Lovely Little Blessings

Medicine

2011-06-14T21:05:00.000-07:00

Tonight as we rocked and tucked the girls in Madison said she needed medicine to make her legs stop hurting. We told her sleep would probably make them feel better.
After Madison said her prayers, rocked with Mommy (a special time we hope is not soon outgrown) and snuggled into bed, Daddy began rocking Kennedy and Mommy started to leave the room.
Madison called out softly, 'Snuggle, Mommy?'
I turned right around and curled up next to Madison.
She nestled into me and said, 'Mommy, my legs feel better. You are the medicine I needed to make my legs stop hurting'
I melted- right there into her bed.
Moments like that make all the daily madness of two strong willed little girls disappear.

Summer Cuts and Shopping Lists

2011-06-02T22:03:00.000-07:00

Kennedy's hair was getting a little scraggly. Yes, she was finally getting some length, but the top is still so short we were back to little girl mullet.

Yesterday, Mommy took her to get a new summer cut after school.

Miss Wendy gave Kennedy a cute little bob and trimmed up her bangs.

Now we just need to grow the rest of the top out a little so it's not always in her eyes. Hopefully she will leave clips and headbands in her hair in the meantime.

After our haircuts we met Daddy down at Costco. Mommy had a list, so the girls wanted them, too.

Oh, did I mention I gave Madison a summer trim, too? Her slightly wavy hair is much more forgiving than Kennedy's board straight locks.

Mommy's two little Mini-mes.

Summer bobs and grocery lists.

Love it.

Not so

2011-05-26T16:52:00.000-07:00

The girls are at school today. I'm at home.
It's my 'mommy day'.
Summer is fast approaching. Time to finally move more shorts into the drawers than pants.
As I sat in the girls room a few minutes ago going through Madison's clothes it hit me.
My little girl.
My first born.
The reason I became a Mommy.
She's not so little anymore.
Nearly all her size 4s are too small.
Some of the size 5s, too. Where did my little girl go?
As I pack away all Kennedy's size 2s, and even some size 3s...where did my baby go?
It's very likely the last time Kennedy wore those clothes will be the last time they are worn in this house. by one of our children. My heart breaks.
I can't seem to stop the tears. Where did my babies go?
Where has the time gone?
How did this happen so fast?
I want my babies back.

Love

2011-05-19T18:57:00.000-07:00

Sitting at the dinner table tonight Madison says...

"Mommy, I love everyone in the whole world, even Tristan when he's not listening to Miss Elizabeth."

Matthew almost spit out his bite. Out of nowhere, Madison refers to the, eh hem, the not so nice boy in class.

Then she asked for a piece of chalk to write her favorite words on the chalkboard.
She sounded them out and wrote them ALL my herself!

BOX
FOX
MOMMY

When did our girl get so grown up?!

Thanks, Uncle Dan

2011-05-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

For teaching this sweet girl

This silly thing

ah- loser

Easter

2011-05-01T22:50:00.000-07:00

Here are a few Easter pics to tickle your taste buds until I have time to post all the details.

Kennedy- after throwing a royal fit because she didn't want to take pictures.

Mommy and the girls being as nice as possible.

And the truth comes out- sillies.

Mmmm...Easter cupcakes!

Daddy looking bored- Girls being girls.

Kisses for Daddy!

Tickles for the girls.

Pretending to be sweet- with a big owie on her lower lip.

There's the wild child we know!

These two are my faves. Personality totally comes out!

The wild woman and the 'Monster'

Happy Easter!

Two Little Ladybugs

2011-05-01T22:35:00.000-07:00

My new favorite photo of my littlest ladybug!

Thanks to Spring our yard is FULL of ladybugs to play with. Both girls play with them, but Kennedy has a special love for her tiny red and black friends!

This one crawled off her finger, onto her arm, up to her collar and onto her cheek!

Ladybug Kisses!

Friday

2011-04-28T20:55:00.000-07:00

Madison's teacher sent me a text message this evening- a perk of working at the school!

