We never have time on Sunday morning to stop and take a picture with everyone all dressed and ready to go, but yesterday we did.  Lorelei didn't quite know what was going on, but the rest of us look decent, so it's a keeper.

Usually I'm running around at the last minute on Sunday morning, getting everything together, but yesterday everything flowed so smoothly and I was there in plenty of time to practice with someone for the offertory we were to play.  However, after getting to church, we realized I had left the church bulletins at home.  My wonderful husband drove home to get them.  AAHHH... God is always trying to teach me something.  Just when I thought I had it all under control, He showed me, I definitely didn't.  Everyone was asking me where their bulletins were.  I think everyone was able to manage for a few minutes without them.

My beautiful girls.  Lorelei is in that teething, ever drooling stage.  Not my favorite, but she's cute anyway.  My family will remember that she's wearing the dress Ainsley got her six month pictures taken in.  It was the first time Ainsley wore that dress and she wore it for three months after that, too.  Lorelei, at 5 and a half months, wore it for the first time yesterday and barely fits in it.  I had could hardly snap the bottom of the shirt.   I think she's going to outgrow Ainsley by the time she's 2.

Is there anything cuter than a toothless baby grin?  Ok, this is more of just an open mouth, but cute nevertheless... at least I think so.

Snow, yes, nine inches of snow... that's what we got on Friday.  I was all ready for spring, too.  Oh well.  I sent my big three year old girl outside all bundled up all by herself.  I couldn't believe she was old enough for me to let her do that.  I am so thankful that we live in a wonderful neighborhood and have a fenced in backyard so I can let her do that.  She had more fun out there without me, than she does when I am out there with her.  I let her play in the snow with some sand toys she got for her birthday.

Ainsley got her very first Bible for her birthday.  She had been asking for one for quite awhile, but we kept telling her that she would get one on her third birthday.  She was more excited about that than anything else.  She wants to "read" it all the time, she can not possibly be separated from it while at church and cries when we take it away from her when we get home from church.  It is definitely a treasure to her.  So, it got me to thinking about how much I treasure the Bible, the Word of God?  Do I treat it as a prized possession?  I know I take for granted that I have not one, but several Bibles.  How thankful we should be that we live in this land and in this time when we can have God's Word easily at our fingertips.  And it also urged me to continue praying that she and Lorelei not only will treasure God's Word now but that they will bind His Word on their hearts and will treasure it always.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightning the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

~Psalm 19:7-10

A lot has been going on in our house this week, so I better get everyone caught up on the goings-on and, of course, the pictures.

Last Saturday was Ainsley's Curious George Birthday Party!  We had a great time.  Since I solicited help from my Xanga friends about what to do about the cake, I thought I better share what I ended up doing.  After several failed attempts at different kinds of cake, I decided to give up and just make cupcakes.  After all, these were for 3 and 4 year olds.  I made the cupcakes and just put monkeys from the Barrel of Monkeys game on them.  Ainsley's cupcake is the special one at the top with the Curious George figure and the candles.  I'm glad I went this route, it was the best idea considering the age of the kids at the party.  They were gobbled up very fast.

I ended up having seven kids come.  One little boy was sick.  Here are the kids eating the cupcakes, and a picture of another hit from the party, monkey tails.  I dipped refrigerated breadsticks in cinnamon sugar and curled them like a monkey's tail.  They were really good.  (Does everyone notice my new furniture pushed up against the wall and covered with a sheet?)

Here's my big 3 year old, making a mess of herself with her cupcake and opening one of her presents. She had to put her princess dress on during the party.  I did not take nearly enough pictures during the party.  I was too busy running everything.  However, even my husband remarked about how calm and carefree I was during the whole thing... planning and everything.  I just wanted Ainsley to have fun... and she did.  We colored pictures of Curious George, played George Says (like Simon Says), made Curious George masks and puppets and played a game like pin the tail on the donkey, but you had to put the ice cream topping on George's ice cream cone.  While the kids ate their snacks, I read them "Curious George And The Birthday Surprise."  Then we had cupcakes, opened presents and the kids played in Ainsley's playroom.  It was a really great day.

 Here's Lorelei, being a really good baby during the party (she slept through most of it.)

With the party over, it was time to get ready for my parents to arrive.  They came on Monday.  We had such a nice time with them.  I tried taking many pictures of them with the girls, but none turned out at all.

Here's just one with my dad and Lorelei.

