A round of applause for...

MARVELLY!!!!!....
she took her first solo steps today.

Two times back to back she took two steps at a time, no hands, all her.

She's getting braver-not much longer and she'll be flying solo all the time.

Not sure if I'm ready for this. Not that I have a say in the matter.

Livin' in black and white

These are the joys of my life...

silly faces

holding hands
big smiles

"pick me up's!"

Dandelion hair

my little girls

Come on in-we were expecting you...

I love days like today.
Days were I can throw open the windows and let the fresh air in.
Sit on my swing in the back yard while the girls play in the grass.
Work outside because it just feels too good not to.
Stand at the sink in my kitchen and have the sunshine fall upon me.
Be energized by the glory of the day to get a million and one things done.

So come on in sweet day, we were expecting you...

Everyday

Okay God, they're at the door, ready and waiting for you to lead them.
Help me lead them to You. Help them to follow your call.
May they live a life that brings glory and honor to your name.
May they not hesitate to do what's right.
Open the doors in their lives that bring them and others closer to You.

Not going down with out a fight

The green bean has been the only vegetable Sydaleigh will eat for the past year and a half.

She hates vegetables, among most other foods, but when she finally ate the green bean that was the most glorious day ever!

We're talking cold, out of the can, didn't matter she loved them!

But tonight, ooooh tonight....she actually tried to stiff the green bean!

She said they were yucky, and then tried to do the 'hide them in her cheek' trick...

Oh UH-UH!

well I'm on to your game and I've got news for you...
you're gonna eat those green beans because they're the only veggie I've got to give you,
mm-kay?!

Pshhh, I. don't. think. so.

There's going to be no stiffing of the green beans for you in this house.

Ughh, she is the pickiest eater. (she must get that from Isaak :) )

Won't be forgetting those again

Heading to Big Wheels and Butterflies...
extra diapers-check.
wipes-check.
random other necessities-check.

Get inside the store...
look around for a bit up front while the girls hang out in the kiddie area.
Decide to head to the back to browse the toys and I take the girlies with me.

Uh-oh! Smells like somebody poo-pooed.
Of course Marvelly saved it till we got to the store...
but not to worry!
I came prepared for such a poo as this!

Head to the bathroom with both girls in tow.
Lay Marvelly on changing table.
Undress her.
Oooohhh, it's a bad one.
Thank goodness I came prepared.

Reach in my bag for a diaper.
Got it.
Reach in for the wipes....
hhmmm, they must be buried...
keep reaching....
hmmm...
dumping my bag out now...
uhhhh....you've got to be kidding?!
I KNOW I did not forget the wipes...

yup, I forgot the wipes...
GREAT! What am I gonna use now?!...
Find something quick the poo is escaping!!

Looky there, toilet paper, that ought to do the trick.
Shoot this is not working...
Okay, dry toilet paper does not do the trick!

My only other option is to wet the toilet paper to try and clean this up.
Oh great, now it's leaving little crumblies all her her tooshy.

100 wads of toilet paper later, wet crumblies everywhere, and little pieces of poo still attached in places- but at least she's clean enough to get home.

Try to secure all the paper inside the diaper.
Nope there's too much, it won't all fit.
Forced to put mass amounts of poopy toilet paper in their little garbage.
Lets get out of here!
Making a bee line for the door!!
Don't want to be around when the next poor unsuspecting soul goes in there next.

Never ever forget the wipes again!
You know your girls will poop!!
And it will be nasty.
Toilet paper will only make it worst.

Never EVER forget the wipes again!

Put me in Coach, I'm ready to play!

After nearly four years of saying...

"No."

"I'm not ready yet."

"Good idea but bad timing."

and my personal favorite...

"I'm not good enough."

I finally decided to say...

"Yes!"

"I am ready!"

"Great idea and fantastic timing!"

and...

"I am good enough!"

...and out of God's faithful persistence and my final acceptance and willingness to move...

The Portrait Project has been born.

Our Portrait Project has me going into local shelters and providing free portraits and the complimentary photos to families struggling with homelessness and poverty in an attempt to lift their spirits, bless them in an unexpected way, and share Christ's love with them one picture at a time.

