Twirls 'n Curls

"Holy cow! It's MY birthday!!" Today my middle daughter turns 5. "I'm getting all the little out of me now, Mama... that means I won't get in trouble all day!" She pauses and carefully adds, "Well, Mama, at least I'll try to be good!" My little tenderheart, she rarely gets into trouble, at least on purpose. Her quirky personality and take on the world keep us laughing morning and night. When I need help, Hannah always comes to my rescue.   A bit more reserved than her sisters, she "gets a little nervous" meeting new  people but is very perceptive to others' needs, and she has the natural ability to make people smile. She works hard at school and does very well, and she has an affinity for all things girly. Armed with her own sense of style and charm,  if there is hope of anyone triumphing over evil in this world... it's my Hannah! Ha...

In whoopie cushions, as in life...   Not every great idea needs to be acted upon. =)

Hannah and Linsey went to the dentist last week, it was Hannah's first time. They looked so little in those big chairs! Linsey showing her sister the ropes first Hannah dutifully obeying Linsey's, "Open wide!" The dentist told them they did a good job brushing (no cavities!!) and to make sure they brushed twice a day, every day. So to celebrate, I sprang for battery-powered toothbrushes rather than candy. These came with sheets of stickers so you can customize them, how adorable is that?? When we got home, the girls begged to use their new toothbrushes. Hannah finished, turned it off, and told me she needed to brush again. I told her once was fine for now, and her big eyes filled with tears. "But Mama," she said, "the dentist said I had to do it twice!!" Good, clean fun!!

We've had such a busy, fun week, I just had to share a few highlights: 1 ~ We just had a big birthday party for Hannah, who turns 4 this week.  I mean, 18 little people running around my house and eating everything in sight. It was chaos, and I loved it! I had a bunch of creative games planned, but by far their favorite was "Monkey, Monkey, Banana," like duck-duck-goose only they tagged each other with an inflatable monkey. Next time I'll stick to the classics! Holy cow, it's MY birthday?!?  2 ~ My sister bought me a Sneaky Chef cookbook awhile back, and I am totally addicted. It's all about sneaking veggies into regular recipes. I've added pureed carrots to orange chicken, pureed cauliflower to tuna salad, and sweet potato to french toast, all with great results! Even my husband is "willingly ignorant" and has enjoyed the new recipes, as long as I don't tell him what's in them. There are some free recipes and tons of resources fro...

Our older girls, 3 and 6, were so excited to have their artwork featured in a local art show last night!  For being a small town, we have some amazing talent. So all day, the girls kept reminding me, "Don't forget about the art show, Mom!!" and, "What time is it? Is that close to 6?" When we arrived, we were led to two rooms filled with different paintings and sculptures from local artists. The first thing the hostess told us was to look carefully around at all the artwork, because we all got to vote for our favorite artist. Linsey's eyes got huge. Then cookies were mentioned, and Hannah's eyes got huge. I took her to get one, and Linsey wandered away for a few minutes. She came back really excited and whispered in my ear, "Mom, let's go vote! I looked at all the pictures, and I'm my favorite artis t!" And that's when I knew she was destined to be famous...don't all great talents think their work is the best? :) Linsey h...

That's what we were going for.  For the past year or so, Hannah (3) hasn't been able to extend her left thumb, and she had trigger thumb release surgery last week.  We went to a children's hospital, which was a fantastic experience. Everyone was very friendly and trained especially in working with kids, Hannah didn't even cry once while we were there.   We played a few games... Got some new jammies... Had fun with the monitors... Then we snuggled up tight... Ate popsicles in bed (I NEVER let her do that!)... Watched a little Elmo... and before we knew it, we were ready to go home!  The surgery only took half an hour, and start to finish it was about 4 hours in the hospital. This was our first (and hopefully last!) hospital experience, and we're so thankful it's over!  And was it a success, you ask?  Thumbs up!

What are they thinking?!? My conclusion:  Sometimes, you just don't wanna know!!

