More Spice Than Sugar

For just a moment I compared Keira to another little girl at the dentist today.  Keira had dressed herself and was wearing a pink tulle pettiskirt, a pink halter top, pink jellies & her sparkly red bolero jacket {{from her Christmas dress}}... a spunky outfit, for a spunky girl.  I loved it, although I would have taken Coco's advice and taken the last thing off.  The other little girl was wearing a soft, sweet, "safe" outfit with a floral print button blouse, jeans and little maryjanes.  Besides fashion choices, these two girls were as different as night and day in their demeanor as well.  Keira absolutely loves going to the dentist and walked in with all confidence and flare her outfit deserved.  She sat by me for a bit, but was soon across the room playing video games.  The other little girl cried the moment her mom opened the door to walk into the dentist.  She stuck right next to her mom and whimpered about not wanting to be there.  Watching her it struck me that she was the little girl I had always pictured myself having:  meek, delicate and a bit of a wall flower... like me.  The thing is, two seconds after I realized that, it struck me how much more I love my daughter than I ever loved the one I'd pictured in my head.  When God gave me Keira, he gave me a challenge for sure!  Keira is fierce.  She knows what she wants, when & how she wants it and you should move aside if you're in her way of getting it.  My little girl is somewhere in the 15% for her size & age but all 30lbs of her are packed with willpower.  She is sooooo not me {I can't make up my mind about anything and I normally just want whatever makes everyone else happy} but, she loves me with the same fierceness that she loves changing her clothes.  Just the look in her eyes when she wants me to hold her is enough to make me forget there was ever "another" little girl to begin with.

 Check out what $20 in Kohl's cash got us today!

~Keira's dress & my headband!~

+A Science Boy

Just a quick Mommy-Brag:  Tyler brought home his 3rd Quarter Report card & not only did he make honor roll, but he got an +A in Science!  We're very proud of him.  This kid loves science!  He's considering being a Chemist one day.

Our Afternoon

We had some extra time this afternoon,

 so we were silly.

Doesn't this make you smile from ear to ear?

Check out that boy's smile!

Keira saw this & said, "I have bad lips." 

Maybe it's her over-use of lip gloss? 

♥

Birthday Bonanza

Last weekend we celebrated

 two very special

Birthdays! 

Our niece, Aaliyah, turned 8! 

This girl is extra special to us. 

She's smart, funny & fun to be around!

Brenda crossed to the other side of her 20's! 

We sure love this lady with her kind heart and intense love for her family!

Brenda's party included a bevy of handsome guys. 

Go figure!

Bike Love

The kids & I rode our bikes to the park tonight! 

Tyler's SO embarrassed that I'm taking his picture... his friends are there.

Keira Ba-nay trying to ride on the grass.

Trabby's trick!  You wish you were that cool, don't you?!

My adorable bike!

Dollar Store Discoveries

Today I followed a tip and took a chance on the dollar store. 

I found several things, including what I went there for.

I got these journals & pens. 

We'll be taking these to Disneyland with us, so the little ones can collect autographs!  The 3 pens {{Yes, they work! Bonus!}} came in one pack and so the total on what you see here was only $4! Compare that to $6+ per autograph book at Disneyland and I think I did pretty well. Hey, I can bring in my own pens and notebooks... NOT, my own delicious corn dogs and churros! Got to save money for the stuff that matters.

I also found these adorable birdies & this wooden "Welcome" sign. 

It looks so cute and cost $3 total!  I'm totally fixated on birds lately, so this was a super lucky find. 

Last, but not least, I found this song.  Turn it up, this is GOOD stuff!

It was playing in the store as I collected my goodies.  Hearing it was an unexpected visit from a dear old friend. 

I ♥ me some Carly Simon just as much as I ♥ me a good deal!

March 9th

Yesterday I got a reminder in my email that today would be my Grandma Simpson's birthday.  It said I should remember to send her a card.  Well, postage to heaven is "sky high" these days so I thought I'd give her a shout-out on here instead.


Grandma, your life was so precious.  You were a beautiful, Godly woman.  Almost daily I think of you, when I think about what kind of wife and mother I want to be.  Not that you were perfect & you'd be the first to say you weren't... that none of us are as a matter of fact!  But, your heart was in the job & pity the fool who might try to get in your way.  When I'm feeling down I remember your strength and resolve to truly be your granddaughter and power on. 


Thank you for loving Jesus & thank you for the legacy you knitted for me and my children (and their children) to hold on to as we face new days full of uncertainty and the harsh realities of this world.


Since I don't have a picture with you on your last birthday here, I'm adding a picture of my last birthday with you.  I really can't explain how happy I was to see you at my parent's house that night for dinner.  I hadn't known you'd be there.... although I should have known!  You didn't miss much if you could help it.  It was the sweetest of surprises and really made my night complete. 

♥

If I Hit it BIG...

If I won the lottery (big time) today, I would buy this house and find a way to save it! 

It would be our family's summer home & you'd be invited to come stay a week or two with us.

I'd have it restored to it's former glory.

When you came to visit, we'd all dress in white. 

Wouldn't it be lovely?

Instead, this home is going to be demolished. 

Boo to reality!

Life

"Life's under no obligation to give us what we expect. We take what we get and are thankful it's no worse than it is."

~ Ashley Wilkes, Gone With the Wind.

Oh, Life!  What a two-faced friend you are.  I woke up this morning thinking you were splendid and with a song in my heart I set out thinking this would be a good day.  Come to find out, you'd been running around causing grief for people I love before my alarm even woke me up. 

My heart is so heavy.  Still, God IS Good & that's what matters.  It does make days like this "livable" but it sure doesn't make them any more fun.