Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers

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Lilypie Second Birthday tickers

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Achievements

I have been extremely busy this week.  I have cleaned a total of 3 houses (one was my own), ran various errands, and still have a lawn to mow and lots of preparation for the upcoming birthday party.  I really want to enjoy the party on Saturday so I'm trying to exhaust myself now so that I can relax when Saturday rolls around. 

Reagan's achievement today was staying out of Mommy's hair for about half hour so I could clean the house.  She busied herself emptying the kitchen cabinets of a lot of our snack food.  As long as Bella wasn't eating it, I was happy and so was she!  Look at how proud she is of herself.


Hannah and Kate were sent home with the task of practicing using scissors this week at home.  They got to go to the children's choir at church tonight for the first time.  So after we got ourselves all cleaned up, I let them practice for about 15 minutes.   



Life is very busy right now, but so blessed!  My next post will probably be birthday party pictures of my growing 4 year olds!

Wacky Weather Dancing

I had the weather channel on the other day when we were feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Isaac.  The girls love dancing to the music they play in the background.



Wednesday, August 22, 2012

"Our" First Homework Project

Hannah and Kate had their first homework project sent home with them at Open House.  We spent the last two days working on it.  They were super excited to get to do it (or do the parts Mommy allowed them to do or they were actually capable of doing) and Mommy is super proud of "our" work!  In case you cannot tell from the pictures, it's an "All About Me" poster.  One thing that I found kind of fascinating was their different lists of friends.  Hannah had Julia and Santana (both from church), Aunt Sarah, Ms. Jill, and Grandma S.  Kate's list was Julia (from church), Rachel, Hannah (her sister), Mommy, and Emily (another friend from church).  Don't feel bad or take it personally if you didn't find your name on their "friend" list.





I thought this picture was cute because I normally put Reagan in her high chair for her afternoon snack while she watches a video, but I sat her down with Hannah and Kate instead and she ate her little bowl of Cheerios on the couch with them.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

First Day of Preschool

We have been battling some kind of fever/illness for the last week in our house.  It seems to hang around for 3 days and then it jumps ship to another family member.  Hannah and Kate had it last week and Kate kicked it just in the nick of time to be able to go to preschool this morning.  I, on the other hand, have had a sore throat since Friday night. 

Hannah and Kate have been begging to go to preschool ever since we visited it last February.  George, Hannah, Kate, and I all visited the school last Thursday night for open house.  The girls got to meet their teachers and pick up their snazzy school bags.  They go to school from 8:45-11:45 everyday.  It is a mile from our house.  Some may wonder what I did with my quiet time today?  Flopped myself on the bed and tried to sleep off the Nyquil still in my system.  I'm sure my mornings will be more much productive at the gym or running errands as soon as I get to feeling better.

The girls seemed to have a great time and didn't have too many details to offer about their first day, but I was able to coax a little bit out of them.  They played on the swings, read stories, and had a snack.

I think this picture is an awesome first day of school picture.  Had I been feeling better, I would've tried to get one at school, too, but Hannah informed me that her teacher took one of her. 


Friday, August 17, 2012

Mmmm...& Other Reagan Sayings!

Reagan had some cute moments last night at dinner.  She was eating one of her Auntie Erin's cupcakes and she just kept saying, "Mmmmmmm".  Here's her performance.  Love her!


Hannah and Kate also had their open house last night and got to meet their teachers.  They are super excited for preschool and so is Mommy!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Tough

Tonight I was all by my lonesome for dinner.  Yes, I had the company of 3 adorable little girls, but I had the company of 3 children 3 and under.  George got called out at the last second and he was supposed to grill steaks.  No big deal, but it was already past dinner time and the little ones were getting restless. I improvised with chicken cordon bleu instead, but we ate close to 7:00.  Why all the details?  I'm getting there.  Kate spilled her milk as I was still preparing dinner.  I'll admit it.  I lost my cool.  I apologized.  I asked her forgiveness and then I asked the Lord's forgiveness.  We're eating and almost done with dinner when I tell Hannah she's not getting a cookie for dessert (at least that is what I think started this whole fiasco) and she proceeds to start flinging her baked potato on the floor and the table.  I tell her to stop and she throws her fork on the floor.  I say, "Get down.  You are done with dinner."  She still has most of her dinner left on her plate.  So for the next half hour before bed, she begs me to finish her dinner and keeps telling me how hungry she is.  No loving mother wants to send her child to bed hungry and I was so tempted to give in and I truly did believe she was hungry, but she's old enough to bear the consequences of her choices.

Remember, I was in this battle by myself.  No George.  Just Hannah crying and telling me she's hungry.  My children have taught me so many lessons about my Lord.  They reveal the sin in my own heart, His love for me, etc.  As I was praying and asking the Lord to confirm that I was doing the right thing, He brought to mind the discipline that I receive from Him.  Here's what I was reminded of:

1) No parent enjoys watching their child suffer pain, but sometimes it comes as a result of their own decisions.  God doesn't enjoy watching me suffer, but when I sin, I deserve those consequences.

