What's up?

We just had a nice visit with Grandmama.

Shopping, eating out, movies & time together, you couldn't ask for a better weekend.  The girls were sad to see her go,  both cried after we dropped her off and Ash said the sweetest prayer for her at dinnertime.  Thanks for coming Beverly, we love you!

I'm kinda getting use to my braces.

I'm still only eating soft foods, which means I have to let my cereal sit and get a little soggy.  It's still a little painful to chew, plus difficult with the new way my teeth line up, but I've made huge improvements.  It's nothing like those first 10 days, those were miserable.  I wanted to rip the braces off my teeth and if I could have I would have.

I realized just how much I took for granted the ability to chew, the enjoyment I had in eating, and the ease of eating whenever, where ever.

I also began to realize that I was letting this one little pain take over and affect everything else in my life.  I started to think about those who live with constant pain, deal with a hurt or brokenness on a daily basis.  How do they still put a smile on.  That has helped me remember to continue to smile even though this new smile hurts.

But during all this I was still able to enjoy a cup of coffee.  And actually treated my self to many mochas.  Something about the warmth of the drink made my teeth, for that moment, feel better.

Can you believe all the snow we got?  I couldn't believe that it just kept snowing.  Of course this is the weather we had the day after I just bought a new bike.  Yep, I'm now a bike rider and thrilled to have one!  I can finally keep up with the girls.  They always pick to ride their bikes on our walks, leaving me way behind.  No more!  Now we just need a bike for J too.

 Can it be March 8th already?  That means I'm going to have an 8 year old very soon.  Crazy!  Abigail really wants a party even though I keep telling her it's our off year for doing a friend party.  But, I have a sneaky feeling she's going to talk me into throwing one.  

Soccer is soon approaching, I can't wait to watch her play and grow in her ability.  I guess I should find out if her cleats still fit.

{imagine a cute picture of Ash inserted right here}

And Ash.  Everyday I look at her and can't believe how old she looks.  Next month we sign her up for kindergarten.  Crazy!  

She's also going to play a sport this spring, T-Ball.  She can hardly wait, last night she came down stairs in her new baseball pants and one of Abigail's old T-ball shirts, she looked adorable!  I can't wait to watch her play too! 

 I could go on about everything swirling around in my head but I'll stop here ... maybe I should just blog more often. ;o)

Right Now

Do you want to know what we're doing right now?

Ash is howling.

Yep, I said howling.  She's watching Alpha and Omega for the second time tonight.

Yes again, I know, that equals a lot of TV time for one evening.

Abigail is watching with her, but it's only her first time seeing it.

She's was at the boys's house for dinner when Ash and I first started the movie.

Jake is passed out sleeping.  He's usually always sleeping by this time but tonight he has good reason.  He enjoyed a walk with us to the school to play and then got some play time with Ruby.  It's funny to watch those dogs play together.  I've never seen Jake play with any other dog the way he does with her.

Jason, he's at work and works all weekend.  So, it'll be a low key weekend for the girls and I.  That will be good.

Me, I'm surfing blogland and playing with my new V-day (early) gift.  We're going to get rid of our home phone soon.  We keep laughing at how hard of a decision/change this is for us.  I'm going to have to get better about knowing where my cell phone is and having it on me all the time.

What's everyone else doing right now?

This and That

As I was cleaning up after dinner last night I could see the western sky through the blinds and it was full of color, the sunset was beautiful.  I finished a quick clean up so that I could watch the sky transform with color during my evening walk with Jake.  Abigail asked how the sky and clouds could turn pink and purple ... only the Lord could do that!  And he did that for us!

I've slowly been bringing out V-day decorations.  I found more cute ideas on this site that the girls are going to use for their valentines at school.  I saw this and want to make some with the girls to give to their favorite valentines.

This week Abigail's spelling test has the words, there, their and they're on it.

Ash has been busy drawing lately.

One night this week the family sat down to watch TV together, I lay down on the floor, soon J came to be next to me, then Ash snuggled up to me and Abigail soon followed.  We were all four nestled together under blankets watching a show.  I just don't want to forget it.  I wish we were always that close.  That's another word on Abigail's spelling test, were.

