Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my!

On our way to Clemson for homecoming two weeks ago we decided to take time to stop at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia. The children were pretty tired, but the zoo proved to be the perfect size for their little legs to walk around. We saw all kinds of animals and JP even milked a pretend cow. Shelby was a little shy of the cow but loved walking around and looking at all the different kinds of animals.



I think that they both were a little overwhelmed by it all because the bears were going crazy when we first got there. It is no joke to see a bear standing on his hind legs and pacing back and forth like the bears were. I have to say even I was little bit intimidated and very thankful for the fence and huge ditch between us and them because that bear looked like he was on a mission to get across and take a look around.



They have made a ton of changes from what I remember the zoo being like and I have to admit I really missed those crazy screeching monkeys, but it is a lot quieter to walk around now so that is good.

Going, going.....

Shelby has been dying to lose a tooth!! To her it seems like all her friends are losing teeth and she just asked me the other day, "How come Eliza, who I am older than, has lost teeth and I haven't?" I told her that God made us all different and when it is time for her teeth to come out they will. Thankfully she didn't come back with the "Why?" question that children so often come back with.

Well, today is a big day in this house...No, she hasn't lost a tooth yet, but her mood quickly went from grouch to happy when we discovered that she doesn't just have one loose tooth but two. She was upstairs with her friend Kendall and came down complaining that it felt funny when she closed her mouth and put her teeth together so we went in her bathroom. She pushed on her bottom teeth with her tongue and much to my surprise they moved. I wish that I could have captured the look on her face when I told her that her teeth were loose. It was priceless.

So, just in case this is the last picture I ever get of those little baby teeth that are moving on out, here is a picture of my sweet little girl's baby tooth smile.



Can you tell she is pushing on her teeth with her tongue? I wonder how she will do with the tooth fairy???

Shelby's Bedroom Rules

Translation:
No jumping
No hitting
No eating things
No spitting at people
No talking bad
No throwing
No burping
No lying
No bathroom talk
No kicking
No standing up
No dirt
No talking back

Thankful Thoughts

I always try to put pictures with all my posts, but then sometimes that prevents me from posting just random thoughts so today may or may not be a pictureless day; we'll just have to see how it goes....

Lately, and by lately I don't mean 100% consistent, but more time spent than not, I have found myself on the not focusing on myself end of thought life and more on the look how great things are side. I just always love it when I let go of me and allow God to reveal all that He is and all that He has blessed me with. It always leads to a more happy, content, joyful me. And to celebrate this current state I decided to write down some thoughts about what I am thankful for. Sometimes when I think about all that God has done for me when I have done absolutely nothing, I mean absolutely nothing, to deserve even a smile from Him my socks are totally blown off...wait, look, there they go.

First of all lately I am moved to tears sometimes when I think about my wonderful husband. Despite popular belief, I am not the easiest person to be married to; but yet, I have this wonderful guy who knows me so well and chooses to be with me anyway. And remember folks, we didn't get married on a whim; oh no, we dated and dated and dated (6 years to be exact) before we got married so there really weren't any surprises going into it and he married me anyway. On top of that, he pretty much gives me whatever I want and does for me whatever I want. I mean really, I am totally spoiled. He washes dishes, he cooks, he cleans windows, he takes care of the children, he works crazy hard so I can stay home and pretend like I am the perfect housewife when in fact there are more days where I spend more time watching ESPNU than doing what I should be and then he patiently listens to me complain about how I can't get everything done in a timely manner.

Also, I am so thankful for my children. They have definitely challenged me in so many ways and the Lord uses them constantly to reveal weakness in me and to refine me to be more like Him. Isn't it funny? No one ever goes into having children and thinks, oh I can't wait to be challenged and changed and walk through fire to refine my spirit and character. Yet, that is totally what happens. You realize so much about yourself. I love my children! The other night as I was reading to Shelby she just kept kissing me on my check. I love that! I am thankful for their unconditional love for me and their faith that I can be a good mom and guide them safely through the early years of life.

Another thing that I have been completely blessed by is a wonderful family. Now, my family, we have an unusual sense of humor, but it makes me laugh and I am thankful for that. My mom and dad are still my mom and dad even though I have been married for 11 years and have two children of my own. I am thankful that I can call them anytime of day and ask for advice on stuff and they listen and either give me advice or say, "Good luck kid, we'll pray for you." Lately I have been into running and I am thankful that they are willing to get up early on Saturday mornings despite the fact that they both still work and drive out to Bluffton to watch my children so I can run in a race. I am thankful that they never over spoiled me and that they raised me in a church. I am thankful that they prayed for me everyday and continue to pray for me everyday; I mean where would I be without them...probably not born since I came from them, but whatever. I am thankful that they raised my sister, brother and I to love each other and care for one another. They always made sure to impress on us how important family was and didn't allow sibling rivalry to rule our relationships. They never compared us to each other, but allowed us to be the individuals that God made us to be and then praised us for our differences and encouraged us to look at each other like that.

