Happy 4th birthday Natalie

I just tucked my 4 year old birthday girl in bed after a fun filled, full weekend. (pics to be posted at a later time). I have to take a moment and brag on her of course! I have an amazing little girl! Although she has her typical 4 year old little girl moments, she is so sweet, kind and loving. She is full of life and brings me and everyone around her so much joy! She is so creative and smart. She is breaking out of her shyness(thank goodness!), so everyone is beginning to see what an awesome little girl she is. As we are transistioning through this little rough time in our lives, she has been my strength and my motivation. This little girl has just adapted to the changes and still has so much love to give. I pray that her strength and understanding continues as things become confusing to her.
Preschool begins this week! I can't believe this this!!! I miss that little baby I delivered 4 years ago today, and I am slightly anxious as we begin this chapter in life, BUT I am so excited for her to grow and learn and make new friends. She is getting ready to bud into the beautiful flower she will one day become!! I am so blessed to get to watch her and help her grow into something more beautiful than I can imagine!!
Happy Birthday baby girl!! I love you!

Giant Insect

I simply must blog about this monster I saw this morning. I have never in my life seen any insect of this size. I will assume this is a praying mantis, and unharmful I'm sure, but it's size is a little intimidating. It is every bit of 4 inches...yikes!

Thank.God.it's.OUTSIDE.

This thing is and has been on the outside of the window above our fireplace all morning. Atleast I don't have to catch and release this baby like my cousin Ashley did (see her blog getreale)

Enjoy the photos

Soaking

In Natalie's class at church this morning, she made a picture (with a little help I'm sure) of a rocket ship. When I picked her up from class, her teacher told her to explain her picture to me. She said it was a rocketship that took her to see God. Her teacher backed it up by saying they "soaked" in worship music this morning and then asked the kids to draw what they felt afterwards. Natalie said she was in a rocketship that took her to God. WOW!

Spa Day

One day last week, my sister asked me if I was free on Friday. This is back to school season, so I knew immediately that she needed me to watch my 2 precious nieces. I was able to close my schedule at work and was delighted to accept the invitation.



Typically, I don't have all 3 children by myself. I might sometimes have one of the girls in addition to my own, but rarely all 3. My mom and my sister have the trio as a set often and it's no challenge to them, so why should it be a challenge to me you ask? Well, the answer is simple. I feel as though these sweet little girls think that they can push my buttons more than any other authority figure in their life. (Well my dad might be different story, but we have yet to find out.)



Friday morning began so sweet and peaceful. Everyone awoke with smiles on their face and sweetness in their heart. They ate breakfast well, they talked and played nice together, they all let me get them dressed and ready to go without any arguments or 'tudes and they let me get myself ready ......ok this is when it began...I was not more than 6 feet away from these princesses, getting myself ready when toys began getting snatched, screams were let out, hands were pushing and ugly words were let loose. My thoughts were OMG what has happened to these children?



So time outs were served, space was given as well a few words of straigtening out, a strike for each of the big girls was assigned, apologies and hugs were given and off we scooted to the salon.



I was not taking them to work with me, I had some things to drop off and Gracie and Natalie needed a trim. We arrive and I cut the girls' hair. As I am doing Gracie's hair, Shiloh asks for hair to be cut too. Can you imagine what my sister would do to me, if I cut those brown curls??? I can, so I told her no haircut for her, but I would paint her toe nails. She decided to go jump on the couch that I had already removed her from 3 times, so she too received a strike. It was magical. Once they all received strikes, they knew I meant business and they were again sweet, good listening little ladies.



I painted all 30 toes and all 30 fingers. These girls are so cute and so sweet! I wouldn't have traded this day for anything!!! I love you Nat, Gracie and Lo!

Our puppy

In recent weeks, I have been decluttering and separating our things into trash, sell or give away and need/want keep piles. Last week, I was alone at the house and thought it to be a perfect time to do this with Natalie's toys. Anyone with children knows this is an impossible task when the child is around.

I should have prefaced this with Natalie is obsessed with getting a puppy. She loves all kinds of puppies. We recently viewed Hotel for Dogs and it is her new favorite flick. She has asked all summer to get one. I am not a pet lover and the idea of it worries me, but when my little girl askes, can I get a puppy, I melt and want to run right out and get her one. Her dad keeps telling her no, not until she's older because it takes a lot of time and work, and he is also allergic. She always replies with "I will give it a bath everyday!" She was asking for a pup when she turns 4, which is just a few short weeks away. Now she has moved on to when she turns 5.

So back to the toys. For anyone who knows me, we did not get a real pup, but the next best thing. In the pile of "get rid of", which includes all the toys that have not been touched in a year or more, is a puppy. A gray and black fuzzy puppy, with a leash,collar, carrier, comb and brush. You can hear that magical music playing, can't you. She is obsessed with this thing. She named her Aleea. She is treating this puppy as if it were real. She(Aleea) plays outside, has gone to the zoo, eats with us and is equally adored by cousins Gracie and Shiloh. She did, however, leave her home today, tuck sweetly in the bathroom. We were going to the pool and she didn't think Aleea would like that.

I guess she is at least getting her "puppy fix" while I don't have to have a real puppy...I am sure it won't last long. Maybe when she's 6!

thoughts on the moon

" A pig could climb up a beanstalk and he would get to the moon; A cow could jump over the moon and turn out the light"
quoted by, Natalie Macci Foltz (she has the best imagination)