Reminiscing Last Halloween

Halloween has been a good reminder of how quickly the children are growing up. Last year, for example, Big Sissy got a banana at each Grandma's house and was TOTALLY excited about that. Little Sissy just slept mostly. This year Big Sissy knows to beg for candy, and Little Sissy at least wants the good kid snacks. Next year I'll have a 9-month old at this time. What a whirlwind!

Trick or Treat

Since our kids are still little, our trick or treating consisted of going to Nana's house for some nice mommy-approved treats. Big Sissy worked hard at being good all day long so she could have candy (she had acted ugly at the zoo and had to forfeit her candy on Saturday). She was totally excited to have vanilla pudding and a kitty cat (Kit Kat). Little Sissy got cinnamon sticks...yummy.

Mini vacation

Hubby's brother and his family came to visit from Indiana last weekend, so we all went to the Magic House and the Butterfly House together. After the weekend was over, I realized we took very few pictures. None of them are especially post-worthy, but I'm posting them anyway for the sake of the memories. It was lots of fun, which is probably why we forgot to take pictures.

Our "new" clothes

When I was young, I always thought I would be a missionary. I pictured getting barrels of people's hand-me-downs clothes and letting my kids rummage through them for their new treasures. I'm not a missionary, but we still get bags of clothes from some sweet family members and friends who are finished with them. It's always fun going through our "new" clothes.

It's Football Season!

I have class on Monday nights, so I leave the care of the girls to Hubby while I'm gone. Lately I've noticed that things don't get picked up like they used to, sometimes there's no time for a bath, etc. I haven't complained because I just need a night out. Tonight Big Sissy gave away what's really going on while I'm away. She laid down flat on the couch, turned the TV on, and said, "I'm watching football." I'm pretty sure she didn't come up with that one on her own!! This is what happens on Monday nights. Aaahhh....football season.

Trophies

Tonight at church we had an "egg drop contest," where the kids built a contraption with a given set of materials to see whose egg could withstand a drop at 6 ft., 9 ft., etc. At the end of the contest, one of my little girls was in tears because she "just doesn't have a talent." Her brother has won trophies for basketball, her sister has won trophies for singing, and she couldn't even win a trophy for an egg drop. I sort of know what she's talking about. I have won a few trophies, but they're all for spelling bees. Once you're my age, no one really cares if you can spell. As long as I can read to my children, they're happy. There's spellcheck for everything else. But it occurred to me that some of us just have talents that will never be trophy-worthy. In the ministry (at least the way I grew up), you need to be able to sing and play the piano. Boys need to be able to preach and play sports. But what kind of talent is God wanting to give trophies for? Obedience, faith, trust in Him, sacrifice... The world would never give trophies for this, so it's hard to convince someone of its value. But for those of us who are not athletic and would rather hang by our toenails than sing a solo or play the piano in public, hope is not lost. My prayer today is that the Holy Spirit would develop these things in my life, knowing the reward will never be seen by man. In the meantime, my goal is to look for things in others that may not be trophy-worthy but are clear marks of God's handiwork in their lives.

Time Machine

I feel like someone put my daughter in a time machine the last 2 months and skipped her ahead to somewhere in the pre-adolescent years. First of all, her moods have looked like a very hormonal young woman lately. If she could storm off and speed away in her car, I'm sure she would. All of a sudden she wants to do EVERYTHING by herself. If I turn on the light in the bathroom, she goes back and turns it off so she can turn it on by herself. Tonight when it was time to potty, she said, "Mommy, can you stand outside so I can have some privacy, please?" What in the world?!!! At least she used manners, but what 2-year-old won't let her mommy in the bathroom because she needs privacy? I obliged because I was about to laugh. We're definitely leaving the baby years behind. Every now and then she still wants to sit on my lap and cuddle, and I'm cherishing those moments.

Scary Night

On Wednesdays Hubby and I help with the kids' program at our church. It's geared for the neighborhood kids, and they have parenting classes to entice the parents to stay. As an extra incentive (for all of us), they serve dinner at the church beforehand for only $1. It's a beautiful thing. So last night I'm taking Big Sissy through the line while Hubby gets Little Sissy situated in one of those chairs that hooks right onto the table. I'm walking back to our table when I see the pastor's wife, one of the nurses in the church, and several other people gathered in a circle around something (or someone) on the floor. Then I see the chair on the ground. Apparently the little latch that keeps the chair from falling off just broke and down went Little Sissy to the ground. Of course I panicked, but she calmed down fairly quickly once I took her and right away after that started chowing down on the mostaccioli. I think she's just fine, but FREAK OUT!!! Big Sissy had her "lovey" on the floor, a stuffed cat, and I'm wondering if maybe that shielded Little Sissy's head when she fell. God's angels are busy in our family, and I'm thinking they must have a special angel team for children who use those chairs that hook to the tables. Right before church I had given Little Sissy her first "big girl bath" with no baby seat in the tub. She was sliding all over the place, not really knowing what was going on. She must wonder what kind of parents would put a naked baby in a slippery tub and then put the same wiggly baby in one of those crazy chairs. Maybe tomorrow we'll put her in a wagon, push it down the hill, and see what happens. (just joking, DFS!!!)

Ultrasound

I'm now 20 weeks pregnant, so today we got to go do the big ultrasound. All along I've been saying how sure I am that it's a girl because everything feels the same as my other pregnancies. I'm not sick at all, I feel some movement but not excessive, I'm huge, etc. Hubby got to go with me to the appointment today, and just on the way there I finally admitted that God might surprise us. "You know," says I, "if we're ever going to have a boy, this is the last chance." We hope to adopt someday, but it would be from China probably and so probably a girl. This is my last biological child, which I'm a little sad about, but I can't keep having c-sections. Anyway...I was just thinking how cool it would be if I didn't really have it all figured out. So the ultrasound person starts looking for spina bifida and ask she's going down the spine I think I see something that I've never seen before. Of course, I don't know what I'm looking at so I ignore it. But then the moment of truth....clear as day. There it is. It's DEFINITELY a boy. He (baby boy) was so proud to show off for us, and he (daddy) was also pretty proud. :) I feel a little giddy, partly with fear of the unknown but mostly excitement that I actually am surprised. I don't always like God's surprises, I must admit, but this one is awesome. Poor boy just might be wearing pink for a while...