I am also thankful for a great neighborhood and wonderful neighbors and friends who love the Lord. Sometimes you can feel so lonely in this world and that no one believes what you believe or is raising their children how you are raising yours, but we are surrounded by people who love God and are raising their children under His guidance. Wow!!! I mean, how awesome is that. I am thankful that they love us, love our children, encourage us daily to stay the course, gently rebuke us when we stray and help us get back on our way. Just yesterday as I was cleaning around the house, my ears were filled with the sounds of children laughing and playing and my heart just leaped for joy over the thought that my children were playing and having a great time with their friends.

Finally, right now I am totally thankful for the 5-0 start that my Clemson Tigers have acheived this season!!! I have waited a long time for this and I know at any moment the bottom can drop out (any true Clemson fan knows that it isn't over and nothing is guarenteed until the final second of the last game of the season ticks off the clock) so for now I rejoice and entertain thoughts of ACC Championships and National Championships. Thank you Lord!!!!

PS-of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg of things I am thankful for, there are tons and tons more, but I have to run and actually do something to make it look like I was productive around the house today before I go pick up the children from school:)

Fresh Home Grown Veggies Anyone?

Why yes; I think I'll have some. Well, that is what we hope to be saying in a few months once our veggies are ready.

Leslie and I have taken it to the next level and are attempting to grow some vegetables in a garden in her back yard. Now those of you who are laughing at me right now because you know everything I touch dies, stop! I did manage to take care of my mother-in-law's flowers this summer on two separate occasions and they flourished and thrived under my care. So maybe with the help of a good friend I might not actually kill anything.....oh, I hope!!!

Home Made from a Tube Cookies

Any day that ends with home-made from a tube cookies is a great day even if the day isn't all that great to begin with, be it an ordinary day or a day filled with discipline and testing.

Saturday, September 10th started out as a day filled with excited anticipation for all that we had planned that day. Pratt was out of town and so I had tried to fill the day with fun plans. Shelby and I were scheduled to go to a Princess Tea Party for lunch and grandmother was going to come over to play with JP. I think that JP was more excited about having time with grandmother than Shelby and I were about the Tea Party which is pretty amazing because we were really excited.

Grandmother arrived and we left. By the time Shelby and I got to the party grandmother called; JP was having one of his famous and notorious breakdowns over nothing. "Oh joy" I thought, "now we are going to have to go home". Of course grandmother said not to worry, she is a mother too after all and she could handle it. So I got off the phone whispered a prayer for her and Shelby and I walked into the party.

It was more beautiful than I can say. The room really looked all princessy and on each table they had beautiful flower arrangements, placecards, a menu of what was being served and the 10 Rules a Princess Must Always Follow.



The Salt Marsh Fairy was on hand to give the young princesses the rules and instruct them on how to walk, talk, sit, etc. It was sooo cute and all those little girls were precious.



When we got home grandmother gave the run down on what had happened with JP and since the outburst involved going to the pool and someone who shall remain nameless (yes, me) leaving the house with the pool bag I told JP that if he would rest quietly for a bit that we would go to the pool for a late afternoon swim. It was one of the best things we could have done! The children were excellent!!! They listened extremely well and even said Yes ma'am and No ma'am without being prompted. It was definitely a proud momma moment for me as an older couple sitting next to me commented on how impressive it was that they said yes and no ma'am (whew, they would have been saying something totally different had they been at the pool the day that I carried JP away kicking and screaming).

Normally Shelby and JP stick to the pool, but this day they took to the splash deck as well. It was so enjoyable to watch them running through the water. They both looked so free and happy.



Sometimes it is good the reward for good behavior in order to encourage and this moment was just that; I mean perfect strangers said how good they were, I couldn't let that go unnoticed or unrewarded. So on the way home I told the children what they couple had said and how they did such a good job so we were going to make home-made from a tube cookies. You would have thought they won the lottery the way the responded.

After we got cleaned up from dinner and had our bathes we pulled out the dough, rolled it and then they got to pick which shapes they wanted. It was so much fun!!!

Once the cookies were in the oven I told them it would take about 12 minutes and that they could go play, but they prefered to sit in front of the oven and watch them for the whole 12 minutes. Every once in a while they would shout out the status of the cookies. "Look mom, they are getting bigger." "Look, they are getting brown, are they done yet?"



After the cookies cooled they each got to pick one to decorate with whatever they wanted. Look at the concentration going on here....



And the finished products. JP ate is cookie in no time flat. Shelby took her time and eventually decided she didn't want to eat any more. She isn't that big of an icing fan and she put a ton of icing on her cookie so I may have had a bite or two before I threw it in the trash (hey, no sense in throwing away a perfectly good cookie)

Baby It's Cold Outside?!?!?!

So exactly how hot was it this summer??? Well, apparently hot enough that this morning when it was 70 out my children ran around in our driveway telling the neighbors that it was freezing out. JP walked out, turned around and looked at me and said, "Mommy, it is so cold out that it is going to snow!!!" Then he ran in the house got his jacket, put on his hood and went to school. Oh will we be in trouble if the Lord ever calls us to move to an area where it actually is cold:)