Oh What Fun!

We have started December out with nothing but fun.

We love this season and all the sweet that comes with it!

I had no idea until last year that Advent Activities 

are a great way to make the most precious of memories

with the tiny loves that live with us!

I told Mr. Moses that I wanted to be intentional this season

with fun activities and memory making madness.

He of course is always on board with making our girls feel 

like the little treasures they are!

This is how we have started off!

Day 1.

Ninny and Papa wanted the gals to head down to bustling

city of Coleman for their parade of lights.

What fun we had. The weather was perfect. 

Papa lead the parade as Chief of Police

and Daddy blocked traffic.

Now don't judge, my camera was not cooperating so this is the best we have.

Gotta love a small town Christmas parade of lights. The girls loved it!

Day 2.

Some days are more exciting than others. I want to make sure

that I take this Christmas season as an opportunity to 

share more about Jesus with my girls. Anslee really is starting

to understand, and its such a sweet thing to hear how she talks 

about Jesus. I especially love listening to her talk to Jesus.

So we read 3 books about Jesus birth and the very 1st Christmas.

Kensington sat and read with us too, but was clearly more 

interested in trying to eat the books.

Anslee loved that these stories really were from the point of 

view of the animals. It was a different perspective, and perfect for her age.

Day 3.

Whoa. Day 3 was jam packed with greatness. We barely had a moment to

breath. We had some activities planned,

and I could not choose which one would be our advent activity, so I just

the gals we had an advent day planned of fun, and that all that 

we did was to celebrate the season!

First, Southside Baptist Church put on a "Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus" event.

We signed up without hesitation. The girls stayed in their PJ's

and we headed to have pancakes with Santa and the Mrs.

Mrs. Claus read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and was totally

a hit. Mrs. Claus made that story come right to life!

She reminded the boys and girls to stay on the "nice" list too :)

Lets just say that Little Miss Kensington Kay could not get enough

of pancake bites. She thought she was tasting heaven and never looked back.

And Anslee drank all of her orange juice from a big girl cup (no straw, totally open top)

and spilled not one drop. Someone remind her she is supposed to stay tiny

forever and ever. and ever.

The sweet babes had Heather Nix Photography take their photo on Santas lap.

Worry not, Kensington made the deaf hear again with her 

most pitiful of wails. Sweet girl needs to get a quick grip!

Can't wait to share that photo with you all when it comes back to us!

We then headed out to Christmas Under the Stars in downtown Brownwood.

What a blast that event was! Sign me up for that every year from here on out! We loved

Every second of it! Just look at our fun!

Anslee did all of the following:

sat on santas lap (again)

pet Mrs. Claus pet Christmas mouse.

got a manicure.

decorated a cookie.

picked out a gumdrop to put on a life size gingerbread house.

and pretended to be an angel. We all know she was not pretending one bit!

and Little sister was the best little trooper. Watching sister be busy as a bee

and thinking of how next year she will join sister in all the fun to be had!

Day 4.

Today was a fun day too! This Sunday started off

with Sunday School, where they made "I love Jesus mega phones"

Anslee was proclaiming this phrase all day long. We loved it!

Thanks to Mrs. Brandy, Anslee now sings This is the Day the Lord has Made

and dances a jig. We sure love that Mrs. Brandy!

Then, we put nap off a bit. (insert a very anxious mama here)

Sometimes we just can't help when things are planned out of our control.

Kindermusik's Christmas program was this afternoon at the Early Mall.

So We headed down and and listened to Anslee and her sweet friends Sing their 

precious hearts out. Stage fright was the name of her game.

I could not have been more proud though, as she participated (a little)

So we chalked up a Christmas concert as our Day 4 Advent Activity.

We are sure having a blast and starting off the holiday season of 2011

on a happy note. 

We sure hope you are making as many sweet memories as you can!

What they taught me.

Confidence. This sweet girl gave me confidence.

She taught me that I can do this motherhood thing. 

 I could do it. I was capable of being responsible

for raising a little life. I could teach her things, and see results!

This was huge, for me, because this was the one thing I did

not want to fail at. She is happy and healthy, and Tyler and I 

have a hand in that, with God's watching over us every step of the way.

She made a mother and everything that comes with that.

