Build-A-Bear

Today my family & I ventured out to have a family birthday celebration for Ava. First stop was Red Lobster, the birthday girls choice. Then we went to Build-A-Bear because Ava & Kalli both had gift cards to spend. We had alot of fun! It was our first experience there and boy do I wish I would have thought of coming up with an idea like that. What a great place for kids to go.

Ava chose to get a (you guessed it), Hannah Montana Bear and Kalli got a pink Monkey with the help of her sister. Ava had more to spend so she got two outfits for her bear with some shoes and Kalli got one outfit for her monkey. I will post some pics later of the girls with their dressed up animals. They both had fun, but got really tired of being in the store because the stuff line was a little long. All in all a great experience!

We finished the day off with a stop at Marble Slab for some birthday cake ice cream. Yummy!

Ava's Rock Star Birthday

Ava will be turning three, tomorrow, December 29th. It is hard to believe! She is growing into such a little lady. We celebrated her birthday on Saturday in Rock Star style with cake, ice cream and a pink bounce house, which was every bit worth what it cost.


I just want to list a few things about my little 3 year old that I love.

• I love that she loves to sing and is not afraid to express herself
• I love how she sings at the top of her lungs "Hosanna in the Highest"
• I love that she wakes up every morning with such sweet hugs and kisses
• I love how her tongue sticks out when she is concentrating really hard
• I love to hear her pray and love that she can't wait to go to church every week
• I love that she gives her all in everything that she does
• I love to watch her dance
• I love when I catch her kissing Kalli on the head just because she wants to
• I love that she loves to read and brings books to me and Wayne to read to her
• I love that she teaches me new things daily
• I love that God chose me to be her Mommy

She is truly an amazing child and I look forward to watching her grow. She was everything we wanted and more, and without a doubt, worth the 3 1/2 year wait. Thank you, Lord, for choosing us, thank you for making us wait, she has blessed us beyond imagine.

We love you sweet girl with our "whole hearts"!! Happy 3rd Birthday!

Christmas in a Nutshell

Wayne & I had so much fun with the girls this Christmas. Ava really got into the whole celebration of Christmas. Kalli really just wanted to eat the paper and climb all over her presents. They each have such unique personalities. My heart was filled with much emotion as we got up on Christmas morning.

Ava's most favorite present was her Hannah Montana guitar. For those of you who do not already know, she "is a Rock Star". The stage really is her friend and exactly what she received that evening from Nana & Popo. Yep, her very own Hannah Montana stage. So now she has two favorite gifts her guitar and her stage. If you have not figured it out yet, she loves Hannah & Miley.

Kalli liked it all. Especially that which was not hers. However, if I had to pick one gift that she has been crazy about it would be her miniature four wheeler that she got from Nana and Popo. What can I say....I guess grandparents really know how to spoil them:) She enjoys riding on it backwards. Yeah, I have not quite figured that out, but everything she rides she usually does it backwards.

Anyhow, we did our annual pajama gift opening on Christmas Eve and we all got a new pair of pj's to sport on Christmas morning. That is a favorite childhood memory of mine that we have carried on even now.

I love Christmas....everything about it....the spirit of the season, seeing family, eating lots of yummy food, opening gifts and most importantly celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus. My prayer is that my children will grow in the Lord and celebrate His birth, death and resurrection every day, not just at Christmas.

I could add so many things about Christmas but I wanted to just give everyone a little tidbit.

I hope everyone enjoyed Christmas and having time off with friends and family.

Uh-Oh

You never know just how sweet it will sound until the words "Uh-Oh" come out of your child's mouth for the first time. Today, while at Wal-Mart, I clumsily drop several Christmas tins that hit the ground and unfortunately sounded like the whole shelf had come tumbling down. As I lift up, red in the face, certain the entire store is staring at me, Kalli stretches her neck out over the edge of the buggy and so sweetly proclaims, "Uh-Oh" and smiles with that big dimply grin. I forget to remember how embarrassed I am because in that very moment, my daughter, my sweet, sweet Kalli had just said a new set of words for the first time! My cup over floweth with joy!

I do not want these moments to pass me by.

As I look over at my Ava, she is pushing all the buttons on these dancing Santa's that are singing, "I like to move it, move it". (This just happens to be her favorite statement of the moment thanks to Madagascar 2) So yes, she has managed in the short amount of time, while Kalli and I are connecting on the word Uh-Oh, to push about 10 buttons one after another. I laugh and begin to chant with Ava, "I like to move it, move it!!"

These are the moments that I waited so long for. The moments I prayed so hard for. The moments that God gives to us all, hoping we won't let them pass us by.

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Yeah, I am unsure why the paragraphs did not space quite like I had them. My blog looks like a big blob. If anyone knows how to help me let me know!!

Santa Baby

I am sitting here with the fire place going, old Christmas cartoons playing, and the smell of Cinnamon and Spice in the air, I am getting so into the holiday spirit!! Ava & I have been singing Christmas songs all day and I took the girls to the mall and had their picture made with Santa. Ava did so good....she jumped right up on Santa's lap and put her beautiful camera smile on. Kalli did okay....it was so cute when she turned her head to see who I had actually sat her on, her little lip started to quiver and tears started streaming, it was almost as if she were so shocked she could not make a noise. However, she is still fighting off her ear infection....we actually started a second round of antibiotics today so no smile from Kalli for Santa.

Also, I am just about finished with my classes for this semester. The hard part is behind me. Now I only have two test and one assignment and then I will be free for one month. Woo Hoo!!! I have only four courses remaining after this semester....so graduation is set to be Dec 09'! I cannot believe it!

I wanted to share a little bit about a paper I wrote this semester. It is on the act of foot washing. First, let me say foot washing was a customary act that was normally done by a servant or slave to cleanse feet prior to entering a home or eating a meal. Normally people walked around in sandals, no socks, so their feet were probably very dirty and stinky. In John 13:1-17 Jesus is within His final hour. He has surrounded Himself with all of the disciples that have followed Him on His journey. He is sitting, about to partake in the Passover Meal, when He gets up, takes off His outer clothing, wraps a towel around His waist and begins washing His disciples feet. What an intimate moment the disciples were able to share with their Lord. He was their Leader, their Lord, their Master, and He performed a selfless and humble act that only slaves would normally do. He showed to me that we are no greater than our neighbor, we are here to share and show His love and do for those as He would do. His love surpasses all that we can understand, but His love for His disciples in that moment is tear jerking.

I want to live the life of a servant! I want to do for those who are in need! I want to be an encourager, a worker, a do-er, a friend......I want God to work through me to show His love to somebody in need or whom is lost.

My post is getting a little long so I am going to end with this. There is no better time than now to start serving or Lord. Send a card, support an angel tree, serve food to the homeless, take cookies to someone who needs a little uplifting. Watch and see what God can and will do through you;)

Have a lovely evening!