Frosty

Well, I had a specific request, Angela, so here they are! Our snowmen! Yes, Lindsey and Ryan went out in the dark to make snowmen as I searched through the play food for what could make eyes and nose. Ryan got the hat, I had to put that picture on here for you to be sure and see it! Lindsey could not have been more excited.

She was very worried about them melting. I think because in a Dora the snowman starts melting and she watched Frosty the Snowman this year. So, she thought they were just going to melt tonight. She even told Ryan to check on them when he went to bed and when he got up in the morning before she did! So cute! She was so proud!

It is supposed to all be gone tomorrow!

Let it snow!!

Go Hogs!

Ryan went to the Razorback game tonight...it is going on right now, but I have no idea what the score is. Lindsey is watching Barney before she goes to bed! Anyway, when Ryan took Lindsey a few weeks ago, Big Red came up the aisle to see her, but she didn't like "the one with scary eyes" to say it as Lindsey did! She wanted "the girl one that is a cheerleader" to come up there. Anyway, Ryan sent me this on my phone so I'm sure the quality isn't good, but it is cute I thought...in 2 ways--1. it is a cute picture of Ryan and Big Red 2. on his text with the picture he wrote "show Lindsey" so he was thinking of her! I just wish I could have heard/seen this happening. His brother is the one with him, so I'm sure it was comical seeing 2 grown boys taking pictures with Big Red! I love it! Thanks Babe for thinking of Lindsey! She loved it!

Meme Time (not sure why it is called that)

Here are the rules: Go back through your archives and post the links to the five favorite blog posts that you’ve written. But there is a catch:

Link 1 must be about family.
Link 2 must be about friends.
Link 3 must be about yourself, who you are… what you’re all about.
Link 4 must be about something you love.
Link 5 can be anything you choose.

Link 1-Courtney's Baby Dedication was truly one of the most moving things I have ever done. When we dedicated Lindsey, it was "mass dedication" like everyone seems to do these days. Courtney's was totally different--just us and our families--very intimate and very, very sweet! I won't type all of it out, because it is on the link. It was a very special time for us as parents!

Link 2-My Friend Ashely is adopting. I haven't typed much about friends, so when I was looking back, this is what stuck out. She is such a sweet friend. We were college roommates (which is a funny story if you want to hear it sometime--how we got together) and have stayed friends. This is a neat story about her! You are awesome Ashley! I love you!

Link 3-This was easy because it has been so recent. I am always wanting to "lose weight" and struggle with it bad! But, this year I decided I was going to just start exercising in hopes that losing weight would be easier. So, that is why I chose this link I'm not 15 anymore. At least it is what I'm all about right now. Hopefully I will still be about it in a year, I guess we'll see!

Link 4-The reason I do this blog is to keep up with my girls and the fun times we have, so something I love would have to be about them. Lately we have had some fun converstaions with Lindsey and love hearing Courtney's new "talking" all the time. So here is what I love: Lindsey, Courtney, and Ryan. Sorry, I couldn't choose. Most of the people who read this have read those lately, they aren't new, but still what I love!

Link 5-What to choose? I have no idea! I had a hard time trying to find something that really stuck out. I chose this for several reasons. I'll explain...First of all, Ryan loves fishing. He wants that to be something he can do with our girls. On the other hand he realized last fall how much time it took away from being with them at this stage of life. So, on his own he sold his fishing boat. What a sacrifice that is for him. Secondly, it makes me look forward to those times that I know we will be on the water together. We are in the process of buying a pontoon boat for this summer. Seeing these pictures as I looked back made me realize how much fun it is going to be. The one we are getting has a deck on the front, specifically for them to be able to sit and fish with Daddy! I love it! Ryan is so excited and we talk about being at the lake this summer already! I can't wait!

This has been fun. I thought it would be harder than it really was. I enjoyed looking back and like my friend Shannon (who tagged me), it was a reminder of why I do it! Seeing pictures of the girls from a year ago...WOW...they are growing up too fast! I knew it, but seeing it in pictures just reminded me of how I need to cherish these moments before they are gone!

Ok, so "tag you are it" goes to:

1. Brandi
2. Alecia
3. Amanda
4. Julie

And anyone else who wants to do it! Have fun!!

Courtney

Monkey see monkey do...Courtney is all about doing whatever Lindsey is doing. Lindsey is in a habit (has been for probably a year now) of watching something before she goes to bed. It has turned out to be nice down time for all of us! Anyway, Courtney has moved her bedtime back to about when Lindsey goes to bed, or close to it. So, she gets to watch (for as long as she sitst there). Just a cute picture of what our house is like during the bedtime hours! They are really starting to play so much and it is cute to watch their relationship grow.
Paw Paw (Ryan's step-dad) made this baby bed for Lindsey's babies for Christmas! Courtney who likes to climb and crawl decided it was just her size I guess! She was so proud of herself! She didn't stay long, but Lindsey thought it was funny, thus Courtney's big grin! Love it!

