The True Signs of Fall

The first picture was yesterday at 4:00 pm and the pictures that follow are from this afternoon...This is literally at our backyard!!

Moving Day into the Tent

Call me crazy, but if it's gonna be 80 degrees in September--why not set up a tent to play in!!

Carissa and Jocelyn moved all of their toys and outdoor furniture "indoors" today after Joe and I set up a tent for them. We've had the tent and really only used it once or twice and loaned it out a handful of times, but now the girls actually have a place to set it up...

THEY LOVE IT. As I sit here typing, I can hear them giggling and talking while playing inside their "new home away from home"

Thought I'd post a few pics...

First Day of School for Carissa

Walking towards her First Day of School...No looking back

Looking proud of being a "Big Girl"

September

Well, we sent our oldest, Carissa, to her first day of Preschool on Wednesday. She wore her favorite dress, carried her Princess folder, and made the 500 foot or so trip over to the church building at 8:20 am. I took pictures before we left as she sat and worked on a puzzle, took pictures out on the deck, and snapped a few as she walked across the backyard. She has been SO excited about this for so long!! I don't know that I've been excited, but I'm really trying to be brave...the question is--shouldn't it be Carissa wanting to be brave? I'm not sure if I'm just shocked that she is old enough to go to school or if I'm just not handling it well! I don't know why I wouldn't handle it well, but that seems like the reason...

She is a great little girl so I know she will be great with other kids--as long as it's not Jocelyn!!

Jocelyn took the first day in stride, but walked up to me throughout the morning asking "Where's sisssssssy?" I would say "She's at school" and she would then hang her head and try to repeat it back to me in her Jocelynese words!!

Life is busy...I'm still working away at schoolwork, Joe is taking Seminary classes, we're co-teaching a Sunday School class, he's starting a Prayer Meeting on Sunday nights, we are both teaching classes for Wednesday Night Church, and then we still try to spend a little of time at home relaxing. Carissa's preschool is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with her dance class also on Wednesdays. So, needless to say, Wednesday nights are an "early to bed" night for most all of us at this point.

We also got to experience our first Pana Labor Day Parade last Monday. It was about 2 hours long, but the girls, my Mom, and Joe and I, really enjoyed it. Our church entered a float of "Jonah" and they won FIRST PLACE!!!! It looked awesome and everyone who worked on it did a great job. It had a tail that moved and a water spout on the top that actually shot out water!!

Well, I've avoided my paper for long enough this morning--hope you're enjoying, hopefully, the end of HOT weather!!

My Girls

They're growing up TOO fast...

HOME

Carissa is about to start school!! I can't believe that she is actually 3 1/2 years, potty trained, and ever adding to her vocabulary (more than she probably should be!). She is so excited that she gets to go to school in the same building that Daddy goes to work in everyday. I can already picture them walking across the parking lot (yes we're that close) holding hands as she jumps and talks with excitement about her day...

She is sooo excited about going to school like a "big kid" but it still just shocks me that the time is already here!! I'm excited for her, but still scared that I won't be with her every day...I guess I never thought I would feel so emotional about it, but I do--and more than I ever thought possible. Jocelyn and I will have three mornings a week alone to do our own thing. She talks, explores and entertains, but she'll have to do it "solo" without her partner in crime here to talk her into it!

Life in a small town has changed us already. We have gotten up before 7am to go for a bike ride with the girls (of course, not the last two weeks), we've visiting with church members in their homes and invited them into our home, we've put in our subscription for the local-2day a week newspaper--Joe's already been in it twice. It just seems like a more relaxed lifestyle, no hurry to get anywhere, no loud noises (although the fair is at the back corner of our yard in 3 weeks), everyone waves as they drive through town and we've had more time as a family to spend doing whatever we want--whenever we want. I realize the fall is opening season for the start up of events, but to enjoy a somewhat laid back summer has been great!

I am still working on myself to be more patient, relaxing, and healthier--but overall I feel better. I completed my first semester of year-round schooling with all A's, and it felt great!! It's been a long time since I've felt at ease--not stressed about life. Don't get me wrong, I'm still uptight about things I shouldn't be, but overall everything is starting to fall into place. We've had a lot of change in the past 3-5 years and it finally feels like we're HOME.

Enjoy the time left of the summer--fall is just around the corner.

