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?