happy halloween!

Trader Joe's Part 2

OK, my very favorite thing to buy at Trader Joe's is a simple thing....but I'm hooked. It's their organic reduced sugar strawberry preserves.....it's AWESOME. There are rivals out there at your local grocery store, but this one is a bargain.

So add that to your list next time you're heading to TJs, or if you are my cousin Nancy and are interested in any of these things, make sure my dad brings it home with him next time he visits OR you can add it to your shopping agenda when YOU come to see me. I can't wait, by the way!!

soccer

We're at soccer practice this afternoon and after some dribbling practice & goal shooting practice, the girls ran all the way to the other side of the field to kick balls against the wall. My girl comes running back & says "I don't have a ball"... so, we point her way across the other direction of the field to a cart with several soccer balls in there & I believe there were one or two on the ground nearby. And we noticed a man that we thought we knew standing near the cart....we thought he could surely help her. Well, he doesn't know her & she doesn't know him & there was no eye contact so the moms are watching from afar with other, smaller, non-soccer playing siblings and we're all wondering how this will turn out. First of all, she doesn't notce the ball on the ground. She only spots the many balls in the cart. She realizes that she can't easily get to the balls all by herself so she glances at this man, who just doesn't see her...she had gotten into some trouble at home for interrupting me countless times while on a phone call just this afternoon, so I knew she wouldn't dare try to get his attention. She starts her climb into the ball cart. I realize she might need a hand, though I really am curious to see if she can work this out on her own. I start over that way, snap a picture real quick, and lo and behold, she gets that ball out of there all on her own. I'm so glad I took this picture.


Proud momma of a problem solver.

trader joe's take 1

OK, I love Trader Joe's. I cannot think of one thing that I do not love about Trader Joe's. And I've considered posting something like this for a while, because I think TJ recommendations are delightful! There are so many things that catch my eye & I cannot buy them all, so it's nice to rely on the experience of others.....so, on that note, I would like to feature my latest favorite item from TJs.

I bought these Arancini Bites yesterday on a complete starvation shopping experience. I popped a couple of these babies in the oven while the kids were napping just to see how they were ... & my goodness gracious. They were awesome.

"Fontina-filled rice ball – ah, Arancini [ahron-chee-nee]. Yum. Trader Joe’s Arancini are crafted from the finest, natural ingredients and then frozen for your convenience. Ready to enjoy after a mere 10 minutes in the oven, they’re great with a side of marinara for dipping or drizzling. They make a delicious snack, a hearty appetizer or pair them with a green salad and you have a memorable meal"

Not the cheapest things, but still very yummy.

I have a LOT of favorites....so stay tuned.

bulldogs

I will never be one to claim that I know so much about the details of how to play football, but my 41/2 years at Mississippi State sure did burn a love for the game (actually it's mostly only when State is playing but nonetheless) into my heart. And Saturday was a fun game to watch. There was lots of chatter surrounding the upcoming game, not because State was supposed to give the Gators a real run for their money - i think FL was favored by like 22 points or something. No, it was because our coach is the former offensive coach for Florida & good friends with Tim Tebow.
And we didn't pull out a win (though a bad call by the officiating crew may have changed this game dramatically), but we sure gave them our best & I couldn't be more proud ... and it was this play that sent me into that weird laughter that comes when something so unbelieveably awesome happens you think you might actually cry.....not you? Well, I'm emotional.....I cried. Check it out if you didn't get to see it for yourselves.

just me & my boy

Big sister wanted to try her hand at the camera & i would say she did a pretty good job. They both wanted a turn & this is her shot....

and this was his shot.....

a boy & a frog part 2 or 3?

