LIttle Girls...........

Ellie, Lucy and I just returned yesterday from our overnight at Camp Tadmor.  Ellie went last year, but this was Lucy's first time going.  She loved it, and had a great time staying up until midnight!  It was cute to watch the girls together, singing, playing games, planning skits, sleeping in their bunks, and meeting new friends!  It was just after everyone had crawled into their bunks,and it was quiet in the cabin, when Lucy says, "Mom, we forgot to say our prayers".  I was so proud of her for speaking up and reminding me.  She was not embarrassed or hesitant, but knew this was our routine and she wanted to have that peace and comfort before going to sleep in a new place of saying her prayers:)  She also was at her friends last week, playing the wii when a song came on that she didn't think I'd like.  She told her friends mom, and they switched it, but again so proud of her for speaking up and having the confidence to stand up for what is right and speaking up when she is uncomfortable with something!  I pray that she will always have that in her:)  Ellie called from school to get my approval on a movie they were showing, it was a Christmas movie, I think Shrek or something?  I was so blessed that Ellie again, wanted to make sure she should be watching it, and I was so proud of her.  We have really worked hard to keep our kids sensitive to the media, and all it portrays and throws at us.  We have to be so careful what we watch and what we take into our minds as it slowly shapes what we think and who we become.  It is getting harder and harder, and feels like a battle.  I am saddened daily as to what I hear kids are exposed to, what they are doing, and how fast they are being forced to grow up.  I am reading a book by Dr. James Dobson, called, "Bringing up Girls" and it is a wonderful book.  Great practical advice on teaching our children, and knowing what they need, ways to connect with them, and the dangers they face.  Surprisingly many parents are pushing their girls to grow up too fast and to be sexualized, younger and younger as they prance around in bikini's and wear make-up earlier and earlier, watch shows about relationships, cell phones, text messaging, facebook, internet......it's right under our nose, yet a lot of parents don't see it.  I am grateful for the reminder and awareness of what our daughters need from us, and from me, particularly as their mother................working to teach them, modesty, integrity, morality, manners, respect, perseverance, and virtue.  It seems with our world and culture, it gets harder every year, but I know we can make our homes safe and a place of teaching and a feeling of comfort.  It is my prayer that as a mother of 3 beautiful daughters, I will be guided to be the mom they need, to speak the right words, and live by example of following God, so they too, can follow Him and find happiness in their lives, not the happiness the world has to offer, but true lasting happiness:)

Amelia Rides Again!

It's spring now, and Amelia is starting soccer back up after a break from fall.  She is really loving playing in jersey #2 on the Rasberries team!  The best part is her daddy is the coach!  They are an aggressive team, winning most all of their games.  Amelia made 3 goals last week, and 1 yesterday.  I didn't get to stay and watch because Grant and I fell into a ravine of mud and were in need of emergency showers:)  We have about 6 more games, and we're done.  Amelia wants to play in the fall again, so we'll look forward to that.  It's hard to believe that this school year is almost over, and my little Millie will be in first grade!  I am not ready for her to be gone all day long :(  I will miss her greatly!  She is growing up so fast, this morning she had put on her new earnings and some aquaphor on her chapped lips and she looked so grown up.......but a beautiful and bright, caring, young lady she is!!  We just love her to pieces.  She loves to say her prayers, and is really sensitive to others.  Every night at dinner she prays, "to bless and nurith" our food. It's so cute to hear kids pronounce words the way they have heard them, and listen to what comes out.  She is also cruising along in karate.  She earned her first black tip on her white belt two weeks ago, and is so very proud of herself.  She works really hard and loves to practice!

Flying with Neverbird!

It seems lately we are always flying with Neverbird.  You see...........Grant is just head over heals in love with "Jake and the Neverland Pirapes"  no, it's not a typo.......he loves "pirapes".  So everytime (which is almost always) that he is angry, he says I hate Neverbird, No Neverbird, I want Neverbird, I am Neverbird and so on......at first we weren't sure what he was talking about, but then Ellie explained to us that Neverbird is a character on the new show.......Grant thinks he is a pirate, he growls like one, yells, like one, burps at the table like one, and sneers like one too!  We went to the beach over spring break, and every boat in the ocean was a "pirape ship"....he is now in a big boy booster seat, which he thinks is so cool.  He has a seat like his sister Millie and no more baby seat.  We were able to sell the two Britax car seats we had, and make a whoppin $150 ..not bad for used seats:)  Where much mischeif is given, so is much love.  Grant loves to hug, kiss, snuggle, and smell his mama.  He loves perfume, and the smell of my hair.  He crawls into bed every morning with me, and says, "hello, I awake".  Talk about the best alarm clock ever.  He climbs up with me, and gets the pillow just right, and the blankets just right, and says, "give me the remote" and attempts to put cartoons on:)  I tell ya, what a life................