A Girl with Character

Analise has always been a little chatterbox. She loves to ask questions, share things, tell stories, you get the idea. My prayer for her is to use her speach to glorify God. (My prayer for Maisie is that she will use her hands to glorify God. :)) Anyway, the other night I got a phone call from her teacher. Thankfully, I knew I didn't need to be nervous. She told me about how at school they highlight a character trait each month. At the character assembly each teacher gives an award to a student who lives out that trait. All that to say, Analise was chosen for the character trait of "Speaking with Good Purpose." Yeah! She didn't know she was going to win, but we knew so we could attend the assembly.
So Friday morning came, and we were ready to go. Brandon was going to meet us there, but he came home instead. He was suffering from an ear infection, and the pain meds he took made him feel lousy. (That's a story in and of itself, that I won't go in to.) Bummer, he couldn't go. Thank goodness for Grandma and Aunt S. close by who were willing to come.
Analise didn't see us sitting with other adults, so she didn't know we were there. At the assembly, the kids talked about speaking with good purpose and what it meant...using kind words, not hurting others, ect. However, before they announced these winners, they had another drawing. As a school ,the kids get stickers for when they are caught doing good. The teacher then fills out a form and puts it in the class bucket. At the assembly, they randomly draw a name, and that student gets a prize. Wouldn't you know it...Analise won that, too! A bonus for us already being there. When she was called up front, she finally saw us and gave us the biggest, most satisfied grin. She was excited about the award, but she was more excited to see family there. After that was finished, she was then announced as her class winner for the character trait. We are so proud of her and thankful that she is using her speech to be a light for God. May we continue to pray that for her, and for me as well.
Analise won a lunch with the prinicpal and came home with a nice certificate. I have a cute picture of her with it, but since it has her last name on it, I don't want to post it. We'll have to settle for the picture I did post. :)

Life

We have been enjoying the nice November weather. It's so much better that October. We've gone to parks, played outside, and I have loved watching all the girls enjoy it so much. Sadie is finally able to play at the parks since she is now a walker. And she's not only a walker...she's a climber! She climbs the play equipment all by herself and goes down the slides by herself. I stood behind her as she climbed up 8 vertical steps to go down a metal slide. That girl; she amazes me. I now let her play out in the back with the other two. She climbs up the ladder and down the slide there, too. I still get a little nervous. :)
Sadie seems to be developmentally catching up to her real age. She is saying more words, (but she still won't say mom or dad.) I hear: juice (for milk of all things) apple, help, ball, balloon, choo choo, and others that I am probably forgetting. She will still jabber in complete sentences. Sadie's latest thing is taking off her clothes, mainly her feety jammies. Most mornings if I don't go in her room as soon as I hear her, there she stands in only her diaper. The other day she kept taking off her shirt. Goodness! She continues to go everywhere and get into anything she can. She is also bringing a diaper to me when she is stinky. Another new thing is she shakes and nods her head when I ask her a question. It's so cute seeing her head bob up and down.

They all cuddled up after baths...couldn't pass this moment!

As Brandon and I were enjoying lunch one day, the other two were busy playing. As you can see from the picture, they were quite entertained as the moved almost everything from their room to the living room. I think the quiet lunch was worth the cleaning up...

More updates to come.

Halloween Birthday

We woke up to sunshine on Halloween morning. YEAH! My birthday was already off to a good start. The girls got up before we did, but they played in their bedroom. Once I was up and went to tell them good morning, the first thing they said was, "Happy Birthday Mom!" Analise is so good about remembering important things.
Brandon made breakfast and then took the older two birthday shopping. I enjoyed an hour of quiet at my house. Sadie got into things still, but at least she was quiet. :) I even talked to my sister on the phone in the peace and quiet. Amazing.
We then got together to celebrate with the family here in town. My mom in law made me a delicious lunch. Florentine soup, homemade bread, and my sis in law brought over fresh pineapple. Mmm... I brought the birthday cake: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake. I won't toot my own horn, but it was good.
I was very blessed to get some great gifts! I got fun things for the kitchen, a new candle, itunes cards, a new electric blanket, etc.
One thing I have learned about Analise a few months ago, is that "gifts" is one of her top love languages. Not only does she love to receive them; she loves to give them. She just loves shopping for someone, and she can keep it a secret! The gifts from her were extra special.

Here are the ladies of the house:

We got a fun package in the mail from my parents. It had candy, stickers and each girl got their own card with a $5 bill in it. Sadie opened her card and just ooohhhed. It was too cute!

Saturday afternoon was an afternoon of leisure. I read a book for awhile and then went shopping by myself. Isn't my hubby good? :) When I got home from my errands, we were going to eat a quick supper and then head out trick or treating. I found Analise on the swing, complaining about be tired. I was concerned but figured she was just hungry. However, once she started supper and just picked at her pizza, I got more concerned. I took her temp...103. BUMMER! Analise has been counting down all week for trick or treating, and now she couldn't go. I gave her the option of riding in the van to go see friends/family, but she chose to stay home and watch a movie. Poor thing. I had to do a little of my own pouting, too. This is the 3rd birthday where something has been a bummer. Two years ago, I was on bedrest. Last year I got sick. This year, Analise. Brandon offered to stay home with her, so I took the other two out. We went and saw some friends first, so the kids could see each other dressed up. We then went to meet up with the cousins and walk in their neighborhood. Maisie had a blast! Her older cousins did such a nice job of including her. I carried my "bunny" around, but at one point I put her down. She walked right up to the front door and helped herself to candy. She was not going to miss out!

My sweet chicken

"Eat More Chikin"

My Lil' Bunny

We were very blessed to have someone loan us these great costumes! I love seeing the girls dress up, but I am too cheap to buy a costume and not crafty enough to make my own.

Before I forget

I don't want to forget a couple of things...
Here are the two girls actually sitting down and enjoying something together. One of these days they will be best buds, but now they don't play together all that much.

Analise's cookies that she decorated. It was a LOT of work on my part for those cookies to have that frosting....
Maisie loved decorating, too! A wise friend suggested I give the girls gum while they frost so that don't lick their fingers and utensils. Maisie had gum and still licked!

A couple of Analise funnies:

1. Yesterday at breakfast she announced, "Satan is going to eat breakfast with me." Wanting some clarification, I asked her to explain. She told me she had named her new plasic snake, Satan. I suggested we change the name. The snake is now called San Diego.

2. Last night at supper, Analise says, "I like cash." My first response was, "Me, too!" I asked her if she knew was cash was. "Yeah, it's what I am eating." Um, that would be quiche. :)