Character Day at School

Girls were excited about going to school today. It was Character Day! They both wanted to dress up like Hanna Montana and told them that she wasn't a character. I'm sure there will be girls dress up like Hanna today and I will get it when I get home. The girls love her but I don't like it when they almost worship a teen idol. I let them watch her but I try to explain a lot of things to them so they know what is going on . Kind of a what is right and wrong speech..maybe! Anyway, I didn't mean to go off on Hanna Montana...Sorry! Mallory went to school as Donald Duck. At first, she wanted to wear Donald then she was scared that everyone will laugh at her. She tried it on after school and said it was soooooo comfy and she wanted to wear it. Madison went as Dorthy on Wizard of Oz. They were both so cute! I hope they have a great day. Today is Dollar Day! They get to go to the Dollar Tree and pick out one thing. Mallory wanted Chicken and Noodles so I made it for her. She is going to be like her mommy and have cravens all time. Right now she craves good healthy stuff so I hope she doesn't start craving sweets or Chicken Nachos like her mommy!

Snow Day from School

Mallory still playing after about an hour. Madison went in about 40 minutes ago.

Mallory making snow angels. She had such a blast outside.

Madison getting ready to go down the hill. She liked going down but she wanted you to carry her up. It was too hard for me to get up I don't think I could of carried her.

Got this video from another blog. He was lucky and got a second chance. It is so important to make mends with anyone you know because you may never get a second chance. I am so guilty about visiting people and am always saying: " tomorrow I will go see them or I will send them a card or email." Well, then the day come and goes and I am repeating myself again. I'm am challaging you and myself to get out there and contact that person you have not seen for a while. Even if it is to call them and say Hi and thats it.

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A PERFECT GAME

Well, Eric did it! He bowled a perfect game! All strikes! Let me tell you he is so proud of himself. He wants to put it on You Tube. OK Honey, we are proud of you. What he doesn't know is now he can't be in our bowling tournaments...Sorry!

Friends

Madison and Mallory got to invite some friends over for their birthday! They had blast! Let me tell you that had to be tired when they left here because they kept running up and down all the stairs around here.

From 6 to 100

How funny! Madison and Mallory celebrated their "6th" Birthday yesterday and today it is 100th day at school. They had to dress like they were hundred years old. I went to the goodwill and found these dresses. Madison is fancy and Mallory kind of reminded us of Laura on Little House on the Prairie. Mallory wanted to go all out and Madison didn't want to do it at all. Mallory was so funny..she wanted so many accessories. She has a hat, glasses, umbrella (cane), and baby powder in her hair to make it look white. She was even walking around acting old. She really wants to be in a play. I need to take her to try out someday!

Blowing Out the Candles

Happy Birthday from Papaw

Papaw surprised the girls today when they were leaving for school. There was a great big sign in the yard for everyone to see. It worked because James, the neighbor, saw it and told the girls and they were so excited that he had seen it. It was really cute! Madison said: "Wow, papaw wasn't sloppy with the paint.. he did a good job! She the funniest things sometimes! Thanks Papaw we all loved it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY GIRLS!!!

Happy Birthday Madison and Mallory! Mommy and Daddy love you very much and we are so proud of you! This came out a little dark but I fix Madison and Mallory toast with candles this morning! Boy do they think mommy is goovy!

THIS IS THE LAST DAY THE GIRLS WILL BE "5"

Madison and Mallory woke up and said " today is the last day that we are 5." Oh mommy was so sad and now the girls are telling me to knock it off. Where has the years gone? I have so many good memories but they just went way to fast. If I could only keep them 5 forever. I know it's not my job.. my job is to raise them to be good adults. I am so proud of them. They are good students, polite, caring and so much fun. I guess I need to thank God!

I got to go to school with them today. I subbed for another Kindergarten class. Oh how I love teaching Kindergarten. They are so much fun! The class I subbed in today are so lovable. It's nice to go into a class that they all act like a family. This is one of those classes. You can tell when a teacher is a loving, caring and passionate by the way their class behave and how they act towards each other. I think it is very important for a teacher to have an family atmosphere in their classroom because they do spent more time at school. Plus, it will make them feel safe and loved.

Anyway, I need to get going. The girls think they have to play a sight word game every night before bed. I don't care...I think it's fun too!

Back To School

Madison and Mallory are off to school. They really enjoyed their 4 days off except for Mallory being sick. We don't know what was wrong with her. She would get a really high fever (103) and then it would drop. We thought she had strep throat and every time we got ready to take her to the doctor she was better. She was up early today and ready for school. We did find 3 molars coming in. She hasn't even lost her front teeth. They are so excited this is their birthday week. Madison is still figuring out how she is going to get a DS. I know she is going to keep all of her B-day money and save more until she can get one. She is going to be my girl that thinks she has to have what everyone else have. Oh please pray for me:)!