Miss Elizabeth: I forgot to tell you. Today Madison told me tomorrow is Friday. That's the day the Prince gets married to the Princess. I'm assuming she's talking about the Royal Wedding?

Mommy: Oh yes. She's been so excited about a princess wedding since I first told her. She will not be staying up to watch. I'll show her pictures.

Miss Elizabeth: Only your daughter. You two are funny.
***

My mom and I used to stay up to watch the Miss America pageant every year. The way I see it- this is the Miss America pageant of the CENTURY! If I wasn't running a 101 degree fever, coughing, sneezing, achy all over, I might go get her out of bed and camp out on the sofa for the next 5 hours!
Here's to William and Kate and a little girl dreaming of a Princess Wedding!

Reason #752 why it's fun to be a Daddy

2011-03-27T22:28:00.000-07:00

At the dinner table tonight:
"Hey, Madison- I bet you can't lick your elbow"

Who is sillier- Daddy? or Madison?
*disclaimer: the girls had to ditch dress up to eat- so they ate sans shirts tonight*

On the way home from school

2011-03-16T21:13:00.000-07:00

Today was a great one.

Madison: 'Mommy, Why don't angels fly in a straight line so we can follow them?'

Mommy:, 'Well, Angels fly all over the place. Some fly in a straight line, but they are invisible so we can't see them.'

Madison: 'I can see them with my ears'

Mommy: 'How can you see them with your ears?'

Madison: 'I have eyes in my ears but they are invisible'

Mommy: 'Ahh...How do you see with the eyes in your ears?'

Madison: 'Like this' (opening eyes super wide and stretching face extra long) 'See, Mommy?'

Oh, it's all so much clearer to me now. Eyes in her ears. Got it.

My Baby

2011-03-15T22:56:00.000-07:00

Kennedy: 'Mommy, will you hold me like a baby?'

Mommy: scooping Kennedy up and cradling her, 'Sure-I miss my little baby'

Kennedy: 'Can you put me in you tummy lika baby?'

Mommy: 'No, but I will keep holding you like a baby as long as you will let me'

Kennedy: 'OK, Mommy- I luz you'

Glad she didn't put up much fight on that one. I miss my sweet baby girls- but not enough to put them back! And I will keep cradling them- as long as they will let me.

Clarity

2011-03-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

I found a new blog this weekend.
She hosts something called embrace the camera on the 10th of each month encouraging mama's to get IN the photo instead of behind the lens.
Upon reviewing a bit of her blog I found something.
The perfect explaination of how I often feel on this little blog.
From now on, I will be blogging moments, not events.
Read here to understand....sounds just like me, huh? The posting part, anyway.
(But don't worry, Aunt Darlene- I'm still going back to post those Halloween pics you never got to see!)

Disappointed

2011-03-09T16:51:00.000-08:00

Madison: 'Mommy, my teach me how to read (aka Leapfrog Tag Reader) said I earned another reward. Can I Pu-LEASE have my reward now'

Mommy: 'Sure- let's go get the cord and plug it in, but it's not what you think. You are going to be disappointed.'

Kennedy: 'I want to be disappointed, TOOOoooo'.

Ah- What one wants, the other wants. Even when it is ridiculous.

October 4, 2010-In Training?

2011-02-18T23:04:00.000-08:00

October 4th, our friends Gargi and baby Maya came over to help cook and set up for Monday Night Football. Kennedy immediately fell into the 'Big Sister' roll.
As the mommies prepared dinner, Kennedy helped Maya with her snack.

She thought it was great fun to feed Maya- and Miss Maya played along.

The girls also put their new 'baby sister' in their play stroller and pushed her around the living room. We weren't concerned for Maya's safety, as Kennedy sits in the stroller all the time- so we knew it was plenty strong enough for Maya.

Look at the joy on Madison's face.

They talked for weeks about having a new baby sister after Maya's play date.
I wonder if they would love a permanent sibling as much as they do one that goes home at bedtime.