Summer Days...

Life is always full of changes...

We vacationed last week and the girls got to ride horses for the first time--and they loved it!! Jocely had no fear and watched everything around her as her hungry pony stopped and ate and walked to stop and eat over and over. Carissa had the faster of the two ponies, so we lapped the rest of 'em. I've enjoyed reviewing the pictures. We had a lot of fun!

It was great to spend time doing whatever you wanted to do, whenever you wanted to do it!!

We are now in the midst of transition once again...we're moving...again! Joe has accepted a full-time preaching position at a church a little over an hour from Lincoln. It's exciting and bittersweet--similar to most moves. I have truly enjoyed being back in Lincoln, am excited about finishing my Bachelor's degree, and happy to be closer to family. Fortunately, I will still have 2 out of 3 of those things despite the move. We will still be close (at least its not 10 hours away) and I am going to continue to do my schooling--NO MATTER WHAT!!!!

So, needless to say we are in the packing mode once again. I feel like I could write a book on what not to keep, what to hang on to, what to box up and keep for later, and what is vital once you arrive in a new place. Although, I don't know how successful I am at it all!!!

I SPY...

Carissa loves her "I Spy" book collection. She seems to love them so much that she even tries to read them while she's sleeping.

I'm thinking she still is probably reading more than I do sometimes!!

So...

"I Spy a Beautiful Girl Taking a Nice Afternoon Nap!!"

My Favorite Things About Being A Mom...

My Top 10 List

10. Watching my oldest try to "discipline" my youngest ("Jocelyn Ainsley--you need to sit in the hall for 2 minutes; 2 minutes, 'kay?")

9. Seeing how excited both girls EVERY SINGLE time they see Grandma and Papa--even if its only been a few hours...

8. Seeing one of them do exactly what you do, with almost exactly the same mannerisms!

7. Listening to Carissa tell me the same thing approximately 10 times before I actually realize she is repeating herself...

6. Listening to them sing in the car to any kind of music--even if they don't know the words or if they know every word!

5. Watching them learn to do things on their own. In the last year I've watched Jocelyn learn how to walk, talk and keep up with her sister. And I've watched Carissa as she has become a potty trained "big girl", at a multitude of words to her vocabulary (some she picks up while playing at McDonalds--not so good words), and learn to ride a tricycle and pick out her first "big girl" bike.

4. Prayed with Carissa every night before she goes to sleep--letting me know if I forget anyone.

3. Watching them stand at the patio door and watch for Daddy to come home every evening.

2. Called to hear their voices from school or work and loved to hear them giggling with Daddy.

1. Watching them grow more and more every day...

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY GIRLS

Papers, Taxes and Spring

I always know when it is within a week or so of taxes needing to be filed. Joe hides himself in a room with the tax forms piled up next to him and sits to input all of that "stuff" into the computer program--TURBO TAX. With a name like that, shouldn't it take less than like 5 minutes. Not so my friends...it may take quite a few days to process everything, at least on our end. Sometimes it's great to see the numbers go in and then show us what we "may" get back. Sometimes they are good, sometimes not so good. But everything is done, with a day and a half to spare!

I just finished my final project for my second class for school. It was a Life Plan for myself and it was a little more work than I thought it would be, but I'm glad I am done with it. Now, next week I start a class called Foundations of Bible Study. We'll see if I get any of my Dad's knowledge in this area!!

Spring is here again this week--hopefully to stay. Can't wait to be outside more than the time we've had to spend indoors over the last 10 days or so. The girls have a little cabin fever I think. They are so active and they need to be outside. I NEED TO BE OUTSIDE WITH THEM.

Enjoy the nice day...67 degrees-WOO HOO!!

Some Pictures from the last few weeks

Dancing Princesses

Everyday Life

Life has such a strange way of making you think about so many things throughout a day...

Today, for instance I thought about these things:

1) Today's weather has gone from a little warm and humid~then rainy~then calm~stormy~then rainy again~now just plain windy and cool...the amazing central Illinois weather never ceases to amaze me.