Well, Eric and I are off to his eye doctor appt. He is going to get new glasses today so I need to go with him to help him pick them out. I think I will go to the library while he is in with the doctor. More later!

Mallory and Madison Writing in the Blog

Hi this is Madison and Mallory! We are so excited we wanted to tell everyone. If we miss no more day of school the 100th day will be on our birthday! Whooooo! Mommy is sad because she wanted to sub on 100th day and now it changed. We will be 6 on our birthday! I, Madison, wants a DS for my birthday. (Dream on, Madison)

I want a glow and dark bear that glow and has crayons you write on it and glows in the dark. (Mallory). Oh I want to add that I want Hannah Montanna DS game to go with my DS (Madison)

Going to make cookies now. (Mallory)

I'm a little behind but it has been a little crazy around here. I subbed for the girl's class on Monday and it was Awards day. So I got the honor of giving out awards in front of all the parents.. fun! fun! I was so nervous. I don't think my voice was shaking but my hands were out of control. The girls did great with me being their teacher. They had a hard time going back the next day without me but they did o.k....just a few tears. Madison and Mallory both got homework award. They didn't receive the perfect attendance award but that is something that we don't really celebrate here in this house anyway. I think it promotes sending sick children to school. I understand why they do it. They do it because so many kids miss school for no reason at all. It is amazing how many parents let their kids stay home just because they want to or the parents are too lazy to send them. Both of the girls begged me to stay home today so they could go outside and and build a snowman. They are so ready to play in the snow. To bad it is going to be way to cold for them to go outside.

Murphy's Wii Party! And the winner is CHIP TIMMONS

Madison and Mallory Takes Mommy and Daddy Out To Eat

This post is a little late but the girls reminded me that I haven't put their Chucky Cheese's pictures on the blog. They got money for Christmas from Grandma Great and they decided they were going to take us out to eat. Of course, they got to pick where we ate. They picked Chucky Cheese's but hey it was fun. Lafayette CC enlarged their play area and there is a lot of new games in there. We were there for about 2 hours and but time flew by and we finally said we have to get out of here; we have a lot of other stuff to do..like get groceries!

I'm going to stop worrying about the house and have fun! "Maybe"

This comes from a devotional website that I write on a regular basis. As you can see from above we had a Wii party last night and of course right before everyone came I was hustling around to clean up stuff. This time I did not clean the woodwork or take a day off to make sure every thing was perfect but I still hustled around. I have to admit I am getting better at not caring if everything is in it place but I still need to improve a little. I am always worried if someone is going to stop by or still till Eric that he better not invite anyone over unless he gives me some time to pick up. I am always so worried that someone is going to judge me as a bad mom or not the perfect wife because my house is not picked up. Let face it, what is more important, a clean house or a family that plays together. I vote for a family that plays together. My resolution this year is try not to be so backwards and invite more people over. Mom-Mom if you read this; please give me 1/2 hours to at least pick up the mess. Just joking you may pop by anytime!



