tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68321993796164046722024-03-05T01:03:33.409-05:00That's Good Stuff!"Whoever said it first spoke with insight and wisdom: you don't own children, you only borrow them."--Anne LinnStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-89117652912563509292010-11-26T09:22:00.005-05:002010-11-28T19:44:34.451-05:00ThankfulYesterday was Thanksgiving, Day 1,- today we will celebrate Thanksgiving, Day 2, (as Chloe likes to call it) with my family at my mom & dad's house for lunch. This is the first year that we didn't have 2 Thanksgiving meals in the same day. I think this could work well for us! Now I can fill up to the point of sickness (and then get to feel guilty for my gluttonous behavior) two days in a row! I will try to control myself. But really, if you've ever had my moms coconut cake, you know it's not my fault. That stuff is serious! So, I guess that coconut cake makes it on the list of things I'm thankful for :) <br />I'm thankful that Micky and I have families that we truly enjoy spending time with. I'm thankful for a husband who loves me (and makes sure I know it) and that he is such an amazing father to our girls. I'm thankful that Chloe and Emma are healthy and brilliant and have the kindest hearts I've ever witnessed. I love how they comfort each other when one is sad, or if one has gotten in trouble they will come to each others defense. -- Just last week, Chloe had gotten sent to her room (I can't really recall why, I'm sure it had something to do with typical 6 year-old sass!) and we caught Emma sneaking upstairs to go check on her. Now, mind you, Emma sneaking is quite like a bull trying to sneak through a china cabinet. She lacks a bit of subtlety. But nonetheless, it was really cute and we let her do it. She just went in and patted Chloe's shoulder and stood beside her as she "thought about what she had done." I hope they love each other like this forever. <br />I'm thankful for friends who truly get me-- and still love me anyway! I'm thankful that God has given us everything we need. And that he has given us seasons-- so that even our youngest can see how he makes our world beautiful. Driving down the road- or just looking out our window- we get to see God's beautiful canvas and how he has chosen to paint it for Fall. It is breathtaking, and I try to remind myself to just STOP and appreciate it.<br />I'm thankful for sounds-- like the sound of my girls giggling with each other, the way Emma still says "I wuv you too!" -(I'm gonna hate when she figures that "l" sound out!). I'm thankful for the sound of little feet running across the hardwood floor to wake me & Micky up on the weekend- even when I wish they'd sleep a little bit longer- I still love it! I'm thankful for the laughter I hear at bath time when their dad is bathing them and telling a silly story! And even though Micky is trying to give me a few minutes break- I can't help but go back in there to be a part of the fun! I love that sound! As silly as this may sound, I think one of my favorite sounds of all is when I hear the garage door open. It means Micky is home! There's always a feeling of peace with that sound. I'm thankful he's home safe and that even as crazy as things can get around here -he still comes home :) And at the end of the day, we're here together. And that peace and security is probably what I'm most thankful for! <br />Happy Thanksgiving!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-16169879220926398682010-04-13T15:23:00.010-04:002010-04-13T16:49:48.021-04:00Imperfectly CharmingCLICK ON PICS TO SEE LARGER IMAGE<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhX83gFt3LGIzgUFbZITI8WNKy-nWh4Yq_FQeUaJQY1VUmE9ZbbKIvAxZiETMBYatS_UbpiChDTIC7BAjbfKKKnc7MON7vfIaQKeu-qf1M8Cl_W9loPPB16sWDcqKG1w2uy-FGkwhRjp9t/s1600/SAM_0540.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhX83gFt3LGIzgUFbZITI8WNKy-nWh4Yq_FQeUaJQY1VUmE9ZbbKIvAxZiETMBYatS_UbpiChDTIC7BAjbfKKKnc7MON7vfIaQKeu-qf1M8Cl_W9loPPB16sWDcqKG1w2uy-FGkwhRjp9t/s200/SAM_0540.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459718319509523986" /></a><br /><br />Happy Easter! (yes, I know it's late-- but when you think about what Easter means, I think we should be saying Happy Easter all year-- so Happy Easter!) As you can see, taking pictures was very interesting this year. Emma definitely believes in the action shot, or should I say catching things in their natural state! At least that's the reason we like to give when she won't stand still for longer than a second for you to snap a pic. She'll stand there and smile and say cheese, but that's it. As soon as she finishes the last s sound in cheese, she's running to the camera to take a look. Oh, the joys of digital cameras! It's actually pretty cute, unless you're the one trying to snap the picture! Here are some of our attempts! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAT3QMTsyRZF2Pm-OfiNl94wsJMB4zqasB0GzR1r1gMzbAuVImCbnvLA5878tNdZsT_YGQGKD7xOi-NrfRefSEvk6c8Hi8pOVdx50LzfzQv7DpZzUnKnQ7hojCRyPkfy48VnnW0Og5yx8y/s1600/SAM_0562.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAT3QMTsyRZF2Pm-OfiNl94wsJMB4zqasB0GzR1r1gMzbAuVImCbnvLA5878tNdZsT_YGQGKD7xOi-NrfRefSEvk6c8Hi8pOVdx50LzfzQv7DpZzUnKnQ7hojCRyPkfy48VnnW0Og5yx8y/s200/SAM_0562.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459718339148566642" /></a><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pbWHhMQuLvhjv4kDqm0fOSmmfQ_82JRIILwMbIxDpXz0DlBZDoHnbx-bT5yDD_DtjrPTFDrwKMe0oHfeEszsLqFz3FkLJlhRT0trHCKObp2haLip7URfS1dUGfoivx4dnN5_ErNMN1dn/s1600/SAM_0543.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pbWHhMQuLvhjv4kDqm0fOSmmfQ_82JRIILwMbIxDpXz0DlBZDoHnbx-bT5yDD_DtjrPTFDrwKMe0oHfeEszsLqFz3FkLJlhRT0trHCKObp2haLip7URfS1dUGfoivx4dnN5_ErNMN1dn/s200/SAM_0543.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459718335679203282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLt6kCRPLWS_sXRNT4LwSp3fGtTruAjVuV2ZzsTUWdkl0Pk4zXsATg5nVwbIny9RN8ucg7tP77N3ZSyCq1rvyaZxlzKjwnflxx3YXK4-KXGv_2FyJ3NCGD553EfS5qxGoGc27d6jxnpYyY/s1600/SAM_0542.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLt6kCRPLWS_sXRNT4LwSp3fGtTruAjVuV2ZzsTUWdkl0Pk4zXsATg5nVwbIny9RN8ucg7tP77N3ZSyCq1rvyaZxlzKjwnflxx3YXK4-KXGv_2FyJ3NCGD553EfS5qxGoGc27d6jxnpYyY/s200/SAM_0542.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459718323187489634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOyVFT4-XXsYkqlVzaWJV164IJCN1r-i6PnECpFvUnhUr9jeRDACET_t6JAHCwK2PF1oH5ge9XN33R8wHWC4wvIJxEh4KEJgetHgNqV4Jd0p_ticjhuHYFtLVeOqganc2iGOHV6niGAtd/s1600/SAM_0554.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOyVFT4-XXsYkqlVzaWJV164IJCN1r-i6PnECpFvUnhUr9jeRDACET_t6JAHCwK2PF1oH5ge9XN33R8wHWC4wvIJxEh4KEJgetHgNqV4Jd0p_ticjhuHYFtLVeOqganc2iGOHV6niGAtd/s200/SAM_0554.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459718350782090962" /></a><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05cFRYGS0zQ7wd5iDARR6vKQ_lXw_CioOAWz042XANnEJmGZzvZT-maKPwrezllg6n0-KD8s-zQiphmMLccR0krSjWw9RsLCoIRFxGEWLhO2zQ1BJu2mJ-DG_jyCBD-P_RvWO-x7XOAFm/s1600/SAM_0553.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05cFRYGS0zQ7wd5iDARR6vKQ_lXw_CioOAWz042XANnEJmGZzvZT-maKPwrezllg6n0-KD8s-zQiphmMLccR0krSjWw9RsLCoIRFxGEWLhO2zQ1BJu2mJ-DG_jyCBD-P_RvWO-x7XOAFm/s200/SAM_0553.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459719551854578850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9qchcblAOPEkL97mbBT4uek0w2CbcBOZv665SAOtLPK7LTk1gBg5jMYP4R6E_45lxzRDHzw6_c1xy7cWeJP_cHluKZCqvvHpHTxafQFBa0ZJ6uPicUH4u9Z04ZXVDve2DHObLEZG2Q0r/s1600/SAM_0556.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9qchcblAOPEkL97mbBT4uek0w2CbcBOZv665SAOtLPK7LTk1gBg5jMYP4R6E_45lxzRDHzw6_c1xy7cWeJP_cHluKZCqvvHpHTxafQFBa0ZJ6uPicUH4u9Z04ZXVDve2DHObLEZG2Q0r/s200/SAM_0556.