Her First

"Identity is our understanding of who we are-who we were created to be-as unique individuals. When a child is given the freedom to choose and to be, that child learns the Life-Lesson of identity as a separate and capable individual."-MOPS devotional

Last night was Taylor's first slumber party. She was fine. I however wasn't...or it took a lot of effort for me to be okay. She has had friends stay the night at our house but has never slept over at their house. It was with her best friends, that she has been friends with since the start of Kindergarten. I know the parents well and completely trust them. It was a hard decision to say yes to her staying but she was SO excited for her first slumber party. This is her school picture this year, doesn't she look so grown up? And beautiful!!! We have a disc to make pictures from, put in your orders for the size(s) you want my out of town family:)

" We are often hindered from giving up our treasures to the Lord out of fear for their safety...But we need to have no such fears. Our Lord does not come to destroy but to save. Everything is safe which we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not committed."-A.W. Tozer

But will they make sure the front door is locked? Will she be checked on through the night? Will she go to sleep feeling safe and warm? If she wakes up at night will she be able to go back to sleep? What if she wakes up too early and no one else is awake? So many questions of just wanting to know if she is alright...and I completely know she is. It is hard to let her grow up.

"As moms, we sometimes bump into a wall of worries, an obstacle only completely counteracted through faith. If we see mothering as a partnership with an all-powerful God who is ultimately responsible for our child and utterly able to care for our child, then we have hope." - Anonymous
I took her last night and stayed for about an hour at the party. They did crafts, ordered pizza, opened presents, and ran around squealing with excitement...the look on the pizza man's face was quite shocked when he was greeted at the door by a door full of screaming six year old girls by the way. Good birth control!

"A mother who walks with God knows He only asks her to take care of the possible and to trust Him with the impossible, she does not need to fret."-Ruth Bell Graham

One of her little friends looked at me and said, "This is my first night party!" with such excitement in her voice. I thought about this. These girls will hopefully be friends throughout school and will attend many parties together. I guess if we as parents, start early setting our expectations but also allow them to seek out their own independence they will learn to make smart decisions. And thank God for cell phones, literally, Thank You Jesus!

"To let go is to fear less and love more."-Anonymous

Taylor has had her cell phone since she started school last year. She hardly uses it. In fact yesterday, I told her I was going to keep it home to charge while she was at school. She was like that is fine Mom, there is never any emergencies for me to use it anyhow. To which my response was, yes and that is a good thing! Last night, it came in handy to have. I could call and see how she was doing. I had to refrain from calling to much...don't want to be that Mom. Both times I called I got her voicemail...funny to hear her on there. Anyhow she called me back right away. I love this, she shows me she is being responsible.

"The purpose of discipline and limits is to lead to self-discipline. It brings the external boundaries inside the child, internalizing a standard for choice-making. Independence helps a child learn that the person in charge of me is ME!" - Anonymous

Then as I was leaving, the Mom said she will be fine and I agreed with her, my only question was, "Will I?". It is hard to let go. I was fine. Aaron, Tommy and I did a little late night shopping. I love when the stores are open so late and there are great deals to be had! However, we were looking for Tommy and got nothing. Fun all the same to be out with my boys. Just wondering what to get for him. The one thing we liked which was on special at Toys'R'Us was out of stock...and their holiday help was no help at all. And why have something on special if you don't even have it in stock? When I asked for the number to another store, he told me they don't have it and they don't check. Really? Don't work in customer service if you don't like people and are not willing to help! What was I saying????

"If you want your children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders."-Abigail Van Buren

Oh yeah, Taylor. So is it too early to call? Did she sleep okay? I am SO anxious to hear all about her night. Of course I know she is fine, in fact the Mom texted me that she was asleep with her daughter and that they had a fun night. Texting, how convenient. Thank you Jesus for cell phones that text! They have a yummy breakfast planned, we will go get her before too long. I need to see her before I have to work this afternoon.

