Guess who is in Ballet Class?

18636325836.jpg

Oh yeah. It’s not like she’s super excited or anything. 🙂 She’s wearing her ‘Angelina Ballerina’ shoes. 🙂

18636521058.jpg

18636890505.jpg

18636927056.jpg

I think I might be a ballet mom instead of a soccer mom. Who knows, maybe she’ll switch, but right now I’m enjoying this phase in her life.

Just sit and do nothing

This was my epiphany. While I was in the kitchen trying to do too many things at once.

18372361144.jpg

See, ever since we came home from Poland (Sunday) I have been on some crazy cleaning/unpacking/organizing mode. And for about 2 days now I’ve felt that Emma was just not listening or making good choices. It seemed like whatever she choice she made it was either disrespectful, full of attitude or down right obstinate. 

Mix that with a my attitude: impatient and short tempered. I felt like a horrible mom. I know the truth and all that but it didn’t change the way I felt. Like I was failing.

I felt guilty about how rude I was to her this morning- because she was inconveniencing me! How could she want her diaper off so early?! Didn’t she see I was still in bed?! (it gets worse- it was 7am. Not early at all.) Yay, negative points for me.

So as I was emptying food into our bare and empty kitchen, she was around my feet wanting me to watch her do something (for the 20th time in 2 min). I snapped at her. Bit her cute little head off. Bad attitude and disrespectful. Boo. 

Then I sat down on the rug (the one in front of the sink ), sighed and asked her to come over to me. She said, ‘What are you going to do to me?‘ 

OUCH.

I truthfully forced a smile out (when all I wanted to do was raise my hands and surrender) and reached out, pulling her into a hug. I told her I wanted to snuggle with her and that I loved her. I apologized, said I didn’t like my attitude these past few days and that I just wanted to be with her. 

So we sat. While the milk and other cheeses screamed to me that they needed the fridge. But we sat. Snuggled criss-cross applesauce on our little rug.

Me, mentally unwinding whatever thing that got strung too tight and praying my past attitude didn’t scar her or something and have this come out in therapy in 20 yrs. Emma on the other hand, was showing me how she was eating her apple. Just having a conversation-which I don’t think we’ve done since we’ve come home.

Since then I’ve tried to involve her in more things I have to do. Let’s set the table together, let’s do the laundry together, clean rooms (yuck!) and sweep together. Focusing on saying Yes more. 

I think I got my reward from her tonight. And it could have escaped my notice if I was in a rush. What was it? She asked me to sit with her in the bathroom while she took a bath. (Emma likes her alone time so this meant something)

Here’s hoping tomorrow is a better day. I will be biulding on what I learned today so I have nowhere to go but up…

18270956932.jpg

but I wouldn’t mind any prayers for us. 🙂

What’s in Emma’s carry on for the plane ride when you go to Poland?

We’ve had a lot of practice packing for trips and have had quite a few of you ask about any tips so I thought I would post some here, for future use or whatever. 🙂

I will first talk about packing for Emma, for a 12 hr flight to Poland. It can be very frightening for a parent to think about having their kid in a closed up metal tube in the air and expected to be quiet. It can really be scary to a kid!

I feel that expectation totally when I walk down the isle with Emma and everyone already sitting is looking at me thinking, ‘please don’t sit here!’ Oh, yeah. Feeling the love. not.

So here is a small portion of my survival kit as a parent Emma’s carry on suitcase.

17826068939.jpgTop left: Princesses, Hair kit, Strawberry Shortcake and play food.

Here are the new toys that I bought for $9 at the dollar store.

17826055208.jpgPrincess books, Dora activity/coloring pad, stickers, Animal Crackers, Sparkle Goo, Kit for Dora Bracelet and some Cheese Straws.

What isn’t shown here are some awesome toys she’s getting from family for Christmas. 🙂 She’ll bring some Princess Disney Dolls,  more Disney books, Lotion, Chap stick, Markers, favorite blanket and her own water bottle.

Travis is also bringing his lap top and I’ll have my pad so hopefully with all this and hopefully sleep!!!! we’ll make the 12 hr flight without any horror stories.

It is good to be over prepared than under! Remember the flight HOME!!! It is easily forgotten. I’m stashing some books and an activity for the flight back to the states.

Am I hoping too much dear reader when I say I’m hoping for all three of us to sleep?! We’ve made this flight before a couple times…but not with a 3 1/2 yr old! Yikes! I will also tell you I am not above giving my daughter or myself over the counter herbal sleeping agents. Melatonin. 

Wanna hear something crazy? Last time we went to Poland Emma built up an immunity to it! In like 1 day! So, FOR A WEEK, I was up with her at 2-5am trying to get her to sleep. Torture. Yes, I would appreciate your prayers, they go a long way. 🙂

Emma’s Pink Christmas Tree

17661552882.jpg

She got it. I’m so jealous but love being allowed to live through her.  🙂 Isn’t it pretty?! And just her size, she and Travis had a father daughter time decorating it.

