Bitten By Busyness

As an avid blog reader, I don't usually appreciate the "I've been too busy to blog" posts on other people's blogs.

Why have a blog if you are too busy to update it?

That's what I think. Judgmental soul that I am.

And here I am, too busy to blog. 

Passing judgement usually has a way of coming around and biting me in the butt. 

I'll watch that next time.

Summer's goodness is throwing a lot at us.

We've been busy pulling socks up to knees and fastening shoes on the wrong feet.

Iron Will (hers and mine)

I didn't want to be there. I was at a conference for Christian women and well, I am a Christian woman. It is where I was supposed to be and needed to be. The entire event was designed to teach, enrich, and encourage. A world-class worship leader led the huge group of women in a song designed to woo us to a place of surrender before our Lord.



And I resisted.



My chest felt tight and I crossed my arms. The sights and sounds were penetrating and my mind started listening to the words. I knew once I opened my mouth to the melody of these praises that I would start down a difficult path.




And I would need to surrender my will. I would hear things that would convict. I would absorb things that required change. I would be drawn to a closeness to my Creator that frightened me. He desires of me things that I felt so unwilling to give.




My will is strong.

Thank yous....

I am reading a book called "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are," by Ann Voskamp. This isn't an easy fiction read like I'm used to.



I'm a fiction reader. I love getting lost in the made-up story. I know it's lazy and trite. But I crave the escape.


This book is real. Real life to the fullest. This book is helping me escape right into my own life. I'm loving every moment. I would highly recommend it! Even though I am only on chapter 3.


This morning I was reading the book, a chapter delving into thankfulness, when Emma came down the stairs. It was 7:02am. Her hair was puffy and tangled and her eyes were scrunched as they decided from sleep to the lightness of the day. Her groggy voice said, "I slept right 'till seven." She has always been our clock-work kid with her self-imposed schedules.


She came close to my chair to look at the book in my hand.


"I'm reading about thankfulness. What are you thankful for?"

A sometimes kind of day.

Sometimes costumes are allowed at the dinner table.

Sometimes we forgo nutrition and eat Mac N' Cheese.

Sometimes we have guitar lessons.

(Even though mommy can't remember how to play).

Sometimes we pretend we are in a bluegrass band called the "Beautiful Butterflies."

(The size 9 month halloween costume at Children's Place was totally worth the $1 clearance price).

Sometimes regular life with irregular people is just a whole lot of fun.

Ode to Emmaleigh, growing up.

Motherhood is.

"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think he enjoyed it."

~Mark Twain

She gets her athletic abilities from me.

Really I am no athlete. Not even a little bit. I spent my whole childhood and young adulthood avoiding any and all forms of physical activity. I was contentedly happy as a music geek, faining injuries so that I wouldn't have to participate in anything that might make me work up a sweat. Or show how uncoordinated that I was. That method worked so well for me. I assumed that when I had children, they would naturally follow in my music-geekiness footsteps. From music they would learn poise, confidence, and discipline.

In my early twenties I began to see athletics in a different light. Softball is kinda okay with a group of friends. Water sports are a blast. Fall football games are entertaining. And frisbee golf? Well, now that is downright fun. And I began to admire those who enjoy sports and are actually good at them.

Then I went and married into a family who loves, loves, loves sports. Sports Nuts, I call them. (My mother-in-law even has a degree is Physical Education).

Now me and the man I married have a bit of a quandary: sports or music. While I still believe that poise, confidence, and discipline can be learned from music, I also see the added benefits of fitness that goes along with sports. Having my fingers in tip-top shape from playing piano comes in handy for concertos, but not so much when trying to lose pregnancy weight gain.

 Jeff and I have decided to expose our children to sport and music. Crazy. I know. If they show a natural aptitude and/or desire to participate in one more than the other, then fine. Discipline of character is the goal.

We signed Emma up for T-ball this month through the YMCA. Her cousins (Josh and Jake) were doing it and that made T-ball sound way more appealing than the swimming lessons I was planning on.

Twice a week we go to practice and Emma joins the other 4-6 year olds in learning the fine art of hitting a ball off a T with a bat and catching ground balls with a glove.

That's my girl. Or, I should say, my husband's child since the ball actually made it into the glove.

Notice the kids in the right side of the picture? There is a lot of scrambling and falling going on at PeeWee T-ball.

Emma really enjoys it and is learning new skills. She also does a lot of chewing on her glove and staring off into space. Maybe she is related to me after all. 

At the end of each practice there is a game. With so many kids participating, the bases are pretty hard to see. It's a free for all when a player makes a hit. 30 preschoolers swarming the same ball is a pretty funny event. Eventually one child will pop up from the dogpile with the ball in hand and exclaim, "I got it." Meanwhile, the guy up to bat could have made a home run if he knew where the bases were. They'll get it. Hopefully.

