Crazy Hair Day

According to Graham, this is his "chicken hair" look ;)

See those tears rolling down his sweet face?

After the 'do had been done (with the help of plenty of hair goo) he had second thoughts about crazy hair day at school. First he laughed... and then cried! I'm standin' there saying "honey, you've been lookin' forward to this day for TWO weeks!" Anyway, he seemed to feel better after we reassured him that there would be lots of crazy chicken hair at school today and that it really would be fun. We'd even been saving up those thick locks of his for a haircut later that afternoon so that there would be plenty of craziness up top ;) So, he was ok with that and posed with his silly face so we could remember our teary-cheeked, chicken-haired fella on this momentous occasion.

Letting Go

Something about pregnancy helps me to focus a little better on the things that are most important to me. I feel a little more relaxed than usual and able to let go of the little things that usually overwhelm my heart and mind. As the years pass, I'm finding it easier to release the things that just don't fit into our priorities as a family. When I start to slide down the slippery slope of involving myself in a myriad of plans and activities that I shouldn't (and I do!), it helps that my husband is willing to gently encourage me in another direction (I try to do the same for him ;)

Which leads me into my random thoughts for today.... getting ready the holidays. I get excited just thinking about it. This time of year awakens anticipation in my heart that Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner.

Two years ago, I started keeping a notebook for the holidays...an idea inspired by this lady. This wonderful tool has done more to keep me focused on the important stuff than anything else. Now, I have to say I do not follow her ideas and format exactly, but the principle of being prepared and PURPOSEFUL about the holidays struck a chord in my weary heart! I have been known to work myself into such a frenzy trying to get it all in there and would end up exhausted, overwhelmed, cranky with my loved ones and physically sick. There are so many things I want to do each year to make this time of year meaningful and memorable, but I am a human with limited energy and resources...I want to make them count for what's most important in the long run.

There are two things I especially love about this little notebook. One is the list called "traditions" which include subcategories: food, decor, activities and new traditions to try this year (also keeping in mind the things your family does NOT like to do). I also added a subcategory: things I want to try for next year. That last part just frees me y'all! ;) Without fail, about a week before Christmas, I will see ideas on a blog/magazine/tv and think, "oh I love that, I must try that!" And then I try to cram it in when things are gettin' crazy and it's just no fun...and not good for my marital relations, plain and simple! So this "try it next year" section is the spot where I just write it down. All of those wonderful last minute ideas now have a home...most importantly not on my to do list. :)

My second favorite part of this trusty notebook is "ingredients to buy" for those wonderful holiday recipes that we enjoy in November and December. She suggests buying everything you need for favorites way ahead of time. For example, when I was little, my mom used to make sugar cookies and we'd cut them out into shapes and decorate them to share or to save for Santa Claus. This is a tradition I wanted to continue with our children. So, I bought the ingredients ahead and then when we had a free afternoon, I had all of the supplies ready to go, without any stress or pressure-just plain fun. Little things like this are helping me to let go. Replacing the stress and unrealistic expectations I have with a little pre-planning and focus so that I can relax and enjoy making memories with my family and loved ones.

Please share: Do you have any ideas for simplifing life as we prepare for the holidays?

This might be what fall would smell like...

...Pumpkin Cookies!

My mom used to make these for us with raisins in them. Any baked good with pumpkin in the ingredients is a big winner in my book! I needed to bring a snack to church this week, couldn't find my mom's recipe, but used this recipe instead...soft, yummy and super easy to make!

EDITED:

Here's mom's recipe!

Pumpkin Cookies (FBC preschool: makes 3 dozen)

Cream - 1/2 C. butter & 1 1/4 C. brown sugar, add - 2 eggs, 1 can pumpkin & 1 1/2 t. allspice -

Mix well and add 1 C. raisins, add - 2 1/4 C. flour, 4 t. baking powder & 1/2 t. saltStir in 1 t. vanilla

Drop by teaspoon onto greased pan.

Bake 15 min. at 375 degrees

Reecie's New 'Do

Here's our busy girl posing for a few pics of her new 'do...but only if her buddy "Ellie" can be in the pics, too. I think it's still a bit crooked....but we'll have to wait till we get back to FL so that Ms. Diana can straighten up the damage done by Hannah Reece and I! ;)

If these look appetizing...

then you might be pregnant, too! ;) These funny goodies are given at MOPS meetings to congratulate expectant mothers.

Here's the first glimpse of our third child at 14 weeks and 6 days:

Well, actually it's not our first glimpse, here's our baby at only 4 weeks gestation. Do you see that itty, bitty, teeny tiny black dot?? Look REALLY closely...yup, there he/she is:

Isn't it miraculous?? In just 10 weeks, from what looks like a tiny speck of pepper to a person with arms, legs, a heart, a brain and the beginnings of every little part. We are thankful.

