"Should We Stay or Should We Go Now!?!?"

You have many choices when you have little ones....You pack them up, and you go OR You stay home and hibernate. While of course, we love being home! There is a time to get some shopping done, go out to eat, or venture out into the "Wild World" we reside in! I have always been one to say....Lets Roll....We are going to ???

Both of our girls are great while out and about....I mean really great! We have enjoyable times and memories while we are on the go. I think that it makes them flexible, and they adapt well. It is common for us to play games while shopping, have a "Rock Concert" as we sing in the car to "My favorite songs" as Tess calls them. She can sing a great "Noah Built the Archy Archy"!

I feel that some of Tessa's best learning experiences are while we are out and about. Just recently while driving to her tumbling class she looked at a billboard and said "Look at all the "T"'s and "E"s on that sign Mommy, Like Mine and Ella's Names!

We go with our Girls and while that is not for everyone, it works for us, the times are very special, entertaining and memorable....If it wasn't for being out and about who who set off door alarms at Kohls?, find colors and shapes while shopping, build towers out of baby food jars in the cart, and share a love for Target with their Mommy......

A Little Chart....A Lot of Ice Cream!

We find as parents that certain things work in certain situations and when you find what works....You go with it, and go with it, until, like a great pair of blue jeans, it wears itself out. Well, Charts really work for Tess, and while Kevin and I think that eventually, this method will wear itself out....it hasn't yet.....Tess loves to aim for the goal and get it....

We have had bedtime charts, helping charts and our most recent.....

We have been working on listening the first time she is told, she has improved tremendously and has kept it up, even after filling the chart! She was SO proud of herself! The rewards are not always as"Sweet" related for her charts, some times it is a trip to the park, or a coloring book or her choice etc. But someone else in the house ???? Da__ ___ ___??? also enjoyed her choice of rewards for this one! Including the toppings for the ice cream!

So here's to parents and finding what works! It is not always easy but I have learned that when there is buy-in from the kiddos, it is so much more pleasant for all of us...

Day & Night

While the awake times are certainly enjoyable, fun, entertaining and memorable....

There is a peaceful calm in a parent's heart when they watch their children sleep! I look in on the girls often when they are slumbering! Kevin and I always peek at the girls before we go to bed. As I often do, I try to savor the moment of their little hands and feet, the serenity of the their slumber, the sounds of a binky, and the heavenly gift of our girls! God blesses us each day in so many ways. We are so thankful for the simplicity of it all....Looking at the girls sleeping is a very peaceful and special part of my day!

Snuggles with Grandma & Papa!

Snuggle Snuggle....Some recent photos of Ella & her Papa & Grandma!

Our Girls are certainly loved by their Family!

Retirement..

There is equal shares of Humor and Joy with I talk to both our parents about what they have recently been up to....I am so glad for them, I hope Kevin and I are blessed some day to enjoy our retirement years....He claims he "married a younger wife so he could retire early" Ha! my response "I married and older man :) so I could retire early"!?!?!? Our girls have some active grandparents! Larry & Sherry....They have had the opportunity to travel a lot recently, the motor home has had many miles put on it...They have had another travel season of seeing much of the country! Regardless of the chemo and the radiation, You can't keep and good man down! I am so happy for them and they have a Vegas Trip to the Bull Riding Finals coming up! I say "Good for them!" ...Living it up! Jerry & Marilyn ...Busy as ever, visiting often, and staying active....a recent phone call went something like this "Hi Dad what are you and Mom up to this today" Well, Mom is at Zumba Class (spare me the details hehehe!), I am going to the gym, we have a health fair today, then I won tickets to the Pacer game for tonight." Wow, you have a busy day" "yes, and I am so exciting I am having my dolphin encounter that Mom bought me tomorrow at the zoo" (Yes, he put on a wetsuit and went swimming with dolphins)....Whale Done Parents! Both of our parents: Enjoying life, loving their family and being amazing Grandparents to our girls!! We are also equally blessed that they get along well and we ALL can get together often for dinners and holidays....such a blessing!

An Apple a Day... or More!

Picking Apples = Enjoyment!

Eating a few apples=Enjoyment!

Figuring out what to do with the Many other apples= ????

