Thanksgiving Fun

Well, I did it! We made a Thanksgiving feast here at the Mollet homestead. Here are some pictures of the girls helping with dumplings. They got their little aprons on and everything...

Jocelyn and Carissa each got to open a birthday present--Jocelyn's birthday was actually on Thanksgiving but Carissa's is next Thursday...We have a pretty busy November but love to know we have reason to celebrate.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving...

Birthday, Birthday, Thanksgiving, Birthday Party and Birthday...

That describes the rest of our November. I love this time of year because I get to celebrate my daughters' birthdays. This year we are celebrating their birthdays together--it makes it fun and they still don't mind it yet. This may be the last year we'll be able to pull it off, but that's okay.

Thanksgiving will be new for me this year--I'm actually not pregnant, not a new Mom again, and we'll actually be in our own place. I am (drum roll please...) actually cooking it all myself!! I could live to regret it, but I've gotta do it sometime...It'll be tough to stick to my diet, but I'm determined to try as hard as I can.

Jocelyn will be turning 2 on Thanksgiving and Carissa will be 4 a week later. I've already bought one gift for them to share (yeah, right) and I will still try to pick up a couple more things before their birthdays.

We've been staying pretty busy...life can really get like that quickly! School is still moving right along for both Joe and me. Carissa is loving and learning so much in preschool...Jocelyn pretty much never stops--she's just like I imagine Joe was as a kid!!

We'll be excited to see family over the next few weeks...it's always great to spend time with everyone.

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.