Beauty in the Dust Bunnies

This week's devotional comes from a question posed in a book that I, along with other women I know, find both inspiring and thought provoking. This question asks:
"A woman's struggle with her sense of worth points to something glorious she was designed to be. The great emptiness we feel points to the great place we were created for. Have you ever thought of your struggles and longings as pointing to something great you are designed to be?"
(Taken from "Captivating: A Guided Journal - Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul" by John & Stasi Eldredge)
With this question, think about how your life reflects the life you thought you would lead. Is it better than you ever could have imagined? Do your daily struggles lead you to wanting "more" or being "more"? Do you feel like you play an important role in the lives of those around you - that you are a necessary part of the lives of others? As you think about this question, recall Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Have you ever sobbed over a dirty house, screaming children or a situation in your life that you had to stop and say to yourself, "This isn't what I signed up for!"? Haven't we all!
A few months back I came up with this "at-the-time-wonderful-idea" of having a New Year's Day party with my fiance's parents and my parents, getting together to watch the Mummer's Parade, have a few nibbles of food, and just enjoy the day together.However, before long, both my fiance and myself were inviting his entire family, my extended family and our church friends over for a New Year's Day feast! (mind you my family and his family had never met prior to this party!)So of course, come New Year's Eve, I am still cleaning, cooking, shopping, and literally making myself cry over every little detail of the house - even polishing the floors and being sure to wipe down all my molding...because, of course, my guests will be white-glove-inspecting my molding! ugh... So, I sent my sweet fiance off to his family's house to enjoy New Year's Eve with them and I stayed home prepping for "the big event". He came to visit me at 11:58PM - so we could see the ball drop together. But I was frantic. 2009 was welcomed in by Dick Clark on my TV set and my poor hubby to be, who only wanted a hug, was greeted by a flushed, frantic and frazzled fiancee! He didn't understand why I was so stressed about this party! Why didn't he understand? Why isn't he helping more? Why isn't he frantic too? ( can you relate to these thoughts ladies? :) )
You see...I imagined a carefree party with guests enjoying a lavish feast, sipping their drinks, laughing, enjoying hand made delights and not a dust bunny in sight throughout my home...with me being the perfect "Donna Reed" hostess...of course!"This isn't how it's supposed to go!"I thought to myself as I swiffer dusted my ceiling fans and electronics. "Where is my glass of champagne? Where is my perfectly pressed little black cocktail dress and heels? Where is the Sinatra music gently playing in the background? This isn't what I signed up for?"
Yet...the next day, with his family, my family and our church friends all mingling together, laughing, telling stories about Brian and I when we were children, talking about wedding plans...and even while my best friend's 4 year old splattered cola across my freshly cleaned carpets...I understood.I wasn't made to be a hostess...I was made to be a part of something so much bigger...and so much more important! I was made to be a part of a family!A family doesn't consist of people assigned to roles (hostess, social director, cab driver) - though we sometimes need to take charge of those roles - those roles aren't who we are; those are trivial compared to the big picture. A family is comprised of personalities who, when combined, make up a story - sometimes confusing, sad, exciting, lavish, nutty or broken stories...but stories none the less. And those stories are what gets passed down to our children, to our friends, and their families. I was made to be a part of people's stories! I was made to be a part of a family! It wasn't the dusting, the cleaning, or the prep work that I was upset about...it was the "this doesn't fit my picture of what I think a party should be like" that got me upset. I didn't understand during those days preceding the party that all that work was pointing me towards something bigger than myself - a family.
So while the work was...well...work...it was work with a purpose - a point - part of a bigger picture. What I pictured in my head to be the "perfect party" had nothing to do with the party in and of itself, but of how I wanted to be a part of laughter, of stories, of happiness and joy; that is what I wanted...not the party. Thankfully...I got it. Oh, and our families got along just fine :) whew...and no one noticed that my closets were ready to pop open with all the "stuff" I shoved in them!
Have you ever felt as if "you didn't sign up for this"? Do you think you're missing out on the bigger picture? Take a moment today to stop what you are doing...cooking, cleaning, changing diapers...and say "hey...I'm a part of something big here...what is it?" Ask the Lord to fill your heart with how He has made you a part of a wonderful adventure...an adventure of families...and stories...and legacies...all made by and because of...you!
"Lord Jesus, we ask You to fill our heart's with gratefulness towards all that You have called us to be. Help us to look beyond the ends of our own noses and see the big-picture-stories that You have designed us to star in. Forgive us for being ungrateful for the stories You have placed us in. Help us see the great in the mundane and the beauty in the dust bunnies. It's in Your precious name we pray...Amen."
In faith,

Mallory taking Madison to lay down

Madison can be such a baby when she is tired! This is a picture of Mallory carrying Madison to the couch!

Back to School without a two hour delay

Well, we were all back to reality this morning. Had to get up without the 2 hour delay. Since December 11, the day of my surgery and the day girls started getting sick, we have either had a 2 hour delay, girls were sick, school was canceled. We got really used to sleeping in. Even though it was only to 8 it was still really hard to adjust this morning. Madison, Mallory and myself hate to get up. All three of us get really bad belly aches and almost gag every morning that we have to get up to an alarm. I don't know what it is but it takes about 1/2 hour and we are just fine. It is something I have dealt with as long as I can remember and unfortunately I have passed it on to the girls. They are getting better at knowing that they need to keep going and it will get better.

I went to school today with the girls and they think it is really cool that mommy gets to go to school. Funny thing is they will not let me walk them into the school; I have to drop them off at the door then park and walk in by myself... So funny! They still give me hugs in the hall and really get excited to see me. Wednesday is my volunteer day. I start out copying papers for the teachers and then I usually get snatched up to do other thing or a lot time I end up subbing. Like today I got all of my Volunteer duties done and then they needed a sub for music. I took it since I was already there.

Cowboy Angel

I wanted to share this with everyone! If we could all be like this little boy.

