Russell Sprouts

Cracking me up

2012-02-06T11:23:00.000-08:00

This has been a crazy weekend! I went to a women's retreat and spent Friday night away from home. Russ had the girls and they had a fabulous time together!
The girls never have weekend homework so imagine my surprise last night when I was putting the girls to bed and Anna Claire said, "Mom, I'll do my homework in my bed before I go to sleep." What??? She had to read 2 chapters in a book then write a short summary. I told her to work on it and I would check on her soon. I started cleaning the kitchen and she came in about 10 minutes after I put her in her room. She said, "Mommy, can I take a pause from homework? I need to potty." I said, "Sure." Then she said, "My bottom interrupted my homework time, that's all."
I thought I might pass out laughing! Where does she get this stuff from?

Finally...

2012-02-02T18:57:00.000-08:00

I realized I haven't posted anything since Halloween. But tonight Anna Claire said the funniest thing and I wanted to pass it along. We were having our family prayer /bedtime story time. Anna Claire said, "Daddy, please don't make this a long prayer. You know, I might fall asleep."
She is too funny!

We saw a set of twin girls at the store tonight and their dad said, "So you have twins too?" Anna Claire yelled, "We're NOT twins! I'm almost 8 and she's only 6." Then the dad said he and his wife are expecting another set of twins in August! They will have 4 kids under 2 years old!!! Russ stared blankly in the distance for a LONG time then said, "I can't imagine what that's gonna cost!" Lizzie said she was happy being the baby! No more babies for her or me!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T19:37:00.000-07:00

We have had a fun day! Lizzie had a pumpkin parade at school today. She had to decorate a pumpkin based on a book character. She chose Snowball from the Annie and Snowball books. Making a pumpkin-bunny was fun!

We all watched Charlie Brown tonight while eating our dinner. Then we hit the streets to do a little trick-or-treating. Our neighborhood is not a Halloween destination - people don't drop their children here in droves. We think it's because it is too hilly! You have to really want some candy! We all enjoyed a chilly cardio workout and the girls got plenty of candy.

Anna Claire dressed up as "Super Girl." She is a great Super Girl! She is not very familiar with Super Heroes so she could only come up with "saving the world." That was her campaign slogan as she went door-to-door.

Lizzie, who loves options, had two outfits. The first was a ballerina outfit that she wore to Trunk-or-Treat last week. Tonight she wore her footie pajamas and added bunny accessories: rabbit ears, a nose & whiskers, & a tail.

They were both very cute!

Mini Vacation

2011-09-19T07:10:00.000-07:00

We took an impromptu trip to Chattanooga this past weekend. Reserved our hotel Friday and left Saturday morning. We went to the Aquarium when we arrived. The girls loved seeing all the fish. Anna Claire's favorite was the penguins and Lizzie loved the river otters. We crossed the river on the walking bridge and the girls played in the fountain at Coolidge Park. Our hotel had an indoor pool so we swam after supper!

Sunday morning we drove up to the top of Lookout Mountain. We can now say we have seen Rock City! It really was beautiful! The rocks are amazing! I could live without the swinging bridge but the girls thought it was "so cool."

We had a fun trip! Lots of good food and family-friendly activities!

Hanz and Franz

2011-08-21T19:01:00.000-07:00

"I'm Hanz and I'm Franz and we're here to pump (clap) you up!" SNL 90's

Big School Girls!

2011-08-11T18:48:00.001-07:00

Don't they look so big???

Anna Claire is horrified at the thought that Lizzie is almost as tall as her. We are often asked if they are twins and Anna Claire will say, "No! We are 16 months apart!" Then she gives them a look that clearly demonstrates her seniority.

We bought new shoes this past weekend and Anna Claire asked the saleslady to re-measure her foot after Lizzie's was half a size bigger. For now there is still an inch difference in height...

First Day of School!

2011-08-11T18:38:00.000-07:00

Anna Claire started 2nd grade and Lizzie started 1st today! I told my sister that I was glad and sad to see them walk into school. My mixed emotions may come from one child who's excited about school and one who would rather be with me.

They both had a fun day with new teachers and new friends! When asked by her teacher what she liked best on the first day of school, Anna Claire said, "It's you!" She LOVES her teacher! Lizzie's teacher will have to earn her love and devotion - I feel certain it will happen but it may take a few weeks.

Be Inspired!

2011-08-11T18:36:00.000-07:00

Lizzie is so rainbow sparkly!

Softball in Sunday dresses

2011-07-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

This morning in church a very talented girl sang a beautiful song with the choir. Afterwards Anna Claire leaned over and said, "I bet her throat is sore from all that yelling!" If anyone would know about yelling it's Anna Claire!

We played whiffle ball at a friends house last week - the girl's very first time. We were all surprised when Anna Claire was a good batter. We bought a whiffle bat and balls and practiced in our yard. Why bother to change out of your Sunday dress when you can just throw on a pair of socks and tennis shoes and start swinging?

Fancy Nancy

2011-07-11T18:45:00.000-07:00

Anna Claire wore this ensemble to the grocery store today. She was hoping "people would gather around her and notice her."

Home, Sweaty Home!

2011-07-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

We got home LATE last night after a 5 hour flight from Seattle and 3 hour drive home. Russ and I are tired today and I still feel like I am rocking back and forth like on the boat. I hope that goes away soon!

After a week in cool and cold temperatures, the deep south feels all right! Snow at the end of June seems wrong.

We had a great trip - one we will never forget!

