Park Day!

My friend Kristen and I decided to take our kids to the park today since the weather is supposed to turn bad again tomorrow. We went to Pitts Park in Clarkesville which is worth the drive because it is so much nicer and there is not a creek for Nolan and Noah to jump in to. We were both hoping to relax while the kids played, but those boys had us chasing them away from mud holes the entire time. We had a lot of fun. We also had a surprise guest! Papa Ralph was sitting at the park on his lunch break, when he said he saw blond curls flying through the air and came over to see if it was Lily. When Nolan saw Papa he went running to him. He had to show off for Papa and get on some of the equipment he was too scared to be on 5 minutes earlier. It was really cute. They really love the dolphin swings. We had a good day and now they are all napping. I think I'll try to sneak one in, too.

The Circus Came to Town!

Last night I took the girls to the circus while the boys stayed home and rested. About the best thing we get in our tiny town is a one-ring circus in the National Guard Armory with giant pigs instead of elephants, but I am so thankful for it. The girls had a blast. Emily was the loudest clapper there. She loves the performers and Lily loves the animals. Lily had Cotton Candy for the first time ever. She had such a sugar rush that she wiggled right off her seat and smacked her face on the concrete under the bleachers. She cried for about 10 seconds out of shock and then the ten-year-old juggler lit his pins on fire and she forgot about the pain.

The weather is great here and we are having a lot of fun outside. The little ones stepped in a big mess if fire ants yesterday. While Lily was screaming and I was trying to slap them off of her, of course Nolan walked right over to the anthill and stood on it. After a good foot soak in the sink and some coconut oil, there feet look bad but feel fine. I think I'm going to write a book called 101 Uses For Coconut Oil. My friends call it "DeeAnn's Cure-All for Everything" . Well, it is.

Cute girls

They are so cute in their little aprons! There was only one size to choose from so Lily's will have to cover her whole body. That's probably a good thing. They are such good helpers.

Paul and I went to see the movie Music and Lyrics this weekend. It was really good. Several cute, funny, romantic scenes in the movie. The only thing is that I leaned over to Paul and said, "They made Hugh Grant look pretty old in this movie." Paul said that's because he's getting old. That just made me feel old, too. But not too old. Power of positive thinking.

I just wrote my epiphany for the day in a comment on Christy's blog so if you want to see it you have to go there. I only get one great thought a day and I spent it on her. That is, considering she and all of you want my advice and wisdom. I am a first born, of course you want my knowledge. Maybe I'll get some good pictures later today.

Oh, Tonya>>> Lily asked if Lyra can live at our house when ya'll move. I told her that you worked too hard to get her to give her up. She still asked three more times anyway.

How to Donate Hair

Ok. To answer some questions, I had Emily's hair cut at Renae Fowler's Salon. It's on the corner of Rose Lane and 145. She does a really great job. I don't trust anyone else with my hair, but unfortunately I haven't had time to get my hair done, so I've been having to do it myself. So, to donate your hair, you have to go to the Locks of Love website and print out a form and read all the rules about it. You have to keep it in a plastic bag and stuff and it can't be bleached or anything. Thanks for all the compliments! She really loves her hair now. It only took about 2 years to grow it from chin-length to how long it was. She said she's going to grow it out again to donate it over and over. She's a hair donor. Time to start school!

Emily's Hair Cut

The hair got chopped off today! We had 12 inches cut off and it will be donated to Locks of Love. Emily is excited that she can bless another child with a wig made from her hair. Her new haircut is so cute!

Play Day!

The weather is great! Some friends came over to play. Adam is so good with the smaller kids.

Close Call

I was so scared today when I looked at my blog and saw that there were actually comments to yesterday's post. I thought I would be cyber-persecuted for forcing my baby to eat or a social worker would be at my door because somebody assumed that we were too hard on him. Luckily all of the comments were from my friends and dear sister-in-law and they were all encouraging. (Good thing I didn't go into detail about the food battles.) We have gone through the food battles with all the others, but not at this young.

I keep thinking about the other night we were out with some people we know in Atlanta. When the wife asked how in the world I have any patientce at all to homeschool, I matter-of-factly said "We start each day off with prayer". They both laughed like I was making a joke or something. I still don't think they realized I was serious. It really seems to shock people when they find out that I homeschool. Oh well. It's not like it's going to change my mind.

