Bright and Early

It's 6:33 a.m. and I was sitting here on my couch trying to spend a little bit of time reading my Bible before I head off to work. It was so great, the house so quiet. Then all of a sudden through the monitor I heard loud and clear (coming from Em's room) what sounded exactly like (in a high squeaky voice that can come only from an 11 month old) "HI Eyyie!" Not once, but 4 times in a row. She does say "Hi" a lot. And I have been trying to get her to say her big sister's name...sometimes it comes close. So I thought it was pretty cute...her attempts to do that this morning. Way to go EMS!!
Now, she needs to go back to sleep. It's not time for her to wake up yet. :)

Also, walking into Kroger yesterday a fire engine drove by us in the parking lot. We stopped to look at it and all the firefighters waved at El. She waved back. As we walked into the store, she said to me, "Mom, do we know them? Why did they wave at me? They must know my name. Everyone knows my name!"
Ha! Everyone knows my name? Oh miss El, how you make me laugh.
It's not easy explaining to a 3 year old that they were just being polite and that not everyone knows her. Oh boy oh boy...

Check out the Teethers!

And the mess.... :)

Oh and P.S. I have no idea why the next entry (marathon weekend) all came out in one big long paragraph. I tried for 15 min. to put it in nice paragraphs, but everytime I pressed save, it previewed in a jumbled mess. So sorry for the LENGTH! Ugh.

"Marathon" Weekend!!

1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

It was a great weekend. We drove to the Akron area on Friday afternoon to our good friends' house---the Mitchells. We haven't been with them since June when we went to that great waterpark in Wisconsin. So El and Lucas had a blast together. She thought playing at their house was like playing at Toys R Us! ;) hehe. She asked me on the way home if WE could have a "bouncy thing" in our basement!! We also got to see our great friend Robin and her girls, one of whom is only 2 weeks old...how sweet and precious that little babe is.

Soooo, RD and Christy ran the Akron marathon this morning. Josh ran the half. They all kicked butt on what RD said was one of the toughest courses he's run on (and today was his 14th marathon!!) Although I didn't get to the finish line in time to see RD finish at 3 hours, 26 min. (lugging 2 girls around an unfamilar town during a baby's naptime is not an easy feat)...I DID arrive in time to see my sweet Christy finish. And let me tell you about this finish.

She was running in support of World Vision, along with about 40 other people from their church, all doing various parts of the race. Because she was one of the only individuals to actually do the entire 26.2 miles, they all waited around at the finish line for her. When she rounded the corner she was in a dead out sprint. And all of us there waiting for her went crazy. It was an emotional moment for almost every single person cheering for Christy because it was her first marathon and the training for a marathon is NOT EASY. (I've experienced it vicariously through RD 14 times now!) She did the training. She ran the race---and it was not an easy course. She set a goal---never to walk once, sub 5 hours. And she finished. And at the finish line were 30 of her closest friends, family, and own kids screaming their lungs out for her, celebrating the work she did and the success she just experienced by crossing the finish line. She was balling as she crossed the line cause she felt like it was a snipet of what Heaven will be like. Crossing the finish line---knowing the race is over and so excited for the celebration awaiting her.

So today as RD was running, he remembered back to his first marathon--before we had kids. The first corner he rounded where I was waiting to cheer him on was so cool. As soon as I saw his stride from afar I began jumping up and down, waving my arms and screaming my head off for him. (me? really?) I was SO EXCITED to see him at that moment, let alone the 4 other times throughout that course and certainly when he crossed that finish line.

This weekend was a good reminder of how impt. it is to have people to cheer us on. Not to pat us on the back and give us strokes to burst our ego. But to have people in our corner pushing us through a difficult race sometimes. And MAN oh MAN the finish line that awaits us...gosh will it be incredible.

CARS

Ok so the movie CARS (kids' movie) is just the cutest. My friend Erin rented it for El to watch during "rest time" the past few days. And it has been so fun. There is a part at the end where the green car (don't know it's name) is trying to beat everyone to win the PISTON CUP. In order to win, he makes someone crash and in turn breaks the other guys' dream. El asked me why no one cheered when the green car won the medal. It was a good teachable moment (hehe) cause i tried to explain that when people are mean, their friends don't like it. People want to be around those who care about them and who want to protect them and love them.

