...and March comes marching in...

So, the girls got some Zhu-Zhu pets for Christmas from a "secret Santa" and they have been trying to collect more along the way. Last night, I walked into the living room to this...

They each have their own space and food...as well as shelter in both Dora's house and with their building blocks! They SERIOUSLY crack me up! This is just one of the times that they line something up or work on some creative "housing development" for their toys or stuffed animal. I won't even mention that each little "room" is almost identical to the others and they each have almost the same amount of goldfish snacks...

They are growing and developing so quickly it amazes me at what they can come up with on a daily basis. This week, Carissa has Hat Day on Tuesday and Jocelyn had her field trip to a play last week...they keep a pretty busy schedule...don't know where they get that from!

Hoping to get ahead on homework this week and start working on my presentation for a class in two weeks...the month of February FLEW by so I need to get on top of some of this homework!

Tomorrow is March 1st...not much longer to go until we are family of FIVE! Can't believe how fast it's gone, but it's quickly approaching...

"Mom, do you think God gets sick?"

Tonight, Carissa got sick...she doesn't really throw up often, but tonight, that seemed the quickest way for something to make it's way out of her. I hate it when my kids are sick, but it does bring them to their deep question time...

We were out to eat with some people from church and Carissa had said she didn't feel well, so we headed to the ladies room. She stood in there for awhile and then got sick~she wasn't happy that she got sick there, but we went home, I had her shower, put on her pj's and she cuddled up to watch some cartoons. About an hour after we got home she went running to the bathroom and got sick again. I stood and talked to her and explained that this just happens sometimes and it will all be over soon enough. She asked me if I ever got sick and I said yes...I think she just wanted some reassurance that it isn't just kids that get sick. She then looked at me and asked, "Mom, do you think God gets sick?" I was kind of awestruck for a moment and I said that I didn't think He did because He is the one who helps us feel better. She then looked at me and asked: "Mom, will you pray for me?" W-O-W!!! I can't even imagine where that came from but it had to be her Daddy coming out in her...they pray for people all the time when they hear sirens, see an accident happen, or hear of someone being sick. So, needless to say, I prayed for her to feel better and said that I knew God would take care of her and allow her to feel better...

She is sleeping in the recliner with Joe tonight and seems to be feeling okay...she hasn't run a fever, but just says she doesn't feel well. Hoping she just had a short-lived "bug" and we can all move past it and stay healthy. I should be thankful we've made it this far without anything major happening, but overall I am THANKFUL for healthy children. I hear of so many sick children, but thankful I have two (almost 3) healthy children!!

Happy "rest of the weekend" everyone!

Peanut Butter and Birds

Yesterday, I experienced something with Jocelyn...I had to make a phone call to one of our utility companies (and we all know it's usually never just a quick 5 minute conversation with someone) and the girls were in the living room playing.

I was wrapping up the conversation when Carissa came in and said to me, "Jocelyn has sticky stuff in her hair. It's gum!" Really? Really? I guess if it was going to happen, it would happen to Jocelyn.

I "googled" the following: "How to remove gum from hair" Ironically, thousands of hits appeared on my screen. I first tried ice to harden it and then tried to get it out--no success. I called Joe (he was probably heading home soon anyway) and he came home and read to me the next option to remove the gum. He went to the cabinet while I called one of the ladies from the church who does hair. I did the whole "Hypethetically speaking..." introduction about what had happened and she said she had heard that peanut butter works because of the oil in it. Otherwise, she said if I had to cut it out to try to "feather it" so it wouldn't be a blunt cut section of hair.

So, Joe started the "peanut butter treatment" while I waited to comb through the matted peanut buttered hair. It took about 3 "applications" but we got it all out and put her in the bathtub. She was NOT happy with us because it hurt her hair to comb through the peanut butter/gum mixture. Joe explained that if she kept putting sticky stuff in her hair she might end up with hair like him--bald! She didn't like that idea, so she slowly calmed herself down and slowly recovered from the peanut butter trauma.

Life went on and we continued on with our evening. Carissa had a pizza party and then we joined back up with her for a bird show at the high school gym. Carissa sat with her friends to watch and we sat with some friends up a little higher than she was. The third bird that they presented to us was a Bald Eagle...Jocelyn was SO impressed by the size of the bird when he expanded his wings...she was even more impressed when he pooped on the floor! She turned to me and said, "Mom, the Eagle pooped and it hit the ground and went SPLAT!" She knows how to replay any event...with extreme accuracy!

They keep me on my toes and I want to take it in and continue to love them and care for them as best I can!!!

"Lying to Be Perfect"

Totally awesome movie...Lifetime is often made fun of by many, but this movie is great! If you can find it, WATCH IT! I feel her pain and only hope that I can be as confident as she is...

Tuesdays...quickly become Wednesdays!!

I am probably the most prepared for one day a week...Wednesdays. Since I have class at 8am in Lincoln, I have to get everything ready the night before. Now, I realize that working Moms do this every, single night, but for me it's kind of exciting to see how much I can get ready in order to make the morning go as smoothly as possible when I'm not here. So tonight, after supper, the girls took a bath while I made treats for them (cupcakes), packed Carissa's lunch for school (also packed Jocelyn's in a lunch bag because she's always wanting to eat hers out of a lunch bag too!), got their outfits ready (Valentine's Day parties are tomorrow), and then tried to get as much ready for breakfast time as I could. I always end up calling about 4 times during my ride to Lincoln, but I just don't know what to do without having to do it myself--does anyone else know what I mean?

Anyway, the day will come and go without me being there to start their morning with them, but I like the idea that I have gotten as much ready for a good start! After a snow day today, we have spent a good deal of time together and I'm really hoping they don't have to wait until next week to have their parties (out of school for school improvement/Lincoln's Birthday on Thursday and Friday) because they are so excited about giving and getting valentines from friends!

Here's hoping for a great Wednesday!

WOW!!!

So, I recorded this movie "The Pregnancy Pact" about 2 weeks ago...I've hesitated to watch out of anger, but really it just SCARES me. I cannot imagine what all those parents must have felt like as they found out their daughters, one by one, became pregnant. Most of you know what position I advocate for in unplanned pregnancies, but this issue scares me~it scares me beyond measure. I can't imagine being 15-16 years old and pregnant~granted, I know that some girls are able to overcome this struggle, but the immaturity of these "characters" is overwhelming. They talk as though it's like "playing house" and they really have NO clue about life in general.

It's a tough movie, but I'm hoping that it helps me to understand how NOT to have this happen. Ironically, one of the characters is named Carissa (I like to think it's spelled differently though) and that makes it a little to weird...

Tooth #2 and a SILLY Daddy!

Carissa lost tooth #2 two weeks to the day that she lost #1!! This one was MUCH LESS traumatic because it fell out while she was having pizza...not a bad deal!

The girls are so funny when they around their daddy...he brings the silliness out in them! Pictures here are proof of that!

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!