Some Disney Pics

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Coming Soon . . .

Vacation pics!

Yes, we made it. We had an amazing time, and are on our way home. I wasn't able to blog while we were there because you had to pay for wi-fi at our condo and I just didn't want to spend the money on that! I wanted Mickey Mouse ears instead!

I have lots of pics, videos, and stories. We are spending the night in Georgia and will be home Saturday. I'll update as soon as I can!

By the way, Brenda Nethery was right! Philharmagic was one of my top 2 favorite things! LOVED IT!

FAQ's

Answers to the 2 questions I'm constantly asked by my blog friends . . .

1. Are the bedtime flowers working?

Well, yes. But not as we had planned. The goal was to stop the bickering, and it has stopped. Emma HATED those flowers. She regularly lost one or two, but never three. Finally, she decided that she'd rather take her chances with the "monsters" in her room than to deal with those flowers. She's now sleeping in her own room again, by her choice, and the flowers are still in Grace's room.

2. Are you excited about Disney?

Are you kidding me??? I can't wait! I'm worse than the girls. We used window markers to make a count down on our kitchen window. I recently found out that Disney has a Moms Panel site where experienced Disney going moms answer questions as you plan your trip. I'm hooked! Ask me anything! I'm SOOO ready!

Grace is a 3rd Grader!

Our Gracie is in third grade. She is already loving it. Her teacher is very sweet, and some of her best friends are in her class. She still loves to read more than just about anything. She is crazy about her new dog, and trying really hard to be a responsible dog owner. She's an absolute joy and a constant ray of sunshine for us!

A new addition to the Jolly Family . . .

Meet Buddy, our new dog. Jury's still out on this one. Some days he is entirely more trouble than he's worth. Other days, he's pretty cute. The girls love him. And he apparently loves them. Emma can't take a step anywhere in the yard alone anymore.

He's growing on me, too. Yesterday we were playing in the yard, and he was with us. Every time Emma walked out of the yard and into the field next to our property, he went nuts. He'd run at her, jump on her, grab her clothes with his teeth, and pull. She was getting madder by the minute and I was about to chain him when I had a thought. He was fine as long as she was in our yard. He obviously thinks there's something in the field she shouldn't be around. Then it hit me. We hear coyotes out there at night all the time. Sometimes they are so close to our house that I have actually heard them through the nursery monitor because they were outside Emma's window. Maybe he's just being a pain, or maybe he's smarter than I give him credit for.

Emma turns 4!!!

Our baby is four years old. So hard to believe. For the first time, she wanted a "girly" birthday. No cowgirls, no race cars, just everything pink and princessy.

This was also the first year she was not happy about having to share her birthday with me. Not that she actually had to share anything with me. It was her party, her cake, her guests, and her gifts, just the way it should be. Still, in the weeks leading up to her birthday I could not convince her that I can't just move my birthday to another day "just because". She suggested I move it to Grace's birthday. Grace loved the idea. Hopefully this will pass and eventually she'll realize that it's pretty cool to share a birthday with your mom.

I know, I'm a terrible blogger!

What can I say, it's been a busy summer. Two weeks of VBS, one week of the SBC, and I have no idea where July went. I have lots to update, but for now, all of my blogging energy is going into keeping the Cooks' blog updated as they are in Ethiopia picking up their boys!!

They are due back tomorrow!! I'm soooo excited! After they get settled in, I'll update ours. I promise!

Love to you all!

The story of the three flowers . . .

We've been having some night-time drama. The girls sleep together now, since Emma has suddenly decided that her room has scary shadows at night. The girls naturally pester each other during the day, (I'm told by people with siblings that this is perfectly normal) but put them in a confined space at the end of the day when they are both tired, and YIKES! There's touching, and poking, and laying on each other's hair, and just general irritating madness! So, here's my creative mommy solution: today we went to the store and bought 2 cute purple vases, and three cute fake flowers for each girl. They are now on the dresser in Grace's room. By day, they are a sweet accessory. But, by night, a tool for discipline. It's basically a warning system. Act ugly, and a flower gets removed from your vase. When there are no more flowers, well, not a good night for you.

So, you knew there had to be an Emma story coming, right? Here it is:

Grace needed to know the ins and outs of this plan, and to clarify the rules, and she's on board. Of course, she knows she's not really the source of most of the problems, so she feels pretty safe.

Dwayne is discussing this whole plan with Emma. He says to her, "now, Emma, we are going to keep all three flowers in your vase tonight, right?" She nods in sort of an unsure way, pauses to think a bit, then replies, "Daddy, after you spank me, will you put all of my flowers back?"

oh, dear.

Our Day at the Wildlife Center

One of our favorite places! Best memory this visit . . . being surrounded by an army of geese. Emma was a little freaked out at first, but ended up having a great time. A nice man gave the girls some bread in a bag, and I'd swear those geese can read! They somehow knew even before the bag was opened that it was for them. At that point, we became very popular with the geese. Enjoy!

