Sidewalk Chalk Morning...

I'm babysitting today--only full day this week, so we will be outside as much as possible! The weather is beautiful this morning and we've been outside since about 8:15! Rained last night and cooled things off enough to open the windows, sit around and play outside and just enjoy the day!

The three girls have already "decorated" the driveway with Chalk Art...a few pictures of the art and "artists" of the morning...

Castle of Cards...

Carissa built a "Castle of Cards" tonight and I took these pictures...she cracks me up at her creativity! She's in the background of one of them--so proud of her work!

School Days, School Days...

Well, the time is quickly approaching...

I start grad classes in a little over a week...

Joe starts grad classes in under a month...

Carissa starts kindergarten in less than a month...

...and Jocelyn starts preschool in a little over a month...

Where did the time go?!?! Life gets us so busy, crazy, and waiting for a moment to breathe, while all the while time does go on! I can't say it's not fair, but is it? I am excited for everyone's milestone this year, but the time has flown by!!

Joe's at camp this week (I know, I know~pray for us girls!) and we are hangin' around the house most of the week. Carissa keeps saying, "Since it's a girls' week, can we ________?" She wants to do things, watch things, and just be what she thinks girls should do and be when the boy(s) are away! So far, they've found some new toys (old toys--just didn't know where they were) to play with, cleaned their dollhouse, and continuously enjoyed trying to make each other scream...when does the screaming stop? Well, we're going to work on it BIG time this week, otherwise, Mom's going to go crazy!!!!!!! We had popcorn for supper last night, leftovers for lunch and planning on chicken for supper...we kinda like "flying by the seat of our pants" meals! They did not have any kind of rest/nap time today, so they should be in bed fairly early...I HOPE! They are starting to become more and more independent and it's nice to see them finding what they need to accomplish any given task without me helping them with every, single thing! They are great girls and I wouldn't trade anything about them....Okay, maybe the screaming :)

Here's hoping for a safe, happy, nice-weathered week @ home!

Life...

There are things in my life that I get stressed out over...
~~Keeping my house clean--just in case someone stops by
~~Keeping up with the laundry
~~Debt...but don't we all at least somewhat stress over any debt?
~~And, currently, Vacation Bible School...It's very much a "Love/Hate" relationship. I love the excitement of getting people involved and watching the kids have fun! I don't like the stress I put on myself trying to make it "The Best" it can be...when I just need to realize that extravagance is not necessary for kids...I mean, heck, my girls could have hours of fun with empty boxes, tissues, or anything that I would deem "trash" once I'm done with the item.

I love the fun that kids have, but I struggle to understand my strengths and weaknesses in Directing VBS...this is only my 2nd year as a director, but I continue to "live and learn" in each step of my "VBS career" and hope that I will continue to learn something, or lots of somethings each day, week and year of VBS.

Fortunately, I still get to come home and continue my "normal" daily things...I love my life, sometimes frustrating for me, but I love my family, friends, and God...AND I want to continue to do my best~~ALWAYS!

Swim Lessons!

So, the girls are taking swim lessons this week...they both love the pool, but didn't really like to go underwater or think about getting too wet while we're there...

Carissa's fear of bugs and butterflies didn't even bother her last night...it was AWESOME! Jocelyn didn't really want to do much at lessons, but really just wanted to play! Neither one of them had taken a nap, so by 6:30 they were pretty tired (that was only 1/2 way through the lessons)!

Tonight, however, Jocelyn and Carissa were really great! They both went under and Carissa did it quite a bit! They are getting so independent~it's a little sad and exhilarating at the same time! I think you can click on the pictures to make them bigger, but they did really well tonight considering the water was stinkin' cold!!!

Happy Fourth of July...

Enjoy time with family, friends, and all who are in your presence today...God has given us a wonderful world to live in~it is broken, worn down, and tired...but it is our Earthly home with the promise of a Heavenly HOME with God...

Happy 4th Everyone...

"Cast Off Tuesday" Recap

Yesterday, Carissa got her cast off! Oh, happy days...she did great through the removal, x-ray, and follow-up with the doctor.

We spent the afternoon together as a family and then met up with my friend Kira, from school, to eat with their family...her kids are considerably older than ours, but they all sat together and we had a great time catching up!

Last week, I spent a few hours working in the church office, so my other "duties" were a little delayed and had to catch up this week. I commend you working mothers~I don't know how you do it,even if you work part-time or full-time! The girls just sat in Joe's office and watched a movie and enjoyed a Veggie Tales movie or two...

Today, we have been home most of the day and its been nice! The weather is ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! The windows are open, fresh air is moving through, and the girls are headed outside to ride bikes in the driveway. Tonight the girls and I are helping serve at the "Father/Son Banquet" and then back home after that. Tomorrow, we will be hanging around the house again, probably mowing for the July 4th festivities and then sticking around for some family time in the evening...we've been riding our bikes or walking most evenings and it's been nice to get out and about...