2011-02-18T22:50:00.000-08:00

Last fall I took this photo of Madison.

Just like her mama used to do-Madison made individual beds for each of her animals.
Like mother-like daughter

Apple Picking-October 1, 2010

2011-02-18T22:35:00.000-08:00

Back in October, Madison had a field trip to Tehachapi to go apple picking.
Parents were encouraged to go and siblings were welcome so we made it a day.
Kennedy wore Mommy's old name belt.

When we arrived at the apple orchard, the kids had a small instructional lesson from the orchard owner. Because it was near the end of the season, he said any trees were free for the picking- and sampling was encouraged.
We had our choice of red delicious and golden delicious- typically not our favorites- but we went to town picking anyway.

Madison had some help from the director's 13 year old son- Mr Dominick. He was one of our helpers during vacation bible school and the girls just love him.

It didn't take long for her learn the twist and pull method.

Kennedy had a little help from Miss Jayne.

She had a bit tougher time pulling her apples off the tree.

After her lessons from Miss Jayne, Kennedy moved onto the golden apples

she managed 'all by herself'- (see Miss Jayne holding the branch a little lower for her?)

she was so proud

when all the bags were full, the girls stopped to let me take a quick photo

then we grouped all the classes together.
Madison settled under a tree with some of her friends- they are so cute all lined up together.

Madison's teacher managed to snap a photo of Mommy with the girls before we walked over to our picnic lunch site down the street.

After picking more apples than any small village could possibly consume- we walked down the dirt road to another small orchard. They had a nice outdoor picnic area and plenty of running room for all the kids.
The girls woofed down their lunches and took off playing with their friends.
Kennedy stood at this fence post and watched the kids run in circles past her.

She stepped up, then down, up then down- what felt like a hundred times.

Doesn't she look so grown up?

Madison loved running across the field with her classmates.

After a few minutes of free time, the orchard owners fired up their old circus calliope.

It was beautiful and perfectly maintained

It reminded me of Main Street at Walt Disney World as a child.

After marching to the music, the kids were back to running-Kennedy looked so sassy

So much energy- so much fun

and determination-that's Madison's friend Maddison reaching for her

When the kids were thoroughly worn out, it was time to head back to school

but not before an impromptu game of ring around the rosy while we waited in line at the potty

ashes, ashes we all

fall down

Miss Jayne stayed with Kennedy and her little friends while Mommy took Madison potty.
When we returned, Kennedy was rocking and sharing her teddy grahams with some new friends.

On the walk back to our car, the girls posed for a few photos

Kennedy was less than thrilled about her sisters 'love hold' on her neck

It was such a gorgeous day picking apples. We loaded into the car just as the storm clouds rolled in, and drove home in the drizzle.

We're hoping we are still here next fall so we can catch the season a little earlier.

Possession

2011-02-18T21:11:00.000-08:00

Madison: 'Daddy, Kennedy gave me her cold today'

Matthew: 'I think she gave ME her cold, too'

Kennedy: (with furrowed brow and raised voice) 'No-MY cold'

Usually the girls argue over toys. Now Kennedy wants to argue over croup. What a day.
Oh, and it appears the girls are officially Polish.
Last night there were very few coughs coming from their room. A few barks from Kennedy, a few barks from Madison (unfortunately). Today, however, the coughs were much worse than last night- as was Kennedy's runny nose.
It appears our Polish girls didn't get the memo-croup is supposed to be worse at night-not during the day.
Thus far tonight-coughs seem to be increasing. Seems tonight may be a rough one.
Matthew is already in bed, too. He's keeps asking if adults can get croup.

