February 29

It's leap day.

Here's a little leap day randomness:

• We paint just about every single day around here. Today was no exception. 

• I will be 30 years old when leap year rolls around again! 30?? It sounds so far away, but it's right around the corner. Sigh.
• Madelyn has been talking about "growing up to be an astronaut" lately. "First, I have to go to school, then I get to be an astronaut and go to the moon." She is one bright little girl with lots of big dreams already.
• We were playing in the yard this afternoon and I tripped. Fell face first in to the grass. Madelyn and I were laughing hysterically, then I looked up and saw my neighbor standing about 15 feet away. Pretty sure the blood in my face ran right down to my toes. Talk about embarrassing.
• Luke and I watched Downton Abbey on Netflix. It's so good. First TV show that I have loved in a really long time. I never just watch a show. Usually I am doing something else at the same time because they can't hold my attention long enough to sit through them. However, we watched all the episodes on Netflix and then caught up to the ones on PBS's website and I just watched most of them while doing absolutely nothing else. So good.
•  Somehow Madelyn has managed to leave voice messages for four friends lately. She loves to look at pictures on our phones and apparently now she loves to call people too. Amy called her back today and left her a little message of her own. MK loved it.
• I accidentally sucked part of Madelyn's doll house birthday banner up in to my Dyson a few weeks ago. We took it apart as much as we could but with no luck in finding the banner. I desperately need to find a repair man. The hand held shark is not exactly cutting it around here.
• My dad let us borrow one of his kayaks. Luke and I love it. I was pretty sure I would tip it over my first time out, but I surprisingly caught the hang of it really quickly.
• Madelyn woke up at 5am. FIVE in the morning. In other words, too stinkin' early. She never wakes up that early. 
• Not only did she wake up, she hit the ground running. And singing. And dancing. And eating. And giggling. She did each of those things within moments of being awake. 
• I accidentally washed one of my favorite white shirts of Madelyn's with reds. It was tucked up in a red sweater and I missed it. I may or may not have shed a little tear before throwing it away. Lame, I know.
• I found out that not only is tomorrow the first day of March, it's the beginning of "National Craft Month". How amazingly awesome is that?? Don't believe me? Google it.
  
  
  
  
  

Psalm 8

     O LORD, our Lord,
        how majestic is your name in all the earth!
    You have set your glory above the heavens.
        Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
    you have established strength because of your foes,
        to still the enemy and the avenger.
    When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
        the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
    what is man that you are mindful of him,
        and the son of man that you care for him?
    Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
        and crowned him with glory and honor.
    You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
        you have put all things under his feet,
    all sheep and oxen,
        and also the beasts of the field,
    the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
        whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
    O LORD, our Lord,
        how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8: 1-9

I remember my Grandma telling me something one time as we were sitting on her front porch watching the birds in her trees and the children at play at the school across the street while they waited to be picked up that has always stayed with me. God's creation reveals His glory to us and brings Him glory at the same time. In the last few years I have been more aware of His creation. For the first time when Madelyn was born, my eyes truly marveled at His handiwork. Each day since, I have seen the world around me with new eyes. New eyes capable of seeing what is around me in a way that has revealed the very nature of God to me.

Thank you Lord for the beauty that surrounds me. You are marvelous!

zoo pals

This morning when we woke up, I KNEW we needed to get out of the house for a bit. MK woke up extra early, I had a few loads of laundry I wanted to ignore (at least for the morning-just keeping it real) and it looked like it was going to be a nice day out.

We tossed around ideas of going to a few different places but picked the zoo and met some friends there. Madelyn had so much fun with Hannah (or nana as MK calls her) while I enjoyed talking with her mom (and baby brother Ethan!). They ran around, looked at the animals and giggled. Madelyn doesn't have too many girl friends that she plays with regularly so I know she was loving it.

She also has quite a fascination with animals. It was our first zoo trip of 2012, but I know there will be many in the days ahead.

I am so glad these little zoo pals had such a fun time together!

