Time Crunch

I can't believe that it is the last day of April and this is only my sixth blog post. And May will be even busier. And March was pretty hectic. Come to think of it, we are always busy. Each and every day is jam packed with activity. Billy has been working a lot of overtime (a blessing in disguise) and that means Momma has been working OT, too. We say goodbye just after 7 am and settle down to chat just before 10 pm. With such a busy month, I have started to learn a few things.

ONE- It will always be this way.
TWO- I have to schedule time for ME for twenty minutes. Sit and relax and read God's word. Start or finish a project. Yard work. Walk. Read a magazine. Search the net for fun kid activities. Everything I still have to do, will get done.
THREE- Scheduling time better has helped us to focus on what matters. We take time to pray. We attempt to eat better and exercise. We try to be better stewards of our finances.
FOUR- Family time is the best time.
FIVE- Since we can't always have family time, we can always be praying for our family.

Busy times call for a reality check. What's important and what's not. Who's important and who's not. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. Psalm 18:2

Alayna Turns Four

My sweet baby Alayna turned four this week on April 20. She was born a Jersey girl weighing in at 7 pounds 8 ounces at Shore Memorial Hospital. She is a bundle of sass and sweetness. Her current loves are puppies, kittens, anything purple and chocolate. She climbed up to reach for brownie batter in this photo.

Hard to believe this bald head now is full of blonde curls. With Alayna growing into a "kid" it means school is around the corner. She cuts, pastes, writes, and reading is around the bend. She never ceases to amaze me.

Known as "Boo-Boo Girl" Alayna usually finds herself with bumps and bruises. She trips. She falls. She bangs into corners. She is not smooth on her feet.

Her smile is beauty. It shines from her eyes. You hear it in her giggle. Growing into being a "kid" she now loves nail polish and makeup. Hold on to her Daddy. It's going to be quick. I hope she will always be a Daddy's girl.

We see this face often. She's great at the pouty eyes and puffed up lip. She just recently nailed the whiny voice to go with it. It's the "kid" voice now. The one that knows what it wants and repeats until an explosion.

Alayna is "fiesty, a leader, and she knows what she wants and how she wants it done." The quote comes from those who have gotten to know her well. Sweet and caring. Thoughtful and concerned. Independent. Bold.

Our baby girl is growing up. Riding a bike and dressing up like a cheerleader. (Yes she had a perfect naturally loud voice.)

Alayna, may you always shine from your heart. Turn to the Lord and He will direct your paths. We will hold your hand. Love the unloved and speak for those with no voice. He can use you. May the Lord show you the good works He has planned for you.

I Love You, Lanie.

Busy Spring. Busy Week.

Alayna turned four. Had a party. Details to come.

Visited the zoo.

Visited a farm.

Trip to the Beach.

Field trip to State Park.

All moments in between- even more busy than our outings.

Can't wait to write about it....but I have to.

Makeup

"Mommy, where's my make up?" Alayna asked on Thursday morning. No "Good morning?" or "Can I have some juice?" Her hair was a mess and her eyes were barely open. The previous night she bought a compact of kid-make-up from the AWANA store. It was the first thing on her mind that day. The questions soon ended and it was a faded memory.

Days passed before she asked again and it was Saturday night and Billy and I were going out with friends. Mommy was putting on make up and the girls pleaded to use their own chalky, plastic and strangely odd smelling kid-make-up.


They jumped up on my sink and suddenly became very serious. You can tell by Alayna's face that this was a special time and she must concentrate. They took turns applying purple and pink eye shadow. Alayna would say to Cailin, "Close your eyes and raise your eyebrows." Cailin just squinted repeatedly and Alayna became quite frustrated.

Alayna then showed her how she must keep her eyes closed. They both continued to get frustrated because the color was not showing up. So they just added more. It was a wonderful memory that I just had to record. My little girls wanting to be grown up. As it turns out even after eye makeup remover and rubbing alcohol and baby wipes...the color still lingered.

As I was uploading the pictures of this momentous occasion, my littlest girl was down at my ankles and I noticed her hands felt gooey. Yes, apparently the make up made its way out of the cabinet in my bathroom and onto the playroom floor. Ella dug her fingers in the squishy bright pink lipstick and dabbed it all over her lips.

On the Inside

When I was in college, my car was broken and he picked me up for the weekend in a limo. The girls called him "Limo Boy." During my years at school we lived with quite a distance between us. We talked on the phone a lot. He mailed me letters. The phone helped us to know what was going on in each others' lives and the letters helped us to know what was going on, on the inside. Lots of years have gone by. Lots of stories to tell. Today he brought home a card. It said, "Thank you." He wanted to let me know what was going on, on the inside. Thanks for the thank you.

First Birthday Dress

Well, tonight was family movie night. I may come off sounding sad, boo hoo, but I was so excited to take pics and post them for a blog. Whaa! It didn't work. Technology is great, sometimes just in theory. We need to get a new camera and so temporarily we have borrowed my parents' camera (thanks Dad.) Unfortunately, my computer would not detect the Memory Stick.

So instead I searched my computer for pictures of all three of my lovely ladies in their pretty pink flower dress they all wore on their first birthday. I just washed it and ironed it. To the memory box it goes!
Ella 2010

Cailin 2008

Alayna 2007