A little bit pathetic, a little bit cute...

Our poor ol' Thunder has a mass growing on his chest.  It has slowly been getting bigger and bigger (the vet said to let it be until it started bothering him). It is now starting to bother him which means he is licking it constantly, and it looks disgusting.  We took him to the vet this morning and surgery is set to remove it next Friday (like a whole week from tomorrow!).  Until then he has to wear a t-shirt to keep him from licking it and irritating it more.  He looks pretty cute, but I think he feels a little pathetic!
He is such a sweet dog!

see that nice bulge on his chest, eww!

1774

Today at lunch my Lizzy says, "Mom were Britain and the colonies at war in 1774?"

Uh....okay history classes of the past, come back to me...I should know this I'm sure....

Liz continues, "Because in the book I am reading, Felicity's dad cannot sell tea anymore because the tax the king of Britain put on it."

Okay, some of this is sounding familiar and I begin to talk about the Boston tea party (the tiny bit I know).  She uses words like "loyalists" and I begin to falter.  Time for a history lesson for ME!

Her stack of books for one week

Thank you American Girl books for teaching my child so much, perhaps I should be reading them as well!

Bedtime conversations...

Tonight I was putting Joshua to bed and after a story we were rocking and talking.  Joshua was full of thoughts tonight.  Here are some of them...

J    Mom, where does ear wax come from?
M  Your ears.
J     Where in your ears, right here.
M   Yes it comes out that hole.
J      So when I get it out with my finger and put it right here (on his nose) then it turns into buggers. Mom, where do buggers come from.
M    Your nose.
J       But how do you make buggers?
M     Well it is mucus in your nose. (this is my simple answer that i don't really know how to explain to my two year old, not that he knows what mucus is but I am trying to get him to sleep so simple short answers are my goal!, perhaps I should Google it!)
J       Mom what does a combine do?
M     Chops up corn
J       Oh yeah.  Mom where does edamame come from?
M     From a soybean plant that grows in a field.
J       Oh is it kinda green?
M     Yes.  Can I get you in your bed now?
J       But mom I can do it.  (he gets off my lap and snuggles into his bed.)


Sweet dreams my little Joshua!!! May your mind rest tonight!

P.S.  Today was Day 1 of potty training.  We made it through the day...almost didn't....but had a nice encouraging talk with my mom who reminded me that it will happen, to be patient and take our time.  Thanks mom!  We ended on a good note, no accidents from after bath (he did stand up and pee in the tub and was very proud of that!) all the way until bedtime!

Green Eggs and Ham...

Do you like them Sam I Am?
In March we enjoyed some good ol' green eggs and ham in honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday. Love those sleepy looking eyes!

Well, I really didn't want to eat my green eggs but in honor of Dr. Seuss I did it, and of course they tasted just the same as regular eggs!  Why is it that there are times when just because something looks a little different we are hesitant to try it?  Sometimes God puts things in our lives that look, feel, sound different to challenge and grow us.  I am so thankful that even in those times, HE is always the same, never changing.  He is good, he is righteous, he is mighty, he is gentle, he is love.  Today may we all ask for something or someone different to come into our lives so that we can be challenged and see the consistent love of our Lord through those differences.  Blessings!

High heals to hiking boots

So, this past weekend was a wonderful one! It started off great on Friday because my sweet husband took off the day and we just spent it together, well, with Joshua too.  The girls were at their Friday school so it was just the three of us and we really enjoyed it.  We didn't do anything particularly fancy or amazing, just ran some errands and were together.  That is one of my favorite things, just being with Nate, he is my best friend.
Friday night we went to a friend's wedding (my wonderful zumba instructor Kassi!).  It was so beautiful and such a fun night.  I have been blessed to get connected with some very fun and wonderful ladies through my zumba class, so we had lots of fun kickin it up on the dance floor and having some good laughs over it.

After the wedding Nate had arranged for us to stay overnight in Estes, so we went up the canyon and stayed in a cozy little place.  We slept in and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast (heaven!).  After breakfast we went up to the park and did a nice hike in the snow.  It was a wonderful day, the weather was great (even the snow coming down was perfect) and the hike was beautiful.

The kids stayed with grandma and papa and had a wonderful time.

It was really a wonderful weekend and always hard for those times to end.  (hence the Monday post!)

The snow was rather deep in places!

But, now that the week has started, I can look back and smile because it was such a good weekend and I am blessed!

Hmm, what will next weekend hold?!

Mondays come every week

It is Monday morning, they come every week and there are weeks that I dread them and there are weeks I look forward to starting the new week.  I am not quite sure how I am feeling about this particular Monday.  I want to make a choice to have a good day, to be joy filled, to engage with my kids, to look for the good in it, yet I feel tired and a bit sluggish.
We had a wonderful weekend...more on that later...and after a good weekend it does feel hard to focus and get into the laundry, school, household chores, etc.
So, why am I rambling on and on about Monday?  Because each new day Jesus calls us to trust him, to not worry about what the day holds. To trust his love, goodness, and plan for me.  Today is Monday but it is the day the Lord has made, I will be glad and rejoice in it.  He has put a new song in my heart and I will ever praise him, no matter what day of the week it is!  Happy Monday to you all and may the Lord sing sweetly over you today!

