Happy Hearts!

Thanks for our "Valentine's" outfits GiGi! Mama nearly wanted to eat us alive in them!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words... so these are worth 6,000 words. I love my little Valentine's and my big Valentine... even though I'm on his "not happy list" for starting to peel the lovely foil paper in the bathroom... trust me, you couldn't paint over this... for those of you who may have forgotten....

My girls are BACK! All of them!

We had an absolutely fabulous weekend and the weather has been out of this world. I can't remember where I last left you, so I better recap. My mom and dad came in town 2 weekends ago and mom stayed. This is the first time we had seen them in 6 months so it was a prety big deal for us! Mom decided to take the girls to the beach with her the second week. I nearly killed myself getting things done in their absence and now I'm wondering what it was that I did! My dad flew back in this past weekend and we all spent Saturday and Sunday at Erika's. It was such a treat, especially for dad who flew into 75 degree weather from 2 degree weather... and snow... lots of it! Mom is still here and I'm not sure what I'm going to do when she leaves. The southern mid-west got hit with another bad snow/ice storm today and it's supposed to be horrible thunderstorms all day tomorrow... so I'm hoping I at least have her until Thursday!

Besides that there isn't really much to report on here. Paiger is getting bigger by the minute and Morgan too. I'm hoping Justin will blog soon, he told me last week he was going to... but now I'm not so sure. I got my hair cut today for the first time in 18 months and it was such a special treat! Who knew that getting your hair cut was such a luxury?! I just had it trimmed and thinned out... by a very sweet lady who cuts hair out of her house. I think she does every girl I know at First Pres. I may need to go again very soon.... and for just $11 I think I can justify it!

I feel #3 kicking and moving somewhat regularly now and it's so much fun to me. Justin got to feel it this morning. We were hoping to find out what it is last time I went but the bambino was turned the wrong way so we'll have to wait until the 26th! I'll be sure to report as soon as I know. Then the hard part comes.... finding a name!! Why are names so stinkin' hard!?

Hope all is well with all my blogging friends!

Still going solo...

Well, here it is Wednesday night and still no children. "Mom" is making up for lost time and who could blame her! Justin and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time alone. We had supper at church tonight; he taught the freshman and sophomore guys and I went to chapel and heard a fabulous lesson on worship and preparing our hearts and minds for worship. Afterwards we decided to go to Barnes & Noble and share a grande latte and "browse". We left our money in the car (besides the $5 for the latte) so we wouldn't be tempted, it didn't work and Justin had to run to the car to get the wallet for the 2 books we HAD to have! :) I just started a great book today and now I'm anxious to finish it so I can start the next! My friend Susie is letting me borrow one she just finished, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Which so far is fascinating, moving and a page turner nonetheless! It's about a girl in 19-century, rural China, who is going through the tradition of having her feet binded in order to make them small and petite, which would make her a more desirable bride. Interesting, very interesting... and something I know (or knew) very little about. Next on my list: The Shack, by William P. Young. This is a book that came highly recommended a few weeks ago when I got railed for my review of the Karen Kingsbury series (which by the way, I got 1/2 way through book 2 and decided I needed a break for a while, it was better than the first but not good enough for me to keep reading). Anyway, The Shack, sounds wonderful and the front cover quote says, "This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress did for his. It's that good!" Maybe I need to read Pilgrim's Progress first, Justin tells me it's in our personal library. Anyway, it's 9:00 and we're getting geared up and geeked out for a night in bed with our books!

ps- What is up with "spell check" anyone else notice it's not working?

pss (or is it pps)- I think my husband may join me on the blog soon. My friend Ashley & her husband, Adam, share a blog and it's really fun to read.... stay tuned!

Tuesday Fourteen

Some of my blogging friends do "Thursday Thirteen" but I decided to do it on Tuesday and I have Fourteen!

Here are 14 things I did today, all by myself, without the crumb-crunchers:
(By the way these are 14 things I usually don't do... or if I do do them, they are more challenging with a 3 yr-old and 18 month-old in the house!)

1: stayed in bed until 8:10 am
2: watched the Today show (haven't watched it in YEARS & wasn't really impressed-- they did talk vacuums and that was kinda interesting)
3: ate breakfast in the kitchen by myself and checked blogs
4: folded laundry while watching Regis & Kelly (is she pregnant again? I also haven't seen this show in years)
5: swept
6: swiffered
7: wet swiffered
8: ate another peaceful lunch with my husband
9: took a nice long shower
10: sat outside to let my hair dry while filling out Morgan's preschool application
11: went to Michael's, Target, & my friend Ann's house to borrow some "cute" maternity clothes. Mine are from 2004 and really aren't all that cute! Hers are! Thanks Ann!!
12: laid on the sofa and watched Oprah (I definitely think she's off her rocker. She said that after she was constipated she pooped and thought she gave birth to a child... I laughed really hard and then thought, "did she really just say that!?")
13: went to my in-law's house for my nephew's 2nd birthday celebration; talked about the election, the Gospel, & urinary tract infections (don't you wish you were there!? :))
14: I've missed my girls like crazy... I want to kiss them all over and tuck them in tonight! Hopefully they're already in bed!

Ok, so my day seems pretty trivial and not very exciting... maybe I'll do better tomorrow! But it was nice to "veg" out!

What now?

