Date with Daddy

Brian took the girls to Fellowship Bible Church on Saturday night to check out the "Spring Formal" they were having. At first, Madison was just going to go with him, but then Mack decided she didn't want to miss out on the fun! (I was excited about having a break for just a little bit!) They had a fun time dancing, taking silly pictures, and getting ice cream on the way home. I had suggested that Brian get them vanilla ice cream, in cups & they both came home with chocolate ice cream cones & messy dresses...whatever! So thankful that the girls have a Daddy who loves them so much & spends time investing in their little lives. Hopefully one of these days, they will look for a husband who has the same quality traits as their Daddy!

See why I suggested vanilla in a cup?! Daddy's a softy & let them get whatever they wanted!

Playing in Baby Brother's Bed

Look at these sweet little babies! As soon as we had the baby bed up & ready to go, the girls wanted to play in it. I didn't figure it would hurt anything, so in they went! Then I had the idea to hook up the portable DVD player and let them lay in there and watch movies. They loved it!!! This is the same baby bed that both of the girls used...it isn't in perfect condition, mostly to little teeth marks made by Mackenzie all the way across the front of the bed, but it is very special! How fun to have a little boy to get ready for this time!

All tucked in, ready for the movie!

The Girls' "New" Room

This past weekend, we moved the girls into the front bedroom, which has been their "playroom" for the past year or so. We basically had to compile all of their stuff from two rooms, down to one! They are pretty packed in there, but it works. Daddy worked very hard & painted the room purple, pretty much the same color as was in the other room. I found these cute wall stickers to decorate with. (a thousand times easier than painting!) Mackenzie isn't too sure about the owl's eyes looking at her at night...but I think she'll get used to it with time! I went to a garage sale & found this beanbag chair for $3 that matches perfectly. I was so excited! Everything is pretty much finished, except I am still looking for a valance for the window. I think this is such a happy little place for my girls to grow up!

Mackenzie helped me put the wall stickers on...when we finished, she stood back and said, "Ohhhh, this just makes me want to SCREAM!" (because she was so excited about it!) I wish I had it on video...it was SO funny!

 

Their first night in the new room...

Bye-Bye "B-By's"

The first weekend in May, we decided to go ahead and move the girls into the front room & start getting baby brother's room ready. So, the first thing that had to happen is we had to say goodbye to the "b-by's." I was afraid this might be upsetting for them, but when I told them we would take some pictures before painting over them, they were fine with that. They love these butterflies...almost every night at bedtime, during their prayers, they thank God for their "b-by's" and then fight over who they belong to. I have to tell them repeatedly that the butterflies are for both of them! I am not doing a painting project in their new room, but I do have some fun things in store that I think they will love just as much as their "b-by's!"

So many emotions...

Wow, I am so full of emotion tonight. I don't know what to do with it, so I am going to blog about it I guess...

We are coming to the end of the school year, and my heart is just so sad that Mackenzie is already finishing Pre-K. How did that happen? And where was I? Oh, how I hope I have made the most of every moment and soaked it all in. It is becoming more and more evident to us how much Mackenzie hates saying "good-bye's." Her little heart just breaks, and it is so sad. I have to admit...I don't like them either. Tomorrow is the last day for one of her teachers, and I am seriously so sad about it. You become really attached to these people who have such an influence on your children and they become a part of your family. Not to mention all of the little friends she has made...most of them have been together for the past two years. I have explained to Mackenzie that she will be at a new school next year, with new friends, and she has cried about it both times we have talked about it. Yes, some of them will still be in her Sunday School class at church, but many are not members of our church and will go their separate ways. A few years back, when we were trying to decide whether or not to do ELP, I had no idea that it would be such a wonderful blessing to our family. Mackenzie has truly thrived...she has learned so much and made wonderful friends over the past two years. I have loved the security blanket of having her right there where Daddy is just down the hall, in an environment that she was familiar and comfortable with. I am so sad to think that i wont get to walk her into the church for elp next year. We have prayed and prayed about the decision of what to do about Kindergarten and we feel like sending her to Regent is the best thing. Yes, it will be an investment, but I can't think of a single thing I would rather spend $ on than the well-being and education of my children. The girls came home from school today extremely tired and irritable. Mixed with a trip to Lowe's and trying to paint their bedroom, it was a bad combination...my nerves were shot and bedtime couldn't come soon enough. I wish I could say that I was patient and loving tonight, but that wasn't really the case. After they were asleep in their beds, I went into their room & just sat and looked at them....such beautiful little girls that are growing up way too fast. Oh, Lord let me be patient and kind....give me a heart like Yours to love my children with. May I not take one day for granted or wish time away.

Thinking about this new baby boy on the way, makes me think about Mackenzie as a newborn...it really feels like just yesterday that I held her for the first time. Time is so fleeting. You think you have forever, that things will never change, and then you blink and she is 5 and a half years old. It is the same with Madison...maybe even more so, because she has always had to share us with Mackenzie. How is it possible that she is 3 years old?! I think part of my emotion tonight is coming from how hard the past four months have been for me. This pregnancy has really taken a toll on me, physically and mentally. I am thankful for this baby, and can't wait to meet him, but I also feel like I have missed out on the girls' and have been in "survival mode." I am rambling, I know...but I do feel better & I think I can sleep now!

The Trampoline Jaybirds

Beware of naked buns!

I don't know what the deal is, but several times recently, we have let the girls play on the trampoline fully clothed, only to come back a few minutes later and find them completely naked, and bouncing happily! They think it is just hilarious! Seriously though, they love the trampoline & play on it all of the time.

Here are a couple of trampoline video's:

Dr Visit & Ice Cream

Madison was running a high fever (over 103) so I took her to see Dr. Raley. This was probably the hardest dr.'s appt I have ever had with her. First, they did a strep swab, which gagged her & upset her VERY much. Then, they wanted her to pee in a cup...well, they had a bowl thing that went on the toilet, but she wanted nothing to do with it. Nothing at all! We tried and tried...and tried, but she was very upset & adamant that she wasn't going to do it. When I called my mom & told her about this, she said, "I know another little girl who didn't want to do that when she was a little girl"...like mother, like daugher, I guess! Finally, I called Brian and he talked to her & told her he would take her for ice cream if she would just go potty in the container, and what do you know...about 10 seconds later...SUCCESS!!! The girl will do anything for ice cream! After all that, Dr. Raley said it looked like she had a kidney infection & we had to do not one, but TWO shots in her legs. The poor little thing was just traumatized by the time we got out of there after 2 hours. (So was I!) When Brian got home from work, we went to Cherry Berry, where Madison got "white ice cream." All of those toppings & she only wanted plain vanilla! I hate it when my babies are sick, but ice cream makes everything better!

Here is a video of Madison at the Dr. (right after she used the potty, but before the shots...)

CherryBerry!!!