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459719558411311346" /></a><br /><br />If you've seen these pictures you've seen my latest project. The bunnies! Please take note of the sequence of pictures trying to capture the girls with their bunnies-- I think my favorite is Emma's face when she dropped hers! Let me give you a little background on the bunnies: <br />About 2 months ago I sat in my den and looked around at all of the clutter- meaning- toys! toys! oh, and did I mention, toys?!? Just a few weeks before that day I had bagged up 3 large bags FULL of toys and taken them to the local drop-off site. Yet, still, there I was surrounded by toys. So, I decided that we weren't buying anymore toys. (we'll see how long that lasts) So far, we've stuck to it. Now, they still received Easter toys and presents, their grandparents and aunts & uncles gave them lots of "cool stuff"! However, the Easter bunny at our house brought them bathing suits, a Bible for Chloe and books for Emma. And I made them these bunnies. I know they are technically toys- but I figure these were handmade and will hopefully mean something to them later in life. Especially when they realize just how uncrafty their mother is, and that this was a HUGE deal for her to even attempt to make these! I saw Kata Golda's book on a website I like to visit, and it claimed to be a easy, fun "first" project for the beginner sewer. It is made of felt and stuffed with poly-fil fiber. Thank goodness my mother, a Master Seamstress!, was available for me to ask, "What on earth is a whipple stitch, a blanket stitch, and why would you do a double-run stitch?!?" While the book is great at giving templates and cute ideas, it lacks a little in the explanation of the stitching department. The main reason I chose this project (other than the crazy cute animals) was because it stated that part of the charm of these animals (you could do a dog or mouse too) was that they were imperfect- and their imperfection gave them character and charm! Well, if imperfection makes you charming, then these bunnies are the most charming creatures around! Seriously, though, they weren't too hard to make. Probably the hardest part (other than stitching the eyes and threading the darn needle!) was having to wait to work on them until the kids were in bed. So, that made for some long nights the days before Easter, but it was totally worth it when I saw their reaction to them. They both love their bunny, and so far have taken extra special care of them. I think I'll try a mouse next time- probably next Easter! My fingers need a break from all the pricking! :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAkueELcMVO8eUcHzRdGD9dCPH9BCB7jd6mvYcZUBgLJbh1rPP52tTUGzRVkG2z6hdFGhlYd2aHdx1pIGeEcwrW_R_ROgrZ_vHEKX9CNi8LLXyZ74lcm3ImhgGdWTJyRfMs0hUk2Kynxv/s1600/SAM_0537.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAkueELcMVO8eUcHzRdGD9dCPH9BCB7jd6mvYcZUBgLJbh1rPP52tTUGzRVkG2z6hdFGhlYd2aHdx1pIGeEcwrW_R_ROgrZ_vHEKX9CNi8LLXyZ74lcm3ImhgGdWTJyRfMs0hUk2Kynxv/s200/SAM_0537.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459719564848219426" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZk5NJKeibN9ED2U7HwiFw0Tg5_pkwpUrgUA-7l_W7mSQMDjohH_8n5hYovqpQPbT87H0KuFmkkS-fQvXBhyJbQKGRlayk96Zhj6YVDmZGXKWO6bOaaTrOHGhVBgWqaQHZq1HkDrELOzx/s1600/SAM_0538.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZk5NJKeibN9ED2U7HwiFw0Tg5_pkwpUrgUA-7l_W7mSQMDjohH_8n5hYovqpQPbT87H0KuFmkkS-fQvXBhyJbQKGRlayk96Zhj6YVDmZGXKWO6bOaaTrOHGhVBgWqaQHZq1HkDrELOzx/s200/SAM_0538.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459719569595505634" /></a>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-63900088377667847772010-03-19T17:32:00.014-04:002010-03-19T18:00:11.865-04:00RIP baby mulletToday mom and I took Emma for her first professional haircut (meaning, not me & mom trying to trim it up while she sat on the kitchen counter). I think the pictures pretty much speak for themselves, but I will say that it went better than I thought it would. I envisioned her catapulting herself from the chair, ceiling tiles raining down due to the powerful stomping, and perhaps even windows shattering from the high pitch screaming. So, when all she did was cry a little when we sat her in the chair- and stopped when she was allowed to stand with me holding her- I was ready to do a cartwheel right in the middle of Hair Doodles! <br />If you measure the hair in relation to the yellow of the flower on the back of her shirt, it looks like about 1 1/2 to 2 inches got taken away from the back middle, effectively ridding her of the mullet. I think I'm gonna miss it.<br />(click on images to see larger)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiufQFwPIlbvPQh0JIfvobKeIYJr7j-DwUC8uykW_PZDRTGn8tjcP7-Tm5hngEL14A832TVrqu9XCBhlhB5-5uQSkDEOOAXRtJk4T6QARFRa0dHMGv1CZKH0AV15mjCCnKcPKAtcnbzlO/s1600-h/SAM_0493.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiufQFwPIlbvPQh0JIfvobKeIYJr7j-DwUC8uykW_PZDRTGn8tjcP7-Tm5hngEL14A832TVrqu9XCBhlhB5-5uQSkDEOOAXRtJk4T6QARFRa0dHMGv1CZKH0AV15mjCCnKcPKAtcnbzlO/s200/SAM_0493.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450464528327728450" /></a><br />Before<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMdlEjZ_HThFP9X19LF4so8DzpJKL5LVLstnkTGifeY-SfhfxXVpVhGkhAamYiGCPdi7GUItDV8goYhQmWmFZPsHoKJ3fo0ZyFJURGbsr71nU_NeGFs1we_839AKt2YJXXeirFsbmxESf/s1600-h/SAM_0494.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMdlEjZ_HThFP9X19LF4so8DzpJKL5LVLstnkTGifeY-SfhfxXVpVhGkhAamYiGCPdi7GUItDV8goYhQmWmFZPsHoKJ3fo0ZyFJURGbsr71nU_NeGFs1we_839AKt2YJXXeirFsbmxESf/s200/SAM_0494.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450464538959762594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHhH49BUouD4oyjes5S5U6sWjjtHW0U6R3IjJm7x_eG419BrwEamphYrIG9DO2hdhsfKW3EGaDj5w8FXANAf1AzvuHZGDzXQEewR1Kb35KFgMVdbHmGWB2tBGTgahWIp226_VBamVyvnW/s1600-h/SAM_0496.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHhH49BUouD4oyjes5S5U6sWjjtHW0U6R3IjJm7x_eG419BrwEamphYrIG9DO2hdhsfKW3EGaDj5w8FXANAf1AzvuHZGDzXQEewR1Kb35KFgMVdbHmGWB2tBGTgahWIp226_VBamVyvnW/s200/SAM_0496.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450464541067150002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir63h3pWRX_-2-HOZI1pKk9qlWRXY3zi9xsRW_ClPTPrXtVZ3nJLgknbFzFftAEk_2z5S8BLt3STX0MhNTIibhH2rq8zH74ng0teDGWPsGlyeZcxq_VUJ6rR4vbBaI9CueE7K_6yEN8d58/s1600-h/SAM_0498.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir63h3pWRX_-2-HOZI1pKk9qlWRXY3zi9xsRW_ClPTPrXtVZ3nJLgknbFzFftAEk_2z5S8BLt3STX0MhNTIibhH2rq8zH74ng0teDGWPsGlyeZcxq_VUJ6rR4vbBaI9CueE7K_6yEN8d58/s200/SAM_0498.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450464548050435666" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWONch0JG_TsdzKjjLS-TST1c4TLOTMnuLyObiZLDNLVHik14vOqEYkUHKSxfjP13NrTLCHD3mpy1RGpd3dH5dY6rSRIQ1HpS66lNSRCO2Qx2WClaxBddeacB4icNNlz6YjK_sRUBefAjM/s1600-h/SAM_0501.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWONch0JG_TsdzKjjLS-TST1c4TLOTMnuLyObiZLDNLVHik14vOqEYkUHKSxfjP13NrTLCHD3mpy1RGpd3dH5dY6rSRIQ1HpS66lNSRCO2Qx2WClaxBddeacB4icNNlz6YjK_sRUBefAjM/s200/SAM_0501.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450464559564229122" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />AfterStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-68246551347717938892010-03-06T14:44:00.008-05:002010-03-06T15:18:53.218-05:0011 years!Happy Anniversary to my best friend! <br /> If it hadn't been for that magical day 11 years ago, we wouldn't have days like this one now! <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxbuPBoUjTarUxrs-z-GBbVrvKvEvLIx_0gwpxrnIOgZeOaH-bQlTAxkJCg2GykKevKZjZJ_5EcYmHASisuniNbRUXHWjBYIKiKbNqwZ2bwKDinBuim_Dg0YKMLLgm0tGLeloEKS_nEik/s1600-h/SAM_0329.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxbuPBoUjTarUxrs-z-GBbVrvKvEvLIx_0gwpxrnIOgZeOaH-bQlTAxkJCg2GykKevKZjZJ_5EcYmHASisuniNbRUXHWjBYIKiKbNqwZ2bwKDinBuim_Dg0YKMLLgm0tGLeloEKS_nEik/s200/SAM_0329.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445611500992040706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DKL8J7x70cBYya7DunIw0sE9WGpNQH9KeWEljR_CZoqE5tMH5D9TZlmUDM0iVLIKCNOdXfWN5RFnGWVvm2oZgrWxFEkpyUjNnxVWmpT8oyw71VNwRznzpJKJBxDVQr_14kZlTWlkkYf1/s1600-h/SAM_0318.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DKL8J7x70cBYya7DunIw0sE9WGpNQH9KeWEljR_CZoqE5tMH5D9TZlmUDM0iVLIKCNOdXfWN5RFnGWVvm2oZgrWxFEkpyUjNnxVWmpT8oyw71VNwRznzpJKJBxDVQr_14kZlTWlkkYf1/s200/SAM_0318.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445611508833624450" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I don't see how I can love you more than I already do, but I look forward to trying :)Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-89461402967294350782010-03-02T13:58:00.006-05:002010-03-02T14:06:36.056-05:00Thing 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQK5s1fB54ywLUbcVeg68QmYAtstPDXfo1PvaNKf8bno1txI2bklSKgQ4zJkNszSKQH4-q5ctzn68Mwh0mtCGqhFLxIxz6txVgorf5iwrIlbAHUrXmxHmZZemLQVQE4Hk_tsCeGxUQ6nH/s1600-h/SAM_0351.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQK5s1fB54ywLUbcVeg68QmYAtstPDXfo1PvaNKf8bno1txI2bklSKgQ4zJkNszSKQH4-q5ctzn68Mwh0mtCGqhFLxIxz6txVgorf5iwrIlbAHUrXmxHmZZemLQVQE4Hk_tsCeGxUQ6nH/s200/SAM_0351.