Over this past year, she has taught me that I can believe in myself,

and that I can also believe in her.

She is capable. With our guidance, Anslee can learn anything.

She has made us happy and proud.

She made me mom and with that she made my dreams come true.

While Anslee taught me to believe in myself, Kensington has taught me

to first rely on Christ. She humbled me. I know somethings,

but I do not know it all. I am capable, but only under the hand of Christ.

Things do not always go as we plan, but if we surrender to Gods will,

our life plan will be made perfect. 

My Kensington is my living reminder that there is a greater

path for us to be on, and when we try to take control

things can get messy. 

I look forward to the day that I can tell my girls how deeply they have

changed my life. How they brought a new kind of love for Tyler and I to experience. 

How I will be forever grateful for how their lives changed mine.

I want to teach them lessons as valuable as the ones they have already taught me

in their most tender of years. As I learned from Anslee, I can do just that.

Today and this Season of Thankfulness

We had a day around here.

Filled with no naps,

lots of tears (yes, all 3 Moses girls cried)

a 7th tooth budding,

not wanting to eat,

clingy-ness,

"No's!"

spit up

really sticky floors and lots of dirty dishes

No daddy all day kind of day.

Wow. It was one of those days where I thought about waving 

my little white flag to surrender.

I really did. So, to all you mamas 

who blog and seem to have it all together:

I don't believe you. Nope. Especially if you have

more than 1 child. I just don't believe you.

I think its funny how at the close of this beautiful season

of thankfulness, I turned into a

thankful-mess.

The day after the 1 day a year set aside for being thankful

the Lord lent me a day like today.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

So I took a deep breath and was thankful yet again.

I hope that anyone who has read this blog and kept up with 

what I am thankful for has appreciated something small in their 

lives to give thanks for. 

Also, that you have been able to get to know the real me 

just a bit better.

Days of Thanks - 23

Its my Mama's birthday today!

Happy birthday mama!!

She seriously makes 51 look like 21

and I am not kidding.

Heres to hoping those good genes live on

through me and my girls!

So of course I would take her special day

and turn in straight into my 

Thankful post for the day.

She is such a fun mama and has set me straight

in so many ways. 

Lets just say that my life would be

upside down without the likes of her.

She loves her pup

(your welcome mom. really.)

and her cat and other pup as well.

She is the worlds sweetest Tama to my little girls

and little Bella girl.

She talks to me on the phone 3+ times a day.

I tell you I would be a lost puppy without

her. Thank goodness she still takes such good care of me!

Love you mama!

Days of Thanks - 22

I have posted about our potty training experience 

one before. I am not one to do a lot of "potty talk"

but who would not want to shout from the roof tops such a

huge success and milestone in your kiddos life?

It seriously takes you from toddlerhood to preschooler hood.

Its a big deal, to be a big kid now.

Anslee has not put on a diaper or a pull up since Monday, May 9th

at 10 am. We started that morning and never looked back.

So today, I am thankful for Lora Jensens 3 Day Potty Training Method.

It was the potty training method we chose and we saw great success.

I recommend it, as it was almost a fail proof for us.

She seriously was a potty training rock star, and was trained in

every meaning of the word in fact after those 3 days.

They were intense. Day 1 was extra intense.

Intense, but actually a lot of fun.

I am thankful that Anslee was so easy to potty train. I will go ahead

and throw out there that I DO NOT expect

the same results when Kensington is ready to potty train.

Remember my post on how I appreciate their differences?

Remind me to go back and read that when its time to potty train that sweet baby girl.

I do believe in the method, but I also have to chalk up 

the ease at which she trained to her personality. That, and I think she was

just flat out ready when went ahead with it.

Trust me when I say that this method may not be right for every kiddo out there,

it was just right for us! (I could say that about anything parenting

related, couldn't I?!)

I am thankful for this method and I am thankful to only have 1 cute

booty to change these days!

Days of Thanks - 21

I married a man who always knew what he wanted to do 

with his life. He wanted to be married (glad he chose me!)

and have kids (the sweetest kids he could ask for!)

and be a member of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

He applied in October of 2007 and was accepted as intern with the intent to

attend the A 2008 Trooper Academy class. 

He graduated #12 in class! There was a small fan club that attended 

his graduation and ever since its been nothing but a lovely

start to his career.

