Busy December Days (& Nights)

We are in full Christmas mode around here and have some very joyful and enthusiastic little girls who are loving all the activity and excitement.  I have settled my hyper self down a little too and am feeling more peaceful and less frazzled, at least for the moment.  In the last couple of weeks, the girls have enjoyed reading Christmas books and watching Christmas shows and movies, driving around at night to look at lights, making ornaments and cookies with friends, constantly moving the decorations around the house, and helping me with my shopping (taking them with me is stressful, but it means we are in and out of the stores in record time, which is good for me - I could hem and haw for an hour before making a decision if it were just me).  We were sad to miss our town's parade because of nasty weather, but we did make it to a live nativity event that was really sweet.  And tomorrow we are planning to go caroling at a retirement home with a group of friends....we've been practicing our songs and making cards for the "older ladies and gentlemen" (the best description I could come up with to help give the girls an idea of what to expect).  Thanks to my sweet husband, I've also had the chance to get out alone a couple nights and have some fun socializing and crafting with friends.  He has been so good to take over and even do baths and bedtime by himself so that I can have a much-needed breather.

Here are some pics of what we've been up to lately....I generally just take pictures with my phone, so the quality isn't always great, but hey...as long as the memories get captured somehow.

Maddie has an amazing imagination and loves making up and narrating stories as she plays.  She had a great time decorating her animals with Christmas ornaments and putting on a parade with them!

Hadley's new favorite activity is helping me in the kitchen.  I don't love having helpers when I cook and sometimes just tell them I don't have any jobs for them, but Hadley in particular is overjoyed when I do let her participate.  Just know if you ever come over for dinner that someone may or may not have used the serving spoon for tasting...

Her second favorite activity right now is wearing this get-up.  All the time, everywhere.  Including to bed sometimes.  Pants are optional, though.

Reagan just loves being Reagan.  She frequently marches to her own beat.  She is our most outgoing, friendly child and is usually the spokesperson for the group, especially when talking to adults; the other two are a bit more shy with others.  She loves doing anything creative....like, say, decorating cookies.  The more sprinkles, the better!

 We've tried to talk a lot about giving and not so much about wishlists and the like, but kids are kids and these girls are smart.....they know that presents are coming.  If they're good helpers in a store we usually let them look at toys for a few minutes.  It's been helpful in giving us some gift ideas.

I don't know if this was supposed to be a hint.....but unfortunately three singing machines will NOT be under the tree.  Sorry, girls!  It was a fantastic triple performance of "Part of Your World" in the middle of Big Lots, though.

Love these girls and the Christmas memories we are making!

Gray Areas

There are so many gray areas in parenting (at least it seems that way to me).  So many situations where it feels like there is no clear answer on how to handle things.  Always lots of opinions, but sometimes not a one-size-fits-all solution!  I want to diligently train my girls to obey and to submit to the boundaries and expectations we set for them, but I also want to give them grace and not fall into legalistic parenting.  I am thankful that we have seen some fruit recently.  By the Lord's grace, some of our efforts to discipline have started to pay off as the girls seem to be internalizing that it's right and good to obey mommy and daddy even when we are telling them to do something they don't want to do.  At this age they are starting to get the whole cause and effect thing and it has started to sink in that disobeying equals an unpleasant consequence.  This does not mean that we have arrived!  And just when I start to believe we have, I am quickly humbled!  We are all works in progress around here.  At 32, I still struggle to obey....so I don't know why I sometimes act so surprised when my three-year-olds are slow to catch on!  Those wills are STRONG.  (Just like mommy's!)

Two areas have caused us some discouragement lately: picky eating, and #2 potty "accidents" that don't seem very accidental.  I know I am not the only mom who has a hard time figuring out what to feed everybody three times a day, every day.  First world problems: too many choices!!  So when I finally do plan and prepare a meal, it's incredibly discouraging when nobody will touch it!  And it's not like I'm offering brussel sprouts and liver, either.  The overly sensitive part of me wants to take it personally.  The control freak in me wants to "make" them eat it.  But the rest of me is tired of fighting the battle.  So, we have decided that until eating habits improve, 1.) no more snacks, and 2.) not eating dinner = going to bed hungry.  We've gone back and forth on offering fruit at night if they complain about being hungry, because honestly, by 7 PM I really just want everybody to go to bed, and empty tummies usually make it harder for them to fall asleep.  But for now we are sticking to our guns on this....I am willing to offer to reheat whatever I served at dinner, but if they refuse, sorry, kiddo.

