Paula Warbucks

Paula, my sister, was at the grocery store today while we were shopping and as we were standing in the checkout Anna Claire said, "Aunt Paula, get us a balloon! We love them!" Amazingly, Paula did not give into the demand!

This reminded me of being in the checkout last week at Publix and Anna Claire asking the lady bagging our groceries if she had "a present for them!" So embarrassing for me but she's just making the most of Christmas!

Jingle Bells

Anna Claire got a strap for her guitar. She and Russ tried it out!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Cradle Hymn

Away in a Manger

Deck the Halls

potty picnic

Despite her late bedtime last night Lizzie was up at 630am. She got hungry and brought a snack to the bathroom then settled into a nice picnic on the potty! YUMMY!

leg warmers

Lizzie and Anna Claire got leg warmers for Christmas from their aunt. Last night when we checked on Lizzie she had put hers over her pajamas. Even though it was 945pm and she should have been asleep, we laughed so hard! So silly!

where did that come from???

Tonight at supper Anna Claire said, "Mommy, I hope you fall on your face." She said it in a quiet voice so I thought maybe I heard incorrectly so I asked her to repeat it. Giggling she said it again. I told her that wasn't a kind thing to say to someone and Russ reinforced that. Then she said, "Can I suck my thumb now?"

More Songs

Jesus Loves Me by Lizzie

latest fashions

Today Anna Claire put these accessories together and announced she was ready to go in the snow because she was wearing her "telescope scarf!" Not to be outdone, Lizzie quickly put on her Thailand hat and said "Cheese!!!"

What's wrong with this picture?

Nightgown-diaper-socks-sunday shoes??? Lizzie is so funny about her shoes! When I came home tonight after a Christmas party I went to check on my girls. Anna Claire was reading by the light of her glow worm and Lizzie was asleep in Sunday shoes-how precious! Also, very symbolic of their personalities!

Carrots

Last night we were at a resturant and Anna Claire said,"Now that I've had my lemonade, can I go make a huge poopie?" So we went to the bathroom. After Anna Claire finished Lizzie sat on the potty and said, "Sometimes poopies turn into carrots and they are yummy!"

always thinking...

Russ is always thinking of ways to help Lizzie sleep late on Saturday mornings while I am gone running. This week was especially inventive!

bubbly

Today we went to a local bakery to have a cinnamon roll and A diet pepsi, which the girls call bubbly. After fininshing our snack we went to the bathroom and Anna Claire said "There goes my bubbly-out my bottom. YUMMY! It likes to come out my bottom!"

Buddy the Elf

We call Lizzie "Buddy the Elf" because of her activities during sleeping time. Since Lizzie slept until 750am this morning we should have been prepared for her to be awake after we put her to bed. She was very busy in the darkness of her room! She shoved a pair of "unacceptable" pajamas under the door. Also, she decorated her bedroom wall with Thomas the Train stickers.

After a training moment this morning the world was a better place.

injustice

Sunday morning, the morning after the marathon, Russ and I wanted to sleep in. We thought the girls would be tired from our whirlwind trip and would also sleep in. We put them to bed at 10pm and at 6:26am Lizzie came and crawled on our bed. "But the sun's up Mommy!" Wouldn't you know this morning (Monday) she slept until 7:50am! The injustice of it all...

3:59:52

My official race time for the Memphis Marathon! I am so happy!
We went to Memphis for the race this weekend. Paula and Andy played with our girls while Russ and I ran. He ran the half-marathon and I did the full. I ran with "running Katie" as she's known at our house, for the first 16 miles then let her go on because I knew I couldn't sustain that pace for 10 more miles. My goal was 3:59:59 and amazingly I did just that! Russ asked how in the world I made it in just under the wire and I told him my only explanation was God pulling me through!
We had a fun weekend! The weather was frigid - 27 degrees at the start. I ran with completely numb feet for the first 3 miles before getting any feeling back in them. The sights in Memphis were neat. Lots of beautiful, old homes and landmarks.
I'm so glad I did it and so glad it's over!
"His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love." Psalm 147:10-11

what happened to lucy the cat?

On Wednesday we had a message from a family that lives just a few doors down saying that Lucy was their cat. Her name is actually Chloe Belle. Susan came by to pick her up but poor Chloe Belle didn't want to leave! In the end she went back home but I know we will see her around the neighborhood. Anna Claire was excited because she lives close by. So...happy ending!!!

song lyrics

We have been listening to lots of Christmas music and Anna Claire is learning the words but some of them are not quite right:

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
fa la la la la la la la
Tis the season to be jolly
fa la la la la la la la
Don we now our "haira beara"
....