Amazing Landscape

2011-07-02T16:11:00.000-07:00

Leaving Skagway Nugget Falls - Juneau

Mendenhall Glacier - Juneau

Words cannot describe the beauty of Alaska! "The heavens proclaim the glory of God ... day to day pours out speech." Psalm 19: 1-2

The Last Frontier!

2011-07-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

We have spent the last 7 days on a cruise to Alaska! In the words of my brother-in-law "Alaska is amazing but we are not cruise people!" Despite the line-dancing classes, Bingo, towel-folding demonstrations and buffets we had a great time. The trip celebrated mom's 60th birthday as well as remembering my dad who always talked about going to Alaska.

We enjoyed spending time with my brother and his family who live about 10 hours away. Our girls played and played with their cousins!

2011-05-28T19:39:00.000-07:00

Thursday was the last day of school and we have started summer vacation! Anna Claire cried on the way home from school Thursday because she is going to miss her sweet teacher. When the vice principal put her in the car crying she said, "Anna Claire will be a teacher when she grows up. We're the only people who are sad to see the school year end."

Today we drove out to a local state park and played all morning. The girls were very surprised at the number of bugs in the great outdoors! We rented a paddle boat and the girls loved being on the lake, of course they weren't pedaling the boat:) Russ and I loved the warning on the boat that said, "Fast pedaling may cause tiredness in your legs."

Already???

2011-05-14T18:38:00.000-07:00

Every Saturday our girls have a Saturday Night Slumber Party. They take turns sleeping in one another's room. Way fun!

Tonight is extra special because Magee, Russ's mom, sent them pajamas from American Girl that match their Bitty Baby pajamas! Does it get any better when you're seven and five and a half? And they look so adorable:)

It was also movie night at our house so over dinner we watched "Summer Magic" with Haley Mills. (Fabulous movie - I highly recommend it.) Anyway, the movie is set during the 1920s .

I went into the slumber party room to put something away and Anna Claire said, "We're playing with our babies. We're pretending we're in the olden times, like the 90s or 80s or something like that."
Seriously??? I laughed my head off! I remember thinking that the 50s were the olden times when I was a kid but I didn't realize it would all start so soon. I thought I had another 3-4 years before my girls called the 80s and 90s "olden" times!

Fancy

2011-05-10T18:04:00.000-07:00

Today we went home from school by a lemonade stand that was raising money for Red Cross tornado victims. The girls were super excited to eat brownies and cookies in the middle of the afternoon! When we left the lemonade stand our local high school was just getting out and I made the mistake of driving through all the traffic. High school kids were everywhere; walking to their cars, to their houses, down the street.
This was the conversation that went on in my back seat:
Anna Claire: Are these all high schoolers?
Me: Yes.
Lizzie: They don't look very fancy. They look just like us.
Anna Claire: Well, this is not like Troy and Gabriella's high school! (High School Musical reference for those who have been living under a rock for the last 5 years)
Lizzie: Some of them, a lot of them just have on jeans and tshirts. Not fancy at all!

Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

This has been a great weekend! I have been very loved by my family!

Also, we have had our funny moments thanks to Anna Claire:

She told me at lunch, "I hope you don't die on Mother's Day."

She decorated a pink bag in Sunday School for me and on the way out of church she said, "You can take that bag anywhere. But remember not to flush it down the toilet."

Role Swap

2011-05-04T05:56:00.000-07:00

Saturday I was cleaning our house and when I got to the girls rooms they were helping me. Anna Claire and I were working in her room dusting and picking things up off the floor. She said, "I wish we could trade places." I said, "What do you mean?" She said, "I wish I were the mom and you were the little girl so I wouldn't have to do any work."

I laughed! It's not as if I were lounging on her bed with my feet propped up eating Bon Bons!

Please pray!

2011-04-30T05:53:00.000-07:00

We woke to tornado sirens early Wednesday morning. After checking the local TV stations we went to our basement for 15 minutes. When we came back upstairs our home was untouched by the storm. We did not have power but after a run through our neighborhood I understood why. Trees and powerlines covered our roads. A house just a few doors down had a tree split it right in half! Fortunately the family was unharmed. And this was only the beginning...
Around 3pm tornadoes started popping up all over our state devastating homes and businesses and families. The destruction is so widespread! The hard part continues as search and rescue crews are still working to find people.
Please pray that we will carry the love of Christ to the people we have opportunities to minister to. This morning Russ is out delivering supplies to horribly damaged areas. My sister and mom are busily working to prepare food for those who are left with none. And my girls and I are looking forward to some friends coming over to play whose home has three trees on the roof. I am reminded of two verses:
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and He saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
"Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him; God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:8
Thank you for your prayers!

Easter Highlights!

2011-04-26T19:27:00.001-07:00

We had a great Easter! Our time was spent with family & friends. The girls enjoyed two egg hunts - one at my grandmothers and one at our house. They loved the beautiful dresses they wore to church Sunday morning. And most importantly we got to praise our risen Savior! "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses" Ephesians 1:7

Illogical vs. Logical

2011-04-12T18:53:00.000-07:00

This morning over waffles, apple butter & bacon I heard the funniest conversation between my two girls.

Anna Claire: Lizzie, what row are you standing on for your spring concert, front or back?

Lizzie: The middle row.

Anna Claire: Well I always have to stand on the front row. I guess it's because I was born in the middle of the night.

Lizzie: Or it could be because you are short.

