Fun Times with S

Living in place that gets hot; our summer plan is to LIVE at the pool. Last year swim class didn't go so well for S for a lot or reasons; one because she didn't have a parent tot class. So on Mon/Wed while E is in preschool S and I are taking a parent-tot swim class. She is doing great and loves it! Not to mention the ear plugs are helping! She is really enjoying her time in the pool with me and says about 20 times each lesson, "I luv you, Mama!" Oh melt my heart! This is what it is about! Building connections with our children that build a loving foundation.

Family Day

We had a family day riding bikes around the block! Oh, the weather is beautiful and I love that spring is around the corner! E loves her bike. S is still figuring it all out!

Potty Training Success!

Confession

I have not gotten up the last two days! I am a slacker. I have been exhausted and just needed to sleep; but I thought I should be honest and hold myself accountable! I will be up tomorrow and back on schedule!

Potty Training excitement....

Life is good around here! Potty training is going really well, in fact, last night we slept in panties: NO DIAPER and we woke up DRY!!!!! Wow, that was awesome. I was being brave and thought oh well, so what, we wash the sheets if we have too! The best part is that she is so proud of herself and the smile on her face is precious! Yesterday she was even taking herself to the potty without me or Daddy stopping her playtime and even better she was at a new person's house! It was great! Way to go baby girl- what a big girl now! Too fun! She earned her big girl seat and today we will be putting it the car. Next step big girl bed! Time to move out of the crib and into her toddler bed.

My week...exhausting!

I spent the week potty training my little Miss S and she is doing great! I really didn't think she was ready but thought we'd give it a good shot and she did great! She was so ready and it was my fear holding us back! It is so different potty training the second child! You are on the go and and have commitments like preschool and can't stay home all day to focus on teaching them how to go potty! So we just put on the panties and headed out in our normal routine and embraced the accidents with a smile- even in public places. The other challenge in potty training her is that she is a different child and works differently than my oldest; therefore, I really had to pray and ask the Lord to reveal to me how I was going to connect with her. She is doing great and I am very proud of her!

I did spent the week getting up early but I have to confess I did not get up at 5:00 everyday this week. On Monday and Thursday I got up at 6:00 because Hubby was home and I didn't have to. I will admit it threw may day off and I should have kept my normal routine of 5:00. That just sounds crazy- even when I say it out loud! Wed I didn't go to the gym because I was sick and the girls had a rough night; I did get up around 6:30 to get my bible study in. I am still committed to this new routine and tried to be flexible and beat myself up because of the week's events. Not a normal week when it came to routine, that was for sure! The second week so far the hardest- TIRED! Last night I went to bed at 8:30 and I think was asleep by 9:00! I did get up at 5:00 today. Next week will be a great week!

Life is exhausting emotionally right now. So many trials and struggles going on and we are faithfully depending on the Lord. He is an AWESOME GOD and I know He is working in our lives. Our Life Group is beginning a bible study on Job. I have to admit, I think there is no coincidence the Lord had chosen this book for us to study. Here is a man who was very committed and faithful to the Lord and he had all kinds of circumstances (in other words the enemy, the devil, satan) attacking him in every way imaginable. I feel very much like Job. Over the last 5-6 years I/we have one obstacle after another, one trial after another, one attack of the enemy in every area of my life and it scares me a bit to think it's not over. Please cover me, my husband and our girls in your prayers. Ask the Lord to protect us from the evil one and to give us guidance, discernment and wisdom in every area of our life. I have faith we will come out of this time period in our life better people, a better wife/mother and husband/father, that we will be showered with love from the Lord and that HE WILL NEVER FORSAKE US! I have faith that God can move mountains! I will consider my trails pure joy and persevere so I can receive the crown of life, become mature and be made complete (James 1).

Today I finished the book Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie O'Martin and it was amazing! I loved Power of a Praying Wife, too. The way I read each of these was one chapter a day and prayed and meditated on that topic all day. So basically it takes 30 days or longer to finish the book. It is awesome because it focus on one thing, it teaches good, simple but deep prayers for our children and helps us to release our children back to God. I totally recommend both of these books; I also know there is the Power of a Praying Husband (wouldn't you love to be prayed over everyday by your husband- what an awesome thing), Power of a Praying Women and more. Enjoy praying for your husband and your children; the results are amazing!

Fun Mommy Date!

I took my oldest daughter on a mommy date! We went shopping and tried on clothes at Ann Taylor Loft and then I took her to get her nails polished for the first time. It was a purplish-clear color with glitter! She loved it and I loved watching her smile from ear to ear.

A wonderful Husband and other stuff...

Today was my hubby's day-off! This morning we were able to sleep-in and enjoy NOT setting the alarm at 4:45am; he gave me the greatest gift! While I was at the gym this morning and grocery shopping; he and the girls cleaned the entire house! It was the most fabulous gift! Thank you, baby! I respect and appreciate you! Now all I have to think about this week is keeping the house tidy! Really a week off from vacuuming??? Still hard to believe!

Update on my new 5:00am routine! I love it! I did it all last week and will continue tomorrow! Since my hubby was home today I enjoyed sleeping-in a little, too. It was so nice to cuddle with him and the girls this morning while we watched a movie.

An incredible thought from my bible study this morning..."The most important thing in the world is not to know the Lord's will but to know the Lord." I loved it!

An UP and DOWN day!

