Chuga Chuga Choo Choo!!

The girlies and I wanted to do something special for Tom. Coming up with that "something" was not all that hard! Pictures of his girls + his love of trains and there you have it. This is what we came up with. The apple really does not fall far from the tree ;)

Happy Birthday Thomas!

Happy Birthday Babe, another year older... but one of the best years yet! You are more than the best husband you are an awesome daddy to the girlies!

We celebrated his birthday family style! lol Even a day early... K could not wait! I think she has a sweet tooth like her mommy and daddy. Or she has learned the house rule Eat Chocolate!

We ordered a special Reese peanut butter chocolate cheesecake from my friend Susan. Yummy!!

1st day of Pre-K for Miss K!

Last Thursday our Kara girl went to her first day of Pre-K! She was so excited, I do not think she could arrive fast enough. :) What could be better than a surprise meetup with daddy at school with breakfast in hand? It was so sweet before leaving I think we recieved 1,001 hugs and kisses! Adalyn told her "night, night I love you. Then when we came to pick K up for the day Adalyn let out a big scream and "I miss you!" So sweet!

Kara had a great first day! They read "If you give a Mouse a Cookie" and made mouse cookies for snack. How fun!

Quote of the Week

Life is Too Short

Life is too short

to wake up with Regrets.

So, Love the people who treat you right

love the ones who don't

JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN.

Believe, everything happens for a reason.

If you get a second change,

GRAB IT WITH BOTH HANDS.

If it changes your life, let it.

KISS SLOWLY. FORGIVE QUICKLY.

GOD never said life would be easy.

He just promised

it would be worth it

What's for Dinner?

We had this for dinner tonight and I thought I would share. It comes from one of my favorite cookbooks: Cooking Light 5 Ingredient 15 Minute. I suggest making it your very own, we do! We make and extra portion of the sauce (I like sauce!), add broccoli, cashews, and serve over couscous. Enjoy!

Teriyaki-Ginger Pork Tenderloin

Total time: 14 minutes

1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin

cooking spray

1 1/2 tablespoons roasted garlic or regular teriyaki sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1 (6-ounce) can pineapple juice

Trim fat from pork. Slice tenderloin into 1/2-inch thick slices; flatten slices with palm of hand. Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; place over med high heat until hot. Add pork, and cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned.

Combine teriyaki sauce and remaining 3 ingredients, stirring well. Add to pork in skillet. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 3 minutes. Remove pork from skillet, and spoon sauce over pork.

Yield: 4 servings

MOP's Kickoff

Today was the kickoff for 1 of the Mother of Preschoolers meetings in my area. If you have not heard of it check it out! The speaker Beth Bryson, mom of 5 all 6 and under. Talk about inspiration! She also has a blog that I will be following along if you would like to check it out:http://www.flairforhome.blogspot.com

Ten Things I "Preach" To Myself Every Day As a Mom

by Beth Bryson

1. The Gospel- I am a 'work in progress' and designed by Christ to be a Mom to my children and a wife to my husband.

2. Rome was not built in a day- raising children is a day-to-day process and I cannot rush them to be perfectly behaved and together. Psalm 26:11-1 I will daily walk in my integrity.

3. Start fresh each day. Look at my children each morning and believe the best in them. Lamentations 3:22-25

4. Do not parent them in anger or out-of-being tired or moody. Ephesians 6:4 and Ephesians 4:31

5. Extend grace

6. Be flexible and fun

7. Strive to keep a peaceful home

8. Hug their dad in front of them, often.

9. Take some "me time" and have hobbies.

10. Meditate on the Word and pray for them, by name, daily. Prayer creates a merciful heart. (including best for child, God's plan for family)

Other points I took away from today:
- Moms need each other
- Never say never!
- Be a mom of compassion, not comparison
- Don't let life overcome us, stop and treasure the moments

So thankful for meeting like these! :)

Wordless Wednesday

A Two Year Old

A Two Year Old
Author: Unknown
A two year old is so many things.
A tiny discoverer of butterfly wings.
A hugger of teddies, a sweet sleepy head.
And someone to dream for in bright years ahead.
A special new person who right from the start,
has a place in the family and a coarse in your heart.
And just when you think you've learned all the things,
that your dear daughter is,and the joy that she brings,
a hug or a grin comes with such a sweet surprise,
that love finds you smiling with tears in your eyes.

Where oh where has the time gone? Our Adalyn Jessa Grace is 2! She is so fun of life and spunk! ;)

She answers to any of these: Jessie/Jess/Cupcake/Sissy boo/Jessa Graca/Adalyna/ Addy/AJ/Addy J/Jessa Lyn

-knows her colors (fav is blue), most Abc's and counts to 5.

-Likes to get dressed and put her shoes on (the correct feet) all by herself

- Throws a mood swing that can be quite a sight!
-She blow us away with the really long sentences she puts together.
-Addy loves to "cuddle you", give hugs and kisses.
-Watch out if you have a boo boo! She is on it ready to help give kisses and tell you it's okay baby.
-She has a BIG heart! She will give her favorite toy to an unknown child. ie: baby in line for donuts

Adalyn has a language all her own. I know most children do. Sometimes it's only things us
"mommies" can understand! lol I think this gal has some British genes in her. She sure does talk with a "British accent".

