3 Years Old Already???

A week ago today, I celebrated my 3rd Mother's Day and my precious twins' 3rd Birthday. What an extra special day! We had a fun time having a party at Deanna Rose Farmstead the day before (despite the cold and rain kicking us out a little earlier than we'd planned). Then, on our shared celebratory day, Sunday, we had brunch at Classic Cup and had BIG pancakes which all three of us share a love for, then walked around the Plaza in the pretty weather. After naps, Uncle Patrick took the kids to Build A Bear which they (and I) thoroughly enjoyed. Back home, we all got some neat presents (as if we needed anything more) and ate outside on the patio for the first time this year. How nice! Being a mommy to my two beautiful 3 year olds is a joy of my life. I would never trade it or change it. I love Mommyhood and I love those to whom I am "Mommy". It is HARD, but it is GOOD! And God is good and humorous and teaches me so much through these little wonders. As my heart swells with love for them more and more each day, I understand more and more, how the Father loves us and the eyes He sees us through.

I've Been Tagged...

Julie B. tagged me this week (unless it was another Amy??)

Four jobs I've had:
1) Nutritionist
2) Human Resource Manager
3) Preschool Teacher
4) mommy

Four movies I have watched more than once:
1) Coal Miner's Daughter
2) Raising Arizona
3) Good Will Hunting
4) Land Before Time (and still counting, folks!)

Four places I have lived:
1) Richardson, TX
2) Austin, TX
3) Katy, TX
4) Kansas!!!!!

Four TV shows I watch:
1) The Office
2) Lost
3) The Hills
4) American Idol

Four places I have been:
1) Hawaii
2) Cozumel
3) Puerto Rico
4) NYC

Four people who email me regularly
1) Allison
2) Sara
3) Tarrah
4) Tyler

Four of my favorite foods:
1) pizza
2) ice cream
3) sandwiches
4) chips and dip!

Four places I'd like to visit:
1) Italy
2) Colorado (no, I have never been!)
3) Canada
4) Africa

Four things I'm looking forward to this coming year:
1) Family camp
2) camping with our friends
3) WARM weather!
4) two cousins' weddings, one of which our kids will be in!

Four friends I'm tagging:
1) Angi
2) Tarrah
3) Sheila
4) Julie

5 Days of FUN!

"Wanted Dead or Alive"

2 weeks ago today, Tyler and I went with another couple to see Bon Jovi and Chris Daughtry!! What a fun night!!! Probably the biggest concert we've ever been to and it was a BLAST! We ate downtown with our friends, then walked over to the new Sprint Center. Thank goodness my mom gave us her umbrella when we dropped the kids off with her, because we would have been soaked...many people were! Anyway...we were high up, but it didn't matter--so fun (and my camera has a nice zoom!)! I think I want Tyler to get a Superman tattoo now:)

Then, the next day, our wonderful friends, the Lancasters...Adam, Tarrah, Sage and London drove all the way from Dallas to see us!! I hope they thought it was worth it because we had a wonderful time!!! The kids loved playing together and Sage and Piper had a special bond and held hands everywhere they went:) London also had a little crush on Tyler--too cute! We ate some good food, went to Crown Center, the Farm, church, roasted marshmallows, and played a little guitar (thanks, Tarrah for all the entertainment!). They also taught me Boggle which I immediately excelled at. Ha! JOKE! So, now periodically, Piper says, "I miss my Sage", Porter, "I miss my London" and Mommy and Daddy say we miss our Adam and Tarrah:( So, anyone that hasn't come to visit us yet, I hope you come soon...we are FUN!

These Kids O' Mine...

This is such a wonderful age...extremely challenging--don't get me wrong, but hilarious all the same! Just a few of the funnies we've experienced lately...

• Porter's new FAVORITE food is corn on the cob (which he calls "corn in the top"). He will eat as many as I will make him and it's so funny! He has even said "My tummy hurts...I need corn in the top!"


• Many of you may know...Porter pees in the potty now (poop is another story, but whatever). Piper refuses it all...UNTIL she spotted a Little Mermaid set in the Disney store she wanted, so I said when she started peeing on the potty, we would come back and get it. That's all it took and for two days she peed on that potty...UNTIL she got Little Mermaid and now she refuses the potty again.


• They BOTH love pretending...they turn into animals, characters, babies, etc., make their toys talk to each other in different voices, make up songs. It's so fun to listen in on them when they don't know we are there:)


• Piper is in LOVE with chocolate. She sneaks m&m's, asks for it at breakfast, goes to the candy dish at Nana's first thing. I can't blame her...it's in our genes!


• The lady, "Anna" who cuts Porter's hair and is his "girlfriend" that he adores is pregnant and I said she had a baby in her tummy...Porter asked if she ate it.


• We are cleaning out for a garage sale/charity and of course they see and want all their old toys back, so Tyler tries to explain we need to let people that don't have as many toys as they do get them. Today as Nana is also cleaning out her basement...Porter says "Are you cleaning up? Going to give it to a poor baby?"
• We were going over our "senses"...eyes are for seeing, ears are for hearing. What is your nose for, Porter? "To PICK it", he says.