Morgan & "Mom"

My mom came up with the idea of heading to the beach to visit with Erika and Chance before heading back to the freezing cold, snow-laden Illinois.... who could blame her? I'm still trying to convince her there is no better place to live than the Deep South. The 76 degree weather today and sunshine will hopefully help me with my persuasion. They got 4 inches of snow at home over the weekend... who would want to go back to that? Anyway, we've had an absolutely wonderful time and Morgan and Paige absolutely adore "Mom" (as they call her). Morgan has slept with her everynight since "Daddyboy" (their name for my dad) left. When she decided to go to the beach before heading home she thought it would be only appropriate that she take the 2 crumb-crunchers with her. I argued a little (b/c I wasn't sure she knew what she was in for) but in the end she won and they headed out this morning for their BIG adventure. She has a big car with DVD players so hopefully the hour & 45 minute trip will fly by and the girls will behave. Once they get there she may change her mind and put them back in their car seats and bring them home. We'll see. They've been gone a few hours and the house is quiet and I'm wondering what it was that I did before I had children. So far, I've showered (by MYSELF and didn't hurry), ate lunch with my husband (in PEACE & QUIET) and then decided I'd sit in a rocking chair (WITHOUT A CHILD IN MY LAP) on the back patio and soak in the warm sun! What a treat it has been so far. She didn't say when she was returning... we packed 3 outfits and I can only imagine she won't be gone for more than a day or two! For now, I'm savoring every minute of it... while listening to the 4 dogs we are house-sitting ferociously bark at the neighbors & I'm not doing anything to stop it! :)

Eufaby, Molly, & Chasey (Bird Brown wouldn't get close enough to be in the picture)

All geared up and ready for the trip. Morgan packed her "own suitcase" (a backpack) full of dollhouse furniture. Maybe she thought MommasSissy would help her with a new design scheme!?
And they're off!!!

PS: Momma Sissy featured our kitchen on her blog this weekend... in case you are interested you can click here to see it: http://urbangraceinteriors.typepad.com/the_blog/2008/02/6k-kitchen-appl.html

Miscellaneous Happenings 'Round Here!

It's a big day here on the ranch! My mom called me Wednesday night and wanted to know what I was doing this weekend! My heart skipped a beat... because I knew that meant she might be coming. We haven't seen my parents since July... yep, that's right, July! It's been a long time and I have been so excited about seeing them and them seeing the girls that I could hardly contain myself. Anyway, Mom's en route from IL with 2 big dogs, Dad (who's been on business in Bham) is flying in tonight and Erika and Chance (& 2 small dogs) should be here early evening. And I absolutely cannot wait! I'll have to report back with lots of pictures.

Ok, now for the pictures above. If you click on the one of Raiger you'll see some tears in her eyes. The child lives for that Pub Mix she's carrying around, and if you don't open it soon enough the tears will start pouring forth. We're getting low and I can't imagine what she'll do when it's all gone. Last night we had a rough night with her and when we woke up she just so happened to be in the bed with us.... oops. Anyway, I let her out of the bed and she made her way to the kitchen. Justin and I weren't quite ready to get up so we just let her wander about the house on her own. A few minutes later she walked in our bedroom carrying that giant tub of Pub Mix... where do these kids come from? I know before we had kids we didn't laugh as often as we do now... we certainly slept more though! The child had to open a pocket door and the pantry door to get to it... how could I say no to that?

The second picture is Morgan eating her boiled egg yesterday morning. There's no funny story behind it... well, there might have been but I've since forgotten if there was. I just figured if I put one of Paiger I better put one of Morgan too.

Stay tuned for details from our action packed weekend!

Way to go Sister!

I just have to brag on my sister, Erika, who has an amazing blog that has had some recent "big time" publicity! She's an amazing designer who started her own design company several years ago and has done FABULOUS! You can tell by her blog what an incredible talent she has. Anyway, here's the link to the Washington Post where it mentions her blog and here's a link to her blog:

Washington Post

Erika's Blog: Urban Grace Interiors

Proud of you sister and can't wait to see you this weekend!!

Morgan Campbell

Paige Elizabeth

I'll keep reading...

Ok, so I didn't know my post on the Redemption series would cause such a stir! I guess when I put my opinion on the internet I should be prepared for some feedback!! Perhaps I was a little strong with my words (definitely not seasoned with salt & full of grace!) and I hope I didn't offend those of you who love it. I will continue to read on, maybe not right now but again soon... I already have the whole series so I don't have to worry about how or where to get it.

While I didn't care for the book as a whole I will agree that there were messages of hope for people who are in a failing marriage (or for those who aren't)... to hold tight to the Truth and trust that God will pull you through. And it definitely held my attention because I didn't put it down. I guess when I watched Tim and Kari work hard on their marriage and come through successfully in restoring their marriage and then to have him shot and killed (b/c the mistress lied about being pregnant) right before their baby was born just left me a little frustrated. After them restoring their marriage I was hopeful for a "happy ending"... maybe that's why it's a series... maybe this is just chapter 1 into the Baxter's lives... hopefully the happy ending comes with book 5!

Thank you all for your comments and book recommendations. By no means have I written off Christian fiction... I was just a little irritated with this one! But I've got 4 more in the series and I'll report back when I read them! And I'll try not to be such a tough critic on the next ones!