Ainsley had a great birthday on Tuesday.  We went to the library to get her free book.  Our library gives out free books to children on their birthdays.  We went to a children's museum and then took her to McDonald's for lunch and to play in the playplace.  That evening, Josh's parents and his brother came over for lasagna and birthday cake, of course.

 

Ainsley picked out an ice cream cone pan for her birthday cake.  It was my first attempt at really trying to decorate one.  I think it came out ok. But it didn't matter what it looked like, she was ready to gobble it up.

 

Here she is opening our gift to her, The Complete Adventures of Curious George, with audio CD's.  We haven't had a chance to listen to it yet. 

My parents are now gone and I'm trying to get my house back in order.  I'm sitting here typing and watching the snow fall.  Yes, snow is falling outside right this minute and has been for several hours.  We have a couple inches already.  And I was starting to itch for spring, oh well, God is reminding me that He is in control of everything, including the weather, and spring will come when He ordains it.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.

Lorelei and Ainsley before church last Sunday.

Happy 3rd birthday to my firstborn baby!

You're the one who made me a mommy.

You're the one who first made us swoon with every smile, giggle and milestone.

I love the passion you have for everything you care about.  You never do anything half-hearted.

 

I love the way you thrive on any new situation and nothing scares you.

I love you, Ainsley!  Happy Birthday!

 

 

Here are the requested pictures of our new furniture.  It looks so much better in person, I must say.  I am very happy with it... at least I have been for the 2 1/2 hours it's been in my house.   It's simple, yet pretty.  Our old couch and chair were really dark blue, so they hid lots of stains.  Hopefully we can be careful with these.  The dogs have not even attempted to get on them yet.  It would be nice if they never did.  We were trying to put our old furniture down in the basement, but the couch is too long to make the turn down the stairs, so it is sitting in our back room until we can figure what to do with it.  The dogs are welcome on that couch.

George was a good little monkey, but he was always very curious.

Today he was curious about what is was like to live in a house with two girls and two dogs.

First of all, he was curious about what it was like to cuddle with a little girl first thing in the morning.  The little girl was more than happy to oblige.

Next she showed him how to play hide and go seek.  George thought this was a great game and he and the little girl planned new spots to hide and scare the mommy in the house.

There was a second little girl in the house.  She was a little baby and George was curious about what it was like to be slobbered on by a teething baby.  Afterwards George decided he did not need to be curious about that ever again.

George was also curious to learn that he was quite famous.  There were many books written about him and even a movie and TV show.  The little girl even read him a story.  It was all about him riding a bike.

  Then the little girl asked him to play dress up with her.  George didn't know what that meant, but he was very curious.  So the two of them became the prettiest princesses in all the land. 

The little girl even taught George how to dance.  It made George quite dizzy.

At the end of the day, George was curious to learn that not only could he act like a little girl, the little girl could act like a monkey, too.

THE END.

I have a disease...

It's called compare price-itis.  Anything that is of any consequence that is bought in my house has to be thoroughly researched and price-checked.  I must visit every possible Web site that sells said product to compare prices and to get reviews.  I also must check every possible store that sells said product to see if I can possibly get a better deal.

I come by this disease naturally.  It is passed on... generation to generation, as far as I know, in my father's family.  My grandfather, father and brother are also all afflicted with this disease.  There is no known cure.  Buying houses, cars, furniture, appliances and even everyday items such as clothes are all painful experiences for us and those who love us and are dragged around to store after store in search of the best deal possible.

That being said, we have made a break-through.  We have bought new furniture.  My husband was in complete shock that I was able to contribute to us making such a decision after ONLY three weekends chock-full of furniture shopping.  But I fell in love with the sofa and love seat and the price was right. 

Now we still have to find a chair... And our double stroller I found for free this summer broke... So there are still more things to research and compare.  I can hear my husband groaning loudly...

My older daughter's 3rd birthday is coming up and we're having a Curious George birthday party!  I love planning things, so I have been in my element coming up with games and things for 3 and 4 year olds to do for two hours.  There will be 8 of them total, so not too many and I think it will be a lot of fun.  I have never done a little kid birthday party before, nor did I ever really have any as a child, so I think I am looking forward to this more than Ainsley is.   I pretty much know what we're going to do, but I just can't figure out what to do about the cake.  I don't really know how to decorate cakes, so I'm looking for something simple.  I tried a monkey cake off of Martha Stewart's Web site, but it totally flopped.  I am so glad I tried it in advance.  My friend Karen, the cake queen, told me it's probably because my oven is a little funky.  So, does anyone have any good monkey-themed cake ideas... that are really, really easy?