-ha ha = a dog (our Lucy) we are not sure if this is because Lucy makes her laugh, but every
dog is a "ha ha!"

-ah ah = monkey

-I I = candy or snack

-pop= any drink. I got strange looks back in Ohio and even stranger ones here! No one in
the South seems to know what pop is! lol

-a bee= a hair band

- Whut?? how she answers to her name being called.

- pease(please),thanked you,elcome (welcome)

- When you tell Addy "I love you" she replies "you too"

- When I am looking for Tom. Addy will go around the house looking and say "Tom come!"

-"yah I do" is her answer for everything! love it!

Some of Adalyn's favorites!

-monkeys (I means LOVES!!!) "pink and new one" are new family members

-the moon and twinkle stars

- our dog (Lucy)

- to go bye bye "I go too". She so dislike shopping though!

- Elmo, Wonder Pets

- Playing pretend (dinosaurs, doctor, nap) and dress up with Kara.

- to help you with clean up, dishes, cook etc. Beware if she has a hair brush

- Singing and dancing. She refers to dancing as "rock out" and while singing she get really loud on the words she knows.

Make me say AWWW!!

My girls amaze me more and more each day! Do you ever wish you could stop time? Or if you are my husband you talk about shrinking the kiddos in the drier! lol Maybe you find yourself saying you are growing up so fast! My sweet girlies are maturing into little ladies. I am so thankful I am here to watch and go along for the ride!

We had the joy of working with Melanie at melaniepitcherphotography.com http://www.melaniepitcherphotography.com/2011/08/10/sisters-session-memphis-tn-custom-childrens-photographer/ Thank you Melanie for capturing these moments for us! This cute place in Arlington, TN was calling for the girl's summer pictures. Kara as you can see has so much fun being a little "model." Adalyn on the other hand was "all done" the moment she stepped out into the early morning heat and humidity. Poor girl! All in all we got some great pictures and could not be happy with the results!

Mama Look!

It was gorgeous out today! Kara and Adalyn could not wait to get outside and enjoy. I think is was the first time this summer I did not hear the words "it's too hot" or "I'm ready to go in" (after 2 mins!)
Kara had to try out her new "ride" (scooter) daddy put together over the weekend. She decided after ~3 falls off she "needs to grow up a little bit."
This beautiful day does not end with talking about the weather, scooter/bike rides, or going for a walk. It will end by talking about a precious little caterpillar. Yes a caterpillar! Kara found this black with yellow stripes creature in our driveway. She proceeded to hold it and say a prayer for it. "Mama, I prayed for the caterpillar to have a long, healthy 100 year life!" This friend now has a nice comfy home in a container on our counter top :) Hopefully we have a butterfly soon! {pictues were taken with phone}

Hello, hello Is this thing on?

Yes, blogger is working! :) Life has just simply gotten away from this mama. Sad I know. I am happy to say I am back and life is great! Ready, set, blog...

Dance Me, Daddy

This book has touched our hearts and will not be leaving our home anytime soon. If you listen to the song or read the story you will not have a dry eye. My girls LOVE dancing around with their daddy! It is one of those precious moments

"King of the World" song lyrics:

by Point of Grace

Spinning around on the tops of his feet
Smiles of the angels cannot be so sweet
Wide blue eyes and piggy tail swirls
She's her daddy's girl

'Cause he knows the jokes that always make her laugh
Takes her for ice cream instead of her nap
At the end of the day by the light of the moon
They turn up the music in their living room

And she yells, Dance me, dance me around
Till my feet don't ever touch down
There's nothing better than being your girl
And if I am your princess then daddy
You are the king of the world

It's funny how life moves in circles of time
To think not so long ago that face was mine
Houses get smaller we take different names
But somethings in life stay the same

Dance me, dance me around
Till my feet don't ever touch down
There's nothing better than being your girl
And if I am your princess then daddy
You are the king of the world

Someday she'll go off and find a life of her own
And marry a good man and make a happy home
Until she comes back and sees with those same eyes
What time cannot disguise

She walks through the door with that look on her face
'Cause daddy's brown hair has all turned to gray
They talk for hours, they cry and they laugh

Watching old movies and thinking back
Just as she turns to go she says
"Hey Dad, how 'bout one for the road?"

Dance me, dance me around
Till my feet don't ever touch down
Dance me, dance me around
Till my feet don't ever touch down
'Cause there's nothing better than being your girl
Oh no, there's nothing better than being your girl
And if I am your princess than daddy
You are the king of the world, king of the world

Spinning around of the tops of his feet
Smile of the angels cannot be so sweet

Listen to this beautiful story:

If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again

If I had my child to raise over all over again,

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often.

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I'd model less about the love of power,

And more about the power of love.

by Diane Loomans