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444113862176949058" /></a><br />It's Dr.Seuss week at Chloe's school. Yesterday was crazy hat day (pic to follow) and today was dress as your favorite character day. Her Grammy sewed a Velcro strip to her blue hair wig (Chloe can't just call it a wig!) so that she could easily take it on and off in hopes that it wouldn't be a distraction-- probably failed on that part- it's a blue wig. It's bound to be a distraction! But, hey, it's days like today that make her love school even more!<br /><br />click on pic to see largerStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-16113383995831475952010-02-22T09:29:00.011-05:002010-03-01T15:11:58.721-05:00catch up with Emma!Not sure why it's saying Monday, but I posted this Saturday, Feb. 27 :)<br /><br />I'm BACK!!- Hope the Poltergeist (not Schwarzenegger) reference didn't scare anyone. I know, I know- I've said it before, but this time I promise to try to keep up! I won't even go in to how crazy things have been around here (crazy in a good way!), but I promised my Mom, Ms. Becky, and a few others that I would do my best to keep this blog updated. They finally got me back on here by saying I was short-changing Emma by not chronicling her cuteness as much as I have Chloe's-- lesson here is that GUILT works!! <br />So, Emma. Let's see. She turned 2 last month (I'll post about that soon with some awesome pics), but have no doubt, she thinks she's at least 17! She's a lot like her big sister, in that she almost always has a beautiful smile on her face, great attitude, and a loving heart. But it still amazes us how in some ways they can be so different! Most of it has to do with her being the second child (we think). Emma wants to do everything Chloe does, and she wants to do it by HERSELF! Miss Independent really doesn't do it justice- she is hardcore about trying things on her own. In some ways that makes me so excited, but in others it makes me sad. With her being our last, I want her to slow down a bit- and let me baby her a little more. But she'll have none of that! This is why I cherish naptime so! Not because I'm finally going to have a few minutes to myself (although that's nice!), but that's the only time that she sits still long enough for me to rock and hold her-- and get that baby smell that you know I love so much! It's like a drug to me! I fear the day that smell goes away- I may have some serious withdrawal!! Emma is also our resident daredevil. We just recently had to retire the Winnie the Pooh push behind walking toy (you know the one you can scoot around on or stand behind and push) because we found Emma on it at the top of the stairs ready to bobsled down! (we've also had to limit their Olympic watching after we caught both girls trying to do aerial stunts while jumping off of our bed!) Yeah, so I'm kinda fearing the day that she shows up with a Sean White at our door- because he can do the coolest stunts, oh and they have the same color hair! <br />Emma is doing great! She is a little chatterbox- and everyday we are able to understand more of what she says. One of my favorite sounds (& I'll have to record it and put it on here so you can hear) is Emma calling for Chloe- or Clo-oh as she says it. It is precious- and if you were at Bed, Bath, & Beyond today- or in a 5 mile radius- you may have heard her trying to find Clo-oh. Micky and I just smiled, because we know the day may come when she doesn't care that she hasn't seen her sister in the last 10 seconds! But right now, Clo-oh is her "happy place"- she loves her big sister so much that it can make me cry just watching them together. Also, Emma is a GREAT hugger! She still hugs with wild abandonment- like full body, I just might tackle you if you don't brace yourself kinda hugging! She doesn't care if she messes her hairbow up, or if she has chocolate pudding all over her face! And trust me, I don't mind getting that pudding all over me- because when you get a hug like that from Emma, it's just a soft sighing, melt your heart kind of moment. And besides, I usually have other food all over me anyway, so what's a little pudding?!? And Emma loves Poptarts! In her world a Poptart or PopPop as she calls it is one of two things-- an actual strawberry frosted Poptart or a Nutrigrain bar. The only way to know which one she wants is to show her the wrapper and let her pick! Every morning she picks one of those and promptly sits down at the table (in Chloe's big seat, not her booster! because Chloe's already gone to school and I guess Emma feels like the big kid on campus when she sits in Chloe's seat!) and waits patiently to eat her PopPop and she actually lets me feed her oatmeal. I love breakfast time!!<br />I don't think I can fully update you on everything new with Emma- but one thing you should be aware of is her HAIR!! I believe some Miracle-Gro must have gotten sprinkled on it, because it has taken off in the past 2 months! We do try to trim it when she's rocking the baby mullet, but I hesitate to cut it short. It's just too cute- and besides, Emma seems the type that might like a baby mullet! She's the most care-free, let's just have a good time in our diaper and boots kind of girl! She seems to like it :) Although it has given us some fits with trying to keep it out of her eyes!!!- you know I can't stand to see a babies hair in her face! Here are a few pics of Emma from the last few months- and you can try to guess which ones I did her hair in, and which ones she and Chloe did it in- have fun!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqn8lNsjrZYZCbWqcjS1zDouyazV7JLCueU89GS8xSEB28DIP6w9Eq2heqyAt-k7kp1vSA1jGhFVXsH32_PEvYVzVYutbkhFlioH2HiscP03gGcYT7fhKrZ_NSl9oMBWCM81jShL_oSjJ/s1600-h/SAM_0048.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqn8lNsjrZYZCbWqcjS1zDouyazV7JLCueU89GS8xSEB28DIP6w9Eq2heqyAt-k7kp1vSA1jGhFVXsH32_PEvYVzVYutbkhFlioH2HiscP03gGcYT7fhKrZ_NSl9oMBWCM81jShL_oSjJ/s200/SAM_0048.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443006945993298386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2wXqkJwDqd7sgtQ_-lZiQF1oMrLDw2pimEJH_tGEeF3aOheqjpjfKMai1iCUFT5DpQUxFD2y645_WBGah92Y7DYWYpwz-IOyQO1GU9061n_li5hfqGJKO9B5rWe5Dihl4kA3bgLeGBBm/s1600-h/SAM_0040.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2wXqkJwDqd7sgtQ_-lZiQF1oMrLDw2pimEJH_tGEeF3aOheqjpjfKMai1iCUFT5DpQUxFD2y645_WBGah92Y7DYWYpwz-IOyQO1GU9061n_li5hfqGJKO9B5rWe5Dihl4kA3bgLeGBBm/s200/SAM_0040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443006940113785666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdcHafDxdW81KUi527mzvGFqLnGKJaHdLeoNkPGTBRbwgw31vw22_45gJCbBs36PLDMMPwVXm32GwZ8oSt-Ufret6e832DaF5SlYQGzpW_QnjRQXDm5wA9-TC02wntvfuiVTDoeUT5gLy/s1600-h/DSC03004.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdcHafDxdW81KUi527mzvGFqLnGKJaHdLeoNkPGTBRbwgw31vw22_45gJCbBs36PLDMMPwVXm32GwZ8oSt-Ufret6e832DaF5SlYQGzpW_QnjRQXDm5wA9-TC02wntvfuiVTDoeUT5gLy/s200/DSC03004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441076330704029458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfx0qKld4gUaJMda2EwNVecpBf2u0avo4zVnhCH_PszFGX-SUVNe06J1rzu0aZ3pvMgcFyefzCIb-yv_qmzRK8UDxEJeOAugU2WH2j4Mc8ZJ40zKoPbmJ3PjMaKBF_V27yaTHBRVWQHgwP/s1600-h/DSC03073.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfx0qKld4gUaJMda2EwNVecpBf2u0avo4zVnhCH_PszFGX-SUVNe06J1rzu0aZ3pvMgcFyefzCIb-yv_qmzRK8UDxEJeOAugU2WH2j4Mc8ZJ40zKoPbmJ3PjMaKBF_V27yaTHBRVWQHgwP/s200/DSC03073.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441076336713538114" /></a>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-60206329026813692852009-09-08T15:30:00.009-04:002009-09-08T16:52:01.009-04:00More Firsts!!click image to enlarge<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyYi4baZr5sa2ToERISH7tBvuYlJb7BkY2Xm-N3tvESOEqijDOZcitLWf0tPcxaaq4-6RkFcyn3X2GO9Qq62e_szOTObGOaAX56IC-Cnw4_X2C3ozrJ_e0quUkDknhtH-4vF5Wbq36Wjd/s1600-h/DSC02985.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyYi4baZr5sa2ToERISH7tBvuYlJb7BkY2Xm-N3tvESOEqijDOZcitLWf0tPcxaaq4-6RkFcyn3X2GO9Qq62e_szOTObGOaAX56IC-Cnw4_X2C3ozrJ_e0quUkDknhtH-4vF5Wbq36Wjd/s200/DSC02985.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379200181910962962" /></a><br />Packing the essentials for school-- a tea set!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Today was Emma's first day of preschool. I guess at this age it's really more of a Mom's Morning Out, but to make it sound smarter- we're calling it preschool :) To be honest, it didn't seem to phase her too much. My mom came over before I took her to school and we tried our best to get some good pics. But I guess without Chloe standing at the door with her, it just wasn't that exciting for her. None the less, we still got some cute pics (of course they're cute, they're Emma!) <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjDy6i7aZ3cidPcdRcYuJZbswWr1cOrEgDmdsYNnMKv7Qo_e1oVFlqFdQgSOxRG3cKAnCWtq7px8Yk6zwcoYU1h5ZO7cqbm0OL1FlkiYfVckWhhavkD-aiDt8n8xHvW1M5t5tBvs-sM0_/s1600-h/DSC02979.