If I had a nickel for every time I hear the question "Why?" these days, I would have enough money to buy something really cool. Lately, Hannah has become obsessed with asking "Why?" and it is driving me insane! It is her new response to any sort of instruction, explaination or observation. A typical conversation these days goes something like this:
"Hannah, please stop doing that, it's not safe."
"Why?"
"Because you could fall and get hurt."
"Why?"
"Gravity, Hannah. That's how it works."
I tell you, I am swallowing Advil like its candy to cure the headaches from this child! Hannah has historically been my "easy child" (if there is such a thing). But the past few weeks, she has not been so easy (see previous entry). I guess maybe it's her age. She's almost 3 and apparently wanting some clarification on authority :)
Don't get me wrong, she is still the same sweet Hannah who wraps her arms around my neck and tells me she loves me. She is also very smart and going through a time where trying to articulate feelings = tantrums and trying to exert independence = breaking the rules. But I like to think that this second time around, I have a little more clarity and can be a little more sympathetic to these things. I have learned from her that it's not easy being #2 in a family. Despite our trials, I am very proud of her.
But then again, maybe that's just the Advil talking...
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
First Taste of Summer
Today after school the girls begged me to hook up their Elmo sprinkler toy so that they could play in the water. It was a sunny, 93 degrees outside and they had a blast. It was so exciting to them to get to wear their swimsuits. Summer is definately on its way!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Playing Photographer
Yesterday I had the opportunity to play photographer for a friend and her little boy who just turned one. I have always had a lot of respect for great photography and was grateful for the opportunity to try and mimic some of the things I have seen. We were blessed with a beautiful morning and a cooperative little boy. Here are a few of my favorite shots. Enjoy!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
A Conversation Overheard
Hannah: " Look Avery, its a chicken."
Avery: "Where?"
Hannah: "Oh no, its just a dog."
Avery: "Where?"
Hannah: "Oh no, its just a dog."
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter
I just love Easter and everything about it. The excitement of spring's arrival, the pretty pastel children's clothes, an opportunity for spending time with family, and most importantly, a reminder of the grace that comes with sight of a stone rolled away and an empty tomb.
Once again we were so fortunate to have our familes at our house for Easter. Even living so close to one another, it is still sometimes difficult to stay connected. We had a great celebration and even had enough of a break in the rain to have an egg hunt for the kids. It was a good day!
Once again we were so fortunate to have our familes at our house for Easter. Even living so close to one another, it is still sometimes difficult to stay connected. We had a great celebration and even had enough of a break in the rain to have an egg hunt for the kids. It was a good day!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The "E" word
Exercise. That's it. That's the word, the concept, the supposedly all-important ingredient to life and well-being that I just don't get. I find myself wondering these days if it's really all it's cracked up to be.
Those who have known me for awhile, know that I have a long history of doing just about everything possible to avoid exercise in any form. I never played sports as a kid, the closest I ever came was drill team in 9th grade (and I really don't even know if that counts). In college I was majorly irritated by the fact that those earning a BA were required to earn more PE credits that those earning a BBA. So unfair for the English majors! I actually asked a tennis instructor at Baylor one time if he was serious about testing my serving skills. Wasn't it enough that I showed up? Did he actually want me to perform? I genuinely didn't get the point.
Lucky for me, I have been blessed to inherit a pretty good metabolic rate. It allows me to eat just about whatever I want (although I do try to make more good choices than bad) and stay the same size without any particular workout regiment. I am expecting the ball to drop at any moment.
Anyway, I keep hearing this "E" word and I'm having a hard time ignoring it. The main source is my husband who has started running. What started out as a 20 minute jog around the neighborhood has morphed into an unbelievable 7 mile run that practically takes him all over town. He started about 4 months ago, has lost about 30 pounds and looks fantastic. Now, seriously, how can I ignore the "E" word with evidence like that staring me in the face??? I also have this cousin who is nothing less than a brilliant doctor. I jokingly asked her the other day if I should be taking a calcium supplement (she was giving a talk on osteoporosis). She said no but emphasised that exercise is important to maintain bone health. There is was again.
