A good Monday..so far

Today has been a good day so far. kev had today off of work and that is always so nice. He let me sleep in... until eliza needed to be fed and he dressed both kids and ironed my clothes. I started a new bible study at church today. It is Beth Moore's new...very new...Revelation study! I was hesitant to join because I know that I haven't had as much time to devote to the amount of time a Beth Moore study generally takes. I am not good at going when I haven't completed the weekly homework. I know everyone says to come anyways, but I hate doing that. Usually, I end up in a late week cram session and don't get near as much out of it as I would have. I love having something to get us up and out of the house early on Monday. It is a great way to start out week, and no matter how difficult it is for me to get us there (on time is a totally diff. subject) I always come home feeling refreshed, motivated and ready for the week. So, I made myself join the new study once again. Have I mentioned they have free childcare and you get some adult interaction! I so need that! I was excited to find out that this study is a lecture series and has very little weekly homework! I think this is just what I need at this season. All that said...I am glad I went! Did I mention the hubs cleaned out my van before I left and loaded the girls?? I need him here everyday!

I don't know about you but I am so ready for SPRING! This has been by far our coldest winter in a long time. Usually by February we are having some good warm 70 degree days here and there. The kind of days that start out cold and warm up quickly! I cannot believe we may get a little more snow on Tues. night! That is crazy!!

I am starting my yearly de-clutter! I hate clutter and I hate keeping things we aren't using. I like empty and organized spaces! I am probably a little OCD too. I am ready to simplify and minimize again! I don't know about you but I think my next house will be teeny-tiny!!! The more house...the more space to fill...the more stuff to store and the more space to clean! I am thinking that smaller is better!

And finally, Happy 2nd Anniversary to my little sis Jess and her hubby ryan! Two years ago today it was warm and beautiful! I even got a little sunburn! It wass a beautiful wedding and the most beautiful spring day! We wish you many more years together!

no wonder....

my jeans feel tighter today! I have indulged....and it's been so good! The Sweetheart shake...a yummy combo of vanilla icecream, real cherries, and white and milk chocolates! I love cherries and chocolate! I think it is a good think that this is a limited item! Yum Yum...just don't look up the calories or fat content...no wonder my jeans feel tight!

The Art of being 2

This is not the first time this has happened at our house. For the past year we've kept the toilet paper on the back to the toilet to avoid these issues. I felt as though we were now far too mature and dignified for such displays of childish foolishness....obviously not. I guess it was just too appealing. And you know that once it starts rolling it just goes and goes and goes! When I showed her daddy the evidence (picture) his first thought was of course....what did you do with it! I assured him that I was not concerned with being frugal at this moment and I most definitely did not rewind the whole toilet roll!

For Comparison Sake

My girls really look very different...yet at times they look a lot alike too! I guess that makes them sisters!
Ella

Eliza

Ella

Eliza

In both pictures they are wearing the same outfilt and almost 5 months.

Valentine's Day and catching up

We had such a great Valentine's weekend as a family. I didn't want February to slip by without blogging about our special weekend.

Ella has mastered the art of saying "Cheese!" This is her new look for pictures! I think they are the cutest things I have ever seen!

Look at my sweet little Eliza...too bad they both weren't smiling!

Us girls made a special dinner for daddy when he got home from work on Friday night!

While we were eating it started to SNOW!! We were so excited!

We had cupcakes for dessert! They were so good...can't you tell!

We played Princess memory! It was cut a little short..but we had some fun!

This is what we woke up to the next morning! Yes mommy did wear her pj pants in snow...we aren't really prepared for that here!

Eliza and mommy enjoyed the snow from the inside!!

Daddy and ella made a snow family!

They played hard and had so much fun!

We came inside and got warmed up. We ate pancakes and snuggled together!

Mommy had a great idea to bake lots of valentine cookies! Daddy saw I needed some help!

Baking overload...I may not do this for a very long time. Next time we'll do pre-made cookies!


We baked and decorated and baked and decorated! It was fun and a MESS! Ella napped for this part!

It was such a fun and different weekend for us...one we will always remember!

Eliza is 5 months!!!

Hi, my name is eliza. Mommy calls me wizie woo! I am five months old today. Mommy says I am getting so big! Sissy says I am a tiny baby and she likes to tell me I am a boy! I was sick last week with a terrible cold. Those things are no fun. My little nose was so stuffy and mommy kept cleaning it out with that terrible nose sucker!! When we were at the doctor they said I was 12lbs. and 12 oz. Mommy said I am growing and have grown so much from the tiny peanut I started out at.

This is me last week. Mommy said I had sad, weak eyes. They look much better today!!

This is me and my sis. We're good pals most days. She usually makes me smile and laugh, but sometimes she really gets on my nerves. She likes to poke my eyes and pat my head. Mommy tells her no. She gets in big trouble sometimes. Mommy puts her in time-out. I just sit and watch. I don't want to have to sit in time-out! Oh yea, sissy wakes me up everyday! It is great! Mommy usually gets mad at her, but I am glad to get to wake up!!

People, food is so good! Why did no one tell me sooner! I really like squash and sweet potatoes! That's all I had so far other than that cereal stuff...it's kinda bland.

I can roll now! It is so cool to do. Mommy is scared to put me on the floor to roll when sissy is around. She sometimes tries to to roll me herself. ouch!!

Check-out this cool toy! I could sit here forever! Who do you think I look like here?

Most people say I look like my papa and my cousin Landon. Mommy said I look some like my aunt joy in this picture.

I can't seem to keep my socks on. They fall off all they time! Mommy keeps putting them on and they fall back off.

This is me alseep at night. I still like to be swaddled. Mommy said she knows that will probably change soon. It makes me feel so secure and cozy! Since I've had a cold I figured out that I can wake up and mommy will come and get me. It is great to see mommy in the middle of the night. Mommy says we are gonna have to work on that. Better run, it's time to eat! Love, eliza


Eliza,

We love you so much! You are the sweetest little thing and we cannot imagine not having you in our lives. We are so thankful that God gave you to us and we look forward to watching you grow this next month!

Happy 9th Birthday Addie!

Today is my niece Addie's 9th Birthday. I can hardly believe she is already 9, as it seems like just yesterday she was so little. I was a junior in college when she was born. I came home from school for the weekend and my sister thankfully went into labor. I was so excited to get to be at the hospital for her arrival. Addie had a rough start at birth and was pretty sick. She had to spend some extra days in the hospital. At that time in life I didn't understand what it would be like to have to leave my baby at the hospital and go home, but I now have a much greater appreciation for what my sister and brother-in-law went through. Thankfully, the Lord healed her little body and she came home about a week later. We were all crazy over her! She was the first grandchild and my first niece. I think I spent almost everyday the following summer over at my sister's house with Addie. I remember trying so hard to teach her to say juejue. I remember how scared she was of Kevin when we started dating. She wouldn't even look at him. It didn't take too long and then she decided she would marry him one day. (I'm sure she's changed her mind on that now...but it always made his day!) Addie is a beautiful and sweet girl. She is a good big sis to lots of brothers and a wonderful older cousin! I can just tell in Ella's face how much she loves and looks up to Addie. I am thankful that Ella and Eliza have a wonderful older "girl" cousin to look up too as they grow.

Addie,

I hope you know what a pretty and special girl you are to all of us! We are so proud of the young lady you are becoming. We pray that you will continue to grow to know and love Jesus. Trust him with the details of your life and He will guide your path. We know He has great plans for you and we are thankful that we get to watch and see! We hope you have a great day today and we look forward to celebrating with you!

Love,

JueJue, Kev, Ella and Eliza