Happy Birthday Jess!

Tomorrow is my lil sis' 24th Birthday! I decided at the beginning of the year to try to celebrate each birthday in my family with a birthday blog. Knowing how busy Sunday's are for us I figured I better get it done today!

I can still clearly remember the day/night that you were born. Although I was just six, I remember being woken up in the middle of the night with the family in a stir to get to the hospital. Now, being a mother of two girls I can imagine the scenario quite easily. I couldn't get awake and everyone was rushing me. I believe I couldn't get my socks on right and I remember mom let the seat go back on me as I climbed into our old, Burgundy, two door family car! I remember camping out on the floor with the family from our church all night long as we awaited a call from dad telling us you had arrived. I remember painting you clear plastic bottle with polka dots using paint markers. I took it to you at the hospital. I remember playing with all the samples (diapers, wipes, and tiny bottles of lotions, powder, and etc.) that they sent home with mom from the hospital. I remember putting my dolls in your crib and thinking I had my very own nursery and live baby...how nice of mom to do that for me! I remember you choking at a few days old and mom running from the parsonage to our church across the street. I remember being so scared. I remember you being my playmate as you grew. I always was the mom and I always made you be the kid...and of course I was always the teacher and you were my little student. I taught you to say your vowels...you couldn't say "u!" As you grew you always wanted my "stuff" and you drove me crazy at times. I remember you getting in lots of trouble. You had an independent nature from a child and I remembering wishing you would just cooperate! I remember you writing me sweet notes when I was away working at a camp for the summer and at college and you even sent me a tape with a song you recorded on the guitar. (Don't kill me...it was really pretty good!) I remember you not liking Kevin at all at first...because you knew I'd marry him. I remember you standing beside me on my wedding day and being the first person I let hold Ella Kate. I remember you taking a bold stance for the Lord in high school. I remember you making a tough decision in college and trusting your future to the Lord. I remember your beautiful wedding day that was so YOU! I remember finding out you were pregnant and feeling jealous. I hate to admit that but I guess it is part of being sisters. I am so thankful for Titus and that the Lord knew the perfect timing for making you a mommy. I remember you always did what you set your mind to do (nose ring, belly button ring, going far away to college, Europe, Oregon, taking on new jobs... and I am sure there are more!) Some days I really wish God had given me just a little bit of your adventurous personality!

I write all this to say...that my life wouldn't have been near as fun or as meaningful if God hadn't given me a little sister 24 years ago! I think you are a beautiful girl with great style and flair! You never cease to surprise me with your great fashion and I am always amazed at what and where your independent nature leads you. We pray that tom. it will be a beautiful day! We pray for good health and some rest! You have been working hard. We pray that one day the Lord will send you back closer to home! We pray you have a great day tomorrow and truly feel celebrated!!

We love ya,

Kev, Julie, Ella and Eliza

Eating Times Two

Now that I have two little eaters it seems like mealtime is taking me forever! To get two tummies full and out the door is quite an accomplishment. Really it isn't, but some days it sure does feel that way!

Come On Spring!

I was playing around with Picnik.com this morning. It is a free editing site. You can pay for the premium site but the free one is great too! We can't wait for some warm, sunny days!!

I used to be a Clean Freak...

and then I had Kids!! Today I read on another blog where they were talking about listing your cleaning and organizing tips. I am an organizer. It is strange because I don't feel that either of my parents are this way, ut I have been this way since I was a child. I can clearly remember grocery shopping with my mom as a child and always trying to organize the cart. You know...all the boxed items together, the cans stacked...and so forth! This drove her crazy...I do remember that and I clearly understand why now!! (Grocery shopping with kids is never easy, even on a good day!) As a child I always liked my "stuff" and I didn't want my sisters to mess with it! Yes, I am sure I was a bit of a brat!

This is an aspect of motherhood that I am learning to..."manage!" The feeling of never having everything clean is somewhat....challenging for those of us who are a bit OCD. The endless cycle of recleaning what was just cleaned is so tiresome! I told Kevin a while back if we ever got really rich, I wouldn't really want to change anything in my life except to hire a maid. Sad thing is I'd probably be cleaning before and after too! (I just wanted to interject here that I do not mind anyone else's clutter, mess, or disorganization...I just mind my own!)

