Busy Busy

We have been super busy the last two weeks. There has been something going on almost every night, including having 2 different families over last week and 2 different families this week. Between our "normal" evening activities (Pajama Story Time and Running Club), it has been a bit crazy. A good crazy but crazy nonetheless. Therefore, I have not had time to actually sit down and post like I would want since it is a lot of getting ready for guests (cleaning, cooking, blah blah). For now, enjoy pictures.

Being silly on the swings

Swinging with "The Mommy"

Enjoying a walk

Watching her Leap Frog video

Watching a Praise Baby in the tent before bed

Wearing Papi's helmet

St. Patrick's Day

As with Valentine's Day, I had never decorated and celebrated St. Patrick's Day. As with Valentine's Day, we did this year minus the decorations. There just aren't that many St. Patrick's Day decorations out there that aren't leprechaun-ish or 4 leaf clover-ish. While I don't have a problem making a special meal for St. Patrick's Day, we want Elianna growing up depending on God and not a 4 leaf clover.

However, I did make a corned beef roast with potatoes, onions, carrots and celery. Side note: We aren't huge fans of the corned beef roast. Give me a regular old beef roast! We also had Irish Soda Bread which contains less baking soda than baking powder and absolutely no "coke" soda in it. I'm still not sure why it is called Soda Bread. Lastly, and certainly not least, we enjoyed homemade Shamrock Shakes. Do you know how easy it is to make them? Seriously, McDonald's is making a mint (pun intended) on ice cream, milk, mint extract and green food coloring. How ingenious of them! Sissy suggested we have a month of shakes and smoothies on 'Tis the Season. That was the best idea I have heard in a while except I need a blender since ours decided to basically explode while Chris was making Hummus one day. A.Big.Mess!

I find it sad how society has no idea what they are actually "celebrating" during some holidays. For instance, I saw this quote by St. Patrick himself on someone's Facebook.

"Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me."   

-St. Patrick

OoLaLa!

We have the internet!  You probably haven't noticed yet since I have not had the time to sit down and up date this here blog.  But we do!  And it's exciting!  Thus the excessive use of exclamation marks!!!


This week has been a bit busy - our "new" busy - for us.  Monday night we set up the internet and it was super slow.  So Tuesday morning I called and said I was paying for High speed internet not Turtle speed internet.  The nice Century Link man changed channels for me and now it is much faster!  Yeah, I didn't know there were different channels either.  Whatever - as long as it works!


Tuesday evening during Pajama Story Time, Chris looked at me and said "Do I seriously have to go take away my 2 year olds fake cell phone from her because she won't stop texting?"  Sadly yes, yes you do.  We won't be taking our technology with us to Story Time from now on.


Wednesday we went to morning Story Time and came home so I could go get my hair cut. After 3 months of living here and a bad haircut later, I found a hair stylist I think I like!  It was a hallelujah kind of  moment!  


Later last evening we had friends over for pizza and were entertained by Elianna hung out.  After your marriage book suggestions, I bought Love & Respect for us to go through.  I had already read The 5 Love Languages (another book recommended) so I wanted one I had never read either.  After reading chapter 1 (an introductory chapter at that), I was super convicted!  It's definitely going to be tough to go through this book (in a good way!).  


Thursday Elianna spent 1-1/2 hours entertaining Grammy and GG via Oovoo.  I have decided to have my Mom "virtual babysit" Elianna for me while I clean bathrooms, take a shower, etc.  They played peek-a-boo, sang songs and just had an enjoyable time chit chatting.  In some instances, technology is cool!  


Tonight we are having another couple over for dinner.  Albertsons has had ribs buy 1 get 1.  With a deal with that, I could not turn them down!  So my Chris is smoking some ribs tonight (and they are delicious with Starbucks coffee crusted on them!).  Notice the trend?  We have guests and Chris cooks.  It's awesome!


Our plans for Friday evening got cancelled but the evening is quickly filling up.  Saturday the Pioneer Woman is coming to Denver so we are heading over to Littleton to her book signing.  


And that concludes our activities for the week.  I'm super excited to be able to update the blog with our goings ons more consistently!  "See" you later!

Wedding Story - Part 1

I'm not sure I have ever told our wedding day story on here. Of course, there is a story - there is always a story with us.  I'll have to tell it in several parts for sake of length.  It's been fun to remember those little details of that special day!

