3.29.2008

Swim, Eat, Sleep, Play, Talk, Love




We just got back from Palm Springs.

We had the sweetest conversation in the car on our way back from dinner one evening:

Cutie: Who was born first, me or Sweetie?

Me: Sweetie was born first and then you.

Cutie: Did we come out of your tummy?

Me: No, you came out of your BabyMommy's tummy.

Cutie: Oh. . . {pause}. . . when I was with my BabyMommy, I missed you.

Me: I missed you too, sweet girl.

{Sigh} Beautiful.

There are so many people we love, Grandma and Grandpa and Misha and Sydney and David and Matty and BabyMommy, but we can't always be with them when we want to. This wanting to be together but being apart, this ache, this is the missing of someone. I love the idea of missing someone before we've met. It means we were waiting for each other; we were meant to be together.

3.25.2008

We have the best preschool teacher


Miss Caffee,

We love swimming at your house, going to dinner at "King and I," and most of all, learning so much from you in preschool and Sunday School.

Thanks for being you!

We love you,

The Cuties


3.21.2008

Easter Fun








Last night there was a neighborhood BBQ and Easter egg hunt. The guy across the street killed a wild boar, so they cooked that bad boy up. I guess he found it digging up his backyard.



Just kidding...actually, he went hunting up north and caught it.



Anyway, the girls had a blast hunting for eggs, getting to know the other kids, eating chips, cupcakes, cookies, and candy.



And yes, welcome back, beloved taco tongue.

Three Silly Friends



Lots of laughing, vanilla ice cream with chocolate chip cookies, and taco tongues...
My girls wish they could play with Kaylee every day.

3.19.2008

A Thrilling Story about our Dishes

Disclaimer: This post is about a household cleaning tip. If you're not dazzled by that sort of thing, then you might want to stop reading now.

We have one set of dishes. Our white fiestaware dishes are our everyday dishes and our best china. They are used constantly, and we love them. They are durable and simple.

But, it has bothered me for some time that our plates have little metal marks all over them from our silverware. I know it shouldn't be a big deal, but this is the kind of thing that keeps me up at night. Well, it kept me up before we had two little girls to keep us up at night.

Anyway, I have tried everything I could think of to remove the marks, but to no avail. I had even begun to look into buying new dishes.

I did a Google search on my problem and one person recommended using a cleaning powder called "Bar Keepers Friend." I picked up a can of it at Target tonight for $1.67, still thinking it was a hopeless cause, but just maybe...

Well, after using just a little water, a little powder, a wet towel, and hardly any elbow grease, all the marks are gone.

Amazing! Dazzling! Thrilling!

My plates look brand new. Yay!

Thank you Google, thank you Target, thank you Bar Keepers Friend.

3.16.2008

Sister Getaway


We try to get away together every three months or so. Just the two of us, if possible, so we can do our twin thing. This consists of non-stop talking about anything and everything and lots of laughing, remembering, eating, reading magazines, and shopping.
It's always so good to be with someone who understands you so well, who has so many shared experiences. Being twins, we've always been together, even before we were born.
I'm so grateful that God made us twins.

3.13.2008

A Couple Little Questions




How do I protect them in this crazy world? How do I teach them what is true and right? These are the questions swimming around in my mind.

3.12.2008

Notice Anything Different?





Yes, they do actually have faces! And how I love those little faces.

It was a beautiful, warm day. Perfect for playing out in the sandbox and riding trikes with the little girl down the street.
Perfect for frozen yogurt. But then, every day is perfect for frozen yogurt.

3.10.2008

We are so happy!

Today the judge granted us guardianship of the two Cuties and we are beside ourselves with joy. We are so blessed by these two girls and so grateful to be their parents.

The next step will be applying for adoption. That will not happen for another year or maybe two. But in the mean time, we'll just continue learning how to be a family.

Thank you, thank you for all your prayers and love.

3.09.2008

Rouse Update

1. The binky situation seems to be resolved. We haven't seen or heard about binkies in days. We're thinking, "What was all the fuss about? It was too easy."





