Tonight our church had a fall festival. There was corn dogs, hamburgers, hot dogs enough for 900 people and they ran out. They have estimated somewhere around 700 people. It was amazing. There were inflatables, a mini carousel, games, and face painting. Our girls had a blast. Natalie dressed up as a fairy, she was way too cute. Harley was a rock star, and let me tell you her hair and make-up were pretty stinkin' cute. I will try and post pics tomorrow. We hosted an archery booth. It went really well, and we handed out around fifty "awards" to kids who hit within the circles somewhere. I have to say, I had as much fun cleaning up as I did walking around the festival. You really get to have some interesting conversations with people when you are cleaning up after a long day and everyone is tired, and has there guard down more than normal. Thanks to Jen for the trip to Starbucks, and to Denise for watching my girlies so that we could help clean up. I really appreciate both of you!
Well, for the first time that I can remember Randle and I got a date night for two weekends in a row. Randle's dad and Bren kept the girls last night. Of course the girls were excited. We got to go to a reading of a new play, dinner at Surin 280, and then dessert at Yogurt Mountain. We had a lot of fun. The play had some language that I would have liked to be omitted, but it was a pretty good story line. Dinner was great, and Yogurt Mountain was a lot of fun. I am afraid that I am going to be spoiled by all the date nights. I met Randle (Sr) and Brenda at Brookwood Mall this morning to get the girls. WDJC was handing out free vouchers to Disney on Ice to kids dressed as a Disney Character. Harley wore Natalie's old Cinderella Costume,and Natalie wore her fairy costume. We got the passes, so I guess they will be going to Disney on Ice. I think my mom is going to take them next Saturday. I know they will love it. It was another exciting and busy day. Tomorrow brings church, and Natalie's last Fall Ball game. Afterwards we will be going to Bruester's as a team and handing out trophies. Natalie will flip! I can't wait. All of the parents decided to keep it a secret. I can't wait!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The thoughts and thought processes of a 5 year old (who is too smart for her own good)
So, I am going to share a Harley story, but in order to save judgment and embarrassment of some people I will leave the others in the story nameless.
This weekend we had lunch with a couple of people. Over the course of lunch Harley looks at one of them and asks, "Why don't you go to church?" It was very innocent, and no Randle and I didn't put her up to it. The person responds with, "I do sometimes." Harley asks again, "Why, don't you go to church?" The person responds again with, "I do sometimes." Harley who is too smart for her own good tilts her head to the side like a confused puppy and with very round eyes, says, "Oh, really? Where is it and what does it look like? Can I go sometime?" So the truth is this person doesn't go to church "sometimes", but goes very rarely. Harley knows this. I really don't think Harley's last remark was being sassy, but trying to figure out how she missed it. I made the decision (be it right or wrong) to let the person sit in the awkward moment. I made no comment whatsoever. The person then changes the subject. Well today Harley out of no where comes up to me and asks, "Why doesn't _______ go to church?" So I sat there a minute and then said, "Well, I can't say for sure, only they can tell you that, but I would guess that at the moment they are just out of the habit and used to the extra time on Sunday after working all week and they don't want to give it up." Harley then says, "Why won't they answer when I ask? _______ always says "I do sometimes" but that is not what I asked." I then explained that they were probably embarrassed that she was asking and it was easier to think about the fact that they do sometimes, and not about the other times when they don't. Then Harley wanted to know if I always went to church when I was an adult "you know since you didn't live with Grandma?" I unfortunately had to say no, that I hadn't always gone that there were almost 3 years where I didn't. But now I realize how important it is and that I was wrong to not go, so we go all the time, unless we are sick or something. What Harley said next caught me so off guard that I almost fell out of my chair. I didn't know ho to respond. She says, "When I grow up and I am an adult I think I'm going to be like __________ and only go to church sometimes." I had no idea what to say!!!!! So the only thing I could come up with was, "Well, I think you should stick to going to church all the time, but we will talk about this more later." I really don't know whether she is pushing my buttons (b/c she know it drives me nuts that this person won't go to church) or if she is trying to see how I will respond to see how I really feel about the subject, b/c I try to not talk about it to her (Harley), or if she is so smart that she is already at the age of 5 able to test my faith, and how important it is to me. So now thanks to some advice from my friend Denise I am going to turn the tables on Harley and ask some loaded questions. Hopefully this will help me weed out her motive. I think I am going to have my hands full with this child. I also hope to use this episode as an ice breaker with the unnamed person and help them realize how detrimental inaction is and just how much they are influencing children. I know with out doubt that love is present, but I just need to convey that even in this aspect love with out faith, and faith with out action, is pointless. I definitely want my children to feel loved, but that love that they feel does no good if they end up with out faith or with a dead faith.