I laughed! On my side of our family I like to say that we are not "prone to logic." It is funny to see that in the next generation. Russ and Lizzie are often our voices of reason! In fact, I always have to credit the Holy Spirit for any logical & reasonable thoughts I have :)

Castles in the Sand

2011-03-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

To the beach we come again

by the grace of God's great hand

We eat, we play, we jump in the waves

ride bikes, watch movies & walk each day

Castles are built everyday in the sand

and decorated with shells by small tiny hands

So it goes, our time at the beach

Away from life and the struggles that reach

Yet I notice that each dawn brings

plain, white sand with no castles to be seen

Where went our hard work down on our knees?

Shoveling & filling our buckets with glee

Much like real life we work hard each day

shoveling & decorating in many different ways

There's a lot of work to be done

Much like those castles out in the sun

But, each day brings reminders of God's love

Love that is faithful, constant & from above

We wake in prayer for each new day

with castles gone but sins washed away

The waves pound upon the shore

Small or big but always more

Every day life begins with demands

too constant & too much for our small hands

We feel so overwhelmed

when the tide of life begins to swell

So loving and faithful, God begins to reshape

The shores of our lives by His amazing grace

Another day has just begun

Let's start with praise on our tongue

For the One who loves us so

castles to build and waves to roll

Photos from the beach!

2011-03-17T17:48:00.001-07:00

new bathing suits :)

Me and my girls!

Hunta and Lizzie!

Beach Pictures

2011-03-17T17:42:00.000-07:00

Anna Claire knitting her first scarf!

This is the jellyfish that Anna Claire picked up thinking it was a shiny toy!

Spring Break!

2011-03-17T17:19:00.001-07:00

For our pre-spring break (that's what I call it since it won't technically be spring until Monday) we went to the beach with my mom and my good friend from college, Claire. The girls have been anxiously waiting for this trip. We headed out on Monday morning and returned this afternoon. We had a fun trip except for the 30 minutes right after Anna Claire picked up a jellyfish in the water thinking it was a shiny toy!

Claire packed lots of craft activities for the girls to do on our trip including knitting, fusion beads, and making pot holders. Anna Claire LOVED the knitting and Lizzie LOVED the fusion beads!

We also ate yummy food from my favorite beach places, rode bikes, went on sea shell walks and jumped waves!

A lady we know was staying a couple of doors down from us and Anna Claire ran over to pet her puppy and to talk at her. When I went over to retrieve Anna Claire the lady said, " How did I not know you had a 3rd daughter? Anna Claire said she is taking a nap up in the beach house and that she is 15 months old." I quickly told her that Anna Claire is obsessed with calling her new favorite baby doll my 3rd daughter and that I had no plans for number three!

We are happily settled back home and Lizzie is so happy that I moved out her winter clothes and put her spring/summer clothes in her closet!

Soccer Super Star

2011-03-04T21:13:00.000-08:00

Despite her wishes we signed Anna Claire up for soccer. She did not want to play but Russ and I knew she would love it after the first practice. Thankfully, we were right! She had her first practice last night and loved every minute. She talked incessantly at her coach. I'm not sure what he thought of that since he only has sons. The highlight of the evening was the fact that she has another Anna Claire on her team! She is very excited about her first game next week!

Blue Jean Queens

2011-03-04T21:09:00.000-08:00

Amazingly enough, Anna Claire, who HATES buttons and blue jeans picked both to wear to school one day this week! She looked adorable. Lizzie, wanting to match, wore a similar outfit but held fast to her signature color: pink.

Opposites

2011-02-26T08:18:00.000-08:00

This morning I came into the playroom and told the girls they needed to get dressed. Lizzie ran to her room in pure excitement over what wonderful outfit she might wear today. Anna Claire grabbed my hand and said, "Mommy, let's go to my room and get what you have picked out for me to wear today."
Later Lizzie said, "Mommy, I really like your shoes but let me show you a pair in your closet that I like better."
I am so thankful for the opposites in my girls! Anna Claire is so willful about EVERYTHING except clothes while Lizzie isn't too willful about anything except clothes!

Responsibilties & Happiness

2011-02-21T18:05:00.000-08:00

Anna Claire eagerly assigned herself the job of feeding our dogs every day. After seeing the overflowing amount they got yesterday I think they won't need to be fed for the rest of the week!

We spent more time than we wanted to at Lowe's this weekend and Lizzie found her "happy place." Paint chips! If only we could get one of these paint companies to install one of these display cases in her bedroom. It would be "so rainbow!"

Valentine's

2011-02-14T18:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's! We have had a great day! Anna Claire got to take Russ to school for a special breakfast - Donuts with Daddy. Unfortunately, poor Lizzie has an ear infection and did not get to go to school and missed her Valentine's party. To make matters worse, she picked her outfit for this special day right after Christmas! So Lizzie stayed with me today and "helped" me grocery shop. We also got ready for our fancy dinner. We have a cabinet in our dining room with beautiful china and crystal that we never use. Russ calls it the "cabinet of uselessness" and my sister says it's wasted on me. Well I had a great idea to have a fancy Valentine's supper complete with everything except silver. Table cloth - cloth napkins - candles ... I made pork tenderloin, baked sweet potatoes, black-eyed pea & avocado salad, fresh fruit, cornbread, and cookies with ice cream. We dressed up and let the girls pick out whatever "fancy" outfit they wanted to wear. It was fun! Lizzie LOVED it and Anna Claire tolerated it fairly well. We talked about manners, being polite, and the basics on how to act at a nice meal. I would not enjoy "fine dining" every night but we had a great time!

We also spent time reading 1 Corinthians 13 tonight and reflecting on true love - the love God has for us! Happy Valentine's Day!

Aubie & Big Owl

2011-02-12T20:22:00.000-08:00

Since we registered the girls for the race they have been so excited to get to see Aubie and "Big Owl"at the finish line. At first I was confused until I realized they call Alabama's mascot "Big Owl" instead of Big Al.

