A Little Bit of the Perfect Snow

It has been an incredibly mild winter in our part of the state.  A few weeks ago, we finally got maybe two inches of snow.  It was only a little bit, but it was the perfect consistency for building snowballs and snowmen.  The girls had been waiting for this day to arrive.

We got ready and headed outside.  Taylor and I got to work building our "big" snowman.  Keep in mind, it can't be that big when you're working with only two inches of snow. 

Emma, on the other hand, had a wonderful time attacking me with snowballs.  She would come at me with one in each hand.  For someone with terrible coordination, she had some pretty impressive shots.

We finished the large snow"girl".

Taylor was then motivated to build her own snowman, all by herself.  Man, my kids are getting too big.

Sharing the Love

I've thought a lot about how I want Valentine's Day to look in our house.  Will and I go out on dates regularly and although I love a nice bouquet of flowers, I love them even more when the price isn't jacked up for Valentine's Day. So....we don't celebrate the day as a big love fest for our spouse.  I did get him a card, but only because it was free.  Who can pass up free?

Its easy to become cynical, bitter, sad, etc on holidays.  Its easy to compare.  Its easy to become selfish.  I want to teach my kids to take the spotlight off themselves and look for ways to bless others.  Since Valentine's Day is a day of love, we found ways to show love to others.  I read this a few months back and couldn't wait to do it with our girls.

We started by making muffins for our mail carrier.  She came early and we missed her, so we hunted her down in the neighborhood.  We left them on her car and spotted her later down the street.  We told her they were from us so she wouldn't be afraid to eat them.

Next, we took the remaining muffins to the librarians, before checking out a pile of Fancy Nancy books.

Some local firefighters were the recipients of our box of cookies.  The firemen were so kind and we got a tour of the firestation.  I was disappointed to see no fire pole.  I didn't say that out loud, though.

Aldi was our next stop.  We filled several carts with quarters.  In case you don't know, at Aldi, you have to pay a quarter to take a shopping cart and you get it back when you're done.  I am always THRILLED when I get to keep my quarter!

The girls each picked a car to leave a flower on.  We included a valentine that explained it was just an act of kindness.  Will didn't want people to think they had a secret admirer. 

As we were leaving, one of the cars was driving away and turned around and came back.  A man got out of the car and asked if we were the ones who were doing kind things.  We told him yes.  He gave us all hugs and told the girls how special it was.  He really went on, and on about how happy it made him.  He said he was going to take it home and give it to his wife - it would make her happy, too!  Now, I wasn't looking for praise for my children, but this really worked out perfectly.  Because this happened early on, it was easy for them to imagine how others might feel when they find their surprises!

Next we hit Walmart.  They picked four more cars to place flowers on and then we headed inside.  Now, I don't know about your kids, but every time they see a gumball machine, they ask if they can have one.  First of all, I never have quarters, and second of all, I'd say no anyway.  So, we taped quarters to gumball machines at both ends of the building.  My act of kindness was actually letting each of them get a gumball, too.

We headed home and had a fancy dinner of soup and lunchables.  They got lunchables  because I actually made the soup way too spicy for them to eat.  They did drink out of fancy cups in candlelight.

I think this will be our new Valentine's Day tradition.  The kindness, not the Lunchables.

Don't Wait

A year ago, today, my grandpa passed away.  He was in a nursing home, and had been sick, but not that sick.  There was no warning.  I didn't expect it.  I would've gone to visit one more time.

I found out this morning my neighbor Brenda, passed away.  She too, had been sick, uterine cancer.  I hadn't talked to her in a month and had no idea she had taken a turn for the worse.  The thought had crossed my mind several times to visit, bake her some bread, or give her a call.  I didn't though.  I was too busy, too tired, too lazy.  Brenda was a believer and she is now pain free, celebrating with the Lord, but I'll miss her.

What hurts the most though, is that I didn't know.  It didn't have to be a surprise.  I have been planning in my mind to invite all my neighbors over for pie for three months now.  I haven't done it.  Brenda was the only original neighbor left from when we moved in almost 8 years ago.  I loved knowing her.  She loved us.  That connection with people is so important.  You just don't know how quickly things will change.

I think I'll schedule that pie party now.

Simple Machines

The last two weeks at school the girls have been learning about simple machines.  You know...levers, pulleys, etc.  They have been pointing out every machine they see.  Mrs. Worrell would be proud.  Along with their lessons, they created their own machines.  I loved this project, but once again, it was too large to keep around.  Instead, they will be forever saved in the digital world. 

The first picture is the blueprint, followed by the completed machine.

