March Activity

Lots of bike riding lately.  Gwen is changing so much and growing out of clothes.  Case in point, these shorts!

We are getting new flooring... so I thought I'd paint.  This picture was my color inspiration.

This is our kitchen before the floors were ripped out.

The floors were ripped out and there were a gazillion staples in the floor.  Here are the kids helping to get them out.  They thought it was great fun.

Notice the bedclothes, shoes and winter gloves.

Ripping out floors = one tired daddy.  Ben always tells me with each home project that he doesn't want to start another one for a few years.  That never quite works out for him.

Grandma stopped by and visited us today.  Romy is teething so she is chewing on something most of the day.

My Girls

Gwen has learned how to ride her bike without training wheels.  She saw neighbor children that knew how so she was determined to learn.  She is so proud of herself and Ben and I are too.  I love her dearly.

My baby girl still has no interest in eating food.  She's quite content to just drink milk.  She does like moving puffs around on her tray and trying to get them in her mouth and spitting them out on her clothes.  Love her so!

Small Things

A flower brought to me by Gwen.

Purple cauliflower that we had for lunch.  What a novelty!

The Gospel and Everyday Life

I've been thinking about how the gospel impacts my every day routines and thoughts.  My heart so easily gets preoccupied with my own comforts and my own agenda.  I came across a blog today where this guy says this prayer every day to keep his heart focused on the gospel teaching.

1. In Christ, there is nothing I can do that would make You love me more, and nothing I have done that makes You love me less.
2. Your presence and approval are all I need for everlasting joy.
3. As You have been to me, so I will be to others.
4. As I pray, I’ll measure Your compassion by the cross and Your power by the resurrection.

I understand everything but the last one.. so I'll have to think about that more, but I was inspired by this prayer.  I've heard recently that your children become who you are and I'd like them to be able to see the value of giving your life away for the sake of the gospel in practical application from me.  I know that's a whole lotta Christian talk for I'd like them to be able to do what God says because they know that's the only way to living an abundant life.  I'm seeking the Lord on a few things now and asking Him to make my path obvious to me.  

Family

Romy is getting lots of love and attention from Grandma.

and others too!

Those teeth are coming in and she likes to chew on her hand.  With Aunt Beki.

This is tonight when Ben was reading the Bible to the kids.  Moment like this you just have to tuck into your heart.

Today has been a good day.  A baby shower for a friend that adopted (and cuddling the newborn) and learning my kids will have a new cousin coming in the fall.  Congratulations to Jake and Melody!

The Winter

This has been a long winter to me.  I'm ready to get outside and feel some sunshine.  I know, I know, just a few more months and I'll be complaining it is too hot.  Isn't it in everyone's nature to not see the beauty in each season?  

Dieting tips from me... you gotta find foods that wear your jaws out so you can't eat too much of it.  Case in point, shredded wheat.  Another tip, cabbage!  It's the poor man's brussels sprouts!  We've been eating a lot of it stir fried.  The kids love it.  Next up, I've gotta come up with a cabbage roll.  

This beauty is six months tomorrow.  She has two little pearly teeth poking through and growing in and she is a joy to me.  She is easy and delightful and beautiful.  I just can't say enough about this kid. She grabs everything she can get her hands on now.  She especially loves reaching for my hair and for my coffee cup and while nursing will grab my nose and eyes and lips.

Here's a video of Ben playing with her.  This is how she laughs.  I still haven't heard her truly belly laugh.  She just kind of does this sound.


Gwen has been asking lots of really deep questions lately and it really is interesting.  Zeke has gotten into this thing where he'll say, "really mom?" when I ask him to do something.  I respond and say "yes, really".  It's wearing a little thin.  They are both into legos at the moment.

Got to have dessert, dessert

I'm trying to lose weight.  This past week I lost 1.4 lbs.  This is what I have when I can't take it anymore and must have dessert.  May I just submit that losing weight while nursing is not the easiest thing for me.  I have the appetite of a small hippo... and I was starting to look the part.  All right... on with the recipe!

1/2 ripe banana
1 tsp vanilla (do you make your own yet?)
2 T cocoa
1/2 C milk
crushed ice

blend all together in the blender.  You can add a tsp of maple syrup if you'd like it sweeter, or artificial sweetener if you'd like.  (I'm trying to stay off of that stuff) or honey or vanilla sugar (do you make your own vanilla sugar yet?)

How to Tie Your Shoes

Ben and I watched this the other night.  I have had to double knot my shoe laces for forever...but not anymore!

Trying to Keep Up

I have been informed by my sister-in-law, Beki, that I have not been posting enough on here.  We have had a cold winter and quite a bit of snow.  It makes me a little stir crazy and makes me want to bake.  (both are not good for me)  We've been making homemade Valentines and having friends and family over and raising kids.  Here's what we do when we get desperate for entertainment...put glue sticks in our noses.  Can't you see why Ben is my perfect match?

Gwen had the 100th day of school.  This was never a holiday growing up.  Uncle Jeff helped to make a log cabin out of pretzel sticks for a project.

The kids have enjoyed playing in the snow.  Here's Zeke coming in for a quick warm up.

In other news, I joined Weight Watchers again.  I need accountability in this area and I have always struggled with my weight.  It has fluctuated so much in my 10 years of marriage and having three kids and now I find myself back in the game of strengthening that resistance muscle again.  Resistance to giving in to my own desires, which is basically too much food.  I know God has given me His Spirit, and that the fruit of the Spirit is self control.  I get hungry while nursing, so any prayers you can send my way would be great.  I want God to be the God of my health too!  Ok, enough about me... how are you weathering the winter?

Romy

She's sweet as can be and we are having such a fun time watching her grow!  She is SO like Gwen in her looks it still makes me catch my breath.  Her personality is very different though.  She seems all about fun and loves her new bouncer. 

Grace

January Days

Caught these photos of Gwen while she waited for her ride to school.  Doesn't she look big leaning on the door like that? :)

Pretty face...

Zeke wanted me to take a photo of him.  He's a goofball.

Wonder where he gets it?