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjDy6i7aZ3cidPcdRcYuJZbswWr1cOrEgDmdsYNnMKv7Qo_e1oVFlqFdQgSOxRG3cKAnCWtq7px8Yk6zwcoYU1h5ZO7cqbm0OL1FlkiYfVckWhhavkD-aiDt8n8xHvW1M5t5tBvs-sM0_/s200/DSC02979.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379200196412039986" /></a><br />A little bored with this :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpJBPCqDH4yw4X641mI57pvfdwXjltzsJ_tw7Xco_mwONgSLE39eok668_aDOxGDATCQ8O22IQU-9JcrICsWwnJ7FZCXDblw_MUVGSP-x0hO4wMGiMRfLbLdWpRckAETynEla5Wj_Fd8T/s1600-h/DSC02983.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpJBPCqDH4yw4X641mI57pvfdwXjltzsJ_tw7Xco_mwONgSLE39eok668_aDOxGDATCQ8O22IQU-9JcrICsWwnJ7FZCXDblw_MUVGSP-x0hO4wMGiMRfLbLdWpRckAETynEla5Wj_Fd8T/s200/DSC02983.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379200189678942914" /></a><br />Now she's feeling it!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Emma just loves playing with other kids. She does great in the church nursery. But she did cry when I left her today- and it pulled at my heart for the few minutes it took her to stop. As soon as her cousin got there she was good to go! Except for the fact that she then saw me (through the window) standing outside talking to Carla and Rebekah. Note to self-- do not stand in front of 1 year old's classroom window when said 1 year old is crying over your departure. She could totally see me, and I'm sure was thinking, "Are you just trying to torture me with the wondering if you're coming back now or later?!?" So sorry Emma! I promise to take my conversation down the sidewalk well out of your view :) She had a great time, and the leader of the program called me around 10 to assure me that she was doing great and had stopped crying- as soon as she couldn't see me! That is one of the reasons I love this school-- she knew I needed that call. It brought me great comfort! Apparently Emma has a knack for painting with apples. They said she dove right in-- I think they meant that literally!-- I told the teacher to be careful, and she said, "oh we had her paint shirt on." I told her I wasn't worried about Emma. I'm more worried about anyone standing within a 10 foot radius. Have you seen this kids arm? As light as paint is, I'm sure she could sling it pretty far!!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-61083031443084414902009-09-03T14:54:00.003-04:002009-09-03T15:09:35.674-04:005 yr worriesChloe's school year has started off great! She's doing a great job with her work, and doesn't complain too much about getting up early! She's made some new friends, and is very excited whenever she sees someone she knows in the halls. (several older kids from our church go to her school) On the way to school one morning (I think it was her third or fourth day) she asked about Nina. I was waiting for Nina to come up in conversation. Chloe and Nina have been best friends since they were like 2. One of my favorite pictures is of the two of them at Chloe's second birthday party sitting on a Nemo lounge chair Chloe got as a gift and laughing hysterically. I have no idea what they were laughing at, but they both look amazingly cute. Anyway, Chloe asked me (for probably the 6th time) what school Nina was going to. I told her and she asked why Nina couldn't come to her school. I told her. Then she said this:<br />C: "Mom, do you think she'll find a new best friend?"<br /> <br />I was a bit taken aback by that question. It seemed entirely too grown up for a 5 year old to be asking. But I thought about it for a few seconds and replied,<br />S: "Don't you want Nina to make new friends?"<br /><br />C: "Well, yeah. She can make new friends just like I am. I just don't want her to make a new BEST friend."<br /><br />We pulled up to school at that point so I ended the conversation with something like, oh you don't need to worry about that now. You guys will always be friends.<br /><br />I thought this was too cute! I didn't have the heart to tell her that Nina (& she) would probably find some new best friends. I think it's inevitable being at different schools. But they can always be great friends. I told her they were going to get to see each other quite a bit in Girl Scouts (Daisies to be precise!), and that it would be cool to have a friend at another school. When she's older she can meet Nina's new friends too. I'm 32 and I don't have just 1 best friend. I'm lucky enough to have several. Hopefully she will be too :)Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-16595383422776115812009-08-27T15:04:00.004-04:002009-08-27T15:13:13.378-04:00Cookies n MilkI made cookies today for Chloe's after school snack. Emma watched Chloe dunking hers in milk and was trying to reach mine & Chloe's cup. So, her Grammy-- who always gives her what she wants :)-- got her her own milk. She didn't waste a crumb!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7Oc2jaqTxAKS1xACXVbhMXAyV6sL3yFg-vsRxPbqMwZMHtJoxWvuF4ANcILMnx7wI5NpJmBDvRQfEChvynhE5MWGE_lQiEflMsov_ZrQyyvgO8ryy9UcxtkW1zXvtmuDtkEpz8uH0Dnu/s1600-h/DSC02930.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7Oc2jaqTxAKS1xACXVbhMXAyV6sL3yFg-vsRxPbqMwZMHtJoxWvuF4ANcILMnx7wI5NpJmBDvRQfEChvynhE5MWGE_lQiEflMsov_ZrQyyvgO8ryy9UcxtkW1zXvtmuDtkEpz8uH0Dnu/s200/DSC02930.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374722599564884226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZWbKPnhhQfmwmX-YZlM14K4n5I5_afZoS07mewxNH0joyizHvz8FFfjlh2M0shZ_3ehpKpW3VfR1Jb2UM2rvS_jAUKSYzsIhPunaep1rqxIRgKuxT4wDCqPPhNlzbLa0VOhGKN94iyqD/s1600-h/DSC02931.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZWbKPnhhQfmwmX-YZlM14K4n5I5_afZoS07mewxNH0joyizHvz8FFfjlh2M0shZ_3ehpKpW3VfR1Jb2UM2rvS_jAUKSYzsIhPunaep1rqxIRgKuxT4wDCqPPhNlzbLa0VOhGKN94iyqD/s200/DSC02931.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374722591076252898" /></a>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-45121459737380273682009-08-20T13:26:00.008-04:002009-08-20T13:47:49.399-04:00Chloe's first day of Kindergarten!!Click on pics to make them larger!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkY2K3Ech0EuyZ6AXGvB6aepFQxN5WUcqZAahYf3y6hZD4pHxSB14fSGgleX6b8ff1aQdZSsJ8keVm_9eLhfI3eTPJdMdx35tpTDOjjJuyuf7Bk16dTRsHO04jgQJlDeCoQySocX5ohV59/s1600-h/DSC02906.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkY2K3Ech0EuyZ6AXGvB6aepFQxN5WUcqZAahYf3y6hZD4pHxSB14fSGgleX6b8ff1aQdZSsJ8keVm_9eLhfI3eTPJdMdx35tpTDOjjJuyuf7Bk16dTRsHO04jgQJlDeCoQySocX5ohV59/s200/DSC02906.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372101329339833602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqaFwoAnS47b4mbXieJS9SgHT8oh0kBCOS3yYjjDFqJaZMTvmkokmz0AAVMnXfPyMRwy7hs3pQUKrQzXqWOwuULCjpxZs1GW6Obchmp-SW77zoJ5fqwTxcjn1VVI-mjdRuvu1DwFj0XDq/s1600-h/DSC02905.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqaFwoAnS47b4mbXieJS9SgHT8oh0kBCOS3yYjjDFqJaZMTvmkokmz0AAVMnXfPyMRwy7hs3pQUKrQzXqWOwuULCjpxZs1GW6Obchmp-SW77zoJ5fqwTxcjn1VVI-mjdRuvu1DwFj0XDq/s200/DSC02905.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372100740788407426" /></a><br />Chloe on orientation day!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWGL5rJeE6KEZTB52qtYmC8mqOJZGgkxLRzXYROUQ_qGTZJKkDCkVGegaN-ODHtc7fPbiX65-ghHpH3wwm3KK4u-0_qUuyNODlreM0jRm_gNIiNNTBotePeSSjIMIY6IdR_VMzX0U6xGv/s1600-h/DSC02912.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWGL5rJeE6KEZTB52qtYmC8mqOJZGgkxLRzXYROUQ_qGTZJKkDCkVGegaN-ODHtc7fPbiX65-ghHpH3wwm3KK4u-0_qUuyNODlreM0jRm_gNIiNNTBotePeSSjIMIY6IdR_VMzX0U6xGv/s200/DSC02912.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372100711931378578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkON6-deGuLxrMLwGS1bevCBO8_3oBc69eRi7V2XY_AzTZmk96bzVnsDuV5hIO6TtMQO5seNpvF3Wb4zde0T6RRVA5fIWmOTsIb5w_1_1Cz5IQmnc-vagkoL1C7SXCXiaM6emrCQUwfVz/s1600-h/DSC02915.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 156px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkON6-deGuLxrMLwGS1bevCBO8_3oBc69eRi7V2XY_AzTZmk96bzVnsDuV5hIO6TtMQO5seNpvF3Wb4zde0T6RRVA5fIWmOTsIb5w_1_1Cz5IQmnc-vagkoL1C7SXCXiaM6emrCQUwfVz/s200/DSC02915.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372100719090958178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjsa9YkqsgB57uwEO5q4fJI5WehhxJ8ZBfm9pTEKrAFQUzDWbeY6pns0ko7K5-aUoX5GpE7xN1YiOeLF3WfpgSBtq0YaiRW2YGVrVbPBU1rfRKybGTiIQ9fWu3oB2pItbIHVG8DJt2dVI/s1600-h/DSC02916.