This year was the second time for us to have Thanksgiving here at our house. I tried to make it less stressful the day of, by making all of the side dishes the 3 days prior. All I really succeeded in doing was making 3 days stressful instead of one. Ha! But seriously, it did help. I made southern cornbread stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, and squash casserole beforehand. My mom did the turkey and gravy and brought the pecan and pumpkin pies. I did the creamed corn the day of...and my sister helped man the kitchen and do whatever else needed to be done with service items and place settings.
My family (all except my dad, because he ended up having to work) arrived Wednesday afternoon. Mom put the turkey in overnight, and we had a fantastic Thanksgiving lunch the next day. We enjoyed a lot of fun times together. The kids got to play with their cousin, Kylie, whom they are crazy about. We went down to the Fayetteville square to see the Lights of the Ozarks. My sister and I had our annual screening of "Christmas Vacation." They babysat for us while Aaron and I went out to brave a little of Black Friday. And they had to leave Friday afternoon, because my sissy had to work Saturday. It was a short, but great visit.
For Christmas, we'll make our usual cross-country tour. We're gonna head to Victoria to spend Christmas Day with Aaron's family and then make a stop in Purcell to see the Lee's before spending New Year's with my family. So excited to see EVERYONE at Christmas!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Gratitude
Last year I did started doing something on facebook called "30 Days of Gratitude." I did it because I figured that for the month of November, instead of just throwing up any old status update, I should publicly recognize some of the many blessings that the Lord has allowed into my life. I decided to do it again this year, and I'm pretty sure that it will be repeated next November as well.
I think that gratitude is so important. I think that we live in a world and a culture where entitlement is king, and we spend much too much time thinking about the things that we should have or deserve or "need" to keep up with all of the people around us that we are trying to compete with or impress.
I have said before that I'm learning a lot about God from being a mommy. Nothing burns me up more than seeing a spirit of ingratitude when I give my children something or do something for them. It is so distasteful to have a child respond with an attitude of "this isn't what I wanted" or "this could be better" or "you could have done more." Now, obviously my kids are 2 1/2. They aren't exactly mature enough to really comprehend what they are doing or why they are doing it. It's just the nature that is inate in them. Our job is to help guide their heart attitude to something higher and more Christlike.
But honestly, how many times have I responded to the situations, circumstances, people and deeds in my life with the same distasteful attitude? A LOT. And I'm sure that it grieves the Father's heart when we do this.
So, a lot of my goal for the month was to really attune myself to the obvious and not-so-obvious things that I need to recognize as gifts on a daily basis. A lot of days were easy, happy days. Some days, like today...were more difficult.
Today I felt ready to be committed by 1pm. :-) The kids were being really ornery with eachother, and getting on eachothers (and my) nerves. There was a lot of screaming. As we were getting ready for naptime, Emma came in to tell me that she pooped her panties. While I was trying to deal with her, Alec managed to catapult himself off of the couch, smashing his face into the coffee table. So, one poo-poo kid and one hematoma kid. What to do? My first thought wasn't gratitude.
But later, after things had calmed down, and Emma's bottom was clean and Alec was holding an icepack on his face...it occured to me that I could still be trying to have children. I could still be hoping and praying to be a mom, and getting rather incensed with women who are moms, but feel the need to complain about it a lot.
But the fact is, the same little girl who pooped her panties, is also the Emma who comes running from a mile away when she hears me in the bathroom to hug me and tell me she's proud of me for going peepee in the potty. And the little boy, who thought he was Evel Knievel, is the same Alec who was raising his hands during worship in church on Sunday loving Jesus.
I think that in most difficult situations, there is probably a flipside possibility for gratitude. We just have to find it, or have the faith to choose to believe it regardless. For the ridiculous number of good things in my life, and for the tough things that cultivate character, I am thankful to God.
I think that gratitude is so important. I think that we live in a world and a culture where entitlement is king, and we spend much too much time thinking about the things that we should have or deserve or "need" to keep up with all of the people around us that we are trying to compete with or impress.
I have said before that I'm learning a lot about God from being a mommy. Nothing burns me up more than seeing a spirit of ingratitude when I give my children something or do something for them. It is so distasteful to have a child respond with an attitude of "this isn't what I wanted" or "this could be better" or "you could have done more." Now, obviously my kids are 2 1/2. They aren't exactly mature enough to really comprehend what they are doing or why they are doing it. It's just the nature that is inate in them. Our job is to help guide their heart attitude to something higher and more Christlike.