Ainsley is getting the Complete Adventures of Curious George book and CD set for her birthday from us.  Do you remember the books on tape you had as a kid that went "ding" when it was time to turn the page?  This is the same thing, only on CD.  I guess you can gather, I'm really excited about that, too.

---

A fun little survey...

1.  What Color Are Your Kitchen Plates? White with green ivy all the way around them.

2.  What Book Are You Reading?  I have about four different books started right now.  I need to just pick up one and go from there.

 

3.  What's On Your Mouse pad?  A picture of Ainsley at about 6 months old.  I can tell because she has her mouth wide open and two little tiny teeth are just coming through the gums.

 

4.  Your Favorite Board Game?  Trivial Pursuit

 

5.  Favorite  Magazine?  Good Housekeeping, I guess.

 

6.  Favorite Smell?  My baby just after a bath.

7.  Least Favorite Smell? I'm a mommy, need I say more? 

8.  What is the first thing you think of in the morning?  If I hide under the covers maybe she won't know I'm here.

9.  Least Favorite Color? Bright orange

10.  How Many Rings Before You Answer The Phone?  Depends on where Ainsley has hidden the cordless phone.

11.  Future Child's Name? Oh boy, I have just a little obsession with names.  I obsess about it my entire pregnancy and then both of my children were not named until I saw them with my own eyes.  But, if I were to name one right now... Danica Hope for a girl and Ian Joshua for a boy. 

12.  What Is Most Important In Life?  My relationship with my Heavenly Father, my husband and my children.

13.  What is Least Important In Life? Having fancy, designer anything.

14.  Chocolate Or Vanilla?  Definitely chocolate!

15.  Do You Sleep With A Stuffed Animal?  No, just a husband.  We have recently kicked the dogs out of our room at night.  Yay!

16.  Do You Like Storms?  I love a good thunderstorm.  I guess that's the midwestern girl in me.

17.  What Type Was Your First Car?  The first car I ever drove was a Chevy Corsica. 

18.  If You Could Meet One Person who is Alive today, Who Would It Be?  Probably President Bush.

19.  When Is Your Birthday?  I don't think I'll share on here, but it was in November and I am 28.

20.  Do You Eat The Stems of Broccoli?  Yes!

21.  If You Could Have Any Job What Would It Be? Planning something... maybe weddings??

22.  If You Could Have Any Color  Hair, What Would It Be? A deep red, I guess.

23.  Have You Ever Been In Love?  Of course!

24.  Do You Love Anyone Currently?  Of course!

25.  Is The Glass Half Full Or Half  Empty?  Almost always half full.  But my husband would say half empty. 

26.  What Is Your Favorite Movie?  I don't think I have one...

27.  Do You Type With Your Fingers On The Right Keys?  Yes... and quite quickly.

28.  What Is Under Your Bed?  Dog hair, dust bunnies, lost socks...

29.  What's Your Favorite Number?  7

30.  What Is Your Single Biggest Fear?  My husband or children dying.

 

31.  Hamburgers Or Hot-Dogs?  Hamburger definitely!

 

32.  Favorite Soft Drink?  I don't really drink them very often, but Coke I guess.

33.  The Best Place You Have Ever Been?  Chicago.

34.  What Background Is On Your  Computer Right Now?  A picture of the girls.

35.  Last Time You Cried?  Last week with A. M.

36.  White Holiday Lights or Multi  Colored?  White

37.  Favorite Football Team?  Chicago Bears.

38.  Black or Blue Ink?  Blue

39.  A Sound You Enjoy? Ainsley quietly playing, Lorelei babbling.

40.  Do You  Scrapbook? Does putting things in an album with the date count??

41.  Who Do You Miss Most In Life Right Now?  Mom, dad, brother

42.  Do You Wish You Could Retire Tomorrow?  I think I've already retired from being a news producer, but do you ever get to retire from being a mommy?

43.  Where Have You Been That You Have No Desire To Go Back To?  Atlanta and Las Vegas.

44.  If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?  Australia

45.  What's Your Favorite Kind Of Music?  Classical

And to catch everybody up on the other goings on in our house...  Lorelei is on the heavy duty antiobiotics for her ear infection.  It never went away, and I'm pretty sure she's teething.  And Ainsley's eye is still nice and black and blue.  The picture has been re-scheduled.