I do have a few things that I try to do periodically to minimize and calm my clutter!

1)Once a year I go through the entire house...closets, drawers, etc. and pull out any junk/trash etc. I try to cover one room a day or two so it isn't completely overwhelming. I keep a Rubbermaid container inside and just start piling it in and this becomes our garage sale stuff! I think if you haven't used it worn it or like it...get rid of it!!! You wouldn't believe how freeing and wonderful you can feel after a decluttering session! (Just be warned it is harder to do with kids and you have to make a mess in order to get it organized!!)

2) I clean my house each week! Usually every Thursday or Friday. I am talking, vacuuming, mopping, dusting etc. My mom always did this every Thursday, so now I feel as though it is some unsung rule. Actually, it helps things to not get too dirty and grungy! (This is also harder with kids...I often do it when they are asleep and night or resort to some video time!)

3)I touch up throughout the week. I quickly wipe down counters, run the dishwasher daily, throw in some laundry, and do daily pick-ups. (This makes my big cleaning days a little less overwhelming!)

4) Usually twice a year I make us a big to do list. This usually contains things that need getting done around the house/yard that I need Kev's help with! I think it helps for him to have a "honey do list" to see what I need done...and prevents me from barking orders! We both like crossing off a list too!

5)Believe it or not all of our toys to have a "spot!' We have a container for blocks, play food, baby stuff, etc. Ella does really well helping to put the toys back where they go! Her daddy...not so much! (He hates my containers!)

6)We have certain toys that stay in certain rooms for the most part! I hate when you have pieces of random toys all over the house! Ella would surely drag them all over but is learning that the puzzles stay in her room and the doll house stays in the playroom, for example!

7) Once or twice a year we decide to eat up all the things we already have rather than buying more groceries. Example, the Bisquick and RITZ crackers that have been sitting there for way too long. I try to find recipes in which I can use up things! It sometimes makes for some interesting meals! It is always fun to go grocery shopping again after doing this for a week or two. It also helps to clean out some of the clutter in the kitchen.

These are just some of the things that have helped me to not be continually overwhelmed by caring for a home. It is such a big job! I hope they are helpful to you!

Randon Thoughts

I have been a slack blogger lately. I have tons of new pics to upload and things to blog about but I just never seem to have the time to do both.

I have really been asking the Lord for so "friends." I have lots of friends in a general sense, but I feel at this stage of my life I have lacked close friends outside of my family. I have seen the Lord answer this prayer lately, though at times it has meant that I had to step outside of my comfort zone a bit. I am thankful.

I have to have another skin biopsy tomorrow! Note to self....you are a red head...you do not tan....wear sunscreen....never let your girls burn! Yeah...I used to try to get a tan and actually got a pretty good one from a nice little fake and bake in high school! We'll, I am paying for it now! I think everything is fine...but I am not looking forward to having a chunk cut out of my leg and stitches! I think I'd rather birth another baby...

I was so confused about the time change last night! We put the girls to sleep and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why they were both still awake after like an hour! I was thinking it was actually later than it was rather than earlier! My mom enlightened me today! I do love that it is lighter later. It makes me feel like we can actually go somewhere or do something after kev gets home from work!

Ella has finally accepted that Christmas is over! Today when she asked I said, mommy's already explained that! She said, "It's okay mommy, it come next time!" Praise the Lord!"

I am about ready to get my sewing machine back out of the closet after a very long break after making eliza's bedding! I have some cute fabrics that I want to make into pillow case dresses for the girls.

We went to dinner Friday night with a couple from our Sunday School class. I had too much sweet tea. I normally don't drink caffeine after lunch or so. I was up until 3 am wide awake! I got busy on my scrapbooks. That is one thing that I never seem to have time for. I have been determined to do one for eliza just as I did for ella. I have worked on it but was beginning to get so behind that it was going to be overwhelming to catch up! I cannot do it when they are awake and it is too much to get out and get going on when they are napping (as soon as I get to working...someone wakes up!) SO, all that to say that I got somewhat caught up and it feels good!