Inventor:  Taylor
Machine Name: Cookie Machine that Makes Yummy Cookies
Power / Fuel Requirement:  Batteries
Function (What does it do?):  It makes sugar cookies with pink frosting.
Patent Pending:  January 27, 2012

Inventor:  Emma
Machine Name:  Jewelry Machine
Power / Fuel Requirement:  Diamond Gas
Function (What does it do?):  Makes different kinds of jewelry like earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.
Patent Pending: January 27, 2012

One Year of Blogs

Yesterday marked my one year anniversary of blogging.  I tried to think of a cute term for it.

Blogiversary.  No.

Blogday.  Will asked if it meant I blogged on that day every week.

I guess that means no cute name.  Okay then, I'll write a post that will bring my readers (the four of you) to tears.  They will be weeping with joy as I celebrate the wonderful year we've had.

The words just weren't coming.  How can this be?  I always have something to write about.   Except now.  So, I'm writing about having nothing to write about.  Hmmm...interesting.

I have really enjoyed keeping the blog.  I'm going to turn each year into a book.  It will be so fun to read through them later.  It has also been a good outlet for writing.  Writing has always been one of my favorite hobbies and this gives me a way to do it.  Thanks for being interested in what I have to say.

Are the tears flowing yet?  Maybe the sappy music will help.

Emma Mae

I am a week and a half from my one year blog anniversary.  I love reading back through the year to relive  the fun and the not so fun moments of our lives.  Looking back though, I see a lot about Emma.  A lot of it, not so flattering of her.  True, she is more of a challenge than I hoped for as a parent, but it gives me a lot to write about.  She brings out emotions in me that are hard to ignore.  They get stuck in the crevices of my mind as I try to figure out what kind of parent she needs me to be.  How can I make her life more successful?  Well, anyway, I wanted to write a post that highlights some the attributes I love about her.

*She is super snugly when she wakes up.  In the morning, or from naps.
*She loves shiney, flashy things.  Cars, clothes, jewelry, rocks.  If it sparkles, she needs it.
*Her favorite foods are anything sweet.  She takes after her momma in this area.  She can eat sweets like a    champion.
*She has a great sense of humor, but doesn't realize it.  She gets embarrassed if people laugh at her.  I hope she can see that as a good thing, someday.
*Emma has incredible confidence in her own sense of style.  It never matches, but she doesn't mind.  She wears what she likes.
*She loves to dance and does so freely.  She moves however the music takes her.
*She responds well to positive reinforcement.  Now I just need to remember to do it.
*Emma loves doing art.  Drawing, cutting, gluing, painting, stickers.  She loves it all.  She created a whole paper princess that she actually played with until the dogs ate it.
*She is very strong-willed.  This is what causes a lot of the conflict, but if we can develop it properly, it can make her a very strong leader and help her stand her ground when she's older.

God made her a twin, but yet, a unique, special individual.  I look forward to seeing who she becomes.

My Little Dancers

Emma and Taylor love to dance.  Love, love, love it.  I think its great, but wanted to avoid dance lessons because of the cost.  Its expensive.  The lessons, the shoes, the costumes.  Oh my.

So...I encouraged gymnastics.  They liked it just okay.  Taylor worked really hard to get things right, but Emma, on the other hand, didn't.  If things are too hard, she just quits.  That's what happened.  If she couldn't do it right, she just gave up.  And, things were pretty slow paced. A lot of waiting in line.  That left a lot of time for them to get into trouble together.

I finally gave in and agreed to give dance a try.  I'm not sure how things will go, so I signed them up for a month to month class.  I was able to borrow a pair of tap shoes from a friend, but had to buy two pairs of ballet shoes and one other pair of taps.  Its a good thing I had won a Payless gift card at a neighborhood party.  That was it.  I was going to hold off on buying any other "gear" until I knew they would continue with the lessons. 

Last night in the car Taylor asked if they were going to wear ballerina clothes.  I told her no, that we would just wear pants and shirt for a while.  She was so sad.  She said all the other girls would have on ballerina clothes.  She sweetly said they could just wear their play dress-up ballerina clothes.  These things are stained, torn, and too small.  I couldn't let them wear those.  Seeing the fear and sadness in her eyes, I knew that I also could not let them be the only kids without ballerina clothes.  Off to Walmart we went.

I was later explaining to them that they had to listen, pay attention, and do what their teachers said.  They were going to teach them how to do ballet and tap.  Emma said it was okay, because she already knew how to dance.  She then showed me her spectacular tap routine.  I think her downfall will be her over-confidence in her ability to dance.

So, today was the first day.

Waiting for their class to begin.

Taylor has natural ballet talent.  I, and some other parents, were very impressed.  I then showed them my other daughter - the one picking her nose and looking at herself in the mirror.  She did pay attention sometimes, but I'm hoping that her natural talent will come in next week's class.