2) I've also tried to think about how Jesus felt this week (or at least sometime close to it) knowing what is fate would be. Was he scared--just a little? Were his disciples wondering what the rest of the week held--more healing, more traveling, or what? Where was his mind while not in prayer with God? Was he just calm or was it kind of like today's weather--all over the place? Sorry, I'm usually not this way, but so many things going through my mind today

3) Life is so unpredictable. I've been following the life of a little girl named Regan. She has been very sick and her parents are trying to love her as much as they possibly can for as long as they possibly can--and she's so young. I pray during the day, I pray during the night when I can't help but think of them. I just pray every time I think of them throughout each day--not knowing how she is doing, but reading their blog and keeping others up to date about each day's events. Their blog is www.routefive.blogspot.com

4) Life in general. It is so full of great events and sad events. I'm not trying to be a downer in today's blog, but life goes by so quickly and sometimes we don't even take the time to enjoy it. I feel like sometimes I'm constantly doing everything to keep a clean house, clean kids and an organized home, that I don't even get to enjoy just "relaxing" time with my family. Why can't life just slow down--or do we have to slow it down?

Well, I'll move on from here...just a few thoughts going through my mind.

Enjoy your Easter and remember what we are observing...

March Madness

In our family we've had more than our share of March coming in like a lion...

Joe left on February 28th for an 11 day trip with the baseball team...

Jocelyn went into the hospital on March 5th...for 3 nights...

Joe calls to let me know that the van's back, right tire came off, yes off, of the van while they were driving 70 mph down the freeway somewhere in the middle of their trip...

Now, Joe is home, Jocelyn has nearly totally recovered, and all is well. How can it be that life can get so crazy, SO QUICKLY?!?! We've settled back into the normal day to day activities and life is great again...

School is going really well--as far as I can tell. I can't believe I will be able to actually finish my degree going one night a week for classes. It's amazing how life works--allowing me to attend a program that works around my lifestyle, not my lifestyle having to adjust around class schedules. I do ALOT of reading (well compared to what I did in college 12 years ago) and many reflection papers each week. Much of the reading has me thinking about how to organize myself enough to keep up with life's daily needs. That topic will probably be on the front burner for many years to come...organization!!

Hope everyone's as excited about the warmer weather as I am. I was never one for the hot months, but now that I have two small children, it's nice to know I'll be able to get out and play with them outside ALOT this spring and summer. Carissa and Jocelyn have already been out at Grandma and Papa's house to draw with their sidewalk chalk--it was nice enough for them on Sunday to be out with a light jacket to enjoy the day...

Life is great, God is great and that's pretty much all I have to say about that...

It's the end of February?!

I'm hoping to post some this week because we got a new camera and I just can't wait to get some good pics of the girls. We've been trying to spend as much time together before Joe leaves for awhile with the baseball team. He leaves Wednesday and I really don't want to think about how long they'll be gone, but it will be hard to keep up on everything. I've never liked it when he's gone, but I'm going to try to make the best of it by trying to finish up at least the "daytime potty training" with Carissa. She has done SO well and I would consider it completed, except she does wear Pull-ups while she naps sometimes. She's taken a few naps without changing into one and has done fine with it. I'll be happy if I can get her to wear them only at night. She knows she has to go to the potty if she wants to go to pre-school after the summer. She loves to tell everyone what she's done each time, but nothing like what my mom says my little brother used to do. He used to make everyone come in and look at his "work" and would announce it by saying "Ta Da!!" I think maybe he might still do this, but nobody really wants to allow his "Ta Da's" anymore...

Well, gotta try to get the naps started. Enjoy your time looking on through Blogdom.

When you're handed lemons...make ??

It's been awhile since my last post. It's also been a rough week and I've tried not to blog and cause more harm than good.

Well, the girls are great. Carissa is ever increasing her vocabulary (some words are ALWAYS better left unspoken--if you know what I mean) Jocelyn can say "Mama, Dada, Papa, Ama(grandma), Ba (for Bob the Tomato in Veggie Tales) and she says Hi and Bye on the phone and to people most of the time. It's been so cold we try to only go out about 2 days a week to just "get out". Joe started baseball practice so he's busy, busy. I started school on Monday night and will go for the next 2 years and complete my Bachelors Degree in Human Services. I just want to get it done and be done with it--knowing it's taken me more than the alotted 4 years, its now nearly 3 times that length.

