Amanda's bible

Tonight I asked Amanda to do something for me and she got upset. I talked to her about why she got upset and that sometimes she needs to help, blah, blah, blah, and she told me "You are not suppose to interrupt children when they are playing!" "You ALWAYS do that!"

I told her that I didn't know that and she said,"Well, it is in the BIBLE!"
I said, "Really?"
Amanda said, "Yes, in the book of JAMES! No, Luke, no Matthew!"

I guess I need to get a new bible because I have been searching all night and can't seem to find that!

Easter Chapel 2011

This past week we were invited to attend a special Easter Chapel at Amanda's preschool. Chapel is every other week and Amelia and I have attended most of them this year. Amanda loves for us to attend and Amelia loves to attend, so do I! They are so child-friendly and worshipful! I love that they teach the kids to come in singing so they can be in a spirit of worship/reverent. Amelia is doing a good job at learning most of the songs and the motions that go with them. Sometimes, she does get a little loud so we tend to sit in the back.

Amanda coming into chapel with a smile and singing. She had been talking about Easter chapel for weeks! She really thought it was a huge deal and wanted to wear a fancy dress. So cute!

Since on Chapel days she goes to school in the afternoon.....we decided to go to lunch out near the school so we wouldn't be late. She kept asking me what time it was and "are we going to be late?" I asked the man behind the counter what time it was and she told me "you need to start wearing your watch!" She told me, "I think the parking lot is filling up, is it time to go?"

ha ha She is soooo right and soooo perfect for me. I have often heard that I am the perfect mom for my children etc.......well, my kids are the perfect kids for me and do know how to keep me in line!

God sure knew I needed all the help I can get!

Amanda's class made this mural of Zacchaeus.

Amanda was thrilled because the teacher used her Jesus on the mural! Amanda kept telling me for weeks that they were using her Jesus on the mural in the classroom but I didn't realize it would be in chapel! She was soooo excited!

I think she made a good Jesus with sandals too! It has been fun to watch her "people making skills" develop this year. They are getting "bodies" now and details on them that they didn't have before.

The pastor called Amanda, and two of her classmates up to answer questions about the mural they made. Amanda did a great job and talked into the microphone. On the way home from school she said, "I got to talk into a real microphone!" She was so excited that her teacher had chosen her and didn't tell her till that morning. Otherwise, she would have been nervous!

I was sooo very proud of her but I think it is OK to be proud because I looked at the other moms when they had kids up there and they looked proud too!

Another class made this mural of Jesus on the cross and the last supper.

Another class made Jesus praying in the garden and entering Jerusalem.

The kindergarten class made the empty tomb! I am so impressed with all of the murals that I had to get pictures. I am sure people must think I am such a freak running up afterwards to take pictures of murals but I really loved them and wanted them documented for her scrapbook since she was so excited about Easter chapel. Amelia could feel her excitement and got really excited too! They really play off of one another which is fun now........when they are teenage girls..........maybe not so fun!

Celebrating Palm Sunday!

We are getting ready to celebrate the death and Resurrection of the one who makes our lives worth living for, at our house! Since we didn't get any tulips planted in the Fall....we bought some to bring Spring into our home! The girls have been really busy making art and craft projects and pictures to celebrate Easter and Spring!

The girls and I made an Easter wreath together to celebrate all of the events that lead up to Easter.

We also brought back BIBLE CLUB at our home. (the first one since Amelia's birth) The girls really loved it. Amanda wrote out a name tag for all of the moms and tiny tots. She also taught everyone a new song that she learned at her preschool. Mammaw taught the story and did a fabulous job, and what did I do? Well..... really nothing but lead the singing and just be a mom! It was great to be with friends again teaching our kids about Jesus together! Nothing like a room full of kids and moms singing about Jesus!

Amelia wore Amanda's Easter dress from when she celebrated her second Easter for Palm Sunday. Very sweet memories it brought back.

My girlfriend and I were talking about how fun it is to see the clothes again that our oldest children wore on our youngest!

Amanda is really into posing for pictures lately.......um........when we ask for a "real" smile this is what we get!