Before we left our house to head to the zoo, I was telling Madelyn that we were going to see the animals. She was beyond excited. She had a little celebratory dance party in front of the mirror then scurried to her bedroom. I jumped in the shower to get ready and she ran back in our master bathroom and said, "Mommy, I need to pack a bag so I can spend the night with the lions and tigers and jaguars. What should I bring?" I was pretty much at a loss. My first thought was a rifle, but I didn't really answer beyond telling her that we were just going to visit then come home.

 When I got out of the shower, I found her just like this.

Caught! Can you see that oh-no-I'm-busted-grin under those sunglasses? She was pulling everything out of her closet looking for just the right things to pack in her overnight bag for her zoo sleepover. In her pile and on her already were sunglasses, two hats, rain boots, a bow and lotion. 


I love her imagination. Love it.

the beginning of slow cooker Sundays & a goodbye

After a wild and crazy weekend with the students, Luke was able to join us for a late lunch before his parents hit the road back to Lubbock. I put ribs in the slow cooker before I went to church so they were falling off the bone by the time we sat down to eat around two. They were delicious and I have officially decided that our house will have "slow cooker Sundays" (recipes please?). It sure makes for a much easier and tastier lunch option.

Before Gigi and Papa left, I wanted to get a few pictures in the front yard.

Three generations. Seeing them all in a row like this makes me realize how much they all look alike!

Trying to convince a toddler to smile and look at the camera should be an Olympic sport. If it were in fact an Olympic sport, you could guarantee I would not qualify for the team. However, I couldn't believe we got THREE pictures of Madelyn actually looking at the camera! It's a true miracle!

I loved this picture of Madelyn and Papa waving goodbye to each other. Goodbyes are always hard, but with each goodbye Madelyn just looks forward to the next time that much more!

we have company

We have company!! Gigi and Papa came in for the weekend. Luke has DNOW with the students this weekend so they wanted to come in and hang out with Madelyn. It allowed me to be out late at the events and worship services too.

 

 

 I came home for a little while this afternoon between events. MK was having fun outside with Gigi and Papa.

I am not sure who is having more fun, Madelyn or Gigi and Papa! Either way, I am just so glad that they are getting to spend the weekend together.

it runs in the family

Apparently it's easier to cut paper if you open and close your mouth and make funny faces.

I can relate. This is EXACTLY how I look when I am putting on my mascara! Sorry sweet girl, it just runs in the family.

My Own Very Hungry Caterpilla Coloring Book

Last March when we were visiting Luke's parents in the Valley, we visited the neatest little children's store in downtown Weslaco. A husband and wife owned it and you could tell by talking to them that their favorite part of the store was the book section. They had a few copies of My Own Very Hungry Caterpillar Coloring Book by Eric Carle and I bought two of them.

It's basically just a copy of the book, but all the illustrations are black and white and ready to be personalized with your own coloring. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do with them, but as I watched Madelyn color the other day I had an idea. I decided I would let her color a page now and then again each year until all the pages are colored. I think she will be 11 (I can't even IMAGINE what 11 will be like??) when it's done. I dated the pages (two this time because she colored the title page too) and put it up on the shelf until some time after she turns three.

It was cute to watch her concentrate as she colored.

I can't wait to see what it looks like in 2020 when she's done with it!

It backfired.

Dear Madelyn,
Daddy is the sweetest. He's always wanting to do things for you. Constantly trying to make you smile. One day while you were napping, Daddy converted your trike. He took the harness and side bars off. He also detached the handle that let us push you. He just knew you would be so excited.

Then, you woke up and you were not excited.

You were mad. You threw a fit. You stomped your feet. You cried.

You asked Daddy between tears, "What did you do to my bike??"

Daddy felt so bad. I felt so bad for Daddy. Then, we both couldn't help but laugh. You are one drama mama at times.

Eventually you warmed up to it. Now, you love it. I think you need to tell Daddy you are sorry (again-we've already made you tell him once after your fit landed you in time out).

I hate to say it, but I am sure this won't be the last time that Daddy tries to do something sweet for you and it backfires. I guess that's what life is like with a man trying to make a little lady happy.

Love you sweet girl and Daddy does too. Go easy on him, ok?

Love,
Mom