Family and friends are good for the soul

This weekend, I spent my first night away from the girls to make a brief, 26 hour trip home to visit my family (1120). Brad is so hands-on with our girls (1121) I was completely and totally confident (1122) that things were going to go just fine--and they did (1123)!

My first modge podge project hanging in our bedroom (1124).

When the girls want me to read them a story, they've started handing me the book open to the page where we start reading (1125).

Last night at dinner the girls were asking for more pizza, after Brad told them that it had some "pig on it",(Canadian bacon), they requested more by snorting like pigs (1126).

Laughter over reading a story my sister wrote when she was in grade school. We read the ending first, which said, "It was the worst day ever!" (1127)

Good conversation with my sister over lunch (1128).

The importance of having old friends (1129).

Maureen making the trip to have lunch at our home (1130).

My dear friend reading to my girls, and being so intentional with them (1131).

Hadley asking to hold baby Noah, and being so sweet and gentle with him (1132).

Helping the sock monkey go potty (1133). (This is a small step towards potty training, right?)

New toy for our music lovers (1134).



Also linking with Heather.

Mama Loves: Duplo Legos

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! I'm so thrilled that you stopped by!

Not sure what Mama Loves is? Check out the Mama Loves page for the scoop on what Mama Love is all about.

Also---to see all the amazing ideas that have been shared here, check out the Mama Loves Pinterest page. So many crazy-good ideas there!
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Sorry I'm a day late with this. I decided to leave my husband and babies for a quick trip home Friday night.

I meant to get a post done and ready before I left, but it just didn't happen. I spent way too long trying to get my nails to look like this:



For the record, it really does work (and it looks awesome!) if you're patient enough to let the polish dry all the way, which I didn't. One of the stylists that did my hair for the hair show had her nails done like that, and I LOVED it. Then I saw it on Pinterest. So fun!

Anyway, that's what I was doing when I should have been packing, and getting the house ready for my 26 hours away.

So. Here I am today. The girls and Brad are in the basement, so that I can write this. Have I mentioned how awesome my husband is?!?
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My girls' Masa and Masi (what they call my sister and her husband) got them the Duplo Lego Large Brick Box set for Christmas this year.



Best.Gift.Ever.

Apparently, Legos has created lots of pink and purple girl-themed Legos sets. I was a little taken back when I went to the website to find a picture of the set my girls have. So--if you must have, or just prefer, pink (or purple)--Legos can still work for you!

I'm thrilled that my sister knows me well enough to know that we would much rather enjoy the plain ole regular, gender-neutral Legos, complete with Hadley's favorite color, green.

My girls love these so much! Hadley loves to build tall towers, and the three of us have created many beautiful structures together.

Definitely a great toddler toy! It works on hand/eye coordination, as well as encourages creativity and imagination.

And, it has a little Lego car, and a flower. My girls love cars and flowers---perfect!

Can't wait to see what you're loving!

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It's not a party till a sock monkey shows up

I've never really gotten into the whole Valentine's Day thing.

Maybe it's because I was completely mortified one Valentine's Day when my high school boyfriend stood outside my Algebra 2 class (hundreds of kids milling around watching with interest) with a bouquet of pink roses.



Attention and I are not great friends. It makes me blush and stammer and shake.

Those roses, while a nice gesture, were definitely not the way to my heart.

Do you have a Valentine's Day tale like that?

So, I married the perfect man. He doesn't do pink roses. Thank goodness!

I'd much rather have him dig a hole for a hydrangea bush or something, which he's done many times. And I love him for it. I get so excited about new plants being planted in our yard---he might as well have lassoed the moon.

My husband was forced to cares enough to know what my love language is, and I his---we try to be intentional every day.

So, now the girls are two. I find myself excited about Valentine's Day. It's fun to make crafts with them---to celebrate loving them, and to watch them get excited about heart shaped french toast.

Valentine's Day, to me, is just one more day to count my gifts. Gifts = love
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Making suncatchers with the girls. (1107)

Brynne reacting over and over with: Whoa, whoa, whooooooooa! When she sees the suncatchers in the window. (1108).

Teaching the girls to crab walk. (1109)

Catching Brynne practicing her crab walk. (1110)

Working on somersaults with the girls--so fun! (1111)

I can still do a somersault after all these years! (1112) Can you do a somersault? You should go try it today; it will make you giggle!

Progression with sock monkeys (1113).

one week old

one year old

two years old

Yes, I'm still celebrating two years with our girls! (1114)

Hadley pretending to blow up the balloon. (1115)

Watching Brynne pretend to blow up a balloon--look at those cheeks! (1116)



Emails from a dear friend and the anticipation of seeing her. (1117)

Brynne pointing to a very-much-alive fish in a book we were reading, and saying, Sushi! (1118)

Having sushi for dinner with Brad on Saturday night. (1119)

Forgive yourself.

Do you ever struggle to forgive yourself?

No one is holding anything over your head. No one is angry. No conflict.

But you can't shake it...

Memories come up from the past, and you're right back in that place---weighed down with feelings of regret and sorrow for being a stupid, selfish jerk.

Maybe you can relate?

Two things strirred up all of that yucky stuff for me this week: the birthday of one friend and an email from another.

Seems harmless enough. But...

These are friends I've wronged. They're also friends who have given me grace. Friends who like me. Friends who love me in spite of and because of. Mostly inspite of.


image credit

So, a really long time ago there was this father who asked Jesus to heal his son---his son had been really sick for a long time, and he was desperate! He told Jesus:

But, if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.

Oops!

If you can! Jesus said. All things are possible for one who believes.

Grace!

