Nice Thanksgiving!

We hope you had a very nice Thanksgiving! We enjoyed having daddy home for four whole days:) Amanda enjoyed playing with her cousins. It is so fun to have a 4 yr old cuz, and a cuz that just turned 1 when you are three:) They all played so well together and it was so fun to see our baby E walking:)
We also enjoyed my mom's wonderful cooking:) She is truly a master at getting everything ready at the same time, hot, and tasting good:) I don't have this skill as we all learned last Christmas when I had everyone over......yep, cold food, and all. Thank God mom knows how to do it right! I made the sweet potato casserole and was able to keep it hot and it tasted good too, so I am making progress just one dish at a time:) Since mom did the cooking, I told her to enjoy playing with the grandkids while my hubby and I cleaned up and put all the leftovers away. (Aren't I sweet?) and very humble too!


We enjoyed making Thanksgiving trees w/ all the things we are thankful for on them, I started doing this last year with Amanda. I asked her what she was thankful for, what she was happy to have.....she mentioned daddy, baby doll, and the list went on only......I didn't make it onto the tree!!!!!!! But now that she is the big three year old and much more appreciative....I made the tree this year! Yay!!!!!!! (so I had a chocolate bar dangling in front of her when I asked her but hey, bribery works and I made it on this year's tree)

Big church!

This morning instead of going through the whole crying thing all the way to church, which started before we even left the house, I told Amanda she could go to big church with us.

On the way there she said,"promise, you won't make me go to class daddy!" That stole both our hearts so we took her and sat up in the balcony right near the door for an easy quick exit! Amanda stood and listened to the singing, clapped when we clapped and was very good I thought, daddy disagrees but only because she started singing about the FIVE LITTLE MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE BED towards the end of the sermon

At the end of the service we usually sing a song or pray or something, but today the pastor said something and then sat down, and everyone just sat there...then he said you are dismissed....it was all very strange and was a "lousy ending" to a very good service. I made the comment to my husband "that was a lousy ending" and on the way to the restaurant we were talking to Amanda about her experience in big church and how much more exciting her class is because they do crafts and have snack and she agreed and then said, "and your church has a lousy ending!" Something tells me that I will never learn or hear the end of that one for a while. I swear sometimes the child has bionic ears:) At least I think we solved the whole not wanting to go to class thing................she did tell me why the other day. She said, "I just miss you so much sometimes mommy." I told her that I always come back and she replied, "I don't try to cry mommy, the tears just come out of my eyes." (she motioned how they come out very dramatically with her hands) It is nice to know I am missed but I wish not so much sometimes:) I wish I could say our dining experience was fabulous but Lousy would be a good word for that too. Daddy has decided that we are NEVER GOING BACK to the OUTBACK RESTAURANT again! I couldn't be happier because I think it is very overpriced myself and have never found it to be worth the money. The restaurant was freezing, (yes colder than our house) we waited 45 minutes for our food only to have daddy's steak come still mooing, which is something we do not tolerate:) It took another 10 minutes to get someone to take it back and another 20 to get it taken off our check. I gave daddy the rest of my chicken even though he didn't want it. They asked us if we wanted to have coupons for free dessert next time and daddy said, "there will be no next time, we aren't coming back" This was our second bad experience in 6 months so I think it is a good idea to just stick with our favorite family restaurant on Sundays:)

What do you want for Christmas?

This morning while eating breakfast Amanda said out of the blue,"Mommy when is Santa coming?" She didn't talk about Santa much last year after he scared her to death at the mall when we were trying to take a picture, we didn't encourage that part of Christmas since we want to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and our lives, but we knew this year we couldn't ignore the whole Santa thing she is three and he is a large part of Christmas for a lot of people. (they are really missing out!) I told her he comes on Christmas Eve and she didn't believe me and said, "no he comes in the summer!" I asked her what she wanted for Christmas, and here is how it went down. The way she pronounces some of the bigger words is spelled out, (I don't really think they are spelled that way) I am still laughing!