The Old Christ Church is a beautiful historic church located in the heart of downtown Pensacola. I always wanted to get married there and was so excited when I was able to book it! The next question was then - where will the reception be? Nothing suited inside suited me but could I trust the outdoors in March in Florida? We decided to take a chance. The park directly across the street from The Old Christ Church was booked for a school band concert. That in and of itself worried me. Were they going to be playing Hot Cross Buns while I was trying to say my vows across the street? We were assured that you wouldn't be able to hear the band from inside the church. Right . . . We decided to book the park across the street and down a little from the church. Everythings good right? Right . . . Several months before our wedding Hurricane Ivan decided to land a boat right in the middle of "our" park. Attractive. Right . . . What to do now? Thankfully the school band decided that the park directly across the street was to much of a risk for them. Score for us! Booked!

The morning of our wedding dawned bright and beautiful! And I do mean beautiful! There was not a cloud in the sky and was clear blue. Beautiful! Everythings good right? Right . . .

We had rented a silver Mustang from a rental car agency at the airport. Now here comes the bad thing - I can't remember if I originally went before or after my hair appointment. I do remember this. The morning of our wedding I went and had my hair done up all nice and pretty. Hair done up and veil attached. I went to the airport to pick up the car and was told 1) no silver Mustang as previously specified and 2) they didn't have a car ready so they had to wash one.  That's the part I don't remember. If I went to pick it up and it wasn't ready so then I went and had my hair done and then came back. Anyways what I specifically remember was panicking and pacing around in the airport in jeans and a wedding veil. Finally, I got the car and hello! it was a silver Mustang. Not sure what happened there but I was a happy gal!

I drove that bad boy home to finish getting ready. My cell phone rings and it's the groom. Can he come by and pick up the car and drive it to the church? Sure! Except that I had forgotten to take my house keys out of the car. Then, for reasons unknown to me even to this day, my sister and I locked ourselves out of the house. Yeah, so I actually got into my wedding dress in the driveway of my parents house. I'm sure the neighbors appreciated that.

After calling several people because the Groom wasn't answering his phone, we had someone come and let us back into the house. It was crazy! In our wedding video, during the "talking" time, Chris and I were laughing about the fiasco and you can see me tell him to "shut up" about it all.

Check back again for Part 2!

7 Years

Today my Chris and I celebrate 7 years of marriage. Some days it seems like it was a recent thing while other days it seems like an eternity ago. Not for the reasons that so many associate with it - "7 years. An eternity. Ahh!" Not at all. It's just that so much has happened in 7 years. So much. When I think back over those 7 years, I am amazed that we made it through. It is simply by God's grace. We are both sinful selfish people who act and react in sinful selfish ways to each other, to circumstances, to anything that we don't agree with. I can honestly say though that I am so glad that I have the privilege of spending these last 7 years with my Chris!

Happy Anniversary my Chris! I love you!

Mawage ~ Name that Movie

If you said "The Princess Bride" to the quote from the other day then you are correct!  My Chris loves that movie and, if given the opportunity (which I usually take away from him), would quote the entire thing word for word while it is playing.  I was actually justing thinking about how self-less Wesley is in the movie toward Buttercup (who in their right mind would name their daughter Buttercup?).  Whenever she asks him to do anything - whether it is a "fun" task or not, he simply says "As you wish."  Oh that fairy tales were true and that my response to everything Chris asked of me was "As you wish."  I should make it my goal to say that every time he asks something of me - especially if it is something I don't like to do (making sure my tone of voice is not snobby).  "As you wish."

Mawage

Recently I was able to go out to dinner with a girl from church who is getting married in September. She expressed an interest in getting together and learning about being a wife. Since I have all of (almost) 7 years experience, I offered my humble and honest expertise - the good and bad things I have learned. Honestly, I feel the least adequate to share with her about being a good and Godly wife. I fail all the time! However, I feel lead to do this for two reasons: 1) Titus 2 teaches us older women (ach! Did I just call myself older voluntarily?) to teach the younger and 2) It gives me an opportunity to learn along side of her with accountability.