Football is so ingrained into the minds of kids around here! I watched little boys give a big high five to Aubie and then run as fast as they could to get away from Big Al. And vice versa. So funny to watch!

(I apologize for the sideways photo - I don't know how to rotate it.)

Marathon Finishers!

2011-02-12T20:16:00.001-08:00

All fall and winter our girls have been running 1 mile in PE every week, Runday Monday. They run 25.2 miles over many weeks at school then run the 26th mile downtown and get a medal. Since Russ and I are runners we LOVE it! Last year Russ ran with Anna Claire but today I ran with her and Russ ran with Lizzie. We had a great time!

Careers

2011-02-11T07:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Anna Claire told us she knows what she wants to be when she grows up. I made a quick mental review of her two other career ideas she has told me:

4 years old - "a pirate ship lady"

5 years old - "author & illustrator"

Now at 6 years old she wants to be "the person at the White House that collects money for people to go in and see it." I love it!

Then I asked her if she knew what her daddy did at his job. She said "He's a 'multipatherapist'." I guess that's the 6-year-old dialect for physical therapist.

On a side note she and Lizzie tell people I'm a nurse but not a real one because I don't wear real nurse clothes!

Life from a 6 year old

2011-02-02T15:14:00.000-08:00

Riding home from school today Anna Claire told me they celebrated the February birthdays in her class. She told me that Kate's mom brought triangle shaped donuts. She also brought napkins with "that boy who sings like a girl." I said, "Who?" "You know mom - JB - Justin Beiber!" I said, "He sings like a girl? Have you ever heard him sing?" She replied, "No, but that's what people say."

Snow / Ice Day

2011-01-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

The deep south experienced a winter storm Sunday. We got lots of ice and not so much snow. Since we are not equipped in our city to deal with ice it was a day off from work and school. Anna Claire ran in our room this morning to tell me we had not gotten much snow but she thought the across the street neighbor had gotten more than us. Then she said, "Mom, can we get on their roof to make a snow man?"

We went outside and the girls wanted to have a snowball fight. Lizzie had to work pretty hard to get enough ice to make a ball then she threw it at Russ. After our lack luster snowball fight we started skating on the street since it was covered in a thick layer of ice. The girls loved skating - who needs an ice skating rink? There were lots of people out in our neighborhood sledding down the icy hills.

And since we really cannot deal with wintry weather we have tomorrow off too!

New Coats!

2011-01-10T20:46:00.000-08:00

Russ's mom bought the girls new coats to wear to church and they are too cute! We have needed these coats with all this cold weather.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-10T20:40:00.000-08:00

We hope everyone else had a happy and twirly new year like we did!

Let it snow

2010-12-26T16:34:00.000-08:00

We planned to drive to my grandmother's house on the 26th to have Christmas with my extended family. She lives an hour northeast from our house. However, the snow was still falling when we got up Sunday morning and we are not seasoned wintry weather drivers. After a treacherous trip to church that ended in us being told church was canceled for the morning we weren't sure how safe it would be to drive north.

Fortunately, the roads improved for us to make the trip and it was so much fun visiting with my family. Between my brother, myself and my two cousins there are 8 girls - my grandmother has great granddaughters. Ages: 12-6-6-5-4-3-2-1! WOW! All the girls play well together and have fun. This year we got to go play in the snow! Since we don't see snow we don't have sleds so we use laundry baskets!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-26T16:30:00.000-08:00

Lizzie and Anna Claire had a great Christmas even though they did not get a "real cat" or an IPOD touch!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-26T16:27:00.001-08:00

We had a white Christmas in the deep south for the first time that I can ever remember!

Christmas PJs

2010-12-26T16:15:00.000-08:00

Every year the girls get to open one present on Christmas Eve and it is always pajamas to sleep in on Christmas Eve night. As you can see the pajamas are so cute! I picked this pair because they have footies and I knew Lizzie would like the silver sparkles on the top. Well Lizzie fell apart at the thought of having to sleep in the pants so she slept in her "sleep skirt." (I think it is a nod to summer time in the southern hemisphere!) Pajama fashion has become all the rage with Lizzie these days and I failed to deliver fashionable pjs for Christmas.

However, on Christmas morning it was very cold and despite herself she had to put the pants back on:)

Thanksgiving fun!

2010-12-07T19:27:00.001-08:00

We met Russ's family at Callaway Gardens and had a great visit! Anna Claire and Lizzie LOVE their cousins and had fun playing together. We went on a hike on one of the trails and rode through the Christmas lights. So much to be thankful for!

Introducing ...

2010-12-07T19:24:00.000-08:00

Pinkalicious and Purplicious!

Crazy PJs

2010-12-07T19:21:00.000-08:00

Lizzie loves to pick out clothes and why should pajamas be an exception? She has taken bedtime fashion to a whole new level! And why should Anna Claire be left out?

Sillyness

2010-12-07T19:19:00.003-08:00

Anna Claire made herself a chain for her glasses so she doesn't loose them!

Mayor Glasses

2010-11-22T14:38:00.000-08:00

Anna Claire brought home a pair of camo sun glasses from the prize box at church. She asked me to take out the lenses. Now she wears them around the house as "real mayor" glasses. And now when we ask her to take them off she tells me she can't see - "everything's fuzzy." Luckily she wears her "eyeball contacts" to school!

As gently as I could I told her she doesn't really have the genetics to need glasses until her 40's. This news did not please the mayor!

