Birthday Celebration

Sadie  has been looking forward to her birthday since Analise's birthday a month ago. I'd frequently hear her singing happy birthday to herself. So when she woke up this morning, and I told her happy birthday, she was thrilled. We walked into the kitchen together, and I turned on the lights. I wish I would have caught it on video. It went something like this:

Sadie, stops dead in her tracks after seeing the balloons, " woa...birthday balloons?"

Me, "Yes!"

Sadie, "Thank you mommy!" and gives me a big hug.

We had cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and I let her open one present. She got new pink, sparkly shoes that she just loved.

Another sweet moment was when Maisie got out of bed. As she climbed down the ladder from her bunk bed, she sang happy birthday to Sadie.

 We had Kindermusik this morning, so that was a great place to be for the birthday girl. Here she is dancing.

 Grandma picked up Sadie to take her out for lunch. Sadie had lots of fun and was probably the most excited about drinking lemonade with a straw.

 Miss Maisie went over to Aunt Sarah's house for lunch; it was a special time that Maisie enjoyed. They made a sweet card for Sadie. When Maisie gave it to Sadie, Sadie said on her own, "Thank you Maisie!"

And since I had no children home for lunch, I met my man at a Chinese restaurant for lunch with him. I'd been craving for an outing with him, so this was just what I needed.

 After daddy got home from work, it was time to open presents! We gave  her the shoes, a new Curious George movie, a summer outfit and a piggy bank. Oh, she loves that piggy bank. Now she can put pennies in her own bank instead of Analise's. (Sorry Analise. :))

 They do love each other!

 Grandmom and Pops gave Sadie her own stuffed Daschund. Now all three girls have their own "Minnie." She hasn't gone anywhere without that dog since we got it.

 After presents we ate a quick supper and even quicker birthday cake dessert. We had to rush out the door for Awana. She didn't mind the rush.

 I admit, I couldn't decide on what kind of cake to make for Sadie Lady. When I would ask her what kind of cake she wanted, she answered with "an eyeball cake." I like to pick something out that represents who they are. And when I think of Sadie, I think of singing. She LOVES music and loves to sing. So how does one make a music cake that a three year old understands? I mentioned an ipod cake to Brandon the other day and shared my concern that she wouldn't know what it was. The next day Maisie was holding my ipod and pretending it was a phone. Sadie says to Maisie, "No Maisie; that's for music." And that's when I knew I could make my three year old an ipod cake.

It was a good day. She wore her "birthday girl" shirt all day, so people would naturally ask her how old she was. The stinker always answered, "Four."  She enjoyed talking on the phone with Grandparents, and aunts and uncles. I enjoyed talking with them, too, after Sadie's two minute conversation was over.

Sadie, we love you and are blessed by you. God knew you were just what we needed!

Blink of an Eye

Doesn't the saying go something like: the days go slow, but the years fly by...

I think back three years ago where I spent nine weeks in this room. I look at pictures and watch the videos, and it all comes back to me: my feelings, the smells and the tastes. I almost can't let myself go there.

 And then she comes...all 2-13 lbs of my little fighter. Again, I look back at the pictures and videos and get overwhelmed. Makes me think of the Mercy Me song - "I just can't say enough about You..."

 She was so fragile and yet so determined. As I tucked her in to bed tonight I told her, "God has big plans for you." But really, hasn't He already shown Himself in her first three years?

 And here we are today. She's three years old and weighs 27 lbs. No one can tell by watching her that she had such a rough/early start to life.

And the one thing that doesn't change:

Lovely

Plus

 Equals:

Lovely, isn't it?

The Granny Awards

Last Monday was Analise's school music program. She was SO excited!  We enjoyed watching/listening to all the K-2 kids sing and dance. Of course, a special first grader had most of our attention. The songs were nursery rhymes put to fun music. Thanks Gma, Gpa and cousin A for coming, too!

The Last Two Weeks

Let's see...what did we do "different" the last couple of weeks?

I took the girls to the children's museum twice. Once with other friends; once without.

I took Maisie and Analise to the local college girl's basketball game. It was going to be a family ordeal, but Sadie threw up minutes before leaving. (Turns out she was fine; she just overdid it on some candy...) Anyway, thanks to a friend we had free tickets, and we wanted to go see our Twin 2 play. The girls did much better than I thought they might do, and we had lots of fun. I sat with friends that I don't get to see much anymore, so that was a bonus. The girls loved seeing T on the court!