Lindsey

Lindsey got this lite brite for Christmas! It is one of her "big girl toys" meaning it stays in her closet so Courtney can't get it. She's such a good girl and will play independently very well! She had been working on it for a while, then came out to tell me she was all finished with her new picture! I was so proud! She was too! Can you tell?
On Saturday Lindsey and I went to watch Heather compete in her regionals cheerleading competition. I had gone back in November to watch them in Hot Springs! They are VERY good! Anyway, Lindsey got to wear her new Razorback cheerleading outfit! Of course she wouldn't smile, but she loved seeing SO MANY cheerleaders in one place! Heather's team won FIRST PLACE so they are going on to state this Sat. I am going to watch! They haven't had much competition at the others because they compete in the small school large squad type division. However, at state there will be 10 teams total, so they will have their work cut out for sure! I'm excited! (This is a WHOLE new ballgame than from when I cheered!--we didn't compete, but just the ability levels of the cheerleaders at such a young age is amazing!)

Lindsey Van Gogh! She is such the artist! For all of my early childhood friends...do you see the developmental drawing? Look at Ryan's long legs, no body and his head. She had eyes, nose and mouth. No arms, but she traced her own hands as his hands, yes HER OWN idea! So smart! Then you can see that she wrote his name above him. She was getting ready to draw me and I meant to take a picture when she was finished. You can see my head by Ryan's hands. Yes, I had short leg in case you were wondering! She's such a little thinker and such a "fine motor" kid! Right now she is making a torn paper picture...snowman and now snow around him! VERY easy for those cabin fever days! She loves it!

From the mouths of babes....

We have a "saying" around here that we tell Lindsey, "What are we going to do with you?" One time when I said that months ago, she had hurt (aka to Lindsey as bumped into something) herself and I was just trying to be funny when I asked her that. She said, "I don't know." So I told her, "I guess we'd have to take her back to Wal-Mart to get a new Lindsey." It has turned into a regular joke around here. So tonight we were all in the toy room playing blocks. Courtney knocked the castle down that Lindsey and Ryan had been working so hard on. Luckily before Lindsey could get mad this conversation happened:

L: Courtney (but with MANY syllables)

R: That silly Courtney what are we going to do with her?

L: I guess we have to take her back to Wal-Mart.

R: Do you think they will take her back?

L: Well, we have to take her to heaven because that is where we got her!

Me listening: MELTING away in the sweetness of her voice....

I love my girls (and my husband!)

Courtney Funnies

I have written a few funny things that Lindsey has been saying. With Courtney starting to talk so much more, she isn't saying the funny things that Lindsey is, but says words in a funny way.

The funniest right now is that she is obsessed (has been for a while) with shutting doors. But she doesn't say door she says "doe" like it rhymes with "toe!" Where is she from? It is really cute, maybe I can get a video of it.

The other thing is if you ask her where something is she says, "Don't don't know!" and holds her hands up in the "I don't know" way!

The last one is that we have this toy on the refridgerator that sings the ABCs, she will push it and say, "A, B, C, ???" (but keep making noise) but the funny thing is that she turns in circles while it is playing. Not sure why, it isn't something Lindsey does, but just Courtney. I guess she's dancing?

She is really starting to talk and it is fun. She will come get me for help and she will tell me what she wants like "Juice, Dinsey's" aka "Juice Lindsey's" meaning she doesn't want her juice, but Lindsey's juice...the grass is always greener, right?

She's precious, but so different from Lindsey. It is amazing how we can love our kiddos in such different ways but all the same!

Straight or Curly?

Lindsey wanted me to blow dry her hair the other night "like you do, Mommy." I wasn't sure what it would look like. Just afraid of how thin and fine it would look...sure enough it did. Even Ryan noticed how it looked thinner.

She looked so different and so big! We told her teachers at MDO and they raved about it. I used the straightener and sort of flipped it out, so cute. They said that she talked about her straight hair all day! So cute! So grown up! She just asked me to fix it straight again this morning, but we have a MOPS meeting at church and don't have time. She cried! Mercy! The drama continuse around here!

Seriously...

Oh my word! I thought I lost my whole blog and here I am....it has been a gut wrenching 30 min! I was just sick! SO, it just teaches me to really be taking notes because who knows how long this internet/blogger/whatever is going to be with us! Forever right?! Oh my word! My poor friend Shannon, I called her about in tears because she is on the computer a lot and has a blog and a photography blog. Bless her heart, she couldn't help me but she worried with me! Thanks Shannon! What a feeling to feel like all of your "online scrapbook" was gone! Sick to my stomach for sure! Just had to share my scare!

Theology Questions Anyone?

Lindsey seems to have a lot of spiritual questions/insight as we are going to bed. I've heard other moms say the same thing, so it is funny that we are getting to that point. She has a hard time with praying...she doesn't want to pray, so I always pray. But that really has nothing to do with my story. Let me go back a few weeks....I wish I had typed it then, but I didn't so I don't remember (like I thought I would--what was I thinking??) exactly. Somehow we were talking about being in heaven. More than likely she was asking me about something that happened "pre-Lindsey" with Ryan and I. My response, because I don't know what to say, when she asks, "Where was I?" is always, "You were still in heaven." So I have said that a few times over the past few weeks just in conversation. Now, here we are going to bed:

L:Mommy, when I go back to heaven is God going to break me?

