Lucy's New Do

This week I "tricked" Lucy into cutting about 3 inches off her hair. I told her a small white fib that her baby hair needed to be cut off before her long big girl hair would grow in. She fell for it hook, line and sinker. Looking at her now, I wished I would have went a little shorter, but her hair looks so much healthier and thicker, in my humble opinion - absolutely fartin' adorable! Now I am working on Carlie to get her done too. Doesn't quite work the same, little Carlie is way too smart for any tricking. Shucks, should have tried that one when she was younger.

BFF - Samantha

Tonight we had another skating party, and you know what - Carlie is getting pretty good! By the end of the night she made it around by herself without falling almost two whole times! Pictures with her is Carlie's current BFF - Samantha. Both of the girls were sporting their Central green - heck for $1 off admission, I wish I would have had some! Lucy on the other hand, decided she would just completely skip the skates all together. Her and Daddy hung out and played games most of the night. She may be a little young yet :)

Before & After - The Kitchen

The fastest makeover in the Midwest. Jeff went out of town on Friday, returned on Saturday afternoon, and waa laa - it's done! I spent all Friday night and most of Saturday with a paint brush in my hand, and now my kitchen is Timber Line (the color). I really like the color, but I think it makes my kitchen look smaller (perhaps) - and I didn't realize all the imperfections that the border covered either. I tried to reincarnate some of my old decorations, but I think I might have to take another trip down to the Keystone mall to get some more. Tell me your comments!! Be nice, because I am going to be stuck with this color for another 9 years....

5:30a - Really Carlie?

How does she know? Seriously..how does a 6 year old know when she is going to have a fog delay or cancellation...EVEN BEFORE it is called? Each and every fog delay or cancellation this year, I turn on the TV, sigh a little sigh of relief and snuggle back into the covers for an extra hour of sleep. This morning was no different. At 5:30a - it never fails...thud, step, step, step....Mommy (whispering...) - can I get into bed with you? Sure, come snuggle with mommy and let's go back to sleep.....wiggle, wiggle, scratch, itch, flop, wiggle, scratch, sniff, scratch...mommy, are you asleep? No Carlie, what do you need? Can I turn on cartoons? Can I play computer? Can I, Can I, Can I? I haven't been able to sleep in one day this year on a delay day. Yes, all you working mom's I am sure feel sorry for me. Except for my sister...she is awaken each and every morning at 6:00a with a beautiful baby boy, I feel your pain sis.

1,000 Piece Puzzle

We did it!!! Somebody at church gave Carlie a 1,000 piece puzzle. Huh? 1,000 piece puzzle to a 6 year old?? But honestly, it turned out to be a fun family project that we worked on together each night. AND THEN, once the kids went to bed, mommy & daddy was secretly obsessed with putting the puzzle together...I had forgotten how fun puzzles can be! Well, pictures is the Gongaware Family's first 1,000 piece puzzle...possibly more to come!

We Share In This Family

I was the first to get Carlie's illness, Jeff started too, but avoided the full blown version, but little Lucy...poor little Lucy. Thursday night started our woes with her, with high fever, crazy fever dreams and vomiting. No sleep on Thursday night for mommy, daddy or Lucy. Friday her fever got as high as 104.5 - and did I mention I don't do well with high fever? I am terrified of the fever seizures that may occur. I had to give Lucy a tepid bath to bring her temperature down. Has anybody tried to give a freezing cold, fever laden 3 year old a tepid bath....yeah ~ not fun for anybody involved. The bath, along with heavy doses of Ibuprofen and Tylenol, we got her temp down. Last night she slept through the night and today her temp has just been skimming 100 degrees, and is clearly feeling much better. She even asked for a bath and to get dressed, I guess days of stinky pj's were getting to her. I am ready for summer!!!

Sick Child

Carlie started "feeling cold" Friday evening, and the fever continues. It's never got above 102, but it has held a steady 101 the entire weekend. Ibuprofen every 6 hours on the dot. The good news is that she has no other symptoms. No sore throat, no throwing up, no ear aches...hmmm...makes you wonder what is causing the fever? She is highly disappointed she had to miss church this morning, and HC this afternoon. Her last fever reading was at 4:00a this morning. Unfortunately, if she has fever today, that means no school tomorrow. I haven't broke that to her yet, as she will be dramatically upset, as they are celebrating Miss James' birthday. To all who haven't discovered it yet, the picture is of our forehead thermometer - and Ginger - if you haven't bought one yet (they are very pricey - $50-$60) - they are WORTH IT. Jeff's sister (who is a nurse) recommended it to when Carlie was young, and they are wonderful. Temperature reading in 10 seconds without all the holding the child down, under the arm or under the tongue hassle. I have even took their temperature while they were sleeping! Although we have never tried the ear thermometers, I bet those would work well too. Jeff went to church this morning - lucky man escaped - while I am watching Enchanted for the 4th time this weekend. Lucky mommy.

Ready for the Big Dunk?

Lately, Carlie has been talking about baptism. We recently had a sermon series on repentance and baptism, and our pastor challenged us to talk to our kids about these topics. Since that time, Carlie has clearly stated to me that she had Jesus in her heart, and knows she is forgiven, and that she doesn't need to ask him into her heart again, she knows that "He gave his only Son to die for us, so that we might eternal life." Seriously, those were her exact words. Jeff and I have been praying about whether or not Carlie truly understands accepting Jesus, and I think we have come to the conclusion, that she does! We are lucky because our church offers a Baptism Class for those kids who feel they are ready to be baptized and I am going to see about Carlie attending with Jeff and I. Her only hesitation is that she is scared to go all the way underwater and wants to know if she can hold her nose. I love her simple child like faith! This is a big step for our Carlie, so I am asking for prayers for wisdom for Jeff and I, and for maturity of faith for Carlie. I know my little girl loves Jesus with all her heart, it just exudes from her ... who am I to hold her back from baptism because I don't feel she is old enough? I wonder at times if my struggle is from the faith in which I was raised, and baptism didn't happen until much older. What if I was raised where I was baptized as a baby? Would I be having this same struggle. I am asking God to help me through this one in form of PEACE of heart, soul and mind.

Pushing My Buttons

Carlie has been "testing her boundaries" lately. After correcting her and re-advising her of her boundaries, she states "she forgot" or "I thought that you meant..." Me-oh-my...she is PUSHING MY BUTTONS. She recently received her first "time out" in school, so I am wondering if this is a growing phase for her, possibly maturing and gaining this new security or maturity she is feeling. Up until this point we would go through periods like this, and we would simply adjust and get through them. But now, I am feeling she is simply being disobedient and deceitful... and by golly ... I don't like it much. And today, while she was being willfully disobedient, Lucy was just a step behind her, and we had to punish Lucy right along with her...which isn't hardly fair is it? But, I guess we are teaching Lucy not to be a follower, even when it is her sister. I guess it's back to the parenting books for us.