We have made a commitment to not eat out for the month of July~well, unless someone else is paying :) I know we do eat out too often, but I'm curious as to how much money we will save by not doing so at all for an entire 31 days! I know there are alot of people that eat at home all the time, but schedules get the best of us sometimes and we just get too lax in our commitment to eating healthier and cheaper at home! We'll see how this goes, but I think it will be a good adjustment for all of us.

$600~~FOR REAL!!!

I am not above advertising for something, someone, or anything that has value to me...

So, I say this with "nerdy" excitement...I will save over $600 by switching to PROGRESSIVE Auto Insurance!!!! ~Did that sound like a commercial? Oh, well!

I had been watching a show that gave ideas about how to save money in these "tough economic times" and I had already been considering the move to another insurance company anyway...so, I did it! It was all online (BUT, I couldn't just do it~I had to call to ask a few questions~just couldn't make the jump without a voice reassuring me :) I am so psyched because it really is going to save us over $50/month!!!! Couldn't get any better if I tried and tried and tried!

On another note, Carissa is still "battling" or overwhelming fear of "all things that fly" and it is getting to both of her parents and her sister! We are trying everything~IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!

Went for a 5-mile (give or take a little) bike ride while the girls were at another church's VBS last night...I'm not gonna lie~I felt it this morning! Still, I'm feeling pretty good today~got 3 loads of laundry done, cleaned the house here and there, and will probably go out and trim the evergreen bushes tonight while the girls are @ VBS...I feel a little guilty taking them because it's not our church, but they had a blast last night!

Do you think they were tired?!?!

Wow! What a summer full of crazy weather...

There have been some crazy storms here lately...Last night it stormed, today it was calm (But STINKIN' HOT), and tonight there has been constant lightning...and pretty severe storms!

We were supposed to go to Springfield to meet my Dad's plane at the airport...The girls had made signs and everything, but the flights were delayed, he missed a connecting flight out of Chicago and ended up taking the Peoria Charter bus back home! So, we didn't go to Springfield, but did get some stuff done in Decatur...

Home now, watching some shows on the DVR and listening to yet ANOTHER storm getting closer and closer...GOOD sleeping weather :)

Tomorrow WILL be a better day!!!!

Even though we've been home from Disney for 10 days, I have not gotten around to posting any pictures...but we've kept busy!!!

Today, well actually last night, Carissa and Jocelyn were doing their "bridges" from tumbling class and Jocelyn decided to "jump" on her. Well, I thought it was a typical "drama cry" because we had friends over, so I got her ice and let her relax. I gave them bathes and hoped that they would go to sleep early. The rest of the evening was uneventful and I had hoped everything was fine...

This morning, her arms looked different from the other...so, I took her up to the ER and they took an X-ray and we waited...the Doctor came in and said, "She broke her arm--at her elbow." I couldn't believe it! Seriously?!?! I had said all along that I thought Jocelyn would be the one to break a bone first--and as my brother said it: "She did break something first--it just wasn't anythinng of hers!" TRUE, TRUE, TRUE!!!!!!!!

So, we took a trip to Springfield, saw a ped. orthaepedist, she picked her cast color, and on it went...she will have it on for 3 weeks (June 30) but won't be able to swim or get it wet at all. She has developed a FEAR of bugs, so she thinks she won't be able to play outside the whole time! Crazy thinker that she is...here are a few pictures of the doctor's work...

P.S. To top the day off, while picking up Jocelyn from a friend's house, I closed the sliding van door on one of my fingers!!! Went home, tried to shake it off, but it just kept swelling...SO, you guessed it...I went to the ER, had my own x-ray and found out I broke my finger!!!! Seriously!!!! How could that happen to anyone else?!?! So. they relieved the pressure in my finger (I won't go into details about this), put it in a splint, gave me some pain medication and sent me on my way!

Before and After...WOW!

Carissa is now a KINDERGARTEN STUDENT!

The first few pictures are from her first year of preschool and dance...then the next ones are of her last day (yesterday) of Preschool...WOW did the time fly! And she looks more and more grown up every, single day!

Ahhhh, Mondays...

Graduation is over...and I am so happy I'm done with undergraduate work...HOWEVER, I start Seminary in the fall (I got a pretty great scholarship, so I thought I'd try to get a good start on the work). The first picture above is of Brian C., Kira M., and me SOOOO happy to be done and now considered COLLEGE GRADUATES!!!!

NOW, we are preparing for Disney World. We have been counting down the days and they are down to "single digits" and we are REALLY excited! Tonight, the girls are watching VHS tapes of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios--getting even more excited about the trip! Tomorrow we have Carissa's Preschool Field Trip to the Scoville Zoo, so we are going to rest up tonight and are really looking forward to the rest of the week and of course NEXT WEEK IN FLORIDA!!!!!!

DISNEY COUNTDOWN~4 days!!!!!!!!!!

What's Up Next?

I will be graduating in less than 4 days...I know they told us this would happen, but I'm already a little let down right now...not let down because I'm done, but wondering what is next?!?! I know I will start graduate school, but will I have the time/patience/ability to keep up on my schoolwork...
The girls are so excited for the upcoming events for us...Carissa's graduation, my graduation, tumbling show, dance show, and then...VACATION!! I know it will be crazy busy for us for the next 10 days, but it will be worth it!
Signing off for tonight...hope all are well and getting ready for a nice spring and summer ahead of us...

