Conjoined Twin Tomatoes

Forgot to post this. Two of my tomatoes grew together funny. Bad picture but you can still see it.

Sick Mikayla

Well, Mikayla has been sick for 3 weeks now. One week a cold, the next week an ear infection. She was good for Friday-Tuesday and BAM, spiked a fever again and now is covered head to toe in spots. The doc immediately knew what it was and said we're at the tail end of some virus that she hadn't seen since summertime.






On a happier note, Elyana cracked me up this week. I had to take her to my doctor appointment during her naptime. I told her when we got to the doctor office, mommy would buy her a treat (I figured if she was eating something, then less chance of misbehavior). She said to me, "A treat? Hmmm, maybe a pie."

Every Girl Is A Princess

This weekend Mikayla and I took our first ever girls weekend away together. We went to Appleton, WI to join my sister and her daughter at an benefit called Every Girls Is A Princess. After we checked in, a "princess" was assigned to each girl to help her decorate her wand, pick out and dress in a dress (that where donated), and choose jewelry (also donated). Then, each girl would get to go up on stage and be announced, "Here comes Princess ...." They'd get to sit in the royal throne for their photo, which was used to create an all about me type of book they worked on afterwards. Finally, they received a royal invitation to a very fancy tea party. Mikayla enjoyed it thoroughly. I think it's an incredible idea. What girl wouldn't want to become a princess for a day! Thanks Christine for inviting us!

On the home front, Nate took Elyana to the Mall of America Aquarium and Dora the Explorer rides all day Saturday. They had a blast and wore each other out. I got such a greeting when we got home late Sunday. It was good to each have some one on one time with our kids. I'm also glad that I had a chance to mow one last time before this snowy weather hit us today. Yuck, it's not even Halloween yet!

Here's Mikayla and her assigned Princess making her wand:


Here she is picking out her dress:


On the royal throne:


Sophia and Mikayla all dressed up:


At the royal tea party:


Royal cupcakes:


All of us with full bellies and happy memories ready to leave:

I Wonder, I Wonder

This is too funny not to share. I was just in our crawl space under the stairs looking for a spare binder I can use for a Bible Study I'm doing. For some reason, the only flashlight working under there was Elyana's Elmo light. You squeeze the handle and you hear the annoying Elmo laughter and the light stays on for 1 minute. So, as I'm searching, I have to keep hearing Elmo. The binder I was looking for was in a box of books that I have from my childhood. I came across a book I recall reading when I was learning about the facts of life, called I Wonder, I Wonder. Curious, I opened to the first page (maybe I missed something...Ha!).

It begins with a grandmother talking to her grandaughter, "You know...it takes more than high heels to make a mother..."

I start to crack up and the light goes out so I squeeze it again and now Elmo AND I are laughing.

I could use a laugh today. The Jones' are having everything breakdown lately. A few weeks ago it was the van, then the dishwasher. This weekend it is the hot water heater and the garage door spring. We are still scheduled to get our new sliding glass door in soon also. I wish I could grow a money tree. I'd use Miracle Grow soil and plant food. If blessed with such a thing, I'd share it, I swear...

More Things My Kids Say

I was making dinner last night when Elyana came in and requested a special dinner of candy corn and potatoes. Sounds interested but soup and corn muffins are a bit healthier I told her.

Today I picked up Elyana from preschool. I noticed she was wearing different pants. I saw a wet pair of pants in her school bag. "What happened to your pants today," I asked. "It's just because I ate snack soooo good," she said.

Kayla won't stop talking about getting a dog ever since our neighbors got a yellow lab. I have finally told her that maybe when she's a teenager and we live in a different house with a fenced in yard, then MAYBE. Then, clever me, I thought of one pet that may not be as much maintenance as a fish, cat, or dog...what about a hermit crab. I tried to make a hermit crab sound very cool. Then Mikayla says, "Wow, now I can't decide, do I want a dog or a hermit crab." "I think a hermit crab sounds exciting," I said. I hope a hermit crab really isn't too much trouble.

After several weeks of Elyana giving everyone an incredibly hard time at bedtime, keeping us up late, we've eliminated her nap time completely. It seems to be doing the trick, she's completely out around 8:15 for the night. However, she does get pretty tired around 3 or 4. She gets a second wind and keeps on going. I'm incredibly tired lately because I'm being weaned from naps too. I would give anything to just take a nap each afternoon. Naps make me a better me, a nicer me, a happier me. Hopefully, I will adjust soon too. After all, if I want to go back to work someday, I can't be taking naps every afternoon, now can I?

Melt my heart...

I picked up Elyana from school today. She was sweaty, muddy, paint on her elbows and a huge smile on her face. She chattered all the way home and as I was helping her out of the van she pokes me in my leg and says, "I love you mommy. You came back. I missed you." I swear that preschool is already changing her tremendously! Thank you God!

Elyana's been saying some cute things lately...

I bought some little pumpkins for the girls to paint. The pumpkins were sitting on the table in front of each of the girls. Kayla's talking about how she will decorate hers. Ellie just sat there staring at hers. After awhile, she says, "Mine's going to hatch."

Today, I'm having a spontaneous day with Ellie. After dropping Mikayla off, we went to the bank and to the Christian Book & Gift Store. While we were there, their story/music time started. We joined in. Then we stopped at a park on the way home. As she was climbing up a big ladder, I remembered I gave Mikayla her first talk in self-confidence at this age. So I start to climb up next to her, pretending it's hard work. I say, "We can do it. I can believe in myself, do you?" She says, "Yes, I can relieve myself."

I've got to write down these crazy things they say before I forget. They can be so funny!