I can't make this stuff up, people

Lauren's favorite song is "The Wheels on the Bus."  I think that I am probably singing it in my sleep, because I sing it so much! :)  She loves the horn going "beep, beep, beep" and the babies saying "waah, waah, wahh!" 

Anyway, the other night at the table, we were singing and Jason decided to chime in with a few of his own songs...  (let me first mention that my husband cannot remember the words to songs... which I kind of find hilarious for someone who is blessed with a voice like his!)

First he sings "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are?  Up above the world so high, like a giant in the sky...???!!  I almost choked to death laughing so hard!

Then he tried "Hickory Dickory Dock, the cow jumped over the clock."  And realizing his mistake, he said, wait- the cow jumps over the moon, right?  Who jumps over the clock?? 

Ya'll- I can't even make this stuff up! :)  Good thing Lauren has a mother who loves nursery rhymes and has a fairly good memory for the words!

I also can't make up the fact that while I was taking a shower the other morning, Lauren decided to "decorate" my bed.

When I got in the shower, she was sitting on my bed contentedly, watching Handy Manny and drinking milk from her Dora cup.  When I came out of the shower, (not 10 minutes later) she had somehow managed to climb down from the bed, up into the desk chair, grabbing a pink highliter, uncapping it and going to town on my bedskirt.

It sort of looks like a constellation, huh?  Maybe it's the "giant in the sky" Jason sung about. 

Needless to say, I was not pleased.  We had a talk about this- I realized that she was probably shocked, because she didn't know that she wasn't supposed to color on bedskirts.  This was not somthing that we had discussed in the past. 

Then we needed to get dressed to go to Target and I selected this adorable dress that I bought last summer from Gymboree for mere dollars.  (all it's missing is a nice, big white "L" embroidered on the front!)

Lauren wasn't having it. 

 I mentioned her passion for fashion lately...so I asked her what she wanted to wear (I was just curious what she would pick- I was winning this battle!)

This is what she chose from the closet....

She wanted to wear her red, white and blue bathing suit that Jason is appalled over.  He does not think that Lauren should wear a 2 piece - EVER!

I told Lauren that I liked her choice, but that Target required belly buttons to be covered while shopping (I think should actually be written on the door!) and so we were wearing the dress. :)

Then....Wednesday night when Jason got home from work, I wanted us to go for a walk.  He said, "why don't we go to the mall and walk around?"  Um, that's not the kind of exercise I was thinking, but ok. 

We brought some change so that Lauren could ride one of the little kiddy rides in the middle of the mall.  We let her choose the one she wanted to ride, since there were no other kids around.  There was a space ship, race car, airplane and ice cream truck.

Guess which one my little girlie wanted to ride? 

She immediately wanted to get in the ice cream truck. 

She must take after her Fondren roots on Jason's side.  His Papaw would be proud! :)

I love that Lauren is so decisive when it comes to some things.  She knew immediately which one she wanted to ride.  Wish I was that way!

And finally, while Jason was getting ready to change Lauren's diaper the other night, I had to grab my camera and get a shot of her in action.  I realize that sounds weird, but let me explain....

There are 2 things that Lauren HATES right now...having her hair washed and having her diaper changed.  Sooo...for all of you who think my sweet little angel is always a sweet little angel.... 

This is her sweet, little angel face while Jason was attempting to change her diaper. 

Not pretty!

Still here....

Please do not notify the authorities....I am still here!

I have been taking a little "blog break" for the past few weeks.  I know that all of the 5 people who read this blog are relieved to see that I am back! :)

2 weekends ago, we took an overnight trip back to TN to clean our house and spruce it up a little, in hopes of it selling faster!! It's been on the market since January.  We have had 2 offers, but neither one was an offer we could take.  Will you pray with us that the right offer will come? (and come quickly!?)  We are not to the point of desperation- where we will take any offer, as long as it sells....  But we are getting there! :)

It was actually kind of bittersweet to stay in our house.  I miss it so much!  I miss our neighbors and our town and Lauren's pink bedroom. :(  But then I had to snap out of it and realize that I am right where God wants me to be right now and that HE has plans up His sleeve that He will show me in time!  It's hard to wait, isn't it?

