Starting a NEW Month...

So, I know that I am an over-reactor...Hello, my name is Rachel and I'm an O.R. kind of problem. I wanted to rearrange the girls' room, but that meant pulling everything out of their room...BIG mess. I know that it means a mess to make it better, but it can be overwhelming! So, their room is nearly done...waiting on a couple of "Pet Nets" to hold all of their stuffed animals, but overall, they are happy with the change. Now, I just want to get stuff put away so we can start on the 3rd bedroom for Baby Boy Mollet. It will be a big difference decorating for a boy this time around, but it should be A LOT of fun!! Blue? Green? Cubbie Blue? Who knows!! But I'm guessing there won't be much pink or purple around!

I want to just be...be calm, be patient, be content...but How? There must a gene or something that some have that naturally allows them to be this way, but I must have missed that call! I need to be better about patience/silence...better at handling life's challenges and life's great things too!!! Anyone with me????

End of January

Tomorrow is Carissa's 100th day of school...she is SO excited. Ironically, tonight she said, "Mom, there's only 80 days of school left after tomorrow!" Isn't it funny how everything is a countdown? Before she started kindergarten the only thing she counted "down" to was her birthday...but now, she's already learning to countdown til the end of school. She asked me if I could write on her shirt the numbers 1-0-0 (in case I didn't know how to write 100). I didn't really want to write on one, so I took a few seconds to think about what I could do with the number 100...QUICK FIX for moms out there~I painted her nails and took white nail polish and wrote the numbers on her three middle fingers. She was ECSTATIC! It's tough to meet your child's expectations sometimes, but I like to think I'm getting there...

I'm in my second semester of graduate school...taking nine hours, but will be 1/4 of the way done after May...I'm hoping it doesn't take me as long as it did to get through college! It is more work, but I'm trying to focus on the end product~a master's degree and a better chance at a great job...

I've been trying to find new and creative ways to work on the girls' behaviors, attitudes, and issues with keeping their toys and clothes picked up...they seem to get angry at us which in turn makes us more frustrated. I know that my brother and I did not get along, but two girls are definitely a lot of emotions at one time! I love them and want them to be the best they can be...and I am determined to do what I can to make them two great little girls!

Big News in the Mollet House!

Carissa lost her 1st tooth last night!!! It was traumatic, but once she pulled it out and looked at it--she couldn't stop giggling! She was so excited to leave it for the tooth fairy to visit and see what she would be getting. The tooth fairy was generous for the 1st tooth, but she was told that it won't always be the same amount of money for each tooth...

Grandma stayed the night last night because Joe and I headed to Lincoln for me to go to class and we followed that up with our 20-week ultrasound....

We are going to be parents to a BOY!! Honestly, it's still sinking in, but we are just excited that we have a healthy little baby joining our family in the Spring!

The Girl Scout Cookies are Here!!!

Carissa is selling Girl Scout cookies!!!!! If you live nearby the Lincoln-area or our town, get in touch with me!!!

Carissa's FIRST snow day!

We are all home today and it is snowing, snowing, snowing outside! They didn't cancel school until 5:45 am but we all slept until about 8 am. Joe and I are catching up on some DVR'd shows, the girls are watching TV together...and we will be home all day together! Joe has Thursdays off and we are going to relax and enjoy the day!

Hope everyone stays safe if they MUST be out today!

New Camera Photos...

Just a few for now...I will upload some more later!

Does anyone read this blog? I'm starting to wonder if I should just stick with Facebook...or keep writing...not that it matters, because I do enjoy blogging...decisions, decisions...

A New Year...

Well...it's here. 2010. We will welcome another child into our family...have plans to visit friends in Pittsburgh, maybe New York, too...and MOST of all, learning more to make our family better, stronger, and more loved. I don't make resolutions, but I do hope that I can be more of a better Mom, a better Wife, and a better Person...I don't want to just try this year, but hopeful that I can continue this~only greater in each year to come.

We had a great Christmas and New Year's celebration...spent time with family and friends...happy to have a year behind us and another one to look forward to. Family is such an important part of our lives and we are trying to put our focus on our family....raising strong, happy children (it's not always easy, but I CAN learn enough patience to handle it...I know I CAN!).

