Working Together

Working together doing 1 activity at the same time is something I'm trying to get these 2 to do. NOT easy. Definitely NOT done every day. But it's a practice.

My "hook" for Ellery was, "Hey Ellery!  Can you teach Brother how to color?"

She was all over it!

He was so cute sitting in a chair all by himself.

                                     
                                      

I'm gonna call it, Ellery is a lefty and Walt is a righty.....

Ice Cream Truck

The ice cream truck makes it way through our neighborhood every Tuesday evening.

This is one of the "Summer To Do" list items.  I LOVED it!

Seeing the kids running across the yard to catch the truck as it went by just made my heart so full, as a mom.

It's just fun knowing that this one little thing is going to make my toddler's joy immeasurable and create a memory for her lifetime.  She definitely did a good job eating her entire dinner so she could have her special treat!

1st REAL night of no milk

Tonight is the first night where I put Walt down and refused to nurse him.

(sigh) SAD.

I am preparing to leave the family for the weekend and it's almost 14 months (the same age I wiened Ellery) so I figured it is about time.

There was no plan.  Last night while I was nursing him to sleep I realized it was the last time and I hugged a little tighter and enjoyed the moment a bit more than usual.  But I know it's time.

So tonight I simply read him a story while he drank milk from his sippy cup, then popped in the binky and held him close for a while.  He did tug on my heart strings when I was standing next to his bed about to place him in the crib he just began signing "milk" to me over and over.

Ohh, my heart.  It's like he still needs me.  I don't know.  Maybe I'll waver and try nursing again when I return.  But for now at least I know he can go to bed, not screaming for me, and be satisfied with cold sippy cup milk and snuggles.

Summer Fireflies

One of our summer activities is to catch fireflies. 

 What a FUN thing to do.

I found a cute little bug catcher at the dollar store and grabbed it.

You would have thought I bought her a new diamond necklace, she was so excited.

While we waited for them to come out we did a little research on how to catch them.

Yea, it's pretty much the same as when we were kids but I thought it

was good for Ellery to see what they looked like BEFORE we caught them.

Daddy is the BEST bug catcher, EVER!

Every time the little creature crawled to the top of the box, Ellery jolted with fear.

It cracked me up.  Again, just like her Mommy.

Our new little friends are currently hanging from Ellery's chandelier in her bedroom while she sleeps.

Man, what great memories I have of lighting bugs crawling around in the mason jar by my bed at night.

Aww, fun summer nights...

Father's Day Craft

I found this on Pinterest and thought it looked 

REALLY cool!

So Ellery asked Daddy to make his hand print "so she could color it"

But I really wanted it to use in this craft.

It's hanging between our kitchen and dining room

In the perfect spot.

I think it turned out well!

HARD Parenting Day

Yesterday was a HARD day.  Hard for my heart.  Hard for Ellery.

We've had fevers going around here and mine turned out to be Hand Foot & Mouth.  Yes, adults CAN get it and oh. my. word. it is AWFUL!  Mostly because of the sores in my mouth which makes it VERY difficult to eat almost anything.

The 3 days I was in bed I could see Ellery changing into the girl she was not created to be.  I have been working on her schedule, discipline and heart.  She is so much like her Mamma it's scary.

Anyway, yesterday was my first day "back" and boy did we go toe to toe SEVERAL times.

I have a list of scriptures which speak to some classic moral training issues, such as self control (you can find this here).  While E was in a time-out (which usually doesn't work for her) I cracked open my bible searching for something I can teach her.

Well, instead of finding something for Ellery I was smacked in the middle of my eyes with verses that applied to me.  How many times do you find your own flaws while trying to correct your child?  Ouch.  Ugly...

By the time Cary arrived home I was D-O-N-E.  Not just with parenting but with seeing my own sin as well as hers.  Sometimes it's hard to walk the fine line of when to make something an issue with a child and when to let it slip on by.  I was not letting ANYTHING slip by yesterday.  That resulted in some serious tears, for both of us.

For the first time in a long time I had to hid myself in the corner of my bedroom to just cry it out with God.  Sin is just SO UGLY!  I have it.  Ellery has it.  Walt has it (even at his sweet little age, I can see it).  Even after going to bed, stressed out and SUPER uncomfortable, physically, I tried to not replay the day but it was like I needed to remember.  Remember that the Lord wanted to hold up a mirror (via Ellery) so I can see my own ugliness and to seek His help every. single. day.

Ugh.  Parenting is definitely the HARDEST job I've ever had.  Humbling to say the least.  Oh my heart is so heavy for these children.  I'm super thankful that today went much smoother.  LOTS of love from her.  LOTS of snuggles, hugs but mostly respect.  I was calmer (which really helps) but she was more receptive I could tell.

The sun shines after a storm I guess.

Saturday

Marathon training began this morning.

24 weeks of running.  Every.  Single.  Saturday. And a little during the week.

This is my 4th marathon so I figured it would be time to step up the training.  So I'm now running on the "Intermediate" team.  Basically I get to run 3 - 20 mile training runs, instead of just 1.  Oh yea, and this morning instead of running 4 miles I ran 7.  

I have moments of thinking I'm crazy (like when I was walking to my training team this morning) and then moments of being SUPER excited (like last night when my body was telling me to exercise and I had been a single parent all day long).  But deep down inside I am happy to be back.

I know my running partner was happy that I talked to her literally the ENTIRE time we were running 7 miles today.  Whew, I needed to get some stuff out I guess!  Have I mentioned Cary's comment regarding my running pace?  "You have 1 speed when you run.  That's called 'Social'"  -My sweet husband (he knows me too well).

Now, 7 hours (and one little nap) later I'm taking the kids to the pool (a.k.a. my temporary shower) for a fun afternoon.

Wahoo Saturdays!!!