Julie, this one's for you!!

Julie, I wish we lived closer to each other! My baby girl needs a good dance teacher. She LOVES to dance and I think she has talent... not that I'm biased or anything...

SNOW

They usually play up the chance of snow, but last night they downplayed it, saying maybe a few flurries, no accumulation... I woke up at 5 this morning and looked out the window and saw..........SNOW!!! I ran and woke Troy and the boys and let them play in it. We let Shaoey sleep. She finally woke around 6:30 and decided she wanted to play too! Hope you enjoy our pictures. This is a once in a decade (or longer) snow for around here!

Revelation

Well, it hit me like a ton of bricks this weekend. We let my sister Charlotte stay at "her house" with sitters this weekend so we could have some family time. WOW!!! We went to  BLR and had an amazing time of just lying around on the sofa. We (including mom and dad) played video games!! We just layed low and as our princess, oops, I forgot she is now pink power ranger (PPR), says "just chilled out."

By the end of the weekend, I was in tears. Tears of happiness, joy, sorrow, and brokenness. The enormity of the weekend was overwhelming to say the least. The number of times I cried and apologized to my sweet husband. The release was bittersweet. I had no idea what I had been doing to my family by having my sister with us every weekend... I mean, she's my sister, how "bad" can that be, right? Pretty bad. Our marriage has been having some very rocking times. The kids were bickering. PPR wanted nothing to do with Charlotte, even going so far as to tell her to go home on numerous occasions. Even church was affected, because I had a shadow. Everytime I clapped, she clapped. If I raised my hands in praise and worship, so did she. When mine went down...yup, so did hers...

My husband has been so loving and sweet for the past year and a half since Charlotte has become my responsibility and has been staying here on weekends. He has never complained or grumbled, well almost never! LOL! He has done everything to ease my burden and has treated her as one of our children, taking her to Kart Ranch or the movies along with our children. I have been very blessed with an amazing husband.

Now it's my turn to become his wife again. So please pray for us as I decide how to move forward in transitioning Charlotte away from seeing us every weekend. It's time for us to become a real family again. I didn't know what I was missing...

Scratch wanting to live on a farm!

We woke to another dead cat... our new one from last week. We walked out to wave bye to daddy and he was laying dead on the driveway. I can't stand to deal with death of our animals anymore. I'm sure there's a lesson here, but right now I don't see it! WHY??? In the past 6 months we now have had 2 confirmed dead cats, 2 disappeared, 2 dead rabbits, and one dead fish (who we think was eaten by one of the missing cats). Add in the year before that, and we can add a grandmother, a great grandmother, and a great grandfather. I'm tired and weary from death.

Shaoey's 2nd Forever Family Day

2 years already!! I wrote about it on our adoption blog www.journeytoshaoey.com and uploaded some pictures, too!

Helping the economy...

I think I've done my share. Don't forget, each pile has 2 of everything!!

Princess Shaoey

I am noticing a trend in Shaoey's choice of outfits. What do you think?

Introducing yet another new pet... Mao Mao

We were in BLR on Thursday for the repairmen to go their punchlist (usually done earlier than this, but the hurricanes and power outages hindered that) and make a few repairs.

First, we got there and went inside. We were looking out the window and one of the boys saw a large bird in a tree in the yard. We went out to get a closer look and all of a sudden MANY large birds took to the sky from our yard. Here's a picture of what a small part the sky looked like. Multiply this times about 4.... it was CREEPY to see the buzzards circling overhead!!!


Then after the repairmen showed up, we saw a young cat in the yard. This is the picture the kids had me take to email Dad, begging him to let them keep it...


It must have worked, because here's the cat in our sunroom!



Now if I could just sweet talk my husband into chickens and goats and fruit trees and a vegetable garden.... Can you tell I'd really like to live on a farm?

The "Me Time" debate...

How many times have I felt like I NEED or HAVE to get away, and I do get away, only to come home to a mess (physical or emotional--see the last post "How soon we forget lessons..." for my most recent one)? Or how about when our children interrupt our quiet time with the Lord? I often let all that overshadow my "break" which I thought would refresh me and rejuvenate me. I'm left feeling sorry for myself, dissatisfied and wanting even more. Why is this? Because it is not what will truly refresh me!

