Saturday

Phillip always has to work Memorial Day weekend. It falls right before Shareholders so that's just the way it goes.

The girls and I decided to make our own holiday weekend fun with out Daddy so we went to Chick-fil-a for lunch. They have it down if you ask me! You can swap the kids fries for fruit, they have place mats that stick to the table for your kids, their dining area is always clean, their play place doesn't have nasty caked on it, the sweet tea and lemonade is awesome, and you can trade in your kids meal toy for ice cream.

Ashlyn loves to share her ice cream with Aubrey! It makes me smile watching them!

Cold Ice Cream!

After our ice cream we played in the play place. We had the area to ourselves for about five minutes. Aubrey loved it! Normally there are dozens of big kids running around and she just stands next to me watching them, but this time she got to play!


When we were all good and sweaty from running around the three of us headed to Walmart to get herbs and potting soil. Apparently they give free cookies to kids in the bakery now! When we walked in the door the greeter asked if the girls wanted a sticker so I said sure. Instead of the yellow smiley face Ashlyn used to get it was a sticker that said "Cookie Club". He then told me I could take the sticker to the bakery for free cookies. So after we got everything we needed from the Garden Center we made our way over to the bakery. I just ignored the fact that the girls already had ice cream at lunch. You only live once right? They were tiny little sugar cookies and the girls thought they are amazing!

Ashlyn got a lot of smiles and giggles as we walked through the store!

After nap time the girls got their swim suits on and we headed outside. They had the best time playing in the water. I'm always amazed at how much entertainment buckets and water create! And while the girls played I planted the herbs we picked up at Walmart.

Basil, Cilantro, and Mint

Catching up... again.

*Ashlyn is eating like she has a hole in her leg. I'm pretty sure that means a growth spurt is on its way. Thank goodness it's dress season, her jeans were already a wee bit too short!

*At Ashlyn's check up last week she was 12% in weight and 25% in height on the growth chart. Quite the leap considering she was always in the single digits or not even on the chart.

*I love how dainty and petite my girls are. People always comment on how tiny they are. God made them perfect just the way they are!

*Remember the bossiness I was talking about?...
Ashlyn: Aubrey go put my high heels in my room
(Aubrey trots off to Ashlyn's room with the high heels)
Ashlyn: Look mom, she's being a good girl and minding me.
-Cue the "your not her boss speech"

*I made another batch of laundry detergent. I think this was my third or fourth batch. It lasts forever!! I still have the same boxes of Borax and Washing soda from the first batch I made two years ago. I am using Zote soap now, it works better than the Ivory I used the first time.
This stuff is so cheap, works great, is good on Aubrey's sensitive skin, and lasts forever. I could go on and on!

*Aubrey has had a cantankerous streak about her the past several months. I know it's just a phase, but I'm ready for it to pass. Although she is very good when we are out and about and also in the nursery, so I am grateful for that.

*Ashlyn's last day of MDO was Thursday. They were supposed to wear their swim suits and have a water and bubble day. Well, it didn't even get into the 70's Thursday so it ruined their plans. I saw that it was supposed to be cool several days ahead of time so I didn't even tell Ashlyn about the water day. So she didn't know she was missing anything.

*I have been going to the Fitness Center (the gym for Walmart employees) the past couple weeks. I did Zumba (a dance fitness program) on Thursday and had a blast! I went with my sweet friend Carmen who is a seasoned pro and was nice enough not to laugh at me! Hopefully after a couple more times I'll have my moves down!
It's been nice getting a couple hours a week to myself to exercise. The girls love the childcare there and so do I. The workers are wonderful and remember Aubrey's name each time I drop her off. Ashlyn has been in MDO twice a week the past two weeks so she'll start going too now that it's over. She loved it the one time she went and begged to go back the next day.

*Ashlyn is going to take swim lessons at the Fitness Center this year. Last year she did lessons at a lady's house and we loved it. We're going to try the Fitness Center this year and see how it goes. We loved her teacher last year but these lessons are super cheap and she can do them all year long in the indoor pool. She's not too thrilled about doing lessons. She just wants to play, not actually "work".

*Aubrey is at the age where what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine too. It makes for rough play times. Aubrey wants whatever Ashlyn has and I often find Ashlyn hunched over her toy guarding it while Aubrey stands there pointing and hollering. Although Ashlyn loves to antagonize Aubrey with the favorite toys. I was tempted to go buy another doll stroller to solve some of the fights but quickly determined that wouldn't teach any lessons.

*Today they fight over toys... 10 years from now the bathroom and clothes!

*Now I know why my mom would send my brother and I to our rooms during the summer when the bickering went on and on. It'll drive a momma bonkers!

*This week's forecast shows the temperatures in the 80's and no rain. I can't wait! We have had way to many close calls with tornadoes lately. There are so many towns close by us that have been hit hard. God has had his hand of protection over us!

Just the Highlights

*Ashlyn had her MDO program Thursday. They did a couple songs and got a certificate. She was so cute! During one of their songs they were sitting on the edge of the stage and at one point she was leaned back with her legs and bottom up in the air. Thank goodness I reminded her to put bloomers on! I was giggling the whole time! Four year olds forget they're supposed to be still when they sing, they were all just doing their own thing while they were singing.

