Dress (your kids) Like Cows!

Today was Chick-Fil-A's dress like a cow and get free food day! The girls got dressed all up after we went to the pool today and we picked up enough free food for our entire family to eat lunch! Then, when they got up from their naps I asked them if they wanted to dress up again and go back for dinner with their Daddy! Hmmm...can you guess their responses?!?! They were so excited that they were going to get French fries and chicken nuggets twice in one day! Tonight we got 3 meals and an extra chicken nuggets for free! Jordyn actually really seems to like going out for dinner and she liked the big cow, too, which really surprised me! I love when we get to do things like this that really take so little effort but make some fun memories with our girlies!

Swim Lessons - Week 1

This week Reagan and Sydney went to swim lessons. They did so great! Sydney cried the first day for a while, but calmed down a lot sooner than I thought she would. By the end of the first day the teacher even had her jumping off the diving board (well, I really had to throw her off =)!), but she did it - and swam to the side. I was so excited! Reagan swam like a fish! By day 3 she was diving (trying to!) off the board and swimming across the pool, racing, and swimming down and touching the bottom of the pool (in the shallow end). I'm looking forward to going back next week and they are too!

13 months and some change!

Jordyn is 13 months old and some change...and she has been changing some, too! This morning I went into her room and she was sitting up by herself. Yep, over thirteen months old and this is the first time I have caught her after she has gone from laying down to sitting up all by herself. I bet she's done it before...I just haven't seen her do it. And she's had a lot more cheerful days recently. July 4th was a huge change - she was happy all day long! It was so pleasant and so much fun! She's made it through worship and announcements (with only having to be taken out once last Sunday) the last 3 Sundays and is doing really well in Sunday school! She loves laughing at Reagan and playing chase around the couch. She still won't pull herself up or say anything, but I'm sure it won't be long!

Unfortunately she has discovered how to make herself pass out. She passed out when she got her shots a couple of weeks ago which I could totally understand. But since then she has been holding her breath when she gets angry and makes herself pass out. It's quite freaky. Last night at dinner she did a semi-pass out. It's the first time Steve's seen her do it. She turns super pale and there she goes. It happens quite quickly, but I don't like it one bit. I'm praying that the Lord will give her a little heart that is self-controlled and that she will not be so angry! Thankfully the Lord is giving me much love for this child, because she is definitely very challenging (this morning being one of those times!). And I love that the girls still love her and want to play with her after she's screamed for an hour and a half straight!

Hopefully next week I'll start taking her to the pool more and getting her used to it before our August vacation to the beach. I'm really hoping she'll start to enjoy the water and decide to have some fun!!

Lord, thank you for this child who stretches me and shows me how dependent I am on You on a daily basis. Thank You for choosing Jordyn to be our little girl and for those moments when she gives us her goofy smile and silly little laugh or when she snuggles with me! Thank You that You promise to give us wisdom when we ask for it and seek You! Amen.

Fabulous Fun on the Fourth!

We had so much fun celebrating on the 4th! Saturday morning we met up with some of our friends at the Woodstock Parade! It was so cute and the kids had a great time. Reagan was the candy swiper and Sydney was eating Popsicles (yes, they handed out Popsicles!) left and right! Jordyn was very entertained by everything going around her. The weather was perfect and it was so fun just to hang out and visit and watch the girls. After the parade we headed to the mall to do some quick shopping and ended up eating at Chick-fil-a. The girls (and I) always enjoy that treat! Then we headed home for naps, Steve went to the gym and I worked out at home. Then we had a yummy summer time kind of dinner and then headed up to Steve's bosses other business - My Corner Office (a cool coffee shop) to watch the Canton fireworks. We didn't leave our house until it was the girls normal bedtime, so I was holding loosely to the fact that we would be able to stay for the actual fireworks, but they all had a blast and enjoyed the fireworks. I loved listening to the girls laughing in the backseat at 11 o'clock at night!

Happy 4th of July!

OK, so I'm posting a day early...if I don't it probably won't make it on here!! =)

Freedom

Gratefulness

I talked to the girls about these two words quite a bit today.

I'm reading Flags of our Fathers right now and have been freshly aware of what the 4th of July represents. We here in America are among some of the most blessed, rich people. I am so grateful for the men and women who serve our country so that we can go about our daily lives as we do. The girls and I talked about some of the things we love to do and how in some other countries we could be put in prison for those things. Then I took them to the GA National Cemetery which is just down the street from us. It's beautiful. We walked around and they wanted to go and see the flowers and flags. I was more interested in the names and dates. I watched as proud Veterans drove past and meandered through the markers. I couldn't help but wonder what the man walking up and down the rows did to protect my freedom.

And then I was overwhelmed by another freedom I have been given!! Freedom through the Cross of my Savior! Freedom from sin and death! Freedom from fear and worry! Freedom from anger and bitterness! Freedom to serve! I am so grateful that the Lord rescued me! That "He picked me up, turned me around, and set my feet on solid ground".

Here are some of the pictures from today. As you can tell, Jordyn was not interested in being photographed at all. She just wanted to be back in her stroller with her tray of Cherrios!

Scare of the Day!

So, I had this idea to go and take some pictures of the girls at the National Cemetery today. I wanted to pick up an outfit idea for Reagan and I was sure they would have what I needed at Target. So after lunch, I packed up the girls and off for a quick run to the store we went. It was supposed to be one of those in-and-out uneventful kind of trips. But nope, that's not what was in store for our afternoon. Reagan was getting out of one side of the van while I was getting Jordyn from the other side - while I was talking on the phone. I had already pressed the "lock" button and dropped the keys down in my purse. All of a sudden I hear this child screaming. A few seconds later I realize it was my child. I shutter as I think of it even now. I ran to the other side and saw her hand - 4 fingers outside the door, her thumb completely caught. I braced myself for what it was going to look like once I got the door open. Amazingly, she had just a small cut on her hand. By this time, Sydney, Reagan and I are all crying! I'm sure we were a sight to behold!! A man ran in to get her ice and I held her and we prayed that God would just heal her little hand. She was so brave I couldn't believe it. (It usually takes her days to recover from a skinned knee!) She could wiggle her fingers and there was barely any blood. I told her we could leave right then and go call Mrs. Renee (a wonderful lady in our church who has a nursing background). She told me she wanted to go on ahead in and do our shopping. What a girl! So, of course the girls got ICEEs and cookies for being so brave (Reagan) and being so sweet (Sydney). Then I dropped the little girls off at home and took Reagan to see Renee. Thankfully, she is fine (she even played Play-doh at the McKenzie's and had another cookie!). I'm sure it will be black and blue tomorrow, but she was a trooper today! It sure does hurt to see your babies hurting. I would much rather it be me!!!

Deal of the Week!

OK, so I have to post my "Deal of the Week" tonight!! We went to Stevie B's Pizza (like CiCi's, but better!) and Steve, all three girls and I ate for a grand total of $3.49. Yep, no typo there - $3.49!! Oh, and I gave the girls a quarter each to play a game - so actually it cost us $3.99!! AND we all had a great time! Jordyn out ate her sisters by eating two pieces of pizza and a half a breadstick, but others made up for it when it came time for dessert! Sydney was wired in the car afterwards! She kept singing "Minnesota Cuke, Minnesota Cuke...". It was a fun night!! Now time for a movie with my man and an early night to bed!