Jingle bell, jingle bells
jingle all the way
oh what fun it is to ride in a "onemorse" open sleigh ...

Deck the Halls

We bought our Christmas tree and the girls helped Russ put the lights on. Lizzie calls herself the "Christmas Tree Girl" because her dress for church had Christmas trees on it. She also calls the stable in the Christmas story "Baby Jesus's cow house!" So funny!

Griswold Family

I love the movie "Christmas Vacation!" Jeremy tying dad's old canoe to the roof of his family truckster is so reminiscent of Clark...

LUCY

We were in our front yard on Sunday afternoon when a cat walked up and played with us for a little while. It is not unusual to have cats come to our yard because there are lots of cats roaming our neighborhood. Well, she left and we went inside. Later Russ and I went back outside and the cat had come back. Since it was raining and possibly snowing we decided to let her in. We have put up signs all around our neighborhood but no one has called.

She is a sweet cat! Anna Claire loves her and named her "Lucy" but Lizzie is not so sure. Sometimes Lizzie likes Lucy but mostly she doesn't. Lucy is living mostly in our basement, Marshall (our mean and growly dog) is not a fan. Hopefully her family will call looking for her.

Anyone want a cat???

Turkey Time

We had a great Thanksgiving! The girls LOVED seeing their cousins. Anna Claire was heart broken when Ellie had to leave and she was sad to see Madeline drive off from Grannie's house.

funny Lizzie

Today we were at Hunta's house and she had given us ice cream cones. Hunta was eating her ice cream cone and talking away and Lizzie said, "Hunta, you can't talk with your mouth full of food!"

Pilgrims and Indians

Today was the girls Thanksgiving Feast at school. Lizzie was an Indian named "Sleeping Fox!" Anna Claire was a pilgrim. They sang a song with their class and were so cute!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

bedtime???

It is 9:07pm and I just walked down the hall where both of my children, who were previously in the bed, were both in their bathroom. And Russ was sitting at his desk playing his guitar. He looked at me and said, "I've got it all under control." So funny!

turkeys

We got out our Thanksgiving turkey place mats. Anna Claire named hers "Buster Hunt Houston" and Lizzie named hers "Violet Lalalala." I am so proud of these names! I named my first cat "Gloria Splendor" at the age of 4.

Buttons...

Anna Claire has a crazy fear of buttons! One day a couple of years ago she started FREAKING OUT over any outfit with buttons. Needless to say, I don't push the issue too much but this past Sunday I decided it was time to wear this dress I bought her on sale back in the spring. It is so pretty but it has buttons down the front. Amazingly, Sunday morning I was able to shower, dress, put on make-up and fix my hair all without "help." So I was ready...I went in to get Anna Claire out of bed and I told her we had to get dressed for church. When she saw the dress she started screaming and crying hysterically but I put it on her anyways. She cried while I put on her tights and cried while I brushed her hair and cried while I put on her shoes. Then I said, "Anna Claire, after church you can change clothes." She immediately stopped crying and said, "This dress is fine." She wore it all day and wants to wear to school when it's clean. Go figure...

role play

We bought a new Christmas movie yesterday so when it went off we had act it out. I was assigned the parts of a wise man & baby Jesus. Lizzie would only be the angel. And Anna Claire was "Maryed" and what she called "the donkey rider." She also assigned the role of Joseph to Lizzie but Lizzie would have none of it until Anna Claire changed it to Joseph Angel. As baby Jesus I was suppose to sleep in the manger until I couldn't fit into Anna Claire's tea set box so then I was a donkey. They were so funny! Soon mail came to baby Jesus with "golden frankincense and myrrh." Then baby Jesus had to sit in a high chair and eat his lunch. Finally the playing deteriorated into running around and around as all things do in our house.

more bathroom funnies

We went to a local children's science center on Friday and I took Anna Claire to the bathroom. As she was pottying she said, "This makes me feel warm and snuggly!" Love it!!!

falling leaves

Sunday we played in the leaves! The girls had so much fun running and jumping into and throwing leaves.

the look

Saturday, Anna Claire had on quite an outfit. A "twirly" dress with tights and sandals. To add to the outfit she wore her Belle gown then to complete the look added 2 bandaids to her face! All in true rock-star style...

circus

We are thinking of putting Lizzie in the circus! She is so much cuter than any elephant!