The world tells us as wives and moms that we deserve time away. The world is of the opinion that being a wife and mom is a "job." God doesn't see it that way. He has called us into the ministry of being the keeper of the home, a help meet, a beacon of light for our children. If I am looking for fulfillment outside of God's roles for me, I will always come up empty.

Does this mean we are to be around them 24/7, never getting time of refreshment, being a martyr? No. I think it's all in the attitude and expectations. I believe if we stop seeing "our time" (which really isn't ours anyway, it's His) as something we are owed, but put God first, give Him our time and attend to our family lovingly and humbly and with a willing spirit; God will provide refreshment and refueling. It may be in a chance to visit with friends, or go shopping alone, or have actual one on one quiet time with our Lord. Or, just maybe, it will come amidst the chaos of a happy family, or in the quiet morning hours holding a little one that's awoken while it's still dark and needs her mama's arms around her.

I felt led to write on this based on an article in this month's The Old Schoolhouse magazine. The article was from the author's blog entry The "Me Time" Myth. It really struck a chord with me and apparently quite a few once you see all the comments. I really think God has been preparing me for this for a while. I've noticed I don't look for the times away as much. My sweet husband will offer me to go run errands but it just doesn't hold the same "temptation" for me that it once did. I really just want to be home with my family. Friends ask me how I can homeschool and be around them all day. I want to ask them, "how can you not?" They're such a joy and blessing! Their time with us is so short... God has chosen my husband and I to care for His children! What an honor!

How fast we forget lessons...

And I'm not talking about homeschool lessons.

My husband and I have a standing disagreement about every 4-5 months. Basically it boils down to he wants me to exercise so that we can be together for longer. Of course, I don't want to, exercise that is! I have never enjoyed it. I know intellectually that I need it. I know that it's good for me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I just don't like it.

I was talking to my dear spiritual friend and mentor this morning and she really spoke some hard truth into my life. She reminded me that God commands me to be in submission to my husband; not just in the things I want to be in submission to him for, but in all things. Yes, this includes exercise. When I am not in submission, I am in sin and this results in static in my relationship with God. Wow! I honestly never thought of that! To the best of my ability, I need to be in submission to him. Why have I not been submissive in this area? Well, that would be another sin. I was being rebellious, pure and simple. I wanted unconditional love from my husband, whether I exercised or not. I felt like I shouldn't have to exercise to get his "unconditional love." Guess what? I will never get unconditional love from another human! There is only one person who can fill that hole in my heart--GOD! I was asking my husband to do something he is not designed to do.

You'd think that haven gotten this lesson this morning that I would be on guard. Nope! This evening, I was out grocery shopping and got several calls from my husband. Apparently the princess was very tired and falling asleep. She would NOT let daddy brush her teeth, no way, now how! I come home and the saga was continuing. So, I go and get her off the sofa, brush her teeth, try to get her to potty, and try to put her to bed. No luck. By this time, she is wide awake, albeit GRUMPY! So of course, Mama is grumpy. In my mind (and I'm sure on my face), I am feeling and thinking not so nice thoughts. "Did we really have to brush her teeth tonight?" "Do we really wake a sleeping 3 year old?" "I could be sitting down with a book right now instead of cleaning up his messy situation again!" "It's easy for him to say wake her and brush her teeth. He won't have to deal with an angry princess!" (She won't let him, but that's another story.)

My other first thoughts were, "I'm going to email my ChattyGirls and see what THEY think! I'm sure they'll agree with me!" Then after a few minutes of thinking this, I felt a nudge in my heart. I wasn't being submissive to my husband. If he wants her teeth brushed, then it is my job to respectfully and joyfully brush her teeth. So instead of emailing my CGG (sorry, girls), I decided to share MY lesson from today with you. In what area is God calling you to be submissive to your husband? I pray that this lesson blesses you like I think it will.

Hmmm, maybe I didn't completely forget my lesson today afterall. Now it's time to go apologize to my husband....

"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord." Ephesians 5:22 NIV

More dresses!

Imagine 2 of each!!! :-) Can't wait!!! I had another one ordered from Boden, but I just noticed on the sent email that they only had one... May have to see if I can find one somewhere else...