My baby just got bigger!

One of my dearest friends says that my little boy is like a 20 year old in a 2 year old's body!  I think she says that because he has a lot of wisdom and understanding for being just 2 years old...but I also think about the 20 year old boys I have known and I hope that is what she means and not that he is a wild, crazy, careless (at times) boy!!
Joshua is always saying and doing the funniest things.  He has A LOT to say most of the time and is rather opinionated about this growing up thing.  For a while we have talked to him about putting up his "big boy bed" and he has been very against it.  "Not until I am bigger, I am still little!"
Well, we went ahead and took the plunge one Saturday morning when he showed the slight bit of excitement and interest in it.  He has done great in his bed, feels very proud of it, but now I am the one saying "NO, wait, when you are bigger, you are still little!!"
The first night I tucked him into his new little bed he was so excited, smiled at me and said, in a very grown up voice, "Good night mom."  That was it, he was done and ready to sleep.
I left the room and bawled my eyes out for a few minutes.  When did my baby get so big?!!  I love this stage, he is so cute and curious but there are definitely days that I miss that little tiny baby boy.

Always ready to help daddy!

Next stop...the potty!  AHHHH.....

Just a mom...

The other day while we were visiting my dad at the hospital, the nurse came in to check on his knee.  The girls and I were watching and Papa asked the girls if they would ever like to be a nurse.  They both shook their head, No!  I then said, "I never wanted to be a nurse.  It wasn't the job for me."  To which Sarah responded, "Yes, you were meant to do nothing, you're just a mom!"
Oh sweet Sarah!  I had a good laugh over that one!  It actually was said at a time in life when I was feeling that very thing...I am just a mom.  It is exhausting, tiring, sometimes way too repetitive, sometimes way too chaotic, most of the time it is the most wonderful thing ever....
I am sure most of you know exactly what I am talking about.  Being a mom is the best job in the world for me but it is also so hard and there are days when I wonder if I can do it.

Jesus is so good to speak into my heart at times when I wonder what I am doing...am I doing it well?  This week in school we read a story and in it they talked about that no matter what you do, do it to glorify the Lord.  Sometimes that is as simple as just being, being exactly who God has made you to be.
So, whether I get this mom thing right, I pray that Jesus would help me to do it for his glory and with his full on help.
I may be just a mom, but to me that is exactly where God wants me right now and so that statement is actually very beautiful in my ear!

The lost art of writing

Last night I was at the computer and began looking back through my old blog posts.  I realized how much I used to write, just about little daily things and also about life in general.  I guess having a third little person in our family has changed how much time I spend reflecting and writing about our life but I have really missed it.  I loved looking back and seeing the cute things that the girls said and did.  I love seeing how we have journeyed and adventured along the way.  Just looking back at the past few years brought a renewed desire to write more.  To share more thoughts and daily happenings. I write not so that others will know but because it allows me to reflect and verbalize what I see happening in our life.  Of course if other's read what I write that is just fine but writing is a place of peace and enjoyment for me.
So, I challenge myself to begin another, more consistent blogging journey.  Feel free to join me!

We have an 8 year old!

I probably start every birthday post the same way, "how can she be... or time just goes so quickly!"  I truly wonder how these 8 years have just flown by so quickly.   Our first born sweetie pie Elizabeth, came to us a few weeks early and has been filling our life with joy ever since!  Elizabeth is such an amazing young girl.

She is so smart, kind and sweet.  She is a lot like her daddy and I love seeing her mind work, her heart respond, and her life shine.  She processes life inside her head and it is wonderful when those thoughts come out and are shared with us.

Little Lizzy, then...

And now...with her new braces!

So, what has this 8 year old of ours been up to these days? She is still involved in her ballet class loves to dance, she is so graceful, focused, and beautiful.  She is an avid reader (which her sister is very frustrated with) and will pick up a chapter book and spend hours, probably the entire day if I let her, reading it.  Later tidbits of info that she is reading about will come out.  She loves historical fiction books and knows a lot about the pioneering times through all the books she reads. For Christmas she got a sewing kit and has made a few outfits for her stuffed animals.  For her birthday she got a knitting kit, so she is beginning to learn how to knit - she loves to create!  She loves math and science and has begun playing the piano this year also.  She soaks information up and loves to learn.

A birthday dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory

Her ballerina birthday cake

Some sweet friends celebrating her birthday!

Pumpkin pie was her request for her family party.
The cousins all pitched in to help her blow out that one trick candle!

 Elizabeth is the proud new owner of a hamster!  Nibbles came to live with us last week and has been a very sweet little pet.  Elizabeth is very responsible and helpful in caring for her pet and with helping around the house.

Nibbles and Elizabeth

Elizabeth, you are a beautiful shining star and we are so proud of you.  May God continue to speak life and truth into your heart and I pray that you will always respond to his calling.  We love you!