MOMS Club trick-or-treating

The MOMS Club I'm a member of and treasurer for, arranged a trick-or-treating event for the kids at a local rehabilitiation center.  I borrowed this Minnie Mouse costume from our neighbor and off we went.  Elyse had a pretty good time grabbing the candy from the residents and stashing it into her bucket.  She was a little unsure of the wheelchairs carrying the sweet smiling faces hidden beneath a lifetime of wrinkles.  As I watched the residents watching the kids, I couldn't help but guess what their subtle grins and sparkling eyes were pondering.  Take away a few decades, liver spots, drooping eyelids and weakened joints and these were their kids or grandkids.  Take away a few more decades and this was them.  Would they want to change anything if they could go back?  What would advice would they give me, toddler in tow, newborn strapped to my chest, and fatigue upon my face?  Who were they years ago?  Profession?  Family?  I yearned to hear stories, to get to know them, to share their company.  Today was not the day for that as I followed the red dress with white polka dots while a sleeping ladybug rested with her cheek against my chest.

The joy our little ones brought them in such a short visit was so evident as the colorful costumes paraded and danced around a room where the onlookers couldn't even stand without help.  Upbeat music from generations past was being sung in person and, as a nurse, even I didn't notice the sterile white, aging tile, medicinal smell or stark white paint on the walls.  Joy visited them today and I'm grateful to have been a part of it.  They handed out so much more than candy to us today.

 This picture makes me chuckle because I can picture this, in another 16 years, except she fits in the seat, bubble gum replaces the lollipop and the Minnie dress is more mature for a school dance.  She confidently reverses out of the driveway and for the basillionth time I silently pray that we have equipped her.  Some days feel so long that it seems like I'll be dealing with toddler issues forever, other days I know I'll blink and this will be reality.

I annoy myself

I lack proper time management and the discipline to get out of bed early to start my day.  I've used pregnancy and middle of the night feedings as excuses for lingering under my sheets and eyelids.  I'm disorganized and lazy if I want to be honest with myself.  Well, may!be not lazy, because once my feet do hit the floor I'm generally going non-stop until I'm back in my bed again. 

I'm fortunate that Elyse is a good and late sleeper.  She goes to bed between 7 and 8pm and we consistently get a good 12-13 hours out of her each night and a 2 hour nap each afternoon.  Our spirited little girl needs her rest, and we respect that.  Given that she is a late sleeper, I truly have no excuse to slumber as late as I do in the mornings.  Even if I got up at 7, chances are I'd have at least 30 minutes before she awoke, if not an hour and a half on her later mornings.  Adley's routine is still in the making but for the time being she is following suit with being a later riser and I'm more than okay with that.  However, I NEED to make myself get up to spend quiet time, exercise or whatever.  I need to organize my time throughout the day, each day of the week. 

I'm good at chores.  I'm good at keeping things rather tidy, dirty laundry baskets empty, bathrooms clean and shelves clear enough of dust to satisfy us.  I am not good at organizing and shopping for a weeks worth of lunches and dinners or keeping clothes neatly folded in drawers.  I'm good at making sure toys are put away each night but not organized enough in their locations.  I pray.  I read my bible.  But not like I should, how I know I should, or as often as I need to.  I'm not sure what all of this says about me, but I would like to get better at all of it. 

Tomorrow I will wake up early.  God, please kick me in the fanny to help jump start me.  Amen.

Pictures!

Who doesn't love those!

 My little holding my big ;)!

 Grandma and Elyse with Playdough noses! Elyse could play Playdough all day long!

 Our first beer can chicken.  Fun to build and yummy to eat!

 Building blocks with daddy.  We were amazed she let it get so tall without knocking it down.

These next few are, in huge part, why we chose this house over others when we were house hunting.  These quack-less ducks walked through the backyard, almost on cue, when we were first looking at the home.  Ducks, that don't quack, in my own yard?!?!?  I was sold! 

 Elyse fed them bread today, which I've tried to avoid, but we all certainly enjoyed it.

 We have our own little paved paradise in the backyard and I purchased these 2 outdoor chairs on major clearance from Pier One a couple of months ago.  I love how much time we spend in them.  We daydream of some shade over our heads in the summer and a small fire pit between us in the winter.......maybe someday.

For now we will just enjoy the green grass on quaint pond.

I'm learning there are a lot of things that, if it can be avoided, I'd rather not take both kids with me to do. For example in and out errands like the drug store, bank or dry cleaners. Grocery shopping I manageable but not ideal and I'd really like to go shoe shopping (I finally tossed my brown winter shoes after 5 years and one heel replacement) but know better than to even attempt that at this point.

So this morning I got up early, jogged 4 miles, ran 3 errands and I'm ending it with a nice pedicure for my calloused soles.

Later this afternoon my mom is watching the girls so Matt and I can go with some friends to an outdoor festival to celebrate his birthday. This wil be a good day.

Photo session pictures

Here are our top nine pics from our session when Adley was just 6 days old.  It was so hard to narrow it down but these just absolutely make my heart smile!

Chicken BBQ Pizza

A local restaurant favorite inspired me to find a recipe and try to make it myself.  I actually liked mine better!  I don't know if I've ever said that before.

Ingredients


1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 skinless, boneless chicken breast half

1/4 cup barbeque sauce, divided

1/2 cup marinara sauce

1 (16 ounce) package pre-baked pizza crust

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/3 cup thinly sliced red onion

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

1.Heat the sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place the chicken breast in the skillet, and top with 1 tablespoon barbeque sauce. Cook 10 minutes, turn, and top with 1 tablespoon barbeque sauce. Continue cooking 10 minutes, until juices run clear. Cool slightly, and cut into chunks.

2.Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

3.In a small bowl, mix the remaining barbeque sauce and marinara sauce. Spread evenly over the pizza crust. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Arrange cooked chicken chunks and red onion slices over the top.

4.Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from heat, sprinkle with cilantro, and let sit 10 minutes before slicing.
 
5.Eat and enjoy!

Eye appointment

We awoke early this morning for our appointment with the Pediatric Opthamologist.  I felt confident but still concerned and allowed Psalm 139:14 to carry me this morning......His works are marvelous, that I was sure of as we pulled into the parking lot and the rain drizzled from a hazy sky, the weather matching the tone of the morning. 

The waiting room was scattered with children, some with obvious eye abnormalities, others less apparent.  I sat still, glancing at Adley who was sleeping peacefully in her carrier, while parents swapped stories of surgeries and progress.  I prayed that wouldn't be us.  I didn't want this waiting room to become familiar.  I didn't want the staff to get to know us.

Once it was Adley't turn, the exam was a hard one to sit through, as most exams on children are.  Watching her eyes forced and held open with retractors listening to my baby who seldom even fusses, scream mercilessly while Elyse frantically said, "Mommy needs to help Adley" while her panicked expression looked at Matt and I questioning why her parents were allowing this to happen.  I calmly explained it was okay while two lone tears traced my cheek bones. 

Finally the doctor turned to us and as he said "I think she's perfectly fine" my entire body relaxed and I was so happy to hold her.  Moments like this cause me to be in absolute awe of the intricacy and complexity of our Creator's design.  Truly miraculous, that is for sure.

Her rash is fresh with ointment so it looks pretty bad, but aren't her eyes just gorgeous!  ;)

She will literally sleep anywhere.....at least for now.