Emma is up to bat...

Looking as an objective observer, I see Emma's talents more in the musical realm. She has a beautiful voice and loves to sing. Her ear is very good too and can repeat tunes that I sing or play on the piano. Today I got Taylor Swift's White Horse stuck in my head. I was absently singing it and then heard Emma mimicking, "... it's too late for you and your white horse... to come around." 

Note to self: only absently sing songs that I want my preschooler repeating. Taylor Swift, go away.

For now, it's T-ball.

So, what do you think? Sports or music for children. Neither or all. Both or some?

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Teaching my children to act with civility toward one another is a difficult job. You would think they were auditioning for a reality tv show the way they carry on at times. I tell the girls constantly to talk through their differences, "Use your words," I say 1,400 times per day. The goal is to love your neighbor as yourself. I don't need them to be best friends, just civil. 

We have 2 basic rules in our house:

• Be kind. In action and in deed. No screaming, grabbing, or other rude behavior.

• No personal injury related activity or retaliation. That covers biting, slapping or hitting, sucker punches, hair pulling.

We have good days and bad days. A fantastic moment is followed by a moment worthy of the WWF. There are times I rejoice in the girls' relational progress and times I shudder at how far they have to go. And time-out and perhaps duct tape are appropriate.

On one of our sunny days, the girls were playing out in the yard. I was trying to read a novel -- a novel and crazy idea in anyone's book (pun intended). I sat and watched them while reading and they were fighting about climbing a tree. Emma could get herself into the tree and was hogging it. Mandy wanted to get in the tree, but couldn't get up. Fight, fight, fight. It's my turn, no it's my turn. I said, "Use your words," "Share," and "Be nice," a dozen times or more from my sunny perch on the front porch.


Eventually it was quiet for a bit and I read more than just a paragraph. I looked up to see this....

It was a proud mommy moment. Big sister helping little sister. It became far more fascinating to watch their interaction than my book about a street wise girl from NYC hiding out with the Amish. As interesting as it was.


Maybe we're making more progress than I thought. I pray for more of this...

I like this picture so, so, so much. I could stare at it all day. I'm thinking about printing it off as a poster for the girls' room. I added a quote to it. Which one do you like best?

A great quote from Anne Frank. "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." Ralph is a wise guy.

And there is always this Scripture: And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the great and first commandment. And second is like it, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39




Leave me a comment and let me know which one you like the best. Or a different quote that you think would be perfect with this picture.

Sing with me, "These Boots Were Made Like Slippers," and "Please, Do Fence Me In."

Can you believe these boots were only $1 each?

I love end of season sales. My original thought was so give the girls these boot/slippers for Christmas, so I bought them big. But then Mandy got into this phase where she HAS to wear shoes around the house. Since all her shoes are incrusted with mud (how does this happen?), I tried to think of another option. I remembered the slippers and viola!

Who knew something so simple could make 2 little girls so happy. Ask them how they feel when they don't get any Christmas presents, but at least they'll have the memories. Just joking. Maybe.


For those of you wondering if Emma is wearing stilts. No, she's just growing like a weed, 3 inches since Christmas.


And no, I don't let Emma wear this skirt out in public without leggings. Wowsa, it looks short in this picture.



In other news.... do you know what makes me incredibly happy?

These guys.

And this fence that looks so fantastic. More on that later.

a regular ol' update + some beautiful kid pictures

Emma spends hours crafting, creating, gluing, taping, and making beautiful things. Along with huge messes that she doesn't like to clean up (sounds like someone else I know... personally).

She is eager to tell you she is growing strong. Currently she wants to be as tall as daddy. Since she isn't ahead of the growth chart at all (in the 30th percentile), I imagine she won't make it to 6'2".

Emma is still very girly. The word "princess" is thrown around a lot, but we aren't watching Disney movies lately and that helps her attitude. Those princesses are not great examples of godly young women. She wears a skirt most days and tries to dress up her sister who could care less.

Speaking of attitude, I've seen a huge improvement. She has such a strong will and I constantly see her struggle. I explained the idea of a "sun beam" the other day after she asked about the song. Now she usually sighs and says, "I guess I need to be a sunbeam here." Or the other day after playing at her cousins (instead of resting), she said, "I wasn't a sunbeam at my cousins house. I was pretty naughty."


A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam. A sunbeam, a sunbeam, and I'll be a sunbeam for Him.


I hope you have that song stuck in your head all day. I don't want to be alone.





Mandy's biggest loves are talking and hugging. Her ideal day would have her talking non-stop, being held by mom, reading books (while talking through them), and eatings suckers.

She tells me funny things all the live-long day. From the moment she wakes in the morning, we hear her sunny and sometimes whining chatter. At the grocery store the other day, we were getting out of the car and she asked, "Can I take my blanky into this business?" I am constantly amused by her.


