Small Successes and Thankful Thursday - "One Small Step... " Edition

Good Morning!!!!

Well, I'm here. It's been a pretty good week. The kids have been great, and we've been doing more - getting out, etc. But, it is tiring. It's nice to just stay in and relax today. I'll be seeing my sister later on, so that will be great too.

It's been an up and down week. GREAT week for family time, friend time, seeing movies and my girlfriends - but hard too. A friend of a friend lost her baby (he was 3 months old and named Berkley) to SIDS this week, and with little Gift in the house, I've been touched by this news - such a raw loss and emotion. I didn't know them well, but as a mom - it affects you. My mom has surgery next week, so we've been trying to do things with them, or let the kids sleep over, before they are out of commission. Thanks for any thoughts and prayers for Berkley's family, and for my mom's knee replacement surgery next week. THANKS!!! Oh - I was sidelined with some major tooth pain (or gum pain). I made it to the Dentist, but it is too soon to see what is causing it. It kept me sidelined some, and I have a massive headache today and we're staying in aside from seeing my sister. ARGH - how did people of the old days cope and deal with teeth issues pre-dentistry? I applaud them. Heroes!

So...what did get done this week?

1. I got out with the kids. Some alone (yippee!!) and some with my niece helping. We did an indoor play gym one of the days which was a real treat for my girls. I was tired, but the effort paid off in happy girls and good family time and memories (since this summer, my girls see me dosing off so much - fun memories LOL).

2. The house is straight. Not deep cleaned, but straight. It'll do as we head into a fun weekend of family, company, and celebrations for the 4th. Friends who love you don't care how your house looks!!

3. I remembered today was Thurs and called just in time to sign up Lovely for another library program in a few weeks. I almost forgot, and things can fill up fast. It should be great - it is about hands on science! I'm trying to get in gear for homeschooling.

How is your week?

Thankful Thursday
This week I am thankful for...

1. prayers and people coming together in loss and finding comfort.
2. Dentists.
3. my parents.
4. my friends.
5. my sweet kids.
6. a healthy Gift.
7. naps.
8. faith.

Blessings!!!

I know I shouldn't hate...

but I really hate SIDS.




* This is the 2nd child in my walks of life I know to die of SIDS. That is 2 too many.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Berkley - 3 months old. Beloved first child, and grandchild of a dear family. He ONLY EVER knew love, smiles, cuddles, and sunshine (I'm trying to focus on that fact - how lucky he is over me in that fact. But, I admit, it is hard). He is in a far better place, and it is our hearts and dreams that suffer loss now - but God works in mysterious ways. VERY mysterious (I'm adding this to my long list of what I need to ask God about when I meet Him - because, why did this happen?). We just have to keep the faith.

I hold Gift ever close tonight - my girls too. Life is so fragile. And we should not ask "Why me?", but "Why NOT me?" We never know when these crosses hit us, so we need to savor every day and keep the faith.

Bless you Berkley. Bless his family and hold them strong.

And...that is all I know to say. There are no words, really.

Look Who is TWO today!!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Sweetheart. Thank you for bringing your patter of little feet in our home and being so magical, elfish, and princess-ish. You bless us constantly!

More pics from today to come. This was when she woke up this morning :) It's been a family style celebration with lots of bubbles...her FAVORITE activity! Lovely even made her cake :)

Much love little Val..we love you!!

Small Successes and Thankful Thursday - "Head above Water " Edition

I'm still here!!!! Just enjoying our little family and figuring out life with 3 kids, while trying to shower, brush teeth, and sleep too. Hey - I need something to list as successes, correct? HEHE!

I'm not around here as much, but I'm trying to take little notes on what we're up to so I won't forget. I love journaling it all down here, but I'm not as free as I used to be.

After skipping out last week and not sharing any successes - I'll try again this week.

1. By far, our biggest success was the getting together of family and friends and our church family for the baptism of Baby Gift. What a morning. What a day!!!! Welcome my son!!!

2. I remembered to play tooth fairy WHEN WE ALMOST FORGOT!!! Lovely lost her 1st tooth Tuesday, and I crashed earlier than usual, followed by hubby, and when I woke for a late feeding, I was like...TOOTH FAIRY!!! We got it done! She got a gold 1$ coin, a toothbrush, and got to keep her tooth (she wrote a note to the tooth fairy to keep it). We also started a new tradition my sister told me about (she learned from her students she teaches). We left out a tiny cup of water for the tooth fairy in case she was thirsty. "Apparently", sometimes when the fairy drinks - fairy dust will fall into the water that is the color of her dress that particular night. The next morning, the leftover water is some neat color. This morning, the water was blue! Hmmm, wonder what color dress the Tooth Fairy will wear next time? Lovely was so excited to wake up this morning and see her gold coin. She woke up me up so early all aflutter..... :)

3. Ummm....let's see...I uh, FINALLY changed my blog header to show little Val older than a baby, and now show our whole family - but...I've forgotten how to do a blog header. The pic is too big, and I'd love to do 3 pics again to take up some space up there....any tips?

Wishing you a great week!!! How goes it??

Thankful Thursday
This week I am most thankful for...

1. the coming together of my family, friends, and church family to welcome our precious son. If you could not be there, we missed you!!!!! Love you!
2. the gift of our son and two girls!
3. my extremely helpful husband.
4. SLEEP when I can get it!
5. our health.
6. weekends :)
7. hidden blessings.
8. honesty.
9. challenges.
10. laughter.

Blessings! Love!

THREE

I really have three gorgeous kids? Pinch me!!!





Three. I love it!!!.

Wordless Wednesday "1st Lost Tooth" Edition!

She keeps saying "I loosed my tooth!" hehe! yay! (she's holding it....)

Summer Mornings...

Many Thanks to baby Gift for sleeping so I could enjoy some time with the girls. I can't get over Val will be TWO this Saturday.....she's a cute chef in training. Lovely did a great job too!





And, one last sleeping baby picture....poor boy stretched out on a girlie boppy:


Life is GOOD.