  When we had our first daughter, we knew we had done something right.  Linsey was a wonderful baby, she began using complete sentences around 18 months, and she would sit for half an hour or more, just looking at books. Then Hannah came along.  A colicky baby, she was still using caveman grunts at age 2 to communicate.  And even now, at three and a half, she falls out of her chair at least once a day because "my body can't stop wiggling!"  She's also our sensitive thinker, our best snuggler, and she keeps me laughing all day long.  One reason she's so funny is because she thinks very literally.   The other day I heard her (literally) bouncing off the walls after bedtime, so I headed for her room.  I saw a pink blur dash for the covers and lie down innocently.  "Hannah," I said sternly, "were you jumping on the bed?" "No," she said seriously, "my feet just were tired of lying down."  The next day, she weedled all over h...

I am not personally of the opinion that I evolved from a monkey.  Had I not physically given birth to Hannah, though, I'd be convinced that she had. She keeps us in stitches, constantly, but I know that sooner than later, it will be her in stitches.  It's just a matter of time...    Take the last day, of our Summer Bible Camp, for instance.  We had just opened the "Asteroid Pit" baptistery for the losing team captain to jump in when the winner was announced, and I was leading songs in the closing ceremony. Out of 83 kids, Hannah was the one who wandered from the bathroom backstage OUT onto the stage and fell into the freezing cold water!  (Sorry I didn't get a pic, as I mentioned, I was leading songs and thus not prepared!) She was fine, btw... Her clumsiness is far outshined by her cuteness though.  The other day we were getting ready for church, and I asked, "Who made you beautiful?"  She answered shyly, "God did...but Daddy got me dress...

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...

Hannah is my monkey, no doubt about it.  She loves bananas.  Her favorite game is a monkey preschool game on the Ipad.  She is always running, climbing, or wiggling.  At least one part of her has to be moving at all times, even when she's asleep.  (I've tested this theory, it's true.)  She's fallen out of her bed on top of her aunt, who is staying with us in Hannah's room, at least 3 times this week.  Several times a day I hear, "Mom, help, I'm stuck!"  On top of the fireplace, between the wall and the bed, behind the couch.  These are normal places to look.  Twice she has fallen backwards into the tub and got tangled in the shower curtain.  Monkey also falls out of her seat at every meal.  It's just a part of mealtime at our house.  At a very nice restaurant in Lancaster the other day, instead of falling, she somehow got her legs wedged in the hole between the seat back and the place where you sit.  That was the ...

Lately I have just been overwhelmed watching these amazing, tiny little people God has entrusted me with.  I thank the Lord with them every night that I get to be their mommy.  They are so different from one another, yet the family ties are unmistakable.  It's interesting now, having 2 that can converse fairly well.  I've been catching snips of their conversations when they don't know I'm listening - shh!  You might hear something too - L:  Hannah, you be the baby birdie, ok? H:  Okayyyy! L:  Now I'm the mama bird, and I'm going to sit on your head. (what a setup that was!) H:  No!  That will hurt me! L:  But that's what all mama birds have to do, watch! [muffled screams] L:  There!  That wasn't so bad, was it? H:  That was soooooo scareme! (scary + scared me, it's hannah-speak) L:  Then I guess you can be a princess. H: I don't wanna be a princess! L:  Then you can....be a puppy! H:  Ruff!...

"It was a acsninent," Hannah cried as she piddled on the bed. "It was a acsninent!" She supplied after bopping Linsey in the head. "But it was a acsninent!" I ignored as I cleaned marker off the wall. "Was it a acsninent?" Hannah asked when I tripped on Nattie in the hall. Accident or no, Hannah knows she's way too cute, With bright blue eyes and curly hair, and a killer smile to boot! At times, I can't decide whether to laugh or to cry And then her voice, 'I love you soooo much, Mommy!' sends all my stress goodbye. While there's monsters on the floor and kids to snuggle on my bed, Who cares about all those looming questions floating in my head? I love this age, where most 'acsninents' can be cleaned with broom and mop, And I pray each day, as we work and play, may our love and laughter never stop.

It's a fruit, it's an egg - it's a FlaMANGO!! (Hannah's words) The girls made up this silly game where they were mama flamango birds and the mangoes were their eggs. This worked great until they got a little rough with one of the "babies" and smashed it, so we ate it, er..him :) Other Hannah-isms: "Help me! This shirt is right-side in!" "I'm the garbage-ma'am, the pizza ma'am, etc..." "Drinks don't live on the piano. They live on the table! And food don't live in the living room, it lives in the kitchen!" (important life lessons I've been instilling) Happy Monday!!