2) The discipline was for Hannah's good.  If I had given in to her demands that she be allowed to finish her dinner, that would've taught her nothing except to whine and complain until she gets what she wants.  Who wants to go out to eat at a restaurant where the 3 year old at the table next to you has no self-control and flings her food when she gets mad?  Me neither.  The lesson will stick much better, if the consequences are painful. 

3) I disciplined her because I love her.  I want her to be a joy to be around instead of other people avoiding her because she doesn't know how to use manners or what behavior is socially acceptable or unacceptable.  God disciplines me to shape my character that I can reflect His glory.

Some may think that the discipline I applied was too harsh, but I will stand strong on God's Word, which is truth and trust that the wisdom I gain from it will help shape my daughters' hearts so they grow to be respectful and selfless children.  And in the same respect, I'll remember that when God disciplines me, He is a God of infinite love and is working all things for the good to make me more like Jesus!

"Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.  Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death."    ~Proverbs 23:13-14

"He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding."     ~Proverbs 15:32

"Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul."     ~Proverbs 29:17

"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.  For what son is not disciplined by his father?  If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate childrenand not true sons.  Moreover, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it...but God disciplines uf for our good, that we may share in his holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."     ~Hebrews 12:7-11

"because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in."     ~Proverbs 3:12

Monday, August 6, 2012

When Hubby is Away, Wifey will Play!

George is on his annual Florida Keys trip and I have been keeping myself ( & Sarah) very busy with home improvement projects.  I haven't really gotten into Pinterest, but Erin showed me a few things the other day and kinda got me hooked.  I'm probably not on it as much as most "pinners" are, but I have found several DIY projects that I was dying to do.

First, I painted our hallway between the master bedroom and Reagan's room.  It's just a nice tan and I also painted the closets.  They needed it desperately because the walls were covered with water stains.  They look so fresh now.  I also reorganized the closets because I have a rather large health & beauty stockpile.  I realize that you may not be as excited about my new closets as I am, but I'm sharing anyways!



 Matt & Sarah were gracious enough to come over and teach me how to use a drill.  My first drilling project was hanging our ironing board and iron on the back of our hallway closet door.  I never considered using the back of doors so much, but I found several ideas on Pinterest and it's great unused space!

My next project was making a bench seat for some recently purchased IKEA shelves.


 Reagan was dying to help Aunt Sarah and since she kept picking up the real hammer and pliers, I gave in and found her a toy hammer.




 My completed bench seat!  All I have to do is put little bumper pads underneath so it doesn't slide around.

 I bought this sign in South Carolina.  I loved it!  I hung this one all by myself, too!


 Hannah and Kate have SO many stuffed animals and dolls that just lay around their room.  I saw another cute idea on Pinterest about painting a garbage can and using it for toy storage.  So I bought a 30 gallon metal trash can from Home Depot and a couple of cans of spray paint.  I got sick of everything in their room being pink so I went with a lilac color.  I then sewed some fabric around the outside just to give it some character.  The fabric didn't quite reach the entire way around, but I also think I want to line the entire trash can so this project has a little bit more work to it. 

I'm just really excited to feel productive and make my "workspace" into something nice and homey for my family!  I have more painting projects in the near future so stay tuned...

Sleepover Weekend

Hannah and Kate had two guests sleepover at our house this weekend.  The first night was a very impromptu invitation to Rachel.  Matt and Sarah were over helping me with something and Rachel wanted to stay.  She slept on the bottom bunk, while H & K slept together on the top (which is where they both normally sleep). 

The second was a planned sleepover with Auntie Amy.  Matthew and Amy came over to spend the evening with us.  Amy and the girls made pizzas and then we stayed up a little late eating ice cream and watching "Chipmunks: Chipwrecked".  Then, we kicked Matthew out because no boys are allowed at our sleepovers. 

 If you notice Kate's eyes are halfway shut or shut in these pictures, it's because she was right in front of the onions when Amy was cutting them.  She kept saying, "My eyes are sick."  Haha!


 What an awesome Auntie that she comes over to cook with them.  I just don't have the patience for it and I don't cook that often.

And since Hannah really wanted to sleep with Amy, we compromised and just pulled both mattresses down and Amy slept in the middle.  Amy, you are a good sport for loving on these girls!  We love you, Auntie Amy!

Friday, August 3, 2012

Thanks, Ms. Katie!

Thanks to Ms. Katie and her daughters (one almost 5 and the other 2.5) that swim much much better than H & K, we got Kate to swim WITHOUT a floatie to Katie!! Yay!!!  I am so proud of her.  She also went put her face under the water several times.  She accomplished more today than in her 4 weeks of lessons.  Although, I think her lessons helped her with the basic skills. 




What about Hannah you ask?  Hannah wanted nothing to do with it.  About a week ago, we had all 4 girls in our little bathtub and Hannah somehow tried to hold her breath under the water.  All she ended up accomplishing was swallowing a whole bunch of water and then puking it everywhere with Rachel screaming at the top of her lungs.  It was a rather hilarious scene, but it scared Hannah into thinking she can't hold her breath under water.  We'll have to work on that.