Immediately, the father cried out to Jesus:

I believe; help my unbelief!

Jesus had mercy on them, and the boy was healed.
(paraphrased from Mark 9:14-29)
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I believe too! I believe I'm forgiven. But I forget.

In the girls' Bible, we read to them every night, it describes God's love as a

Never Stopping
Never Giving Up
Unbreaking
Always and Forever Love

I believe that I'm loved like that.
I believe that because Jesus loved me like that, he died for me; forgiving me.

Even though I know all of that--whispers of doubt, fear and regret creep in.

So, when whispers start up---I have to cry out to God, because I think that's what he wants from us.

Help my unbelief! Help me forgive myself. Help me rest in grace. 

Linking with Jen and Michelle.

Mama Loves: Coconut Oil

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! So glad that you've stopped by!

Mama Loves is a linky party where mamas can share anything that has made your life easier as a mama.

Maybe you've found: 

• a toy or book that captivates your child(ren)
• gear you just can't live without
• a recipe your choosy toddler gobbles down
• a parenting book that you've found perspective changing
• an activity that wears your kid(s) out (these lead to good naps, which we all love)
• an outfit that flatters your post-baby body and makes you feel fabulous
• or anything else you're loving--creativity welcome!

Share it with us! Blogging has made me a better mama, because I've learned about all kinds of great things, like those listed above, from mamas just like you. Here's your chance to share it with all of us!

To link your post up, click on the linky tool at the bottom, and follow the directions, it's really easy. You can also add this beautiful button to your post. Just grab the code in the box, copy and paste it into your post. Easy.

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• California Baby Calming Hair De-Tangler works great on curly hair too!
• The book, Good Night Moon has a game--toddlers love it!
• Toddlers really love Magna Doodles

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I have a friend, who could, literally, write a book of 967 uses for Vaseline.

I've recently discovered that coconut oil can do pretty much everything Vaseline can do---plus you can eat it.

But---there's (lots of) a good reason I LOVE coconut oil:

Brynne has had eczema since she was little. The pediatric dermatologist diagnosed her at the same time we had Hadley's hemangioma looked at, when the girls were five months old.

We've tried many things to get rid Brynne's eczema--Eucerin, cortisone cream, and all other kinds of lotions, oils and creams--nothing seems to make my sweet baby's skin "baby soft". Instead, it was bumpy and rough.

Until now.

After doing some reading, I decided to try coconut oil on her skin. You know what?!?

The rough patches of skin she had on her cheeks and arms are gone!

GONE!

I can't even tell you how amazing it is to touch Brynne's sweet cheeks, and feel smooth, soft baby skin.

I decided to try it on my own skin. So soft! Like butta! Brad even noticed! Ahem.

Moving on.

Something else I love about coconut oil---it's really good for you! Really!

It can lower cholesterol, stimulate weight loss and help with vitamin and mineral absorption.

Don't just take my word for it. Check out these great websites:

• A Millionsish Uncommon (and Not So Uncommon) Uses for Coconut Oil.
• My Most Favorite Secret Ingredient.
• 52 uses for Coconut Oil.
• Six Healthy Uses for Coconut Oil.

If you don't like the smell/taste of coconut---don't let this keep you from using coconut oil!

I love the smell of coconut. It reminds me of summer. Those years in high school when I would lie in the sun, baking my skin (oh---to have a re-do!). Using virgin (unrefinded) coconut oil will give you a light, summer smell of coconut.



Expeller pressed (refined) coconut oil, doesn't have a smell or taste.



We have both around our house.

Seriously! Do the reasearch. I think you'll be running out to get some coconut oil today. It's just that fantastic!

Can't wait to see what you're loving!

Suncatchers

It was a cold, snowy day yesterday. No going outside for us, for the first time in a long time!

So--we crafted!

The girls and I made suncatchers. They work even when it's cold and grey outside!

 I'd seen this idea. The suncatchers were made with baby oil. But, I needed an alternative for three reasons:

1. We don't have any baby oil.
2. I didn't want to buy baby oil.
3. My girls still love to put things in their mouths. I don't want them eating a petroleum-based product.

So, before the girls woke up, I practiced our craft.

I decided to go with olive oil. Any oil will do--walnut, peanut, even coconut. I just had more olive oil than anything else.

Here's what you'll need:

1. Q-Tips
2. Oil (I recommend putting this in a heavy ramekin, so it doesn't tip over easily)
3. Construction paper
4. Scissors (I cut the construction paper into circles, after the girls chose the color they wanted. Older kids can cut out a shape).
5. Essential oil (optional). I added a bit to the olive oil to make it smell nice. I don't think I'd do it again, because it didn't make that much of a difference. If you do decided to add some, and you have a little one that likes to put everything in their mouths, make sure you use an essential oil that's safe for putting in mouths (lemon, orange, lavender).

The girls dipped the Q-Tips into the oil, and drew on the construction paper.

Yes, she did put the oil-covered Q-Tip on her tongue!

The girls had a lot of fun! The best part is when Brynne looks up at the window, and says Whoa! Woah, whoa, whoooooooooooooa!! So far she's done it at least five times.
 

 
Linking this with Fun Frugal Mommy and H is For Homeschooling.

Two Things

Just two quick things:

1. If you have not seen it yet---my husband posted a very short video of our girls from this past weekend. It's, arguably, the cutest thing ever! Guaranteed to make you smile!

2. Someone took a picture of all us models dolled up at the hair show. The dress they had me wear is the most expensive dress I've ever worn (my wedding dress included) and, while I know it's what the kids are wearing these days, it really, uncomfortably, self-consciously short.



Who wants to guess which two girls cried about their hair?