Twirls 'n Curls

Miscellany Monday is great because I have lots of pics I love but can't seem to make into an entire post!  Here are some recent random faves: ~ Tom:"Why is it, when I say, 'Oh my goodness!'  you say, 'Hold on, let me grab the camera!!'" ~ Nattie is keeping up with the older girls pretty well this summer, much to Hannah's dismay.  She gets frustrated that Nattie is into all her stuff, literally :)  ~ Linsey came bursting into the kitchen last night around dinnertime, reeking of perfume:  "Mom, don't put perfume on your tongue - it tastes bad and it will burn your tongue!  (looks around nervously) ...I just heard that somewhere." She passed my breathalizer test, but I'm still doubtful... ~  Hannah can't even manage to sit in her chair for a meal, much less stay in bed the entire evening.  We often find her like this as we're headed to bed, in the room I just picked up:   However, I finally found a way ...

We are having a blast this summer.  Linsey, who is growing up WAY too fast, recently got her hair cut... And her ears pierced.  She's been psyching herself up for this moment for the past year.  Daddy told her she could do it when she was ready, and last week, she finally decided she was ready.  After she was so brave getting them done, I remarked, "You've had a very grown-up day today, haven't you?"  She replied in a wistful tone, "Yes, and all of them will be grown up now, because I have my ears pierced!"  Hannah is pretty sure she's ready, too, but I'm not convinced just yet... We also played beauty salon the other day, and I painted Natalie's toes for the first time.  Then I quickly remembered why I don't usually paint baby toes...it took SO LONG to get them done because she was wiggling, she grabbed the brush and painted my hand, and I had to hold her till they were dry.  Aren't they cute though?? (Linsey's holding Natt...

I was featured in an interview this week on Open Book Girls (click the link) by a blogger friend named Anne.  She has a great site (and I thought so even before she let me be on it!!)

Confession I :  I feel guilty when I let my girls watch television so I can get something done.  Part of me hears Parent magazine in the background, telling me their minds will turn to mush and they'll never graduate kindergarten, much less college.  But when I don't have a break, I feel even worse!  It's a Catch 22. So I usually compromise and let them watch Bible DVD's or educational cartoons, like Diego or Blues Clues or Little Einsteins...surely their IQ will go up instead of down, right?  Here are some of the recent conversations around our house, just judge for yourself: "Mom, did you know Jonah wasn't the only one in the whale?  There were a whole bunch of people who sang in there with him!"  - Thank you, Veggie Tales!! "My mother was a caterpillar, my father was a worm, and I'm okay with that now." - Hermie Wormie Linsey, frantically searching, "Have you seen the box with my voice in it?"  - Think Little Mermaid: ...

Trying to link up my new button :)

I woke up this morning to this snuggly lion curled up in the crook of my elbow, sound asleep.  I'm not sure how or when she got there. (I must have been really tired!!)  When we finally sat up, Hannah smiled at me.  "Mama," she asked, "Will I turn into a mama like you when I get bigger?"  I thought about the implications of that statement...isn't there a time when we all realize we've turned into our mothers? I smiled, "Yes, honey.  One day you'll get big and you'll meet a man, like Daddy, who is kind and strong, and you'll get married.  Then one day you'll have kids, and you'll be a mama!" (trying to drill this order into her little mind!) "I hope Linsey turns into a mama like you too!"  she replied. She scampered off the bed shortly after our talk, but that thought has stayed with me all morning.  One day, my girls will grow up to become mothers, and my parenting now affects the way they will raise t...

Encourage your children to be creative - it's worth the effort, and it usually cleans up pretty fast! The Miller Racing Family

...because I get to wake up and think about what to post for Miscellany Monday !!  Here are some little known facts about our family: 1} My youngest loves getting dirty.  I love this pic because she is trying to put her hand in the handprint stone made by her sisters last year for Mother's Day.  It just strikes a chord in me, like she's following the marks they leave or something... or maybe, she just likes dirt. 2} I love that my husband always comes running as soon as he hears a crash, a thud, or a "Help me!!"  Always.  I remember being pregnant and getting stuck under the bed while trying to get out the wrapping paper. Prince Charming was right there, pulling me out after he stopped laughing.  Then as I was still getting the hang of nursing, Linsey somehow got all tangled up in my hair, and I shrieked. Again, my knight in shining armor came bursting into the room to my rescue, along with the assistant pastor that he brought home for lunch.....

ummm...(sniffle)  I got my first bloggy award this weekend from a blogger friend named Candace , how exciting!  Thanks, Candace!!  It's the Sunshine award, and you're supposed to 1) post it on your blog (I saved the image and uploaded it), and 2) pass it on to 5 people who have brought sunshine into your life by listing them and a link to their blog.  Here are the people in my list, do stop by and check out their cute sunny blogs: 1) Blakley - anythingbutperfect @ http://blakleym.blogspot.com 2) Ms B - http://whatsthebuzzmsb.blogspot.com 3) Kelly - http://www.kellyskornerblog.com 4) Anne - http://www.openbookgirls.com 5) Tanya - http://millerracingfamily.blogspot.com Thanks again, and I hope to be by your blog soon!  Leave me a link if you stop by and I'd love to see what ya'll are up to.

My girls love to pick flowers, Linsey especially.  I even have a special tiny vase for all the weeds that come into the house.  But this summer, she hasn't had the best of luck in choosing where she should pick them.  My mom has a beautiful garden, and on vacation Linsey got into trouble for picking dozens of heads off my mom's flowers and trying to feed them to a frog.  Yesterday we were on a walk, and she spotted the flowers planted in front of the police station.  "Can I pick those?" she asked excitedly. "No!" I replied quickly, "Those are just to look at." We walked a just a few feet further, and there were wildflowers, still in front of the police station.  "Well, can I pick those?  Plllleeeeaaaassseee?"  I relented, and she squealed.  She proceeded to fill up her pockets with wildflowers.  Just then a police car drove up from behind the building and stopped right by us.  Linsey's eyes got big, she stood up quickly, an...

Time flies...enjoy today, even if it doesn't turn out how you expect! Wordless Wednesday @ The Miller Racing Family  Welcome Wednesday @ take it from me

A (wo)man that has friends...has to show herself friendly!  And what better way to be friendly than to have people over.  I really think our house has a revolving door - friends are always coming in and out, and we love it!  My daughters love having a hand in cleaning and cooking, they get exposed to tons of exciting people, make new friends, and, of course, they love to show off for their guests.  We recently had a tour group from a college over for a meal.  My 5-year old was less than ecstatic because there were no kids, until she found out they were all college guys.  Then she ran into her room, closed the door, and came out like this ten minutes later:    Seriously, there's no better way to explain what a loving, Christian home should look like than to model it.  A friend asked me to post a few tips about having people over, so here goes (if you're from a recipe hop, the recipe is at the bottom and I won't be offended if you scroll down...

 We've made several overnight and week-long trips lately, and we are all ready to be home for awhile.  Here are a few mistakes I made, and a couple things I actually had right, in case you find yourself paddling frantically in the same boat:    1.  Don't make your schedule so packed that you can't afford delays.  Bringing little kids along anywhere will slow you down.  I used to fight this, and I was always late, and grumpy.  Lesson learned:  Better to cushion your time and arrive early than to be flustered and stressed about being late. 2.  Do keep toys, treats and activities to entertain the kiddos in a few key places.  Try to keep a book or toy in the car, plus something in your purse, diaper bag, etc., so you're extra prepared.  The key is to always have one more distraction than you actually need.  I somehow wound up sitting alone with my one year old on a three hour flight recently.  In desperation, I...