Mia loves music class!

Once a week Mia (that is what she calls herself all the time now....)  and I go to a music class together. We started last year and loved it so much that we signed up for the same teacher, time, and class again.

 We became friends with another family so they signed up again for this semester too. There are a few   grandparents taking this class with their grandkids this semester which kinda surprised me but they are fun to watch and very nice!

 I think the moms have as much fun in this class as the kids do! I love it and really look forward to going each week. It is a mom participation class so I get to pretend to be different animals and make all the animal sounds, and do all the motions and honestly, where else can I do that?

The first semester Amelia or Mia, was a little shy. She would make me come with her to take the instruments or props back to the teacher...then by the end of the semester she would meet the teacher half way by herself......and now, she receives five stars for participating fully and is eager to run to take the props back to the teacher.

This teacher is a former preschool teacher and totally understands kids and their need for routine and familiarity. She keeps the schedule the same but mixes it up with some of the songs to keep it exciting. Amelia loves the Hello song, and Hot Potato! One day we had a sub and she didn't sing Hot Potato and Amelia still talks about how "they not do my favorite song Hot Potato today!" I hope she gets over it soon!

I am glad she likes to play games, dance, and sing and it is looking like her ability to memorize is going to be a strength for her! She hears something once and then commits it to memory. Most of the time, that is a good thing!

You have come a long way baby and I am very proud of you!

Future husband talk!

Yes, future husband talk already!!!!! We had a fun afternoon out with the girls seeing a movie first. Hubby spoiled them by getting them both a little kids tray with their own popcorn in it, fruit snacks, and a little slushy drink. I told them that daddy spoils them at the movies and to not expect that when they start dating! (never too early to talk about dating standards) I told them it is expensive to get treats at the movies so to not expect that when they start dating their date might not even get them a drink.

Hubby said, "Yes, it cost more for all this than the tickets, so you might have to pay for your own stuff when dating like in the movie, "Leave It To Beaver." We rented that last night and thought is was cute!

Afterwards we went out for an early dinner so early that we were home by 6.  While we were driving home we played the A my name is ______, my husband's name is _______ , we live in _____, and we sell ______ game. When Amanda was on the letter G she said the name Gary for her hubby and then said, "No, I don't want to be married to a Gary because I met a Gary once and he never talked and I do not want a husband that is quiet!"

Hubby quickly chimed in, "You might change your mind about that!"

I am scared!

This week we were driving home in the dark from our favorite baby sitter's house when Amelia said, "Mommy, I am scared!!!

I told her we didn't have to be scared because Jesus will keep us safe and said, "When I am afraid, I will trust in you!"

Then Amanda quoted a verse from Joshua about being strong and courageous to her little sister and told her she could hold her hand!

Amanda learned the verse with her daddy through a program called Awana that we attend. I cannot say enough about this amazing program and the couple who run it! They really know how to teach the kids how to learn the scriptures and motivate them to memorize it not just for a prize, but to truly hide in their hearts and apply it to their life. It has been an absolute thrill to see my daughter do just that this week! Such a proud mama I am.

The other night she told her daddy about a verse in the bible about how we must confess our sins and believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins in order to spend eternity in Heaven. Hubby told Amanda that he thought that was one of the most important verses in the bible. Amanda said, "I think it is THE MOST important verse in the bible because if you do not call on the name of the Lord, confess your sins and believe that Jesus died for you then you won't go to heaven!" She was quite adamant about it being the MOST IMPORTANT verse.

I pray she will continue to hide God's word in her little heart forever!

End of the year review-March

March came in like a Leprechaun....

We had fun celebrating St. Patty's day and made sure we wore green. Amanda was sooo worried someone would pinch her for not having green on.

We made music with pots, pans, and anything else she could find in the kitchen. She loves to spend time in the kitchen still but this year she likes the sink and washing dishes!

Amelia fell in love with playdough! Amanda and I were thrilled since we love it too!

Amanda got creative with playdough. I love our playdough times together! Not just because I love playing with my girls and spending time with them but I really like playing with playdough. I will be sad when they grow out of this stage. Maybe I will have to somehow make my hubby fall in love with playdough! (Not his favorite thing!)

The girls love riding this little car. Not sure if it is because it is in a toy store, or because of Mickey!

We had fun playing dress ups, princesses were a hit and so were my shoes!

We celebrated Dr. Seuss day with a visit from the Cat in the Hat.

That Cat mask has come in handy over the years! I will never forget when I wore it to pick up my nephew at school in the Kiss and Ride line. I will never forget his face!

I see fun times in the future with this mask! The Kiss and Ride line will never be the same!

We enjoyed lots of Spring time walks and talks.....