Here's hoping that you are all enjoying your new year and will continue to be blessed...

The Little Things...

I was getting ready to drive Carissa to school today and Jocelyn was quickly getting dressed and ready to go...usually she stays home with Joe until I get back, but this morning she said to me, "Mommy, I want to go with you because I love you!" At first I couldn't figure out why on earth she wanted to go on her "day off" from school, but it is wonderful to know that she wants to go JUST because she loves me.

Tonight we have our last Daisy Scouts meeting until after the first of the year, the church play practice tonight, and then (hopefully) and early bedtime! The girls were EXHAUSTED last night after school, dance, and play practice...then Wednesday is the last Family Church Night, Thursday is Carissa's school music program, and then the weekend is upon us! All of the shopping is done, waiting on it to be delivered, then wrapped, and loaded in the van and ready to go to Lincoln on the night of Christmas Eve! AND to top it all off, we get to see our new niece/cousin for the 1st time this Christmas!!!!!

Have a great week everyone!

Smells...

The best smell to me this time of year is the smell of a Christmas tree. I have enjoyed this year's tree because it is has a strong evergreen smell that I can smell clear into the kitchen! It's been wonderful...I know I could just buy candles that smell like evergreen, but for some reason a tree smells SO much better!

Today, I have accomplished something...well, a few somethings. To some of you this may seem like a very small thing, but I have both bathrooms cleaned~top to bottom! The smell of nice clean bathrooms, showers, and all equipment involved is a HUGE task for me...I'm not gonna lie, I've usually just used the Lysol wipes and quickly cleaned the toilet and moved on to the next task at hand...I know this is probably not the right way to clean/disinfect a bathroom, but time is of the essence some days!

Also, I have gotten laundry going and SERIOUSLY determined to get it all done today/tomorrow morning...the girls have dance and play practice tonight, so we will not be home too much this evening. I am helping with costumes tonight, but no scenes for me! The girls are angels this year...they've wanted to be for some time and are really looking forward to it all. They are in the opening scene, so I'm hoping for a quick exit and entrance...and then get them home and in bed. None of us seem to be sleeping well lately, so I'm hoping for a few early evenings this week. Gotta lot of stuff going on in the next 10 days and I want to have a healthy family for the holidays...

The only trip I have this week is a quick trip to Lincoln for a Dr. appointment and stopping in Decatur at Kohl's to spend my "Kohl's Cash" on the girls for Christmas outfits! Finished all my shopping online on Saturday and I am happy to say I did all Christmas shopping for about 1/2 of what I usually spend~really cutting back this year and hoping that the girls are happy with their gifts this year!

Christmas...

Today we went out to Oak Terrace Resort for "Breakfast with Santa" with the girls and my parents. The girls were so excited about going out there, but I realized that they were most excited about was making the picture frames for their pictures with Santa! They made those right away and then visited with Santa...Carissa explained to him what she wanted for Christmas and Jocelyn explained, in detail, what she wanted also...

Grandma and Papa had fun watching and visiting with them...then they (Mom and Dad) headed up to Elgin to see my brother, sister-in-law and niece...so, we headed home and have really taken it easy today. Christmas gets so hectic sometimes it's tough to just relax. So, today we have done what we've wanted, when we've wanted, and how quickly/slowly we've wanted. Overall, a nice Saturday! Next week starts the "busyness" of the Christmas season...we pretty much have something going on each and every day/evening! I know it gets like this for most people, but I look forward to it all--school activities, church activities/programs, family visits, and so on...

Enjoy the season...BUT, remember to whom we owe our gratitude.

New Pediatrician

Jocelyn and I took a quick drive to Taylorville to see a new doctor...Dr. Kallada. Jocelyn has been fighting a losing battle with a cough and runny nose for about 2 1/2 weeks, so we took the opportunity to visit this new doctor. I have to admit, she spent a good amount of time with us, explained what the plan of action would be, and I feel good about it!
So, now we are home for a lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches...Joe is away for class all day and Carissa took a packed lunch, so we are really living it up! Spending some time at home before going to pick up Carissa.
"Elf on the Shelf" was named Sprocket...he has helped out some days and other days I think they are testing his "power" but overall we are working on behaviors and responsibilities with the girls. I know they can do things to help out around the house, just can't help together...
Daisy Scouts meeting for leaders and co-leaders tonight and then a relatively slow-paced weekend which will include a visit with Santa on Saturday out at Oak Terrace! The girls are SO excited!

the Elf on the Shelf

I'm not big into working in the whole Santa topic at Christmas, but I kinda like this idea..."the Elf on the Shelf" is a "bribing" tool for Christmas time...I got the idea from a friend and we are introducing "him" tonight to the girls. We have already instituted a responsibilities/rewards chart for the girls and it has been slow-going, but they are getting the hang of it all.