M-"What do you want for Christmas?"
Amanda- "My own flowers, Ummm.....Can I have something else?"
M- "yes"
A-"my own san-na-tizer, my own back-tear-re-ull wipes, my own study, my own church, my own esa -lator, my own Donalds, my own shampoo like mommy's, pink. I want pink shampoo like mommy's."

Notice she never said any toys???????? There also seems to be a whole cleanliness pattern in what she wants...ummmm.....don't have a clue where she gets that, maybe her dad!

The other day I took her Christmas shopping at Bath and Body Works, I swore I would never go back after last year's big embarrassing mistake of buying the "special Christmas fragrances" The peppermint candy, gingerbread man soap, and giving them out to all the moms that bring their kids to bible club along with all of her teachers at church! The one gal said, "oh no, you can keep it I won't use that, but thanks" I was slightly irritated by what I thought was a very ungrateful remark until........ I used it! I thought maybe my senses were pulling a sick joke on me or something........so I let Amanda have the leftover Gingerbread soap, and I was walking from our bedroom back into her playroom bath to check on her and daddy since it had been a very long bath and the smell repulsed me! What was worse was that my child smelled like that too! It really is gross:)
But my daughter loved going in there and trying all the samples and wanted lipstick. She loves it when I kiss her or give her a little lip gloss so I bought clear but it has all of this glitter in it and I didn't realize that until we opened it so she can't use that.....I remember the whole glitter scare when teaching, I guess if a young child gets it in there mouth it is really hard to get out and when they are young they can aspirate on it so they didn't allow it in our classroom. Plus, she gets enough glitter at art class!

My daughter's first kiss?

Well, well, well.......I can't believe my daughter kissed a boy today right on the lips, and it wasn't a peck! It was a huge, mouth open wide smooch! I don't wear she has ever seen this? ha ha

We were eating lunch with some friends and Amanda just grabbed her little buddy and put one right on him, and he pushed her away and looked at her like what are you doing? Don't you know I am the one who is suppose to start this? He is one of her dearest friends and she doesn't know this but he is going to be moving away for three years to Italy. But the good news is, we are going to visit them, and then they will be back in three years, and we have an arranged marriage:) (Amanda doesn't know this yet but she told us the other day she was going to marry him) We were happy to hear that just because a few weeks ago she told me just was going to marry her little girlfriend:) I explained to her that only girls marry boys and boys do not marry boys, and girls don't marry girls. This is the way God planned it! Then I got to thinking, wow, I never really had to deal with this whole same sex marriage thing like she will probably have to! Unless, God changes the hearts of our nation:) Looking back, I think there were 2 gay teachers in my elementary school and somehow my parents managed from keeping from getting either of them as my homeroom teacher......I will home school before my daughter is taught by a flaming gay! While I love them as people, and a few gay friends, I do not want them teaching my daughter the way they are living is part of God's plan, because the bible states it is clearly not! How did I get on that?

Can't believe it!

Four years ago today something incredible happened to me! No, Amanda is only three so its not that......give up? The man of my dreams married me! It was neat to think back to that day and talk to Amanda about it. She did ask me "where was I?" I tried explaining that she wasn't in my tummy yet but she just kept asking.......and I wasn't ready to give her the big old sex ed lesson just yet, although I am thinking that we are going to have to teach her that earlier than when I learned that because this world is a little different from what I remember as a kid.

We made a special anniversary dinner and Amanda would look at daddy and say, "Happy Anniversary Daddy" then she would look at me and say, " Happy Anniversary Mommy!" So cute, she even did this at bedtime! When I told her earlier in the day that we were celebrating our anniversary, she said, "but where am I going to go?" ha ha

When we were out doing some shopping this afternoon I asked her if she liked to shop and she replied, "BORN TO SHOP!" she has a t-shirt that says that and people read it aloud when she wears it so I assume that is where she got that. I certainly would never teach her such a thing!

My sweet husband had roses delivered to me and gave me a card that I will treasure forever! It said that his life really had no meaning until he met me:) So precious! I am so thankful for the loving and faithful husband he is, loving and playful daddy, and most importantly the Man of God he is, he is walking deeply with the one he met shortly after we started dating and I couldn't be happier! His life is definately built on the solid rock!