Thursday

2011-02-17T15:42:00.000-08:00

It's 46 degrees outside, and it's Thursday.
My girls have been asleep just over 2 hours. Not breaking news on a normal day.
2 hour naps are pretty standard.
Today, this is huge.
Kennedy woke up yesterday afternoon feeling warm. Really warm.
I took her temperature and learned she had a fever of 104.3!
After dosing her with children's tylenol cold (the thick snot has been pouring out all day), getting her a tall glass of cold apple juice, and getting her shirt and snuggle blanket off- I realized she had the shakes. It took a bit of convincing, but she agreed to a bath-only in Mommy and Daddy's giant tub. done. As I put her in the tub, I noticed her lips turning blue and her fingertips looking Smurfy.
She settled into the luke warm tub and started 'swimming'.
Shortly there after, Madison woke up in tears. She sat on my lap and said, 'Mommy, growing up makes me so sad'. Because Little Kennedy woke up fevered, and sickness is on the brain, I thought she said THROWING up makes me so sad. She clarified, 'No, Mommy-growing up makes me so sad, because I will go to heaven soon.'
Let me explain- as the girls laid down for naps, I told them both it makes me so sad they are growing up. My little babies are gone, they are such big girls now.
I told Madison growing up isn't a bad thing, and she doesn't need to be sad. I explained God will take her to heaven, and Mommy to heaven, and Daddy to heaven...etc...when he is ready and we don't need to be sad. Then asked if she wanted a cookie. Perfect distraction-
Back to Kennedy. After several trips back and forth between the bathtub and potty seat for false alarm 'tee tee' and 'poops' trips, her head felt much cooler so we settled into pjs, dried out her ears, and reassessed. Down to 100.1 and more snuggly. In fact, Daddy picked up Thai food for dinner on his way home from work, because Kennedy clung to Mommy like a Koala.
The evening was calm, girls went down for bed with little problem, Mommy braced for the worst. 4am came, and a tiny cry came from their room. Kennedy's little voice was all but gone, the coughing started and the fever was back. In a big way! 105.1! More tylenol, stripping the pjs, skin to skin snuggle with Mommy, more cool water, and a little more sleep- the fever broke again.
A local friend pulled some strings and got us into her pediatrician, a close family friend of theirs, only to learn our little one has croup. As the doctor put it- Kennedy has the best (this was not a compliment) croup cough he's heard in a long time. He said with that strong of a bark in the morning- our night tonight will be rough.
Steroids for the inflammation, tylenol and motrin for the fevers, cool mist humidifiers, steamy bathrooms, night air- all the usual suspects- and pray big sister doesn't catch this highly contagious virus. Doctor says 3-4 nights of this, and we are on the front end- the fevers should stop, but the coughs will continue.
Mommy was hospitalized as a baby with croup. Times have changed since, but it doesn't make the fevers and coughs any less frightening.
Now 2 and 1/2 hours into naps with over an hour since the last coughing fit- this seems promising. The number one side effects in toddlers taking this steroid- mood/behavior swings which lead to decreased sleep. Let's hope tonight is just like this nap!
Pray for our sweet girls.

the joy of LOVE

2011-02-12T23:13:00.000-08:00

I know most Lovely Little Blessings readers know about or read my other blog.
This is likely redundant for you, but bear with me.
Lately, um- the past 6 months or so, we've really settled into desert living as a family.
The house is coming together, kids are {now} settled in school, a routine is forming, we are getting comfortable.
This is a problem.
See, we really don't know how long we are going to be here. We kind of thought (in the beginning) we would already be out of here my now.
For now, instead of stressing about whether or not this could be our last month, or next month could be our last, or the next, etc, etc- we are leaving it where it belongs- in God's capable hands.
He has a plan- and we (I) feel like I'm starting to understand part of my role in it.
This month-my friend Emily introduced me to a free online photography course called the joy of LOVE. I've been blogging my daily assignments over on my other blog, but since the people I love most and focus my lessons on are the Matthew and the girls- it seems only fitting family and friends from here know to jump over there for a peek.

