Sisters

Sisters

Sleeping side by side on Momma's lap

we're taking our early morning nap

Time has only grown us closer

and we are our bond's best composer

We started out just wee lil ones

and now we're growing and making life fun

Momma sometimes cries at our sight

It's tears of joy, not of fright

We're so glad God made us sisters

If she wasn't here, I would've missed her

Through out our lives, we'll have each other

Well likely go through friends one after another

But a sister is forever

to be there throughout every endeavor

Oh what a great blessing

Our God is great, there is no second guessing

Cadence and Brenlee, forever and always.

When You're Up, You're Up!

Today was my first time to take Cadence and Brenlee to the library! I'm feeling so UP right now because the trip went so extremely well! They turned 7 months old yesterday, can sit better and have a bit longer attention span, so it was time! I was nervous about taking them just in case they got fussy and bothered the quiet atmosphere of a library! I found that our library has "Pat-a-cake Nursery Rhyme Time" on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The issue is that if falls right during when the girls have been taking a nap- 10:30. 



Anyhow, today I chanced it. I'm so glad I did, too! There were about 10-15 other children there. Some came with Mom, some with Grandpa, some with a sitter. There were two babies younger than the twins there, too. Cadence's face just lit up to see all the babies crawling around the room. Brenlee was fascinated with all the grown-ups singing silly songs and clapping and bouncing other babies in their laps! It was not a struggle AT ALL! I took turns with Cadence and Brenlee in my lap and singing rhymes with them. Whichever baby I wasn't holding, was sitting beside me, leaning on my leg, so still getting the effect of bouncing, per se! Today Cadence's favorite rhyme was "Pat-A-Cake." She was intrigued that EVERYONE in the room was singing it and the excitement that exuberated throughout the room with the other older children sent chills down my spine! Brenlee's favorite was "The  Grand Old Duke of York." I was holding her during this one, so she got the full effect! We sang each song twice, so eventually, I'll be juggling one, then the other, every other song! Today I just rotated them by their cues. For those of you that don't know the words to "The Grand Old Duke of York," here they are:

The Grand Old Duke of York
He had ten thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill ( raise baby way up high)
And he marched them down again. (lower them back down)

And when they were up they were up (baby goes UP)
and when they were down they were down (baby comes down)
and when they were only half way up
They were neither up nor down

He marched them to the left (tilt them to the left)
He marched them to the right (tilt them to the right)
And then he marched them upside down (turn baby upside down)
Oh, what a silly sight. 

We sang "The Wheels on the Bus," "Humpty Dumpty," "The Washing Machine," "Uncle John," some song about a sandwich, too. We did two Read Alouds with Big Books about firetrucks and different types of transportation (even a pogo stick!). We sat in a make believe firetruck and saw fire fighter gear. All this happened over the course of 30 minutes! It was SOOO much fun and I'm looking forward to taking the girls back each week. Ah, then, as I put them into their carseats, I glanced in the rear view mirror and both had gone to sleep! Cha-ching, easy nap! As I brought them in the house to lay them down, the smell of the roast I put on this morning filled the air I was reminded of Jesus's sweet blessings. I'm so blessed and thankful that I get to share with the world my little blessings! Now, go, and have a great day yourself and LOVE YOU SOME BABIES!!!

Another Step.....

We're taking another step closer to living green. We've been cloth diapering MOST of the time. We still have a cupboard full of sposies that family bought, so we will use those up. We've been using them when we go "out" and over night. Well, the time has come. I am having a lady make us some Upcyled wool/cashmere diaper covers for use at night. Wool is naturally antibacterial, breathable and absorbent. Upcycled just means that she makes them from old wool clothing that she finds at 2nd hand stores. I will have to lanolize them. Again, something I'm having to learn to do. It doesn't sound hard, at all. I won't have to buy any special detergent, since I'm already using Soap Nuts and that shouldn't harm the wool. The cool thing about wool, is that it's cool. No pun intended! And, it just needs to "air out" between uses, no need to wash after each wear! Told you it was cool! Anyhow, I'll let ya know how we like them, she's shipping them to me today! Here are the ones she made:

So very cute, I really need to buy me a sewing machine and just make these myself. Baby steps, baby steps, I keep reminding myself! Anyhow, I'm stoked and can't wait to get them it---and pray that the fit!!

Question for you: What steps are you taking to preserve our Mother Earth?

Naps

We have officially switched from nap on demand, 3 to 4 a day, to sceduled naps at 11 and 4! Well, of course its not exact yet, but very close!

Nut Review

I've been using the EcoNuts, Soap Nuts for our laundry, for about a week now. I've washed our clothes, baby clothes, cloth diapers, blankets, towels and even the rugs from the bathroom......and the verdict is: they're great! If it can get cloth diapers clean and food stained bibs spotless, what more can I ask for? I still can use a fabric softener on towels, too. The only thing I don't like is digging for the nut sack...hah, never thought I'd be saying that! But, really, it's not too hard find in the load....and it probably wouldn't hurt them if they did accidentally get put in the dryer. Anyhow, here is a link to them for those of you who wanted to try them to.

http://www.amazon.com/Eco-Nuts-360-Load-Box/dp/B003OUALB6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1313511568&sr=8-2.