Sweet Carolyn

Thanks so much to all of you who prayed for Carolyn, she went home to live with the Lord yesterday afternoon. Amanda has been praying for her and today, she did it on her own without being reminded. I tried explaining that she went to live with Jesus and one day we will go live with him when we die, if we ask him into our heart to be our Saviour. Then I tried explaining the Rapture to her and that I have prayed everyday since she was born that it occurs before either of us die so she will never have to bury me or God Forbid I have to bury her. Sometimes, I pray it more than once a day-depending on the day. I told her about Jesus coming back on a white horse etc. and she listened and told me, "but Miss Carolyn's coming back" and I told her no at the time but then got to thinking that yes, she will come back with him too. (I have never fully understood the Rapture or why God calls those who do so much good on earth home early instead of those who don't live fully for him.......and I am thankful I don't have to understand it, because all he asks for is my faith and he definitely has that even when I may not understand or have so many questions. Please pray for her husband John, sons, Abe and his precious wife Heather, and Dan and extended families as they mourn the earthly loss of her.

Bed time song

Typically, at Amanda's bedtime we all take turn telling bedtime stories, lately Amanda has requested "scary stories" which ofcourse, we don't tell and have no idea why she requests them. We also sing sometimes, last night I told her I use to sing this song to her when she was a baby and started singing it just like this:

Mommy-"Hush little baby don't you cry Papa's gonna buy you a Mockingbird. If that Mockingbird don't sing, Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring. If that diamond ring don't shine, Papa's gonna buy....suddenly I was interrupted with this comment

Amanda-"No, I wanna keep the diamond ring!"

I NEVER TAUGHT HER THIS! Really, I didn't! As she would say, "I taught it myself" or "my brain taught me"

The things kids say just crack me up and I have to keep writing them down for fear of losing them forever in this mind of mine!

This morning we were getting ready for church and church has made Amanda cry the past 2 months and we have no idea why other than they promoted her to a new classroom in September and some of her buddies are in the other room. Other than that we just don't know what is upsetting her like this. We don't know what started this lovely phase, but this morning she started crying before we even left. She said, " I can't go to church." When we asked her why? She replied, "I have a stomach ache!" "I don't like church!"

Daddy said, "You have to go to church to learn about Jesus. " Amanda responded by yelling "I already know about Jesus!"

When we got in the car she was crying and ran away from her daddy in the garage just crying not to go! She was put into the car kicking and screaming! I told her that she could come and sit in church with us but that it was very boring and you had to be quiet because the pastor didn't like for kids to make noise. She said that was ok. Daddy wasn't sure about that one so we made another deal, that she would go into the class and make a picture for mommy and if she got upset they would put our number up and we would come and get her. She didn't want to do this so we just peaked in the classroom and were happy to see our friends in their working! She was happy to see her playmate's mommy. She held her for a minute and was happy once again. She was so excited because she made a very cute harp and she told us that she only cried at "playdough time" the teacher said she only cried for five minutes at transition time so we are making progress. I have heard of the terrible 2's but I have decided that is just a myth and it really is the terrible 3's:) And I've got a year to go!

Are you smarter than a 3 year old?

We had a fun weekend but I don't have time to write about right now so come back later for more pics:) I had to write this conversation though so I don't forget before I get it into "smarties" scrapbook.
We were playing with pretend dishes and food tonight and for some reason being smart came up! Daddy had said something and I told him he was smart!

Mommy- "Is daddy smarter than mommy?"
Amanda- "yes, I'm smarter than you!"
Daddy and Mommy laughing
Amanda-"What's so funny daddy?"

Then today on the way home from a farm/pumpkin patch a car came over into our lane and daddy honked the horn and yelled at them.
Amanda said, "daddy I do not like that attitude"
Daddy-"well, the car wasn't in their lane so I had to let them know so they wouldn't hit us."
Amanda- "Daddy, you need to wait your turn! You need to practice patience!" then she gave him a huge lecture the last five minutes of our trip home........"daddy you need to wait in line" etc so funny!
And we often wonder if our children are really listening and getting it when we tell them these things? They are getting it they just don't always do it!