So tonight during our Family Game night Randle and I approached the whole church attendance subject with both girls. Harley apparently doesn't even remember saying that she wants to only go sometimes when she grows up. We asked about favorite parts of church, why we should go, what happens if we stop, how do we feel when we miss, etc. We also asked if they think they will continue to attend when they live somewhere other than our house. Harley says yes, and Natalie actually said that she might stop for a little bit, b/c she will be able to do what ever she wants. Now when asked she says she wants to go and doesn't feel "made" to go. So who know? Anyway, it seems Harley was just looking for a reaction, whether it was to get a rise out of me or to just see how I really feel, we may never know. But we had a nice discussion, and for a couple of little kids, they actually have some pretty good insight and a great hold on Biblical Truths. While I think at least for the moment we have settled with the answer that church is needed and without it we could fall apart, I still plan on having the talk with the person this is centered around. Hopefully God will use this experience to soften a heart and bring back a stray sheep!
This weekend we had lunch with a couple of people. Over the course of lunch Harley looks at one of them and asks, "Why don't you go to church?" It was very innocent, and no Randle and I didn't put her up to it. The person responds with, "I do sometimes." Harley asks again, "Why, don't you go to church?" The person responds again with, "I do sometimes." Harley who is too smart for her own good tilts her head to the side like a confused puppy and with very round eyes, says, "Oh, really? Where is it and what does it look like? Can I go sometime?" So the truth is this person doesn't go to church "sometimes", but goes very rarely. Harley knows this. I really don't think Harley's last remark was being sassy, but trying to figure out how she missed it. I made the decision (be it right or wrong) to let the person sit in the awkward moment. I made no comment whatsoever. The person then changes the subject. Well today Harley out of no where comes up to me and asks, "Why doesn't _______ go to church?" So I sat there a minute and then said, "Well, I can't say for sure, only they can tell you that, but I would guess that at the moment they are just out of the habit and used to the extra time on Sunday after working all week and they don't want to give it up." Harley then says, "Why won't they answer when I ask? _______ always says "I do sometimes" but that is not what I asked." I then explained that they were probably embarrassed that she was asking and it was easier to think about the fact that they do sometimes, and not about the other times when they don't. Then Harley wanted to know if I always went to church when I was an adult "you know since you didn't live with Grandma?" I unfortunately had to say no, that I hadn't always gone that there were almost 3 years where I didn't. But now I realize how important it is and that I was wrong to not go, so we go all the time, unless we are sick or something. What Harley said next caught me so off guard that I almost fell out of my chair. I didn't know ho to respond. She says, "When I grow up and I am an adult I think I'm going to be like __________ and only go to church sometimes." I had no idea what to say!!!!! So the only thing I could come up with was, "Well, I think you should stick to going to church all the time, but we will talk about this more later." I really don't know whether she is pushing my buttons (b/c she know it drives me nuts that this person won't go to church) or if she is trying to see how I will respond to see how I really feel about the subject, b/c I try to not talk about it to her (Harley), or if she is so smart that she is already at the age of 5 able to test my faith, and how important it is to me. So now thanks to some advice from my friend Denise I am going to turn the tables on Harley and ask some loaded questions. Hopefully this will help me weed out her motive. I think I am going to have my hands full with this child. I also hope to use this episode as an ice breaker with the unnamed person and help them realize how detrimental inaction is and just how much they are influencing children. I know with out doubt that love is present, but I just need to convey that even in this aspect love with out faith, and faith with out action, is pointless. I definitely want my children to feel loved, but that love that they feel does no good if they end up with out faith or with a dead faith.
So tonight during our Family Game night Randle and I approached the whole church attendance subject with both girls. Harley apparently doesn't even remember saying that she wants to only go sometimes when she grows up. We asked about favorite parts of church, why we should go, what happens if we stop, how do we feel when we miss, etc. We also asked if they think they will continue to attend when they live somewhere other than our house. Harley says yes, and Natalie actually said that she might stop for a little bit, b/c she will be able to do what ever she wants. Now when asked she says she wants to go and doesn't feel "made" to go. So who know? Anyway, it seems Harley was just looking for a reaction, whether it was to get a rise out of me or to just see how I really feel, we may never know. But we had a nice discussion, and for a couple of little kids, they actually have some pretty good insight and a great hold on Biblical Truths. While I think at least for the moment we have settled with the answer that church is needed and without it we could fall apart, I still plan on having the talk with the person this is centered around. Hopefully God will use this experience to soften a heart and bring back a stray sheep!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Natalie
Natalie has finally begun to come out of her shell some. I am still having to encourage her a bit socially, but I think we have gained a lot of confidence the past couple of weekends. Last weekend we had one of her church friends go with us to her softball game. The little girl had a good time and has asked to come to our house, that made Nat's face light up. Then this Friday we had another little friend go to dinner and bowling with us. They had a blast, and giggled and talked the entire night. Today at the softball game that little girl asked at least 2 times for a sleepover. Natalie was very excited about that.