So I've decided to give it a try. A real one, like at least 10 weeks or so. I will run around the neighborhood and see what happens. I'm going to find out for myself if this exercise is really all it's cracked up to be.
Those who have known me for awhile, know that I have a long history of doing just about everything possible to avoid exercise in any form. I never played sports as a kid, the closest I ever came was drill team in 9th grade (and I really don't even know if that counts). In college I was majorly irritated by the fact that those earning a BA were required to earn more PE credits that those earning a BBA. So unfair for the English majors! I actually asked a tennis instructor at Baylor one time if he was serious about testing my serving skills. Wasn't it enough that I showed up? Did he actually want me to perform? I genuinely didn't get the point.
Lucky for me, I have been blessed to inherit a pretty good metabolic rate. It allows me to eat just about whatever I want (although I do try to make more good choices than bad) and stay the same size without any particular workout regiment. I am expecting the ball to drop at any moment.
Anyway, I keep hearing this "E" word and I'm having a hard time ignoring it. The main source is my husband who has started running. What started out as a 20 minute jog around the neighborhood has morphed into an unbelievable 7 mile run that practically takes him all over town. He started about 4 months ago, has lost about 30 pounds and looks fantastic. Now, seriously, how can I ignore the "E" word with evidence like that staring me in the face??? I also have this cousin who is nothing less than a brilliant doctor. I jokingly asked her the other day if I should be taking a calcium supplement (she was giving a talk on osteoporosis). She said no but emphasised that exercise is important to maintain bone health. There is was again.
So I've decided to give it a try. A real one, like at least 10 weeks or so. I will run around the neighborhood and see what happens. I'm going to find out for myself if this exercise is really all it's cracked up to be.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
The Grocery Game
One of the biggest parts of my job as a stay-at-home-mom and housewife is to do the weekly grocery shopping. I like to plan our meals for the week, make a list of any ingredients I need from the store as well as any misc. household items we might need and then get all of my shopping done for the week in one fell swoop. I generally buy only what we need for the week and don't keep much in the way of reserves. Come Friday morning, our cupboards and fridge and darn near empty!
So yesterday, I packed up Hannah and Ethan and headed off to the store with my list and coupons for the week. When it came time to pay, I was floored by how much I had spent! Granted, I knew that we were pretty much out of everything from milk to jelly and bread and turkey, on and on. But $190!!!! Wow!
As I loaded the groceries in the car, my stomach was in knots because I knew that there was no good way to break the news to Jeff that I had spent almost $70 over our weekly grocery budget. He wasn't mad but I felt bad. Since I have no way to contribute financially to our household, my contributions come in the way of not making too many deductions, if you follow...
The cost of groceries for a family of five is amazing! The absolute crazy part is that with my coupons and store card, I saved us $45 but was still left with a $190 bill. I do cook about 18 or 19 meals a week for our family. So when you break it down, I guess that $10 per meal for 5 people isn't all that bad but next week I am definately going to have to figure out a new plan.
So yesterday, I packed up Hannah and Ethan and headed off to the store with my list and coupons for the week. When it came time to pay, I was floored by how much I had spent! Granted, I knew that we were pretty much out of everything from milk to jelly and bread and turkey, on and on. But $190!!!! Wow!
As I loaded the groceries in the car, my stomach was in knots because I knew that there was no good way to break the news to Jeff that I had spent almost $70 over our weekly grocery budget. He wasn't mad but I felt bad. Since I have no way to contribute financially to our household, my contributions come in the way of not making too many deductions, if you follow...
The cost of groceries for a family of five is amazing! The absolute crazy part is that with my coupons and store card, I saved us $45 but was still left with a $190 bill. I do cook about 18 or 19 meals a week for our family. So when you break it down, I guess that $10 per meal for 5 people isn't all that bad but next week I am definately going to have to figure out a new plan.
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