We are enjoying being home in Lincoln, but things are kind of up in the air as to what the next step may be. We know that I need to finish school and that is the primary focus! If only I had started a year ago, but I have to know that it was an adjustment into this job and it will continue to be adjustments throughout the next few years with the girls growing up and all that.

I've rambled enough. Hey a friend of mine was in Africa for about three weeks and she has an amazing story and amazing photos.

If you get a chance go to www.nimrodnews.blogspot.com

Can you believe that I own one of these now? I said I never would--but I caved...

Falalalalalala

Carissa keeps singing this part of "Deck The Halls" and she is a kick!! She sits in the back of the car just singing along to all the Christmas music that is playing on the radio. She loves it, but hates it when we sing along.

The girls are great. Jocelyn is saying words, that we understand, and she is definitely developing her own little personality. She is going to be a little trouble maker I think. She likes to egg her sister on, but Carissa is pretty powerful in her retort. They play this "running game" as Carissa calls it where they run back and forth in the living room and try not to bump into each other. It usually ends when one falls over or they bump heads and all is done.

Carissa says she can't wait for Santa to come. Because Santa brings all the presents. She doesn't really understand that her Santa--is Papa. She is doing really well considering Uncle Brian and Aunt Sarah don't come for another week, but she is eagerly awaiting their arrival. She did the same thing for her party, by saying "Uncle Brian is driving from 'Da Cago' to my party!!" Da Cago is, of course, Chicago in Carissa-ese. She just loves to talk about all of her uncles and aunts and cousins when she prays and when we talk about getting together with others.

This is going to be our first Christmas not having to drive 10 hours to get to family. We actually don't have to leave home at all this holiday. We will be celebrating with the Mollet side of the family at the end of Christmas week to have a well-rounded Christmas Celebration. It's nice to be HOME.

Hope everyone has a great holiday. One of my friends is on a Mission Trip to Uganda for the next 3 weeks. Please keep her and her team in your prayers as they will be gone over the holiday, but doing great things of God's Kingdom...

Weddings are a blessing...

Weddings are a great celebration of life, love and happiness. We were blessed to take part in my good friend Rachel's wedding this weekend. The Martens (Rachel and Tim) are great people to spend time with and we had a blast at the wedding. Carissa can really "cut a rug" with just about everyone that would dance with her.

Here are few pics with Rachel Marten, Margie Martin(no relation:), Carissa, Mommy, Jocelyn, and Daddy. There is one of Jocelyn passed out at the reception with Paul A. and Cody looking on--pretty cute as he watches her sleep.

The 1st Daddy and Carissa Date

Carissa and Daddy went on a date to Bloomington today. They enjoyed a place that had many different children's activities and play areas. Here are some photos...

Halloween 2006

Halloween was something else this year. It was about 35 degrees outside and we had two bundled up kids to go out to get some Halloween candy.

Here are some pictures to enjoy. One is of the girls with Lisa, owner of Sorrento's, and the next one is of the girls with my good friend Rachel and her fiancee (soon to be husband as of November 11th).

Happy Fall

Summer Pics...Take 2

Now there are some summer pics

Summer Pics

Some of our summer events including a train trip in Monticello, IL. Who do you think was enjoying the train more--Grandpa or the girls?!?! We also took a few trips over to Clinton to play in the water park at the Kiwani's Park!! They all loved it.

SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD

We have finally sold our house!!!! I feel like that song that plays when something miraculous happens on TV or something, but we are so excited. We still don't really want to confirm it totally until we hear when the closing is, but it seems pretty definite. So relieved to know that we don't have to worry about a winter's worth of gas bills, mortgage payments and all that could go on with an almost empty house. Needless to say, we are excited to tell everyone, but it still seems strange, every once in awhile, that we don't really live in Pittsburgh anymore. I don't know, maybe I'm just a little sentimental about it still...but I am not sentimental about the money it will be saving us!

On to other things...

Carissa is working on the potty training thing yet again. I know we will have her, or us actually, trained by the time she starts high school, but it is just so hard to discipline myself into being patient enough for it. I'm not a patient person, but I want to be for this...I'll just keep trying--or I mean I'll just let her keep working at it.

Jocelyn is trying to take steps. She is truly amazing...she just wants to keep up with her sister all the time. She pushes her little walker-type toy up and down the hall chasing Carissa. They really try to make each other laugh all the time and its great to watch.