Last week, I was really busy getting my 150 items ready to consign here at Pigtails and Cowlicks.  I thought the name was so cute!!  I sold a lot of Lauren's clothes from last summer, some of her larger toys that she no longer uses, as well as some smaller toys and books.   I sold $500 worth of things, but since you get 70% of your sales from consignment, I will make about $350.00.  I'm not complaining!  I told Jason if I make $200, I would be super-excited!! 

Last Saturday, Jason stayed home with Lauren and I rode with about 8 other girls from church to see Beth Moore simulcast at a nearby church.  It was awesome.  This was part of her "So Long Insecurity" book and I really needed to hear everything she said!!

There were over 300,000 women around the country gathered for the simulcast on Saturday.  Isn't that amazing?  What an impact these women can have on our culture and future generations.  As a mother of a little girl, I want to teach her to be secure in who she is in GOD..not the world or any other person!

And I thought it was precious that the ladies at the host church made little tote bags for everyone there to hold their Bible, etc.  (Have I mentioned before that I LOVE anything monogrammed/embroidered??!!)

Love it!!

After a little time off, I think that I will be back to blogging more regularly.  Sometimes I just struggle with what to post...since our lives are not really that exciting.  And then I remind myself why I blog...as a way to record our lives- exciting or not! :)

cutie-pie

I am loving this warm weather because it means that Lauren's spring/summer wardrobe can come out of the closet!!  I am tired of seeing all the cute sleeveless things, hanging there, lonely- just waiting for the sun. :)

I bought most of Lauren's clothes secondhand...either from consignment or ebay.  And I tried not to buy so much pink! :)  Last summer, she didn't have as much hair, and even with a bow, people would sometimes ask if she was a boy or girl unless she was dressed in pink (and even then I had an old man ask me!)

Does this look like a boy to you?  (Lauren- April '09) 

Well, maybe. :)

But there are a few sweet little pink outfits....

this pic was before Easter, she couldn't wear white shoes, yet.  Ha!

And I'm not really sure where she gets her fashion sense from.  I try to dress her in cute outfits....but then she likes to "accessorize." 

Only an almost-two-year-old could pull off a cowboy hat and pink polka dot rainboots.  :)

Glory to God

We sang one of my favorite songs this morning in church! 

"Glory to God"

Before the world was made

before you spoke it to be

You were the King of Kings

yeah you were, yeah you were

And now you’re reigning still

enthroned above all things

Angels and saints cry out

we join them as we sing

Chorus

Glory to God, Glory to God

Glory to God, Forever

Creator God you gave

me breath so I could praise

Your great and matchless name

all my days, all my days

So let my whole life be

a blazing offering

A life that shouts and sings

the greatness of the King

Bridge

Take my life and let it be

All for you and for your glory

Take my life and let it be yours

 If you haven't heard it, here is the link.

our week in review

This week, it has been just me and Lauren during the day. We have not had Baby K because her dad is a teacher and it's been their Spring Break this past week.  Let me tell you, it has been quiet around this house! :)

Anyway, I took full advantage of the fact that Lauren and I could get out of the house!! (Baby K's parents are kinda overprotective and don't really love the idea of us going lots of places while I'm babysitting her...boo!) 

On Monday, we just hung around the house and recuperated from our Florida trip.  Lauren has a hard time sleeping in the car for longer than about 45 minutes (for naps), so I know she was exhausted as much as we were!  She took a 3.5 hour nap!  I caught up on laundry, bills, etc.  Sometimes when  we get back from a "vacation" to our parents' we feel like we need a "vacation from our vacation!" Can anyone relate??

Tuesday, we visited the Science Museum again.  I finally decided to purchase a membership, since it was our 3rd or 4th visit and we would soon be paying more to visit than a membership would cost.  Usually there are only a few other kids Lauren's age there.  But because it was spring break, there were probably close to 15 kids in the big play room and most of them were twice Lauren's age.  Needless to say, she hovered very near to me most of the time.  Lauren is sort of shy anyway, and she is pretty much terrified of older kids.  Especially louder, faster older kids.  (which is all of them! HA!)

