sweet commiseration

Yesterday I cut my finger while talking on the phone and chopping an onion. I should SO have my own cooking show....

As I was doctoring my finger with a Dora the Explora (I always say "explora" because explorer doesn't rhyme with Dora and that really bothers me) bandaid, Lauren decided that she needed one also. Love that girl.

raise a glass to friendship and to knowing, you don't have to go alone

Last night I met some of my dearest friends for dinner and girl time. I've known these girls for about 5 years now and when I look back at our journey I just can't help but see God's hands all over it. When I got hired at Nixa I was told that I would be teaching 4th grade. I had no idea what to expect and I had never met any of the ladies I'd be working with. I can remember that first year of teaching so vividly. We became teammates first and foremost, but as the year rolled on it became pretty obvious that we were becoming really good friends. The kind of friends you can disagree with and still love to death. The kinds of friends who are there for your good days and your bad and accept you either way. The kinds of friends who know by a look on your face or the crack in your voice that a hugging intervention is needed. The kinds of friends who would beat up anyone who hurt you (or at least would talk the big talk about beating up said person ;) hehe) The kinds of friends who support decisions you make and cheer you on as you head into the unknown.

Over the past 5 years some have had babies, some have moved buildings, some have left teaching completely, some have become building administrators, and some have become math instructors. We aren't together anymore. But, in a way, we still are. We are connected. I think we always will be and I thank God for that. We have some mighty sweet memories and we can laugh with the best of them.

The evening started with Tammy and Leslie coming to pick me up. Tammy brought me a special surprise for my birthday.

Oh yeah, baby! That is the mother of all chocolate cakes. I would try to tell you just how fantabulous it is, but honestly I don't think words can describe it. How sweet is she? I don't even care if I gain 10 pounds from it...it is that good!

LOOK AT THE INSIDE OF THIS THING......Oh my dear!!!! There are like pieces of actual chocolate in there. I have no idea how she made it, but IT.IS.GOOD.

We went to HuHot's for dinner and we closed down the place. Literally. I asked the waitress to take our picture and I as I did I realized we were the only ones in the place. I asked her what time they closed and she said 15 minutes ago!!! We always do that!!! We hardly ever get to see each other and so when we do get together it is basically just a huge talk fest. Which I love. LOVE.

I love these girls so much.

when I am down and need to cry till morning
I know just where I am going
when I'm in need of sweet commiseration
to speak out loud
raise a glass to friendship and to knowing
you don't have to go alone
we'll raise our hearts to share each others burdens
on this road

with every burden I have carried
with every joy it's understood
life with you is half as hard
and twice as good
~Sara Groves~

from this one place

from this one place I can't see very far
in this one moment I'm square in the dark
these are the things I will trust in my heart
you can see something else
something else

I don't know what's making me so afraid
tiny cloud over my head
heavy and grey with a hint of dread
I don't like to feel this way

- Sara Groves, From This One Place

a picky eater, a clever mama, and a koala bear

If you've been on the phone with me the past week or so, you'd know that it hasn't been the smoothest one. I've probably talked your ear off about struggles with my sweet and usually very lovable 21 month old. We've had some trying days to say the least. Thankfully, I feel like we are making some progress on some discipline areas and things are really starting to mesh again. It's been a lot of hard work and being consistent, but I am feeling the fruits of the labor. Thank you, Lord!

One of the issues we've been dealing with is Lauren not really wanting to eat. At all. I know that this is probably just a phase, but it makes me nervous when she doesn't eat. Or doesn't eat well. Lunch and dinner have been stressful as I TRY not to act like her refusing to eat is a big deal. Because deep down inside the part of me that likes control wants the girl to just eat her food already. If there is one thing I have learned from being a parent it is that you cannot make a child eat.They have their own will. It is a strange thing! ;)

Today for lunch I thought I would try something different. First of all, I limited her morning snack and made sure that she didn't have anything to eat for about an hour before lunch. Even when I was making the lunch and she kept saying, "bie, bie", I didn't given in. I was afraid that if I fed her anything at all she would refuse to eat her lunch. Then, I put her lunch together like this:

From top right: strawberries, heart shaped pepperonis, grapes, grapes, strawberries, mac 'n cheese

I've made her "Muffin Tin" lunches before but it had been quite a while since the last one. Let's just say the girl was excited!

