Elizabeth' Birthday Party and Cake

Monday, a week ago, we had a little birthday supper for Elizabeth. We asked her who she wanted to come and she said "Karis and Elsa." As much as we would have loved to have her cousin, Elsa, an Idaho plane ticket didn't seem likely, but we did have Karis and her brother, Nico, as well as her mom and aunt. For a third friend, she invited Michael. He was not able to come, but his mom came to represent the family.

Hannah was our party planner and designer. She and Daddy made this penguin and polar bear for a table centerpiece. The theme became "North and South Pole" because as everyone knows penguins and polar bears do not live at the same pole.

Hannah and Daddy created two "poles." Here is Elizabeth and Hannah standing in front of one of them.

Here are our party guests enjoying Elizabeth's request of pizza, tootons (croutons) and poppyseed dressing.

Then, the Crème de la Crème daddy's birthday cake for his 3 year old!

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!

Questions with Elizabeth, Age 3

Tonight at 12:24 am, this little girl will be 3. And yes, we can believe it! Although I do wonder where my little baby went.

Elizabeth Anne ~ 3 years old

Interview with Elizabeth:

1. What is your favorite color? purple
2. What is your favorite toy? Sophia toy
3. What is your favorite fruit? applesauce
4. What is your favorite tv show? Paw Patrol
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut Butter and Jelly
6. What is your favorite outfit? Bee dress
7. What is your favorite game? Pass the Pigs
8. What is your favorite snack? Lollypop
9. What is your favorite animal? I want an animal says "Hooo"
10. What is your favorite song? On the Ice Berg
11. What is your favorite book? Paw Patrol Book
12. Who is your best friend? Karis and Elsa

Elizabeth with one of her best friends... her cousin, Elsa

13. What is your favorite cereal? Toast
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with the Shovel and throw on our heads
15. What is your favorite drink? Sophia drinks
16. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween

Elizabeth, the rock star!

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? sackie, stripe blanket to chew on
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Baked Oatmeal
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pizza, Tootons, Poppyseed dressing, peanut and sugar
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Princess
21. What was your favorite thing about being 2? dancing in Cinderella and spinning around on my bumbum
22. What are you looking forward to about being 3? laughing at Karis and going to the bathroom, brushing my teeth and being all clean

 Wow, what a year we have had with you. It seems like overnight you went from our cuddly little girl to "crazy uncle" to little miss big personality. As of January 31, 2014, you have made this house completely diaper free! When I asked you about your birthday and turning three, you denied that and insisted that you are turning 13 with that impish little laugh you give when you are teasing us. I ask that you would allow us to "enjoy" 3 first.

Happy Birthday, Lizzle!

We love you very much! Thanks for the joy you bring to us every day.

A "New" New Years Resolution

I believe I was browsing my Pinterest feed when I came across this blog post with a suggestion about how to do New Year's resolution differently. I like her approach, so I think I just might do it.

A Resolution to Be Me

In 2013 I was really great about remembering to send birthday cards to the kids and adults who I am blessed to work with at church. It was a fun way to connect with people and hopefully encourage them.

In 2013 I really enjoyed working in my small backyard garden. I thought that this was going to be an activity for me and the kids, but I mostly just needed it to relax. Planting, weeding, watering were all great opportunities to be outside, productive, but not have to think about the rest of the world. It was especially fun harvesting potatoes with the kids. When is spring?

In 2013 I felt great when I was working out regularly.

In 2013 I accomplished waking up early on Sunday mornings to spend an hour praying at church for the service, for life, for people, for whatever God brought to mind. It wasn't always a mountain top experience, but it truly was a blessing and something I looked forward to each week.

In 2013 I learned that I'm not much of a phone person, which is hard because many of my good friends no longer live close to me. However, I also learned that good friends connect again quickly when they get back together. I also learned that I love to laugh and that I want more laughter in my life.

In 2013 I created with my fellow "ministry chicks" some great Lenten Wednesday night church family activities. It was a lot of work, but a neat way to "do" Lent in community.

In 2013 I connected with our friends the Boggs'. It was an awesome trip and a great reminder that distance doesn't have to end relationships. Would love to connect again with them and some other long-distance friends.

Looking over the list I can see just how wonderful 2013 was. I am so grateful! I want more of the same.

In 2014 I will continue to reach out to people with the written word (letters, cards, email)

and exercise

and maybe even plan some trips to connect with some of my long-distance friends.

In 2014 I will enjoy laughter with my kids, my spouse, and my friends (perhaps even a stranger)

and my garden: planning, planting and harvesting

and maybe even creating more activities for our church family.

In 2014 I will be grateful because I am growing and learning and laughing.

Interview with Hannah, Grace and Elizabeth for Daddy's Birthday

What does your daddy do for work?

H: Do stuff on the computer
G: Study sometimes
E: He asks something

If your dad were an animal, what kind would he be?