But honestly, how many times have I responded to the situations, circumstances, people and deeds in my life with the same distasteful attitude? A LOT. And I'm sure that it grieves the Father's heart when we do this.
So, a lot of my goal for the month was to really attune myself to the obvious and not-so-obvious things that I need to recognize as gifts on a daily basis. A lot of days were easy, happy days. Some days, like today...were more difficult.
Today I felt ready to be committed by 1pm. :-) The kids were being really ornery with eachother, and getting on eachothers (and my) nerves. There was a lot of screaming. As we were getting ready for naptime, Emma came in to tell me that she pooped her panties. While I was trying to deal with her, Alec managed to catapult himself off of the couch, smashing his face into the coffee table. So, one poo-poo kid and one hematoma kid. What to do? My first thought wasn't gratitude.
But later, after things had calmed down, and Emma's bottom was clean and Alec was holding an icepack on his face...it occured to me that I could still be trying to have children. I could still be hoping and praying to be a mom, and getting rather incensed with women who are moms, but feel the need to complain about it a lot.
But the fact is, the same little girl who pooped her panties, is also the Emma who comes running from a mile away when she hears me in the bathroom to hug me and tell me she's proud of me for going peepee in the potty. And the little boy, who thought he was Evel Knievel, is the same Alec who was raising his hands during worship in church on Sunday loving Jesus.
I think that in most difficult situations, there is probably a flipside possibility for gratitude. We just have to find it, or have the faith to choose to believe it regardless. For the ridiculous number of good things in my life, and for the tough things that cultivate character, I am thankful to God.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Let's Play Catch-Up
Oh gosh! I know I need to post to update our avid readers on what's been going on since Halloween. Well, here it is in a nutshell: we've been busy and tired! Aaron is always busy with work. I have been busy with, obviously, entertaining two 2 1/2 year-olds daily, trying to keep them excited about peeing in the potty and hopefully pooping there too one day, arranging meals for new moms in the multiples club (there have been so many births lately!), cooking a massive amount of enchilada casseroles for a meal exchange I do with the MOMC club, planning, grant writing and kicking off our Angel Tree ministry at church, trying to get Christmas shopping done, planning Thanksgiving (which is at our house with my family this year), and trying to really get back into a running routine, which has been repeatedly interrupted by my getting sick.
Exactly a month ago, I went in for a sinus infection. I was put on antibiotics. Now I have another one, and I feel like poo. There is so much pressure in my sinus cavities that my teeth hurt. I've been coughing so much that every area of my abdominal muscles has received the workout of a lifetime. I've been trying to do this sinus rinse thingy (kindof like a Neti pot...but not), but apparently I still need to go to the doctor because I feel awful. Aaron is so anti-doctor, but last time and this time he's been telling me to go to the clinic. So, he's going to take off a little early today so I can to to the Walmart clinic this evening. I know that antibiotics will help, I just don't understand why I came down with two so close together. I guess the weather fluctuations have really done me in this year.
In other news, the kids have been pretty funny lately. Emma has been spanking and reprimanding her Oucan (stuffed Toucan that is her favorite lovey). She'll give him a few whacks and then say something like "You have to listen. I said no. You have to look at me. I said no." Hey, at least she's been listening! And they've also really gotten into playing "doctor" lately. They keep taking an emery board of mine and using it as a tongue depressor on "baby" and Blue. They're also getting really excited about Christmas things this year. One of our neighbors was working on lights and had them on the other night, and the kids went nuts! They've also been really excited about Santa and Chritmas trees and snowmen that they see in the stores. I got them a Twas the Night Before Christmas book, and we've been reading it a lot already. I'm excited because I think this will be the first really FUN Christmas with them! My plan is to get some decorations up this weekend...because hopefully, I'll be feeling a lot better by then.
Finally, we made the transition to toddler beds. It kinda happened on a whim this last weekend. The kids think it's pretty cool, especially Alec, because he's never been able to fully get out of his crib. Let's face it...Emma could do whatever she wanted anyway because she's a monkey child. I kind of dreaded the transition because I read so many horror stories of parents whose kids just refused to stay in bed anymore or nap anymore...but they've done amazingly at night. No issues there! Nap time takes some gentle coaxing, ha ha, from the Nap Nazis (Aaron and I tag team this role), but they are beginning to understand that daytime rest is still not an option. Today they went down pretty easily, and I was really thrilled.
Speaking of nap, they will be waking up soon. So, I'd better jet. Until next time...