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjsa9YkqsgB57uwEO5q4fJI5WehhxJ8ZBfm9pTEKrAFQUzDWbeY6pns0ko7K5-aUoX5GpE7xN1YiOeLF3WfpgSBtq0YaiRW2YGVrVbPBU1rfRKybGTiIQ9fWu3oB2pItbIHVG8DJt2dVI/s200/DSC02916.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372100730457520370" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Chloe's first day in K-5! <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCAlbb1wyull-mTuwyvU3th1fIbKRdb-flMNXdGuBwUZYoIDYuae-7WkXphsjJBbdHnyZd9amod3ScKLjowha5zcfOKqnPrxYS3o9UiGfZwszPuH7M4PIaBkrdw5qy9inha6xTZj7Dun_/s1600-h/DSC02923.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCAlbb1wyull-mTuwyvU3th1fIbKRdb-flMNXdGuBwUZYoIDYuae-7WkXphsjJBbdHnyZd9amod3ScKLjowha5zcfOKqnPrxYS3o9UiGfZwszPuH7M4PIaBkrdw5qy9inha6xTZj7Dun_/s200/DSC02923.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372100737332582434" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Emma wanted to get in on the picture taking too! She was so excited watching Chloe be so excited! Love the bedhead!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-30365089966076757802009-08-19T21:39:00.007-04:002009-08-19T22:22:07.661-04:00Making MemoriesI got to put both of my babies to bed tonight... and I cried. The tears were not tears of sadness, despair, fear, or even joy. To be honest, I'm not sure how to categorize these tears-- I guess maybe just love. <br />Emma has- for quite some time now- been extremely easy to put to bed. We walk in her room and she lunges for her crib with her blanket and Kitty Kitty and snuggles in to her crib as if to say, "Ok, you can go now. I'm good here." Micky and I were so pleasantly surprised when this started a few months ago. And I'm not saying that we don't still enjoy it. But sometimes I just want to hold her, sing to her, rock her-- just feel her warmth against me and breathe her in. Hopefully that doesn't sound too crazy, but the thing I miss most when we leave the girls (for a weekend or just a night with grandparents) is their smell. Just breathing them in calms me and brings an amazing peaceful feeling over me that I can't describe or do justice with words. When you feel it, you just know it. It's love! So tonight I did hold Emma, I did rock her and sing to her and I breathed in her goodness with an even deeper thankfulness in my heart. Because in the room across the hall, my other baby--is no longer a baby. She's grown in to an amazing young lady. And she is who I credit for first teaching me how to love like this. Chloe will always be our drawing board. We learn with her and we try it on Emma. Trust me, we learn plenty from Emma too-- they are by no means one in the same-- what worked for Chloe may not work for Emma, but Chloe will always bear the brunt of being the first. So that means we get to make our "first" mistakes with her! <br />Chloe was already in bed when I went to kiss her goodnight. With this being such a big night (Kindergarten starts tomorrow), I asked if she'd like me to lay with her and rub her back. She of course said yes, and was asleep in minutes. I stayed there for many more. At first I just stared at her beautiful, sleeping face-- having little trouble recalling what it looked like as a baby-- and I just watched her. Then I started looking around her room. It still has the same blue paint and flower border trim that was on it the day she first came home from the hospital. But it is no longer a baby's room. The crib has long since been replaced by a big girl bed. The knick knacks around the room are no longer things I picked out, but have been replaced by her favorites. Hello Kitty dolls, snow globes, Mickey Mouse ears from her first trip to Disney, tea cups from her first tea party, etc. Not to mention the numerous pictures that she has chosen to have in her room-- pictures with family, Christy, Tyler, Jenn, Jess and at least three with her and "her Nina," a picture of her, me, and Micky the day she was baptized, and Emma's picture from the hospital. And as I lay there looking at all of her treasures, I realized she's already doing what so many of us sometimes forget we're supposed to be doing-- Making Memories. <br />Micky and I were fortunate enough to get to go for a short weekend trip recently with our great friends Misty & Lee. And in the car on the way to Litchfield Misty and I were laughing about something silly and Lee asked what we were doing and Misty replied, "Oh, just making memories!" I actually paused for a minute when she said that, and I know it's a moment I will never forget!<br />I hope Chloe and Emma's lives are full of memories made and treasured. I know they're too young now to remember this night when they get older. I don't remember my night before Kindergarten started. But I do remember feeling loved, and feeling secure. I pray that they will too.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-10704802440660947872009-06-26T13:22:00.004-04:002009-06-26T13:53:18.685-04:00Big Night!!We had a big night Monday here at our house-- we celebrated my mom's 29th birthday :) , Chloe welcomed her new pet guinea pig into the family-- Ol' MacDonalds, Mac for short, and Emma had her first bathtub pony! The first two things were celebrated and fun, the last made me a little sad. I can't believe how fast my baby is growing up! The fact that her cute "baby mullet" can now go in a ponytail makes me smile and at the same time makes my heart a little sad. Micky & I are about 99% sure that we are not going to have anymore babies-- and I'm ok with that, I think. It's just hard to think that the first time I see Emma do new things will be the last time I'm watching one of mine do something for the first time. Is that confusing? <br />So, as much as it is cool watching and learning with Chloe as she still masters new skills, it's just as cool watching Emma because I know I better savor these moments. If I blink too fast, they'll be gone. <br />I love my babies and I love my life! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw26uyhQ5ZarxnDbJn0Fae3ah-_tBKqupCfYyLDw1VM84nxyFWvCQt5-WkgVdjNe7AlkmLf2oiikwzv6lDxqmCNoieccEnDcvQjVXPaV_O42nR51JWWC9YcpiNQfFAnY79ATBBpWELM3O7/s1600-h/DSC02850.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw26uyhQ5ZarxnDbJn0Fae3ah-_tBKqupCfYyLDw1VM84nxyFWvCQt5-WkgVdjNe7AlkmLf2oiikwzv6lDxqmCNoieccEnDcvQjVXPaV_O42nR51JWWC9YcpiNQfFAnY79ATBBpWELM3O7/s200/DSC02850.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351691844399089090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClAE0vDWc8In8XaaU1dfNhMS-SYFo1vBsSrHNt5aVkxF69j2iMQ9N0JkbYT56BynxuIQGw4ehMy3iMIUMBzUlTpymoDsSTbscC_ISAWEfuGAzSJg9KDqwz5KB_Fh6pf_kcP-rw9GZFfAL/s1600-h/DSC02820.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClAE0vDWc8In8XaaU1dfNhMS-SYFo1vBsSrHNt5aVkxF69j2iMQ9N0JkbYT56BynxuIQGw4ehMy3iMIUMBzUlTpymoDsSTbscC_ISAWEfuGAzSJg9KDqwz5KB_Fh6pf_kcP-rw9GZFfAL/s200/DSC02820.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351691835929721666" /></a>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-18994979280086169612009-05-29T07:37:00.008-04:002009-05-29T13:16:58.762-04:00Caterpillar spring... Nature Scene style<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33WPNjXULTLdNvdY-5QpcpZoUuCEhlcETXfPkZRStnmQ51rNL9ci9Zeq6fynJYUnuW8ueFfuSH0wK8DyI4XzevBWrkr3Gf2nNOmsJWIdQovNVRbUMbYJvTtkbHh9NQte_L8kl_n2SoiYy/s1600-h/DSC02012.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33WPNjXULTLdNvdY-5QpcpZoUuCEhlcETXfPkZRStnmQ51rNL9ci9Zeq6fynJYUnuW8ueFfuSH0wK8DyI4XzevBWrkr3Gf2nNOmsJWIdQovNVRbUMbYJvTtkbHh9NQte_L8kl_n2SoiYy/s200/DSC02012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341212656635029970"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDT2KyxevtCJL4BwUbqjxCAhf9CoZYZ6OgBQabi5KucvEPFO4cLSRJDKClbOTz08FpnlSYEyGGNPY9g9kCPMK5eCtgOaK2sdnRSoqnmoDg0Nu4frLc1PRPxKOGa-b8KUfhAj4rFwCpUI_/s1600-h/DSC02011.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDT2KyxevtCJL4BwUbqjxCAhf9CoZYZ6OgBQabi5KucvEPFO4cLSRJDKClbOTz08FpnlSYEyGGNPY9g9kCPMK5eCtgOaK2sdnRSoqnmoDg0Nu4frLc1PRPxKOGa-b8KUfhAj4rFwCpUI_/s200/DSC02011.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341212648080855026"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4uZhugerbCiLcGroS2utaEN5E1f5MNIEsyRInHP-0G0CKMUhqossn2FINTqHxi_petPOUaqdURY7Wlo7NTFo2byL0sxdWj2cjRPrVTbmSoHQ6yg6Ox7Ghjr5XBBAcSaJT3etYrHBtCO1/s1600-h/DSC02009.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4uZhugerbCiLcGroS2utaEN5E1f5MNIEsyRInHP-0G0CKMUhqossn2FINTqHxi_petPOUaqdURY7Wlo7NTFo2byL0sxdWj2cjRPrVTbmSoHQ6yg6Ox7Ghjr5XBBAcSaJT3etYrHBtCO1/s200/DSC02009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341212644127970690"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXnnIQtwe6OvwcbKNSnuSh_K21sOfsfU737zEu10u2J_0TYSApNMTiNztvyTP09G2u0fDWi1hviSnHr7Q42XurhHEmRYCA6HBtaRTJyTs9lQyeNIIReMMqILurif0hRUWaIN-9hzTiasL/s1600-h/DSC02006.