Off We Go

Today is the day! As soon as I pick Libby up (I have to drop her off first) from preschool, we are headed to Ohio. Yea! I am not necessarily looking forward to the drive, but I am looking forward to being home again. I will post from there. I have my camera so we'll see how often I actually pull it out and use it. :)

Please Pray

I love this girl.

John Deere Girls

We have a few pictures of Libby on the tractor with her daddy at the old house, but this is our first picture with both of the girls and daddy. Tonight was Grace's first ride. I assume she had fun, she wasn't screaming when they got back and they were gone long enough for me to get the whole house straigtened up. Granted, it's not been clean long enough for us to mess it up completely, but none the less. As for Libby, it will probably only be two or three more years and you will start to see pictures of her on the tractor by herself running it. I have no doubt in my mind. She has been running the loader since she was about 16 months old.

Fun at the Fair

Today was "kids day" at the fair so I thought I would swing Libby by for some fun after preschool. She was three inches too short for most of the rides, but was able to ride on a few. Grace even got to ride the carousel since sister was nice enough to choose a seat instead of a horse. J We saw some friends there that were willing to take an extra baby for a few minutes so that Libby could ride the kiddie coaster. I think Libby's thoughts of what it was going to be and what it was didn't really match up. By the time the ride was over she was clinging to me and saying, "I want off. This is scary." I think that is what she was saying by the time the kiddie drop zone was done too. All of the rides seemed to look so tiny to me…even the adult rides. It has been probably about 10 years since I've been to the fair and it's amazing how much things change in that amount of time. Needless to say, after we left when I asked Libby what her favorite part of the fair was her answer was, "All of it."

We're Rockin' and Rollin'

Grace has decided that sitting still is for the birds. It took me SEVERAL takes to get this, but I finally got video of Grace scooching her way to her desired pacifier. The second video is more for the grandparents. Grace talks quite a bit in it.

Look at Those Teeth!

Libby had her first dental cleaning last night. I have to say, I am not sure who I was impressed with the most, the dental hygienist or Libby. The dental hygienist treated Libby wonderfully throughout my appointment and let Libby watch what she was doing with me and even let her help suck the water out of my mouth. Then, when it was Libby's turn she talked to her and let her know what she was doing with her. As for Libby, she did everything she was asked and even survived the flouride treatment, although she was antsy toward the end of it. I was very impressed and happy with the outcome.

Time

Wow! When did I age? Where has time gone? I just had to post this picture that one of my friends from high school drew way back when. Do you remember drawing this Katie? I've been unpacking basement boxes and came across a memory box. I had notes from my little sister (who isn't so little anymore), letters from my mom, a note from my sister, Stephanie, that said, "You aren't fat and you are pretty", letters from my best friends (all of which were in my wedding), cards from my first graders that I helped my senior year, letters from a missionary boy I used to write, ALL the letters from my missions trip to Tennessee when I was twelve...including the letter that I wrote to mom and dad BEGGING them to come visit, and this drawing, that amazingly as soon as I pulled it out I thought, "Oh my gosh! Katie Brentlinger drew that for me." I had fun going through the box and, needless to say, am keeping most everything that was in that box. :)

First Proof

R E D

This is the first proof that sending Libby to preschool is actually doing something for her intellectually. I can't ask her what she learned on any particular day because she looks at me like I just ask her if she ate green cheese from the moon. So, I have to trust God that I followed Him in sending her to school. But, today was the day I have been waiting for this past month and a half. She was sitting at the table (supposed to be eating her soup) and she was singing. She sang, "I know how to spell red. R-E-D. R-E-D." I turned around and asked her how she knew how to spell red and she looked at me funny as if to say, "Duh, mom!" and said, "School." Yea! I can't wait to hear other little tid bits of things she learns from school.

A Much Needed Break

The girls (especially Libby) have been so patient with me as I try to get this house organized and ready to live in. I try to take small breaks with the girls here and there, but I'm constantly "getting back to work". So, today I we had a girl's day. After school, I took Libby to McDonald's to eat and then we went to the mall where they have a new play place. Libby met new people, Gracie met new people and I met knew people. We all had fun. Then we ran to the store for a few more things to help organize the house and I decided that Libby deserved some m&m's. All in all, we had a good time. Of course, the backlash was that when we got home Libby was upset that I needed to start getting stuff done again. After nap (and with company of course) she got all upset with me because we didn't go to the McDonald's with a play land and just had a twenty minute fit about it. We still had a good day though. I was glad to spend some time with my girls.