At Nat's softball game today she got her first hit. She was the last batter on their team. Her first hit was a single, and b/c she was the last batter she got to run to 1st and then had to come in. Her second hit was a double and then was able to run in off of someone else's hit. She was so excited, she jumped on home plate. She gained so much confidence. I can't wait to see what next Sundays game (which is our last) will bring.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
A Whole Day Together
This morning the girls actually slept in and we had to wake them up at 9 to go to Lowes and to the kid's craft. It was a Frankenstien Magic Box. They had a lot of fun. After that we took them to my mom's house. My parents took them to the local Pumpkin Patch, and I'm sure they did some baking and other fun stuff. Randle and I however, got the whole rest of the day to ourselves. YEAH!!!!!!
We went to a garage sale, J and J Junk, ate lunch at Wings, saw the new (latest, it's been out for a while) Harry Potter, got ice cream and came home to watch a Monk episode on Hulu and relax. It was great! We got some really good books at J and J, and found a great idea for Zbinden Christmas gifts! It was so nice to have more than just a couple of hours before bedtime to spend with Randle. I love my kids, but alone time with the hubby is GREAT!
Thanks mom and dad for taking on the kids for the day!
We went to a garage sale, J and J Junk, ate lunch at Wings, saw the new (latest, it's been out for a while) Harry Potter, got ice cream and came home to watch a Monk episode on Hulu and relax. It was great! We got some really good books at J and J, and found a great idea for Zbinden Christmas gifts! It was so nice to have more than just a couple of hours before bedtime to spend with Randle. I love my kids, but alone time with the hubby is GREAT!
Thanks mom and dad for taking on the kids for the day!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Harley's Prayer
We have a prayer list on the back of the girls bedroom door that we pray for each night. We try, unless it is a really late night, to have the girls pray for 2 or 3 of the people. Well, right now we have three babies that we are praying for. So of course the girls mainly focus on those. Tonight though, Natalie prayed for like 5 people. Harley of course can't do less, so she decided to pray for the whole list. Harley, being 5, can't read, so she would pray for someone and then tap me so that I could tell her the next person. She prayed for the 3 babies, and then came our pastor's son who has joined the Army. He is Basic Training right now. Here is Harley's prayer,
Please, please, please, Jesus help Mykel be healthy. Please Jesus help him on his journey because he needs help on his journey. Please Jesus, watch him and help him on his hunting trip"
She knows that people in the Army wear camo and that you wear camo when you go hunting. So she must have come to the obviously logical conclusion that he is hunting. It was so cute. Her little "pleases" were so sincere, and heart-felt. I have a mp3 recorder, I have GOT to remember to sneak it in with me and record her.
Please, please, please, Jesus help Mykel be healthy. Please Jesus help him on his journey because he needs help on his journey. Please Jesus, watch him and help him on his hunting trip"
She knows that people in the Army wear camo and that you wear camo when you go hunting. So she must have come to the obviously logical conclusion that he is hunting. It was so cute. Her little "pleases" were so sincere, and heart-felt. I have a mp3 recorder, I have GOT to remember to sneak it in with me and record her.
Monday, October 19, 2009
A Weekend of Activity
Our weekend started with a Hoover High Football game. Although Hoover lost, the last plays of the game were quited tense. The girls had a blast watching both the game and the cheerleaders, they also loved that Dad bought them special Hoover "H" silly bands. Saturday we slept in, loaded the dish washer, cleaned the girls room and took Natalie to a Birthday party at Pump it up. Harley and Randle went on a "Daddy Date" while we were at the party. Then we went home to quickly change clothes and go to a wedding. The girls absolutely loved it. Tabbie and Marshall's wedding was beautiful. The got to dance with their Daddy at the reception and ended the night by helping all of us clean up. They are great at washing windows. We got to sleep in again on Sunday b/c there was no Sunday School. We met a Westover Park for Pastor Appreciation. It was a huge picnic with football games, corn hole competitions, relays and kids running everywhere. Lots of fellowship. After the picnic, we went to visit my brother Jonathan, who was in town for the weekend.