"Every child needs independence. In order to grow and become healthy, fully functioning adults, children need to learn to operate within a scope of freedom where choices are independently made and consequences experienced." - Anonymous

Letting her grow up is hard but my prayer is that Aaron and I will instill in her the confidence to be independent. To be independently responsible. I hope that as we allow her to make more decisions on her own she will make the right ones. I hope this gives her confidence and inner strength. We want her to know she can ALWAYS come to us, even when the choices she may make are not the right ones. Lord, give me grace in those times. More than anything I want her to know Her God is always with her. I think she knows this. I also wouldn't mind her being a little on edge that God sees and knows every thing...and Mom of course has eyes on the back of her head and great intuition!!!:)

"A mother's lap is meant to be a launching pad for life." - Anonymous

Update...it is now 9 am and Taylor just called to say, "Good Morning." She is having such a great time:) I will go pick her up soon:) I'm not ready just yet to send her away to college or anything like that but ready to just take this growing up thing one day at a time. Have great weekends:)

Going On's

So what's been going on...

I think blogging for us has become second to facebook...Pat I think you need to get an account. You too Mom. I have noticed that everyone seems to be blogging less. Must be the time of year. Or we all said what we have to say...not sure.

So what has been happening around here....

I am reading Twilight. I love it. I would say this to you if you are skeptical, I was too...don't knock it 'till you've tried it. Then get back to me on how great of a story it is.

Tommy now opens up the fridge. After being told "no" too many times he decided to just have a seat.

My kids are good. My husband is good. We've been passing around a snotty nose.

Our lights are on the outside of the house now, looks like a gingerbread house. I'll try and post pictures soon.

God is stirring in my heart, some things that are heavy and hard to face but need to be faced.

I love the girls I work with. I can be my completely goofy self around them. Serious talks or laughs, they are all great girls. It is nice to laugh at work.

Makeup is fun. I love to do it, it is my art. I have had some repeat clients that are fun, my favorite is a 13 year old girl. I did her makeup for her 13Th birthday and she has come back a few times since. Last time we did green glitter eye liner, it was pretty awesome. Not too much, but just enough to be fun. I love when I have the chance to convey to each client that what they feel on the inside is the best "makeup" for the outside.

We have two Christmas parties coming up, one for each of our jobs. Not sure what I will wear...but am hoping to wear these heels. So I have been practicing walking in them.Tommy has been practicing too. See picture below...I think he might have needed a diaper change, Mags was getting a sniff of something!...Oh how he loves when Daddy gets home to wrestle and do boy things:)

It is harder to leave for work when it is cold and dark outside and our house is all warm and cozy.

For some reason I have felt better about living here in this house, I think it might be the winter months. The time of year. Not sure but there is more peace.

I am getting back on the "wagon" with my weight loss. It sucks to think of where I was, where I want to be, and how far where I am now is from that. I feel like everyday I eat well and exercise and loose, I should count the way an addict does. Maybe I will. "Hi I'm Courtney and I am an addict of chocolate, chips, and salsa. I have two days sober." Now you all can say, "Hi Courtney."

The gym will aide me in my sobriety. The gym is like my quiet time, it is spiritual, and I need it.

I have a new favorite Christmas song. You are currently listening:) Check out a funny video to it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxsDctMcR0M&feature=related

Kind of a silly post. Hope you are well.

These Are A Few...

...of my Favorite Things:) We have gotten into the holiday spirit around here and I want to share a few of my favorite things:) In a lot of ways unwrapping all my decorations is better than Christmas morning. I guess it brings the same joy that I felt as a child on Christmas morning that kind of lessened as an adult. Each piece that I have has a story, a lot were given or made for us. Like, our first ornament we received from Aaron's Aunt with the year we were married on it. Or the Santa we have that was hand painted by a good friend. Just lots of memories. It makes me feel all cozy inside to think of these people and years gone by. So here are a few of my favorites.

My two most favorite things. I love how Tommy is putting his arm around his sister for this picture.

My crowded mantel:) With lots of art work from Tay, stockings, and musical snow globes.

Unpacking, these plates we added to our collection last year. $1.99 at Ross, great for holiday get togethers or cookies...see below:)

One of Taylor's favorites. She loves to hang all the ornaments on this tree each year. Always making sure the bell is at the top.

This Snowman I adore, it is a tea light holder. The Snowmen box is from my dear friend Melissa, it came packed with stuffed Snowmen ornaments that I love to put on our tree.

This Nativity Set is from my mom in law. It is precious to me and very delicate. So delicate that parts have broken over the years. Every year Aaron and I have to glue pieces back together, like that Angels wings. We glued the wrong hands on the wiseman one year, so one of them has a "gangsta" tweak to his hand. We laugh every year when unpacking him.