The other "gray area" issue is with two little girls who have gotten lazy about going #2 in the potty and are consistently (at least once a day each, usually more) going in their undies.  We've been working on potty training for over six months now, and I KNOW they can all do it.  I truly believe they just don't want to stop playing long enough to go.  If it were the occasional accident, that would be different.....but I'm washing out several pairs of underwear each day, and - sorry for the TMI - at 3 1/2 the poops aren't little and cute anymore.  They're gross.  And pull-ups just add to the laziness because the girls think of them as diapers and won't go to the potty at all while wearing them, for #1 OR #2.  So, we've been going back and forth on whether or not to discipline for this, or what to do to fix the problem.  Yeesh....gray areas.  We've finally decided to take away TV as a consequence, and to be proactive we've also reverted back to the reward chart if they will successfully go to the potty.  Anything to give us a break from this stinky habit!!

Hopefully soon we will have worked our way through these current challenges...and then, of course, it will be on to the next one(s)!  I am learning that as a parent I have to constantly pray for wisdom - and I'm starting to understand that this will always be the case.  There IS no arriving!  Thankfully God is patient with us when we're clueless, when we blow it, and when we forget to trust him.  We are also very blessed to have the wisdom of our own parents and of other experienced parents in our church who take the time to pour into us.  I'm glad we don't have to do this alone!

Martha, Martha

As I sit down to write this, I realize I am sitting in something wet on the carpet, and I don't know what it is.  And I don't plan to find out.  Sometimes it's best not knowing.

I also realize that it will take more than one sitting to get this whole post written.  That's OK.  Most everything I do in a given day is done in fits and starts.  A lot gets started, and not much gets finished.  And there are a lot of fits.

I have reheated this cup of coffee three times already and will most likely go for a fourth before I eventually give up and pour the rest down the sink. One child is melting down because she sneezed into her hand and now there is "something yucky on my hand!!!!" and one is naked except for socks and an undershirt and now they are fighting over who gets to walk Snoopy - that is, pull what is supposed to be an outdoor light/decoration around by the cord.

They will watch more TV today than is recommended by whatever organization has time to analyze such things.  Am I a bad mom?  They will most certainly eat too many processed, animal shaped foods that have long ingredient lists.  I'm a bad mom.

I've made my to-do list for the day, and it's discouraging.  Maybe getting off the computer would help.  I spend too much time on the computer.  On top of all the regular stuff, there are so many Christmas-y activities I'd love to do...ornaments and crafts I'd like to make with the girls, yummy treats I want to bake and share, cards to send - if I could just get them bought first.  Wasn't I going to make this year more about Him?  I'm frustrated that the girls aren't really into the advent activity I've tried to do each night.  I want so much to help them understand.  But I struggle myself with drowning out all the distractions.  I should be eating better.  I need to get organized.  Did I start the washing machine??  What are we having for dinner tonight?  How can I not know what we're having for dinner tonight?  Next year, I'm starting earlier.  

I am worried and upset about many things.

Just like Martha in Luke Chapter 10:

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Only one thing is needed!  Why do I keep forgetting??  True, some of my concerns are valid.  There are tasks that must get done in order for our home to keep running smoothly.  Like every other mom of little ones I know, I am busy and stretched too thin, and it's a challenge to find the time and energy for everything and everybody that needs my attention.  But it's also true that I am quick to get my priorities all out of whack.  That I get frazzled and stressed out way too easily.  That I worry too much about all the wrong things.  

Only one thing is needed!  Jesus said that Mary chose what was better: sitting at his feet, listening to him.  Not running around crazy, "distracted by all the preparations."  I imagine the tone of his voice when he reminded Martha of this - gentle, loving, patient.  Sometimes I take out the Martha and put my own name in instead.  I want to pour out my heart to him, but sometimes I only have the time to say, "Lord, I'm worried and upset about many things!"  

He is so patient with us.  He had so much grace for Martha and he has so much for me.  He is so kind to remind me that only one thing is truly needed, and that the one thing is him.  Time in his presence, time in his word.  Yes, getting organized would make me a more efficient helper for my husband.  Yes, I do need to figure out what's for dinner; that's part of the job he's given me to do.  But if I'll just stop, and be still, and choose what's better - setting my heart and thoughts on him - he is always faithful to help me with the rest.  How many times in the last three years have I seen him make time in my day when there shouldn't have been enough?  When I give him my to-do list and ask him to help me prioritize, he is always so faithful to show me what I need to lay down or let go of so that I'm able to do what's most important by his standards.  And when I still don't get it quite right, his grace is sufficient.  

Thanksgiving Fun

We've had a nice, quiet, relaxing Thanksgiving.  It was awesome having Daddy home with us for four days, especially after the many hours of overtime he has put in at work lately.  He and the girls got in lots of time playing together, which was mostly him "being a monster" and making funny faces/growling at them while they ran around the house screaming at the top of their lungs.  I even got to sleep in a few mornings and take a nap or two!