Talk About Motivation

First of all, my good friend Angie posted some GREAT thoughts about being a mother today on her blog. Wow! It really made me think about what my goals in parenting are and how to reach those goals.

Then, tonight on Focus on the Family they were talking about raising godly children and what you can do so your children will truly love God and not just know the right things to "do". This part challenged me on the how to reach my goals of children who have a heart for the Lord. They talked about LIVING it and not just putting your best foot forward on Sundays. The verses they converged on were Deuteronomy 6: 4-7.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Wow! That (we learned at Vacation Bible School this year) is the #1 command to the Jews. It is called the Schema. That is a BIG charge. It really made me think...I say that I love the LORD my God with all my heart, soul and strength, but am I putting actions behind my words? Am I acting different, as a Christian, to show others that I love the LORD my God? And if people can't tell that I'm "different" than how can I impress that upon my children? Even if I do love Him so much, am I living it for my children? Am I talking about it when I'm sitting at home and when I'm on the road, when the girls are going to bed and when we are waking up? I don't necessarily like the answers to some of those questions. I can definitely look back through time and see spiritual growth, but I have so far to go. Especially right now. Libby has entered a phase where she is searching out her own independence and is showing it by asserting an attitude with mommy and daddy. Yet, at the same time she is being extra clingy as well with the move and everything. I am having difficulty finding the proper responses. I feel like we are trying to balance on a floating dock in the middle of a storm. I am clinging to God through this, but at the same time, am I showing my children this? I know, it is just a phase of life and I will figure it out just in time for her to move on to the next phase. :) I am just trusting God and will put this verse (as I have been doing since VBS) into my heart and will work on letting God work on, and in, me.

Oh yes, how could I forget?

I am SO excited! Before I got pregnant with Grace I was down to 205 pounds. I didn't quite make that 200 mark. FINALLY, I am there! Of course, along with the excitement is the frustration of the fact that it comes along with a post pregnancy body (which is well worth it I might add) meaning that I'm still in a size 16 versus the size 14 that I had just managed to get into before getting pregnant. Ah, well, I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too. :)

Baby Cakes

Oh, I have missed blogging. I'm sure the grandparents, at least, have missed it too. :) Here are some grandma and grandpa photo fixes.

Libby being silly. The sad part is that she weighs little enough that she doesn't hurt the silly thing.

Gracie Mae just chillin' while mommy takes a break from her work.

Here is Grace sitting up. And notice...CLEAN counter top. Awwww...how refreshing!

Grace's favorite toy? Her walker. She gets that thing moving all over the kitchen and dining room and just has an absolute blast. The blanket is on her because sometimes she gets cold so she needs a covering. :)

So You Think You Can Dance!

Libby has decided to get prepared for her Homecoming Queen dance early. Here are some videos of her practicing. :)

Enjoy!

I love my big sister!

More Libby fun!

When Grace woke up from her nap tonight Libby went in to play with her. Grace was cooing away and Libby came out with the biggest smile on her face and said, "Grace said that she loves her big sister and that she's the best!"

Turkey

Tonight we had turkey sandwiches for supper. I didn't give Libby much because we usually have to fuss with her to eat it. Not tonight. She downed it and asked for more. Here is the conversation that ensued.

Me: Here you go
Libs: I want some glue with it too.
Me: Some what?
Libs: Glue.
Me: Oh, miracle whip?
Libs: Yeah, miracle stick.

Turkey!

Online Again

Not going to post much, but thought I'd let you know that we have the internet again. So, now I have a bunch of catch up work with my fellow bloggers. :) I'll post more pictures soon.

Beautiful Girls!

Connected

This is what we have been sorting our way through this past week. Unfortunately, these pictures are only mild. They don't show what the kitchen looked like, they don't show what Libby's room looks like (poor girl!), they don't show the entertainment center scattered all over the rest of the living room. We are going to have one REALLY nice (or really junky) garage sale. Anyone wanna come help? Ha ha! Anyway, we are in and it is really great to be sleeping in my own bed again! I am wading through all of the boxes while Chris either is hanging stuff that needs hung or is repairing things that aren't quite as strong as we would have like them. Our wire racks in the closets were about ready to fall out of the wall with all of our crap on them. Chris fixed it though. Hopefully we will have the whole house cleared out in time for the fall when we can start planting and the like. :) Ha! I am REALLY missing my internte, but at the same time, I don't have a lot of time to check things out at the moment anyway. Well, I'll put one more post up with some pics of the girls and then I'll sign out for now. Hope you all are doing well.