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXnnIQtwe6OvwcbKNSnuSh_K21sOfsfU737zEu10u2J_0TYSApNMTiNztvyTP09G2u0fDWi1hviSnHr7Q42XurhHEmRYCA6HBtaRTJyTs9lQyeNIIReMMqILurif0hRUWaIN-9hzTiasL/s200/DSC02006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341212640008202338"></a><br />We were invaded about a month ago. By caterpillars! We were all playing in the backyard one day when Chloe shouted, "Mom, this tree is growing baby sticks!" Well, as you can see in the picture, the baby sticks are indeed caterpillars. Tons of caterpillars. They had nests on both of our crab apple trees and there were about 20 other nests on the trees at the back of our yard and in some of the limbs that hang over our fence from the woods behind us. It was amazing! I couldn't stop taking pictures of them, and watching them grow was pretty cool too. (Did you have to watch "Nature Scene" in elementary school science? I did. And at the time I really didn't appreciate it, but now I love that kind of stuff.) All I could think was, this would make an awesome "Nature Scene" episode! Chloe really got into it too. She learned how to very carefully pick them up-- so she wouldn't get their "guts" on her- they actually excrete something (guess what) if you startle them too much. She counted and guesses we had at least a gazillion caterpillars in our backyard. We've been waiting patiently (somewhat) for the gazillion butterflies that should follow, but so far have only seen two. Needless to say, Chloe hasn't been too pleased with that ratio! <br />Here are a few pics of our little friends (notice they've sucked the crab apple trees dry!) and also Chloe's own "Nature Scene" video is at the bottom. We'll let you know if we see anymore butterflies! <br />Click on pics to make larger<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy7eUHk6yMMX4JS_-cSAJt4qXk6g-7fbQQvpqcW8pZ7B1KkUFjAlH8QoEkQP9z5vrb5J_7WbDsFpoYIGl1m3A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-15758996938429961242009-05-18T16:28:00.006-04:002009-05-18T23:04:18.579-04:00Just for...Let me apologize to my mother and mother-in-law for not updating sooner. I have to place the blame completely on my friend Heath who somehow put FACEBOOK on my iphone, and the time that I used to spend here has been replaced by confirming/adding "friends" on facespace. I have no idea how many "friends" I have (I'm sure someone is keeping count and if there is indeed a competition I'll pick up the pace and start adding everyone I ever shared a fudge round with--millions) but needless to say I have become what I dreaded- an addict. I very rarely comment or add stuff, but love to look at everyone's pictures. Although, I must say some people need to filter a little bit better. I really don't need to see you taking your 10th shot of the night or seriously do I need to know that you went to work, then the grocery store, the gym, then home? But that doesn't stop me from reading it, or at times adding my own silliness to the mix. And that's what I think it is-- silliness. And you know how I love good silly fun! So, while I'd like to say that I'm cooler than that, you know I'm not! Which is why I'm a big addict! <br />Anyway~ didn't mean to give facespace so much time here, but Susie and Carol have been wondering why I haven't posted about Chloe's preschool graduation! It was last week and it was awesome! They did their singing program first with all of the kids ages 1-5, then the 4 & 5 year olds graduated in cap & gowns! Too cute! I can still remember her first program (18months) when she just stood their staring at this huge crowd with a deer caught in the headlights look. Didn't make a sound, we were just proud she stood up there. And then this year to watch her singing and doing all of the motions and being in the "big" class just makes me wonder how it happened so fast!-- time flies and they change so quickly. Next year she'll be at high school she likes to say (actually elementary!) where she'll have to make new friends, meet new teachers, eat lunch!-- but we know she's ready. She's very excited and ready to get on the "huge" playground. I'm not so sure that I'm ready-- but here it comes! Her teacher sent this poem home on their last day of school and I wanted to share it. I'm not sure who the author is, but I like it very much.<br /><br />JUST FOR<br /><br />Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.<br />Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.<br />Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.<br />Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.<br />Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you're going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.<br />Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.<br />Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.<br />Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.<br />Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count the stars.<br />Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.<br />Just for this evening when I run my fingers through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that GOD has given me the greatest gift ever given.<br /><br />And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank GOD for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day.........Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-36910241066776214712009-05-10T11:34:00.002-04:002009-05-10T11:40:09.184-04:00Happy Mothers Day!I want to thank my beautiful girls for what has been a GREAT Mother's Day! They are so sweet and definitely give the BEST hugs!! Also, I want to thank Micky again--without him I wouldn't be a Mom! <br />And here it is, to wrap up the 3 days worth of quotes, my favorite mom quote:<br /><br />~If you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.<br />-Dolly Parton<br /><br />Never thought I'd be quoting Dolly -unless of course some beautiful redhead named Jolene tried to take my man!- but reading those words made me smile and remember that sometimes I just have to breathe and remember how lucky I am!<br />Hope you all have a Happy Day-- I know you deserve it!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-25273293288868615442009-05-09T10:31:00.003-04:002009-05-09T10:57:20.470-04:00Mothers Day-- day 2~A mother's hand brushes hair from your eyes, tears from you cheek, hurt from your heart. <br />-Lauren Benson<br /><br />~Show me a woman who doesn't feel guilty and I'll show you a man. <br />- Erica Jong<br /><br />~Being a full-time mother is one of the highest-salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love.<br />-Mildred B. Vermont<br /><br />~Childhood is short; regret nothing of the hard work.<br />-Doris Lessing<br /><br />~Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.<br />-Phyllis Diller<br /><br />~The phrase "working mother" is redundant.<br />-Jane Sellman<br /><br />~There's nothing wrong with teenagers that reasoning with them won't aggravate.<br />-Anonymous<br /><br />~A mother's arms are made of tenderness, and children sleep soundly in them.<br />-Victor Hugo<br /><br />~Be good at "letting go."<br />-Marsha Sinetar<br /><br />~Govern a family as you would cook small fish-- very gently.<br />-Chinese proverb<br /><br />TOP 10 THINGS HANDED DOWN FROM MOM TO MOM (I have done every one of these!)<br /><br />10. The loud finger snap that will stop kids dead in their tracks.<br />9. The "I'm not angry, I'm disappointed" speech.<br />8. The fine are of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich.<br />7. The ability to separate mixed modeling clay colors.<br />6. The rule about not mixing the modeling clay colors.<br />5. The keen sense that a child is probably sitting too close to the TV.<br />4. The "How do you know you don't like it if you haven't tried it?" line.<br />3. The appropriate amount of time to spend in the corner.<br />2. The various comebacks to "But all my friends are doing it."<br />1. The terrified look that follows the question "Where do babies come from?"<br />-Dee Ann StewartStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-1865120730381187562009-05-08T07:02:00.005-04:002009-05-09T10:57:44.220-04:00Mothers Day-- day 1In honor of Mother's Day, and all of the fabulous women I love(mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, mom-to-be's)over the next few days leading up to the big day- I'll be posting some quotes from a Mothers book I read recently, titled "Wit & Wisdom of Mothers". Some serious, some funny-- but all will make you smile. Enjoy!