Go Vikings!

My chest is tight, my eyes itchy, my make-up smeared and my cough worse... but it was all worth it. You know you have a great friendship when your allergies to cats are worth the time you spent with your friend. My friend has cats and I have really bad allergies to cats. I normally don't get too sick at her house, but today maybe my immune system was worn down enough that the allergens really got to me. Although I'm still suffering the consequences of the allergies, I am benefiting from from the conversation, encouragement and joy in watching our kids play so well together. Melissa, thanks for having us over today! It was TOTALLY WORTH IT!

Go Vikings!

Not Me Monday!

My friend, MckMama, started this "Not Me Monday" thing. I always get a kick out of reading hers, so I'm attempting it this week for the first time. My problem is that I totally forget my "not me's" by the time Monday rolls around. We'll give this a try and see how it goes!

I most certainly did not let Eisley rip apart a handful of tampons (don't worry, clean and unused) because I needed to keep her happy while I got ready to go. That is so disgusting, totally gross and inappropriate I most certainly would not justify it to myself by thinking that they are probably cleaner than her toys. Not me!

I was not at all concerned about possibly being pregnant so I definitely did not take 3 pregnancy tests in a 2 week time period just to be sure. And then when I found one in the garbage a week later and I thought I saw a double line, I most certainly did not take another one, just to be sure. I, of course, know that a prego test is invalid after 10 minutes, so the double line I thought I saw, was of course not really positive. I am not that anal! They were of course all negative.

Officially

Eisley has one more week of being 10 months old. As a beautiful 10 month old little girl, she officially...

... can pick her nose.

... babbles up a storm.

... can walk. Not exclusively, but regularly will stand up and take up to 10 steps or so, even with out being prompted.

... loves wrestling her brother.

... has 6 teeth.

... loves waving.

... points to things.

... is a super star eater.

... is able to go from sitting to standing with out any help (something Emmett learned to do after he learned to walk).

... is able to throw a tantrum with the best of them.

... is still biting.

... climbs up the stairs and slides back down then at breakneck speeds (has been doing this for a couple months).

... does great in the nursery at church with only a few tears shed at the beginning just so we know how much she loves us.

... still wakes up once a night to eat and I haven't done anything to stop it. Honestly, I kinda enjoy this time with her. We'll see how long that lasts!

... looks like her mama. My grandma gave me a pendant that has my baby picture in it. I showed it to Eric last night and said, "Isn't she cute?" His response, "How could I think she's not cute. She looks just like my daughter."

Wedding Coordinating

I spent the entire day at our church coordinating a wedding. To be totally honest, I wasn't looking forward to it. I really treasure our weekends and our time together as a family. However, as I was looking over my notes in preparation I started to get excited to be part of this couple's day. The groom wrote and recorded the processional music and also wrote and performed a song for the bride. The couple also did a feet washing ceremony instead of a unity candle to symbolize their covenant to be servants to one another. It was a beautiful day. I even got a chance to do flowers - the bridal bouquet arrived and was a bit disappointing. I tweaked it and the mother of the bride couldn't have been more happy - and no one else even knew what had happened. After 8 hours of being on my feet, I was exhausted but really had a great time. I came home to a happy family, but they were also happy to see me, which made me happy! Although I do enjoy doing other things, there's nothing I love more than my family.

Veggie Tales and Operation Christmas Child

Veggie Tales and Operation Christmas Child have partnered up this holiday season. Our church hosted a sneak preview of the new movie so we benefited from having some fun extra supplies left over. Eric brought some home the new Veggie Tales movie, "Saint Nicholas - The Story of Joyful Giving." At the beginning of the movie there is a promo for Operation Christmas Child. Eric also brought home some OCC boxes and Veggie Tales coloring sheets. So, we had a morning full of Veggie Tales and Operation Christmas Child... oh and Flax Seed Pumpkin Bread, cut in the shape of hearts.

After watching the movie, the kids were SO excited to go shopping for the kids who live in a different country. I packed up the 4 kids and we headed to Target. Emmett and Flora carried their boxes around and picked out items to give to their "friends."

Emmett with his finished box.

At home with his box.

We tried to take a picture of the kids to include with the box. I couldn't get one of all 4. I think I'll try again Monday.

Until then, this one will have to do.

Faces, a Fight and moving Forward

Faces

a Fight

moving Forward

In love with a wipe