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God's Provision

It is amazing to me how God always takes care of us! I know I should KNOW this by now, but is still never ceases to surprise me. I am sure you remember my "pitty" post where I was completely whining like my 2 year old. Well I have picked my head up since then and God has been at work since then.

First we had our friend Nikki bring over clothes for Logan completely out of the blue! He now has plenty of clothes for the winter and even clothes that will fit him this next summer! Thank you Nikki so much!

Then my cousins Diane and Marisa gave us a ton of Marisa's old toys for the kids so now I don't have to worry about what I will give the kids for Christmas! What a blessing that is!

And finally, Doug had 2 big jobs come in right at the end of the month so that we were able to pay all of our bills without using any of our savings!

Matthew 6:25-34
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Thankful Thrusday

Since it is Thanksgiving I thought it would be nice to list some of the things we are thankful for this year. I feel like I have been complaining a lot lately and focusing more on the negative. So, as a new blog tradition, I will try to write what I am thankful for on every Thursday, thus the name "Thankful Thursday".

Today I am thankful:

1. That I have family to spend this holiday with. I love going to my mom's and being with my huge family!

2. To be married to Doug. He is the most honest person I have ever met and the most selfless man in the world!

3. For Logan and Aila and all their hugs and kisses!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! We are thankful for every one of you!

Another Give Away!

The My Frugal Family Blog led me to another awesome blog and they are having a giveaway! The blog is called Tatertots and Jello. Check out the blog and the giveaway at http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-i-was-doing-this-weekend-and-my.html

Thanksgiving Projects

I was determined to complete 2 Thanksgiving projects today and I did! First was to make Aila a new hair bow to match her dress for Thanksgiving. I love that Ribbons and Lace store! I could find ribbons to match anything! My second task was to make a turkey cake. I couldn't find any turkey cake pans so I had to make my own outline. I printed off a coloring page of a turkey and traced it onto a sheet cake and then I frosted it. Check out my 2 finished projects:

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Potty Training Round 2

That is right! It is potty training time in our house yet again. Everyone says girls are easier to potty train so I started Aila a little earlier than Logan. So far the only difference I have noticed is that Aila has no problem sitting still on the potty where with Logan, I had to constantly distract him. Also Logan had a fear of sitting on the potty when we first started to I had to sit his toys on the potty for a week and praise them to make him comfortable with it. Aila is not afraid of it at all and is very eager to sit on the potty to get her treat. We are in what I call Phase 1 (Naked potty training only at home). I will be sure to keep you updated on when Phase 1 is completed : )

Logan Says the Darnest Things

Do you remember the show "Kid's Say the Darnest Things"? Well Logan would definitely do great on that show. This is a conversation we had in the car the other night:

LOGAN: Mommy, Aila tooted!

ME: Logam, I don't think Aila tooted.

LOGAN: Mommy, you tooted!

ME: No Logan, I didn't.

LOGAN: Then daddy did it!

DOUG: I didn't toot.

LOGAN: Well somebody tooted!

ME: Logan, did you toot?

LOGAN: Yes mommy. I tooted.

Can't Sleep

I can't sleep tonight. Probably because I danced and it made me wired! I love dancing! I missed putting my babies to bed tonight. (Thanks Doug for taking over nightly duties so I could go to my rehearsal!) I just peeked in on them and they both look so big sleeping in their beds. It made me think about this book. It was one of my favs when I taught:

Long ago you came to me,
a miracle of firsts:
First smiles and teeth and baby steps,
a sunbeam on the burst.

But one day you will move away
and leave to me your past,
And I will be left thinking of
a lifetime of your lasts…

The last time that I held a bottle
to your baby lips.
The last time that I lifted you
and held you on my hip.

The last night when you woke up crying,
needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with you blanket,
wanting to be rocked.

The last time when you ran to me,
still small enough to hold.
The last time that you said you’d marry
me when you grew old.

Precious, simple moments and
bright flashes from your past-
Would I have held on longer if
I’d known they were you last?

Our last adventure to the park,
your final midday nap,
The last time when you wore your favorite
faded baseball cap.

Your last few hours of kindergarten,
those last days of first grade,
Your last at bat in Little League,
last colored picture made.

I never said good-bye to all
your yesterdays long passed.
So what about tomorrow-
will I recognize your lasts?

The last time that you catch a frog
in that old backyard pond.
The last time that you run barefoot
across our fresh-cut lawn.