Our Rescue Adventure

Emma LOVES the show "Go, Diego, Go", because the hero travels around the world saving animals. The other day we had our own rescue adventure when Dwayne found some baby birds that had fallen from their nest. They had to be moved so that they wouldn't be run over by a car. We couldn't find the nest, so we just hid them near the base of the tree and hoped for the best. In the end, it didn't turn out well for the birdies, but Emma and Grace had fun.

Grace's Awards Day Program

Grace was awarded today for her participation in the Regional Spelling Bee, and for being one of the top 10 readers in her grade. And, she's a cutie-patootie!

Only one and a half days left of second grade!!!!

Adoption is Amazing!!

If there was ever a doubt, this weekend proved that our church is awesome! Our combined campus celebration focused on our church's adoption ministry. It was emotional. Not just because I'm an adoptee, but because I was sitting with our friend Jana, who is waiting to bring her boys home from an orphanage in Ethiopia. There was one funny moment for me. At the beginning of the service, they asked everyone who is adopted, or has adopted a child to stand. I stood, of course. Then I looked back at my mom who was just sitting there looking around at everything, taking it all in. Not standing up. Hello . . . mom? Well, I guess that's a testimony for adoption it itself. She forgot she adopted me.

Catch up on Jana's story as she and Kenny wait to bring their boys home.

Emma's Allergies

Emma enlightened me about her allergies this afternoon on our walk to Granny's house for Supper. First, you have to understand Emma. With Grace, I never have to wonder about what she's thinking, because every single thought that enters her brain comes directly out of her mouth. We're working on that. Emma's very different. She processes things completely on her own, until she's certain that she has everything figured out. Then she shares her revelations with you, leaving you trying to figure out how in the world she arrived at that conclusion.

So. She says to me, "Mommy, I'm allergic to dogs, cats, and smoke." Well, the dog and cat thing made me wonder if she somehow had some greater understanding of pet dander that I would have expected. But the smoke thing threw me off. Then she added, "oh, yeah, and pigs!"

Ah-ha! Emma hates smelly things. And above all smelly things, she hates smelly pigs! (Come on, what smells worse?!) So, apparently Emma is allergic to things that stink.

I can't help it. She makes me laugh.

Spring Pics of the Girls

They actually look a lot alike in these pictures. So funny to me, because they are SO different! Grace is so much like her daddy, she's so sweet. And Emma, well, she's me. Only smaller.
I'm learning a lot about myself from her!

Jana and I are NOT losers!

So Jana and I did not beat Kenny and Dwayne at The Biggest Loser. Both of the guys lost weight, especially Kenny. You, go, Kenny! How is it that men can walk to the end of the driveway and lose weight?! That's ok. Jana and I have all summer to catch up!

I know, I know. I'm terrible!

I haven't posted since February. What can I say? It's been a long, hard winter! I'll be better, I promise.

We're finishing up another school year. Second Grade comes to a close this week! I am counting down the hours. I can't wait to not have to drive to school every day! Right now we are sitting at the kitchen table doing minuends, subtrahends, and differences. Holy Cow am I ready for summer!!!!!

Pray, Pray, Pray!!!

Jana, Kenny, Charlie, and Sam have a court date. Next Wednesday is the big day! If all goes well, they'll be traveling to get the boys in just a few weeks. Start praying now. Get more info on the Cooks' blog.

Ice Storm

Yuck! Did I mention that I do not like winter?

Thankfully, we have had power back for a couple of days now. There are still thousands without power all around us, including the Cooks. They've been hanging out here a lot. Jana's even cooking us dinner at our house tonight!

We ended up with 3 inches of snow, an inch of ice, and another 3 inches of snow. It is pretty to look at, if you don't have to get out in it.

Make room, Aunt Patti. If this winter doesn't end soon, we're coming to California!

Make a Smilebox photobook

Yea for Dwayne.

No, I really mean it. I'm happy for him. Truly.

We have both worked out every day since this whole "Loser" thing began. We have both eaten very well, too. I'm really proud of us. We even decided to weigh in to check our progress.

After a week of total dedication to health and exercise, Dwayne lost four pounds. I gained a pound. Yes, you read correctly, GAINED a pound. I didn't gain a pound the week before when I wasn't busting my behind on the elliptical machine EVERY day. Remind me, why am I doing this???!!

The Biggest Loser!

The Biggest Loser Spencer County has officially begun. Last year, a group of ladies at our campus got together and went through the First Place program together. It was a great experience. Some of our ladies lost a LOT of weight. This year, we are having our own "Biggest Loser" contest from January 1 through April 1. I have managed to get rid of most of the baby weight finally, although I guess I really can't call it that anymore since she's 3 and a half! I'm at that point where I want to loose that last 10 pounds or so and it is NOT easy! I do, however, have an extra incentive: Jana and I have our own little competition going against Kenny and Dwayne!

So, it has become a battle of the sexes! The prize, a (reasonable) shopping spree! Jana and I get to go to New York and Company (our favorite store) or the guys get to go to Home Depot (how many screwdrivers does one man need, anyway?!)

Pray for us, Ladies! We're gonna need it!