H: Penguin
G: Lion
E: Turtle

What is Daddy's favorite TV show?

H: People talking
G: Funny videos
E: a cow

My dad says the most important rule is...

H: Don't fight
G: Don't bite
E: No fighting, no biting, and no people do what you want

I love my daddy because...

H: he is nice
G: he is special
E: he not like you

What does daddy do best?

H: work
G: make cakes
E: bite

What makes your daddy laugh?

H: things that are funny
G: when we watch funny videos
E: bite

What makes your daddy sad?

H: when we are not kind to each other

G: when we bite people

E: bite

How tall is your daddy?

H: 30 inches
G: 3 inches
E: big and big

My favorite thing to do with my daddy is...

H: watch videos
G: watch videos
E: bite

Nobody is better than he is at...

H: playing games
G: playing games
E: potty

Other things to say about daddy on his 36th birthday...
Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to daddy. Happy Birthday to you. Love Hannah, Grace and Elizabeth

(Pictures taken and selected by Daryl's daughters)

 

The Day that Was

(Pictures Taken by Hannah or Grace)

You know, it didn't really start out as a bad day. Of course, as my husband put it, we were all sleeping when the day began. I'm not even sure when the day started downhill... I just found myself in the middle of it realizing I was fighting (and losing) staying a float. This was so a "first world problem" kind of day, but for this first world girl... anyway.

I think it started south, when my eldest daughter came downstairs in shorts on a rather brisk morning. I told her that she would probably be very cold wearing those clothes and she (surprisingly) agreed to go back upstairs and put tights on underneath. Not exactly what I had in mind, but it would solve the cold legs problem. Well, the tights she chose are getting on the smaller side, so after her two attempted to get them on, I needed to help. No problem, except for the fact, daughter #2 is also needing help with tights and daughter #3 needs help with breakfast. Deep breath... I can do this. The tights go one, but they don't feel right. Problem.

At this point, the family who walks Hannah to the bus stop was going to be arriving any minute and my daughter is FREAKING OUT about how her clothes feel. I calmly (not) told her she didn't have much time and she needed to do something to fix it. She manages to get upstairs, find another outfit, and get back downstairs... new problem, we can't find her other sneaker AND its gym day! At this point our friends are knocking on the door. I'm running around the house and end up bringing down... wait for it... the dreaded brown shoes! Hannah manages to let me put them on her and even says "mommy, we don't have time to fight about this." Yes, my dear, you are so right.

So off to school, she goes. I'm sure that she is going to have a terrible day, because she hates these shoes. Oh, well. Poor 1st grade teacher... and she has a classful of these little ones!

Meanwhile at home the second two daughters, decide this is not a day to play nicely together. Screaming seems to be the language of choice. We HAVE to get out of here and Target is the destination. That stop went surprisingly well (the travel wasn't so fun, but at least the yelling was a bit softer) and I decided to push my luck at 2 other stores. The last one being the Used Book Superstore. Normally, I love browsing this place. The girls like looking at the books, but they are both feeling a bit, shall we say, testy?!? I'm looking at some of the children's books, when all the sudden I hear "Attention, there is a lost child... Attention, there is a lost child." Smugly I think, I'm so glad my girls are sitting on the couches quietly looking at books... wait... I only see one child, where's Elizabeth? I grab Gracie and run to the front of the store where Elizabeth is wandering the aisles with an employee asking her where her mother is. Yes, she would be mine.

We return to the back of the store, where I put back every book I had gathered, holding Elizabeth firmly on my hip and take Gracie's hand to leave... which she does so quietly. Nope. She starts throwing a fit about wanting a book. We leave the store with her yelling "I want a book! I want a book! I'm going to go back in! I'm going!" What mother denies her child a book!?!? This one. We get to the van and I realize... I don't have my coat (which I probably would have just left) BUT my keys are inside! Yes, I awkwardly go back INTO the store, with a screaming child and my escape artist to find my coat in the far back of the store and leave again just as quietly.

We get to the van, I buckle Elizabeth in and Grace stands outside the van refusing to get in. I get her in the van and go sit in the front seat to wait for her to buckle herself in. I wisely know that I CANNOT get into the back of the van to help her... I am barely staying in control myself. Eventually she does and we head home.

The cell rings as we are going in the door. I have to ignore it, but then the house phone rings with the same number, so I pick it up. Grace proceeds to start yelling and crying, so I send her to her room. The conversation ends... Grace does something that causes me to snatch her up, carry her back to her room, where she cries "I'm sorry! I'm sorry" and in the next breath "I'm just going to do it!" I hold her, trying to calm down myself. I know I just need to get lunch in them.