Time to hit the hay! (Do you say that?? You do know it means...go to bed...right!!)

Happy 1st Birthday Titus!!

Dear Titus,

It is almost your first birthday and I wanted to write you a special letter before I went to bed tonight. I cannot believe it is already your first birthday. It seems like just yesterday I was calling your mimi every 30 minutes trying to find out how your mommy's labor was going. It was tough not being there on your "birth" day and I feel the same way today.

I will never forget the first time we met at the airport. You were so cute and we were so glad to finally get to meet you. Your mommy had you dressed so cute! You are such a sweet and go with the flow little guy!

We want you to know that even though many miles separate us...you have lots of people here that love you! We would love to be at your party and watch you smash your little cake. We can't wait to see all your pictures.

We are so proud of the little boy you are becoming and we can't wait to see what the Lord is going to do in your life as you grow. We think you're great!!

Love,

Uncle Kev, Aunt Jue-Jue, Ella and Eliza

Date Night

Last night I had a hot date with the hubs...and my little side kick (aka eliza)! I had gone out for a few hours on Thurs. night by myself and I kept checking my phone thinking that Kev would call if things weren't going so well (this is probably the first time I'd done that since eliza was born!) Finally, I decided to call and check and he said she'd been crying for almost 2 hours. She never cries! He tried everything. He was a little frazzled at that point..which I would have been too. I asked why he didn't call and he said he was trying to give me some time away! So sweet. Needless to say I rushed home as fast as I could. Little missy gave me the stare down...like where have you been...I have cried my heart out face...so needless to say she earned a spot on mommy and daddy's date!

Kev teaches our Sunday School class and is teaching through the Song of Songs right now. I have to admit that I was a nay-sayer at first. A while back he started saying he felt led to do a marriage study and then he decided to teach straight through Song of Songs. I kept trying to discourage him from it and encourage him to just stick with a practical "biblical" marriage study. He'd done it before and I sure those old lessons could be revisited and "tweaked!" Thankfully he listened to what the Lord was leading and not what his wife was saying. I'd read parts of Song of Songs before, but all that flowery, poetic language amidst topics that will make you blush really didn't seem "practical" enough to me. I am really proud of the digging and learning that he has done and is doing and each week the flowery, poetic language makes more sense after having it explained. I feel like we are both learning a lot. Each week we have had some homework/discussion questions and some dating challenges. The good thing about your husband being the teacher is that he can't tell others to do something without us doing it. So we have had to really work at this.

Last night we went on our date. He planned it all! Just like when we were dating. He didn't tell me where we were heading and even let me buy a new shirt to wear. I was really excited. There was no (where do you want to go, I don't care, where do you want to go, I don't know)! There was a plan! I love a date plan! We went ate here...we both like Italian and haven't been there in years!

He told me to chose his meal and he'd chose mine. I am someone who normally gets the same thing every time I go to a restaurant! At first I wished I could just get something I knew I liked (Chicken Parmesan), but trying something new might be fun too! I ordered him this.

It is the mixed grill! He ordered me this!

It is thee four cheese stuffed pansotti with chicken! Of course we enjoyed the bread and salad too! My dish was great! I was stuffed! We had great dinner conversation and eliza hung in there for the most part.

After dinner Kev took me to get one of my favorite coffee drinks! It is a Gloria Jeans cookies and cream frozen chiller! It is sooooooooo good! I hadn't had one in years!

Can you say stuffed and calorie overload! I don't even want to know!

When we got home and got the girls to bed kev surprised me and pulled out a movie I'd mentioned that I wanted to to see! It was pretty good but so sad. I was thinking it was a comedy, but it was definitely a drama! My date fell asleep early in the movie! Poor thing...he is such an early bird and I am such a night owl!

It was a great a refreshing time! We need to spend more time out on dates... time when we are not barking orders to each other, having to discipline children, and really able to talk and enjoy being together!

When was the last time you had a date? Make a plan for one next week!