Lucy's Children's Museum birthday trip

So, for Lucy's birthday, she wanted a little destination party, kind of like we did for Milo at the zoo. We decided the Children's Museum in Houston would be a good INDOOR location, so we headed there Sunday. I'm not going to lie - it was packed, which was a teensy bit stressful. But, everyone had a blast anyway, and I think the birthday girl felt well celebrated.

Outside the little climbing area. I know they're blurry, but aren't they perfect?

Milo had a go at the climbing wall (with help from Uncle Matt).

Little people in the climbing area with Auntie Ann.

Pushing buttons. It never gets old.

Sweet sweet little birthday girl.

Sweet sweet birthday brother.

Constructing!

Hey, look! It's Milo on the news!

Driving an ambulance. Biggest smile all day.

I couldn't help it. I needed a picture.

Milo at the kids' grocery store. I wish I had gotten a picture of Lucy, too. They were both really intense about their shopping.

Milo served Auntie Ann and Uncle Matt at the cafe.

Lucy prepped food and then gave it to the first baby she could find. 

This picture made me laugh because Lucy and I have the same lips.

Outdoor fun.

Museum shot!

Thoughts on future aspirations

Milo: "When I grow up, I think I might like to work in construction."

Lucy:  "When I grow up, I want to be a pirhana."

Milo:  "Lucy, I think what you mean is a ballerina."

(long pause)

Lucy:  "Yeah, when I grow up, I want to be a pirhana."

Happy birthday (yesterday), Lucy Jane!

Can you believe that yesterday this little nugget...

...became this gorgeous three-year old creature?

Oh, my sweet Lucy, time has gone by so quickly! She is a passionate, vibrant, cuddly, smart, baby-loving little treasure who is a ray of light to everyone she knows. As much as she grew and changed just last year, I can't wait to continue to learn about who she is.

Birthday dinner

Just to make up for the last post, here's a super cute little something from my birthday dinner. My people really did spoil me this weekend!

Just a little rant

Blargh. Do you ever have those moments that remind you that you pretty much have no control over anything in life?

Like, when you order your daughter's birthday present at the beginning of the month and spend multiple conversations with customer service to find the dang birthday present that still isn't at your house and they have no clue where it is either... And they tell you, "We can TRY to get it to you by then, but we can't guarantee it..." And no matter how much you explain to Toys 'r Us that you can't go with a non-guarantee when it's in regard to your daughter's 3rd birthday present, they just don't seem to care? (Yes, I am calling you out, Toys'rUs because I am super ticked right now.) My tummy hurts because I'm frustrated and concerned that Lulu will have nothing but a Leapster game to open on her birthday with no Leapster to play it on.

So, that's been my morning (and another morning last week, too) in a rant nutshell. How about yours?

Just a little redesign... Every now and then I can't help myself. Here's to pared-back, simpler, cleaner living, as reflected in my blog design. Cheers!

Visions in navy

Oh how I love these people...

One of those...

Do you ever just have those moments with your children?

You know, when they've disobeyed in the same way for the umpteenth time? Or they've carelessly broken something? Or been unwise with their words?

Lucy Jane and I have had a rough few days. She hasn't been listening, therefore disobeying, and on top of that, peeing her pants left and right (keep in mind she's been potty trained for going on a year now...). I have been frustrated with her, which only makes her shut down, so I feel like we're going in circles.

Today I prayed for patience as she threw a wolloping fit, and went to lay her down for her nap. As we rocked for a minute, I reminded her, "Lucy, your job is to obey. And I know you're going to remember next time. So let's focus on keeping dry undies after nap and obeying Mommy without throwing fits."

She snuggled in under my chin as I kept talking, then sat straight up and met my eyes. "But Mommy, I don't LIKE to disobey." And somehow that just soothed my spirit and made me feel so bad for her. The learning curve is hard, especially when no one is doing things according to your two-almost-three-year-old plan. So I'll continue to discipline her and know that she's going to get it, because she wants to do things right.

Treasure

My little people say the most amazing, precious things. They're full of care and concern for other people, and they surprise me with their insight. Plus they're just plain hilarious.

Lucy saw a stray cat in a parking lot while we were eating ice cream at Orange Leaf the other night. She looked at me with her nose all wrinkled up and said, "Mommy, that poor little kitty needs help. We should pray for him." And then she proceeded to tell God that that "poor sweet little baby kitty" needed him to help him find his way home. Heart melted.

And then Milo, after watching an episode of Octonauts (Have you seen this? If you have little people, you have to look it up because it's adorable and teaches about marine life.) that included a treasure hunt, told me, "Mommy, really, the greatest treasure we could ever have is the Torah. And, of course, time with Mommy and Daddy." Again, heart melted.

They're dressed up as spies today. Milo is in black pants, a dark tee shirt, and a spy vest. Lucy is in a floral print romper and a giant pink bow headband, her choice. She told me she's a "princess spy." I think her cover is sound, don't you?

Book Review - Delilah: Treacherous Beauty

I received a copy of Delilah: Treacherous Beauty by Angela Hunt from Bethany House to review. I was interested in this one because I previously reviewed Esther and Bathsheba by the same author and series. I was fans of the other two, but I just couldn't get behind this one.

I will admit, I always enjoy a different perspective on stories. In the other novels, we've gotten the main character and then a supporting character that adds to the story. This time the story was told from Delilah and Samson's perspective, and I'm going to be honest - it went a little cheesy. The author spun it as a love story (including betrayal) between the two, and I just couldn't believe it. Is it that I've just been conditioned to view Delilah as the harlot temptress? I'm not sure. I will say that I got a decent view of Samson as just a man, which is always interesting, but the author went a little too far in trying to paint him as an outsider who never belonged anywhere because of his "gift." 

I also had a huge beef with the fact that I need historical fiction to be just that- historical. Hunt missed the fact that rabbits aren't kosher, and she had Samson hunting and eating them several times. Maybe she just figured he'd break that part of the Torah since he was lax in other areas? I don't know, but it just got under my skin somehow.

All in all, this was an interesting and quick read, but my least favorite of the series.

Blasting off to Marcia

I wish I had a video camera on my little people constantly. Because no re-telling can explain how funny this was...

Lucy:  "Milo, let's blast off and go somewhere!"

Milo:  "Sure, Lucy. Where should we go?"

Lucy:  "Three places. United States. America. And Alaska."

The look on Milo's face was priceless. It was like he took a deep breath, raised his eyes to the sky, and prayed, "Lord, help me."

Milo:  "Lucy, that doesn't make any sense. The United States and America are the same thing, and Alaska is in them. And you don't blast off to a country, you blast off to space."

Lucy:  "Okay. Then we will blast off to the moon, China, and Marcia."

Milo:  "Fine. Let's go to Marcia."

After a certain amount of discussion, I realized that Marcia is, indeed, Russia, but that's another conversation for another day.

Just so cute