Well, if you've kept up with our incredibly exciting lives here, you would know that my boy has a true affection for the frogs. We ventured out to the gardens today to meet some friends & check out the scarecrow exhibit, which is so fun as a side note. And this was my boys reaction to seeing his pal waiting on that same bench for his return. I pray they never move him.

how sweet is that???

spunky girl

We spent this past weekend at the beach with some friends. Lee's best friends from high school actually. I don't think i have ever been around all 4 of them at the same time & i must say it's not difficult to imagine being in middle school with them. Friendships like that are fun. We had a blast as you can probably tell from the little jig she appears to be dancing on the beach.
It has been interesting to watch their personalities develop (my children, that is). And there are parts of who they are that I see more clearly simply because of the presence of the other 2. Each brings to light something from the others that I may not have gotten to see without the others. I have heard that said about married couples......there's another part of your spouse that you "meet" & get to know when children are brought into the fold. I would say that's very true. I know & love Lee differently & deeper because of the parts of who he is coming out with the birth of & growing up of each child. And each child reflects back something unique. We each have a relationship with each child that is unique. Anyway, that big girl....she's spunky. And she's quick. Her thinking amazes me & scares me. She easily can be several steps ahead of me. She deeply desires to please....that makes me nervous. I don't ever want her growing up believing that our love, or more importantly, that the love of God is conditional....and it's so hard to communicate that when there are certainly consequences for things like knocking her brother to the ground. She apparently doesn't have the desire to "please" her brother :).
There's one thing for sure - I am being refined in this process of motherhood. Patience, understanding......everyday those are my biggest prayers. And am able to remind myself as I remind my kids daily- we have a God who longs for us to call for help. We will never ever get it right......so thank goodness for Jesus.

cute, right?

favorite part of the picture.....that ear caught under her hat. my little elfin child.

really?

How did I get here already? He's 2.

just....

I have found myself in a place where I don't know how to blog what's going on in my heart.....I want to say things, but am unsure as to how. I heard someone say once to beware when you learn you have just one person reading you will find yourself compromising your words to "entertain" that one. I am not sure if that's totally it.....maybe it is....either way, until I figure out my words I'll just "entertain" you with pictures........and boring little stories to go along with them.....like, for instance, please would you check out her little buns on her head! I am learning to braid, twist, bobby pin & hairspray (a product I am a bit unfamiliar with but now my 4 year old uses it)...all of this for a ballet class. But she loves it. And her teacher is precious! She helps these children dance as a form a praise....dancing for an "audience of ONE".....it's a theme for us right now....a tough theme for each of us in this sweet family.
Being present to see her learn in her little world how simple it can be to LOVE the LORD in everything you do..... practice for her growing heart as her allegience is challenged. I find myself challenged & having to sift through all the allegiences I have allowed to creep in through the many years of my life. And I find myself longing for the innocence of childhood. To dance.......for an audience of ONE.

that girl

I mean, seriously, what do you do about something as cute as that? I know, my brother in law told me that I would never know if my children weren't cute - that blind eye thing....but I'm pretty sure I'm not blind on this one. She looks exactly likeher daddy. And she's absolutely adorable.

Just like he is - just in case you're reading this, Lee. She is just as adorable as you are.

**edited - She is ALMOST as adorable as you are**

favorite moment of the day

Sister: "B, do you want to look in the mirror to see how cute you are?"
Brother: "I DO! I DO! I DO! I DO!"
vanity at it's worst. and at it's cutest.

total joy

man. that girl. she just bubbles over with joy. and it's the little stuff. gatorade. that water bottle she's holding....anything, basically, can send her into a fit of silly giggles. and she's really really funny! anyway, this is just a picture from the weekend.

more from bed time

bed time

We were playing in the big kids' room tonight before bed & I caught a few cute pics of the baby. I have more of all of them but need to get to bed. So just enjoy these for now - more to come later.