Silly, scattered images
will represent your past.
I keep on taking pictures,
never quite sure of your lasts…

The last time that I comb your hair
or stop a pillow fight.
The last time that I pray with you
and tuck you in at night.

The last time when we cuddle
with a book, just me and you.
The last time you jump in our bed
and sleep between us two.

The last piano lesson,
last vacation to the lake.
Your last few weeks of middle school,
last soccer goal you make.

I look ahead and dream of days
that haven’t come to pass.
But as I do, I sometimes miss
today’s sweet, precious lasts…

The last time that I help you with
a math or spelling test.
The last time when I shout that yes,
your room is still a mess.

The last time that you need me for
a ride from here to there.
The last time that you spend the night
with your old tattered bear.

My life keeps moving faster,
stealing precious days that pass.
I want to hold on longer-
want to recognize your lasts…

The last time that you need my help
with details of a dance.
The last time that you ask me for
advice about romance.

The last time that you talk to me
about your hopes and dreams.
The last time that you wear a jersey
for your high school team.

I’ve watched you grow and barely noticed
seasons as they pass.
If I could freeze the hands of time,
I’d hold on your lasts.

For come some bright fall morning,
you’ll be going far away.
College life will beckon
in a brilliant sort of way.

One last hug, on last good-bye,
one quick and hurried kiss.
One last time to understand
just how much you’ll be missed.

I’ll watch you leave and think how fast
our time together passed.
Let me hold on longer, God,
to every precious last.

Pitty Party, Table for 1

I am kind of in a funk right now. We still have no clue what Doug's job is going to be or where we will be living. His business has not picked up. We are about to drain our savings to pay our bills this month. Now I know there are people that have things way worse than we do, but knowing that doesn't really make me feel any better. In fact it makes me feel worse because I feel bad for other people and then I feel bad for us too. I don't know why people have to "one up" you when you are complaining either. They seem to turn it into a competition of who has worse problems. Then you have other people who just simply call your problems "trite". I hope I never do either of these things to other people when they are down. Even if they are complaining about something like a broken nail I hope I just pat them on the back and tell them it is going to be ok because maybe to that person having a broken nail seems like the end of the world to them at that moment. Maybe I am just having a pitty party this week. I probably sound like Logan does when he whines. Sorry. Thanks for bearing with me. And please if you comment - no "one uppers" and don't tell me my problems are nothing. Because right now they are something to me. And no, I am not losing faith. I am holding on tightly to Romans 5:3-4 : Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

A Posting Time Capsule

I just wrote a post of our current prayer requests. I set the date for this post to appear on February 22nd. It is sort of like a time capsule that we can look at in a few months and hopefully we will be able to report back some praises and see how God is working!

Thanksgiving Crafts!

Today when I took the kids to the park we collected some leaves and twigs to make some Thanksgiving cards. Here are the ones we made today:

The proud artist:






Turkey made out of leaves and bark:

Trees made out of twigs and leaves:



Hand print turkies:

Aila is 15 Months Old

Aila is growing up so quickly! She is able to say so many words now. I will try to list them but I am sure to miss some. She can say mama, dada, bubba (for brother), cat, dog, duck, please, thank you, papa, nana, mimi, no, yes, up, bye bye, night night, hi, eyes, grape, uh uh, nice, baby, and what's that? (sounds more like dat dat?) What is really funny is that she thinks our dog Sunny's name is "Uh uh" because we tell Sunny that a lot. Now all Aila will call Sunny is Uh uh!

She is also starting to be able to follow simple directions. If I ask her to bring her cup in the kitchen she can do it or if I ask her to go find something she will find it. She loves it when Logan asks her to do something. She follows him around like a little puppy dog these days. It is very cute! In fact, two people asked me this month if Logan and Aila were twins! Now I know they are close in age, but Logan is so much taller than Aila and looks so much older that I don't quite get it!

Also this month our little angel has started getting in trouble! She is climbing on everything and trying to stand on it all. The other day when I went shopping I started out with a cart with a broken safety belt. I didn't think it would be a problem because Aila always sits still, but boy was I wrong! She kept trying to stand up in the cart! This could be why Aila learned to say no this month, because she has been hearing it alot!

We will be starting potty training again in our house very soon. People told me I was crazy to start Logan at 18 months but I proved them wrong. Now Aila will be starting at 15 months and I say Bring It On! Girls are supposedly easier, but we shall see. My goal is to be done with all phases of potty training by June (We are going to Disney then and I would love to not have to pack any diapers!)

Logan is 2 and 1/2 Years Old!