"Make Up" Day

The girls were really excited to share something with me when they got in the van today after school. As soon as they got in their seat belt they said together: "mommy, mommy we get to wear make up to school on January 19th...even the boys have to wear makeup!" I said, what for; are you having a play or something? They said, " No Mrs Thompson said that we are having a Make up day on January 19th!! Finally I caught on and realized that they were talking about the snow day they have to "make up." So I had to break the bad news to them that they had to go to school on MLK day and they could not wear makeup. They were so bummed!

Back to School

The girls were lucky today they got to sleep in! Mallory was crying this morning saying she wanted to stay with mommy. That just breaks my heart and I just want to tell her "o.k. let's go cuddle." You would of been proud of me; I swallowed hard and told her that she would be missing out on so much if she didn't go. Plus, Toby Casteels was going to be a school today. Boy, they were excited. Kimbie, our plan is working. Toby will always be there to take care of them and take them to the prom. Time flew by today while the girls were at school. I had to order my books to start school and I can't believe that it took me an hour and half to do that. Nothing is easy anymore! Off to do more laundry...does it ever STOP!

A Prayer

Earlier in the week I talked about my anxieties about the girls going to school and I asked if anyone had a prayer or verse that would help get through tough times. I opened my bulletin at church today and there was a prayer waiting for me to read. The girls go back to school on Tuesday and all 3 of us are getting a little nervous about it. I do my best not to show any of my anxieties to the girl but when they start crying it is hard to keep those tears from falling. Here is the prayer:

Eternal God! Grant us gratitude enough to look backward and be thankful; courage enough to look forward and be hopeful; faith enough to look upward and be humble; kindness enough to look outward and be helpful.

DAY IN THE BIG CITY

Saturday we spent the whole day in Indianapolis. What a blast! We started out Ice skating. My camera was dead so I didn't get any picture. I was so upset. Anyway,the girls had been skating in P.E. and so they could skate a little. The hard part was for Eric and I trying to stay balanced while we helped them along. We got the hang of it but it would take a good 5 to 10 minutes to get around the circle. By the end, we basically dragged them and they kept their balance. All of our feet were very sore this morning but it was worth it. Having fun as family is the best. I pray that we will always be able to play as a family even when the girls have their own children. It's amazing how much closer we get when we do something together. Even if it just get our coats on and taking a walk. Speaking of walking, after skating we just walked around downtown. The girls love to walk and look at new things. We ended up in the mall and went to Champs to eat. After we got done eating we decided to see how long we could stay in buildings and get to our car. We parked at the Pan Am Garage so we made it all the way to the Omni hotel and had to cross the street to the garage. When we got in the Omni hotel the girls were just looking around in amazement. Madison said are they getting ready for a wedding. It was beautiful! When we crossed the street to the garage the girls decided they were not ready to leave to so we went into Union Station hotel and that was really neat. What a great memory we made!

MONTGOMERY COUNTY RECORDER--KATHY TRAUGHBER

We all surprised mom this morning when we showed up to watch her get sworn in. I believe it surprised her but it might of made her a little nervous at well. Congratulations Mom! Sorry I recorded the video sideways. I keep forgetting I can't turn my camera when I do video.

New Year Eve

We all went to Stephanie's last night for a Wii New Year Party. The adults really got into a beach volleyball game. It was so much fun. I would say we all acted like adults and wasn't too competitive. Of course mom and Tom won and they rubbed it into our face all night. I guess they have bragging rights since they are "a lot" older than us. We came home at 10 and watched College Road Trip. Mistake!!! As a lot of you know that I had a really hard time with my girls going to Kindergarten. I got myself sick and was a totally mess. Anyway, this movie is about a dad having a hard time letting his daughter go away to college. I found myself counting the years before my girls are going to leave me. I told Eric that Madison and Mallory are going to be the first girls to go to Wabash since the school was so close. He said, "NO THEY ARE NOT!" I guess that would be just as bad 2 girls and whole bunch a boys. So I found myself reading the Serenity Prayer again. If anyone else out there has another prayer or verse to help me in time of my anxiety I would really appreciate it. I just have a hard time letting my girls leave my sight.
Anyway, about 11:20 the girls got really tired and almost crying because they wanted to make it to midnight but they were so tired. So I kind a told a little lie and told them it was 5 minutes until 2009. Luckily, they didn't look at the clock and we had a count down and 2 minutes of celebration and they were in their bed fast asleep. I made it until 11:55 and fell asleep. Blaine called at 12:01 and Eric and I said Happy New Year and fell fast asleep.

Happy New Year

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