Wednesday, we hung around inside most of the day because it just looked like it was going to pour down rain at any moment!  Lauren chose to wear her Dora pillowcase dress that I bought last year.  When I put it on her, I could have cried.  It is almost too short!  We will just have to find some leggings and make it a top, because she LOVED it!!  She kept saying, "Dori, Dori!!" 

We did lost of coloring, play dough and Lauren even got to taste her chocolate bunny from her Easter basket.  (I didn't let her eat the whole thing!!)

Then...Little Miss fingured out how to take off her "Dori" dress. 

(you know pillowcase dresses just tie at the shoulders with ribbon-she was bound to figure it out sooner or later!)

She was so proud of herself! She said "Mommy, Dori off!"

Now my child is a stripper....great! Ha!  :)

Thursday, we played outside for most of the morning...Lauren discovered the furniture dolly in the garage and was so excited to learn that she could push it around!

 And then Lauren decided she needed a nap at 12:30.  45 minutes later, she was awake and talking up a storm in her crib.  Since she wasn't going back to sleep, I took her to the park. 

Is it strange that Lauren doesn't like to "play?"  All the other kids are running around and jumping and climbing and Lauren is perfectly happy throwing woodchips and running around in the grass.  I mean, she will go down the slides a few times, but she hates the swings, and she doesn't really like to be around the other kids too much.  She will climb to the top of the steps and just sit there happily.  All the other kids have to try to climb around her!  (until I tell her to move over, please!) 

I mean, is it just her personality?  She is quiet and easy going, so maybe she's just content to do her own thing.  I don't know.  Will there ever come a day that I don't worry about every little thing she does??  Lord, I hope so!!

Friday we went to the grocery store, Chick- Fil -A for lunch and then home for a nap.  When Jason got home we ate and headed over to another park that we had not visited yet. (Have you noticed a park trend, yet??  We are giddy with all this warm, sunny weather!!!)

 Lauren loved the walking trail (and all the squirrels!!) but when she climbed on the play equipment, she only wanted to go across the "bridge" (it sort of sways?)  if no one else was on it.  If another child headed her way, she was back on the solid part of the equipment super fast!!

Today we walked (like 2 blocks) to a little play park near our apartment and there were no other kids there!  Lauren was happy as a little clam.  She would go up and down the steps, down all the slides (even the big ones!) and say "one more time" and then go do it again.  I had to bribe her to leave by promising we would hunt for rocks on the way home.

While Lauren napped, Jason watched man-tv (aka ESPN) and I ran to the store to pick up some chicken and bell peppers.  This is the yummy creation that followed....

well, the chicken is missing because Jason was grilling it outside!! This resulted in some AMAZING (and pretty healthy) fajitas!  I smothered mine in salsa verde and then tried to cool the heat from my tongue.  Sooo good!!

We are planning to make it to the 9:30 church service in the morning and then eat our leftover fajitas for lunch!! :)  I love to cook once and eat twice!

Hope everyone else had a great week!

Easter Egg Hunt

We went to Florida this year for Easter and Lauren got to hunt eggs on her own!  You may remember last year, when she was assisted in hunting eggs by Granna. :)

This year, my Dad and Debbie had hidden the eggs before Lauren woke up on Easter morning (inside their house).  The E.B. also brought her 2 little baskets.  She must have been very good! :)

We let her look for the eggs in her pj's...she didn't want to wait!

A stuffed bunny from Grandpa and Nana

Lauren pointing out the eggs!

And the hunt is on!!

She LOVED finding them!!

She decides to open them up....

MOMMY??!! You mean there is candy inside these plastic eggs?!

(we have been playing with them at home...but they've been empty!) 

 So she was really surprised!! :)

Yummmm... Reese's Pieces!

Lauren loved finding the eggs (and eating the candy) so much that she kept saying "more, more."  So, when I went to get her dressed, my dad and Jason hid the eggs again!

Fun times!

This egg had a dollar inside....but Lauren didn't want to have anything to do with the money...

She was looking for candy! HA!

Success!  

We didn't let her eat ALL the candy from the eggs, don't worry! 