Then Natalie had a softball game. Natalie had a friend from church go with us. We will call the friend J.R. J.R. and Harley sat in the bleachers and stood at the dug out fence watching the game. They really cheered Natalie on. During the game Natalie had 2 tips, and hit the ball once but it hit her and homeplate, therefore itwas a dead ball. She also got a ball hit to her in right feild and ran it in to second, and actually almost got the girl out. We, the "Blue Sting", won the game 9-6. We were all very excited. The girls even chattered in the field some after being offered blow pops at the next game. After the game we took the girls next door to the park. They ran around for about 30 minutes. On the way to meet J.R.'s mom the girls were talking. I'm not sure how the conversation started, but we hear Natalie say, I'll eat your eyeballs. To which J.R. says, I'll eat your ears, Natalie somes back with, I'll eat your eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, head arms, legs, EVERYTHING. J.R. sits there a minute and then says, Wow, you'll be full. Then they went on with a normal conversation about school and clothes.
As a result of all the late nights, no one wanted to get up for school on Monday. Harley was in a very bad mood. I had a horrible headache when we got back and decided to lay down after I took some Alieve. (It makes me kind of spacey when I am taking it with decongestants) I put a short 30 min. show in the DVD player for Harley and told her if I wasn't up to just play, and I would be up shortly. I woke up and listened for her. I love hearing her talk through her play. She has so many onversations between all of her toys. I couldn't hear her this time though. I got up really quiet so I could see what she was doing with out her knowing. When I got to the living room. I found her sound asleep on the floor, with her head on a study buddy. I tried to wake her up so that we could meet JT at HHS, but she wouldn't budge. I shook her, rubbed her cheek, patted her, stroked her hair, and still she wouldn't budge. Finally I pick her up, and she is completely limp. I sat on the couch and chuckled at how sound asleep she was, and saw a smirk cross her face. There is no telling how long she had been faking. The little twirp, but what a cute little twirp.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Bowling, Shopping and Softball
Friday we took the girls bowling. They loved it. We had a great time. I took them again today (we had free passes). I actually bowled with them today though. They absolutely loved it. Harley actually got a strike and Natalie got a spare. Somehow the bumpers stayed up the whole time instead of going down for my turn. I got a strike too, but it can hardly be counted since it bounced off the bumpers. After bowling we went to the Galleria to let Nat buy something at Gap with a gift card she had. She got an adorable outfit. I will try and post bowling pics tomorrow.
Natalie actually made contact with the ball at her game on Sunday. We were very excited. They were both fouls and she still struck out every time, but she was quite pleased with herself for hitting the ball. Her team is really beginning to come together. Now if we could only get a practice in between the rain storms. I will try and post softball pics as well.
Natalie actually made contact with the ball at her game on Sunday. We were very excited. They were both fouls and she still struck out every time, but she was quite pleased with herself for hitting the ball. Her team is really beginning to come together. Now if we could only get a practice in between the rain storms. I will try and post softball pics as well.
Monday, October 5, 2009
A Fun Day With a Friend
Today I went over to a good friends house to help her work on a slide show. We started it last week, and got to finish it up today, except burning it to discs. I always have fun with her, and today was no exception. We started by moving all of the pics over from the file to Windows Movie Maker. We got all the pics on and two of three songs put on before I had to leave to pick Nat up from school. Right before I left to pick Nat up, she got completely lost in laughter. Harley had been drawing pictures. She had drawn one for Randle and wanted to put "I Love You! It is for you" I wrote I Love You in cursive just like she asked, but she wanted to write the rest of it herself. I of course had to tell her letter by letter what to write. So I have Harley to my right, saying, "Okay, Mommy, what letter now?" and my friend on my left saying,"What do I do next?" One right after the other. One question from Harley for each letter, and a question from, Denise, (Oops, did I put your name?) right after each time. Harley ends the session with her famous quote, "I'm hungry.", so Denise trying to be cute tugs my shirt and says, "I'm thirsty." So without missing a beat I reached behind me and grab Denise's cup and hand it to her. It was pretty funny. Denise was all but rolling in the floor. The funny part to me was that I didn't realize she was playing. I thought she was wanting to get up from the computer, (I had her blocked in) so I handed her the cup without realizing she was playing until afterwards when she was laughing so hard she couldn't breathe. I laughed until crying! Then we went to pick Natalie up and went back to Denise's house to finish up the slide show. The girls did great together. Of course anyone who spends a day with Denise know that along with the laughter comes probing questions to make you think later. So, now I'm off to do my homework, that Denise always feels the need to give! God has blessed my family with such great friends. I couldn't make it with out them!
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