The Princess' room 2

Here's some video of the royal room! Still pics didn't do much for it! I'm thinking of doing her name in white wooden letters over her bed.




Then she was being her usual cute self, so here's a taste of Little Missy's personality:

The Princess room

I've changed it again! The Nantucket Fog was too bright on the walls and not girly enough. So I repainted it Blue Orchid (still have the second coat to do). I really just want to have it finished for now. So I set out in search of bedding to match the walls and the chair. It's a long story, but the chair has to stay! So finding bedding has been quite a task. I don't want to spend too much at this stage. Later I can go for the decorator room.

There was one I liked at J.C. Penney, but they didn't have it in stock and we went to Target for something else and Princess saw these and fell in love with them... It's not my ideal ones, but I guess it'll do... I know, she's 3, what does she know? But they were inexpensive...

Ideas? Comments? They're a little busy and I don't have anything on the walls yet? I may order the one from Penney's and see how it looks...

Our newest pet

Thanks to Amy for reminding me that I hadn't posted about our newest addition. Troy found him stuck in a rut at the hunting lease and Mama got a phone call asking if they could bring home a new pet. So introducing...... Flash!

Just some interesting pictures!

Shaoey is fascinated with the floor vents in the mobile home. They are an endless source of entertainment for all of us.




And here's my princess looking wistfully out the window. The mosquitoes are SO bad, we can only go outside from about 1-4. She is such a magnet for them!



Can you find all 3 kids in this one?
One of the things I love about being here is how the boys use their creativity to entertain themselves! Here's one of the trees that Gustav took down. I'm having a hard time bringing myself to let Troy cut it up and move it even though it is RIGHT in our view of the river. The boys have turned it into a hideout.

Speaking of view of the river...here's one from the side of the kids' hideout and one from the top of the hill. Our goal is to have the slope smoothed out and build a pier and a place for chairs.
And lastly is just an oddball picture. Our refrigerator is very annoying. It tends to freeze things, too. We have it on a low/medium setting so the freezer will stay frozen, but if you put anything in the back of the fridge, it also freezes. Like this:


Oh and one more, 2 kids sweaty from running around in circles while we wait for dad to come home!

Fall into Reading 2008

Ran across this on my friend Amy's site who found it on Callapidder Days and I can't wait to start.

I LOVE reading, but it tends to be the first thing to go when time is short! It is so refreshing to lose myself in a book. I know I come away a better mommy for having taken a break.

I decided to check my shelves to see what I had to start reading, but after inspecting them it seems that everything is nonfiction, not that there is anything wrong with that, but a girl needs some fun stuff too. So I'm going to start my list with what I have and then go on a fun reading treasure hunt (suggestions welcome). I'll add some more as I come across them.

Non-fiction:
1. Silent Tears by Kay Bratt
2. Be Joyful by Warren W. Wiersbe
3. Charlotte Mason Study Guide by Penny Gardner
4. Home Education by Charlotte M. Mason
5. How Much is Enough by Jean Illsley Clarke
6. Being a Great Mom, Raising Great Kids by Sharon Jaynes
7. Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs
8. Becoming the Woman God Wants Me To Be: a 90 Day Guide to Living the Proverbs 31 Life by Donna Partow
9. Waiting For Morning by Karen Kingsbury

As you can see, none of this is exactly light reading. I am off in search of something to be read for enjoyment... HELP!

Objects in mirror are closer than they appear

I've been having trouble feeling like I was stuck in neutral. The day in, day out grind of kids, cooking, cleaning, clothes, and chaos. Kind of like the movie "Groundhog Day."

This morning's devotion from Daily Focus (Alpha Omega) hit the nail on the head. I am waiting for something BIG to happen in our life (literally) and I am not fully living here...in the miracle of the moment. I am here physically, but my mind and heart are elsewhere. This devotion reminded me to be present. I am a child of God, a wife, a mom, and a teacher and I wasn't giving any of those jobs my present attention. I know I'm onto a life lesson, because a friend called shortly after I read the devotion this morning and when she heard how frazzled I was she offered to pray for me. God directed her into the very core of my heart. She zeroed in on this issue of mine and prayed for me to be present, to not keep looking ahead to "the" day, but to live for now. She nailed it.

