It's HOT!

Sorry for the quality of this picture, but I took it yesterday at 5:30pm while I may or may not have been driving. 

Needless to say, it is H-O-T HOT here!  With the heat index we are talking 115 degrees hot with no air movement yesterday.  And of course it is Backyard Bible Club week.  We did actually cancel yesterday due to the heat, but we endured Sunday and Monday nights, and will still have the block party tonight.  The kids don't seem too bothered, but I know that my girls have no awareness of when their bodies need water.  So, I think it's best to be safe.  

I have come to the conclusion, that there are weeks (months) in the winter when you can't be outside, but likewise, there are weeks in the summer when you can't be outside either.  It makes me very thankful for spring and fall.  

I'm looking at when school starts and kinda freaking out that summer is quickly passing.  We have plans for the next 4 weekends, then school starts.  I have to remember that just because school starts doesn't mean winter starts.  There will still be weekends to camp and enjoy the outdoors.   There is still time to get in some of the activities that we love.  I just need to relax and enjoy these last few weeks that I have Paige full time at home.  But more on that later.

No TV Day!

We've been watching WAY to much TV at our house.  So today I decided it's a no TV day!  The girls are playing downstairs with nothing to entertain them, except each other and their toys.  They just called me down so show me they are playing "Garage Sale".  (Smile!)  The basement is trashed, but it's worth it to let them use their imaginations.  They keep asking to watch a movie, and I keep saying no.  I've been using movies too much as a "babysitter" when I need to get something done or need an hour of quiet.  While there can be a place for this, it's been way to frequent here.

I want them to learn to play together.  I want them to know how to entertain themselves.  I don't want them to rely on me or the television for their entertainment.  This is something they are going to have to learn how to do.  My kids have never been super imaginative.  They don't get a lot of pleasure from toys.  I've often thought that I should just get rid of 90% of our toys and maybe I should, but days like today, when I don't give them something else to entertain them, they are playing nicely and enjoying some toys they haven't played with in a while.  It doesn't hurt that yesterday was Paige's birthday and there are some new things to play with.  We'll see how long it (I) lasts.

Dear Blog,

Have you been missing these faces?  The ones I keep neglecting to update you on.  The faces that are keeping me extremely busy with life.  I've been waiting for this life to slow down, for this life to return to "normal", but over the past few months I've had to come to terms with the fact that "busy" is our new "normal".  So I'm choosing to embrace it.  I'm going to stop waiting and try to start keeping up.  I solemnly swear (except I don't) that I will update you more frequently.  That I will store our memories here so the girls have something to look back on and remember their childhood, so I will remember their childhood.  These precious faces are growing up and, in the words of Steven Tyler, I don't want to miss a thing!

Love, Melanie



Out of Storage!

I haven't forgotten you. . .I ran out of picture storage.  Apparently I ran out of my allotted free storage and had to buy some more.  Not expensive, just annoying.  I just like putting pics on here.  I honestly didn't know you could run out of storage.  I just bought the storage today and it should be available tomorrow. . .stay tuned!

Break.My.Heart.

On Tuesday Paige informed me that she wants to go to school. . .everyday.  Our plan has been to homeschool, at least through grade school.  I'm not saying that this is not our plan now, but Mark and I are really going to have to pray about how we are going to educate our girls.

After she told me about wanting to go to school I asked her if she would rather have Mommy teach her.  Then she could be home with Alaina and go to the Children's Museum, and to parks, and other fun things. She said, "No, I want to go to school," and still pleading her case, "I will listen to my teacher and obey her!"  Oh my heart.  I know this girl would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE school.  She has always been social and much prefers people to toys.

"What's the problem, then?" you ask.  I'm not ready to throw my babe into public schools.  She is very tenderhearted and believes that everyone is her friend.  I'm not ready for a broken heart.  I know I have to let go, but I would like to still do some esteem building and heart training at home.  I could put her in private school, which would actually be my first choice, but I just don't know what kind of a financial burden that will put on us.

I know that ultimately Mark and I are the parents and we make the decisions as to what we feel is best.  But we want to make the best choice for each of the girls.  We still have a little time to decide, but would appreciate your prayers as we walk this journey.

THANK YOU!

I stole this off my friend Rachel's blog!  Click on the article to make it bigger and readable.