Apple Picking!

It's that time of year! One of my favorites!!!

We went on our annual Apple Picking trip with my Mom,Ted, Brother and his family and the four of us. As usual we had a great time. This year it seemed that we all got tired quicker! Maybe we're just getting older?

Dave, as usual, was a "great" influence on our nephews,Jake and Tim. He would say "hey guys-watch this", and he would run and kick part of the tree so that apples would go flying. Nice Uncle. Get the boys in trouble ;) This is probably WHY they love him so much. He IS pretty amazing!

Emma and Kate really get into it. They test taste the apples first, if they aren't up to par, they throw them on the ground and go on to the next tree :) Waste? Sure, but there are SO many so don't give me grief about it. :O)
Kate would tell us "c'mere guys, I found an apple"....Really? There are apples in an orchard? :) haha She cracks us up.
Emma wanted to climb with the boys and loved holding the apples in her shirt and then transport them to the bags.

We went back to my Mom's for hamburgs and donuts and cider. My brother and I were doing our absolute best to pester each other. I did the best job so he squirted whip cream in the back of my shirt. I smelled like curdled milk. LOL! I love these times! Don't worry-I got him back. On their way out, I threw a glass of water at him :) Oh-paybacks. He'll get me, I'm sure.

Well, I forgot our camera on the kitchen counter. I was so bummed. Ted took pics so I'll have to get them from him. Once I get them, I'll post them.

Date with Daddy :)

Dave tries to take each girl out on a "Date with Daddy" every once in awhile. Tonight, he took Emma to go see Sanctus Real and Steven Curtis Chapman. The fun part is that he got the Spartan seats at the Stranahan Theater. Now....hopefully he didn't order Emma the special "drink of the night". :)

Emma was very excited! She wore her twirly dress and I even put hairspray on her hair!

On her way out she said "C'mon Dad, it's just you and I, Kate and Mommy are stayin' here". She is never sad to leave her Momma behind.

Here is a picture of them before the special date!

Kate and I went shopping. Then we went to McDonalds for a "cheeburga" and a chocolate milkshake. We had fun! Katelyn is always more talkative when alone. She is very funny! She pointed out the moon to me and I didn't go the right way at one point. It's always special!

Pics

Here are some pics of the new hardwood floors, and the new color on the LR wall :)

The hardwood floors were put in a week ago in our Dining area, kitchen,laundry room, back hall and half bathroom. I won't take pics of all of it-but here is just an idea for ya :)

We think it turned out nice :)

Home Makeover?

Nah...Just some decorating!

We painted the fireplace wall in our living room. First we had to buy primer b/c we were going to paint a dark red color. The primer went on MAUVE. It was SO ugly.
I decided to call my neighbor over in the midst of painting the primer on. I asked her "What do you think of this color?"....Her face got all red and said "You're wanting red,right? Is it supposed to dry red?" She was sincere and I could just tell she thought it was hideous! I gave in and said that it was just the primer. She, of course, called me a name and got a chuckle out of it.

Here is a pic of the mauve primer. I'll send an update of the red wall when I get a pic!

New 'Do for Emma :)

Well, the day finally arrived! Freedom from tangles for Emma!

We decided over a month ago that we were sick of fighting with Emma about brushing and drying her hair. It was getting WAY too long for a 3 year old! I bought the tangle free *stuff* and it just didn't cut it! So I've been asking her almost daily if she wanted to get her hair cut short. She was very confident in saying "yes"every time :)

I wanted to make absolute sure....Yes, she is only 3 but even little girls are particular about their hair.

On thursday, we went to see Miss Sheila and got 8 inches cut off! Only two more inches and she could have sent it to "Locks of Love". Next time :)

She was very well behaved and giggled when she saw the finished product! She LOVES her hair! I love it,too :) She looks like a little dolly :)

So helpful!

Just a short post about The sweetness of a 3 year old.

Emma loves to help. She loves to be the "big helper" and do things for others. Just to name a few.....She sets the table for dinner, she makes her bed,uses the small vacuum after her sister eats, and the other day I found her putting away her clean clothes! IN THE RIGHT SPOT! Which in itself is a beautiful thing because I find myself to be pretty *anal* about where things go.

Am I a slave driver!? Well-isn't that WHY we have kids? :)

Times like these.

I haven't written in awhile. I have a whole lot to say and then nothing to say!? Huh? Yes, you all know what I mean.

The girls have been at each others throats and mine for about a week now. We figure this time of the month is when they'll be on their cycles when they get older. Oh joy.

Times like these make me wonder why I don't work, at least part time! I am not the most patient person in the world, nor am I creative. I try to sit down with Emma and "teach" her and then I figure out that I don't do well with being the educational parent. We can talk about God and how amazing He is and how He created everything, and how He is in our daily everyday life. When it comes to learning how to write and sit down and do workbooks...forget about it!

Times like these make me wonder if I'm doing anything right by our girls. I want to mold them to be Christ-like, to be kind, patient, gentle, loving, etc. But how can I do that when I don't feel those things right now!

Times like these also make me see the softer side of the girls. When we wake up in the morning and it's giggles time! It's smiley time, It's hugging time, loving time. When they say please and thank you without being told. When they sit and behave for more than a minute. When they don't hit each other (yes it's not JUST BOYS that do that), and they hug each other and go into the other room and have "conversations". I love hearing them when they are sweet to each other and talk to each other like grown-ups. AND yes, I even love hearing when they are in the bathroom GRUNTING like it's some huge feat to go #2 :O) It's hilarious!!!!!!

Being a Stay At Home Mom is not easy. It's not because we are financially stable, like so many people think. It's a sacrifice on the budget. It's a sacrifice of sanity at times. It's a sacrifice of individuality at times. It's losing touch with people whom you were close with at one time or another.

It's also fun :) I get to take naps sometimes-I used to feel guilty but now I embrace them :)
It's putting them down for their naps,getting them up from naps, praying with them throughout the day, squeezing their little tooshies ALL day, snuggling with them, going to the zoo, going to the library, going to Gram's, Nana's and Great Grandma's, being helpful to others, cleaning, laundry (which i actually enjoy at times), and so much more.

Most of all, it's rewarding. This is where God has put some of us, and although it isn't the easiest of "jobs" it's the most rewarding. IF you choose to look at the rewards as seeing your daughters face light up or throw her arms around you and kiss you on the cheek or forehead or nose :)

Embarrassing Moment....another one.

This morning there is a gentleman here to replace some floors for us. Well, he needed me to get him some towels to place the commodes on, so I did. As I was coming down the stairs, rather quickly, Emma was waiting for me. She says REALLY loud.....

"Mommy, you're boobies are bouncing up and down!!!!"

AAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Where have I gone wrong? What in the world? I'm wearing a bra and a black shirt.

Conversation

This morning, I was getting out of the shower and it was silent. Had me a little worried so here is what transpired.

Mommy----"Hey Emma, what are you doing?"
Emma------"I'm taking the doggy to the potty"
Mommy----"Ok, Where is Kate?"
Emma------"She's the doggie"

I just got a kick out of that.