Tonight I Yelled...again

2011-01-20T22:29:00.000-08:00

Yep, I lost it.
To fully explain we have to go back to last night....ok, really we have to go back before Christmas.
Every once in a while, Matthew and I get fed up with all the toys, stuffed animals, and baby dolls all over the house-mostly it happens when the girls sit arguing, fighting, and screaming over one when they are surrounded by what seems like hundreds.
We constantly remind them there are other toys to choose from. Threaten to throw away the 'other' toys if they just don't love them enough to play with them anymore...but never follow through.
Idle threats...
Well, just before Christmas I hit the breaking point.
Madison was having a particularly selfish day and not sharing. I asked her to pick her favorite stuffed animal and tell it goodbye because it was going to live with another child. I said this would continue to happen if she continued this behavior until all the animals were gone. She chose Beckett the Panda- the bear she and Kennedy won in a drawing at a Border's children's reading time. She cried as she hugged Beckett and I put him on top of the overflowing Goodwill bag.
Unfortunately, Christmas, shop orders, and prepping for our trip kept us super busy and Beckett, along with our Goodwill bag sat in the laundry room for weeks. Madison didn't believe Beckett was really gone for good because she saw him almost every day.
When we got back from our east coast trip, Matthew and I did a little quick 'cleaning' while the girls were in the tub one night and cleared out some of the broken, baby, or unused toys. We had a throw out pile and another Goodwill bag. We quickly loaded my trunk before I could change my mind (why am I so attached to some of these things?!) or the girls took notice.
No harm, no foul- the next day I made the drop unbeknownst to the girls.
Everything was going smoothly until Madison started school this week learning about the letter 'P'. She was trying to decide what to take as her 'share' when her teacher helper recommended a panda. humpf- thanks a bunch!
Madison asked about Beckett when we got home and I reminded her he went to live with another little boy or girl. She fell over into a huge crying fit. We talked about how some children don't have any of the nice things she does and they needed Beckett more. By this time we were close to nap time so she went to bed and forgot.
Last night she was grossly overtired, nestled in her bed when out of nowhere she started crying... 'mama....mama...mama'. I went into their room thinking it was Kennedy crying. As I walked in Madison popped her head up and cried, 'I Want BECKETT!'
I lost it.
I used the 'mean voice'.
I looked her square in her eye and started in on 'the speech'. You know the one....
'Madison Elizabeth-you stop crying RIGHT NOW. You are being a selfish, selfish brat. Beckett went to live with another little girl or boy and this is why. You have so many nice things you don't even appreciate. Do you know, there are lots of little children who don't have the nice things you do? They don't have mommies and daddies, or a nice big house, or beds full of animals and babies like you do. They don't have little sister's to share with or a million toys like you do. You need to stop being so rude, and so mean and go to sleep RIGHT NOW!'
I walked away shaking I was so mad. Then I realized what I'd done. Not the speech-though it was not one of my finer moments-but before that.
I spoiled my child.
Both of them for that matter.
They never (EVER) want for anything. They have more clothes than their closets can hold, more toys than Toys R Us, practically every animal Build-a-Bear makes, dress up coming out their ears-I have turned my girls into selfish brats.
How do I fix this? How do I make them understand how good they have it? I know my parents felt this way about my brothers and me when we were younger, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't this bad.
Tonight it happened all over again. Both girls throwing fits over one little piece of a wooden toy set (Melissa and Doug's Birthday Cake set). The set has at least 10 of the exact same piece (cake toppings)- but they both wanted THAT one. I walked away from the dinner dishes, over to where they were playing, asked Kennedy to give me the piece, say goodbye to it, Madison did the same, then I walked it over and threw it away (most of these little round discs were already thrown away or lost because Kennedy used them as teethers when she was younger). Then we had 'the speech' again.
How to I make them understand? How do I get them to appreciate what they have? How do we make the fits stop? How do we get them to share without tears?
How can we fix this?