Indian Pow Wow

2010-11-22T14:29:00.000-08:00

Lizzie had her class Indian Pow Wow last week. She picked the Indian name 'Bright Star.' She did a great job singing! She told Russ she "felt like an Indian" on the morning of her Pow Wow. I was glad she felt like an Indian because she wanted to be a pilgrim since they got to wear a dress!

Reading

2010-11-08T16:18:00.000-08:00

Anna Claire is a great reader! She brings home 3 books every week to read with us and she has been reading those same 3 books the previous week at school. Last week she brought home "Arthur's Valentine." Arthur was getting notes from a secret admirer from school. When Anna Claire read it to me she said "Search Adeemer" for secret admirer!
I love it!

Disney on Ice

2010-11-07T19:36:00.001-08:00

Paula went with me and the girls to see Disney on Ice! I have never been and thought the show was entertaining. Lizzie LOVED it! Anna Claire LOVED the cotton candy! We had a fun girl night.

The next morning we found Anna Claire in her bed just like this :) She was being very fancy!

Beautiful!

2010-11-07T19:33:00.001-08:00

After we finished trick-or-treating the girls wanted to change around their costumes. Anna Claire looked awesome!

Happy Halloween - belated!

2010-11-07T19:20:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed trick -or- treating in our very hilly neighborhood last Sunday night. It's great for cardiovascular exercise!

Anna Claire was Tinkerbelle and Lizzie was Rosetta (Tinkerbelle's friend). They looked precious! I did develop a dislike for the tweens roaming our neighborhood. If you can walk yourself around without parents you're probably too old for trick-or-treating!

A rare moment ...

2010-10-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I began to be suspicious of the silence coming from the playroom. We found a rare but pleasant surprise: both girls asleep on the couch!

Snaggle Tooth!!!

2010-10-27T18:49:00.000-07:00

Anna Claire FINALLY lost her first tooth!!! It has been a whine-filled 24 hours. Hopefully all the teeth after this will go more smoothly.

She is so cute with her "spacey" smile!

Beach Girls

2010-10-14T19:01:00.001-07:00

We enjoyed a long weekend at the beach with Russ's parents! The girls had so much fun playing in the sand and waves. We took all of our bikes and rode down to a local ice cream shop. Sounds fun except that it was pitch black at 7pm! For future knowledge: know if the 2 mile bike path has lights!

Thanks to Christopher Columbus for a long weekend and thanks to God for His beautiful creation!

6 1/2!

2010-10-14T18:48:00.000-07:00

Today is Anna Claire's half birthday! To commemorate the occasion I have launched into a new campaign with her - it is the time to wear buttons! She has hated buttons since she was 2. According to her they are ugly and they smell bad - what???

I found some really cute dresses for fall that have buttons and in the past I would have not even looked twice at them. This year though we are going to have button therapy! She wore one of her new dresses to school and did really well! I'm hoping 6.5 is the half year of buttons!

News from the Mayor

2010-10-14T18:37:00.000-07:00

Anna Claire is the mayor, at least of Lizzie & Hunta. Today riding home from school out of nowhere Anna Claire said, "Mommy, the police are going to come and take Daddy." Intrigued I asked why. She went into this LONG explanation about him driving them to school yesterday and there was a car in front that wouldn't go etc... So I told her I had just gotten a text from daddy and he was at work. She said, "They'll find him soon!" Of course when Russ got home I asked him about the incident. He could not stop laughing! According to him what he did was perfectly legal but he couldn't convince the mayor - she would have none of his reasoning.
I have told Russ that he is starting to become a cantankerous driver and it reminds too much of my dad's driving. One of dad's favorite sayings to cars who wouldn't go "Are you ever going to turn or are you waiting on an engraved invitation?" Tonight I told Russ that Anna Claire and Lizzie were going to have to keep him in line while he drives. No road rage when the mayor is in the car!

School!

2010-10-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

Anna Claire and Lizzie have gotten into the routine of school and life is settling down! I went to eat lunch with Lizzie today. She didn't talk to me too much but after she ate her cookies, chips, grapes, and 1/4 sandwich (in that order) she turned around in her chair. I wondered what she was doing and then she started telling me about outfits she liked that other girls were wearing!

Eating lunch with Anna Claire is a totally different story. She talks incessantly and tells everyone she knows "Hello!"

Anna Claire came home singing a Taylor Swift song last week and I asked her where she had learned the song. She told me she was in a Taylor Swift club during recess! She and several other girls practice the songs then sing them for the teachers. It is hysterical because the lyrics are way off! Mom made a video so I'll try to get it from her and post it! I found out today that the Taylor Swift club no longer meets because the director closed it down!

Update

2010-09-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

With the start of school life has been busy!

Our girls are liking school! Anna Claire has finally stopped telling people that 1st grade is boring, thankfully! She is the self-appointed "Mayor/Queen/Principal" of our family. She told a cashier yesterday that she was 23 years old.

Lizzie loves school and takes it very seriously. So far she has not had to repeat an outfit yet. With 24 days in school I think that is an accomplishment! I have put in what I call Lizzie's Ms. America outfit: bathing suit and Sunday shoes. And thanks to Hunta & Claire, Lizzie and Ruthie now have matching dresses!

Promotion Sunday

2010-08-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

Today was promotion Sunday at church. Anna Claire got to move up to her 1st grade Sunday school class. This is not a Sunday to miss because our pastor gives each 1st grader a Bible. Our church is pretty big so it is a big deal to get a Bible from him. Since this is done in Sunday School parents don't get to see it but one of the workers in the children's department told us that Anna Claire walked up, got her Bible & said thank you. Then she looked at our pastor and said, "I've seen you around here before." Never afraid :)

Lizzie's First Day

2010-08-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

The day I thought would never come finally arrived: Lizzie's first day of kindergarten!

