Tetha ball

Or... "Use Your Noggin' Ball"

The only way to really do this sport is to use your head. Literally!Whack!
(But, I don't want to use my hand...it is much more fun to use my head!)

Menu Planning at Lil Daisies --Yum!

So, it has been awhile since I have done some menu planning...or rather posted. This week is somewhat of a busy week. The Fourth of July celebrations may be cancelled in our area due to fire weather. The smoke has been horrible.
I am suppose to sing at the celebrations if it continues, if not I am not sure what our plans are going to be. I have not really done any planning regarding what to eat that day...so...I guess we will just have to see when it gets closer.
Life has been busy over at our home. I do have lots of things to share, but then there are times when I am not sure where to begin or what to say. Sound familiar to some of you?
Here is our menu for the week. I am being flexible. Things may change depending on circumstances, my mood, etc.
I have a recipe posted at the end of this post. Enjoy!

Summer Rolls
Thai Cucumber Radish Salad
Sticky Rice w/ dipping sauces
















Mahi Mahi Tacos
Black Beans
Fruit Salad


















shrimp with white beans
creamy polenta


Pizza (Grilled)
Fruit
















Mahi Mahi Lettuce Wraps
Couscous













Couscous

Ingredients:
2 garlic chopped finely
1/8 tsp of red pepper flakes (or more depending on your desired heat)
EVOO
2 cups broth (chicken or vegetarian--we use the veggie)
1 cup frozen peas
grated lemon zest
4 scallions, finely chopped
2 cups of couscous
1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1/4 cup green olives with pimiento, chopped

In a medium saucepan, drizzle EVOO and add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook until garlic is soft and fragrant (1 minute). Add broth, peas, scallions, lemon zest, and bring to a boil. Stir in couscous, cover, and turn off heat; let stand for about 5 minutes. Stir in the cilantro, almonds and olives.

TURBO TOUNGE!

She has an amazing talent!

(No, we did not put anything on her lips or tounge or mouth!)

Happy Van Mommy

I must confess that I like to do funny things while I am driving. Since, I have to drive a marooney van, I might as well live it up as a Mommy Van Driver. Right?


Remember this?
And, sometimes I may not do crazy stuff, but I may think it!

Well, today I thought I would share with you another one of my quirks that I like to do while driving. It actually happens to involve an officer of the law & some thumpin' music!

How many of you notice the coppers sitting in their cars on the side lines trying to be inconspicuous and ready to just race after you if they could get the chance?
Well, most of the time I tend to notice their inconspicuous cars and I slow a down a little bit....and....

...here is what I do:

I pretend (sometimes I am really doing this and not pretending) to sing dramatically out loud with hand motions and charismatic expressions. Usually, I pretend (or not pretend) it to be some sort of jolly children song. (I think I may even look like those two characters on Wayne's World)!

Most of the time we actually do have music playing loudly and we do sing. And, I don't just do it when there is a parked copper, I also do when a copper pulls up next to me at a light signal. This is even more exciting, because sometimes we have to be next to each other for awhile. I think it is funny because those coppers always just look so serious and they need a good laugh. And, even if they don't chuckle a bit...at least I think it is funny!

I guess I am hoping they see just a "happy-van-mommy" driving along and singing with her children....enthusiastically!

Tell me, Do you have an strange car quirks?

Today

So Far...
* We ate Cheerios and Juice for breakfast
* We watched Elmo and Dorothy learn about games on Sesame Street

Currently:
* We are picking up toys and stuff around the house and finding their home!

Next?:

* Reading Time (I have a new book to read to the girls)
* Shower (Sometime)
* Laundry (This is a big item for today)
* Playdough for the girls
* Devotional Time
* Guest Room: Cleaned and wash sheets

Reality Check

Conversation with my darling husband and I today. He is blessed with wisdom of words, especially towards me. I so needed these words today.

Bella:
Ric:
I am a BIT stressed with this messy house, though. It is very frustrating for me that I can't do much with my injured shoulder and that we are expecting company TO-MORROW and the house is utterly a disaster. I really want to cry....no sob about it. AND, then...there is LYDIA...
..in to everything....defiant about it all....and who cares what Mommy has to say....in one ear and quickly and swiftly out the other ear.

I am drowning.

At least she is going Poo poo on the toilet

There is a praise!

I just can't figure out what the Lord is wanting to teach me through all of this....because I am sure that I am not doing a good job of listening to Him and understanding what he wants from me....because I am just lost in this sea of utter mess.
Do you think that the Lord is more interested in a clean house or a clean heart? Do you think that the Lord can use trials to draw us into a more intimate-holy-dependent relationship with Him. Do you think that the Lord can/is using this time to break you down so that you can be built up in Him?
I think it is hard for me to see past all of it...All I see is what is in front of me...and I feel that if it was clean and organized, then maybe I could be able to settle down and have intimate time with the Lord
The problem is that we come to the conclusion that everything would be okay if our circumstances changed. We put the problem on something apart/outside of us. The Lord's desire is that we worship Him regardless of any particular circumstance or situation.

In fact He requires that we worship only Him because of our circumstances

If we are not worshiping Him then we are holding something up to be more important than Him.

When we are ruled by our circumstances, then we are worshiping a created thing rather than the Creator.