2. This is what the tree in our front yard is doing. Makes my heart happy every time I look out the window or walk out the door. Nature sings the song of our Creator, and it is an incredibly beautiful song.


3. Yesterday I had lunch with my dear friend, Staci, from jr. high. Amazing to catch up with her and see her beautiful son, Michael, and hear about all the exciting things happening in her life. It's crazy that we've been friends for 20 years. Absolutely crazy.


4. Tomorrow is our court date for transfer of guardianship. A very important day. Please pray for God's will and our peace in trusting it.

3.06.2008

Hurried Woman Syndrome

I was just reading about this actual medical condition that occurs in women who rush around day after day, doing too much, too fast, for too long and neglect to rest and take care of themselves.
The symptoms of Hurried Woman Syndrome are high stress and anxiety, physical exhaustion, mild depression, weight gain, low self-esteem, and digestive disorders.

Sound familiar?

It seems to me that our culture puts many expectations on us, but we put even more pressure on ourselves by constantly comparing ourselves to each other. It's a never-ending-self-defeating-uphill battle this trying to "have it all together."

I struggle with trying to do everything and do it perfectly and do it right now. But, I'm proud to say, I have made some deliberate life changes in the past couple years because I realized how exhausted and miserable I was becoming. Over time, I have been intentional about drastically reducing my commitments and simplifying my home and slowing down.

So, I was thinking through what I did today. How much of it was REALLY necessary and how much of it was added busyness I could have avoided? How much time did I take for myself? Here's the color-coded lowdown:

6:30 wake up, shower, get ready, get girls ready, get everyone breakfast
7:45 need to leave for work because I am substituting in the morning from 8:30-11:00
8:00 finally leave for work because Cutie needed extra cuddles and comfort
8:25 arrive to work in the nick of time
11:00 talk to Lisa on the phone, pick up 40 lb bag of dog food, grab fast food for lunch
12:00 back to work
2:45 pick up dry cleaning, get yummy frozen yogurt
3:15 straighten house, check email and blogs
3:45 nap :)
4:45 pick dogs up from groomer
5:00 make dinner
5:45 sit down to eat
6:15 clean up dishes, spend time with girls
7:45 put on jammies, read Bible and pray with girls
8:15 tuck girls into bed
8:30 relax

I'm surprised, after writing out my schedule, that I did pretty well today. I did some restful things for myself-frozen yogurt, nap, a sister chat. I worked hard on the things that needed to be done around the house and for our family, which alleviates my stress in the long run.

BUT, maybe I shouldn't have agreed to substitute. It put a lot of stress on the morning and I had to sacrifice 2 1/2 hours.
Also, I shouldn't have stopped to get fast food when I had already packed myself a healthy lunch. I just didn't feel like heating it up (lazy.) So I ate high-fat-yuck instead. Not good.

And there are other things that didn't get done today. There is laundry to be done and the floor needs to be vacuumed. But those can wait for another day. Today has been productive enough, and it's time to rest.

How was your day? Rushed or restful?

3.05.2008

Goodbye Binky-Round 2

The pediatrician said the pacifiers have to go. Must go. Now. The pacifier is affecting their bite and jaw development.

Deep breath. Okay...here we go again...

Last night was the first night without the binkies and they did great. They slept through the night and were each rewarded with a new dress. Beautiful!

Today was not quite as smooth. Lots of crying. LOTS of crying.

But they took their nap.

We'll see how tonight goes...

3.01.2008

Together

Draw two little girls
This is you
Draw a mommy and a daddy
This is us
Draw a circle around the picture
This is our family
Draw little hearts around the circle
This is our love
Pin it up in your room
This is to remember

Let's Party



The girls are cozily tucked into their beds now and this house is quiet after a very busy, silly day.


We had family over to celebrate the girls' birthdays, and WAS it ever a party.


pink balloons + delicious cupcakes + huge bounce house + a new dollhouse + pretty dresses + lots of people who love you =


two happy, exhausted, 4-year-old girlie girls.