Craft Time!

Each day we have different 'times' built in to our day.
A few examples:
-'room time' where she has to play independently in her room for 15-20 minutes
-'book time' where she reads books for a set amount of time
-'blanket time' where she has to sit on a blanket and play with toys that I pick out
-'tv time' where she can watch a DVR'ed show
-'craft time' where we sit at the table and color, paint, glue, etc.

Here she is getting ready to start, can you see the excitement in her face-



Today I decided I would bring the camera along as she made her craft. We wrote Katelyn's Bible verse on a train and then Katelyn glued the train on paper. Since her Bible verse is Philippians 4:13 we then wrote words of things that she can do through Christ and glued them on the train. Using glue is her favorite craft activity of all, so I try to add as much glue to her projects as I can!



Here is the finished product and a proud little girl!

James 1:19

One of our family goals this year is to teach Katelyn Bible verses.  In December she memorized John 3:16 and our first verse for the new year is James 1:19.  At the beginning of January we started memorizing the verse and she had it down within the week, I just didn't post it. Here is her translation (we usually have to adjust the verse a little so that she understands the words/meaning of the verse so that we can use it while disciplining: "You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get mad." - James 1:19  You can imagine that we use that verse often enough when she gets frustrated and wants to get mad when she can't do something herself or she wants a toy that a friend has. We also try to teach her to be quick to listen, i.e.- obey mommy/daddy the first time! I can't think of a better tool than the Bible to train Katelyn to make good choices and about our Father's love!


Her new verse that we are working on is: "I can do all things through God who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:13

I've had a revelation!

I love Jared! Okay, not really a revelation- I've obviously known for many years now that I love Jared, but it has just really been obvious to me this week. Jared has been gone to Kansas to visit his sister since Thursday and goodness gracious I miss him! He is my best friend and I'm so used to having him here each evening/night to talk to, laugh with, help with Katelyn, and sleep next to. I think it is times like this when I realize how extremely blessed I am to be married to my best friend. It makes me extremely grateful to our service men and women who are without thier spouse because they are deployed protecting our freedoms. Anyway, all this to say I love my husband!

Menu for the week- dinner only

I have realized I rarely stick to the breakfast and lunch part of the menu, so I'm going to leave it off this week...

Monday- Crockpot meatloaf

Tuesday- Spaghetti and meatballs

Wednesday- Dinner at Whole Foods

Thursday- Johnny Mazzetti

Friday- Burrito Pie

Saturday- Grill steaks and shrimp

Sunday- Tuna fish and shells and cheese

Weekly Menu

Monday:
B- Cinnamon toast
L- Hot ham and cheese sandwiches
D- BBQ Chicken and spaghetti squash

Tuesday:
B- Waffles and strawberries
L- tacos
D- Chicken casserole (freeze ½)

Wednesday:
B- Cereal
L- Bible study
D- Dinner with friends

Thursday:
B- French toast
L- Fish sticks
D- Meatloaf

Friday-Sunday: Jared will be gone so Katelyn and I will just find easy meals, finish leftovers or have sandwiches....

Sister's Room

Well, Katelyn has gotten her 'big girl room' so I figured it was time for Sister's room to get a little lovin'. Most of the nursery is going to stay the same, but I've decided to add a few new things to spice it up a little! First I bought a new curtain that is a soft pink, the perfect touch for a little girl!




Then I decided that the wall above the crib needed something different (we used to have Katelyn's name in wooden letters hung above the crib). Here is the blank canvas-



I love the fabric that we picked out for Jean (aka Nanny) to make Sister's quilt so I decided I'd use that line of fabric to make 'bubbles' over the crib. I found some cheap hoops that are supposed to be used for needle-work at Hobby Lobby, put the fabric in and 20 minutes later, all done! Well, not all done. After stepping back and looking, I think I need to add about 3 or 4 more hoops, but done until I go back to Hobby Lobby!

Big girl room update

It has been a week since we moved Katelyn into her big girl room.  I must say, she has done GREAT!!!!  She sleeps very soundly and has only fallen out once.  Actually she fell out and apparently just stayed on the floor because when Jared and I went to check on her last night she was sleeping peacefully on the floor by her bed with her blanket.  I wish I would have gotten a picture, but instead I just picked her up and put her back to bed.  The picture below was taken on the first night or two in her bed. 

She has also officially given up her rights to the nursery.  She often tells me that the nursery is baby sisters room and that the crib and cradle are for baby sister.  She is going to be a great big sister!  Today in the car she said we had better zip up her jacket because we had to keep baby sister warm (because sister is in HER tummy)!  While I'm talking about sister, tomorrow is a big day.... Jared will finally start discussing names!!!!  He randomly picked January 12th as the day we can BEGIN our discussion.  I know we won't have a name picked out tomorrow, but I'm excited to finally have someone to talk about it with!  I also had my 32 week appointment this morning.  Dr. Rodriquez says everything looks great, only 8 weeks to go! 

