Valentine Tradition

One of the truly fabulous things about having three girls, is that their clothes get plenty of use! Case in point, the "Sweetie Pie" outfit. This originally was a Valentine's gift to Maia from her Uncle Scott and Aunt Heather in 2006. It's now making it's third appearance on our little blog and will definitely be one the outfits I hang on to. 

 Maia at 9 months old - February 2006

 

Josie at 6 1/2 months old - February 2009

 

Kyra at 16 months old - February 2013


Kyra actually got to wear this twice. She did wear it on her first Valentine's day in 2012 but she was only 4 1/2 months old.  I didn't get a pic:( but had a feeling she'd be wearing it again.

Even though their ages vary, I love to look at the pics and see the way they favor and they way they don't!

Random Pics of Josie

With Maia at an age and current time where she happens to be celebrating several milestones, many of the blog's posts and pictures are naturally going to be about her.
But lest you think we never take pictures of our little Josie, I've included a few random ones here. This girl is a stinker, to say the least. I don't know that I've ever been around a more independent, obstinate child. Her strong will is something I'm constantly praying for grace and wisdom as to how to best handle. And, truthfully, sometimes I just pray it will pass!
Several weeks ago I was showing her picture to someone who doesn't know her or anything about her. The lady took one look at the picture and said, "she runs the house, I'll bet." My response was, "she tries." But the bottom line is, she's ours and we love her to pieces! There isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't make me laugh about something. And though she may bring some frustration to my life, she mostly brings joy.



Oops, got into the white out. That was fun trying to scrub that off her face!

Spring Break 2011

Yes, you read the post title correctly. I know Spring Break was in March. Just roll with it.
Leaving town was not in the cards for us this year (nor has it ever been by the way). So the girls and I just made the most of it here. We mostly just stayed up late and slept late and took it easy. But here are some pictures of the girls getting pampered and playing a bit.

Josie gets her first mani/pedi. Life is tough when you're 2 1/2.





Look how the toe separators are as big as her toes! So cute!

We also stopped by the Children's Museum. Which despite living in a smallish town, is actually a very good one. My girls certainly don't know any difference and they had a blast.


Playing a little mini golf


Pretending to work at Burger King. Let's hope they strive for more as they get older.



And grocery shopping. The things that are fun to children... :)

Cry, Cry Baby

Could not tell you what this fit was about. But seriously, how cute can one possibly look while being such a brat?!

Maia, the next Matisse?

Well, probably not. But this girl loves to paint, draw, build - anything creative. Definately something inherited from her daddy. We love her creations and have several displayed in our home.

Joy Riding

The girls take their new wheels out for a spin. HA-larious!





I know Maia is probably too old for training wheels, but at 5 1/2, this is the first bike the poor child has owned. So please blame her parents, not her!

Fluffy Puff Marshmallows

Thanksgiving night was a frigid one, so we ended the turkey day festivities by toasting some marshmallows. The girls thought it was about the coolest thing ever. And closing the day with some sweet family time, gave me one more thing to be thankful for.

Pint-size Picasso

Earlier in the week, Maia got in some serious trouble for drawing on a wall in our living room. She hasn't done that in a very long time because she is certainly old enough to know that is a bad decision. If she didn't know it before, she knows now.

So, you can imagine my surprise when just a few days later I walk into the room and see her drawing with a dry erase marker, on one my bowls, that just moments earlier was full of grapes. Fortunately this was not a bowl that was the family heirloom type. In fact, I think I got it for free - used. But the point was that she was once again drawing on something that was not meant to be drawn on, and something that didn't belong to her. Needless to say, I immediately began to feel my pulse quicken. I chose not to say anything at that exact moment, for fear I would have to apologize later. Instead I just grabbed the bowl and took it straight to the kitchen to see if there was any hope of getting the marker off. When I picked up the dish sponge and looked at the bowl, this is what I saw:





Seriously? Well, my anger quickly dissipated. I know she probably should've been in trouble. But I let it slide. Guess I had a moment of weakness... :)

Sillyness

A while back our friends the Hamiltons, came over to play. While the grownups were playing Skip Bo and 42, the kids decided to play dress up. Well, all the kids except Madison. She would have none of that dress up stuff! Her brother Mason was kind enough not to let our girls dress up by themselves...



Don't let the dress fool you. This kid is all boy. But he's also a silly 5 1/2 year old who was just trying to have a little fun!

Slide Baby Slide

A little fun on the swing set...

Pretty Little Princesses

Maia and Josie got to go to their sweet friend, Corinne's, Princess birthday party. Josie was along for the ride, but Maia was absolutely beside herself with excitement. I had to occasionally remind her that it was not her day, but Corinne's. They had a blast and looked super sweet too.

Yummy!

This video was taken when we were in Ruidoso. Josie seems to have an affinity for dips and the like. Can't say I blame her. Most people, don't normally eat them quite like this. But to each their own, right?

Another Maia-ism

Well, it's been a while since I've posted any of Maia's quotable quotes. But this one was just to great to pass up. So here is the set-up to this conversation.
Maia and I have been having several conversations about sin and sort of defining what sin is. This is all at her prompting, by the way. Anyway, she's asking a lot of questions about specific situations, wanting to know what is and isn't sin. Needless to say, she's still a little confused. She is 4 after all.
So, the other night, I'm cleaning off our coffee table and she is interfering with the process. I tell her to stop and she doesn't. Here is the conversation:

Mar: "Maia, I told you to stop. When you don't do what I tell you to do, you're being disobedient. Being disobedient is a sin."

Maia: "Oh, sorry. I forgot not to sin."


Well, if that doesn't describe the mindset of all of humanity, I'm not sure what does. I sure do love this little girl, and love that she is already so inquisitive about God and His ways. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving me this precious child. I pray I will bring glory to You as I attempt to raise her in a holy fashion, while living in an unholy world.

Finally...SNOW!!!

Well after being teased all winter, we finally got some substantial snowfall. Maia was soooooo excited. She froze until her little heart was content. Josie, I think really wanted to like it. But really spent most of the time struggling to walk in it.