That crawl......I know it'll be gone soon. So glad to have it captured on film.....they're so cute at this age.

sweet dreams

So, Lee was out of town for work & our basement was flooded & I spent every 90 seconds of the day emptying the shopvac, repositioning, running upstairs, making sure the kids were ok, repeat...like I said, every 90 seconds. It was good times.
And maybe it was because Lee was out of town, maybe it was because I didn't want to ride out another thunderstorm all by myself. but for whatever reason, at about 1030 as I am about to head to bed I decided to let the boy sleep with me. He wasn't crying for me. He wasn't even awake. But it seemed like a good idea. Sore all over, exhausted - hey, let's put a toddler in the bed.
I keep running it over in my mind & never does it make much sense.
Anyhoo, I do it. I pick him up out of his snuggly crib & put him in my bed. He sits up, tells me he wants to watch a video , I talk him into just lying down & going to sleep. He wakes up while I'm reading and tells me he wants to go back to his bed.
"settle in sweetheart, you're fine. night night"
Sweet - my baby boy sleeping so soundly right next to me. You can't buy this kind of happiness.
And the toes in my face all night - precious. And the falling out the bed 3 times - endearing.
The kicking me in the stomach - do you get the picture?
It was miserable.
I'm exhausted.
Lesson learned.
I'm grateful he likes to sleep in his bed.....because he's staying there.

that boy

I am crazy about this kid. I adore his laugh, and the way he whispers to me his very important thoughts, the way he shakes his head when he tells a story, how he likes to give God a play-by-play of the days happenings at bed time, I love those teeth, I even love the big triangle that was knocked out the day he bit the concrete, I love that he wears that hat almost everywhere he goes just because his daddy has one just like it. This is the best & the worst of all ages, in my opinion. It is the battle of the wills........he's 2 & he knows it. But as he lay on the floor in the kitchen last night getting tickled by the tickle monster & just stared at him & thought my heart might burst. I am so crazy stinking in love with that boy. And it's a love that I can barely explain....which makes me wonder......how much does God love us? It must completely consume Him - because I can't imagine loving these children any more than I do.....and I know that He loves them even more!
And then I wonder.....do I love His children well - all of them or just the ones that are easy to love, knowing just that fraction of the love He feels for them?

my bug

She's ONE! I can hardly believe it! I may have actually said at some point on here recently these exact same words - because today is not officially her birthday - it was just officially her birthday party. And I have always thought that it's not really official unless you've had a cupcake to seal the deal. Am I right?

Could you just eat her up???

(Kelly M - do you recognize that highchair?)

dogfood

Please answer me this.

Why is it that a child will grimace & refuse a bite of perfectly prepared baked chicken and mashed potatoes & then proceed to put a wad of whatever they found on the floor in their mouth? I mean, for serious. I have, honest to goodness, found myself pushing a cookie into my kid's face saying, "It's a cookie! It's sugar & chocolate & butter! You'll love it!" To no avail. I throw my hands up not understanding this line of thinking when just moments later I find myself finger swiping a kids mouth to get the SEVERAL pieces of DOG FOOD out!

What?!

I do not understand.

And then the other day it is POURING buckets outside & we walk to the car with an umbrella, you know, to keep us from getting all the rain on us. And my son, God bless him, will not get under the umbrella & still insists on screaming "It's raining on my head! Mom! I am getting wet!"

"Well, yeah you are buddy, get. under. the. umbrella."

"No"

What is that?

And why is it that it so clearly seems crazy to me watching my kids do things that seem to make zero sense to the normal funtioning human being......and yet it is what I do on an almost daily basis?

You see, God loves me. It's written all throughout the Bible. Now, some people don't read it that way - but that's because that we humans can often times read those words expecting that God has failed us somehow. That all the trouble that seemed to go wrong in Biblical times & the things that seem to go wrong today are God's wrong doing. And I think the foundation of the problem is this lie that we know better than God. Can't you look back on times in your life where you said "no" to the thing that was clearly right in the eyes of those around you?

And I heard it said so clearly the other day to me that 'you cannot keep judging the justice of God with the injustice of man'.....and isn't that true? We curse poverty & suffering & yet so many of us (yes, that would mean me included) are doing very very little to help those problems.

And back to my point....God loves me. And He has good, even great, things for me. For us. All within His plan. And we say no to the baked chicken or filet whatever, and foolishly choose the dogfood. We stubbornly say, "no thank you" to the umbrella graciously waiting to cover our heads from the downpour....and choose to be rained on. And then we blame God that we got wet - simply because we chose to stand in the rain.