THEN, I get in the car and I have a picture of a little girl that we sponsor at PHF on my dashboard. As I went to back out, I saw the reflection of that picture in my driver side mirror. That has never happened before, nor could I make it happen again (I tried and I watched for it as I drove around town today-nope!). What word's did God use in the devotion to reach the writer? Yup, "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear."

THEN, as I was driving to BLR with our 3 kids, I started to have a pity party that went something like this "I'm always the one to tata everyone when things go wrong, when you lose something, or break something, or you get hurt. Well, who's there to tata me??? huh?" (sound familiar?) My brave 11 year old quietly pipes up, almost in a whisper, "God..." He goes on to ask if I've prayed about it. He said "just close your eyes and pray sincerely to God in your heart." OUCH! He was right. My time with God has been dry. I'm there reading my chapter of the old testament, a psalm, and a chapter of the new testament, day in, day out. But my actual time with Him is weak.

Things will not always be this way. We need to take each moment as it is...a miracle from God and live it to it's fullest.

So my quest is to nourish my time with God, I need to be present with Him as well.

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

My ebay finds

I had so much fun browsing ebay last night looking for girly dresses! I haven't really done much dress shopping before, but the Princess is liking dresses now. I thought I'd share some of my finds!
3 dresses (Old Navy, Gymboree, and Heartstrings) for $10 including s & h,

a Blueberi jumper and shirt for $9.99 including s & h,

and lastly, this adorable Frances Elizabeth jumper for $18.50, also including s & h!!!
I am so tickled over my finds! I can't wait to see my Princess in them!

Good Mom, Bad Mom, Good Mom

I received the most appropriately timed blog in my inbox this morning. It was from Proverbs31
(http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/)

Good Mom, Bad Mom, Good Mom
by Lysa TerKeurst

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

Good Mom?

Bad Mom?

Good Mom?

Bad Mom?

Do you ever feel as though you are the ping-pong ball in a heated match bouncing constantly between feeling like a good mom to a bad mom?

One minute I have a great discussion where my child finally gets it... GOOD MOM!

The next I get an e-mail from a teacher that lists the three parents who have yet to turn in that permission slip and I am on the list for all the world to see... BAD MOM!

I calmly handle the stresses of the morning routine... GOOD MOM!

But then during the afternoon homework session, my child's irresponsibility over a last minute project just about sends me over the edge. I find my neck muscles tensing and my voice rising... BAD MOM!

I make sure they pack something healthy for lunch... GOOD MOM!

The schedule falls apart in the late afternoon and I wind up feeding them sugar cereal for dinner... BAD MOM!

Sometimes I feel like that ping-pong ball mom bouncing from feeling good to bad. Yesterday morning I sat down at the kitchen table after getting everyone where they needed to be and cried. Sometimes having kids is the greatest thing that has ever happened in my life. Other days I feel like the task of parenting little people is driving me to the brink of craziness.

Just the other day I was processing some recent family things with my friend, Renee, over the phone. Suddenly a strange theme seemed to arise. I just started laughing. I told Renee that so many of my days seemed to tell the same kind of story... I was on the verge of a breakdown and then I spent time with Jesus and He made things better.

Renee quipped back to me, "Well, isn't that where most of us live every day?"

Not that we are on the edge of a breakdown, but we live in a place of utter dependence on God. I know as a mom, I live in constant need of His love, encouragement, wisdom, perspective, strength, patience, and grace.

Anything I do right as a mom is because of my constant dialogs with God.

Anything I do wrong as a mom is because of trying to do things in my own strength and slap wearing myself out.

That's where grace steps in. And I need lots of grace. God's grace steps in and says, “Lysa, you are doing better than you think. Stop bouncing from feeling good to bad to good to bad. In the good times, rejoice and thank me. In the not so good times, call out to me quickly."

And suddenly it occurred to me; with God I'm never a bad mom. I might be having a bad moment... or two... or seventeen. But a few bad moments do not define me as a bad mom.

God's grace is there to cover me. Teach me. And even in the middle of a bad moment, interrupt me, redirect me, and change me.

Forgiveness is there.

Love is there.

A second chance is there.