*Friday she had to get her four year shots. I was going to hold off until next year and just do them during her kindergarten exam but our insurance changes from year to year and I thought it would be best to do them now since they are covering immunizations this year. Her pediatrician and his nurse did not want to do Ashlyn's check up. Both of them are friends and see us outside of the clinic so neither one of them wanted to hurt Ashlyn's feelings. She did really good and was brave but we still have moments of thinking our legs will fall off from the pain. Yes, she got the shots Friday and yes today is Sunday... there's lotsa drama around our house!

*The Walton's 5-10 (Sam Walton's first store before Walmart) is now a visitor's center and a tourist attraction for our town. It recently went through a remodel and the grand re-opening was Saturday. Phillip had to be there for work so the girls and I went along to enjoy the festivities while he ran audio for the presentation.


The town's square, where the 5-10 is located, is so fun. There are little shops and places to eat and every Saturday starting in the Spring there is a farmer's market. In the middle of the square is a fountain which all the kids love. The weather was sunny and beautiful so Ashlyn got to put her feet in the water to cool off.

And sweet Aubrey was content to hang out in her stroller. On our way back to the van I tried to push the stroller over a snake (a very large audio cable) and the stroller came to an abrupt stop which made Aubrey bite into her bottom lip. :( Poor baby!


After lunch and a much needed nap we played outside. We have had rain on top of more rain, tornado warnings, 40 degree weather, then more rain the past 6 weeks so we run outside any chance we get. (I have long sleeves and summer dresses in the girl's closets, and they will wear one one day then the other the next! Crazy!!)


*The next two weeks are going to be busy at our house! Ashlyn has her last two days of MDO this week. (She's really sad about not seeing her friends during the summer!) And Phillip is overseeing this "tiny" little show called Shareholder's. He's a busy busy man with so much pressure and responsibility on his shoulder's right now. He does an amazing job though!

Sisters

I love watching the relationship between Ashlyn and Aubrey grow. It is the sweetest thing! They love each other to pieces!



Aubrey loves to hug and kiss on Ashlyn. She is so excited to see her in the mornings, after nap, and especially after a long day at MDO. Ashlyn is always so sweet to hug her back and even show her off to her friends at school. She is pretty proud of her little sister!



Their relationship isn't perfect. They're sisters, and they fight like sisters. Aubrey has a battle wound on her right hand left over from a little tiff over a coveted toy to prove it. But they are quick to make up and move on.


I have learned that the bossy, mothering trait runs strong in the second child also. Ashlyn loves to boss Aubrey around and Aubrey is starting to boss Ashlyn around. Aubrey will shake her finger and say "no, no" to Ashlyn when she gets in trouble. Oh, help me!


Ashlyn loves to teach Aubrey. She loves to show her how to play, say words, and even how to use her manners. I'm sure the using the manners thing falls under the bossy sister category though.


I am so grateful for these two little girls and pray their relationship only continues to grow!!

Chocolate Milk Shakes

Aubrey is a selective eater! She did awesome on baby foods but once she started eating solid foods she started to slowly mark foods off her list that she didn't like anymore. There are not many veggies on her "like" list which means lots of missed vitamins and nutrients. She loves fruits and dairy but mommas like to see their kids eat veggies. So, I'm trying out new ways to sneak some veggies into her food. The problem is she only eats food in their "natural form". She doesn't eat mixed or combined foods, so I can't sneak pureed veggies in her lasagna or meatloaf. In my on going search I stumbled across the idea to put spinach juice in a chocolate milk shake. Now don't wrinkle your nose at me! It's very yummy and you can't taste the spinach, I promise! If anyone could find veggies in their food, it's Aubrey!

Healthy Chocolate Milk Shakes

2 Cups Chocolate Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream
4-6 Tbl Green Juice (See below)
1/4-1/2 Cup milk

Combine all ingredients in a blender or with a hand blender until smooth. Enjoy in a fun glass with a straw!
*2 Servings


And it tastes extra good after a nap when you still have fuzzy back of the head nap hair!



Green Juice

3 Cups fresh spinach
1 Cup water

Rinse spinach.


Bring spinach and water to a boil in a medium sauce pan. Turn heat down to low and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.


Pour spinach and liquid in a fine mesh strainer and push pulp through the strainer with a spatula until all the liquid is released.
Store liquid in refrigerator up to 3 days or freeze in measured out portion sizes for several months.


I went back to my baby making food roots and froze the juice in ice cube trays. (Each cube is approximately 1 ounce/ 2 Tbl) Once they were frozen I popped them in a freezer bag. I thaw the cubes a bit before blending to avoid an accidental "green juice lump", my cover would be blown! Ashlyn does ask what they are and I tell them they're vitamins. Hey, it's the truth right?!

Snuggle Time!

These girls love their Daddy!

And he sure does love them!