12:30am

2011-01-19T13:57:00.000-08:00

Last night at 12:30am I was up, working on my personal blog and updating the shop with new products.
Kennedy started fussing a little...wimpering, then quietly calling, 'mama...mama'.
Typically we let her cry it out a little in the middle of the night instead of running right in to pick her up.
Well tonight, maybe 60 seconds went by and she went from the quiet fussing to the super irritated, 'MAAHH ME!'
She sounded like she was scolding me.
I couldn't help but laugh- then run in to quiet her from waking her sister.
When I rushed it she announced, 'I has go tee tee on da potty seat'
I scooped her up, ran her into the bathroom, clicked on the florescent light, plopped her on the potty seat, then looked at her sweet face. Her eyes were still shut. She bobbed her head down on my shoulder, hugged me, then went potty right there on the potty seat- in the middle of the night.
I wiped and put her back together, carried her back to her room and put her back in her crib with not so much as another peep.
I'm still not convinced she was completely awake, but WOW! Day 5 of full time big girl panties and she's already a pro!
Go Kennedy!

Day 4-Potty Extravaganza

2011-01-17T14:03:00.001-08:00

Yep- I know, we've been a little MIA here in family blog land.
As always, so much to catch up on, let's start with the present.
Today is day 4 of Kennedy in big girl panties full time.
You may remember a few months ago we gave it a go- but Daddy decided it was a bit too much commitment at the time, so back to diapers she went. Not because SHE wasn't ready- but because we were being lazy parents.
It's true. I'm not afraid to admit it.
Last Friday I decided it was time. She's been ready- and we needed to commit.
So, she woke up, ditched the diaper, tee teed on the potty seat, doned the big girl panties, and we headed off to school. One of the rules of Madison's school is that you must be potty trained before enrolling. Since Kennedy is not an actual student (remember she just goes to the 2-3 yr old class while Mommy helps with snack) they haven't pushed the issue with her.
Her teacher, Miss Kathi took her to the potty with the class twice during snack prep, but she didn't go either time.
She was a rockstar all day, though. One time she had 2 drops in her panties, so we changed them. Otherwise, she was dry all day long! We still put her in a 'sleeping diaper' at naptime and overnight but the day was fantastic! She even pooped in the potty seat a ton!
Day 2 we were all home- Saturday. She did great. Only one big accident in the morning. She got up, went on the potty seat, did what she needed to do, doned the big girl panties and went off to play. 10 minutes later she said her big girl panties were all wet. Seems we may need to do more monitoring first thing in the morning, Otherwise, another perfect day.
Then there is Day 3- Sunday. Uncle Dan and Cousin Lisa came in mid-afternoon Saturday to watch the Steelers game and ended up spending the night. Seems Kennedy was rather distracted by our guests as she had 3 major accidents before 10am. Then our friends, Angie, Chris and Noah came over and the accidents continued. 5 before lunch time....and not just tinkles. The afternoon was much better and the evening was perfect.
Today is Day 4- so far so good. One tiny accident, but it was after almost 2 hours of playing outside with Madison and Mommy in the dirt and mud (and on the swing set)
Seems diapers are quickly becoming a thing of the past around here....for real this time!

January

2011-01-17T14:02:00.001-08:00

The calendar says January 17, 2011
The current outside temperature in the Southern California High Desert is 77.7 degrees at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Did I miss the memo?
Is today opposite day?

First FairlyFabulous Sale

2010-12-01T19:27:00.000-08:00

Beginning today through Saturday it's my first Big Sale at FairlyFabulous!
Take 20% off your ENTIRE purchase when you use the coupon code CyberWeek20 at checkout.
Tons of new holiday items listed and prices dropped on several existing items.
Be sure to stop over and check it out!!

First Snow

2010-11-21T23:09:00.000-08:00

No snow here at our house, but the mountains north of us were covered when we woke up this morning. We couldn't stand waiting, so we piled on the clothes, loaded up the Jeep and drove north. 10 minutes we saw a full rainbow

2 minutes after that the rain started falling on us...2 minutes more- the rain...was...SNOW!
I KNOW! So cool! Within 15 minutes of our house there was snow falling.
Before long it was everywhere and beautiful.
We made it to Tehachapi before we stopped to play.

This was one of my favorites of the day.
Proper snow boots and bibs are DEFINITELY in order.
We see many, many trips to the snow in our future.
The girls had a ball! (so did we)