You are a good mom my friend even if, like me, you’ve had a few bad moments... you are the exact mom God knew your children needed. Let's live in that truth today.


Dear Lord, being a mom is a great privilege but one that can be so challenging at times. Teach me how to lean on You with every action and every reaction. And when I mess up, please help me to not define myself by my mommy failures. Help me to only be defined by Your love that assures me and Your grace that covers me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application Steps:
Find a verse today that could help redirect an angry or frustrated response with your kids. There are some good ones listed below in the power verses. Or you can search out one that specifically applies to your unique struggles. When you feel your temper about to flare, have this verse handy and quote it out loud. In that moment ask God to give you a wiser response than your natural feelings.

Reflections:
Do you ever struggle with being defined by your mistakes rather than by the truth of God? Spend some time in prayer today asking God to give you His loving perspective of how He sees you. Rest in his lavish love. If you need to ask for forgiveness for some of your actions, do this and then let these things go.

Power Verses:
Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (NIV)

James 1:5-6, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” (NIV- emphasis mine)

© 2008 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.

Two days ago, my oldest son and I butted heads. It rapidly spiralled downward. It was not pretty. Lots of screaming and crying, DS too... ;-) We both said things we regretted. We made up before bed and all was good, but there was still the guilt over it happening. I was the mom, how could I let it go there?

Compare that with today... We got up, opened all the sunroom windows, felt the gloriously cool morning, and had an EXTENDED time of bible reading. What started out at doing our 24 Family Ways, turned into almost an hour of time discussing obedience of people in the bible and what happened if they didn't obey and what about God's forgiveness and restoration? Which led to why did God have so many "laws" then and not now (answer--JESUS!!!). We finished our schoolwork before lunch and even had time to go sit by the playset in it's new spot while I read a couple of chapters from Alice in Wonderland (we're studying Lewis Carroll this 6 weeks!). Are you getting the picture here? Bad Mom, Good Mom?

I needed to hear the truth of this devotion today and so do you!

You are a good mom, my friend, even if, like me, you’ve had a few bad moments... you are the EXACT mom God knew your children needed. Think about that, let it sink in. Let's live in that truth today.

PRAISE GOD!!

Why did it take me 3 years to think of moving it here? It is an awesome spot!

Our new tree

A couple of weeks ago my wonderful husband and I went to a banquet for A Pregnancy Center and Clinic. It is a non-profit organization helping women and their families who are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy. (http://www.apccforlife.com/) They offer Christian counseling and prayer, doctor's visits, and free ultrasounds. They said they have a 98% success rate of a mother NOT aborting her BABY after seeing it on the ultrasound!

They had a silent auction and a live auction. We bid on a tree, yes, a tree. A 20' tree to be precise. We won and my sweetest of sweet husband whispered to me that we could plant it in honor of our daughters' birthmoms who chose NOT to abort them, but to give them LIFE!

Well, it was delivered today and planted! It looks a bit small next to the others, but it will one day match them. He said it would grow an inch in diameter each year.

Thought I'd share a few pictures:








Our house is behind the trees!

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:1-3

Growing up...

My "baby" turns 11 tomorrow!! Where did the time go? From the little 7 lb. 2 oz. precious little baby boy to an almost 90 pound young man that's almost as tall as I am...

He's now allowed to use the riding mower to cut the back field.



And he came out to me the other day and announced that he had shaved!!! I almost fell over in laughter (but I managed to keep it in)! He had shaved his above his top lip and only made one nick.

I also realized that not all of the bible is "suitable" for an almost 11 year old boy... I felt like such a "good" mama. We were driving to a field trip and my boys were reading the bible. Late Genesis to be exact. Did you realize the discussion that could potentially happen after reading about Lot and his daughters, or Moab and what does "violate" mean? All this while I was driving. WOW!

Getting back into the swing of things

Sorry, I've been slacking so much! I just seem to be having a difficult time getting back into life/routine since the storm(s).

I'm not sure why, we didn't have any real damage from either storm. Lots of branches, meter box at the other house got destroyed, downed trees in BLR; but really nothing major. I guess it was just the stress of the preparations and then the cleanup... just more on top of the regular daily stuff.