We're working hard on potty training. She is out of diapers during the day, but has at least one accident a day. Usually because I forget to take her. She doesn't ever say she needs to go, but will go when I take her. Of course, she still needs heavy bribery. This is the slow way of potty training and hopefully she'll figure it out before she graduates college.





And now Remi who is 4 and a half months. He seems to develop and grow before our eyes. He is still very easy-going, putting up with all kinds of torture from the girls including pink hats being shoved on his head, baby doll thrust into his face, and stroller rides of terror.

He "needs" toys now -- no more laying on the floor contentedly. He cries if his toy falls out of his reach.

Rem-ster also can roll both ways. He's still pretty tentative and looks really freaked out when he flips over. I found him turned over in his crib yesterday and he wasn't very happy about it.

He sucks on his pointer finger. A little weird, but he is soothed. And yes, his hands are as gigantic as they appear in the picture.

This smily boy brings us so much joy, I'm not sure what we did without him. But I've said that about each of my children. They add dimension and God knew exactly what He was doing when He placed them in our family. I soak up their love every day. I'm so blessed.

So, you think you can dance?

girls dancing to buble from Aly_sun on Vimeo.

Storybook land

It's story time and Emma is "reading." She tells people she can read and they believe her, so impressive for a girl who just turned 5. The thing is, she can't read. She can recognize her name and make some educated guesses on word size for Mandy or Remington. And she can make up a fantastic story from the pictures in a book. Here she is reading the photo baby book I made when Emma was 1 year old.

She regales her siblings with tales from her exciting babyhood. They are mesmerized and Remi is thinking, "That is so unfair. Why couldn't I be the first child and be left alone for three years?"

You have to love the fashion my children are sporting. Just a regular day where tights are a must.

"Baby Emma went swimming with dad and she did 100 bobs." Impressive.

Pictures from Emma's Birthday Party

Finally some pictures from Emma's birthday party, a week and a half ago. The busyness that has invaded my life recently still surprises me.... more on that later.

We decided to have Emma's party at my in-law's. They have a great barn and hay loft. It was a far cry from the princess theme party that Emma envisioned, but she eventually caught on to the idea.

She helped make pink cupcakes. I even let her break the eggs. Of course I always make her crack them into a bowl first, but I am truly amazed at how well she does. She even frosted the cupcakes herself. We were having fun with red food coloring that day!

5 squiggle candles for the birthday girl.

Emma's party included her cousins, plus her friend Heidi. The hay forts and tunnels and rope swing were very entertaining.

We roasted hot dogs over a fire in between rain storms.

Hot dogs are always a crowd pleaser to the pre school age crowd.

I made this "pin the tail on the cow" poster. It was the only game I planned because, well, back to that busyness thing again. I was scribbling with a sharpy on this poster an hour before the party.

The barn has some treasures, like this circa 1982 spring horse. Raise your hand if you had one of these! Oh, so much fun. There is probably some health hazard with those exposed rusty springs, but it is still entertaining like nothing else.

Emma got a play, pink camo gun. It makes a lot of noise, but we don't have any pretend bad guys around our place any more.

Emma is as diverse as her gifts. She got a beautiful party dress too (the one I attempted to take her birthday pictures in -- click here to see the finished product). It was a great party and lots of fun.

Portrait of a Lady: Emmaleigh

I wanted to start a tradition with Emma, and later Mandy, on their birthdays. As usual, my ideas look so pristine and lovely in my head and not so ideal in real life. Emma was about to turn 5 and I thought it was the perfect age to be able to pick out her own outfit at the store for a birthday photo shoot. Me, Emma, and the baby set out for a morning of shopping in our nearby small-ish city. The consignment store I had heard rave reviews about was over-prices and the clothes were dated. We didn't find anything there and went on to another store. That store had NO good deals and since Emma and I both like a good deal, we threw my fantastic new tradition to the wind and Emma bought Color Magic pens and paper instead.

I still had in my head that Emma should be able to pick out her own clothes for the 5-year-old photo shoot....

This is Emma's favorite pictures from today's photo shoot.

A new princess hat, white crocheted poncho, birthday dress meant for Christmas, Halloween pink tights, and black shoes. This is what Emma picked out. I did her hair, which was promptly covered up by the Disney Princesses. Pristine and lovely pictures? Not quite what I had in mind.

I didn't get a daughter with Emma's character without having a few of my own tricks up my sleeve. With stealthy manipulation, I got her to take off the obnoxious character hat...

My photographer's child seems to be crippled with the inability to just "smile for the camera." Emma is so used to me taking pictures that she thinks that being weird is a requirement.

I hoped that letting her wiggles and silliness out would allow me to capture Emma's very pretty natural smile.