She asked Anna Claire to take her to classroom on this first day - of course Anna Claire was overjoyed at this request. We pulled up in the carpool line and the vice principal opened the door. Anna Claire yelled, "Good Morning, Mrs. H... We have a new student today!!!! LIZZIE!" And off they went into the school.

They both had a fun day at school and Lizzie can't wait to go back!

1st Grade

2010-08-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

Anna Claire headed to the first day of first grade! She walked into school without hesitation and had a fun day.

Big Girls

2010-08-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

This week is the start of a new era in our family's life: both girls will start elementary school! To get ready we took a trip to Atlanta last weekend and bought Lizzie her American Girl Doll. She picked out Ruthie. She had intended to get Kit but Ruthie was prettier and had better clothes (her words not mine).

We also bought new beds for both girls. Lizzie got her bunk beds she has been wanting for some time and Anna Claire got a full size bed. We spent this weekend transforming their rooms. For Lizzie's 5th birthday she got to pick out a new paint color for her room. It is VERY pink! I call it Ponyville Pink since I feel like I am in a My Little Pony movie. She loves it!

Funny Anna Claire

2010-07-30T11:23:00.000-07:00

Anna Claire is not the cuddliest child on the planet! In fact, she prefers to be in CONSTANT motion which limits opportunities to hug. This morning she came into the kitchen and I pulled her into my lap to tell her "Good morning!" She said, "I'm not here to stay. I am looking for my new puppy and toy soldier." And off she went ...
She and Lizzie got to spend a few days with Russ's parents. My mother-in-law took them and their cousins to a museum. When they came out of the museum all the girls decided their dolls were sick. Ellie's doll had Scarlet fever like Beth in "Little Women." Anna Claire's doll had "garlic" fever too. Lizzie's BaBa was sick from drinking too much lake water!
Funny, Funny girls!

new teachers

2010-07-18T18:31:00.000-07:00

This afternoon Anna Claire wanted me to take a picture of the Sunday school class she was teaching. Of course I obliged. Lizzie was the co-teacher. Among the students were BaBa, Baby, Molly, Castle Bear, and (my favorite) Friendship Figaro. Friendship is the new name of one of Lizzie's stuffed cats.

The name is reminiscent of my first real cat: Gloria Splendor!

I asked what Anna Claire was teaching in Sunday school. Her reply: "God!" I greatly appreciate simple theology.

Slidin' Away

2010-07-17T17:09:00.000-07:00

We finally have a slide on our play fort! Anna Claire and Lizzie are so excited about an alternate exit from the treehouse. They look forward to many turns down the slide!

Muscles

2010-07-15T17:54:00.001-07:00

Anna Claire is very interested in muscles these days. Who has the biggest muscles - how big are her muscles... Today my mom told me Anna Claire asked to see her muscles the other day. Mom held her arm up to show her muscles and Anna Claire said, "It didn't work this time Hunta - let's try again."

Here comes the bride ...

2010-07-13T19:09:00.001-07:00

Our cousins from the Sunshine State have come for a visit! Anna Claire has told EVERYONE about her visiting cousins - the bag boy at our grocery store, her gymnastics teacher, Sunday school teachers ...

Tonight I captured the "wedding!" Ellie is the groom. Anna Claire is the bride. Ginnie is the bridesmaid. Lizzie is the flower girl. They are having a great time!

Fashion!

2010-07-08T19:53:00.001-07:00

The girls are sporting 2 of Aunt Paula's outfits. Both are 30+ years old. It's good to know that some things never go out of style!

Can you really ever get too much pink in one outfit?

Summer Fun!

2010-07-08T19:34:00.000-07:00

The girls and I are having a great summer! We kicked off our summer by going to Disney for a week in May. In June we went to VBS which both girls LOVE! We have been to the beach and lucky for us - there was no oil.

Our 4th was very relaxing and we enjoyed being home! My brother's girls came to visit and all the girls had a great time together.

Two funnies:

We were at a local bakery and Anna Claire said "Mom, Claire can't come here." Claire is one of my friends and we have been to this bakery with her before so I said, "Why not?" Her reply, "Well mommy, this sign says 'No Smocking.' " I laughed hysterically because it really said "No Smoking."

Lizzie loves to go to a tex-mex restaurant called Salsaritas. A couple of weeks back we were going to supper with my mom and she suggested we go to Moe's. Lizzie said she would rather go to Salsaritas but since Moe's and Salsaritas were cousins she guessed Moe's was OK. Yesterday she and Anna Claire came up with a new set of cousins: Lowe's and Home Depot.

Baby Names

2010-06-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

We have some good friends expecting their second little girl in November. Since they do not have a name for the baby Anna Claire and Lizzie offered the following suggestions:
Lizzie - Ella. She stuck hard and fast to Ella.
Anna Claire had several thoughts:
Princess Margaret Rose. Lizzie pointed out that the baby would not be a princess because her parents aren't a king or queen.
Margaret Rose.
Elizabeth. I informed her that their 4 year old we call 'Libby' is actually named Elizabeth. "Well they could have 2" was her reply.
Shawn. Lizzie said, "That's her mommy's name." Anna Claire said, "Well they could have 2." Again.
And the name Anna Claire has decided for this new baby "Doggie. It's such a pretty name."
I hope to remind her of this suggestion when she's pregnant!

Den of torture

2010-06-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I have posted anything (we've been a little busy and I got a new computer) but I have a great post tonight.

