I Survived...

February has been a busy month. LOTS of sickness (horrible coughs, bronchitis, ear infection, and strep throat...that's just from the girls) and of course 2 adorable birthday parties! Who knew having 2 girls born 3 years and 12 days apart creates birthday mania within such a short time period.

Even with the girls' birthdays so close together, we chose to keep their parties separate. It would be much more cost effective to combine the two. However, we just felt the need for each girl to have her own day! Much to my dismay, my camera was in the shop for most of the month but sweet friends were there to help me capture those Kodak moments. I'll have to post some pictures of each girls special day when I get the images!

Greta Banks had chosen her party supplies (paper products) a couple of weeks before the party. We had already decided that Dora was the chosen character this year! However, on a recent trip to Wal-Mart before her birthday, it was decided that all plans should change to accommodate the need for Strawberry Shortcake. Unfortunately, or fortunately for me, Dora was already purchased! No going back now! The forever changing mind of a woman begins at early age! :-)

Greta Banks' party theme this year, besides Dora, was to have cooking party with her friends. All the kids decorated chef hats, made pizzas, fruit loop necklaces, decorated their own cupcakes, and played pin the pizza on the chef. It was ALOT of prep work but I must say our garage was transformed into a wonderful "kitchen" for our little chefs! They had a great time and the birthday girl handled the party like a true princess! Happy Birthday sweet baby! I love you more than apple pie!

Sick Baby Girl...

Yesterday was Ella Claire's 1 year well check. She ended up not being able to have her immunizations due to a nagging cough and bronchitis...ugh! Greta Banks tagged along for the appointment and received the sweetest compliment in the waiting room. She was helping take off Ella Claire's jacket ever so gently and kindly. She saying to her sister, "come here sweetie!" Other moms there oohed and ahhed over her nice demeanor...only wish she was that kind all the time!

It's just plain hard trying to raise kids...the little things no one ever tells you! How do encourage your child to speak to other adults when they ask a question but then to remind them never to speak to strangers? How do you teach them to be thankful for what they have but then never accept candy from strangers? How do you discipline them for having such a strong attitude about not wanting to obey but then encourage them to say to no to others if it's not a good choice? How do you encourage Independence (dressing self, brushing teeth, etc) but then not step in when it takes them so loooong to complete the task?

Ugggggh....I only think it's going to get worse!

Fun Weekend...Changing Times

What a weekend we've had. Ella Claire celebrated her first birthday Friday night. It was wonderfully shared with family and close friends. She had a great time, the weather cooperated, and not nearly as hectic as Greta Banks's first birthday...some things are better off the second time around!

Today we celebrated my grandmother's 90th birthday! What a godly women she is! My grandmama is now living in an assisted living facility but her ability to continue her "matriarch" duties is in full force. She's able to gather us all to honor her and the legacy she continues to imprint in each of our lives. I can only hope I'm as sassy as her at 90!

This past week, a young mom in our community lost a valiant fight against breast cancer. I can't help think of her and my own children. Taking time to treasure the days, taking time to play with our kids and off the computer, taking time to say the "I love yous." Life's too precious to take it all for granted, even amongst the sassy tantrums an almost 4 year old can perform. Again, we get too caught up in the tasks to enjoy the little moments. A friend told me once that life with young children that the days are long but the years are short...how true it is!!

All you need is love...

Okay, I've been horrible, terrible, no good blogger. I started the new job, got consumed with the holidays, and evidently my kids did nothing cute (now we know that couldn't be true!) In order to get back in the groove of blogging, I've decided I need to really focus on the things that make me proud to be mommy to my 2 precious ones. When it comes down to it, I feel like we spend too much time focusing on what are kids don't/ can't do instead of the great qualities they possess. My girls are great, talented, gifted, and of course, on the fast track to graduate college at an early age (with full scholarships, of course). As the older Ella Claire is getting, I am realizing that their personalities are becoming distinctively different. I do believe they will have different interests, characteristics, and hobbies.

Greta Banks is truly one of the most compassionate children I've known. She's always empathetic to others' feeling, checking on how others are doing, and willing to help out when needed. She has a great love for her little sister, great excitement about events, and at times, can be quite mannerly (we're still a work in progress here!) I love her dearly and love her quirks too. She LOVES wearing dresses, always needs a hairbow, and does NOT like her hands to be dirty/ sticky!

Ella Claire, only at 11 months, is full adventure. She's just started walking and into EVERYTHING! At this age, baby gates would deter Greta Banks from accessing anything she wasn't supposed to be into. However, Ella Claire attempts to crawl over the gate, around or even over. She lets nothing get in her way! She constantly needs to know where everyone is and what everyone's doing. She needs to "stay in the know." Above all, she is quite loving with her adorable kisses.

Great time with my girls have happened over the past 2 months and great stories too. Greta Banks has a new favorite snack....rice squishy treats!! (rice crispy treats) Got to love that!

During Christmas, Greta Banks had no interest in visiting Santa. We made a list to mail to Santa but I did try to encourage her to visit Santa to give her list to him. Her statement was, "No mama. I can go with you and you can give the list to Santa. I can just stay over to the side and wait for you!" Independent woman isn't she??

My girls are precious gifts full of love and laughter. I love their funny faces, funny habits, and funny words. Each day is a treasure and with the new year I want to try even harder to record their precious memories too!

The pictures above are a few of my favorites over the last few months!

Funny Thoughts

Hope you all enjoy a view photos from our pumpkin trip to the Farmer's Market....

I've been a bit neglectful lately. I recently started new part-time job at our church and really enjoying it. However, adding more work to an already busy schedule just creates even more work and more of life to balance. I guess we all carry full plates though. A friend told me that at least starting a new job would help give me a different focus without obsessing/ nit picking the girls too much...how true that is!!

This past weekend, we spent the entire morning in our PJs enjoying some movie time with Greta Banks watching Cinderella. She really has only watched this one Disney movie, mainly because it's the only one I have! :-) At the end she asked, "Mommy, why are they holding hands." I told her that was something she could do when she was about 30 when she really loved someone (hey, we have to start early here.) She then said, "like when my teeth get big." "Yes darling, when your teeth get big." (We're obsessed with teeth, can you tell??) She then said, "When my teeth get big, I can have Coke, right mommy." I then questioned,"Would you like to hold hands or drink Coke?" "I would like to drink Coke mommy." Maybe I can still persuade her at the age of 16 with Coke to drink instead of dating. Who knows???

Baby Dedication and Broken Arm

What a world wind couple of weeks we've had. 2 weeks ago, we participated at a dedication ceremony at our church for Ella Claire. What an awesome responsibility we have to raise our girls to love God...what precious gifts!! It was a memorable experience and so honored to have our family there to support us!

This past Monday, I got a call from preschool saying Greta Banks' arm looked funny. She had fallen on the playground and to make a long story short, she ended up breaking it in 2 places as well as "buckle in the bone" (a strong in bend in the bone). So now we're 4 weeks in a hot pink cast from under her arm to her wrist! She still has her sense of humor. When the doctor walked in after reviewing her X-rays she asked GB what was her favorite color and GB replied, "why?" She wasn't going to be fooled. Surprisingly, it all went fairly smoothly and we're all adjusting to accommodate for her one good arm with dressing, clothing, bathing, etc. Never a dull moment around here.

My new favorite comment came while playing with her buddy Sawyer. Sawyer had been quite empathetic to the little one, with her cast and all. He was giving her a hug and Greta Banks commented, "you know you love me Saw!" Gotta love it, don't you!