The girls love to play Mother may I? (Even though my hubby says I play it wrong. ha)

Amanda had her first haircut experience with my hairdresser.

Her hair had grown so long and fast!

She really enjoyed the experience!

Something tells me she is going to love going to the spa with me one day. They  did a fabulous job with her hair! So shiny!

Amanda and I exposed Amelia to our Subway lunch times!

We snuck away to our favorite place for some family time..........

Amelia loved the water park!

We went to story time in the evenings.

We went to the cub club........

We had a great time!

Amanda got to make dirt dessert with her cub club friends while Amelia napped.

Amanda and one of Great Wolf's.

Amelia started an attachment to a baby doll and wanting to bring it everywhere with her but it didn't last as long as Amanda's obsession with her baby doll at this age. She even brought her doll to a dirty farm! (I have learned to say no to things like that with the second child.)

March was all about just staying warm and having fun playing with family because.............we knew what was coming up!!!!

End of year review: Jan/Feb 2011

I am finally finished with the end of the year review for Jan/Feb. This helps me a lot to remember, reflect, and have an idea of what we did for future scrapbooks. (I'm in the process!)

Someone recently asked me to describe the past year and I have to say it has been one of learning to really trust God with my hubby and my princesses. Lots of change, and I do not like things to change, a year of waiting on God for some answers.......not liking some of the answers or the way He chose to work His perfect will.....lots of happy memories, saying good bye to those I love, making new friends, losing some old friends, praying a lot for my family and friends, and learning to be a better wife and the best mom I can be with what God has given me and constantly seeking out more knowledge how I can be a better mom to my girls! So I guess I should say it was a year of Growth and Change, and since I really despise change hence the same hairstyle forever...........it has really been a year of Growth!

January we rang in the New Year with a fondue party with my extended family! It was a lot of fun to have guest to ring in the New Year with. I wasn't sure if my family would like the fondue tradition we have so I made a pot of chili to go along with the cheese fondue. The only problem with that? No one had room for the chocolate fondue so we had some left!

Shocking I know! Amanda was thrilled to stay up until midnight for the first time and drink some sparkling cider from a real glass. I took pictures of the festivities but somehow can't pull them up so you will just have to imagine!

January brought lots of cold weather so lots of play time with Amelia's new slide! Cold days = lots of inside play time!

We had a few puppet shows........

Amanda made these precious puppets at her preschool and presented the nativity puppet show for us!

We played in the basement a lot! Thank God for fun toys and daddy too!

I love the detail that went into these puppets she made at school! I will treasure them forever. (I didn't put them out this year for fear Amelia would rip them by accident.)

We shared lots of love and kisses! It has been fun to really watch this two fall totally in love. Amanda loved her sis from day one but as they grow.....so does the love. It is fun to watch!

Some sledding time!

Amanda and I made a snowman together at mammaw and pappaw's house........the next day we looked out and that same snowman was in our yard! Someone put that snowman in their truck and dropped it off at our house in the middle of the night to surprise us! Guess who would do something like that?

We played at the indoor gym!

Amelia became a snow bunny for the first time since the last time it snowed she was only four months and too little to play in it. Amelia wasn't sure what to think of this wonderful, cold, wet, white stuff and didn't last too long!

January was cold, but fun! February brought my second favorite holiday!

Amanda enjoyed decorating and making Valentine's for her class and for a little Valentine's party for some friends! We love Valentine's day at our house and no, it is not because of the chocolate....that's only part of it!

We had an early card and gift exchange since February brought daddy's first LOOOONNNGGGG trip away from us and his first time to miss Valentine's day. Not too many people understood our sadness but Valentine's day is a big deal at our house!

Amanda and daddy exchanging Valentine's!

Amanda liked her gift!

A sleepy Valentine! (This pic cracks me up!)

Reaching for her cupcake cake........

 Instead of making a paper chain to mark daddy's return...we lit candles for each day he was gone and put little hearts with something to look forward to for each day written on hearts. This helped Amanda focus on things to look forward to since she really had a hard time with daddy not being the one to tuck her in at night!

Icing from a cupcake was all it took for this girl to forget daddy was gone.

Somehow.......both girls ended up in my bed when daddy was gone! Some nights that was all we could do to get them to sleep so I could sleep.

February brought a new love of ice cream cones for Amelia with her first one from B and R.

We celebrated Amelia's year and half birthday with Mickey brownies. (Yes, I know...who in the world celebrates 1/2 birthdays WE DO!) Life is a constant celebration so we choose to celebrate!

February was full of love and waiting for daddy to come home! He did come home and you can bet we did celebrate his homecoming!!!!!