Last week Anna Claire discovered an inch worm in our yard which she decided to "care for." Her first inside pet. She found a shoe box and some dead leaves and made a "home" for Inchie the inch worm. She poured all her love and affection and attention on Inchie for two hours that night. Of course, Inchie quickly passed away because of all the "caring." This fact was completely missed by Anna Claire. She simply dismissed it as "sleeping." The next day at lunch she remembered Inchie and went to check on him. She came back to me and said, "O no, mom! Inchie is dead!" And that was it. She made a smooth transition to the next thing that received ALL her love, affection & devotion - like My Little Ponies.

Tonight Anna Claire found a roly poly to "care for." Her name is Roly Ball. Unfortunately for Roly Ball, she is still alive. But I'm sure it won't take any time to remedy that. After all, Roly Ball is now in the shoe box which I have named the "den of torture."

New hairdos!

2010-05-13T11:47:00.000-07:00

Our summer haircuts! Anna Claire said her teacher would think there is a new student in class today :)

Graduation

2010-05-13T11:44:00.001-07:00

Lizzie is an official graduate of preschool!

A funny letter

2010-05-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

I found this letter on Lizzie's bedroom floor last night! Hysterical:)

Saddle Up Partner!

2010-05-01T18:05:00.001-07:00

We went to a birthday party today and the girl's got to ride a horse! Both of them loved it!

Cheetos

2010-04-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

My dad would have been 63 today. To celebrate Paula brought a bag a Cheetos over to eat in his honor! Cheetos were one of his favorite foods. Anna Claire sang "Happy Birthday" to him in her own special way:
"Happy Birthday to heaven
happy birthday to heaven
Happy birthday dear PaPaul
happy birthday to heaven!"

After my Bible study time I sometimes read a day in "Prayers for the Faithful." Today I felt especially compelled to read this book. The verse God gave me was Psalm 56:3-4 "When I am afraid I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?"

Almost 8 years ago a "mortal man" killed my father but that same man sent my dad into the presence of his heavenly Father. And this same "mortal man" has sent me to humbly bow before my heavenly Father almost every day for 8 years. When I am afraid I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What has mortal man done to me?

Birthday!

2010-04-14T15:48:00.001-07:00

Happy 6th Birthday, Anna Claire!

She has been planning this day since October and it is finally here.

She got a play fort for her birthday and she loves it!

Great outfit ...

2010-04-06T18:53:00.000-07:00

I think I heard 1984 call. They want their outfit back!

Best Dad EVER...

2010-04-06T18:47:00.000-07:00

Tonight Russ gets a gold star! He was a jungle gym and he let them decorate him.

Easter pictures

2010-04-06T18:35:00.001-07:00

Twirling ...

Happy Easter

2010-04-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful Easter celebrating our risen Savior!

Tired Ears

2010-04-01T05:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday got off to a rough start. Anna Claire couldn't seem to get her act together before school. Every task (getting dressed, eating, brushing teeth) took FOREVER! As she and Russ were leaving for school I told him that I was exhausted and it was only 720am.
Later Russ called me and said Anna Claire had counted from 1 to 461 on the way to school and that she was still counting as she got our of the car! His ears were exhausted!
Last night she proudly told me that she counted to 529. That's how long it took to get from home to her classroom.

A new club

2010-03-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

Today when I picked up Anna Claire from school she said she had plans to go to Jane's house for a club meeting. Intrigued I asked, "What kind of club?" Anna Claire replied, "A Poop Club! But Jane's mom says 'Don't even start with that.'" She and Lizzie were laughing hysterically. I was less amused because potty humor is far to common at our house. I suggested they rename their club the friendship club. Anna Claire liked that and made a banner that said "Frindship Clab."
After we had been home she said, "It's time to go to Jane's house." I explained that if parents are not involved in their plans there is no plan. Anna Claire suggested I call Jane's mom and tell her the girls were coming over.
Maybe I'll start a club called the "Manners Club."

Alternate Universe

2010-03-25T17:23:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the Hidden Valley Ranch commercial where they have kids begging for more vegetables? The one with the Salad eating contest at the county fair? Somehow tonight our house was transported to Hidden Valley. I made chicken caesar salad for supper. Russ and I both had lettuce, broccoli, carrots, and chicken. I made the girls each a bowl of lettuce, chicken, & Hidden Valley Ranch. We all had italian bread with our salads.
You would have thought I fed them the largest piece of birthday cake ever. They both told me how "wonderful" our supper was. "Can we have this every night mommy?" Russ and I both got hugs during supper thanking us for the "best dinner ever!" Then Lizzie gave the highest compliment of all, "Mommy, this tastes better than Chicken-fila chicken nuggets." I fell back in my chair in utter shock. I thought for a moment I was being Punked!
I'm still unsure of what happened but they both ate all their salads ...

Spanish for bottom

2010-03-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

After school today Lizzie said, "Anna Claire! Do you know what Mrs. Fish (she's the Spanish teacher at Lizzie's preschool) said today? 'Sit on your hiney!'" They laughed and laughed. Then Anna Claire said, "Hiney must be bottom in Spanish!"
So I called Mrs. Fish to tell her the good news. Honestly, I am afraid Anna Claire will try to tell some of our Spanish-speaking friends the word for bottom.

Happy Days

2010-03-24T06:20:00.000-07:00

Happy feet!

Happy Pajama Day! Lizzie has looked forward to this day all year. Finally "P" week has come to her preschool.

Check In

2010-03-15T17:33:00.000-07:00

We have a computer system in our church nursery that prints out name tags for children. For close to 5 years we have used this system. Well, Anna Claire is now reading EVERYTHING she sees. Yesterday, Russ walked her to her class and they passed one of the computers and she noticed the sign above the computer "Check-In." She said, "Daddy, I know what that sign says: Chicken."