Perfect Reminder!

I am going through some pics for a project and I came across this one from trick or treating the other night. Amanda was so tired from walking and got scared in the dark so she asked her daddy to pick her up and without hesitation he picked her up. Honestly, because of his nature and love for her it didn't surprise me and I would have been in shock if he didn't pick her up. Then I starting thinking.......you know isn't that just like our Heavenly Father who picks us right up when we are down, hurting, scared, or just plain tired? He picks us right up without any hesitation, all we have to do is ask him to. Thanks for emulating our Heavenly Father to our tired daughter honey! And please just carry us

through the next four years Heavenly Father!

Been a little down........

Wow! This election really has brought me down, I turn the TV on and see all of these people jumping up and down and I just don't feel like sharing their joy! I can't believe I now live in a state of blue! That is really depressing!

I just don't understand how the younger generation being interviewed on TV right now can be so clueless about taxes, and that when more "Free" programs are being added to their lives the money has to come from somewhere. I think this younger generation of kids have had a lot handed to them and now my daughter will have to grow up working to support these lazy, spoiled kids!
But I have decided to just not let it get to me any longer. It is just four years:)

I will just pray for this new President-that God will humble him. But I am not going to guarantee that I can stop my sweet daughter from going around saying, "boo Obama" when she see a picture of him. (I secretly think it is cute, but don't tell her that because I am trying to get her to stop!)

Don't forget to vote!

If you haven't already get out there and VOTE! You are making history either way you vote but we sure hope you vote the RIGHT way! We will still love you even if you don't but Amanda will tell you the one guy will just "take all your money away!"
Happy Voting!

Trick or Treat!

Daddy had to carry sweet Minnie by the end of the night!

I love this walking with my daddy pic!

Amanda was just amazed at the fact all she had to do was say, "trick or treat and thank you" for some candy! I think she would like to do this everyday, but who wouldn't?

She just looks too grown up in this pic! My baby is growing up right before my eyes!

She wasn't too thrilled when this person wasn't home! But then again neither were we since we both wanted to go out with her!

Walking up to the door "by myself"

The stash! Now she is constantly asking in a very soft sweet voice,"can I have a little treat?"

Amanda enjoyed a fun time Friday! We started the day at our favorite place for lunch.........Chick-filet where she ate all 6 nuggets! This is the very first time she has done this! Then we played in the little play area and she traumatized a little girl there because she was just sitting on the pretend log and Amanda wanted to jump from log to log and couldn't with the little girl sitting there. I explained to her that she could sit there if she wanted and she could just jump on the other two and then went back to my bench and watched. She continued to ask this poor child to move and you know when she realized that approach was going to work.....then befriended the little girl by asking her to go on the bridge and you know that little girl didn't sit on that log again! What a little politician my daughter is already! Next we rode the train together........we didn't think we were going to be able to but mommy was able to find just the right amount of cash and change buried in her purse. I had told Amanda we probably couldn't ride the train because I didn't think we had cash and she said, "that's OK mommy, we don't have to ride the train today!" That sweet attitude made me determined to dig for five bucks! I really think that train is a little over priced for a little ride but they didn't ask me and we only go to that mall every 3 or 4 months just for the chick-filet so I can't complain I guess!

Later that night, we were suppose to go to a church festival at a church in our neighbor that Amanda attended bible school this summer at. We were going to just trick or treat to the houses of the three neighbors we know...........but our little girl didn't want to stop. She said,"I want to go to more houses and get candy!" ha ha So we went to about 12 houses and she got quite the stash, she was sooo good about saying "Thank you" when they gave her candy without being told so we were once again those "proud parents" When we got home Amanda had the opportunity to give some candy away to all of those who came to the door, she would sprint to the door the minute the bell rang. She was so excited to see everyone in costumes and give them candy! We inspected the candy and threw out a lot since I am a freak about my child eating any hard candy for the fear of choking and candies that are loosely wrapped. This didn't bother Amanda in the least since she still had plenty and only really cares for all things chocolate! That's my girl!