Here we have a two of my favorite bowls, a cookie jar, and a cup with a Gingerbread Man from my Mom.

I absolutely love these little mittens. They are for sure one of my favorites.

This salt and pepper shaker set is from my Mom. And the candle with the star is from one of my greatest friends, Mini.Every year part of the tradition of decorating is to hang bells on the door, this is something I remember from when I was a little one. We have one on the front door and back door.This is the hand painted Santa I mentioned, from our friend Linda. The reindeer is from my parents. The "peace" is from Mini and the Santa head is from a Christmas shopping trip with my Mom. And lastly but definitely not least we have my favorite Little Girl, holding the fresh baked cookies on our Christmas plate.

A lot of pictures I know. I could have put up more, we even decorate the front bathroom, put Christmas lights in Taylor's room, and have a wreath on the front door (made by my beautiful niece Hannah). If you didn't notice, I love Snowmen and it is what we mainly have. I could have posted tons more but I think I did more than enough. I will post more pictures of our house once the lights outside are up.

One more thing is that our Christmas tree is an artificial one from Aaron's parents. We love it. We really wanted to get a real one this year but Taylor would not have it. Oh well, it is better on the budget. Maybe we will take her and just take in the atmosphere of a Christmas tree farm.

I know that times are tough for so many of us. I know we are feeling it. People have less, so shop less, which means my hours are not as much at work. It can be very overwhelmingly scary. However, I trust that God is in control. He is my hope. Our anchor. I love that song by Addison Road called Hope Now...it is on our page...God is my hope. This season, there may be less under our tree...we will be giving and receiving less however we can have more hope than ever. I really think as much as times are tough we as believers can show to ALL people how much God has called us to love and to not loose hope. What a testimony. I think this might be another blog brewing in me...so what is your favorite holiday decoration?

Time

So I often write blogs and never post them. I leave them in edit format to look over and then change my mind on posting. I am afraid of offending someone or it was more of a "journal" time and the blog doesn't seem relevant any longer. I had this one sitting there, and thought what the heck I would post. Enjoy, if you read this. It was a week or two ago that I wrote it but I still feel the same way about my time and how precious it is.

Do you ever feel like time goes by too quickly? If there was a way to slow down time I would, I think. Slow down my Babies growing up. I wish there was a way to hold on to each hug and kiss. To bottle that infant smell. To feel those kisses before they got teeth. To have more minutes in my day. On the other hand I love to see the little people that are emerging before me. Each age and stage brings with it more favorites.

This can be applied even to my husband. We met when we were so young and married young. I love to think back on our relationship, the crazy late nights at Denny's studying...each other more than any subject. Our trips. Our spontaneity. I miss that but I love that what we have now is a product of what we had then. There is more special times now and up ahead.

My sister-in-law posted a blog about this flannel she has that Aaron and his brother gifted her years ago, before she was married to the other brother. She wrote about how that flannel brought her back to a special time, that it brings her comfort and warmth. I feel that way about a mug I have. The first apartment Aaron and I ever lived in was a tiny one bedroom apartment. When we moved in the apartment gifted us a basket with mugs and other goodies. We got two mugs, over the years one has gone missing. The other one I don't use much but when I do it brings me such comfort. It is a huge white mug that says Tamaron Ranch, the kind perfect for soup, ice cream, and hot mocha. When I think of that place I remember burnt chicken, the dog we tried to have using out upstairs balcony as a back yard...it was gross...laughter, laundry mats, cleaning, no space, and fun times. It was in a lot of ways the foundation to how Aaron and I would learn to live together, it was a place of trial and error as we figured out what would make our home run, it was our first home.

I love to think of the past and at times I can remember and tear up a bit. When I look at my six and a half year old and think to myself, wasn't I just pregnant with her. I love her so completely. I look at Tommy and think, seriously you were just newborn yesterday. Now he is a walking, talking, destroying anything and everything little boy. Wow! I am excited to see where God takes my children. I just want to forever remember them and each stage.

We lead busy lives. Last night I had the night off and had a night at home with just Tommy. It was precious. We cuddled up next to each other in our nice freshly washed Downy smelling flannel sheets and he drifted off to sleep. I just stared at him. So precious. Taylor last night woke up with growing pains (Aaron and I both had them super bad too) so I woke up with her and gave her some Tylenol. Then I snuggled up to her in her pink polka dot Downy smelling flannel sheets and whispered, "Mama is here now." and rubbed her legs. Then I shed a tear over how precious that time was. Those are times I want to remember.