We've had a few episodes this week with Miss El. She just hasn't been quite so nice to her sister and to another friend. She's made me pretty angry, actually. So hey----great moment for a Disney movie to actually teach something we can use with our 3 year old! Yahoo! :)

Anyone out there know the part I'm talking about in this movie? And hey----when Lightning McQueen goes back to resuce and help the damaged car, HE becomes the hero/winner in people's eyes! Now if only my lil' stubborn 3 year old would get that...

And it sure is beautiful and sunny here in T-town! I have some family members traveling through Italy...sure do miss them. And yes I'm sure it's beautiful there, but T-town is holding its own this week. hehe...

Just a few close-ups of the girlies...

Beautiful Sept. weekend!

What a weekend! The girls are finally starting to feel a little better, although my pockets still hold a clean tissue pile and a dirty tissue pile. :) We went to the lake for one last horrah of the season, and it was great. One last boatride and a beautiful evening up there last night. Here are a few pics of the weekend...nothing fancy. More to come this week! Goodnight...

Nothin like sick kids!

Those of you who have kids know the kind of week I am having. When one kiddo is under the weather, it's a pain. But when both are sick, it's just flat out annoying. When one isn't whining, the other one is. When one doesn't have snot dripping from her nose, the other one does. When one isn't tossing and turning and screaming in the middle of the night, the other one is. And if not---then she will be awakened within seconds b/c her sister is way too loud! :) Nothing I am doing is "right" for miss El cause she is just flat out tired and cranky. And Ems, who is growing up right before my eyes, is incapable of blowing her nose and therefore is covered in her own slime 100% of the time! (Sorry for visual that probably just gave you).

Soooooo, I am tired too. But I am making an effort to really start my mornings off 15 min. earlier than normal. Even though my days already start incredibly early since I have to be on the road by 6:40 AM., I want to make sure I have some quiet time/Bible time/resting time before I start each action-packed day. My great friend bought me a devotional, and I'm going to use that to guide these quick morning escapades. I haven't used a devotional in SO long so I'm kindof looking forward to it.

And despite the laundry list of "oh so tough" complaints I find myself having, I was reminded yesterday of how fragile life is. One of my students (7th grader) was the big sister to a little boy who was accidently run over and killed in his own driveway by his grandmother, just two years ago. Yesterday was a hard day for this student of mine as it was the anniversary to this tragedy. The memory ALL too fresh for this pre-teen, especially since she was in the car when it happened. I haven't been able to get her and her family out of my mind and have found myself on my knees for them a lot the last 24 hours. We just can't live our lives wanting the day to be over or wanting our kids to grow up and get past this stage. It's just all so quick!!

So to encourage you? Soak up the kids in front of you--or the friendships--or your spouse--SNOT and all!! Love on them. Thank the good Lord for them.
Amen? Amen!

Embarrassing Moment, Redeemed!!

For those of you that have wiggled in your chairs for me today, knowing how STUPID I felt...here's the update.

My friend just called me. Get this. (and it's TOTALLY what I prayed for all day today by the way)...
She never looked at her phone. Not once until about 60 min. ago. What? When does that happen? So needless to say I did not ruin the surprise. She and I laughed pretty hard at the whole thing. She had an AWESOME party today and wished I would have been there.
Soooo, the idiot button is a "no go" for tomorrow, but the flowers are in a vase still ready for her. I think that's the least I can do. :)

Most embarrassing moment EVER

So I was invited to this 30th birthday surprise party for a great friend of mine (co-worker at school). I thought it was yesterday. Key word: thought. I couldn't make it yesterday to the party and so last night around 8:45 I sent her a text. This is what it said: "Hi friend! I hope you had a great surprise today. I'm so sorry I couldn't make it but can't wait to hear all about it. Were you surprised?" I never heard back from her, which is strange cause she always responds to my texts real quick. Today on my way home from church I called her and left a message saying something similar---telling her I wanted to hear more about the party. THEN I GOT HOME. I looked at my fridge (at the invitation) and my heart sank. It literally dropped to my toes. The party is today-----in 15 minutes. I totally ruined the surprise, there's no question.