Question for you: What product have you tried lately and LOVED?

Lucky or Blessed?

Some people consider themselves lucky when things are going their way. I used to feel that way, too. Until recently, I really understand that I could have all the luck in the world and it wouldn't mean a thing! Seriously, I'm not lucky that Brent and I have a great relationship. I'm not lucky that I got the twins that I'd been wanting for 10 years. I'm not lucky that they are great sleepers. I'm not lucky that they are healthy. I'm blessed by God beyond measure! I'm favored by Him  :) Remember how it felt to be the "favorite" by one of your teachers? Well, multiply that by a billion. That's what it feels like! My prayer for you, if you're reading this, is for you to feel favored by God. It feels so good that it hurts :)
Question for you: How do you know that you're favored by God?

Unspoken

I take for granted that Brent and I understand each other, without speaking. We're like a well-oiled machine most of the time. We've been together as one for more than half of our lives here on Earth. We have an advantage in marriage, I believe, because of this. Marriage is not something that we feel like we are having to "work" at. We both understand that there are just some unspoken family rules that evolve. While attending college, when my major was counseling, I took a Marriage and Family Therapy course. One article that our professor had us read has stayed with me all these years. I read the article to Brent, too. I still read the article a few times each year as a refresher. You can read the article by clicking here. Just understanding the dynamics of relationships will help marriages. Tonight I want to share one of our family process rules. These rules are understood but not usually talked about. Brent and I don't do "girls only" or "guys only" rituals that some couples participate in. Even if it's as simple as having a girl's only dinner or a guy's only football shindig. We've never once told one another that we don't want to participate in them, or told each other that the other one can't go. It's implicit. It's understood. It's us. Some say it's unhealthy not to have "me" time. But there is no, "me" in "us." Now that we have Brenlee and Cadence, it's the same. We'll still have "us" time, (stay with me) which is equivalent to "me" time, because Brent and I are like one. We also have lots of family time, with the four of us together. That's when we are the happiest. Hope you get something out of reading this.....and please DO go read the article---it's wonderful!

Question for you: What Implicit Family Rule does your family have?

Story Time

I absolutely love telling Brenlee and Cadence stories. The story changes just about every day and I'm going to love the day when they can tell me what's new and different about the plot of the story! Here is the story for today:


The Three Little Pigs-as told by Candi

Once upon a time there were 3 little pigs. They lived at home with Momma pig and she told them that it was time for them to make a life for themselves and move OUT! She gave them a few minutes to pack a bag and then kicked them out. As they walked along the side of the old dirt road, they told jokes and reminisced about their childhood. The youngest little pig saw a Farmer's Market down the road and decided that he would go there to find some material to build his house out of. He approached an ol' farmer named Dell and haggled with him 'til he could afford enough hay to build a place to stay. He hauled the hay to the nearest corner and started building his house. The other two pigs kept hiking down the road. The middle pig saw a forest in the distance and a few lumberjacks chopping wood. He begged the men for the sticks that they weren't using, so that he could build himself a cabin. After pleading, the lumberjacks gave him a slue of sticks and the little pig went to the corner and built himself a cabin. The oldest little pig kept walking. He kept remembering what Daddy Pig had always told him. "Fools Rush In." The quote was now making more sense than ever! He was feeling good about his decision not to rush into building a house out of just anything. He decided to rent a cheap motel and get a good job for a while until he had enough money to build a house of brick. Well, about a month later, the wolf family moved into town. They had a son that was very mischievous and who loved him some pork. He found the youngest pig's house of hay. He knocked on the door and hollered, "Little pig, little pig, let me in!" The pig yelled back, "Not by the hair on my chiny-chin-chin!" So, the wolf huffed and he puffed and he blew the house down! He ate the little pig up for dinner. The next day, the wolf decided to pay a visit to the middle pig. When the wolf showed up, the little pig trembled in fear. The wolf hollered, "Little pig, little pig, let me in! If you don't, I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down!" The little pig cried back, "Not by the hair on my chiny-chin-chin!" So, the wolf huffed and he puffed and he blew the house down! He ate the little pig up for dinner. The next morning, the wolf was bragging to some friends. His friends didn't believe that he had blown two houses down and eaten two pigs. He wanted to prove to them his strength, so he invited them to go with him the next day. At the crack of dawn, they headed out to the oldest little pig's house. Little pig was getting ready for a nice, relaxing dinner with his new lady friend, when he heard, "Knock, Knock, Knock!" Little pig knew that the wolf would be coming to visit, so he kindly said, "Please go away, I'm busy!" The wolf screamed, "I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down if you don't let me in!" The little pig replied, "You can blow til you're blue in the face!" This infuriated the wolf and his friends. On the count of three, the wolves huffed and they puffed and they huffed and they puffed....and huffed and puffed.....but the house was still standing. Meanwhile, the little pig was starting a fire in the hearth so that he could roast some ears of corn. The wolf saw the chimney and thought to himself...."Aha, I will go down the chimney and get that little pig and his little friend! He climbed a tree and hopped to the roof. He tip-toed to the smoke stack. Before even looking down, he hopped down the chute....and into the fire. So, I guess you know what the pigs had for dinner! Wolf Stew! The End.