This morning I continued with my new schedule; DAY 4 bright-eyed and bushy-tailed! I had a wonderful morning planned; the girls were going to have a play date and I was going to have coffee with a wonderful older women. We were dressed ready to go and headed to the car and the battery was DEAD! Oh, it was so disappointing! I was so deflated and I was looking so forward to getting to know this mentor/older/wiser/Godly woman better. Well what are you gonna do? I love that my bible study the last two days has been on James and reminded me to have JOY when I face trials! So back inside we went and then about an our later my knights in shinning armor arrived...Sarah and Philip! They pushed my van out of the garage and gave it a jump and then off we went to the library for Story-time and to top it off we were only 5 mins late. We ended up having a wonderful morning and it was a blessing to have joy in my heart instead of disappointment. The Scriptures they are so wise! Sometimes things don't workout the we have planned them...ah just a reminder we are not in control; GOD IS!

My little girl is not so little...

Today was her day! S was so excited when I pulled out the gymnastics leotard this morning. She told everyone at E's preschool..."I"M GOING TO NASTICS!" Oh it was too cute. This morning we tried out a gym for her and she loved it! She is getting so big and she is very athletic. It will be interesting how she develops and what becomes her interest. I can't wait to sign her up in mid-Feb she is going to love it! I have been trying to find activities to spend with quality time with her and so far I have her signed up for mommy and me swim classes and then will do mommy and me nastics! Too fun! I can't believe how fast they grow up; it is simply wonderful!

Day 2 was a go!

Yeah for me, I managed to get to the gym and have bible study and work on Laundry all before 7:00am! I also took a shower. I am so proud! It's kinda of scary what you can done at the crack of dawn!

A new routine

A new year brings new goals, commitments, expectations and ROUTINE! I'm sure you have asked yourself same questions, "How am I going to get it all done? How can I workout, being a good mom, good, wife, get my bible study in, clean the house, do the laundry, cook dinner and keep up with everything else?"
Well, I decided the only way to do it was to get up early!
So now I am getting up at 5:00am and running, showering and getting my bible study done all before the children wake-up. In my head this sounds like a great plan and I am really hoping that I can stick with it! I am going to do it for 30 days consistently to help start the habit/routine and then hopefully it will be just a part of who I am.
So please hold me accountable! The thing is that in this world is that we try to do everything alone and we need help. Even Jesus had help; he 12 disciples!
By the way God is so cool. During my bible study this morning the author emphasized meeting Jesus for the 20 mins of the days. For me that was the Lord speaking to me and saying "Well, done!" It is nice to hear those things from the Lord.
I hope you have a fabulous day and that you have peace about getting it ALL done!

Twinkle Toes

E had her last ballet class and she was just precious. I am such a proud mama and so glad she had this experience. She received a speical certificate for having perfect attendance. Who knows what she will want to continue ballet or dance...I did figure out that over that last month she loves the camera and performing so I am hoping to sign her up for a intro musical theatre class. SO FUN!

Ten days into the new year...

Wow, I can't believe it is the 10th already and I have so much I want to do and I am already behind! I love new beginnings and new starts; and for me twice a year I feel like I can completely start over: the beginning of a school year and the new year! Working in education and having a hubby who has been a teacher for 12 years has really made an impact on my life! The school year is often my NEW YEAR (if that makes any sense) and I always set some goals when school starts. Now true New Year's is when I set those long term goals and this year the list seems endless! We had an incredible sermon last week on goals and the biggest question they asked was. "ARE YOUR GOALS GOD-CENTERED?" I really enjoyed pondering that question and considering if my goals were GOD-centered or ME-centered! More than anything I desire the deepest, intimate and close relationship with Jesus and I BELIEVE everything else in life will be taken care if I am GOD-centered rather than ME- centered. So while I want to lose weight and change this ...I know that if I spend my efforts concentrating on how to grow my relationship with Christ it will happen. I know that God will turn all the areas of my life around- especially the ones I didn't even know I need to change.

So my question to you... ARE YOUR GOALS GOD-CENTERED?

Back from San Antonio, TX

We went to visit my Dad/Pops for a few days. We drove down and the girls did awesome.It was such a blessing to be able to get in the car and drive! We have been only to travel by plan for the last 8 years and this was a new experience. We had a short visit but it was filled with lots of family time and catching up. My Dad took the most time that he has ever taken when we came for a visit and that was great!

The girls really enjoyed being in the Persian culture; eating Persian bread and feta cheese for breakfast with Persian hot tea; listening to the language and trying to imitate it and eating lots of kabob and rice.

We traveled to the San Marcos outlet mall (even got my Dad to come) and wanted to stay there for three days! That is the best mall and has over 300 stores. It really takes a good 3 days of shopping and we had 1! They had a Janie and Jack and Pottery Barn Kids outlet! I was loving it! We found this new store called Heartstrings. That was a precious store and will be going back there! I am still hoping for that first COACH purse and thought maybe the deals would be so good I couldn't pass it up. However, nothing grabbed me so I will still keep dreaming.

One of my favorite things of the trip was we went to Picture People to get pictures with Pops and a generational picture for my keepsake. I took one with my mom after E was born. She was three weeks old. Very special! Of course the pictures turned out terrific and we couldn't help but buy them all.

It was such a treat to spend time with Maggie, Amir and Shervin, too. We all enjoyed spending time together and visiting! The girls kept us entertained and I think each person who came over was given a hair and makeover. Too cute...what good sports.

We were not able to visit with everyone we wanted this trip because we there for a short time and the New Year holiday but we thought of everyone who was close!