Ringling Brothers or Cirque de Soliel???

smitten kitten

To borrow a phrase from Friends, Anna Claire is a smitten kitten over Joe! When I got her up this morning she told me she had sweet dreams about Joe last night. And when she prayed at breakfast she said, "Dear God, thank you for Joe. Amen." So very funny!

On another note, Lizzie was talking away this morning and you will find it hysterical:
"I'm the mommy and BaBa is the daddy and we have little big girls named Dora and Boots and Stool." She is a mess...

Meet "Fashion Anna Claire" and "Girl Farmer Lizzie!" Anna Claire is going to be in a fashion show and Lizzie is plowing the land.

Imaginations are boundless in our home!

funnies...

Today we were eating a snack and Anna Claire said, " Mommy, sometimes Daddy calls you Mel but not like a letter." I could tell she had been thinking that through for a couple of days!

I overheard the following in the playroom today:
Anna Claire: Lizzie, I have to go get my blanket out of my room.

Don't touch my pillow while I'm gone. Lizzie, did you hear me? Say Yes Ma'am Anna Claire!

Lizzie: Yes ma'am Anna Claire.

This mommy's lament over daylight savings ending...

Why must you rise so early sun?
Lizzie's up; her day's begun

Too early to hear,

"I need you mommy dear

Help me get out of this diaper

I need to feel cleaner & lighter

Let's put on pretty panties

I'll pick them out so you be ready

Now for my favorite - a twirly dress

don't say no or I'll be a mess

Next are my socks and even my shoes
Pink will be the shoes I choose

What's next? Hair out of my face

a ponytail will hold it in place

Thanks mommy - I'm ready for the day

Where is sister? I want to play!"

All of this is done

not a minute past 6:01!

This is no fault of her's, she just like me

I know my mom thinks this is funny.

Thank you Lord for another day

Lead us in Your patient way!

Sleeping in the floor...

The other night we went to check on Lizzie before we went to bed and Russ almost hit her with the door. She was sound asleep with BaBa on her rug right by the door. How does this happen? Was she running full steam ahead and suddenly fell over in exhaustion? Was she laying on the floor contemplating the mysteries of life with BaBa and just fell asleep? Hard to know what goes on in her brain...

Trick or Treat

Tonight the girl's cousins came from Florida. We all went trick or treating together. Phillip, Ellie, and Clayton are older than Anna Claire but she was definitely the ring leader! She was the first at every door knocking and yelling, "Trick or treaty - Thank you! Your Welcome! Goodbye!" And then she was off to the next house - running at full speed!

We all had a great time!

Best Costume

Even though Anna Claire and Lizzie were so cute as Belle and Aurora, BaBa's costume definitely won first prize. Lizzie dressed him as a sphygmomanometer!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Belle and Aurora!

pack rats

I am a pack rat's worst nightmare! I either throw stuff away, sell it at Kids Market, or give it to a charity. I moved around a lot growing up so it was just easier to throw stuff away than to pack it and move it. Poor Russ...
Well this morning the girls asked to play with their Mickey Mouse tutu's. (They were a gift from about 1.5 years ago. And they haven't been played with in about a year. I remember throwing one away several months ago because it had no more elastic in the waist.) I got down the one we still had and of course there was a loud debate over who would wear it. Lizzie, amazingly, was victorious. After about 5 minutes she got tired of it and took it off so Anna Claire put it on. Lizzie starts crying and asks me to find the other one. Before I could answer Anna Claire said , "Lizzie, we had to give that away to children who need it."

Pumpkins!

We went and picked out a pumpkin for our porch. Russ carved it for us with lots of cheerleading from Lizzie!

Yesterday we were driving in the car and the girls saw a puppy riding in a car. This is the hysterical conversation that took place:
Anna Claire: I like dogs!
Lizzie: I like kitty cats! Daddy, will you go buy us a kitty today?
Anna Claire: We can't have a kitty until we get rid of Marshall! He is our meany, growly dog and we have to get rid of him before we get a kitty.

Russ and I laughed so hard! For those who don't know Marshall he is our 10 year old dog and he does growl at them through the fence. He loves Russ and simply tolerates the rest of us. He is our grumpy old man!!!