The President

2010-03-04T15:15:00.001-08:00

The other day Anna Claire said, "Mommy, which president do we go for? Do we go for Arack Obama?" And I said, "Well, there is only one option right now so we go for him and we pray for him." Then I said, "Do you have friends at school that go for Arack Obama?" She said, "Yeah, some do but lots of them don't."
The topics of 5 year old conversations intrigue me!

Disasters

2010-03-04T15:05:00.001-08:00

While I was volunteering in Anna Claire's library this week I came across a book about the Titanic. I found out that the ship hit the infamous iceberg on April 14, 1912. Interestingly, Anna Claire was born on April 14th. Then I remembered that Lizzie was born the day Hurricane Katrina left its mark on New Orleans.
So now when my girls are being so DRAMATIC we refer to them as Rose (from the Titanic movie) and Katrina!
In fact, Rose is making her appearance right now ... gotta go before we sink!

Two funnies ...

2010-02-24T13:13:00.000-08:00

Last night I was wearing a gray sweat shirt and black pants around the house while I was cooking dinner. Lizzie came in and gave me a blue, sparkly necklace to wear. After I thanked her for my accessory she said, "Well mommy, I don't really love this shirt on you because it's not rainbow or sparkly. So I thought this necklace might help. I'm not sure it does."

Today, after school, Anna Claire asked me for an IPod where you play games and take pictures. An IPod touch for a 5 year old? I don't think so!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-15T07:25:00.000-08:00

Road Race

2010-02-15T07:23:00.000-08:00

Anna Claire ran in her first road race Saturday morning! The race is divided up by grades so Russ ran with her. She ran 1 mile in 11:23, of course Russ timed her. Russ and I have run many races and it was so fun to see Anna Claire run and have a good time. Afterwards we talked about both girls running the race next year. Anna Claire said, "Lizzie, Daddy can run with you next year." And I said, "And I can run with you Anna Claire." Her reply, "No you can't. Who would cheer me on?"

Snow!

2010-02-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

Snow is a novelty in the deep south so we enjoyed our 2-3 inches on Friday. We had snowball fights, made snow angels, and rolled up a great, big snow man. Also, the girls loved eating the snow. We decided snow is the friendliest and prettiest form of precipitation. This decision may not hold up if we had lots of snow every year...

Trouble Sleeping

2010-02-08T18:27:00.001-08:00

Tonight, as with every night, our girls were constantly coming out of their rooms after bedtime. I finally went into Lizzie's room and told her to go to sleep. She said she couldn't sleep yet. So I told her to read a book or use her Leap Frog. And she said, "I don't want to do those. Sister is getting to have a 'scholastic decathlon' and I want one too."
I guess Anna Claire wants to be Gabriella in "High School Musical" and Lizzie wants to be Anna Claire.
I hear my name ...

"I'm not as good as I once was ...

2010-02-01T05:59:00.001-08:00

... but I'm as good once as I ever was." - Toby Keith

My friend used this song lyric to symbolize Russ's alumni soccer game this weekend! The alumni from his high school played a soccer game against the current team. The alumni won again this year! The field was so wet after receiving 3 inches of rain the night before. And it was COLD - at least for the spectators.

Russ had his own cheerleaders and I think they were instrumental in the win! Lizzie's new career choice is to be a cheerleader and she is on her way! We had some confusion: "Is the other team Alabama and Daddy's team is Auburn?" and "We only want daddy to win not the other boys on his team!"

Despite the cold and wet we had a fun time seeing old friends!

Masters of disguise!

2010-01-27T05:59:00.000-08:00

I wear my sunglasses at night so I can, so I can see...

Pep talk ...

2010-01-23T19:37:00.000-08:00

Lizzie needed to urgently make a "huge poop" after her shower tonight! I listened as my sweet 4 year old talked to her poop. " This one does not want to come out. Come out poop! Come out! Its ok! There are no monsters in the potty waiting to get you!"

Fashion Inspiration ...

2010-01-23T19:26:00.000-08:00

Absolutely amazing! There are NO words for this ensemble. Lizzie wanted to have a tail today!
Please notice the matching scrunchy!

Anna Claire enjoys playing Wii bowling in her retro football jersey that Russ once played in!

My girls are fashion statements! Notice Lizzie in her new pink leotard - floral skirt - polka dot tights and purple "ballet" shoes. And accessorized by a purple necklace. This is a fantastic outfit for Wii bowling!

I hope you are inspired to dress more vividly!

Brown & Yellow

2010-01-19T19:08:00.000-08:00

We have a problem in our house of children not remembering to flush the toilet. Most of the time there is not any toilet paper either and when you have 2 girls that's another problem. Anyway ... Russ has told Anna Claire "if it's brown flush it down!" Gross Gross! Tonight at supper she randomly said, "If it's brown flush it down! If it's yellow put it in jello!" Anyone hungry for some jello???

The right idea

2009-12-03T06:13:00.000-08:00

Time to decorate for Christmas! The girls were so excited when Russ brought our Christmas decorations upstairs on Sunday afternoon. They both grabbed our "Little People" nativity out of the box. All week they have played with the "Bethlehem Gang" as Anna Claire has named them. I've even seen them being the Von Trapp children singing "So Long Farewell!"

My 2 favorite things have been the shepherds rolling in the minivan traveling to see the new baby and baby Jesus laying in the castle we have. How appropriate! Jesus, the King of kings born in a manger now laying in a castle! I love it!