Joe has traveled alot the last 2 months, but will be around more until baseball starts up again...

Well, I'm kind of trying to organize the girls' room, so gotta run...

I'm really pumped about this Bible Study I'm doing. I love coming back and asking my Dad questions or making comments from it and then discovering that he doesn't know all the answers--I knew it!!!!

It was nice this morning to get back into the swing of things again. The weekend we went to Brown County, we got a flat tire leaving Nashville again. If you remember we had a flat this same time last year leaving. This flat left us with purchasing a new tire for the vehicle we only have for a few more months--crazy. The other crazy part about it all was that the guys at the tire store forgot to put the wheel cover, or hubcap, back on and we didn't notice until Covington, IN--about 2 hours from where we got it fixed. So, last Monday I called not once, not twice but three times for someone to try to find it. They said they had found it and would mail it out to me. Today, I open the envelope, which obviously did not have the entire wheel cover in it, and discover the inner circle of SOMEONE ELSE'S hubcap/wheel cover. Wonder if they've realized they are missing this or not? Or did they just find something that said Honda and think this girl won't know the difference--it'll fool her. Well, I'm not the fool this time. Give me a break--I'm not stupid. I sat and giggled for a moment then began my quest yet again to get a hold of the proper Walmart employees/managers to help me out. This time it only took 2 phone calls--on my part. I don't know for sure but maybe they aren't able to dial an outside line at Walmart, but they tend to have a problem returning phone calls. I've read that some want higher pay for their employees, but they would probably need to impress me a little more on the customer service end of things if I had anything to say about it. Anyway, it boils down to the fact that they are going to replace--I hope. We have to turn the vehicle in for it's lease return at the end of March--do you think we'll have a cover by then?!?!?!

Then, to top of coming out of the nice weekend we spent in Nashville, both Carissa and Joe were sick on Tuesday into Wednesday and then I caught the shorter version of whatever they had by late, late Saturday night and early Sunday. I hate being sick on the weekend because it makes time just fly by quicker than a normal weekend goes by. Okay, now I'm rambling.....I will try more blogging later this week, maybe some new pics of the girls.

Well, fall has fallen. We've had rain, sun, rain, sun and some more rain today.

We are watching our two girls--GROW, GROW, and GROW...Carissa talks about everything, tells us everything, and thinks she can DO everything. My parents keep commenting on how it's like watching me 28 years ago. I'm guessing they are talking about the independence thing, or the tantrums. I'm going with the independence thing--I think it's just a myth that I threw tantrums!!

Jocelyn is crawling everywhere, and she is trying to walk along the couch and pulls herself up on anything she can reach. She is different than Carissa, in the respect that she really doesn't eat all that much. Carissa was an eater from the beginning. Jocelyn is usually too busy trying to watch whatever Carisssa is doing at any given time. She still lights up when Grandma walks into a room and just screeches at any random thing. They are both loving being near "Gwamma and Papa" and I don't think they'll ever tire of seeing them.

I started a Monday morning Bible Study with my friend Stacey. We drive to Mt. Pulaski on Monday mornings and the kids play downstairs while we have a session of one of Beth Moore's books/video sessions. This week was our first one and I know it will be a challenge, but I think I really need this. I've not done any kind of Bible Study since last fall, so I do need to connect in a way other than church service.

Joe is already practicing for baseball. They started yesterday and will continue working out until the weather gets cold and then they will work on "indoor stuff". He has 20 guys right now, so I hope its a sign of a good season. He started a seminary class and will be doing an intensive week later this fall. He really seems to enjoy it all.

Hope all is well with everyone. Trying to keep up on this blogging stuff along with everything else.

August

I think I've blogged about the frustration of trying to sell our home, but some days I am just going crazy for the stinkin' place to sell. I know the right buyer is out there, but I just wish he/she/they could find it and find it SOON!

I am however looking forward to the fall. We will be able to go to the Lincoln Balloonfest for the first time in nearly 6 years and Carissa will love seeing all of the balloons. We've seen a few practices around town and she just loves watching them. They'll be right across from our place at the Logan County Airport for launching times. We're going to cookout and have as many people by as we can over that weekend. Then in September we'll take our annual trip to Brown County. Fortunately, this year we'll make the trip in 4 hours or less instead of 8 hours or more like the last 4 years:)

We then look forward to my friend Rachel's wedding in November and then we will celebrate Carissa's 3rd birthday and Jocelyn's 1st birthday--also in November. I also turn the Big "3-0" in November, but I'm trying to forget about that!!