Exactly a month ago, I went in for a sinus infection. I was put on antibiotics. Now I have another one, and I feel like poo. There is so much pressure in my sinus cavities that my teeth hurt. I've been coughing so much that every area of my abdominal muscles has received the workout of a lifetime. I've been trying to do this sinus rinse thingy (kindof like a Neti pot...but not), but apparently I still need to go to the doctor because I feel awful. Aaron is so anti-doctor, but last time and this time he's been telling me to go to the clinic. So, he's going to take off a little early today so I can to to the Walmart clinic this evening. I know that antibiotics will help, I just don't understand why I came down with two so close together. I guess the weather fluctuations have really done me in this year.
In other news, the kids have been pretty funny lately. Emma has been spanking and reprimanding her Oucan (stuffed Toucan that is her favorite lovey). She'll give him a few whacks and then say something like "You have to listen. I said no. You have to look at me. I said no." Hey, at least she's been listening! And they've also really gotten into playing "doctor" lately. They keep taking an emery board of mine and using it as a tongue depressor on "baby" and Blue. They're also getting really excited about Christmas things this year. One of our neighbors was working on lights and had them on the other night, and the kids went nuts! They've also been really excited about Santa and Chritmas trees and snowmen that they see in the stores. I got them a Twas the Night Before Christmas book, and we've been reading it a lot already. I'm excited because I think this will be the first really FUN Christmas with them! My plan is to get some decorations up this weekend...because hopefully, I'll be feeling a lot better by then.
Finally, we made the transition to toddler beds. It kinda happened on a whim this last weekend. The kids think it's pretty cool, especially Alec, because he's never been able to fully get out of his crib. Let's face it...Emma could do whatever she wanted anyway because she's a monkey child. I kind of dreaded the transition because I read so many horror stories of parents whose kids just refused to stay in bed anymore or nap anymore...but they've done amazingly at night. No issues there! Nap time takes some gentle coaxing, ha ha, from the Nap Nazis (Aaron and I tag team this role), but they are beginning to understand that daytime rest is still not an option. Today they went down pretty easily, and I was really thrilled.
Speaking of nap, they will be waking up soon. So, I'd better jet. Until next time...
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Halloween Weekend
Me and my pumpkins!
With their painted pumpkins
Helping Mommy pass out candy
Playing with pumpkins at the party
Looking a little pooped!
"Look, it's a baby pumpkin!"
Being a little silly
Spidey and TinkWe had a really busy and fun Halloween weekend. We actually bought the kids' costumes like two months ago at the Asst. Store for super cheap. I felt ultra-prepared with a Spiderman costume for Alec and a Tinkerbell costume for Emma. However, it would have been a good idea to at least take the costumes out of the bags and look them over before the big weekend, ya know? What actually happened was that I opened the costumes on Friday...a few hours before Aaron came home. The plan was to take the kids to Trick-or-Treat at Walmart ISD (Daddy's work) around 3:30. Well, Emma's costume was fine. Alec's, however, ended up being a size 4/5 that had been placed in the wrong bag (it was supposed to be a 2T). So, while the kids were napping, I spent a good while using my barely adequate sewing skills to take about 4 inches out of the sleeves and pants of his Spidey outfit. By the time Aaron got home, I'd barely finished, the kids were waking up, and I needed a shower. We got to ISD around 4:30. The kids were able to get an ample amount of candy (I didn't care for us to get too much. For one, they don't really eat much candy. They like a little chocolate, and they're crazy for DumDum's...but I just haven't really introduced much candy to them.) We got to show them off to a few people, and luckily, the building was not a sauna like the last time we took them through for Halloween (two years ago).
Saturday was a big day. My NWAMOMC (Mothers of Multiples) Club had our annual Fall Party that day. I had to be there at 9am to setup, and Aaron brought the kids at 10:45. Hooray for dads of twins who can get their kids fed and dressed in their costumes and to the party on time...namely, my husband! Anyways, the kids all had a costume parade, feasted on tacos and Halloween goodies, got to take part in a cupcake walk and lots of little crafts and games. It was lots of fun!
After the party, we came home and had family nap time. Then, around 4:30 we headed out to a park in Rogers because a few of our friends from church were doing a magic show out there. Alec and Emma mostly wanted to just play on the playground...and eat the snacks that were provided.
By Sunday, we were so Halloweened-out, that we decided not to Trick-or-Treat the neighborhood, and just chill at home. The kids helped me hand out candy, and they really enjoyed that. We also painted pumpkins, which they loved.
It was a busy, but fun weekend. Enjoy the pictures!!!
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