<br /><br />~There's no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.<br /> -Jill Churchill<br /><br />~A mother's hug says to the heart what a lifetime of words can never say.<br /> -Mary Miro<br /><br />~A rich child often sits in a poor mother's lap. -Danish proverb<br /><br />~A mom will sit in the rain in the bleachers to watch her kid sit on a bench.<br /> -Bill Gray<br /><br />~A mom's love waits up when the rest of the world has already turned out the lights.<br /> -Diana Manning<br /><br />~A mom's heart is a lot like her purse. It holds everything a kid could ever need-and a little bit extra. -Linda Staten<br /><br />~Mom's hugs are like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches... they're sweet and they stick with you a long time.<br />-Kay Andrew<br /><br />~Few mistakes can be made by a mother-in-law who is willing to baby-sit.<br />-Anonymous<br /><br />~What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.<br />-Mother TeresaStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-26078457219052287962009-04-28T14:53:00.005-04:002009-05-09T10:58:00.299-04:00Croc love!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8t7vuJjTJGzgZqMy2MC8BnSPzLGQxowj08GuCqTFqs4e1JmP_3Ea9OvPDfgfQCdYbQIL07DFUI9nf5G2S68nuvnE_A-cVuB7NxRqZjuCjDYiSXJoM96HQ7OzRsrcbw4Bgqup-uRCNQBz/s1600-h/april+09+031.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8t7vuJjTJGzgZqMy2MC8BnSPzLGQxowj08GuCqTFqs4e1JmP_3Ea9OvPDfgfQCdYbQIL07DFUI9nf5G2S68nuvnE_A-cVuB7NxRqZjuCjDYiSXJoM96HQ7OzRsrcbw4Bgqup-uRCNQBz/s200/april+09+031.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329818386525649954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLpIw0ZMO-xlgHKXYnvCJ0R5m_RaWngqSy3VMfy9qLmORujDhHsKqTF6XslExHFlCVmxkgSwmXpnJqupK3hH2Kos-s2ehoabsR_TBqqAwKtBnKfRA9SiYS0biQsSHt8KdMPC1B8OIK6Vf/s1600-h/april+09+030.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLpIw0ZMO-xlgHKXYnvCJ0R5m_RaWngqSy3VMfy9qLmORujDhHsKqTF6XslExHFlCVmxkgSwmXpnJqupK3hH2Kos-s2ehoabsR_TBqqAwKtBnKfRA9SiYS0biQsSHt8KdMPC1B8OIK6Vf/s200/april+09+030.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329818383906527154" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So~ I know it wouldn't taste very good (and I'm pretty sure my small intestine would object!)-- but I'm dying to take a bite out of these cute Crocs on Emma! Maybe just a nibble?!?Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-64672136200708370232009-04-21T19:26:00.003-04:002009-05-09T10:58:19.607-04:00Adam should've been the girlOn the way home from dance class,<br /><br />Chloe: "When we get home can I play Adam & Eve?"<br /><br />me: "How do you play that?"<br /><br />Chloe: "you know, like when they ate the fruit from the bad snake in the good garden. But can I please be the girl?"<br /><br />me: "Sure, you can be Eve."<br /><br />Chloe: "But I wanted to be the girl."<br /><br />me: "Eve is the girl Chloe."<br /><br />Chloe: "Oh......." <br /><br />me: "Remember in the Bible story, Adam is the boy and Eve is the girl--I promise."<br /><br />Chloe: "Well, I don't think Eve is a good girls name. I think Adam should be the girl and that's who I'll be. ok?"<br /><br />me: "Good luck with that."<br /><br />Chloe: "Oh, and Emma can be the snake! That'll be great!"Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-51685228260129359292009-04-13T11:36:00.003-04:002009-04-13T11:38:54.610-04:00Happy Easter!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgsJIaYi6Hdryvl7c1uFZGBx3_8UTzq3GAz6zIdZNUPZqbd1LzUzDkbHHA3MIpScb-1vLu_fhusUFm58Nw5I4suGbQneOrwWTaIYYoSYCons0Eli6XwYKGY38wmItlnOu2CubCVGlUbkP/s1600-h/april+09+002.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgsJIaYi6Hdryvl7c1uFZGBx3_8UTzq3GAz6zIdZNUPZqbd1LzUzDkbHHA3MIpScb-1vLu_fhusUFm58Nw5I4suGbQneOrwWTaIYYoSYCons0Eli6XwYKGY38wmItlnOu2CubCVGlUbkP/s200/april+09+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324200814765792946" /></a>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-60098238772672314082009-04-08T07:08:00.005-04:002009-04-08T07:30:46.173-04:00Deja Vous!!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhz-eU8DrKeC6vgsVMzdc87AD1CCbSucOgg5kv9cakcCkPiSfFnz2bwOU2IeNApPc2yqucdTnWp3z5Qn_0sMMjuIh86jdUriqeAeJm8ENfCPSOshd4kSo-hhPfdhe38C659puEkVP8XcS/s1600-h/march+09+029.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhz-eU8DrKeC6vgsVMzdc87AD1CCbSucOgg5kv9cakcCkPiSfFnz2bwOU2IeNApPc2yqucdTnWp3z5Qn_0sMMjuIh86jdUriqeAeJm8ENfCPSOshd4kSo-hhPfdhe38C659puEkVP8XcS/s200/march+09+029.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322278300011678930" /></a><br />A few weeks ago was Dr. Seuss' birthday. They celebrated for a week at Chloe's school-- making green eggs & ham one morning and inviting parents, grandparents, etc. in to read Dr. Seuss books to the class. The kids really seemed to enjoy it, and since then Chloe has gotten even more interested in reading. Micky found her like this the other day-- with all of her animals arranged, including Clyde of course, and she was playing "teacher" and reading to them. When he showed me the picture I couldn't help but be reminded of his little sister, Christy. She was 4 almost 5 (exactly Chloe's age) when we started dating. She would arrange all of her dolls and animals on their back porch and "teach" them for hours--it was quite cute! She is now in her second year at Clemson studying to be a teacher! If Chloe turns out as great as Christy I'll sleep very well at night!!!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-91833643451554556462009-04-01T11:50:00.007-04:002009-04-01T12:53:53.156-04:00DUCK....DUCK....DUCK....Cyde!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdHAgOnKcMNDxf6T2kp3sR68HBHOz-63KXRWfKlyw2lGSiLfb-htynOVeeEOS9zxoVFiZoIjjp1z2WCnsivMs5yJR7aOWPHr8xva98fjbEBT-MQU_T8DzW1c06zY8d6L1njtH733UFphI/s1600-h/march+09+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdHAgOnKcMNDxf6T2kp3sR68HBHOz-63KXRWfKlyw2lGSiLfb-htynOVeeEOS9zxoVFiZoIjjp1z2WCnsivMs5yJR7aOWPHr8xva98fjbEBT-MQU_T8DzW1c06zY8d6L1njtH733UFphI/s200/march+09+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319766276663912050" /></a><br />Yep, duck is Emma's new favorite word. She is full on jabbering at you now and most sentences end with duck-- like-- gaba gaba gaba namama DUCK! And occasionally she'll throw in a reference to Cyde (Clyde)! Mind you, she is very animated and is constantly talking with her hands-- I can't imagine where she gets that from!?! But yes, Emma is in to everything now. Walking, sometimes running, all over the place. Her Nano likes to call her Fred Sanford due to her swagger-like walk, but she's progressing out of the limp and will sometimes give you a full on Frankenstein if she's coming towards you. Very cute! She's cut back to one long nap a day (has been for a month or so) and she's very flexible about when she takes it. Which has made my life of errand running, work, and chauffeuring Chloe around much easier. For awhile she would get extremely frustrated at times due to the fact that she knows what she wants or is trying to say-- but just can't say it yet. She's gotten much more patient with us on that front and is doing a better job of pointing to what it is she wants (and not freaking out if she can't have it)! For instance, after we put Chloe to bed the other night we took Emma into the playroom to keep her up until 9. (Chloe will sleep 12 hours if we let her, but we've figured out that Emma will sleep 9 1/2 to 10, so on the weekends we try to keep her up till 9:30 so we can hopefully sleep till 7:30- yep, we like our sleep!). Anyway, she found this Dora skirt and was trying to put it on her head. Micky helped her put it on right and she walked around in it for awhile. A few minutes later she walked back to me at the couch and did her best "point and grunt" act to the top part of the outfit. I wish we would have had the camera around to capture her smile when she got it on--too cute, she was beaming and I think if she could have she'd have given a little twirl in it! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIj_w02PbA8jcXi_j1ffMPsBZZPCL65E7MFAiuW6eQH7QQliSKjwdlBMjAvPPK3GJC9OKR4VhbXlXcgayRx47yX56z6QEYdyWnxNZj6FtQrjUUN2Rh7YkhH5E98KXtodqkE1PW02fStMlg/s1600-h/march+09+038.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIj_w02PbA8jcXi_j1ffMPsBZZPCL65E7MFAiuW6eQH7QQliSKjwdlBMjAvPPK3GJC9OKR4VhbXlXcgayRx47yX56z6QEYdyWnxNZj6FtQrjUUN2Rh7YkhH5E98KXtodqkE1PW02fStMlg/s200/march+09+038.