Tyler is a State Trooper at the moment and has been since he was comissioned on 

September 26, 2008.

By policy he is to be a trooper for 4 full years. Today he sits at 3 years 

completed of Trooperhood.

He loves his job, and he is actually VERY good at it.

I always knew he would be.

Just to brag, he is leading the area in DWI arrests with 28 to date.

The goal he had set for himself in January was 24. 

Its exciting to think where this next year in his career could take our family.

We are anxious to know what else is in store,

but we are thankful that he is happy and content

with his Trooper status. He goes to work every single day with strength 

to do his very best and work his precious heart out.

I am so thankful that Tyler proudly wears this badge

and that this car sits in front of our house when he is off duty.

He is the best Trooper that the State of Texas employs

(I possibly could be bias)

We as a family are thankful for how is job provides well for our family,

even allows for me to stay home with our sweet angel girls,

and that it is a job

he wakes up each day happy to do. Its such a blessing

to know that Tyler is happy while he away and working.

We are thankful to each and every law enforcement officer that there is. 

What a dangerous and courageous job you do for us all!

Thank you!

Days of Thanks - 20

Uneventful pregnancies.

Today, I am so thankful for not just 1, but 2 super easy,

uneventful, worry free pregnancies.

The journey from conception to birth is the most fascinating 

journey to really understand. How is it that there are so many people in this world?

Did we not just reach 7 billion this past month?

So much has to be just perfect for one person to be brought into human life.

I mean its clear that every child is nothing short of a miracle.

Its one of those things that science just can't explain well enough.

God must be in total control of every little detail when it comes 

having a baby. I am not sure how you 

could not believe if you have ever had a baby or known 

someone to have had a baby.

I have been so blessed. So incredibly thankful am I, for the 2

healthy and thats right, fun pregnancies I have had.

Yep. I love being pregnant. I get funny looks when I say that sometimes.

Pregnancy is just easy and quite comfortable to me.

I never had high blood pressure.

I never had morning sickness.

I never swelled.

Did not get stretch marks.

I exercised at pretty high intensity through both pregnancies.

I never really craved anything weird. (other than wanting to chew on ice cubes)

I did not gain an unreasonable amount of weight.

Anslee and Kensington were healthy at each and every 

prenatal visit. 

If the only thing I had to complain about was a little back pain in the last trimester,

then I considered myself fairly lucky, and very thankful.

I felt like I could enjoy each and every stage of both my pregnancies

for what they were. I never wished any of my pregnant days away,

and I still think back to what an amazing time(s) in my life

the journey was. 

Isn't it a journey though, to even getting pregnant?

I think its quite ironic, at how, all of a sudden a couple throws

away all forms of birth control and is trying for something

that they had always been trying to prevent. 

Wouldn't you agree that its a feeling of freedom?

Isn't it funny how you can never really be "ready"

fully? There is always something else you can do,

another trip you could take. Another couple of thousand

to save up? Sometimes (like for us) you start the journey without

even knowing. 

Other times, you desire to expand your family and make

a conscience effort to the beginning of pregnancy. (like us, with Kensington)

For some the journey to pregnancy is long and hard one. One filled 

with lots of heartache and questioning why.

For others, its a smooth ride, and one without many bumps along the way.

Our journey, though different with each child, was one that was

easily acquired, and for that I am unbelievably thankful.  In all honesty,

I do not know the pain of not becoming pregnant when I wanted to be.

I know several friends who do understand that, and I 

have found myself hurting with them and for them in all the ways I could.

I admire their strength and feel like they have a story for their unborn

child that is so special.

When I hold their baby, I will be holding a child that was 

desired so greatly before they were ever formed. I will look 

in those little newborn eyes, and be able to tell them

from firsthand experience how much their life means to their parents.

what an incredible gift they are, how they are special and how they

have already shaped their parents into new people

by the journey they already lead them on.

 

Pregnancy with Anslee

Pregnancy with Kensington

PS: its a little sad that I felt skinner in this last photo than I do now. I was 36 weeks pregnant!

All of this to say that I am ever so thankful for beautiful gift of 

pregnancy. What it means (in different ways) to each mother,

and how our lives are changed when the journey from pregnancy ends and the 

journey into motherhood begins.

I