Right now I am reading through "Created to Be His Help Meet" by Debi Pearl. It is a good book overall but I disagree with her - strongly I might add - on some things. Most of my books are still packed away (with no sign of being unpacked until we move into our "permanent" house next year) so I don't even know if I have any already.

Here is the point in your blog reading life that you can participate. Do you have books that you would recommend on this topic? Your help and input would be greatly appreciated - that along with your prayers.

"Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that blessed awangment . . . "

~Name that movie

Good Read

Honestly I am a bit skeptical and often times bored by the typical parenting books that are out there.  However, in recent days, I have been reading a book by Tim Kimmel called "Grace Based Parenting."  It is an excellent book on providing our children with a grace filled environment in which to grown up in.  Obviously, there are some things (not many and not a huge deal) that I do not agree with.  Overall though, I must recommend!  It has made a huge difference in how I relate to Elianna.  No matter the age of your children, it's a good read.

Funny Elianna

When we are out in public, especially the library for Story Time, Elianna is super super quiet.  When spoken to, she barely says anything and if she does speak it is in a "mouse voice."  However, at home she is a totally different little girl.  There are times when my brain hurts from all the random squealing or screaming and constant loud talking.  But one thing remains the same in public or at home - she is a funny funny child!  She is constantly making us laugh!  It may be something she does or says but she cracks us up!  Her big thing now is to ask me to take her picture - "Mom take my picture".  The good thing is I now get to document all the crazy things she does in picture form and use them as blackmail later on in life share them with you all!

Random Random Post

Today I sit in a coffee shop up in the mountains of Estes Park, CO. It is beautiful! Plus they have the internet. It has been said before, but I must say it again - I cannot wait until we get the internet. I have so much to say while I am at home. Things to blog about and then I get out in public where there is the internet and I get so distracted by what everyone else around me is talking about. The computer people discussing computer something or another. The lady selling something having to do with laundry detergent and shampoo. It's probably super healthy and good for you, but I see an arm and maybe a leg being dismembered in the near future in order to pay for that detergent and shampoo.

Chris' aunt and uncle so graciously and eagerly agreed to have Elianna visit them for the day so I could get away for the day. It's something I have needed for a while. Time away to get some computer work done and enjoy the somewhat peace and quite. We are now on to hand soaps. Riveting! I must live such a boring life if my attention is being held by a stranger lady discussing cleaning agents.

Although I did recently make my own dishwashing detergent and it works super! And it did not cost me an arm or leg, but in fact is way cheaper than the stuff I usually buy at Target.

Apparently, I have come out of the blogging woodwork to discuss detergents and DIY boring stuff. Wahoo! Come back tomorrow and we will discuss carpet care. Just kidding - maybe.

Here is what we have been doing besides doing dishes and laundry:

We have been able to have several families over for dinner in the recent weeks. Coincidentally, they have been families who have little girls Elianna's same age. She has so enjoyed having girls to hang out with at church. In New Jersey, all the children her age were boys. She did learn how to stand up for herself during that time. A little pushing and a little shoving did the trick. Now, she has all little girls to hang with. We are working on standing up for yourself in a non-marker war kind of way.

We also have several things we "automatically" do each and every week. Of course, there is story time which is either Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings. Every other Tuesday, we skip Pajama Story Time and head over to a local park to Running Club.

Elianna still has "school" in the morning. I firmly believe that she knows how frustrated I get when we discuss the letter "A" all morning and then I ask her about that same letter and she decides that it is the letter "B." It is a test of my patience sometimes. She would much rather be doing hands on activities (cutting with scissors, etc) than sitting and learning. I know she is still young.

Chris has been working funny hours with Starbucks. He has to work most Saturdays so Elianna and I have been traveling to see Chris' cousins' daughter (follow that?) play volleyball on Saturday mornings. He also either works early early in the morning (4:30am) and next week will work later in the evening. He is working towards being a shift supervisor which is why I guess he is working strange hours. He has to get acquainted with all the different rush times.

I have been busy teaching Elianna, attending Storytimes, laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, and cleaning up our spare bedroom for company.  It keeps me a bit busy which keeps my mind off the no internet problem.  And since we have now come full circle, I am going to conclude this super long post.  Excuse me while I continue to sit here and sip on my Mexican hot chocolate and eavesdrop on the new customers who have decided to sit across the room from me.

She loves to have me take her picture - "Mom, take my picture"