one to remember

today was one of those days...the kind of day you simply will remember down the road....not because of anything particularly unique or fantastic so to speak....simply because of the little things. mike has been working LOTS of over-time lately--a crunch to complete a project with a big deadline--meaning that i've been working over-time at home. we are both quite worn out. so, of course, when poppy called this morning and invited to come over to "play" today, the girls and i were thrilled by the prospect. we packed up the essentials, even rousing kate from her nap, and to grandmommy and poppy's house we headed. i think there are a lot of factors that made today "extra-special"...you see we spend plenty of time at their house....plenty of fun times....but something was different today. regardless of what made it different (perhaps that is for a different day and a different blog), it simply was. i did get the chance to meet mike for a quick lunch while the girls enjoyed lunch with grandmommy and poppy. but i think perhaps what made the day one to remember was all the little things...watching kate sit on the floor with poppy, grinning from chubby cheek to chubby cheek, chattering away while my mom and i played yet another round of canasta. or maybe it was listening to my dad as he did his donald duck voice for elizabeth (a voice that takes me back to my own childhood!). or maybe it was listening to kate "ya, ya, ya, ya, da, da, da, da...." her little heart out and blow raspberries. or perhaps it was elizabeth helping dump ingredients into the mixer for chocolate chip cookies or watching her stand on the kitchen chair to help poppy smash the potatoes for dinner. then there were the baths...kate in the sink splashing around, playing with the rinsing cup and elizabeth's in grandmommy and poppy's huge garden tub. it very well could have been watching kate crane her neck to grin and stare at poppy rather than eating her mixed vegetables or watching her sit with grandmommy to have her evening bottle. maybe it was simply hearing elizabeth's little voice as poppy buckled her in the carseat to head home, "i love you poppy!" like i said, i can't really put my finger on what it was...but how special to have days like today....simple everyday moments strung together to create something magical and wonderful, something not to be forgotten for a long time to come.

Video of the girlies (and my pay it forward winner announcements!)

Since daddy had to work over-time today the girls and I spent a lovely afternoon at grandmommy and poppy's house. My dad took this video of Kate "talking" with his camera...thought you might enjoy seeing (and hearing her) in action. I'll try to post some video of Elizabeth soon...just didn't think I should post the bath-time video out hear for the whole world to see....she might be quite annoyed with mom for something like that later!

By the way...the winners of my "pay it forward" are...all four entrants (you just can't leave anyone out!). Amy, Rebecca, Mom, and Andrea...I will leave you all comments with more details...and to make sure you still want to participate!

***Just kidding about the video...this was my first attempt to include a video...and it was apparently unsuccessful...you can simply use your imagination to think about how cute it was...I'll try to include some pictures in the next couple days!

odd...but loveable...

this little "creation"...a (kind of) bunny...created from an old pair of mommy's gloves...found a new best friend today! okay, so he is a bit odd...but elizabeth knew right away that he was a bunny (impressive...since i'm not sure what i thought she would think it was!).

ten smile tuesday....

How wonderful to reflect on some smiles today. I find that over the past couple days I've had lots of "those moments"...you all know what I mean. Moments where I feel lonely or discouraged for no apparent reason...just the "blahs". Sitting down to type up my smiles helps me to renew my attitude and recognize all that we are blessed with.

1. Best buds...caught this picture of Kate and Mugho hanging out just this afternoon. Kate had been reaching out to pet Mugho and was so fascinated by the feeling of his fur...you could just see the wheels-a-turnin'.

2. Our bag FULL of elephant, lion and zebra books from the library. Elizabeth is running around making elephant sounds and roaring like a lion. We've found several "favorites" to add to our list of newly discovered great books....I promise to post our list soon!

3. More crafty time...I'm getting ready to felt the purses for Mike's family this evening...made a sock monkey last night (I'll post a picture once I get his nostrils and mouth sewed on!)....and just whipped up some baby shower gifts while the girls were napping. I'm finally learning to just find "manageable" (ie. smaller!) projects that I can finish in a hour or so!

4. Having some time with my hubby after the girls are in bed...how wonderful to have both girls going to bed at 8...giving Mike and I some time to simply be together.

5. Elizabeth's new favorite saying "love that mama!"...said in regards to just about anything....the commercial, Kix cereal, daddy, her sock monkey, library books. She gets this serious look on her face and starts nodding her head, and sometimes it comes out, "I'm lovin' that mama". I could go on and on about all the things she is "saying" these days...chattering from morning to night...stringing out sentence after sentence...singing right along with her music....talking to her animals...our little chatterbox. (And Kate isn't too far behind...our little "noise-maker"!)

6. Some delightful time with friends this morning during our visit to the children's museum. Even better that it wasn't crowded at all (perhaps because the weather was supposed to be bad...then again, could be that everyone in the state of Indiana seems to be sick!). Personally I think we also ALL loved getting out...after being cooped in the house with colds and icky weather.

7. Our professional "sitter"...this is Kate's favorite position lately. Last night I had such a great time watching Elizabeth and Kate "play"...Kate was sitting on the floor, and Elizabeth was sitting right in front of her...handing her toys, talking to her, singing....how special that they have each other!

8. Picking out a paint color for our front room....I think I mentioned the shelves we found on clearance in last week's smiles...baby steps...someday soon we will actually buy the paint, put it on the walls, and hang the shelves....someday!

9. Girl Scout cookies...gotta love 'em!

10. Sink time...definitely the most efficient way to get baths done these days (with Mike working lots of overtime!). Elizabeth loves to climb up on the stool and "help". You've gotta love the smile--this girlie LOVES bathtime!

I'll try to post some pics of Elizabeth soon....for some reason everything on my camera this week is of Kate. (Then again, I can't feel too badly...as the first child Elizabeth has had plenty of time in the spotlight!)

paying it forward

i had the best of intentions of posting about my "pay it forward" before today...just didn't get around to it! but here it is....your chance to enter for the privilege of "paying it forward". what does this mean? well, the winners will receive a hand-made "something" from yours truly...i'm not exactly sure what that something will be...or when you will receive it...(i use the same promise fairlight (whose "pay it forward" i was a lucky winner of) did...you will get it before the year is over!--and hopefully LONG before that!). the catch...you in turn have to "pay it forward" to three other lucky winners. so how do you enter? simply leave a comment on this post (you must also be willing to eventually give me your address so i know where to send your little something) letting me know you want to enter. i will be randomly drawing three winners next saturday evening...so be sure to leave your comment before then. (for my family and friends who don't regularly leave comments...please, join in on the fun!--to leave a comment simply choose "anonymous" in the comment form (and be certain to leave your name so I know it is you!).

priceless

Is Elizabeth LOVING this chocolate cupcake or what!? The pictures were taken about a month ago at our flock group...but my friend just recently sent them to me via e-mail.
Yes...we are known to just "strip her down" to "save" the clothes!

just a note....

i do plan to be back and sharing pictures, posts, etc. soon....but we are now awaiting a replacement modem. go figure, after our long wait for DSL, we were sent a faulty modem that isn't functioning correctly. until we get the new one i have been visiting my blog-friends in blog-world, but i have left very few comments....as my modem likes to kick me out right before the comment is sent! so i've just stopped trying to comment! we should be back in business by the middle of next week!