Lunch is fine. Grace finishes first so I take her upstairs for quiet time. As I'm reading a book to her, I hear Elizabeth say she's done and she gets down. Grace hears her coming up the stairs and shuts the door on her. Elizabeth stands outside the door, crying, when I open it, I hear running water! Elizabeth washed her hands after lunch (yeah her) and left the water running in the bathroom. The sink is full and running over. The floor has water all over it and it take 4 beach towels to mop up the mess.

Rest time cannot come soon enough, but unfortunately that only lasts an hour and a half before we need to get to the bus stop for Hannah. Often the girls just play during the time, but occasionally they will fall asleep. Today I heard them playing, but by the time it was time to go they had just fallen asleep. They were a MESS to wake up! Elizabeth had a dirty diaper and was screaming about not wanting to get up. I managed to get them to the bus stop on time, but Elizabeth is sitting on my lap wailing. One of the grandmothers of Hannah's school mate comes over and wonders if they can have C-H-I-P-S. I was so frazzled I had to have her spell it twice! I said sure and that settled the girls down. We picked Hannah up and headed home.

Hannah was so excited because her friend's mom had figure out a way to make the brown shoes feel better! I think I should send her flowers... Hannah has said she will wear the shoes now!

Our afternoon activity was a walk to Stage Fort Park. That was mostly nice, although Gracie was running and fell on the Boulevard. She reopened her skinned knee and she doesn't handle such scrapes very well. Her screaming brought another lady over with a bandaid. That calmed her down (why don't I pack those wherever I go?), but she proceeded to bang her nose against a friend on the slide (bled some) and skin her other knee on the way home.

I was so grateful to get home to Daryl. He was appropriately sympathetic about the day and proceeded to add to the day with a cut finger of his own (minor, but needed another bandaid). I had forgotten to tell him about the bathroom situation, until our downstairs neighbor came up because they had a wet ceiling. Sigh.

So this week my theme has been "Hope in the Mundane." I definitely had some of that today and Gracie was the one to point it out "Mommy, people were really nice to us today. First chips and then a bandaid."

I would just encourage any of you out there. If you see a frazzled mom, offering those chips or a bandaid or helping her daughter with her shoes may be exactly the hope she needs to make it to bedtime!

The Garden Grew

Well, it is September and the garden did grow. It is kind of fun to see what grows (and what doesn't do as well!).

The impatients really liked the area by the fence. I was really pleased how well they did all summer and continue to do into the fall!

This area just looks a little overgrown (because it is). The blueberry bushes are fighting for their space from both the strawberries and the mint. I may pull up this whole bed next year (except for the blueberries).

This is looking over the first raised bed to the jungle of tomato plants. All my tomato plants were self-seeded (I didn't plant any new plants this year... they sprung up almost like weeds) and I was disappointed that they were all cherry tomatoes. I was hoping for some other varieties as well. I'll have to plant my own next year and keep ahead of the jungle. The beans are climbing the web to the left (as well as into the tomato plants).

This is a picture of the tops of the kale plants (Daryl is becoming known as the Kale man at work). Kale grows really well in our space.

The bare spot is were we had two cardboard boxes of potato plants and beside those some carrots. Those were all harvested already by the time I took this picture. The swiss chard continues to do well. I really like to saute the chard with some onions and put it on a sandwich instead of lettuce. Yummy!

Another picture of the climbing bean plants... we are still getting beans about once a week.

The other side of the impatients flower bed. This side was a little more shaded, but the flowers still did well. I was so excited when when of my mom's calla lily bulbs grew and produced a flower here. I didn't think they would!

One of the kale plants with the herb garden in front. The rosemary we started from seed and I didn't think it would produce, but they are slowly beginning to grow. My challenge will be to keep it going through the winter.

Here is some of the harvest we got this year. This bowls has the carrots and the potatoes we got from one plant.

 Here are the green beans I blanched and then froze.

 Here are some of the potatoes (think I got about 30 from 3 plants). The girls had so much fun "treasure hunting" for potatoes. I definitely want to plant more potatoes next year.

Happy harvest! Happy Fall!

First Day of Pre-school

Can it really be?!?! We have now launched the second of our three daughters into "formal" school. Grace will be going into her fourth day of pre-school tomorrow. Our introvert is doing great. Her teachers tell us she is very social and already knows all the rules. At home, well, we are going through some transitions... probably as a result of her holding it together infront of her teachers and classmates, but it is great to see her launch out on her own.

Here are her first day of school pictures.

She couldn't understand why her visit day was BEFORE Hannah started school, but her first day of school wasn't until AFTER. We weren't sure if we could make it through the week or if we would have to call the director to let her come every day:-), including Saturday and Sunday.

 She was very proud of her bag and her red shoes.

 I love her eyes and the darling expressions she has (when she wants to).

 The sisters got in to the picture as they sent her off to school.

 Gracie was very excited about going with daddy to work. Sigh... she is growing up so fast!

 Her grin from the window was just precious!

May all your first days of school be filled with wonder and good anticipation of what God has in store for you, Grace!