I just have wanted to cry for the past hour. How in the world could I have messed that up? I have never had a surprise birthday party in my life but I sure can imagine how fun it would be to be totally surprised and walk into a room/place with family, friends from all over, etc. Nope, I ruined it.

So who has some ideas for how I can apologize---genuinely apologize to her AND her family??
One thing for sure- I'm going to wear a BRIGHT YELLOW "idiot" button to school tomorrow and walk in her room with some flowers.

Any other suggestions? Does anyone have an embarrassing moment that can top mine?
Ugh. What a day.
Not to mention that El told me this morning when we got in the car for church that I look old. Great. 29 years old and my kid already thinks I look old. Hmmmmm....

I love Saturday mornings!!

Seriously, Saturday mornings really ARE the best. Doesn't matter what time of year it is. But especially now that I'm back to work and miss out on breakfast chats with El and Em...today has been exceptionally great. And one of the best parts of all is that we don't have any plans whatsoever for the entire day. RD will be home soon and we get to do something fun as a family. Should be great! Maybe the zoo with Uncle J, Aunt Sarah, and Jack perhaps? That would be fun! Anyways, here's a pic of our morning breakfast time today. Have a wonderful day everyone!

just a Thursday afternoon

Nothin too crazy is happenin today. Ems is sleeping. El was upstairs reading books on her Dora couch. I came down in the basement to check my e-mail. When I went up to check on El, she was doing the potty dance, as we call it. I asked her if she needed to go and she said, "nope, I'm just dizzy!" How funny! She actually made me laugh out loud that time. I mean c'mon---what an excuse!!

Anyways, so I looked at the coffee table and this is what I saw (see pics below)---she did 4 puzzles in the time I was downstairs checking my e-mail! I couldn't believe it. She loves her puzzles, but I was overly impressed today. I think I'm gonna go buy her some more soon! Needless to say, I see why she was doing the potty dance (she's even doing a slumped over version of it in this first picture hehe). And YES I made her go. Enjoy. :)

El's first day of school

Let's just say it was a breeze yesterday!! RD dropped her off and she said "bye dad," and ran right into her new classroom. She talked my ear off on the way home and told me every little detail about her morning. Although I am glad it's only 2 1/2 hours long (so I can spend the afternoon with her). I know El sure wishes it was an all day thing. HeHe. Here are a few pics from the morning. And me? I continue to be wiped from going back to school. My body just hasn't adjusted yet. Maybe it's the students who "forgot" their Reading folder in their lockers, on the 5th day of school already! Or the copy machine that jammed on me today when I was trying to walk out the door to come home. Or maybe my office (otherwise known as a large utility closet) that has no windows and is filled with hot, stale air on these 90 degree days. But ya know what? I DO continue to love my job and thank the good Lord for the opportunity I have to teach just a few hours in the morning, then be home with my girls. I am the most blessed mom in the world.

Labor Day Weekend

This was an awesome weekend- the last horrah of summer, right? I survived my first week of school and with a wedding in Columbus again THIS Saturday, church Sunday morning, then the lake right afterwards, WE ARE TIRED. The weather was perfect and the kids had a blast. EL went tubing again with Daddy this weekend (her cousin Jack and Uncle J went too), went on multiple "jet ski dates" with Daddy too. My mom and dad, my sister and I took EL on a walk today. It turned into more of a run and El actually wanted to get OUT of her stroller and run. We were all amazed at how much she loves running and how fast she is, too! Holy cow- she truly is her daddy's daughter! She actually is becoming Daddy's pal, which has been so fun for him. Tomorrow she starts her official 1st day of preschool and it's so crazy to even think about that! She is so excited and her Aunt Kiki was trying to get EL to say, "Hi, my name is EL Snow and I am a people person!" She's gonna love preschool, I am sure of it. :)

EM also had a fun weekend. She is now officially all over the place. She was quite the late crawler. Just really within the last week to two has she actually been crawling. But now she's into everything and so much happier now that she has wheels. The gates have been put up! She continues to be our lil' rose and makes us laugh so hard when she throws her head back in the air and giggles (see picture below).

EL and EM are the best of buds. I am seriously praying over them that their relationship continues to grow like that. It is just as sweet as ever.

Alright, going to bed early tonight!