Tuesday, July 15, 2008

ten smiles...


okay...so after wasting far too much trying to figure out how to create a "mr. linky"...i have to admit defeat. we have been enjoying our time at vbs...but whoa, i was absolutely wiped out this afternoon and completely zonked on the couch while the girls were napping...hence the fact that i now need to be at least a wee bit productive this evening! if, however, you are someone who has posted ten smiles...leave me a comment so i can be sure to come by and see what you are smiling about! anyway...here are a few of the things we've been smiling about!


1. dropping the invitations to kate's first birthday party in the mail. can you believe it!? i know i can't. my "baby" is turning one in just three weeks...i suppose this is a bittersweet smile. while i look forward to celebrating with family and friends...and continuing to watch kater gator grow...there is that little part of me that wants her to stay little and snuggly and sweet. and just because i'm so sure you are wondering...we are going with the alligator "theme" for the party...well, i use the term theme loosely since what that really means is that mike and i bought her alligator-ish presents, and i will be trying my hand at an alligator shaped cake.

2. a break from the normal routine for vbs. it is somewhat refreshing to be working with older kiddos this week...perhaps partly because it is a huge reminder of why these "little" years matter so much. as i look at the 40 (yes 4-0) fourth graders in our vbs class (and thats just half of the 4th graders!) it hits me that someday my girls will be fourth graders...and the time i invest and the qualities we work to build into them now will be what we reap down the road. and i am so thankful for the wonderful fun elizabeth is having in her 2 and 3 year old class...she is bringing home great crafts, sharing what she is learning, and talking non-stop about all of her friends in her class. definitely a highlight that one of her friends from our flock group is in the class...she just can't stop talking about ellie.


3. one of my dear, sweet friends got engaged sunday night...oh how excited i am for her!

4. this day--i know, i already posted about it, but it still counts as a smile since it happened this week!

5. listening to elizabeth, who at this very moment is in her room (right next to the room i'm in) singing her little heart out to her stuffed friends.


6. chicken pot pie. i hadn't made pot pie in quite some time, but sunday i was scheduled to take a meal to some friends whose baby just had surgery...and pot pie just sounded right...so, in the interest of keeping thing simple, thats what we had for dinner...and boy was it tasty! kate chowed down...and then chowed down some more.

7. my saturday out. saturday was my MOPS steering retreat...a full day of planning, brainstorming, training, and, of course, general fun and fellowship for our steering team. how nice to have a day away...to recharge, relax, and spend time with some ladies who i thoroughly enjoy.


8. smile #7 also meant that daddy had his own special day with the girls. he and another dad whose wife was at the steering retreat took the kiddos to the children's museum. bless their hearts...it was a rainy saturday, so you can just imagine how C-R-A-Z-Y the museum was!

9. a neighborhood ice cream social last night...a gorgeous summer evening...the chance to chat with some neighbors and, of course, enjoy some ice cream. elizabeth was absolutely thrilled about the sprinkles...and kate, well, she was just thrilled to enjoy some ice cream and people watching!


10. scoring a load of great new books for almost free at half price books today. they let me do 5 separate transactions with those $3 gift cards i've been racking up from the summer reading program. kate is definitely getting some books for her birthday...and we found this great dinosaur book for elizabeth...complete with puzzle-like dinosaurs that fit into the pages...

11 comments:

Rebecca said...

i hope "those" hours are in the past for you now and things have settled down. i enjoyed your smiles. so many good ones! what a fun cake you are going to make for kate! i can't believe she's going to be 1!!! sounds like vbs is going great...i'm glad to hear it! well, i'm off to try to get these kiddos to bed. i think i had something else to say, but i just can't think of it...i'll stop back by if i remember :)

Chelle said...

my word I hope you get a chance to catch your breath after this crazy exausting, wonderful week.

as always I leave here smiling.

Amy's Blah, Blah, Blogging said...

Sounds like you guys have been super busy, but a good kind of busy. That alligator cake is way too cute by the way! It doesn't look super hard to make either so I bet you will be just fine!

Have fun the rest of your week at VBS, I hope it all goes well and many children's hearts are changed in the coming days!

Nancy M. said...

Wait just a minute. It can't be only 3 weeks until our kids 1st birthday! I haven't even looked at invitations, let alone sent them! I am so behind. Thanks for reminding me I need to get moving!

Unknown said...

Wow, it looks like you had a busy week...and continuing this week. I am so excited that you are including a "mr. linky" you can count me in to participate. Have a great week, hope VBS is going well.

Lisa said...

why is it that ice cream always taste better when its free?!?!?!

I cannot beleive your "baby" is turning 1 - where on earth does the time go.....

Enjoy the rest of your time at VBS!

Leslie said...

love your smiles this week, I love working VBS, and ice cream socials.. ohhh the things of summer.

Leslie said...

love your smiles this week, I love working VBS, and ice cream socials.. ohhh the things of summer.

Jackie said...

Ahhh...first birthday parties are so fun and such a milestone. I remember being sort of sad at Savannah's because she officially didn't see like a baby anymore. :(

Mmmm...chicken pot pie...something I have never made, but you've inspired me.

Wendi@EveryDayMiracles said...

I love your ten smiles each week. it just perks up my day and helps me to - well *Smile*. :)
Oh yes, those first birthdays are so bittersweet. Mostly sweet! :) Love the 'gator theme! Perfect!

Anonymous said...

Can Kate really be turning 1? I still remember the post where you broke the news that you were having #2... My how the time flies! You absolutely must post pictures of this cake when you have it made!! I can't wait to see it:) I hope you have a relaxing weekend after the crazy week you've had! Thanks for always making me smile.