Here's what I wrote at the bottom of the page:

Dear precious tiny one,
After a 6 hour flight from Seattle, Washington to Fort Myers, Florida I decided to take a home pregnancy test…one that Daddy and Grandpa bought at the grocery store along with a lemon cake that sounded DELICIOUS! Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa all anxiously awaited the results…YES! We’re having a baby! We praised God for your life! We learned about you on Saturday, July 25, 2009, on Papa and Kailey’s birthday.

After a visit to the doctor and an ultrasound, we learned that you’ve been growing for four weeks. You are so tiny, we call you our little pepper! What a joy to see you at the very beginning of your precious life. Daddy is THRILLED (and that’s putting it mildly!) and I’m so excited too, of course wondering what life will be like as a family of FIVE….blessed, that’s for sure. It really is amazing to think that all the days of your life have been planned and ordained by God himself, even though the thought of you is still so new to us.

Your big brother, Graham, and big sister, Hannah Reece are over the moon excited about you! They think about you several times a day and have big plans for you little one. It is a privilege to carry you for the next 9 months… I love you.

Sweet relief...

Oh how we've missed "kid's night out's" at church and wonderful grandparents that are pleased to enjoy some quality time with their grandchildren. These times have provided much needed times of respite for Dan and I from the demanding job of raising young children. We now realize how spoiled we've been for the last 5+ years! I have a renewed appreciation for groups like MOPS where I can go and enjoy the support and encouragement of other mothers, while our children are cared for in a safe and nurturing environment.

A few weekends ago...my Dan decided to take the kiddos to Disney W*rld...all by himself...for the weekend! What a man!

At that point, I was still in the throws of the first trimester-feeling all yucky and tired, not really wanting to be alone, but also not very much fun to be around, if you know what I mean! ;) My poor family. The thought of "what am I going to do with my self all weekend?" kept popping into my thoughts, but I was determined to enjoy the time to try and rest. I'm not good at resting...I wish I was! I tend to be a real busy body. Seasons like pregnancy and post-partum can be so frustrating at times, but needed-because I have no choice but to sit down and realize that I have limitations. Dan has been amazing. I've had all-day sickness with this pregnancy, which I never experienced with our first two children. What a been a HUGE relief that Dan has windows of time during the day and evening to practically do it all, so that I can rest and wallow in my yuckiness!

The first night was quiet and felt strange! I tried SO hard to sleep in, but woke up at 5:30 am!! Those kids have me programmed. :) I thought I might sleep, rest, watch movies all weekend...but no. Without my little ones here, I had this sudden BURST of energy to do some of those projects that have been hanging out on my list for way too long...and some newly inspired ones, too.

So I started working towards this...it felt good to narrow down our closets to the minimum, switch out my wardrobe for clothes that will fit my expanding girth ;) and for the first time in many, many years.... switching out the warm weather clothes for the cold weather clothes! The best part of narrowing our clothing selections down is that it means LESS LAUNDRY to contend with!!!! Yippee!

Next, I got all inspired to make one of these. It's still not finished, but I'll post some pics soon! Oh, how I enjoy this season of autumn!!! More about that later...

Then, this post came just in time for my next project...paring down/organizing my memory-keeping supplies so that I could spend the little time I have working on simplified album keeping. Especially as we add a new little person to this family...memory keeping is about to get even a little more challenging. Stories + Photos, that's my goal.

Caught this chick-flick...of course not NEARLY as good as the book! :)

And last but not least...learned how to sew!!!! My parents and Aunt Cindy outfitted me with a sewing machine and all of the necessary sewing "notions" for my birthday/Christmas last year...finally cracked that puppy open to give it a whirl (only NINE months later ;) ! Thank goodness it came with an instructional dvd that even showed me how to plug the dern thing into the wall, sweet! I started working on my first project, one of these. Several weeks later, here's my finished product (hanging in my m&d's house ready to celebrate Reecie's 3rd b-day with our family in FL):

The birthday girl was so tickled with it she didn't even notice those frayed edges and crooked seams, bless her heart.

My people had a ball at Disney. Dan called regularly to check in, and most of the time, I could hear the music to "High Scho*l Musical" BLARING in the back ground at the HSM Parade at Hollywood Studios and he'd say "guess where we are again??" :) Have I mentioned that Hannah Reece LOVES that movie?? (I like it too :) Between the hotel pool and Disney, the three of them spilled into our front door tan and exhausted with big smiles plastered on their faces ...ready tell me all about their adventures. I felt refreshed and so thankful for this family God has entrusted to me.

The Case of the Missing Hair

It was late one night, and the little girl crept out of her room, afraid of the dark....again. When she emerged into the light, her parents noticed something different about her appearance...that monster in her closet must've eaten pieces- no, CHUNKS of her HAIR! The little girl's daddy ventured into her room to discern what had happened in that quiet room....after all, the little girl had been so quiet for so long, her parents thought that she was sleeping!

Here, our innocent victim, obviously terrified by the whole ordeal:

Here's the evidence the little girl's daddy bravely uncovered:

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

Update: Feel relieved to know that the weapon was recovered, though hidden carefully under the victim's pillow! Be assured that authorities have been alerted and WILL get to the bottom of this crime. ;)