Thankful Thursday

It was funny to see how many people were out walking in my neighborhood this morning.  Everyone was trying to beat the storm.  We don't have many storm type days here near the beach, so this one was fun to watch roll in.  

To the east...

and to the west

As I sit here tonight and listen to the rainfall, I am grateful for the basic necessities that we enjoy--a warm home, nutritious food, and warm clothes to wear.  These are the things we often take for granted, but never should.

Disneyland!

Mommy and Daddy gave Jenna her Disneyland pass for her birthday. The Magic Kingdom also threw in a gift card worth the price of admission for her to spend in the park. That was extra sweet! We were just so happy to make it there after the bike crash! Isn't that shiner just extra special? She even had her ID picture taken with it. Why? I have no idea, but she thought it was the greatest thing ever.

We all went together and split up to shop with the gift card. Heather and Daddy rode some rides while Mommy, Jenna and Grandpa hit a few shops.

Here is Jenna with a birthday treat--a churro, her favorite-- and with her first purchase--a super soft and fleecy Mickey.

Grandpa shows us that you're never too old to have fun!

Jen and Heather

We were still able to get home to open some presents and have birthday cookies before heading off to bed. Everyone was happy, but exhausted!

Life Happens When You've Made Other Plans...

After picking up Heather, we were waiting around for Daddy to get home so we could leave for Disneyland. This was the day we picked to get Jenna's pass renewed, and since she's having a party on Friday, we thought we'd make a night of it and celebrate while we were there. Jenna is dying to get back on her bike so I tell her it's okay, but that I have to run to the restroom. As the toilet flushes and the noise subsides, I hear this hideously awful scream/crying. I ran to the drive way to find Jenna getting up from the ground where her bike toppled over during take off. She had hit the handle bar with her eye! After calming her down and calling the pediatrician, we dashed off in the car to their office to get her checked out. Fortunately all was well, and we were able to head to Disneyland after all. This so did not need to happen today! Here's our little trooper with her new shiner.

Someone turned 7 today!

Yes, seven years ago today, I was recovering from a C-section. Okay, so you didn't want to know that. Jenna turned 7 today! She started out the day with her favorite, M&M pancakes complete with candle.

She is very excited about her new age.

All ready for school in new shirt, skirt and birthday badge. We took cookies to school for her to share with her class.

Jenna had a super fun day at school and couldn't wait to tell me how fabulous it was! The first thing she wanted to do when she got home was ride her new bike she got for her birthday. Daddy took her to get it last night and she was so proud of her choice. She rode for a few minutes while we waited to go pick up sis.

The Month of Love

Today I had some fun with the Valentine themed items we have in our February box.  It was kind of fun to scatter bits of red and pink in my living room to remind us of this fun holiday.

p.s.  Yes, those are M&M's on the piano, and they called to me all day..."Melisssssa...come and eat us..."  I didn't, but it was tempting.

 

Just Another Manic Monday

Such good intentions I had...Oh well, some things still got done.  I had planned to dust and vacuum the house today and wipe down the bathrooms.  That was before my errands list took over.  Here's to celebrating the things we do get done each day even if we had other plans!

• lunches made

• healthy breakfast for all

• kids off to school

• 60 minute walk

• laundry started

• drove over and bought tickets at box office for choral concert

• exchanged Christmas present item at JC Penny

• bought makeup at Macy's

• shopped Target for miscellaneous on my list

• ate healthy lunch

• picked up munchkins

• homework with munchkins

• laundry, laundry, laundry

• managed family jobs and piano practice w/ munchkins

• cooked healthy dinner

• prepped lunches for tomorrow

• dishes managed

• family scripture time

• family home evening (Harry Potter Uno!)

• prepped marinated steak for tomorrow's dinner

Savor It Sunday

There was so much required of me today that I needed some extra strength if I was going to be able to fast through it all.  After waking up early to make our camping reservations for August, I took a quiet moment to pray for my fast.  The Lord knows that I desire to be obedient and fast, so I asked for His help that I may be able to do what was required of me today without the more debilitating side effects that usually accompany my fasting.  As I left choir practice, I realized that I had just sang, played the flute and stayed after for a small group number, but I didn't have a headache.  I was shaky, but okay.  I was able to go through all of church and get home to make dinner without the hideous headaches that usually plague me while fasting.  I am grateful for the Lord's help today.