We had a great time visiting with my parents and can't wait to go back soon. (Even if the drive is loooooooong!!)

our supermarket sweep

I mentioned yesterday that we've been watching Jamie Oliver and he has motivated us to make some changes about the way we eat.   White bread gone.  Check.  (Swapping out the white rice for brown, well...I'm working on Jason for that one!!) 

So...the next step was to choose some non-packaged snacks for Lauren.  (She doesn't eat all junk...but she prefers a snack that comes in a box- fruit snacks, gold fish, graham crackers).  These are not all bad, I just wanted to add some more FRESH foods in as options.

So, after her nap, Lauren and I ventured out to the grocery store.  She rode in the cart while I picked up a few things that we needed, and then I let her walk.... (which she LOVES) through the produce section with me.  I told her that I needed her help to pick some yummy foods for us to eat.  I held the bags and she put the fruit in!  I sort of let her pick, "guiding" her to the foods that I wanted anyway. :) 

Of course, she wanted anything that was shaped like a "ball!"  That's what she kept saying.  It was pretty funnny.  We bought apples, oranges, plums, peaches and kiwi.  I let her put them in the bag while I counted out how many we would get (2).  We also bought a fresh pineapple, since she liked it last time we ate at Ryan's.  Now I just have to figure out how to peel it! Ha!

So yesterday for lunch, Lauren ate apple slices and some carrots sliced really thin.  For supper last night, she had cucumber slices (with a little ranch drssg) and a fresh peach. And this morning for breakfast, she gobbled up half of a plum!  I was thrilled. 

We are definately moving in the right direction.  :)

And I totally forgot to mention that I am also hooked on American Idol.  Along with DWTS, I only watch the performance night, because the result show is so stupid.  It should not take an hour to tell which contestant will not be back the next week.  And all the drama is ridiculous.  I just look online the next day to see who is gone.

Anyway, as far as Idol goes, my favorites from the beginning are still there....Lee and Crystal and I hope they will stay to the end.  I love that there are more musicians/artists this season instead of just singers.  There are lots of good singers out there, but many of these contestants play guitar, piano, etc. and some have written music of their own (which is not allowed on the show- boo!) 

What shows are you hooked on this season?

gLee starts next week! Woo hoo!!

travels and tv shows

I have been such a slacker lately here on the blog!  We have just had way too nice of weather to be inside behind the computer screen! :)

Last weekend, we braved the 10 hour journey to Floriday to see my family for Easter.  I will post some pictures as soon as my dad sends them to me (hint, hint!)  Lauren got to hunt eggs for the first time this year and it took her about 1 second to figure out how fun it was!!

We also wanted to have some time to visit with my "little" brother, who is being deployed soon with the Air Force.  This is his second deployment, but it doesn't feel any easier than the first.  Please pray for him while he is gone!!

And......I am normally not a big tv watcher, but spring is when all the good shows seem to start!  Jason and I have decided to find a common ground and watch Survivor this season.  It is Heroes vs. Villians and has past contestants that we have seen from when we watched Survivor back in the day.  I love Colby. :)

I have also started watching DWTS this season after skipping the last one.  I cannot belive that Kate Gosselin is on there!  She dances pretty much how I would if you stuck me in high heels and told me to ballroom dance!  Ha!

I really like Evan Lysacek (the gold medal figure skater) and also Erin Andrews.  Anyone else have a favorite?

And if you are not watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on Friday nights, you are really missing out!! When he showed the foods being served in our elementary schools, I was not the least bit shocked.  When  I was teaching, it was not uncommon for the kids to eat breakfast pizza for breakfast and then be served pizza the next day for lunch.  And poptarts are considered an approved breakfast. Yeesh.  I know that the schools base their menus off the USDA guidelines they are given, but somethings gotta give!

The show has really made me re-evaluate the food that we eat as well.  I really want us to eat less processed foods and have been trying to persuade Jason about this for months.  I think him watching this show is really opening his eyes.  I have managed to switch out the white bread (or honey wheat, which might as well be white!)  for whole wheat without too much of a fuss from Jason.  He even told me "it's not so bad" the other day.  And we have been taking a walk around the neighborhood every evening after supper with Lauren now that the weather is nice and it doesn't get dark so early. 

Jason is a hard sell when it comes to making big changes in our eating habits, but we are taking it slowly!  Baby steps! :)