When picking brings you apples you must make.....Apple sauce, Apple Crisp, and Baked Apple slices!

We went, we picked and we are STILL enjoying the apples!

Look at this FULL Belly!

The Buzz on "The Girls"...

Everyday brings its own set of joys and I find myself being reflective often. I think that the reasoning for this is simply enjoying the moment. The girls are at such amazing stages and they are changing by the day before our eyes, all to quickly, but it is with joy and health that we are thankful for many things!

Ella "Bear"....as she is often referred to by her sister! She is so loved by Tess. Tess loves to sit and talk with her and read to her. One of the newest recent joys is their joint bath time. Ella loves to splash in the water and watch Tess. Tonight Ella was hugging Tess and blowing on her back "mommy, she is making zer-berts on my back, isn't that funny!" (Yes, of course it is) and to the hear the two of them giggle together....Bliss! Kevin walked in from work as they were in the bath, the sounds of the house are often little one's laughter.....Good Stuff.

Current Events for Ella....Two Teeth, on the bottom~ Wanting to walk so bad but figuring out that she can catch Tess faster when crawling~ Giggles, BaBaBa, DaDaDa, and of course in the middle of the night MaMaMa ~ Waving, clapping and motioning for "UP"~ Food...Food and More Food!~ Playing with toys, Oh so Fun!

Tessa ....Need I say more....Just tonight, a typical conversation....(Mommy)"Ella are you hugging your bear?" (Tess) "Actually, (Yep,she loves this word lately) Mommy, it is my bear but Ella can hug it if she wants to, I Love Her" Or another recent one During bathtime.... (Tess) Mommy when will Ella be tall like me?" (Mommy) "When she is three like you are." (Tess) "Then who will be the small one, will there be another baby?" ??? Well, Tess, I think it will be Tessa and Ella and where would another baby sleep?..(Thinking, long pause) I can share with Ella and the baby can have Ella's room (How thoughtful)....We are so happy with you and Ella our Girls...Alright Mommy!

Current Events for Tessa~ New words daily...Some interesting ones recently are impressed, actually, interesting....~ LOVES her sister, she wants to help her and cuddle her, this is a morning routine at our house, so precious~ Testing new limits, but dealing well with it, "that was a poor choice wasn't Mommy?, I am sorry" ~ Memorizing and reciting books as we read to her, with such expression, imagine that; Tess with expression ~Finding letter "T" everywhere~ Continuing to love to play dress up, dancing and school, she dresses up each day for a "Holiday" (she says this is when we get pretty and dance)???~ JOY"FULL" Moments!

Tessa's Cafe'

I have such a good little helper! Tess loves to set the table and make it "all pretty for Daddy" One recent evening, Tess set the table, complete with flowers, a seat for Ada (her imaginary friend), baby place setting for Ella, and napkins. Daddy played it up so well when he got home, he acted as excited as Tess was, this made her so proud of herself! I love how involved she likes to be and that she loves to be a helper! I am so proud of her, and Ella watches every move she makes, so much some times that it tires her out...! (she has a gift like her Mommy, one minute wide awake, literally one minute later....Out)

Great evenings at our house....I am "Lovin every minute of it" !

Dress Up!

Who doesn't love...A Closet, Clothes and Jewelry? I know some kiddos that like it just like their Mommies do! They had a grand time for quite some time....It cetainly took some time to clean up....worth every minute! Look at those cute faces having fun!

Apples, Pumpkins and Mud Oh My!

Family traditions....Very important in my opinion....One of my many fond memories of growing up is our annual trip to the Apple Orchard for apple picking, always around Mom's Birthday.

It had been years, too long, since we had experienced this joy. We made a return this weekend and it was very enjoyable!!

We hunted for the "perfect plump pumpkin" There is something about pumpkins, "the perfect pumpkin" is so different in everyones' point of view. The pumpkin that was perfect for us this year was the one that Tess described as "This is the one Ella and I like", that was it. Of course this was after many had been picked up and dropped, we had to discuss pumpkin kindness!

Then, as our search continued for "Festive Fall Fun"...& "Family Time" as Kevin calls it, .... We found that the orchard was a "Bit" muddy. The guys had a "Fun" time pushing out...