Things are great here. Joe is starting the scheduling for his fall trips and he is excited about Seminary classes.

My dad's book came out last week and I'm pretty sure he can write some decent stuff that others will want to read--just kidding. I'm so excited for him. It's called Revelation's Rhapsody and it's available at www.collegepress.com.

Vacation Pictures

July, July, July

I don't ever remember the weather being this HOT, HOT, HOT!!! Hello--105 degree heat index--otherwise known as heat stroke...

Well, don't worry we really haven't stepped outside unless we've had to. I have never more appreciated central a/c than I do right at this moment. We may live in a place 1/2 the size of our last place, but it is about 4 times as cool temperature-wise.

We still haven't sold our house--but I'm praying evermore that someone, somewhere will want it. It's killin' the old pocketbook...

We had an AWESOME vacation. I will try to get some pictures uploaded soon. We were basically about 15 miles outside of Nashville, IN in the middle of nowhere. It was so quite and we had fun doing nothing some days or shopping some days. We cooked out, ate out, pigged out and slept in--could you ask for anything more? Maybe an air conditioned beach, but I don't think they have anything like that right now.

We are now back into a regular routine at home. Joe starts back to 5 day weeks in August and I am still working 1-2 nights a week at Sorrento's. I love my two beautiful little girls and a great husband...LIFE IS GOOD.

Our 2 little Illini Fans in full gear!!! Thanks for the outfits Uncle Tom and Aunt Janet

Keeping up with the Bloggers...

What does that mean? I have a hard time getting my housework done, let alone blogging...

We've spent time recovering from Joe's first season as a college baseball coach; suffered through Jocelyn getting her first two teeth;enjoyed watching Carissa learn more words, songs and pretty much repeat everything we say; and adjust to living in Lincoln again. So, pretty much staying at a steady pace right now.

We visited my brother and sister-in-law in Chicago for Easter, spent Memorial Day with Joe's family and my parents, took a trip out to Pittsburgh to work on our yet-to-be-sold house, and we are preparing for our first family vacation since we were part of our "original" families--that seems odd to say, but you know what I mean. We are going to spend a week in the Brown County area doing anything we want or nothing at all:) I can't wait...

Not too much going on elsewhere in our lives, so I will make this short and sweet. I promise to get some vacation photos up as soon as possible when we return.

God Bless and Happy 4th of July...

April Showers and maybe some May flowers

Wow!! This month has been filled with so many things.

We've gotten to spend some ridicously warm days outside playing at the playground that is just a short walk away. Carissa is a lover of the swing, of the slide and of the bouncey bridge that she loves to run back and forth on--daily. She has friends that she looks for every time we walk over. Her favorite friend to look for is Abe. Abe is a little older than her, but they go together like "peas and carrots" to quote a silly line from a movie. They can play together but also go their separate ways...and return to playing with one another.

Jocelyn is sitting up somewhat by herself. She is mimicking sounds and constantly watches Carissa--I think she's wondering when she'll be able to do all of the fun stuff. Right now she is just content to sit on anyone's lap and just laugh and look.

We were able to visit my brother and sister-in-law in Chicago for Easter. We spent time visiting, eating and just enjoying each other's company. Easter dresses are thankfully only for Easter, because I'm pretty sure if I kept putting Jocelyn in hers she would probably have it half eaten by now!! They were great and I love the time we get to spend with everyone.

Joe's baseball season is winding down. School is coming to a close and summer is upon us. Reminds me of how busy our summers have been since getting married. We did a lot of traveling and I miss the thought of it, but still enjoy the thought of having the summer to do--well summer things...What does one do in the summer? I think flower planting is high on our list for the beginning of May, but Carissa will appreciate it so much more and really have fun doing the watering and such.

We get to witness the baptism of Ruthann this Friday...what a wonderful thing to round out your week. I'm so proud of her. She's loving life, school, friends, family and everything in between. We hardly hear from her, so I know she's staying busy...

Well, gotta go for now. Hope everyone is enjoying there lives and living them to the way were intended to.