Lydia: 3 Fun Years

It is hard to believe that 3 years ago today I was in the hospital cradling you, my new 7.8 pound infant. You had sweet round cheeks and cute little button nose. When I first met you, you cooed a sweet little sound and from that moment I met you, I knew you would have a profound impact on my life!


Your spirited and energetic personality is teaching me to be more patient, more patient than I ever thought I could become. Your self determination came early in life and you have kept me on my toes ever since. There is never a dull moment in my day with you. You are always into something, climbing on somethings, creating something, tearing up somethings, spilling something, writing on something, figuring out something, peeing on something (other than the toilet)...

Your lack of responding to typical discipline tactics is teaching me to continually think of new ways to teach you and help you to grow to be a little sweet young lady. I am learning to be more creative and flexible.

You tend to march to the beat of your own little drum (Stripping down naked at the YMCA in front of about 20 other little tots and not caring what people think).... is teaching me to be a little bit more open minded, less critical and less judgmental and most of all laughing more.
You have a silly sense of humor and I am learning to pick out more of those quirky times and enjoy laughing more.

However, through these daily adventures with you, I love your sweet and gentle smile. Yes, I wonder sometimes how I am ever going to survive your journey into adulthood, but the Lord has bestowed his continual tender mercies upon me and I am so thankful that he has blessed me with you!

Somethings you like:

---To Scream or growl while you sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or Jesus Loves Me

---Watch all the SHREK movies

---Stand on the swing while Papa pushes you high in the air

---Get "coffee" (hot cocoa) with Mommy

---Not wearing clothes

---Dogs! Any kind of Dog...you chase after them when you see them.

---Giggle with Rosi

---Pour your water or juice into your food

---Cooking! You love to make bread with Papa and cook anything with Mama!

---Taking Baths! You could take three a day if you could.

---Jumping

---Bubbles

---The Library

---Cleaning the Dishes and spraying the windows

---"Uppy" (You word for wanting us to pick you up and hold you)

---Fruit snacks

I love you my sweet Lydia! Happy Birthday!

On This Day Nine Years Ago

I love you!

Happy Birthday Auntie Suzy

We Love You!

List Of Ten and Then Some

• One cake to decorate
• Two sore feet
• Three ---My Daugther is turning three this weekend and having a SUPER fun party planned....lots to do to prepare though
• Four cards and presents to make for Father's Day
• Five people in our family having birthdays this week
• Six rooms to clean completely before Saturday: Bathroom, Guest Room, Master Bedroom, Kitchen/Family Room, Living Room, Office
• Seven loads of laundry needing to be either/or washed, dried, folded, and put away.
• Eight maids a milking: okay just kidding....but it is about how many times I have to give Rosie milk! I couldn't really think of something for #8. Hey, I tried.
  
• Nine years of marriage celebrating on Friday the 13th. Oooooo!
• Ten dollars a ticket that I need to be selling for Sophia and Lydia's ballet performance in Peter Pan next weekend.

And other numbers for pure random joy....

• 40 Fruit Kabobs made for Sophia's last day of school
• 25 Goodie Buckets needing to be made to give away at Lydia's Birthday
• 100 screams a day at a( not mentioning the name, ahem) medical insurance people...
• 196 unread emails in my inbox
• 621 unread posts in my google reader
• 2 pillows that I am now going to place my head upon
• 1 man that I plan to go snuggle with right now....

Goodnight Y'all... I will be back when.... I don't know when.... when I get my numbers sorted out and the storm calms down a little?? ....maybe. Anybody still out there?

Happy Birthday Uncle Pete

That week, This week...a little bit of this and that

Taking a week off of TV and Computer was a BLESSING. I was able to get a lot accomplished. HOO-RAH! I could write a long list of my week, but maybe I will scatter in a few things here and there over the few weeks.

This week is busy for me too. I almost thought it would be nice to take off another week. But, I have so much to share with y'all too. Lots of fun and crazy stories from my week off.

This week:

• Getting ready for Lydia's party. She is having an Ariel Under the Sea party. She will be three. I have mostly everything, I just need to get it altogether.
• Work on Summer Activity Jar. I will explain more in another post.
• Plan Friday Family Nights (yet, another post)
• Clean, clean, clean for company arriving on weekend for the birthday party.
• Plan out Summer schedule

Okay, the bummer of the week though? Our camera bit the dust after 6 years of love and use....so I haven't been able to capture many grand moments, so hopefully someday when we get another camera, I will be able to place some snapshots up of our lives.

Until next time....

A break to bask

I will be taking break from the computer and TV for a week. (I know, I know....I will miss you too!) BUT....
I need this time to really wrap myself into God's love and His Word, my husband, and my children. This will be a time of reflection, cleansing, and heart transformation for me.

Dear God,
I want to bask in You love!
Why do I ever put it off?
When I finally settle down to just be in Your presence,
I feel Your warm smile upon me.
Rescue me, Lord, from this pale, sickly self
and draw me into the light of Your love.
I want to be a person who loves to rest in Your presence
and has a life of love to prove it.
Help me to completely abandon myself to You
and to all the truth You want to shine into my life.
What a cure for the blues!
When I'm tempted to look for love in all the wrong places ----
like other's approval or in the fridge---draw me back to You with the truth.
Today by Your power at work in me, I will lift my face to You.
I will lay my whole life and self before You, and I will bask in the warmth of Your holy, radiant love all day. I choose to worship You today.
Amen.