Question for you: What is your favorite story to tell?

Nuts about Soap!

So, I've been wanting to switch over to using Soap Nuts for all my laundering, instead of using commercial detergent.....and I will start using them today!!!! I will let you all know how well I like them, as soon as I have used them enough to have a valid opinion :)
Here is a picture of them..

All I will have to do is put 4-5 nuts in the cloth baggy and drop it into my washer. I'll reuse the same nuts until they show signs of disintegrating (which should be every 10 washes or so). I'm quite excited about my nuts, maybe I'm a bit nuts....BUT, they will save us money and are more Eco friendly, as well.

Question for you:
What natural cleaning agents are your favorite?

Giddy Up!

Giddy up horsey, go to town, ridin' on a pony, don't fall down! Speaking of "Giddy Up," we bagged up our saddles and giddied up to West Texas with the girls for the first time this past weekend. The trip there, our stay, and our trip home couldn't have gone ANY smoother. Brenlee and Cadence are great little travelers and enjoyed being spoiled by family and friends from our home town. We decided to stay at my Dad and Connie's house, as we will each time we visit Lamesa. It is a perfect place for the girls and they feel so secure, comforted and just absolutely love their Mawmaw and Pawpaw! I also get a bit of a break when I'm there, with the help of my sister, Dawn, who drove down from Midland with her hubby and two kiddos!

 Bruce, Paula, and Devin came to visit and felt right at home, too. Bruce is such a natural when it comes to babies. These girls just melt in his arms. Brenlee LOVED jumping with her Snad and pretty much wore him out! Devin is a natural, too. He's so gentle and loving. Both girls could sense his sweet personality and warmed right up to him! Paula also played with, loved on and enjoyed her some Brenlee and Cadence, too!

 Nanny Fran, Aunt Deanie, M'Lea and Sabrina came, too! Cadence LOVED their toe nail polish! It was purple and sparkly....she may be our lil girly-girl! Brent's mom and step dad came over, too and it's not bad of a drive for them. By chance, we got to drive into Lamesa and see Bekah and her precious lil darling, Layla, too. Connie worried that they were spoiling the girls by interacting SOOO much and playing with them, and she was right. BUT....I wouldn't have it ANY other way.

I saw growth socially, physically and emotionally in Brenlee and Cadence happening each minute. Cadence started immitating Nanny Fran and showing a preference of who she wanted to hold her by reaching out. Brenlee also started reaching out for different people. Brandon, my brother-in-law, looks a tiny bit like Brent--in that he has the same pattern of facial hair, and both girls took to him right away! They can sense a good daddy when they see one! Our little girls were exceptional, in spite of teething BIG time the entire time we were gone! Here are several more videos for your pleasure:

Most wonder about how the car ride went...well, they were GREAT! On Thursday, Lana came over to watch the girls with Randi while I got everything ready to go. We decided to do baths and night bottles before we hit the road, in hopes that Brenlee and Cadence would sleep on the trip. Boy, they went to sleep as soon as they got their baths! And they woke right up when we took them out to the car! Those turkeys were laughing and giggling from 6-9:05 with me in the backseat! Oh, now, about the backseat......it's not fun to crawl from the front to the back, but that's the only choise I get, unless I remove the carseat EVERY time....and that's a bit of a hassel. Watch this video of the girls that we thought would sleep during the ride:

Anywho.....we decided at that point to let the girls have a stretch break, since it had been 3 hours. We stopped at Flying J's in Ty.  As soon as we got back on the road, in the dark, the twins fell fast asleep. It was wonderful!! On the ride back home, we decided that there was no need to do a bath before leaving....which extended our visiting time, as well. We left promply at 6, as planned and the girls were asleep by 7. They started squirming about 3.5 hours into the trip, but were still sleeping....we decided to let them have a break. We stopped in Baird. If you ever need a clean bathroom, the Alsups there was exceptionally clean, by the way! After a few minutes, we got back on the road and the girls were asleep within 20 minutes....and slept til we drove into our garage at 11:30. They went right back to sleep and didn't wake up til 7:15 this morning. Seriously, could we ask for better babies??!! 

There are a few more videos I'll put on Facebook......as Blogger won't allow me upload them here!

No Time For A Blog!

Whew, I decided to rest thru one nap today, and now I don't have time to blog! Promise I will as soon as I get a chance!
Stay tuned!