Double Banana Chocolate Chip Bars

Earlier this week I made a batch of Double Banana Chocolate Chip Bars. They were yummy, healthy, and easy to whip up during nap time! The perfect little treat! And since they have chocolate chips in them I can tell the girls they are dessert! I am always looking for a new way to use up that one banana that always gets a little too ripe and I'm glad I stumbled across this recipe, it's a keeper.



Double Banana Chocolate Chip Bars

1 very ripe banana
1/3 cup canola oil
2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup flour
2/3 cup chopped banana chips
2/3 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups quick cooking oats

In a large bowl, mash the banana with a fork and then add the canola oil and brown sugar. Mix well.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and oats. Mix into wet ingredients and add banana chips and chocolate chips.

Press batter down evenly into a greased 8x8 pan. Bake at 350' for 20-25 minutes, or until edges are golden. Let cool before cutting into squares. Store in an air tight container.

*Recipe from Rather Be Baking

Speechless

I have no words!
I can only shake my head and laugh

Mother's Day

I had a nice Mother's Day yesterday! I am so grateful for my two girls and feel so blessed that God has allowed me to stay home and raise them. This is what I have wanted to be all my life. I never dreamed of having a successful career or landing a high profile job, all I wanted to be was a mommy. I wanted to be home raising my babies, making our house a home, and caring for my husband. I know this is what God has called me to do!

I am so grateful to have a wonderful mom that has always been very involved in my life. She was always an example of selflessness. She always stayed at home to raise my younger brother and I. She was a supportive and loving wife to my dad spending half of her married life uprooting and moving across the country when the military called. Now, she is still staying at home but her days are now consumed with taking care of her parents. A couple years after I married and left home my grandparents started to need more help at home. My parents felt God was moving them into a new chapter of their lives, he was calling them to care for mom's parents. They obeyed, put their home up for sale, and moved onto my grandparents land so they could be close to them. Two years ago my grandma had a stroke on Christmas eve which left her unable to communicate well and unable to do many daily tasks. My mom has stepped in and taken on many tasks that a home health nurse would be called in to do. Her days are consumed with senior adult care giving which brings on exhaustion and frustration but this is what God has called her to do and she will be blessed greatly for her obedience.
Thank you mom for being an example to Aaron and I!


And what's Mother's day without the ever cherished picture of yourself and your little blessings!


And yes, those are their Easter dresses. Ashlyn insisted on wearing hers and of course Aubrey had to match her too. I have a feeling I'm going to have to hide them every other Sunday so they won't be in the same dress every week. Or maybe I'll just let her wear it every week and pin a sign on her back that says "I refuse to wear anything else". Ha!

What's Important!

Ashlyn came home yesterday with a sweet little card she did at MDO. I think her little words put all of my responsibilities in order of importance for me.



Making sure my floors are mopped and our furniture is dusted doesn't seem as important anymore. It makes me remember that it's just fine to sit and play doll house with my girls on carpets that need vacuuming. The dirty dishes can wait while we read books. And the toilets can be cleaned later because swinging my sweeties on the swing set is more important.

A day with my baby!

I am trying to soak up and cherish the last couple weeks of MDO that Ashlyn has left. Pretty soon Ashlyn will be on summer break then both girls will go to MDO next fall. I am trying to create quality time with Aubrey, just the two of us. I haven't had as much of that alone time with Aubrey that I had with Ashlyn. While I have always been very mindful of giving Aubrey that love and attention every baby needs and deserves, it's just different. Ashlyn had my full attention all.the.time. Aubrey only gets bits and pieces of "only mommy" time. It's just the way it is with the second baby.
I just love the stage of life she is in right now. Yes, she is very whiney and opinionated and hard headed, typical stuff for her age, but this age is just so fun. She is soaking up life and repeats and mimics everything. She is so smart! I love the way she interacts with us and she loves that we understand her too.
After we dropped Ashlyn off at school. Aubrey and I met up with some friends at the park. It was a beautiful day! She was pretty reserved the whole time and just hung out, drinking her juice and munching on her snack. I'm not sure if she was just in a quiet mood or kinda felt out of place without Ashlyn there to help her along. She loves Ashlyn so much and misses her terribly when she is gone.

Don't you just want to squeeze her!! I do, quite often actually, I just can't help myself! She's just too darn cute!

She did want to swing though. One of her favorite things to do outside!


After playing at the park we ate lunch together then headed to the library. We love our public library! They have a wonderful children's area complete with a saltwater fish tank, puzzles, and fun sitting areas! The children's area is sectioned off so they can talk and play without disturbing the rest of the library. They have story time three times a week and we try to go at least once or twice a month. They always have the best crafts for the kids after story time. We missed story time but Aubrey had just as much fun playing with the puzzles and looking at the fish.


I will be very honest and say that MDO day's are not always fun days for me. Aubrey misses Ashlyn and is quite clingy and fussy and is in a stage where she doesn't enjoy grocery shopping. Some days I would trade her being at school and Ashlyn stay with me. But as the last month is quickly coming to a close, I realize how grateful I am for the Thursday's the two of us have had together this year. I will never get these precious baby times back, I want to soak them in while I can.