Amelia made it through the entire Sunday church service for the third time! You go girl! Of course, she started crying and saying "bye, bye," and pointing to the car once we got closer to the nursery door. Daddy came in the nursery and she scream "Oh DADDY" and leaped into his arms. I mean really now, is playing with toys and eating crackers all that bad? It is OK honey, we will keep being patient with you and know that eventually you will tell us you want us to leave like your sissy does. "This is a drop off program mom!" That is what sissy started telling us when she wanted us to leave.

Amelia got a palm branch at church and sang, "Zanna, Zanna" we had been practicing on Friday with our own palm branches. I have a cute video I will have to post of the girls singing and waving those branches!

Palm Sunday is one of my favorite Sundays! The children at our church usually come in the sanctuary waving palm branches and you can do it once you are in the four year old class. So this was the first year Amanda could have done that but the church decided to not allow the children to do that this year due to all the construction going on in the building they thought it wouldn't be safe. So Amanda was right. Every Sunday I would ask her if she learned the palm Sunday song for when she would wave the palms. She told me didn't each time and told me she was tired of me asking! ha She said they were not doing that and she was correct! I know I should listen to her more often.

After going to church we went to one of my favorite restaurants from when I was single or just married and without kids. I quickly remembered that it was not a child friendly restaurant when they brought the girls drinks in glasses with plastic lids that you sip out of and can't use straws. Honestly, I don't think they really want kids there and you know that is just fine with me they don't have to get our business because we are keeping our kids! (the salmon isn't THAT good!)

On Friday afternoon the girls wanted to play in the basement and they got the palm branches out from bible club and started singing "Hosanna" it was soooo precious! It amazes me how young children can learn about Jesus, and these wonderful songs. Just the other day a mommy friend who has a one year old came to bible club and was teaching her child some Easter songs and we was really getting into it. Children are never too young to learn about Jesus and all He did for them on the cross!

Amanda is not only a wonderful big sis, but she is a fabulous teacher for Amelia!

I do try!

I really do try to get a good picture of both girls smiling but........ as you can see it is hard for someone to sit still........ Even when she is being held by her big sis she still manages to squirm........ Or just look away............. sometimes they both look away..........

and sometimes one of them pushes the other away..........

or they look away again.......not sure what is so exciting out there..........

Ah ha! Both looking.........too bad I got it too dark....some day I will read the manual to my new camera

I get this pose alot when she is tired of taking pics.......

Sometimes they get too hyper to take a pic.....

or wonder what my problem is for wanting to take so many pictures..........

the one gets goofy........and the other one wants to watch Goofy........

Well, I do try and just wanted you to know that we do try to get a picture to send you......but as you can see it is difficult. Where is Uncle L when you need him and his photography skills.........?

Keeping me straight!

I have always been thankful for Amanda because she has an excellent memory and keeps me straight! Ever since Amelia was born, I have been known to call Amanda, "Amelia!" and vice-versa! Amanda ususally corrects me and doesn't always appreciate it when I call her the wrong name! Today, we were getting ready to go and pick Amanda up from her friend's house. I said to Amelia, "We have to go pick up Amelia from the birthday party!" Amelia looked up at me puzzled and said, "MANDA!" (Her face was like "get it right mommy!") (She calls Amanda either "Manda" or "Nana") Now if only she could keep me straight on the road! I got lost going to the friend's house because I got in the car and drove straight to her preschool. I guess my car is just conditioned to go that way and my brain hasn't yet recovered from having two kids!

Someone enjoyed.............

the party and the cupcakes but you will have to guess who????????? " I am reaching for that cupcake!" "I think I can....I think I can...." "Got it!" "I knew if I reached far enough I could get my hands on that cupcake before mom saw me!" "Yikes, frosting on my fingers, you know I do not like dirty hands!" "But I don't mind a dirty face!" "Just what are you laughing about mom? This is exactly what you look like when you play beauty parlor with big sister and allow her to do your make up for you!"

"Should I lick the icing off or ask for a towel?"

"I feel so pretty and smell so sweet!"

"NO more pictures please mom!"

"Well, alright let's make a deal.........you give me another cupcake and I will give you another smile!"

"Wow, my big sis can really throw a party and I am so glad she invited me!"