This is an old picture, but it's one of my favorites.

Victory!

Nolan has been on a hunger strike for weeks. Well, not really a hunger strike if you don't count Goldfish crackers, yogurt and cupcakes. Last night we decided that his pickyness needs to end and we had a pretty big struggle with him and some spaghetti. I don't think any food actually made it all the way down, but apparently we got our point across. We won't give in and just hand over the crackers. Well, today for lunch I was passing out the peanutbutter and jellies and just put one on his tray like everybody else. He smooshed it around a little and didn't show any interest in actually eating it. I took a piece and held it up to his mouth (which he had clamped shut) for about 10 seconds and he opened up and took a taste. He decided he can eat it now. These kids are so sweet but each one is more stubborn than the last.

Valentine Cupcakes

We had a great time making cupcakes and Nolan loved being our taste tester. His cupcake was gone in record time. He is our Sweetheart. We are going to take some to daddy at his shop now.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Nolan got attacked by an Oreo Cookie. (Actually, it was a Newman's Own Organic Cookie, of course.)

Thankful

Today I am so thankful for Grandparents. Among the many wonderful things they all do and how much they all adore my children, I am thankful that one set of grandparents sent the Valentines a week early. We had just run out of the chocolate rewards for Lily's potty training when a huge box arrived in the mail. It was full of chocolate! There would have been a major rebellion if there were no chocolate at the end of Lily's victory. It got here just in the nick of time. The other cute thing is that since our mail man goes to our church and he really knows us, he always brings the packages to the door and says hi to all of us. Lily thinks that he goes all the way to TX and picks up the packages from the grandparents and brings them to us. Isn't he sweet?

FYI

Just in case you don't know already, if you click on the pictures, you can view them full size. That's a good reason for me not to post any pic that I'm in the shot (i.e: CB on the snow day).

Baby in a Basket

Train Ride

It's Okay To Be My Age

For everyone who's been irritated with my pitty-party about turning 30, I would like you to know that I'm over it! Just in time, too 'cause today's the day! Someone told me recently that 30 is the new 20. That's easy for her because she's only like 24. I got to spend the first two hours of my birthday alone with my Creator this morning. It was a great way to kick off a new decade of my life. The Lover of My Soul has been helping me to rid myself of a lot of resentment I've been holding on to forever, and it is so refreshing. I feel like I can breathe! This is time for a new start even though I didn't know I really needed one. Happy Birthday to me! It's great to be here.

Silly Lily

My Sunday Mornin' Banana Pancake Helper

Emily's Basketball Game

Lily and her friend saying, "CHEEEESE!"

Emily Loves basketball now. A few weeks ago, she wanted to give up on it, but she stuck in there and now she wants to wake up when daddy wakes up to practice. She played the entire game today adn her team won 14-6. She loves to run fast.

More Snow

Nolan loved the snow for about 5 minutes. He was getting frustrated that he kept falling down and as soon as he would get up, down he would go again. He cried when he got too cold, but when I took him inside he cried even more! It's so cute watching them experience new things!

Well, we broke down and opened my birthday presents last night 6 days early. Mostly because I didn't want to be asked 20 times for the next 5 days if I wanted a clue as to what they were. The girls were so excited and thoughtful. They got me some beautiful serving dishes and birthstone earrings and a chop wizzard. Paul said I'm pretty lucky he stopped them from getting me what they wanted to get me. Something about a crystal rooster statue. In case you are dying to know, the pajamas from Tractor Supply are my new favorite pj's. They are soft baby blue cotton with pretty snowflakes. I think I need to go check this place out.

It's Snowing!

It's not even all the way daylight yet and the girls are out in it having a ball! All of my neighbors were probably looking forward to the snow day as a chance to sleep in, but my girls are in it causing a ruckus. This is Lily and Nolan's first snow! He is still playing in his crib and the girls are outside so my house is strangely quiet. I will post more pictures later today of Nolan in the snow. It's raining on top of it so I don't expect it to last long. Tomorrow it is supposed to be in the 50's. This is Texas weather!