M: What?! (TOTALLY confused)

L: (with an embarassed funny look) Is God going to bend me?

M: You mean like make you a baby and put you back in my tummy?

L: Yes, is he going to do that?

M: No, there will always only be ONE LINDSEY!

Another night:

L: How did the angel come down to tell Mary she was going to have Jesus?

M: I don't know, I guess he flew since angels have wings?

L: How am I going to get to heaven?

M: I guess we'll fly like the angel? (Seriously...how do you answer that?) We don't know when it is going to be, but God will come back and get us when He's ready.

L: Why don't we know?

M: I guess God wants it to be a surprise.

L: I sure do like surprises!

L: Where does God live?

M: In heaven.

L: I know, but where?

M: I guess in a house.

Tonight:

L: Why did God send Jesus to us? (WOW...how do you answer that for a 3 1/2 year old who is pretty smart and receptive?

M: Well, when we do things we aren't supposed to, it is called sin. God sent Jesus to save us because he loved us and so now we can love Jesus forever because God sent him. (???)

L: Mommy, did new Amber cut your hair?

M: yes, she did (as I try so hard not to laugh)

L: Why are you laughing mommy? Is it because I was smart again?

M: Yes, and because you were talking about Jesus and then mommy's hair and that is just funny to me!

Oh, from the mouths of babes! I love her! I lover her questions and pray that I can answer her the right way and point her to Jesus, but also help her understand that Mommy and Daddy don't have all the answers (and neither does she, even though at 3 she thinks she does!) to everything. We just have to trust God! (right, Mom?)

I'm so thankful for my precious daughters that God blessed us with! We are blessed beyond words. Ryan is gone to play basketball with some guys at church and I sit in my quiet house and think about my precious precious babies sleeping. What a joy they are to me! Thank you Lord that you gave me Lindsey Lee and Courtney Ann!

Happy Birthday Taylor!

Happy Birthday Taylor! We all love you!

My "little" brother, Taylor, is 27 today! Wow! That will make you feel old--when your LITTLE borther is getting older! He's a great Uncle to my girls! Lindsey LOVES Uncle Taylor! Courtney does too, but she's just learning! He is a great guy and I'm thankful for our growing relationship! He's in a band called Velcro Moonshoe, so if you are in Fayetteville and hear of them, check them out! They are great! Sometimes he's down here, but only a couple of times! I got to hear them once and had a great time listening and seeing him do what he LOVES to do!

Courtney Ann

Courtney LOVES what we call "Dora yogurt." This is the only thing I let her try and use a spoon for on her own. She really wants to do it, and this yogurt is good because it is thicker than normal yogurt. She gives up on the spoon and starts using her hand! Thus that is why we start naked and end up with yogurt a yogurt covered belly!






















Tonight we are getting ready to go eat on our gift cards we got for Christmas to Olive Garden. I saw some pictures of Lindsey from this age at my mom's house and she had a pony tail. It looks sort of silly, but sort of cute. So, I put one in Courtney's hair to go out tonight! She looks pretty cute I guess...

I'm not 15 anymore!

Just in case you weren't sure, I'm not 15 anymore and I found out today how far from it I am. I was never that girl that was in great shape, but just didn't realize what "shape" was when I was 15! Can I get an AMEN?! I say this because I started aerobics today! Yes, I haven't exercised in well, way too long! So, needless to say I am getting more soar as the night goes on! I don't have a picture to post of me working out, sorry! It was such a pretty sight! HA HA HA!!

Anyway, just know that there will be a picture when I am a skinnny hot momma!

Not Much Going On...

If you've been checking our blog, because I know there are millions out there trying to keep up with us, HA HA, I just haven't had much going on. We've been pretty boring and totally bored without our normal busy schedule. Seriously I'm ready for things to do! Tonight Lindsey had dance and we both looked forward to having it to do all day long! Next week we will start a busy schedule again, which I like. I'm learning that my girls, at least Lindsey also enjoys going places. Everyday, usually more than once, she will ask me what we are doing, where we are going or who is coming over...whatever she thinks of I guess. Our normal schedule will start back, Tuesdays at MDO, Wednesdays at MOPS in the morning then church Wednesday night, dance on Thursday night. PLUS, I'm going to be ONE HOT MOMMA this summer, watch out! No, seriously... a friend of ours here teaches aerobics at a gym here in town and it is right by our house. Her daughter and Lindsey are good friends and I have thought about joining and am taking the plunge. I really do want to lose weight, but also really want to just be helathier and PRAY the weight comes off too!!! :)

I don't have many new pictures because like I said, we really haven't been doing ANYTHING! But, I took a few today!

Lindsey wrote a letter to Cole and Caroline and it was just too precious how proud she was. I had to take a picture.

Courtney looking big, giving her baby her "sucker" and rocking her!