Ladybug, Puppy and Stuff

So it is late coming but I wanted to share how cute the kiddos were for Halloween, pretty darn cute!

Aaron came home on Halloween so we didn't do much, we went to dinner and got to see Gina.

The kids just love their Aunt Gigi and are SO excited when they get to see her! Me too!!! After trick or treating with Aunt Gigi, we went home and waited for trick or treaters but none came! Next year I hope to have that Halloween party again!


Work has been great, I miss the family but am loving what I do. We are full force into holiday time already so things are busy. After the first of the year I will have to go on a week long training to hopefully San Francisco so I can see my Shanny. Oh, and I don't think I have shared but TJ is completely weened, has been for about a month. And he sleeps in his own bed! Huge for us, since Tay co-slept for SO long. The kids still end up in bed with us a couple times a week but I think we are both sleeping a lot better having out King size to ourselves!

Aaron and I had our Parent/Teacher Conference for Tay today. She is doing really well! We are so proud. She is reading at a second grade level! At a level 16 already! She got the only "outstanding" mark in handwriting. And got actual comments from the PE teacher on how well she is doing there. All around doing excellent. The one area we will be working on is math, but I know she will get it! She is very mature and likes to help a lot in class, a big sis even at school! I am still volunteering in her class and just love a lot of the students.

Not sure what else to say, things have been very busy with lots going on. Luckily I think we are settling down a bit. I also had a much needed 5 days off in a row, just how the days fell from week to week, I needed it. Tomorrow is my last day off and I am planning on finally getting the house clean and then doing a play date with some friends. Hope you are all well! Here are a few more pictures of the kiddos, TJ has this "fake" smile he does every time the camera is out now, it is pretty cute!

Vote for your Favorite

We were at the mall today and Taylor wanted to try on some hats. Which is your favorite?

Sassy

Sophisticated

French and FUN

Guatemala in Pictures - 2

The opportunity arose to snap a few more photos on the way to work this morning, so please enjoy:

Not sure what this is, maybe a tourist station not yet open

Through the trees and the poles you can see another sculpture

Am I coming, am I going?

The Business District

A park area

They do love their statues

Pictures and Such

***So i started this post earlier this week and am just now posting it, we have been super busy. Today Taylor has off from school today, yeah! Aaron comes home, double yeah! And I don't work again until Wednesday night...and it is Halloween! Aaron comes in at about 5, my parents left this morning, so I am hoping to get the house super clean before we pick him up. And it is raining here!:) So here is the post, I will put pictures up of kids in costumes soon.***

Well we miss out Pappi but we are having an okay time here. My parents were gracious enough to come and help me out this week. I have a shower I am throwing for a friend on Sunday, Tay has a short week, it is my week for snack at Homebuilder's (Women's Small Group), all on top of regular things like Costco, work, and volunteer time in class. Oh and it is Halloween, one of my most favorite holidays. In Sacramento we always had a party, we have not had one here yet, but I hope to rebirth that tradition here eventually. Well here are a few pictures from the kids and I this week. It is not letting me add captions to the pictures. The first one is Tommy and I at the barn when we picked out out pumpkins. The second picture is the kids and I at the barn, it was sports day that day at school so Tay wore Aaron's old football jersey. The last picture is me dressed up for work, I was a cat one day and Ariel the other. It was fun to dress up! Hope you are all well!

Guatemala in Pictures

Well, I've been saying that I'd like to get some pictures of Guatemala up, so here you go.

This is the building where the call center is located

In Guatemala you see women walking with baskets on their heads

They do have some beautiful park type areas and they love their statues

This is another statue, the picture is a little crooked because I stuck my hand out the window and took a blind shot over the top of the car.

The evenings here have been nice and they silhouette their statues nicely

It's good to know if I get lonely I can go eat at a Friends place

Commuting back to the hotel after a long day

Public transportation is very different. Old school buses from the states, then fashionably decorated in tasteful subtlety

This is an important piece of Guatemalan history because it's mounted to the middle of the street in a patch of grass

Looking out my hotel balcony to the left

Looking out my hotel balcony to the right

Hopefully I'll get to a few more pictures shortly.