Dad's Car.....

Kevin & Lori's Van....

Times like this are why we have All Wheel Drive....

We picked many apples and I am looking for recipes....Apple Butter, Apple Crisp, Apple Sauce... (Do I sound like Bubba Gump?)

We all enjoyed the Apple Pickin' and the dinner out to eat! A fun family time! I am hopeful that we can have traditions like this carry on as the girls grow!

Part of the Journey...

"Momma said there be days like this there would be days like this my Momma said!" Well, this is so true....While the Motherhood is amazing there are certainly challenges to accompany the many joys..... Here is the scene...9:00pm Tuesday night....Tessa's room....Did I mention it was past bedtime??? Our little girl wanted to remind us of the strong-willed side of being three. Tess DID NOT want to go to bed, she tried every excuse to leave her room. We had watched "Max & Ruby", Read numerous books, brushed teeth, and snuggled....She was not convinced that this was enough.... What is a caring Mommy to do?? Well, this Momma parked it right by her door....LET THE GAMES BEGIN.... Score: Mommy ~0 Tessa~ 0 Let me go see Daddy... Okay, go give him a night night kiss.... Tessa - Is now up by One! I go get her.... Tears begin...."Tess it is bedtime, time to go to sleep and rest" Tears intensify... Ability to reason....GONE!! Mommy ~0 Tessa ~1 Then she changes into EXTREMELY tired 3 year old! Exhaustion tears, very loud protests, "I am so tired Mommy, I want out of my room?" I had to sit against the door.... She tried to budge me...(This Momma is not moving) TIE game!! She shoved, I ignored and reassured her that it was bedtime.... Screams continue, pushes continue..."that is enough Tess" She moved away from me, held up her hands,"I just want out Mommy" I put her back in bed, she gets out (Repeat 5 times) (By now I am more exhausted then she is) I sit against the door, she pushed, against me to move me (My thoughts, good luck little one, Momma is strong willed like you :) Mommy is gaining control of the game.... Mommy ~2 Tess~1 Tess collapses in my lap, Sniffle, sniffle, deep breaths, (Huge Brown Eyes look up at me) "I tired Mommy" "I know Babe" "I sorry Mommy, I loves You and Daddy, and Ella....ZZZ! Mommy ~ZERO Tess ~ 100....While it was a challenge, when she ends on that note, who is keeping score, it was worth every bit, but I had to go early that night....(I would never let her in on that information....Not until someday when she is a in the Mommy shoes) Motherhood, while sometimes are challenging, and we have to be strong....and know, it is worth it, nobody ever said it was easy, but it is amazing! And....We just love them no matter what!

A New member of the family....

Below is the photo of the newest addition to our family.... Can you see her???? She has "Pretty Yellow Hair and she is Four"???? I can't see her either....But Tess can and she spends A LOT of time with us! Her name is Ada. She loves to have dinner with us, take a bath with the girls and most of all play house with Tess. The innocence of it all if great. Kevin does the best at playing along! We set her a place at the dinner table, then he help get her out of the tub. Tess has no problem asking us to include her new friend. She told us the "Ada likes it when she came over and she can stay with us for a little while." She also said that "I love Ada but she is not my sister like Ella, I love Ella too!" Never a Dull Moment around here! Tess keeps us guessing what will come next?!

Being a Mommy!...

Below are numbers #345, #98, and # 238.... on my list of why I love being a Mom....It is Grand! Note: The list is truly endless and Kevin and I are find out daily that our Journey as parents has its daily lessons and joys! Some one asked me the other day, "What is your favorite stage for your own children, I had to reply "Whatever stage they are in"! A kind lady at our church told me that this is the answer she used and now that her kids are grown she can say that she loved every part of their stages of growing up! Each day brings new joys and experiences for us as parents. I also find daily joy in being a wife and having a loving husband. I feel that one of the most important gifts we can give our girls is the example of a strong marriage that involves the Lord and a true love for one another. I love their Daddy and I hope I show him everyday how much he means to me and his girls!

This is my view looking down lately as Ella learns to walk!

Who doesn't love some snuggle time?

TA-DA! Look at this little picture of love!