Then there's the added stress of dealing with my sister. Her day center is closed due to flooding. No word on when it will reopen. I had to make the decision to let her go back to her house during the week. She's alone during the day and the sitters still come at night. It was just taking it's toll on our family life. She isn't handling Shao well. Shao is 3 and VERY independent. She'll let you help, but you just need to know how to approach her. My sister does NOT have the capabilities to discern that. She just wants to jump in and get in her face. Then she wonders why Shao doesn't want anything to do with her. Shao actually told her to go home this week!! Charlotte takes it to mean that Shao doesn't love her; she can't seem to understand that 3 year olds learn your buttons very fast and push them!!

I probably won't post too much this week, because I'm having a friend's adoption baby shower here on Saturday and there's so much to do before then.

Hurricane Gustav

Vira

Here's a video collage I made of Vira at Philip Hayden Foundation. (We are one of her sponsors.)

BLR after the hurricane

All I could do is cry as I watched the video Troy shot in BLR last night. Here it is.


Remember our pretty opening that you could just peek into our house area? This is it now...

My dancing princess!

Julie, I thought you'd appreciate this one! How I wished we lived close, I would LOVE for you to teach my little girl! Oh, and that's Connor providing the musical number in the background.

Feeling blue...

like a blue room that is! Since we decided not to go to BLR this weekend, I decided to go ahead and paint Shao's room. I had bought the paint this past week to have on hand for when I had some "free time"--yeah, right!! LOL

I chose Nantucket Fog. The first picture is with the old and the new. The left is the old, right is new. The second picture is with stuff back in place. I haven't chosen bedding yet... So the drapes may change. Need to find something to tie the pink and blue together. Any suggestions?

I'm thinking of either using their Bai Jia Bei quilts (when I get around to making them) or buying then each a cream colored silk comforter or duvet when we go to China.

Hurricane Gustav

We are gearing up for Hurricane Gustav here. Lots of water, food, batteries, and gasoline. I think we are about as ready as we're going to be. Outside stuff picked up. Vehicles tanked up just in case. Not much left to do, but wait. It is expected to hit sometime Monday night/early Tuesday morning.

Grace playing

This video was taken just of the kids in general. Grace just happens to be in it. The person holding the video camera was being tackled by a little boy called Moses who really wanted some attention! They love seeing themselves on camera!

Grace in high chair

She's the second one from the right in the lavender shirt.

NPS Jr. Ranger program

I added this to my Georgia post, but thought it deserved it's own post as well.

We have found a cool way to explore the national state parks. It's the Jr. Ranger program.
If you haven't done them yet, it's pretty cool! You get a booklet (I think this one was a few dollars) and your child has to do so many of the activities. They range from easy search word puzzles to finding information in an exhibit or along a trail or watching a video. When they're done, they turn it in and get a certificate and a pin badge. Some even give a fabric patch. Connor has done 3 so far. He got one here at our local state park for doing the booklet during summer camp, but you can do them at anytime. He also did one in Albuquerque last year at the Petroglyphs. He loves Civil War stuff and got do earn another badge at the Kennesaw State Park in GA. They had a demonstration and video. I think it's a great way to learn about different areas and events, plus they're neat side trips on vacation! And since most are outside, they're a great place to burn off some energy.

They also have Web Rangers. Where they can earn badges by completing activities online.

Check out http://www.nps.gov/learn/ to learn more about them.

Our first night in the mobile home

We finally got to spend our first night in the new mobile home!!! We are getting it stocked. Mattresses on the floor. No sofa. We do have counter stools that I painted the night before, so atleast we have somewhere to sit to eat. It rained most of the time we were there. So the kids got to watch Brady Bunch and Mary Poppins. Then the boys got to do one of their favorite things--play in the mud while sister watched from the door. I'm sure she was dying to get out there, too! She got daddy to take her for a long walk (on his shoulders) and had lots of his time and attention to read books and snuggle. Just what we wanted this house for, family time!

Our princess' 3rd birthday

Her birthday was during the week, so we kept it low key. We gave her a dollhouse and she's having lots of fun with it. Here's a picture of her in her favorite outfit playing with it.




On the weekend, we had her grandparents over for pizza and cake. She chose to dress up as a princess. It's the first time she's wanted to play dress up!