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319766282041051794" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Chloe is doing great. For those of you I've talked to about this, her hemoglobin and RBC levels are finally normal again. About a month ago I took Chloe to the Dr. because she was just TIRED all the time. She seemed to be getting plenty of sleep and eating right and what not, but just tired and whiny. This had been going on for awhile, and at first I though it was just a behavioral thing and she needed to snap out of it. Well, didn't I feel like the biggest jerk when come to find out she's tired because her RBC and hemoglobin levels were low, which would make anybody tired & cranky! Luckily a small vitamin with iron once a day for a few weeks did the trick! We went back last week and had another finger poke :-( and everything was fine. Still not sure why it was low in the first place, but we're gonna keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't drop again. She still loves her "school" and has had so many exciting stories to tell us about all they've been doing to get ready for Easter. Twice a week they go to "Bible class" (that's what Chloe calls it) and learn different Bible stories, songs, stuff like that. Well, yesterday in Bible they talked about the last supper and their teacher washed their feet for them like Jesus washed his disciples. Chloe thought that was sooo cool-- and here's what she told me about the meal.<br /><br />C: "You first eat a small piece of the bread-- that's Jesus body mom-- then drink the wine, we just had juice though, and did you know that's Jesus blood?!? Ms. K says some people call it communion. I told her that I just call it a snack with a prayer."<br /><br />Pretty much what most 4 year-olds would say I think. That didn't sound too bad to me. Last night on our way to dance class I was eating a honey bun (yes, you know I'm the healthiest eater ever!) and out of nowhere Chloe asks, "Mom, is that the Lord's body you're eating there?" <br />After I almost choked I told her, "No, just alot of processed sugars and fat!" <br />I would love to know what goes through her head all day! I'm sure it's quite a ride!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-15052577197374037262009-03-23T15:36:00.004-04:002009-03-23T16:26:09.570-04:00E.L. Fudge cookies, South Carolina State Fair, & "About"You know, being the mother of a 4 year-old and 1 year-old I can honestly say that not much that they say or do surprises me anymore. I'm actually surprised if the day goes by and something strange hasn't happened. It's nothing for us to spend hours, days, or months discussing a topic. For instance, we had a sprinkler system installed last summer. Well, we did the "responsible" and legal thing of calling PUPS to come out and mark the utility lines before the guys started digging. Chloe was convinced that God had turned parts of the yard orange and yellow with special rain he sent down, and that He did this because He gets bored looking at the same color of grass all day up there in Heaven and he wanted to spice things up a bit. Maybe it was wrong of us but on day 15 of that conversation we decided to just agree with her and move on. Case closed--- or so we thought. A couple of weeks ago Chloe had a friend over for a play date and we (Chloe, friend, me & Emma in stroller) went for a walk through the neighborhood. Looks like someone else is getting a sprinkler system. Chloe saw the lines and in her exasperated tone that she can use said, "When is God gonna stop coloring the grass around here?!? I thought he had stopped but it looks like he's at it again. Can you believe that mom?" Knowing that if I didn't agree I would have to relive this story and my explanation for at least 2 weeks-- I did the weak thing and just shook my head and said, "Guess He wanted to have some fun again!" <br />Todays "reliving old moments with Chloe" story started with a trip to the grocery store. E.L. Fudge cookies were on sale, and pardon me but I can't pass up 2 buttery cookies with chocolate fudge between them for $2.19 a box! Who could?!? Well, Chloe asked for some pineapple and cookies for a snack. Simple enough-- or so I thought. She saw the cookie and explained (for about 20 minutes) how these cookies remind her how little she is. What?!? Exactly-- apparently they had these cookies for snack at school and "her Nina" could twist them apart "so gently" and lick the chocolate off before dunking the cookie in her pudding. Apparently Chloe wasn't so gentle in pulling hers apart and they kept breaking into pieces. She told me it was because she was so much "littler" than Nina. Well, I informed her that was silly and she just needed to pull them slowly and that she and Nina were about the same size. This started a retelling of our trip to the S.C. State Fair--in October. The height requirement for the slide ride was 42" tall. Nina walked up, measured, and was handed her burlap sack and sent on her way. Chloe however apparently measured in at 41 7/8" tall- so the dude made me go with her. I didn't mind, I grabbed the sack and rode down the slide with her-- I was actually glad he was doing his job, but really if I had teased her hair up 1/8 of an inch, the kid would've been fine-- and I wouldn't have to hear about this all the time and how that one moment from October means she is "small". So here's what she had to say regarding the cookie:<br /><br />"Remember how I was smaller than Nina at the South Carolina State Fair when that guy measured me? So, I am smaller and I just haven't practiced enough with my cookies. And remember mom, about is not the same as same-- so I'm not the same size as Nina."<br /><br />To which I responded, "Pardon me, but if you use that tone with me again you'll be ABOUT to get a spanking-- and that is the same as SAME dear!" <br /><br />"Sorry mom." -- Kills me how cute she is even when she's being a little snot!... God help me when she's 13!!!!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-20023164532503689722009-03-19T20:56:00.007-04:002009-03-19T21:47:48.634-04:00Hitting the BottleWe handed Emma a bottle the other day while she was sitting on the couch in the living room watching the Wiggles. Micky walked in a minute later and saw this...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hyphenhyphenW2icYUDWXhHFayQAzQLNudL0WRUb4ed8uXTIdCmT5WsUgnBi13R05jdhuai85NJH6j4Hwp0LC-_nCUtjr4ZgJRUQDPJe8twO8NnYAhH3xR9CPpg-LgqCYj9sZHtexwi3tPBLEISKaM/s1600-h/march+09+031.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hyphenhyphenW2icYUDWXhHFayQAzQLNudL0WRUb4ed8uXTIdCmT5WsUgnBi13R05jdhuai85NJH6j4Hwp0LC-_nCUtjr4ZgJRUQDPJe8twO8NnYAhH3xR9CPpg-LgqCYj9sZHtexwi3tPBLEISKaM/s200/march+09+031.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315074678645962402" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And yes, her jeans are unbuttoned- we got nervous the button would pop off, fly across the room and hit Chloe in the head! She tends to fair better with elastic waistbands! This may sound crazy, but for some reason I couldn't help but think how cute she looks like this-- but how this same pose can look so gross on a grown-up with a beer gut! Told you, crazy. But you gotta love this pudding pop!!!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832199379616404672.post-86865727142294951932009-03-11T20:17:00.009-04:002009-03-19T21:28:25.879-04:00Happy Birthday Daddy!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABBHvXlB5xV8xAzDMkxVfW-Gboc6pc9AuMjc-kQCjYzM8O4y-153AHfAOYeqDtURqMH_pMVesTzbNPvqG99oUiygI5jgGc1rwgeqxXxi9Rvo0CAtNMhV-sDQnv2BhsHSfDyhEIBPVLChr/s1600-h/Copy+of+feb+09+006.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABBHvXlB5xV8xAzDMkxVfW-Gboc6pc9AuMjc-kQCjYzM8O4y-153AHfAOYeqDtURqMH_pMVesTzbNPvqG99oUiygI5jgGc1rwgeqxXxi9Rvo0CAtNMhV-sDQnv2BhsHSfDyhEIBPVLChr/s200/Copy+of+feb+09+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312678828969638978" /></a><br /><br />Shh... please don't tell Chloe that I posted this 2 days late :-(<br />Don't worry, I showed it to Micky on his birthday, but she specifically asked me to put it on my "computer page"-- and this is the first time I've been able to sit and do it :-)<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyy8BTVme0k_MiJcrkRmtAfspwqYUext8r_68zLQ7q3F0A96ev7f3LdNVSel8UISnZaBI8rgmW1jKNebFnCBQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877897642260047364noreply@blogger.com0