Since when is it okay to ... (Part II)

I did this post a couple of years ago, but I though it was time for an update. After all, we have another daughter and the older girls are growing up and becoming mature young ladies. Right?! (Ahem.) I'll let you guess who did what.

Since when is it okay to....

... plug your nose when your Mom asks you to come over and talk to her privately?

... eat lip gloss straight from the tube?

... tell Mommy that you have to go potty, only to pee on the bathmat as soon as you're lifted off the toilet?

... drink a juice box and eat M&M's for lunch and bring home a whole sandwich, carrot sticks and applesauce UNTOUCHED?

... decide that we don't need to pray before lunch today because "God is busy sewing and we shouldn't interrupt him"?

... tell your Mom that you wish that your babysitter was your REAL MOM.

... wake up at 4:30 a.m., get in bed with Mom and Dad and pull Mom's hair for half an hour while she is pretending to be asleep?

AHHHH! Life is good.

And just for fun, I'll throw in a couple of pictures from the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago. Stay tuned for the BEST HALLOWEEN COSTUMES EVER later this week!

Need a little smile?

Well, here you go...

Ally: "Mom, do you know where Jesus got his nails done?"
Me: "WHAT?!"
Ally: "Do you know where Jesus got his nails done?"
Me: "Ally, I don't know what you mean?"
Ally: "DO. YOU. KNOW. WHERE. JESUS. GOT. HIS. NAILS. DONE?"
Me: "No, I don't."
Ally: (Pointing to the middle of her palms and tops of her feet.) "Right here."

"At that time Jesus said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure." Matthew 11:25-26

Ballerina Girl

Yes, I do have the lyrics to the Lionel Richie song running through my head. HOW OLD AM I?!?!


Anyway....a few weeks ago, Missy told me about a Groupon deal for one month of classes at Dance Arts Academy. (For Ally...not for me, don't worry!) It sounded like a lot of fun, but I didn't want to get suckered into paying for any "extras" so I almost didn't give it a second thought. Then, I remembered that a couple of years ago we had picked up a little dance outfit at a second-hand store for Sierra to play around in. I dug it out of hiding and it fit Ally perfectly! The next obstacle was shoes. (Do you know what they charge for ballet slippers and tap shoes?! Ridiculous!!!) But then the thought crossed my mind that little miss Sophie B. might just have some shoes to lend us from her previous lessons. I called Julie up and PRESTO! - another perfect fit. Now all I had to do was convince Marc that the lessons were a good idea. Both of us have wanted the girls to take gymnastics lessons, but the budget has always been a little too tight. Although ballet and gymnastics are not quite the same thing, he agreed to go ahead and get Ally signed up. She had a total of 5 lessons and LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!

I can't tell you how many times I have answered the question, "Mom, how many more days until my ballet class?" in the last month. After her 45 minute tap and ballet "work out" we would stop by Emerald City Smoothie for a BOGO Free treat before heading home. It was a great experience for both of us! Lots of fun memories and definitely twenty bucks well spent!!!

This video cracks me up! I wish that you could see how far some of the girls' tongues stick out as they try to follow the teacher's instructions. Poor Ally got so confused about where her "dot" was on the floor.

Thanks for the heads up, Missy!!!

Let me introduce you to...

...some brand new blogs!!!

For those who love adventure, I recommend Chuck and Missy's new blog. They have just written an adorable post about some pretty special little people. And for those who love home-grown humor, check out Susie and Benjy's new blog. Happy reading!

10 Random Thoughts on 10/10/10

1. Very bummed to miss church this morning due to a snotty nosed little child. (Dr. Will Varner was at our church this weekend for a Bible conference on the book of James. I'm glad that I was at least able to be there for the afternoon sessions yesterday.)

2. Feeling convicted about several issues: my tongue, pride, self-centered planning, etc.

2. While at home, I started on the mountain of laundry that I usually tackle on Mondays. (Yeah for getting ahead!)

3. Sick of the smell of taco soup. The crock pot was on all morning preparing for our youth staff lunch and meeting at the Munger home.

4. Although it's hard to miss a Sunday afternoon nap, I always enjoy lunch and brainstorming with the staff.

5. Thankful to come home and find Marc and three girls taking good long naps.

6. I love Marc!

7. I'm so blessed to be "Mom" to Sierra, Ally and Valerie!

8. Sorrowing with the Noland family after hearing of Roy's death last night. Yet rejoicing in the secure HOPE OF HEAVEN!

9. Debating whether to put the aforementioned snotty nosed child in the nursery tonight and go to the service anyway. She's acting fine.

10. Wishing that there was at least one more day of vacation before Marc and Sierra go back to school. It was a good long weekend!!!



(Did you notice that I have two #2's? Oh well, I don't feel like fixing it. And it's my blog, so I don't have to!)

A Lovely Fall Day

What do you do with five eager little children on a crisp fall day? Well, let me tell you.

First, you take them to the mountains.

Then, you provide them with EXTRA-LARGE buckets to fill with pine cones.

After the pine cones have been tossed in the river, you let the children use the buckets to make "stew."

Finally, you pat yourself on the back for tiring the little rascals out with an excellent day of outdoor fun, all for the price of a half-tank of gas.

***These are our good friends, Sophie and Ben Berggren. Their daddy, Tim, teaches at Cole Valley with Marc. Julie and I have become good friends over the last 3 or 4 years.***

Where has Valerie been?!

Here...

... and here ...

... and here ...

... and here ...

... and here ...

... and, finally, here!

BUT ISN'T SHE CUTE?!?!