On Thanksgiving night, the trio [of picky eaters] wasn't too interested in leftovers, so we made pancakes for dinner with the promise of a special treat later.....their first hot chocolate!  Not surprisingly, it was a hit!

This little ham enjoyed hers in full winter attire, which she has taken to wearing around the house even when it's not that cold and we're not going anywhere.

We have put up almost all of our Christmas decorations, and after a few days and only two or three ornament casualties everyone has finally left the tree alone....thanks in part to the appearance of an animated snowman decoration that plays a wonderfully obnoxious version of Jingle Bells.  (Well played, Grammy!!)

Mesmerized by the magic of the singing snowman:

The girls absolutely LOVE this and spent almost all of Saturday pushing the button repeatedly and dancing and twirling around to the music.  It has led to a record number of sibling squabbles, which have resulted in many, many talks about sharing and taking turns, but they have had such a good time with it -and have stayed so independently busy! - that I can't bring myself to take it away for very long.

Say "Snowman!"

Now watch a certain young lady in a pink shirt.....one arm goes up in protest as a sister takes a turn pushing the button....

And down to the floor in full-on tantrum....

Ah, Christmas....the season of giving!  Sometimes I think it would be so much easier to have three of everything, but I guess it wouldn't be nearly as interesting, nor would there be as many "teachable moments."

Looking forward to all the adventures December may bring!

Feeling Festive!

The stretch from October to December is my favorite time of year.  I love fall and getting caught up in the excitement of the different holidays.  This fall has been especially fun so far, since the girls are 3 1/2 now and are really starting to understand and participate in all the celebrations.  In the last month, they've been to the state fair, been trick-or-treating, helped daddy celebrate his birthday, and visited with both sets of grandparents....I worry that they're going to start expecting life to just be one big party!

I've been trying to do my version of "school" with them a couple of days a week, which mostly consists of learning a new letter, relating it to a Bible verse and/or story, and doing lots of arts and crafts (it's amazing all the things you can make out of a paper plate).  It's never very official or organized, NEVER looks the way it does on Pinterest or other people's beautiful blogs, and seems to go best when I fly by the seat of my pants, but it works for us.  The days can be a little monotonous if we don't break them up with projects sometimes!

This morning my three little turkeys made some turkeys of their own:

(I got the idea here:  http://happyhomefairy.com/2012/11/05/easy-turkey-craft/ )

I have to confess, I have a very hard time not trying to help (read: do the girls' projects for them) so they look "right."  When I worked in a preschool I was told that it was about the process and not the product, but that just doesn't jive with the way my mind works.  I have loosened up a lot....but still working on it.

After the turkeys we went out in the backyard to find some sticks and branches to make this Thankful Tree!

(I got my inspiration here: http://www.simplyvintagegirl.com/blog/index.php/2010/11/27/the-thankful-tree/)

  I'm excited about the way it turned out.  We each named a couple of things that we're thankful for and I wrote them on "leaves" I cut out of scrapbook paper.  For now it's on the mantel but I've been known to move around decorations (and furniture) quite a bit until I'm totally satisfied with their placement.  There's a chance I need to work on being more easily satisfied....

And even though I've always had an unspoken rule about waiting until after Thanksgiving, I think we might put up our Christmas tree tonight!  I have to admit that in years past, I've sometimes felt it hard to get as excited about Christmas as I'd like to.  There are always so many expectations, which are often unmet, which lead to disappointment.....all of the rushing and spending just leave me feeling empty....and I've wasted a lot of time worrying about what I've felt I "should" be doing to make it into something it was never intended to be.  I can see now that my focus has just been in the wrong place.  But last year I read on a Facebook post about someone who was asked if she was ready for Christmas and answered, "I'm always ready to celebrate Jesus!"  And that has resonated with me ever since.  How could I ever be anything less than completely excited to celebrate Christ??  This year, the Lord has worked in my heart in so many ways; I feel like I've grown so much in my walk with him and he continues to enable me to love him more and more.  Christmas just feels different now.  Instead of dreading it, trying to make it into MY perfect holiday experience (and inevitably failing), I'm fighting to to keep my eyes, mind, and heart focused on our perfect Savior.  We are ready to celebrate HIM!

Welcome!

For a while now, I've been wanting to start a blog about our family, my adventures staying at home with the girls, and all the ways God has been working to teach, grow, and change me in this crazy phase of life.  I've come up with all kinds of reasons and excuses for putting it off, but lately I've found myself wanting to not only be creative, but also to document (beyond facebook status updates!) all the fun, silly, sweet, and also occasionally desperate and overwhelming moments that make up our days.  So, the time is now!  Welcome to my new blog.  I hope that you will enjoy visiting with us and seeing what our family is up to.  But more than that, I hope that by his grace and through his spirit in me, the Lord might somehow use my words to encourage you and to bring glory to him.