Mary Poppins

This past weekend we went to Grandma and Poppa's house so that Poppa could take the girls (and Daddy-O) to see "Mary Poppins" live!! They had such a wonderful time! From the report that Grandma and Daddy gave me the girls sat in amazement as they watched the actors sing their favorite songs, fly through the air and come alive right before their eyes. I wish I had been there to see their reaction! After the show they went to eat at Red Lobster (at Kayla's persistent request) and the girls were allowed to "pet" a few lobsters. I don't think they realized it was someones dinner! They LOVED it. Thank you Grandma and Poppa for taking them!

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To say I am tired...

... would be an understatement! THIS is what I did in school today. I accused the girls of switching out the days. Nope. It was me. I forgot to do the calendar in school yesterday and did 2 days today... FAIL.

Lovin' the Great Outdoors...

...on our new playground!! Ray and the girls worked really hard and built us this beautiful, fun playground and we LOVE IT!!!

Melissa is super sweet and pushes Kayla on the swings EVERYday!!

1st Day of School!

We started school today and I would say it was VERY successful! I hadn't planned on starting until 10 and was laying on the sofa trying to get the energy to move when the girls came bouncing down the stairs BEGGING to start school right away. I REALLY wanted to finish my rest, but couldn't keep my butt on the sofa when the girls were so ready to learn! So, we started at 9 and were finished by 11! They LOVED it. One of the BEST things about homeschool? My girls pick out their own clothes and I don't have to ask them to change!

Melissa was SO pleased with her hair today! She fixed it ALL by herself! LOVE Kayla's clothes!

Playing "Muffin Match" with capitals and lower case letters. Melissa was such a good sport with this one as she already knows how to do this but helped Kayla learn some of the letter matches.

Daddy Daughter Campout

This past Friday night Ray and our friend David took our girls camping in the backyard. They had soooo much fun! A very sick David brought his daughters Eliza and Sadie to our backyard and pitched tents with Ray, Melissa and Kayla and spent the rest of the evening and the following morning cooking on a fire, running around like crazy people and playing. So many fun memories were made by the girls with their Daddies! Here are a few of my favorite pictures: And a video from the evening:

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A Day in the Life...

of our family. I decided a few days ago to try to "let go" of the things I don't really have any control over. Like, messes and puke and mischievous little girls. I COULD have control over these things, but it would make for a VERY long, sad day... The following are a few of the things I am "embracing" and learning to find joy in instead of constantly being frustrated:

So many people have told me to "take a nap when the baby sleeps" to help with my sleep deprivation... Well, THIS is what happens when I do... the girls re-arrange and help themselves to whatever is in the pantry... at least they weren't hungry!

I am "embracing" the fact that our bookshelves will never be "quite right" again... but I am thankful they LOVE to read! I was completely frustrated with the girls fighting this afternoon so I sent them to their beds. When I came downstairs, I came across this: (Time out didn't last very long!)

Like my new, constant accessory? (The puke, not the baby.)

At least it proves she eats!

The girls insist on playing Barbies in EACH of the rooms upstairs... even the bathroom! Gross... but they DO play well together!

Barbies are EVERYWHERE!!

(This is a CONSTANT at our house.)

I walked into the kitchen a few minutes ago and found a drum set:

They are VERY musical children!

Melissa has a bad case of OCD and INSISTS on finishing EVERY puzzle she pulls out of the cabinet... today there were 8. I constantly remind myself that she is a VERY determined little girl and determination is what she needs in today's world...

There are several other things I am learning to embrace like, messy hair, loss of memory, and pancake dinners. While these things irritate the tar out of me, at the end of the day I wouldn't have it any other way.

The Nature to Nurture...

Each week I receive an email entitled "Family Gems" that sends quotes and inspiration from different talks and articles given by leaders of our church about raising families. The one this morning really hit home with me. It was by M. Russel Ballard and it read, "Satan is always attempting to undermine the most precious element of a woman's divine nature- the nature to nurture." A mother-daughter relationship is where a daughter learns how to nurture by being nurtured. She is loved. She is taught and experiences firsthand what it feels like to have someone care about her enough to correct her while continuing to encourage and believe in her at the same time."

This felt like such a daunting task and I immediately felt overwhelmed wondering if I was nurturing our children enough. If my lack of patience was somehow ruining them for life and causing just the opposite to occur. A few hours later Melissa BEGGED me to let her help feed Abbie. So, I pumped some milk for her and watched as my FIVE year old daughter fed, soothed and burped her newborn sister like a seasoned Mom. I knew then that even though I have so, so many flaws, they are catching on and learning what is important. Look at my helpful, beautiful daughters.

She didn't even mind the spit up!

Let them eat cake...

This past Friday I made 3 Birthday cakes all while holding Abbie. They are not as clean as I would like, but not bad for one hand!

The girls wanted to make Daddy a magnifying glass cake now that he has taught them how to burn things with one... see here:teaching life skills.

Kayla had her 4th party for this year for her friends here and had a "Fun in the Sun" party. They played on a Slip & Slide and in a wading pool sooooo, this is what I came up with for that party:

Shhh. Don't tell the Doctors...

I admit it. I let Abbie sleep on her tummy during nap time. I know. I know. She sleeps SOOOO well on her tummy because the acid reflux doesn't bother her. Besides, who could resist seeing how this little peanut sleeps??

Abbie Swings.. for a bit

Abbie LOVED the baby swing!!! For about 10 minutes. Now she hates it. She also LOVED the Moby Wrap! For less than 10 minutes. Now she hates it. Literally. HATES. IT. Homeschool should be GREAT this year. I have nowhere to put the baby and she screams when I put her down... I know it is because the reflux she has burns her throat, but that knowledge isn't going to make homeschooling one-handed any easier. I need help!

She was cute while she loved the swing for those 10 minutes: