Just Silliness, Smiles, and Sleepytime!

In January I started this blog as a place to record memories for my girls.  I do scrapbook, but typically I'm working on albums that are about a year behind (or more in Pumpkin's case!).  I have big plans this summer to make a big effort to get caught up, but who knows how that will work out!  My girls do so many cute little things that I want to remember, so I figured a blog would be a good way to capture those times.  Hopefully some day I'll print out my blog as a memory book as well!

My girls are so sweet with each other.  Pumpkin has always been very loving with Sweet Pea and loves to hold her and give her kisses.  Sweet Pea is at the age where either she doesn't want to be hugged OR she will go to Pumpkin and "attack" her with hugs and love!  They play so well together- I always wanted my children to be close in age so they could have their built in best friend.  I never imagined they would already be such good buddies at their ages!  When I pick them up from preschool, Pumpkin is always ready to get Sweet Pea.  Last week I took just Pumpkin to the doctor and she was so concerned about leaving Sweet Pea behind.  She ran into Sweet Pea's classroom when we got back and gave her a HUGE hug!

One of mine and G's favorite memories of the last year is when we have gone on trips together in the truck.  Our girls sit facing opposite directions in the truck and their car seats are next to each other.  I'm sure for some parents this would be a cause for concern, but our girls love it!  They giggle at each other, trade toys, and "talk" to each other.  I'm still trying to get it on video, but it is so hard since it is spontaneous!  Pumpkin loves to say "Hi, Sweet Pea (enter real name!)" in this silly sing-song voice.  It is the most precious thing!!!  I'm hoping that I'll capture that before she out grows that stage!

I LOVE bedtime (most nights. . . )- not because my kids are asleep and its mommy-time, but because I love the cuddletime in bed.  A year ago it was so precious to read books with Pumpkin while Sweet Pea was sleeping on me or playing on Pumpkin's bed.  I enjoyed having two little girls cuddled up in my lap.  Now they don't fit as well and Sweet Pea is so much more active!  Pumpkin always wants to read 2 books and sometimes tries to find a way to get a third.  She is starting to follow along better and ask lots of questions about what is going on.  I can't wait to start reading longer books with her and share stories with her that I read as a little girl!  Sweet Pea is just now that the age where she is really into books and I'm reminded of why I only read tagboard books with her!!!  She also gets her two books and then it is time to rock.  I'm a rocker- I LOVE to rock my babies and they love to let me!  Even Miss Pumpkin who will be four on Saturday!  After Sweet Pea goes to bed, then I get to lay with Pumpkin and rub her back.  She will stall for as long as possible to keep me with her and I'm guilty of giving in.  It drives G crazy, but I know she is only little once and pretty soon won't want me in her room!  I enjoy it more than her at times! 

Before I go to bed, I almost always check on my girls.  I sneak into their rooms, cover them up with their blankets, pray for them, rub their sweet checks, and just sit amazed at how precious they are.  I've done this since Pumpkin was first sleeping in her own room.  It started as a way to help me feel better and know that she was okay. . .now I just love to watch them sleep!  They are such blessings to me and I know how very special they are!  They may get tired of hearing it and getting extra hugs, but that is just one of many things they can later complain about me! 

Silly pictures below!

T Ball Season is Here!

I'll be honest. . .I really didn't want to have Pumpkin play Tball this year. Soccer was difficult in the fall- she really had a hard time playing the entire game. Neither G nor I are huge baseball lovers (although I did play softball for many years), so we figured we would sit this out. . . .

Pumpkin has two cousins her age and they both come from families that love baseball and they were planning on signing their kids up for Tball at the same church where we had soccer. Knowing that two of her cousins were going to be playing, as well as knowing how much my dad would enjoy watching her play was all it took to convince me to sign her up. It is adorable to watch and so much fun with two of her uncles coaching and her cousins with her! She is the smallest on her team, but definitely not the youngest! One amusing fact is that the bat they use is 15 oz. . . .same as she weighed at birth! Crazy! This past Saturday was her first game. . . I couldn't decide which pictures were my favorite so I'll warn you there are a lot!!  You'll see that this is definitely a family affair- lots of help from Daddy, two Uncles, Papa, and Grandpa!

It makes it easier to run to the base when you are running to your Uncle!!!

Getting some batting tips from Uncle V

She made it to third!!!  Papa was waiting!

Yes!!!  She hit is all by herself!!! Woohoo!

Running home!!  Notice Grandpa coaching third behind her!

Love this picture!!!  Mom tells stories of me making daisy chains in right field!!!

Playing the infield with Daddy!  Her cousin is in the pink pants on the right!

 Miss Sweet Pea was busy during the game playing on Grandma's chair!  So proud of herself! 

Sweet Pea watching the game!

March for Babies 2010!

Team Little Feet Big Dreams!

I can't believe its already over!  This was our family's fourth year walking and it was a fun day.  After Pumpkin's early arrival, I knew I needed to give back in some way.  Through a random Internet search, I discovered the March of Dimes (that's a blog for another day!).  I learned that they developed surfactant therapy which saved Pumpkins life- without it her lungs would never have been able to function.  Our first year walking we had a small team- my father, sister, and my coworker and her boyfriend.  It poured for most of the walk- we were cold but had a blast!  The last two years have gone even better- good weather, good food, and now it has become a time to get family and friends together that we do not see often.  I am usually torn between trying to be the host of our team and also working as the Family Team Chair at our tent, but it is such a great experience I keep going back for more!  The walk is usually an emotional time for me, but it also reminds me of how precious my little miracle is.

This years walk was extra special for a few reasons.  My oldest sister was able to walk with us.  She lives out of state and she was here visiting for the weekend and I was so excited to have her participate with us!  She is such an overachiever she asked if she could run the 6.2 miles!  haha  Also we were so lucky have the support of both my parents and G's parents.  We could not do this each year without them and their support is so special to me.  I also had students walking again this year- each year I am amazed by the support of my students.  I have students that fundraise and also that come walk.  My friend Tami was able to come again this year. . .this year was extra special for her as well.  The memories that we make at the walk each year are very special.  I am privleged to walk for Pumpkin and Sweet Pea and to have the support of such good friends and family.

 As always you are welcome to donate still:  www.marchforbabies.org/girlyhurley (or click on the link on the side!)

Here are some pictures from the walk!

Silly Uncle!

                                         Tami and Me                                        

My dad's friend and his daughters!  They have walked with us every year!

Grandma, Pumpkin, and Me

"D&D Days"

Every year I feel like I say "it's been a hard year."  This school year is turning out to be another hard year and I've decided that that is just life and its time to move on.  We'll get through it and our family will be stronger.

Sadly, we lost a dear friend unexpectedly in Feburary.  G and I were youth group leaders when his three kids were in junior high/high school and now his wife works at the girls' preschool.  I sat at the funeral service and reflected on many things.  What an example this man left behind- so committed to his family and his church.  He was rich in God's eyes and he knew what really mattered in life.  His daughter talked about "D&D Days"- which meand Daddy and daughter.  It was so sweet to hear about the special things that they would do together without the boys around.  I think he would be honored that G is going to have his own "D&D Days" with his daughters.  Hopefully they will turn out to be more than just the girls hanging out with him while Mommy goes to MOPS, but they are still young! I'm sure there will be some "D&D" campouts in the future!

One of the sweetest memories of Pumpkin and G was a few weeks ago.  She was learning about community helpers while at school.  A few parents came in to share what they did and I asked if G could bring his work car by the school for the kids to crawl through.  He loves doing this kind of thing, but technically he works in a different city ( by two blocks!) so he had to ask his Sgt.   Miss Pumpkin was sooo excited that morning that her daddy was coming to school and going to see all her friends.  He was there early with his car as clean as could be and ready for the kids.  It was adorable to watch the kids crawl through the car, play with the lights, drive it, and see how many preschoolers could fit in the back.  Pumpkin wanted her turn, but also just wanted to have her daddy hold her!  It was so sweet.  I have cute pictures of her and her buddy driving the car, as well as one with her and her daddy in front of the car! 

(Sorry- no pictures will be shared out of respect for G not wanting work pictures posted. . . will be scrapbooked!!!)

I hope there will be plenty more "D&D Days" memories to share as time goes on!

L

Mommy's Picture Project

Since I discovered our back fence was down in the fall, I've been waiting for the spring flowers to bloom so I could take pictures in the orchard behind our house.  Between rain and sickness, we finally had our little photo shoot.  It didn't quite go quite as I had hoped, Miss Sweet Pea did NOT want to have her picture taken or be away from me.  Plus I didn't realize how hard it would be to get pictures of the girls in the trees and deal with the shadows.  I hope to keep practicing and to keep taking pictures yearly in the spring in the orchard (as long as they don't cut it down!).  Its going to become a tradition- I hope!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures!

"You're Silly" . . ."I'm not silly, you are silly" night!!!!

I almost peed my pants several times tonight!  My sister and her hubby went off for a fun night to watch the PBR and I was home with all four little girls (ages 4,3,2,1!!- I can only write that for about a month before someone has a birthday! hehe).  Needless to say Nenna and Pumpkin are best of friends and Sweet Pea and KK will hopefully be buddies as they get bigger.  Here is a rundown of our evening. . .

My sister leaves and I get some unusual cuddle time from her little one, which I'll gladly absorb.  Only a few weeks ago I told KK "you don't like me??" after she ran away from me. . .to which she replied "don't like you!"  haha  She is at a repeat everything stage so kind of funny.  So the fact that she was happy to cuddle on my lap for 15 minutes was nice.  During which time, Nenna told me about her mom- "My mom has eyes on the sides of her head and back!!"  I told her that I knew that.  She then proceeded to tell me that was how her mom always knew what she was doing!!  I about peed my pants for the first time. . .

Then I scored major points by ordering pizza for dinner.  All four girls loved and I think probably scared the pizza man with the screams as he came up to the door.  I gave myself points for taking a picture with all looking and smiling!

ALL Smiling!!! 

The big girls used the potty during dinner, which left the little girls at the table.  The two proceeded to giggle and giggle at each other.  Sweet Pea was copying everything that KK did. . .so cute!  After they all ate pizza and all the apples in the house, I treated them with chocolate chip cookies!  Sweet Pea LOVED her first Chips Ahoy which doesn't surprise me at all!

"Mmmmm . . ."  I think someone likes cookies!

Since today was almost 80 degrees we went outside to run off some energy.  Papa and Grandma H were enjoying the nice weather and their new porch, so I visited with them as the big girls explored and blew on dandelions.  I know this summer will be filled with days of the girls playing in the yard and on the gazebo!

Back inside, we colored "shrinkydinks" and had fun watching them instantly shrink in the oven!  Such fun!  While we were coloring Nenna started to tell me a story but stopped and told me "If I tell you, you'll crack up. . ."  I wish I knew what she had been thinking, but this was the third time I almost lost it! 

The girls watching the shrinkydinks bake!

As we were getting pajamas on, I was being silly so the little girls would not be upset that it was bedtime.  I overheard Nenna walking back into the playroom saying "Emily!  Your mom is funny!"  Again about peed my pants. . .  I'm so happy to know that a four year old still thinks I'm funny!  hehe

The evening was complete with the big girls in my bed watching "Snow White."  Nenna was so excited but cracked me up.  "Its not on!"  I would tell her yes it was and to be patient."  Over and over she told me that.  She did not understand that the classic Disney movies had long intros!  Too cute!  Then she said "Snow White talks funny!"  I guess she does, but as I grew up with the movie I never thought about it!  That was just how Snow White talked!  haha 

Two big girls snuggled in the big bed watching "Snow White!"

Years ago, my sister and I talked about ideally having our children close together so they would have cousins to play with.  Her and I were so much younger than our other siblings and cousins that we were always stuck with each other.  Until college, I don't think we really appreciated each other.  My babies didn't quite come when I would have ideally planned, but they are close to hers.  It is awesome to see them growing up together and already having so much fun together!  I hope they will always treasure each others friendship and see how lucky they are!  The other ideal would be to have our other sister live close by. . . .her daughters are the perfect baby-sitting ages!  hehe  Then we could all go out together! 

Someday these two will be partners in crime!

My Girly Girls!

If you know me and G very well, you know that 1- I am not a "girly girl."  Yes I like purses and shoes, but I'm not someone who loves pink or spends hours at the spa or the mall.  I like to say that I am well rounded.  I do the girly things like sewing, scrapbooking, long baths, etc, but also love to be outdoors, do projects with my husband who has taught me how to do woodworking, weld, and use powertools.  AND 2- G's biggest fear is that our girls will adopt a princess mentality and become cheerleaders!  (no offense to the cheerleaders out there. . .)  He wants his girls to be able to take care of themselves and to know how to fix things.
 I hope that our girls will be well rounded and also embrace being girls.  We all know that girls are the stronger sex!  haha  

Well I think we may have our work cut out for us. . .   Notice how Sweet Pea already loves having a purse on her arm, Pumpkin's sweet pink slippers.  The picture of Pumpkin with her snow hat, dress, church sweater, leggings, and green "monster" boots is the first outfit she really picked out all on her own!  She has her own sense of style and I hope it improves over time!

My mom would LOVE my girls to be girly.  Maybe she'll get her wish. . . either way as long as our girls are healthy and happy I'll take it. 

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Pumpkin enjoying the puddles after a rainstorm a few weeks ago!!!

Pure Bliss!!!  (until she realizes she's wet!)