Weekly Menu

Monday-
B- Oatmeal
L- Chicken nuggets
D- Ladies Night @ Baby A’s Jared/KG date night


Tuesday-
B- Waffles and strawberries
L- Lunch with Carrey and Bella
D- Orange chicken and sushi

Wednesday-
B- Bacon and Eggs
L- Tortellini
D- Chicken spaghetti

Thursday-
B- French toast
L- Leftover chicken spaghetti
D- Small group- beef stroganoff in crock-pot over egg noodles

Friday-
B- Pancakes
L- Sandwiches
D- Homemade Hawaiian pizza (didn't get around to this last week)

Saturday-
B- Oatmeal
L- Clean out the fridge
D- Filet mignon, balsamic butter asparagus and potato

Sunday-
B- cereal
L- PURSUIT lunch
D- Soft tacos

Weekly Menu (a day late)

Okay, back on track with my menu planning- at least for this week!

Monday:
B- oatmeal
L- sandwiches
D- turkey meatloaf, peas and potato

Tuesday:
B- breakfast play date with Carrey
L- leftover meatloaf
D- Scallops and veggies

Wednesday:
B- turkey bacon, egg and cheese sandwich
L- Chicken nuggets and steamed carrots
D- Chicken cordon bleu, mashed taters

Thursday:
B- french toast
L- leftover chicken cordon bleu
D- BSC party at Garners

Friday-
B- pancakes
L- loaded tostado
D- Parents Night Out at GHBC

Saturday-
B- Oatmeal
L- tuna fish and shells and cheese
D- Homemade hawaiian pizza

Sunday-
B- cereal
L- PURSUIT lunch
D- angel chicken in crock-pot over noodles

Katelyn's big girl room

With sister coming in a few months we decided for Christmas Katelyn would get her big girl room!  Tonight will be the first night she actually sleeps in her room.  We are excited for this new transition, scared that she will 'enjoy' the freedom of not being in her crib a little too much, and a little sad that our baby girl is growing up soooo fast!  I know most people transtion toddlers to a toddler bed, but we figured we still need this room to be our guest room when people come to visit, so Katelyn will have to make due in a queen size bed- I think she is going to look so tiny in such a big bed!

Jared helped pick out the flower light on the right in this picture- Katelyn loves it because the switch is low enough that she can turn it off and on.

Here is a picture from another angle.  If you look closely you can see Katelyn peaking around the corner in the doorway... She didn't want her picture taken at the moment.

Yet another angle. 

Then there is Katelyn looking out the window.  She could stand there and point out each car that drives by for quite some time. 

This is a butterfly and flower mobile that Nanny got her for Christmas.  It goes perfectly with her room (now I want one for sister's room too!).

Katelyn was playing with her pillows that Aunt Stormi gave her.  Each day she picks a new favorite to pretend like she is sleeping.  She'll even pick one for me to 'sleep' on!

And of course here is Katelyn hiding behind the sheer curtain that JoJo got her for Christmas. 

Now pray for us as we move Katelyn into her room tonight.  I know it's not a huge life change, but Momma's a little nervous about it! 

Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010

I had decided to not make any 'New Years Resolutions' this year because I always end up breaking them after about a week, but then I decided it's always a good thing to be striving to to be a better Christian, wife, mommy, and friend.  With that being said- I think I'll reflect on last year before moving forward. 

Last year was a year of tremendous up's and down's.  As a family we had 2 devistating miscarraiges which shook my foundation a bit, only to make my faith and love for Jesus Christ grow more than I could have imagined.  Of course now we are so blessed to be expecting our 2nd daughter March 10th and I thank God every day for this precious blessing (who is kicking my ribs as I type!!!).  Several of our up's for the year involved our precious Katelyn who is so smart and ever changing to keep us on our toes.  I learned this year that Katelyn is a runner- meaning, she will run away from us when given the chance.  I had several super scary moments when she bolted into the street at a park and when she took off in the middle of JCPenney's.  What was amazing is the peace that the Lord gave me that He has angels all around who go before us and follow after and I cling to that, knowing His angels will protect my precious Katelyn.  I also learned that Katelyn loves to sing and has an amazing ability to memorize songs/verses/books/anything.  She memorized John 3:16 in December and we are starting to memorize a scripture verse a week in 2010.  I couldn't be more proud of her!

Now a look ahead, goals for 2010:

• finish reading through the Bible, I made it about 1/5 of the way through last year
• teach Katelyn a Bible verse each week and 1 letter/week
• cook more healthy meals- don't give into every pregnancy craving
• make a point to do special things for friends or family, even if it is just a simple card in the mail or email
• show Jared that I love him, in his love language, not mine

I think that is a good starting point.  Happy New Year!