Cool stuff. But God had even more in mind...

Once I worked up the courage to share this dream God began expanding it to use other peoples experiences and passions. So, in addition to providing free family portraits we will be providing free hair and make-up makeovers to all the families participating.

I contacted the director/CEO of the largest mission in Omaha, the Open Door Mission, and this outreach project was embraced and accepted with open arms.

So on March 7th, me and awesome team of other women, whom I recruited to work with me on this project, will be going to the Lydia House to bless and to love these families in a super cool way.

So, from one mom who was ready to get off the sidelines and start using the abilities, gifts, and passions that God gave me to make a kingdom difference-
to being a "do-er" of the word,
it's evidence that God can use anyone
at any place
at any time
doing anything.
All you have to do is let Him.

Daddy-Daughter Dance 2009

Sydaleigh and Isaak went to their first daddy-daughter dance this weekend.
This event is put on by the base services every year and it's so popular tickets sell out within the first couple of days.
Both were super excited-Sydaleigh because she got to wear
a pretty dress. And Isaak because he just really likes doing these things!

Them two sure are cute.

she was so excited to be driving with friends she waited by the door and watched for them.

Some of Syd's best buds- all breaking it down together.

dinner, dessert, dancing, pictures, friends, games, take home prizes, and special time with Daddy made for one fun night!

Weekend in review

All I'm gonna say about this weekend is it was a much needed break from the wintery mess we've had going on for the past two months.
There was actually sunshine present, no wind, and we got to go outside without coats (all except Marvelly).
The girls had a grand time getting reacquainted with their beloved outside toys.
We are always very happy to see them come the spring.
This weekend was kind of like spring.
Except today it was 4 degrees, so Nebraska slapped me back to reality pretty fast.
However, these 4 degree days are always so much easier to bare when you've been given a glimpse of what it feels like to be warm again.
Aaaahh, that's a good feeling-to be warm.
I like warm.
So here was us living up the semi-warmth while it lasted.

making me a dirt pie-very yummy

washing my dirt pie down with some tea dirt

Marvelly being helped onto the slide, but deciding to take a go at it herself

going down

swinging till the cows come home!

"Boo!"

soccer time.
I've decided both girls are playing soccer. Forget dance (unless it's ballroom!), we're doing soccer, and hockey if Isaak has his way.

Our playhouse. One of the best, thriftiest buys ever! $75 on craigslist in the fall,
exactly what I wanted, pink, skylight, room for 5.
We likey.

and a random snap shot of Syd the kid on our way to a birthday party that morning.
She's just so cute.

'This whole thing' is starting to wear on my nerves

And by 'this whole thing'-I'm referring to this whole 'pooping thing'.

We were doing so good. So good in fact I thought we had made it.
Thought we were done in the potty training department.
Yeah, I was wrong.
It's like she woke up one morning after a week of success and thought to herself,
"Oh my gosh! My Mom has convinced me to poop on the potty!" "Pshhh, forget thaaaat!"
And we're back to square one again.
Except this time there are very defiant "No's!" being yelled at me.
At least when we started this whole process and hit roadblocks I could chalk it up to her being confused.
Well, can't chalk it up to that now.
Girl is not confused.
She is straight up defiantly refusing to go or even try.
And it is wearing
on
my
last
nerve.

I was chatting it up with God tonight, asking Him to grace me with whatever it is that He's got for Him to maintain His gentle, loving, kindness when we are being straight up defiant to Him.
Oye.
This is not easy.
I'm struggling being nice when all I hear is...
"NO."
"I. DON'T. WANT. TO."
"NO."
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Ohhhhh my nerves.

I know I can't control her ability to "get" this, so I am trying to control my reaction.
It's not always graceful.
I actually stomped my foot at her during one of her defiant outbursts.
Who's the mature adult?
Oh yeah, that's suppose to be me.

Thank goodness we all get a fresh start tomorrow.
I'm praying I make it through all 'this' with a bit more grace than I showed tonight.