My parents called and invited Abigail to go snowmobiling with them on Saturday to Silver Creek Plunge.  Abigail can't wait to swim in the hot springs.  They'd take Ash but there isn't enough room in the truck.  I was happy to hear that. What would I do with a Saturday all by myself? I'm glad Ashy will stay and keep me busy.

Since it's my birthday month I've been doing lots of window (internet) shopping.  There's way cute stuff out there.  I thought I'd share a few of the things in my etsy cart that I'd love to hit the checkout button on.

this rubber stamp

this mustard rose pillow, I've been wanting to 're-do' (which means buy different) pillows for the couch

I'd love this map but instead I'd add hearts for all the places our loved ones live

I love this print

I've been wanting a cross necklace ever since I bought one for Abigail last year, I love this one.

And, because garnet is my birthstone I've been looking for something 'garnet', this fits the bill.

I said buenos dias to Ash one morning (due to the Spanish that's been swirling around from our visit with Alejandra) and she replied, ocho.  Funny girl!

Crazy Busy

Today and the next few days are just going to be simply, CRAZY BUSY!  But, isn't this what we moms and kids live for?

Today is Ashy's school Halloween party and mixed in is a field trip to the dentist office.

Tomorrow is Abigail's school Halloween party. She has early release so I'm hoping I can take the girls out to get some pre-Halloween pictures of them all dressed up (which will mean I'll be getting the girls all dressed up Friday, Saturday and again on Sunday).  It's also grocery shop time.  I can't put that on the back burner because the food supply in this house is way, way, low.  Not to mention, I haven't even bought any candy for the few trick or treaters that might stop by before we head out on Sunday.

We still need to carve our $2.98 Walmart pumpkins into something spooky and I've really been wanting to make caramel apples.

Saturday is Abigail's last soccer game, a surprise end of the season lunch to the new Subway that opened in Kuna, Cody's birthday party and a Halloween party.

Everything we've been waiting for all month long is finally here!

Little things

Jason asked me the other day, "Do you feel like your life is a musical?"
Ash told us the bathroom was out of toilet paper but of course she didn't just say it, she sang it.  Both girls are always singing, and it's usually songs they make up.  Abigail is big into writing songs.

I bought the first egg nog of the season.  Abigail was so excited to get some 'egg milk' and Ash is now calling it 'wizards milk', due to the witch on the carton.

I made my first batch of apple butter, oh the smell that filled the house, that should be a Scentsy scent.   The best part was delivering it around to a few neighbors.  I picture them all sipping a hot cup of coffee with a slice of apple butter toast, okay that's just what I do.

On Sunday, we took a walk down to the creek with the neighbor boys.  By the end, the kids had a plan to go home and make invitations to invite us all to 'nature church' after dinner.  I'm not sure how they came up with the idea, but it was really sweet.  It occupied Luke and Abigail all afternoon - writing songs, drawing nature pictures and talking about how the 'program' would go.   Next Sunday is Columbus church and the Sunday after that pumpkin church.

I never did mention it (on the blog), last month J and I celebrated our 9th anniversary.

I love the October sky.  I've happened to catch a lot of sunsets this month and am always surprised at the colors that can fill the sky.

Can a post on 'little things' be complete without mention of our beloved dog?  I don't think so.  Jake has a bed in the house, one that I thought would be moved out during the summer.  But it ended up staying inside for his morning, noon and evening visits in the house with us.  It was only kicked out on cleaning days, and times when I just couldn't stand it inside anymore.  Jake liked having his bed outside, but one day he liked having it out there a whole lot more.

We just bought Jake a new bed and this one wouldn't be thrown outside, at least not until next summer.

Look at Ash in her new outfit.  What a doll!  I was informed of the Childrens Place huge $4.99, and once you apply the 20% off coupon I had, that made everything $4.  So I got her boots for 4 dollars, the skirt for 4 dollars and the jacket for 4 dollars.  What a deal.