Brandon was sick for a couple of days. Poor guy. Thankfully no one else caught it. In fact, I told the girls to not kiss dad on the lips because we didn't want sick germs. Later Brandon walked down the hall toward Maisie, and she yelled, "Don't kiss me!!"  He stayed home one afternoon and one morning. It was nice having him around in the mornings!

I've been busy with church things. Our children's director resigned, so that means more meetings to make sure things are getting done. The girls tag along with me and play nicely while we meet. I am also spearheading our church VBS, so that is taking some time.

Last Friday night we took the girls to dinner at a local BBQ place and then walked across the street to see a night time sky show at the planetarium. It was a great (free!) event. We had to split up for seats, so I got Analise and Sadie. Before the show began I showed Analise some of the constellations on a piece of paper. Then during the show she saw the same constellations. I felt like I knew something. :) So often when they ask me a question, I send
 them to their dad.

We had a snow day yesterday. We slept in and then made a family list of what we wanted to get done. We had things on there like cleaning, picking up rooms, watching a movie, making chili, make homemade cinnamon rolls, playing specific games and playing outside. The only thing we didn't get done was playing Pretty, Pretty Princess. For dinner, other family members came over to join us, and after the yummy meal, the kids had a dance party. Fun times!

Monday evening Analise and I went to the boys' school music program. She and I enjoyed it all!

Two Sundays ago was the first Sunday in our new addition and sanctuary. It was such a special time!  I enjoyed worshiping in a new place with more people, and the girls enjoyed the twist slide down to the new basement.

Analise finished her Awana book and got her blue ribbon. It's hanging on her bedroom door.

I am enjoying my women's Bible study. We are doing a James MacDonald study called, "Lord, Change my Attitude." We are going through five sinful attitudes and replacing them with Godly attitudes. It's based from the book of Leviticus and the sinful attitudes of the Israelites while they were in the desert. First week: complaining. Second Week: coveting. Third week: Critical spirit. Needless to say, it's been good and convicting!

Saturday afternoon I went with my sis in law and nephew to the local Christian bookstore to meet the author and family of the book "Heaven is For Real." Wow...what a book!  It's an easy yet amazing read. It's the story of a four year old's trip to heaven while he was in surgery. A must read!

Sadie  is in a bad habit about coming in our room during the middle of the night; sometimes more than once. She comes in to my side of the bed, so I send her to the bathroom and then tuck her back in. It doesn't take long, but it still interrupts my sleep. I'm not sure how to break this habit. We've already cut back on her fluid intake before bed.

I think that about sums it up.

Funny Memories

The girls are at the age where they say the funniest things. I do my best to jot them down, because I want to remember them. Here are a few recent ones.

Maisie, "Look, there's a hospital truck!'
Analise, "It's called an 'assembly', right mom?"
Me, "That would be an ambulance."


Me: "Maisie, were your cousins at Grandma's house for dinner?"
Maisie, "No, K was out with Jesus."

Maisie's verse the other night: "I am going to prepare a place for you."
Maisie's version: "I am going to eat a pear for you."

The other day while riding in the van, Maisie wasn't  using kind words. Sadie says in a loud voice, "Go to your room!"

Maisie asked me the other day: "How did Jesus make himself?"

Common phrases from Maisie:
" I can't know." (instead of I don't know)
School is always called "School all week."
"Mommy, what's your favorite color?" She asks me about ten times a day. If I don't answer is correctly, she reminds me that the answer is blue.
Basket is backset
I learned something about Maisie. She doesn't usually recognize the beginning sound/letter of a word. However, when she asked me to spell "mom" and "dad" the other day, I told her and she wrote it down. A week later I asked her to write those two words, and she remembered how to spell them.

Last night during her prayer, Maisie thanked God "that mommy and daddy love each other." How sweet is that?!

Birthday Girl Favorites

On Analise's birthday, I asked her a bunch of questions while we ate dinner. And I just found my list, so here is the part two of the birthday post. :)

Analise's favorites at age seven:

Color: gold

Fruit: strawberry

Veggie: corn on the cob

Breakfast: donuts

Snack: cookies

Animal: cheetah

To do outside: play at the park

Board game: Monopoly

Toy: Zhu Zhu pets

Subject: science

Singer: Aunt Sarena ( a couple of days later she added Toby Mac)

Memory from last year: the wedding

If she could go anywhere: Indiana

These answers didn't really surprise me; I am thankful that I know my daughter so well.