All her handmade special ornaments go on her very own 3.5 ft pink tree. It’s pre lit and took maybe 10 min to set up/decorate it all.

That’s what I’m talkin’ about!

17661717440.jpg

Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2012 Cards

**Warning: tons of pictures comin’ your way. Cute ones, but a lot****

17440280447.jpg

We took Monday to go to Mt. Hood to take some family Christmas card pictures. I love how they turned out. 

17450041723.jpg

 I have learned that it is very important to keep the ‘kissy kiss’  as I call it, in a marriage.  I really look forward to taking these type of pictures when we’re old and gray haired. Things get better with age.

17439321198.jpg

Emma wasn’t having a great time. It was either one or the other extreme. Either she was so happy playing in the snow she didn’t want to take pictures, or she was too cold and didn’t want to take pictures. This is why there’s lots of Travis and I.

17440999663.jpg

I cannot tell you how cold we were when we were done. The fireplace made all the females happier.

(aka: no more drama)

17450302691.jpg

And of course, Emma and Rylee….

17439040554.jpg

17440192158.jpg

We went with some friends and got some good shots of them too.

17440062331.jpg

17439266170.jpg

17439154670.jpg

17439301613.jpg

Their last name starts with  ‘G’, thus the G in the picture.

17439096357.jpg

17450520612.jpg

***Check out my blog tomorrow for the bloopers. Yes, Amy I said that. muahaha!****

Rapunzel dresses and new babies

I know I got a lot of people reading this going ‘what?!’ are you pregnant?! Not yet, but…

that is what this post is all about. 

I need to first explain Emma’s obsession with the Tangled dress. More specifically, the Disney store Rapunzel dress. And she’s wanted it for about 2 months now. She describes the poofy sleeves as well as the long sleeves and the matching shoes. Her voice gets all dreamy sounding and she discribes how she will wear it to her purple Tangled birthday party. (which is in April)

Even though she’s killing this subject DAILY I am constantly reminded by God that Emma’s Rapunzel dress is our 2nd baby. There are obvious comparisons. 

I get all dreamy ( 🙂 ) sounding, I want it NOW, I imagine my life with another one and how wonderful it would be. God then asked me why I’m  not giving Emma her dress now. And the obvious answer is that it’s not Christmas. Travis and I have planned that she would get it for Christmas and Emma is expecting to get it soon. (the sooner the better) 

Like wise, I know that we will eventually be given another baby. And although I have my moments of sadness and disappointment, it’s really helped me to know that He has a certain plan about how He wants to give us our second-and that comforts me.

I see all the lessons Emma is learning while she is forced to wait for ‘the dress’ and I am so proud and amazed. I giggle and smile when she whines she ‘WANTS IT NOW!’

because I totally know how she feels.

**I for one would be VERY happy if we got a baby for Christmas. I could just imagine God laughing and smiling in anticipation as I give Emma her dress and He gives us our babe**

Day 28&29: Flowers/Black and White

I have decided to join some other bloggers to do a 30 day challenge. We are following a fun list of things to take a picture of every day for a month. It would be awesome to have you join in on the fun! Just let me know so I can follow ya. 🙂

Day 28 and 29: Flowers/Black and White
16324895324.jpg
Love this picture I took of Emma and the headband. Just dreamy for some reason. Like a little window into that time.
OK, up next is a black and white. It was taken by her. We had a family photo shoot done for Christmas last year and it was so much fun! 
None

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Title pretty much explains the whole post. Enjoy the pictures! 🙂

17087195137.jpg

It was raining but that didn’t change anything, we were all really happy to be there. 🙂

17087028649.jpg

17082360211.jpg

17087464158.jpg

17087050683.jpgand a little kissy kiss. Hope you had a great weekend!

17082442226.jpg

Day 16: Over Exposure

I have decided to join some other bloggers to do a 30 day challenge. We are following a fun list of things to take a picture of every day for a month. It would be awesome to have you join in on the fun! Just let me know so I can follow ya. 🙂

Day 16: Over Exposure

16780736389.jpg

Our miracle.

Who will be turning 4.

Whaaaaa!!!!!!

Day 6: from a low perspective

I have decided to join some other bloggers to do a 30 day challenge. We are following a fun list of things to take a picture of every day for a month. It would be awesome to have you join in on the fun! Just let me know so I can follow ya. 🙂

Day 6: from a low perspective

16696460997.jpg

The turtles are a favorite collection of Emmas. She has only two.

The wonderful, vintage, horsey friend used to be Travis’ when he was little.

*I hope you are not suffering from allergies like me. I love the fall weather but with the wind kicking things up- it is a no win battle. Here’s to braving every season with whatever it brings.*