It is official! Logan is 2 and 1/2 years old! He has become so independent and loves to do everything all by himself. This morning he made his own chocolate milk and when he was done he said, "Good Job Logan!" to himself.

He continues to say the darnest things. The other day when we saw an airplane he said, "Mommy I miss the airplane." When told, "Logan, it is not nice to take toys from people" after stealing a toy from Aila he retorted, "Aila's not people. Aila's just sister!" Last night when a little girl was over our house and trying to blow up a beach ball Logan told her, "I can do it. You need big tonsils!" I almost died laughing when the girl replied, "My tonsils are bigger than yours!" I also caught Logan wearing one of my bras the other night and he said, "Look, I am wearing mommy's boobies!"

This month I have started doing daily devotionals with Logan. I got a devotional book for boys ages 2-5 at a garage sale. He loves it and calls it his "God Book". He amazes me with how he is able to answer all the questions about the story.

I also introduced a sticker reward chart for Logan this month. I have been trying to focus on his positive behavior and give him more positive reinforcemnt. He loves picking out his sticker and putting it on the chart. If we are out somewhere and he does something good, like sharing his favorite toy, he will ask, "Do I get a sticker on my chart?" So precious!

And the best news of this month is that Logan seems to be getting out of the terrible two's! He really doesn't throw any tantrums anymore and if he does they are on a much lower scale than what they were. They were really no fun so I am glad we are getting passed them!

A New Blog!

It was so ironic that I stumbled upon this blog after writing my post on frugality. I was looking up Thanksgiving Treats on google to make for our playdate and came across it. It is amazing all the things that can be made at such a low price. I am going to attempt some of the projects as Christmas gifts this year. Right now they are having a contest and you can win free prizes! Check out "My Frugal Family" at:
http://theherberfamily.blogspot.com

Before and After

We sold or kitchen table because it was glass and we were worried about the kids getting hurt from it. So here is our kitchen before and after:

Before:




After:




What do you think of our new table? It has a removable leaf if we want to make it smaller or bigger. The chairs have plastic coverings over the cushions so I don't have to worry about keeping the fabric clean. And best of all there is no glass and no corners! We sold our old table for $200 and bought this one for $100. I used some of the extra money to buy some paintings for our kitchen and I am going to use the rest garage saleing.

Memory Walk

On Saturday we woke up super early to go to Phoenix for the Memory Walk. It was so neat to see all the people who came out to support this cause. All of the donations went to the Alzhiemers Foundation, which is dedicated to researching Alzheimers and provides services to those who suffer from the disease and their families. There were tons of information booths there about Alzhiemers and services for their caregivers so I was able to get my mom a bunch of pamphlets and things to look over. There were 2 routes you could take, one was 1 mile and one was 3 miles. I convinced Doug to do the 3 full miles and we were surprised at how quick it went. Everyone brought their whole families to walk, including their dogs, which Logan and Aila loved. All 4 of us wore a necklace that said "Walking in Honor of Vito Rosselli".

I pray that one day this foundation will find a cure for Alzheimers. It breaks my heart to see how my dad is able to do less and less every day and to see how many more burdens my mom has to endure. I don't know who Alzheimers is harder on, the person suffering from it or the person caring for them.

Thank you Jordan Tempkin, Paula and Artie Morales, Niki and Darren Pascale, Paul and Debbie Schottenhamel, Irene and Tom Caniano, and Linda and Ronald Whitworth for your generous donations!

Light Rail to ASU Game

On Friday my friend Ericka gave us her tickets to the ASU basketball game. Logan was so excited and kept saying "Go see basketball! Go see basketball!" We decided to park at the Light Rail station and take the train in to see the game. It is amazing how the Light Rail goes right in the middle of traffic! It was also surprisingly clean. I couldn't get over how there was no place to scan your metro pass. In NY you have to scan the pass to get into the station. Here they just occasionally have a security person check to see if you have the pass. It seems like people would try to take it for free all the time, but I guess it is a big fine if they catch you without a ticket.

On the way there we ended up sitting by two homeless men. One of them propositioned the other for things I will not mention, he also claimed to be CIA. The other kept dropping the F bomb. Needless to say it was not very pleasant. The ride back was completely fine, so I guess it is just the luck of the draw.

The ASU game was fantastic! Logan was glued to the court the entire time! He even liked the little games and contests they had between quarters. ASU totally killed the other team, which made the game even more exciting! Aila really liked the music and she liked clapping with everyone, even though I am sure she had no idea what was going on. We had such a great time! Thanks for the tickets Ericka!