I told Marshall not to take food from Anna Claire since she is trying to "get rid of him."

wise advice

Lizzie was using the bathroom today and she peed and pooped and she was so proud of her new trick - being able to do both in one sitting. She said, "Well, I didn't know I could do that!!!" Then she said, "Mommy, we don't eat poopoo or peepee. It's yucky!" As a stay-at-home mom it's hard to know you're making any progress but today I felt a sense of accomplishment. Lizzie knows to not eat what goes in the toilet! Yeah me!!

halloween dresses

Claire and Hunta made these beautiful candy corn dresses for the girls! They were so cute today!

potty talk

Last night before bathtime Anna Claire was using the toilet and told us that she was about to have a HUGE and STINKY poop. After she finished she yelled, "Lizzie, come see this poopie! It's little like you!"

muscadines

We drove down to Petals from the Past this weekend to pick muscadines. Anna Claire and Lizzie loved it! They were very efficient pickers - I guess all the practice they have with their own noses!

In the picture you notice that Russ and Lizzie are having to pull her royal majesty, Anna Claire!

conversations

These are a few interesting conversations overheard around our family...

Lizzie: Anna Claire, do you like Carson? (he's a neighbor of ours)

Anna Claire: What???

Lizzie: Does Carson chase you Anna Claire?

Lizzie: Does Carson kiss your freckles?

Anna Claire: I have freckles on my face.

Me: Did you know Daddy has freckles just like you!

Anna Claire: Yeah, Daddy has freckles called whiskers. I have whiskers on my legs!

Daddy: Lizzie. Thank you for praying. God loves to hear you talk to him.

Lizzie: I think God's a girl!

Lowe's: Let's build something together!

Anna Claire is suddenly loving the Lowe's apron she got from a workshop a couple of months ago. I think if Lowe's would hire her they would have more business.

sharing

Yesterday the girls were fighting on our 2 Sara Lynne's from the Little People. Both wanted them to ride in the little people school bus but they couldn't share. After LOTS of fussing and crying Anna Claire said, "Aunt Paula will buy us another school bus! Can I call and tell her?"
Why learn to share when you could just have 2 of everything?

how clever

Tonight we celebrated my sister's birthday. We went to dinner then had cake and ice cream at her house. Mom was there and she is keeping the girls on Saturday so Russ and I can go to the Dave Ramsey conference. Mom asked the girls if they wanted to go to the farm (my grandmother's) or if they wanted to stay at her house and play. They both said "Go to the farm!" Then they asked if Russ and I were going to the farm and we said, "No, we're going to a conference." Anna Claire said, "How clever! What's a conference?"

Community Helpers Day

Today was Community Helpers Day at school. The past 2 weeks they have seen firefighters, nurses, dentists, policemen, marine biologist... come to school and talk about what they do. Today was the kids turn to dress up. I found a cute scrub outfit for Anna Claire at Kids Market. Lizzie got to wear one of my nursing tops. Both protested until they got to carry tape and bandages in their pockets. So cool!
As we were walking out the door Lizzie said, "Mommy, you need on your nurse suit." I tried to explain to her that I don't wear nursing uniforms but a labcoat at work. Anna Claire said, "Do you not help make people feel better?" A lesson to us all: beware of nurses in real clothes, we don't help make people feel better!

being like Magee

Magee wears her cell phone clipped on the waist of her pants. Understand that Anna Claire ADORES Magee so in her attempt to be like Magee she put her own princess phone in her waist band. Not wanting to be left out Lizzie put her phone in her pants! Too bad I didn't catch that on film! It was hysterical...

new dress up clothes

Russ's mom, affectionately known as Magee, came to help us this week. Like a good grandmother she came bearing gifts. HOOP SKIRTS and CROWNS! Anna Claire was so excited. We had been riding bikes in our new leotards when she arrived and Anna Claire's skirt matched perfectly. Russ put his foot down aboutriding bikes in leotards until I pointed out it is not totally different than a bike jersey and biking shorts.
Lizzie was less excited about the new dress up clothes but finally agreed to put her skirt on under her Aurora dress!

bike riding

We gave Lizzie a bike last night! She LOVES it! Anna Claire is reluctant to ride her own bike because it "throws her on the ground!" Lizzie is not afraid of bikes so we thought she would be a positive influence on her sister. So far so good! We went to a street near our house that is more flat than ours and they rode up and down the road several times. Anna Claire finally allowed Russ to not hold on to the bike anymore. Don't be confused, she was not riding alone she was just trusting the training wheels to keep her upright! You can never be too careful!