Overall, life has been going well...of course, there are always little issues, certain types of people, and other things we are faced with in life, ministry, and parenthood. We have been in Pana for about 2 1/2 years and we have faced some good and some bad situations, but we are moving right along and working to be better servants for God. Are there times that I wonder~why minstry? why isn't there the perfect job out there? why aren't people the way I want them to be? why can't I be a better person? what can I do better? But, don't we all have these kinds of questions?

Joe preached on fasting as part of his sermon...I am fasting from something this week, but I don't know if it will work out for me or not...we'll see. I don't know if I'll blog about it, but I know that it's something I have to work on for myself to be a bettter person...a better mom and wife...and most importantly...a better Christian.

First snow this morning...hoping for more later this week!

The weekend

Tonight, we are going to LCU's Christmas in the Chapel. This will be the first time we will see it as an entire family. The girls are finally old enough to sit through a performance (I hope) and then we will be driving back to Pana early Saturday morning...

We have the girls' birthday party at the Taylorville YMCA. They have been SO excited about their party--their SWIM party!

Busy weekend, but looking forward to all of it!

25 days to Christmas...

I LOVE this time of year...lights, decorations, gifts given to others, and all of the different hopes, feelings and dreams that we share with one another.
Our lives always seem to get pretty crazy busy this time of year~but I'm sure most people feel like that around this time of year, right? I do wonder though, how do our homeless prepare for the holidays? I'm watching recent episodes of "White Collar" and it is shocking to me at the amount of homeless people in our world...I know there have always been homeless people, but we are approaching a time when we will have more and more homeless--including more homeless veterans. These men and women have served our country, maybe been injured fighting for our country, and we are not doing as much as we should for them...I don't know what I can do, but I am willing to find out something that I can do to help these "Unsung Heroes" of our country. I know not everyone believes we are right to be fighting in the Middle East BUT we are responsible for our actions as a country supporting it's military...what can be done???
Just deep thoughts on this Monday afternoon, but hoping that we can all find a way to help someone, show someone that we care with the hopes that it will continue on through each and every person we come into contact with during this holiday season...

Thankfullness!

I love my girls!!!! Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday with your friends and family!!!!

(I just don't have much more to say today, but I find it important to say it!)

Lunch Together

Today, we're heading out to Shelbyville for lunch by the Shelbyville Dam....the girls love to watch the water and there's a small playground they love to be at too!

Hoping to take in as much of this day as we can~I think it's going to rain tomorrow and then it only gets busier from here through New Year's, right?????

Call Me Crazy, but...

I'm SO ready for some of this! I may be in the minority, but I'm ready!!!!!

November...

This month ALWAYS brings mixed feelings...so many different things and changes each year.
I turn 33 in about two weeks...is that old? It feels old some days, but then again, it feels like it was yesterday when I started college...THANK GOODNESS I don't have to do that over again!
Jocelyn turns 4 on the 22nd--seriously, where did the last 4 years go? She is loving preschool, becoming more and more like her Daddy, and really feeling out her own personality.
Carissa will be 6 on the 29th--REALLY, how did that happen so quickly too?!?!?! She LOVES school, loves dance/tumbling/ballet, loves Daisy Scouts, and pretty much everything she's tried so far! She really doesn't have many fears--well, except a few bugs still : )
Life with two WONDERFUL girls and a GREAT husband has been, well GREAT! There are ups and downs, but overall it's been a great life! We have so much to look forward to with adding to our family in the spring, watching the girls grow and learn, and learning so much more about God's plan for our family...

EARLY picture of Baby #3

Everything's fine so far...not feeling the greatest, but I'll get over it--eventually.

Hope all are well and enjoying this nice weather...Rain, anyone????