She went right for the grapes. She also loved the pepperonis. I have this adorable tiny heart shaped cookie cutter that I cut the round pepperonis with. They were adorable!!!

After she ate, her plate looked like this:

This was a BIG deal for this mama. I was so proud of her. She even asked for more of the pepperonis!!!!!

After lunch she wanted to play with her koala bear puppet. I think my mom got this guy for her before she was born and we have LOVED it. She likes to make him read books...

...and love on him!!!

My goofy girl!!!

melissa and doug, you have stolen our hearts and made playtime so much more fun

Melissa and Doug toys are the best. Seriously - the.best. I love them and so does Lauren, which is really the most important factor, right?

My friend Leslie got Lauren her first Melissa and Doug puzzle and Lauren has been really good at putting together for a while now!

Just recently I got Lauren a set of their nesting blocks. I wasn't sure if I was wasting money on them but after having them for over a week, I am so glad I bought them. I found them at Marshall's for $7.99!!!

They are so much fun because Lauren can stack them or nest them or knock them over or look at the pictures on the sides or.... You get it!

Stacking

So proud!

Hiding the baby blocks and thinking about where it is. Too cute!!!

Being a total goof!!!

I just got her a new Melissa and Doug shapes/colors puzzle and she's been having fun putting it together. Here's a video of her!!




Here is a video of her playing with the Melissa and Dough lacing beads. She asks for her beads a lot. Love the end of this one!!!

oh what a day!

We had a wonderful day yesterday. We spent the morning playing with her new Melissa & Doug toys (post coming soon) and playing outside. It was absolutely gorgeous. Lauren went down for her nap around 11:30 because she woke up pretty early yesterday. She always asks for her binkie "bennie" and says "nigh, nigh". It is the sweetest thing ever. I just love it!

When Lauren went to bed, my mom came over to do my hair. I knew if she got here before Lauren's nap that Lauren wouldn't sleep because she would be too excited. It worked out really well because it took almost her whole nap period for my mom to highlight my hair. Disregard the lack of makeup! I thought I'd show you a picture of how crazy I look when mom does my hair. It was the perfect day to sit outside and wait for the color and whatever else she stuck in there to stick.

While I warmed under the sun, Lauren and my mom went to check out the peony bush in our back yard. It is stunningly beautiful and I am so glad the previous owners planted it! Right now, there are just a lot of little bulbs with ants crawling all over them! My mom said that if your peony bush has ants on it that is a good thing. They were there last year and the flowers were so beautiful so I hope that means they will be gorgeous again this year!!!

So my mom took Lauren over and let the ants crawl over her hands. Lauren thought it was absolutely hilarious!!!

They have way too much fun together!

When my sweet mother-in-law, Bev, was here last she taught Lauren how to walk up our concrete landscaping blocks in the backyard (with help, of course!) and it has been Lauren's favorite thing to do since then.

She had to try it out on Grammy!

Then, she wanted Grammy to climb them. I had to get this. Too funny!!!

After all the fun outside, I went in to wash the color out of my hair and get ready for our afternoon. My mom does such a great job with hair. I have no idea how she does it but it's so nice to have her expertise! I really appreciate the time and work it takes. Thanks, momma!!!

The finished product! I feel like a new woman. My hair was in desperate need of some help. We waited a little long between colorings!

Once we were all ready we headed out to do what girls do best - SHOP!!!

A girl could get lost in Hobby Lobby!

Of course when we got home, Lauren had to color with "calk" on her chalkboard. (Shawn drew the elephant and truck)

How precious! Thanks, mom for spending the day with us. We had a great time!!!

my mom's favorite month ;)

May is my birthday month.

I'll be 27.

I remember when that seemed really old.

It doesn't seem so old this year.

In fact, it seems really young.

And hip.

Like totally.

Yep, this is going to be one young, hip, and happening birthday month.

My wrinkles and gray hairs are ready to party.

My cellulite (too much?!?)  and varicose veins (thanks, mom) are NOT invited to the celebration.

This is a happy time after all.