...So, sometimes we have to laugh to keep from crying. Twins are tough and I'm sure it always will be, but it's twice the love, twice the hugs and kisses, twice the smiles and giggles, twice the fun, and twice the blessing. We just attended a "Love and Logic" parenting conference (which I highly recommend for parents of pre schoolers!). Hopefully, we can put some of the good advice into practice during those days that laughs don't come so easily:)!!! We learn in the tough times, becoming stronger and wiser so that we enjoy the sweet days all the more!!!!

WORSHIP

Sunday we had an amazing speaker/worship minister/musician come to our church. His name is Justin McRoberts (see link to his site on right column) and he's out of California. His style is to share stories from his life, incorporate song, and encourage people to act...get out of their comfort zone to help others as Jesus did and desires us to do. He has a simple message, but it's my favorite message of the gospel...reach out to the poor, needy, afflicted, hopeless, homeless, fatherless, widowed...and in doing so, you share Jesus. Justin was back for a special worship time on Wednesday night, so of course, we wanted to go back for more (his voice, guitar skills, and stories are top notch!). He said something that hit home with me..."Worship is our response to God's goodness". At our two previous churches in Texas, I've been a part of the "praise and worship" team (for over 6 years!) and I've felt that's my place...that's what I do. Well, at this church, it's nearly impossible to get involved in that area! They have a small, very professional team of the same people and don't seem to want anymore?!?! I have to admit, I mourn about it every Sunday. So...in the mean time, I've delved into the kids' program doing music and story for them and I really do enjoy it (although still desiring to lead for adults in the back of my mind). However, after hearing Justin define worship in such clear, simple terms, I understand that whatever platform I'm given now...I MUST just respond to God's goodness however I can! We are ALL called to be worshippers. So, now I'm attempting to see worship differently...that GOD has placed me where I am and where I am NOT at this particular time to just respond to HIS goodness because He is SO good! His plan is divine and I am His student, trusting that His ways are best. I am to praise Him in my circumstance and look towards eternity, not just today.

Free puppy, anyone??

AAAAHHHHH!!!! People told me I was crazy to get a new puppy while having two 2 year olds, but I guess I was naive and hopeful? When we got our last, Rocky, as a puppy it seemed so easy and he was such a good, trainable dog. Well, Mr. Opie is another story. Still not completely house broken, loves to jump and tackle the kids, and constantly begs for their food, doesn't understand no, and the list goes on! When he was younger, we came home several times to him having pooped in his kennel. Disgusting! Well, he hasn't done that in a while, but this week, I came home to it TWICE! SO GROSS!!! So, I clean him, clean my tub, clean his kennel and scream all the while! Not only that, but this week, animal control came to our house!!! Apparently, on nice days when we are gone and leave him in the yard to play, he barks and howls non stop (severely bothering an unknown neighbor enough to call the authorities on us)?!?! So, we have to get a "bark collar" if we leave him out OR leave him in his kennel which he enjoys pooping in. I asked Porter if we could give him away and he said no because Opie was his friend. Now, I'm a committed person who doesn't give up easily on things, but this is craziness and so stressful. So, I'm torn between just giving up and finding a new home for Opie...people who like to deal with crazy dogs who poop kennels OR stick it out and HOPE it gets better?!?!

Easter 08

No matter how hard I try to wake earlier than my kids so I can get ready, get stuff done, etc., it never happens. I got up before them this morning so I could get dressed and still have time for Easter morning festivities and an early church service. Well, my plan failed. Porter walked into my bathroom about 5 minutes after I was up. He was happy and when I asked him what today was he said "Easter Bunny!". Ah oh! He loves to help me pick out what I should wear (another ah oh!) so with some persuasion he picked out just the right Easter outfit:) Piper straggled in afterwards and then with Daddy up, too, we headed downstairs for Easter baskets and cinnamon rolls. Porter's Easter basket had a "Toy Story" theme and Piper's was "Tinkerbell". However, when she discovered Woody talked and Tinkerbell did not, she wanted Woody....and there began our day of grumpy, grouchy, fit-throwing children. Although, Piper finally warmed up to Tinkerbell, she wanted bacon with her cinnamon rolls which we did not have; she wanted Mommy to get her dressed and not Daddy; she fell and scraped her arm going into church and then did not want to go into church; then Porter did not want to go into church, so after much crying, the child care workers finally calmed them down and they were fine when we picked them up. Thank goodness, because we had a great service we got to actually sit completely thru! Back at my mom's for a yummy brunch that of course, the kids wanted nothing to do with, we finally made it home for NAPS! Piper maybe slept an hour and a half and Porter slept for about three and half hours! The naps helped temporarily...enough to eat a bit and hunt eggs in the basement (TOO cold outside!). But soon, the whining and crying over everything returned. On days like this I find myself thinking they will act this way every day and I will go crazy and have wild children that people stare at in restaurants. However, during our church service this morning, I was reminded that no matter what...I am to praise HIM in my circumstance. My God raised His Son from the dead, so isn't He powerful enough to give me strength and wisdom and patience and give my kids peace and a desire for obedience? Yes, He is! So, I look forward to another day tomorrow, come what may. His mercies are new every morning, right?