Disney Countdown~10 days (+/- a few hours)

Where has May gone?!?!?!

Yesterday, we had our hands full with "Dance/Tumbling" pictures...two girls+2 different outfits X 1 parent (me)=craziness!!!!! I think the girls did great, but it has been a long week.

The weather has been great nearly all week and the girls have been playing around like crazy! I love the warm weather and the girls getting to be outside and play!

Within the next two weeks we have: Graduation Banquet @ LCC, Carissa's Preschool Graduation, my Graduation, Graduation Party, Field Trip, Tumbling/Dance Rehearsals, Tumbling/Dance Shows, and FINALLY DisneyWorld!!!!!!! This month is already going so quickly!

Found out today that my brother and his wife will be having a.......GIRL!!!! They are due in September and we will all get to see them at my graduation, so the girls will be overly excited about that!

Life is flying by, but I am trying to focus on the "here and now" more so I enjoy the time I have with my FAST GROWING girls!

DISNEY COUNTDOWN~15 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bittersweet

I write this blog as I should be working on a paper...I just don't wanna do it! Is that wrong? I want to do it, but my mind and heart are not really into it right now...HOWEVER, it is due tomorrow. So, this will be short.

Today, I'm babysitting two kids besides my own two being home today too. Thursdays always seem to move the slowest--is it because of anticipation for the weekend? I have a lot to get done, hoped it would be nice weather (so they could play outside), but it poured all night/early this morning and we have pretty extensive sitting water. I have them outside playing in the blocked off driveway, but the weather says its supposed to start raining again this afternoon.

Rented my first two REDBOX movies this morning since the prediction was rain for the whole day, but the girls didn't seem too interested in anything...thankful there was a break in the rain for them to play in the driveway a little.

Tomorrow, will be a FULL outside-in-the-garage day in preparation for our yard sale on Saturday. What was I thinking? I was thinking--spending $$$$ for Disney World!!!

DISNEY COUNTDOWN~23 1/2 days!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bubble Night...

Tonight, we had "Bubble Night" in our backyard (well, the church's backyard, too) and the kids had a blast. Although, I think if we had just met at a park, had bubbles, and just let them play on the swings, slides and such they would have had just as much fun!!! We had about 15 kids and they had fun playing together!

After everyone headed home, Carissa asked to take her bath and said she wanted to go to bed early--nothing like wearing your kids out in a matter of hours, right?

Tomorrow, there is a slight chance of rain/thunderstorms, but we will hopefully be outside most of the day. Joe's going to work out at the golf course at 6 am (Crazy man!) and the girls and I will be home--probably most of the day! I hope they can be outside playing and enjoying the nice weather before all of our final "April Showers" finish out the month!!!
Have a GREAT weekend everyone!

DISNEY COUNTDOWN~28 1/2 days!!!!!!!!

Disney...we'll be there soon!!

All I can say after a LOOOOOOOOONG Wednesday is...

Disney World...we're coming...VERY soon!

DISNEY COUNTDOWN~31 Days!!!!

Warmer Weather on It's Way...

So, today we are inside...the girls were out on Sunday in the rain alot, so they both have runny noses and we have enough "stuff" inside to do anyway! They did "crafts" this morning...watching a little TV, and then lunch together...

This week we are going to the first screening for Kindergarten for Carissa!! I have written about this on Facebook, but not so much here. I am overwhelmed with feelings about Carissa starting school this next fall! I never thought I would feel this way, but I am really sad and excited for her all at the same time! I know she will to well, behave, and blossom--but I just can't believe she's ready for school (all day Kindergarten!!)

Well, this is the last time I want to think about it until August...I've got the whole summer with her and we will have fun doing everything!!! We are excited about planting flowers, trying our hand at a vegetable garden, and just "being" outside!!!

I have 3 more weeks of school, then graduation, dance recitals, zoo trip, and then vacation!!!!!!!

DISNEY COUNTDOWN~32 days!

Rough Draft of Portfolio--DONE!

So, it may have taken a lot of work pulling it together, but I have my rough (first) draft of my FINAL PORTFOLIO done!! Just saved it, have a meeting about it on Tuesday afternoon, and ready to finish up the rest of my work for the semester...it feels like just getting the portfolio done has lifted a huge weight off me!

We spent this morning outside, napped this afternoon, and then were outside again this evening. Cooked out on the grill, ate together, and just hung around the house today...

We have tried to take the "down" days and just spend them at home--not constantly running around trying to get as much done as we can!

I got to have an evening out with two friends last night--we ate together in Decatur, walked around Target, and then visited over a Starbucks frappucino (Strawberries and Creme--that makes it healthy,right? :) It was a nice evening, but I was happy to get home and see my girls!

We are off to Bloomington tomorrow afternoon to meet Joe's family--it's supposed to rain, but we will at least be able to visit for a little bit!

DISNEY COUNTDOWN~34 Days...right?!?!?!