. :) The parade was great, as are all of Disney parades. Isabella loved trying to get the characters to give her five. We got to talk to a nice older couple that I could tell were enjoying watching the girls have fun. I thought it was kind of cute that an older couple would be there by themselves. I can see that being Kenny and I -- in another 40 years. :) Even if you are not into animals, or you don't feel like going on a safari ride, go to the Animal Kingdom for at least the shows. Oh my, were they spectacular. The Lion King show was full of all kinds of fun things, I'll only post a few pics. Isabella loved the acrobatics. Amelia liked it, but was a little unsure of some of it because we were up front and the show isn't done on a stage its done right in the middle of the floor with bleachers sitting around it.

I asked my girls what their favorite part of Animal Kingdom was and Amelia said "Newo show" and Isabella also said "The Finding Nemo Show." I would have to agree, that was my favorite part as well. Isabella said the Lion King show was next - so if kids are telling you the shows are better than the animals, you know they're good. We all just absolutely loved "Finding Nemo: The Musical" -- the other stuff was good, but this was great. It was like a Broadway show (nothing at all like the shows they put on at Hollywood Studios) and just really amazing. These pictures aren't great, but we were in the second section up -- so using a zoom lens and not being allowed to use a flash gives a little bit of blurry results, but I still wanted to post some.

Honestly, I personally would pick the shows over anything else at that park. So make sure if you're going, don't miss them. Well, unless you just really hate shows in general, then just disregard my recommendation. :) We actually didn't do everything at Animal Kingdom that day, on the off season it closes at 5, so its a short day already. Then we decided to take some time to go eat at Rainforest Cafe, which the girls loved (after they got used to the noises.) I also had promised to take them swimming that night so we saved a couple things to do for when Papa and Noni were going to be with us. Lots of fun though --- now Isabella is walking around singing "big, blue world...."