The Busy-ness of Summer

We had the privilege of watching two "big girls" while their families went to youth camp. We really enjoyed having these girls stay with us. They were a huge help to me and played so nicely with my girls. The first night we let Kenzie join their sleep over... a bit of a disaster, but doesn't she look so cute thinking she's one of the "big girls" even though she is still sleeping in the pack and play??

The bugs love Aubrey and chomp on her even with bug spray on! Poor thing got so swollen up the other day that she looked like and Avatar!

Not to be forgotten... Kenzie needed a picture taken too...

Oh, and one with a "mad face"... (seems like we've been seeing this face a lot as of late!)

Last week Jake went hiking with my dad, brother, poppop, uncles, and cousins... it was a manly bonding trip out west and they hiked for 5 days and 4 nights but were gone for 8 days and 7 nights... killer! Anyway... we tried to keep busy while daddy was gone and going to the boardwalk with Memom and "Miss Brit-tan-y" one night was fun!

My mom only got on this ride because I convinced her that the balloons only spin if you make them spin...

... then I got a mean idea...

We were cracking up and she was begging me to stop... I love seeing my mom laugh like this!

Glad to have Jake back... it was a LONG week and our family is still recovering! Just wanted to post some pics because it's been a while!

All Kenziness

Kenzie-isms:

After she throws up: "Babies in your tummy make you get sick... maybe I have a baby in my tummy!"... (With Aunt Angie being pregnant it has lead to many fun conversations like this!)

"You be the Sweetheart and I'll be the Mama!" (this is her favorite game, but she doesn't know the word for "daughter" so she just calls me "sweetheart" and it is precious!)

"God made all the peoples and Jesus made everything else!" (I love two-year-old theology)

"Mommy, can we both love each other more?" (we play a game where she says, "I love you" and I say, "I love you more!" and we go back and forth like that until one of us "wins"... she didn't want to play this game, she just wanted us to both love each other more out of the blue and it was so sweet!)

I'm not sure if I posted this video before or not, but it is cute!

Dog Days!

Jeff and Angie joined us for dinner last week and brought Angie's mom's dog named Gucci. The girls loved her!! Gucci is going to have her own little "neice" to chase her around soon when Jeff and Angie have their little bambino... can't wait for March 22nd (not just Angie's due date, but also the day she'll hopefully weigh more than I do!!)

But Mom, It Seemed Like a Good Idea...

Ok, so this is where I got the idea for my blog title from. Do you see these little girls covered in dirt? This was 15 mins. before we had guests coming for dinner that we haven't seen for a year! This is the porch that I swept 10 mins. prior to this event. This took place after Aubrey broke a 16X20 frame all over the kitchen floor, after Mackenzie "forgot" to use the bathroom, but before Aubrey's diaper exploded. I looked at Jake 5 mins. before the guests arrived and said, "I really think we're being attacked here... all these things don't usually happen in one night!" God is good, we had a great visit with them... but what a lot of work in the 45 mins. before their arrival!

Another "good" idea was from my two sisters who came over to visit with me yesterday afternoon while the girls were asleep. They didn't want to leave without seeing their nieces so they begged me to let me wake them up! Guess what... waking up a toddler who isn't ready to wake up is never a good idea... but would they believe me, NO! Amy is cracking up in this picture about the grumpiness she is encountering while Angie is feeling very ashamed of herself!

Sure, they look like loving aunts... but they left me five minutes later with two little girls who still needed sleep... ok, ok, so they really, truly are loving aunts... it was just the whole "let's wake them up because we've got to leave" thing... but I love that they love my daughters so much!

Another fun idea was this "tent" that Mackenzie built for herself this morning. I was being a fun mommy and playing with her and suggested that it would be a great idea to make a tent. She said, "That is a great idea, good job Mommy! But I do it myself!" She then set out for the next 20 minutes to gather everything she would need for her tent: playdough, toys, books, and all the right blankets... she called me to come see her "really great idea!" Yes... it was her under a blanket... but she was so proud of herself that I had to take a picture! Picture that cute little face in all smiles underneath the "tent" because that is what she was!

It may have been 80 degrees in the house, but Aubrey insisted on being a "cow" (Mackenzie can't be persuaded that this is anything besides a costume for the Chickfila mascot!)

Mackenzie made this great big tower with the help of her cousin, Conor, on Saturday!

Popsicles always fixed fat lips in my house growing up... what do you know, they still do the trick!


And non-injured parties can't be excluded when it comes to breaking out popsicles on a hot day!

I think I love these girls a lot!

So I discovered the best way to do pool day... bring Memom!



Jamie and I actually got to sit down at the same time because my mom was so much fun and swam in the pool with the girls all afternoon!

Wish we could do this everyday... I love normal pool days, but I discovered pool days when Memom is there is a whole new level of love!!

Just some thoughts, I feel like rambling: I was inside on the rocking chair with my Bible and cup of coffee watching them play together outside. Mackenzie would say, "Aubrey, let's go this way!" and Aubrey would squeal and run the other direction. I was struck by the fact that I am raising two very strong little ladies, both have big personalities and both love to be in charge. I've been praying for their friendship since the day I found out I was pregnant with Aubrey, and so far I've been pleased with how well they do get along. I started to think about what it could look like in the future... will they love organizing things together or will they compete against each other? Will they try to dominate over one another or set aside their preferences to serve one another? How will I train them to think of their sister as more important then themselves? God brought to mind the scripture, "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interests of others." What a task to impart scripture to my children when I struggle to apply it to my own life! I was sitting inside when they had asked me to play, I was looking to my own interests!! I needed to read my Bible, but if I had planned better, I could have had it down before they woke up. How am I modelling to them what it means to put others interests above my own? Obviously, all their interests can't be brought to fruition, or else we'd be watching movies all day and eating M&M's for our meals. But I was convicted that I do need to be willing to read, "Dora's Sharing Day" for the millionth time because it is taking an interest in something that blesses them (I loathe all things Dora). I do need to get off facebook to take an interest in the "new exciting trick" that Kenzie has to show me (and it can be a "new exciting trick" every five minutes and they always seem to involve a new way to jump off furniture!) Jesus came to serve and not be served, and instead of feeling like I've been walked all over physically and emotionally at the end of the day, I want to have an attitude that turns around and gives thanks to my Savior. I've been blessed with two adorable little girls that I have the privilege of serving. And I have an amazing husband who I have the privilege of serving as well... and he thanks me a lot for the little I do. Just was freshly convicted about needing to take on more of a servant's heart in the home and thought I'd throw my thoughts out there... perspective is good when you get bogged down in the day in, day out... feeling grateful for perspective and just wanted to share it.