the past couple of weeks...

We are so excited that Emma finally got into preschool.  Since we moved here in October, all of the slots in the preschools we wanted were taken.  Although Emma enjoys Mother's Day Out, she needs a program with structure and something that will challenge her.  She loves it and is so excited to go!  This is her on her first morning of preschool.

My sweet Ava is my little shadow.  She wants to be involved in whatever I am doing whether it is typing on the computer, doing my hair, cooking or make-up.  She loves to get a chance to play with my make-up.  I gave her some make-up just to pacify her as I was trying to get ready one day.  I looked up and found this.
She was so proud of herself.

The other night we got out the paints and the girls had some fun.





Jason went to get the girls out of the playroom today for naptime and this is what he walked in on.  Apparently, the girls were already napping in the baby beds.  How they did not break, I will never know.

In more depressing news, this has been the week for sickness.  Emma came down slightly with a cold and then Ava came down with a full-blown cold that has lasted for a week.  In the between time, Jason and I have fighting off all the cold germs unsuccessfully.  Then to top it all off, Emma came down with a stomach virus this afternoon.  Needless to say, we are about to lose our minds:)

boo-boos

2 weeks ago we had quite the week of accidents.  Ava, otherwise known to us affectionately as our little Tasmanian Devil, is known for being very accident prone.  The current accident came as we were leaving for church.  On Sunday mornings I am pretty much a single parent and of course on Sunday mornings are when the girls decide to make it difficult to get out of the house.  So needless to say we were running late.  As Ava was running out of the playroom she fell and hit her chin on the door leaving a nice gash on her chin.

Her current boo-boo has come from hitting her eye on the edge of our breakfast table.  She has popped a blood vessel in the corner of her eye and she looks really pitiful.  Ava has some kind of cut, gash or bruise every week from some kind of accident.

Now on the the firstborn.  Emma really is the graceful one.  She rarely gets any major boo-boos. However, she does take after me and bruises really easy.  She can barely tap something and a nice big bruise will soon appear.  Emma's poor legs look like we beat her.  

Emma was running (yes, I know that running seems to be a theme here with the accidents) when she hit the corner of her eye on the corner of the granite.  She hit with so much force that it knocked her flat on her back.  So the poor child had a nice big purple bruise on her face for several days.

cardboard testimonies

Last Sunday we had an incredible time of praise during service.  We had a time of doing cardboard testimonies.  People wrote on one side of the cardboard a need, a hurt, a situation that only God could redeem.  On the other side of the cardboard, they wrote how God redeemed it.  While Jason and the band played, people came across the stage holding their signs.  This time was so powerful as we as a church family rejoiced over the testimonies.

I was struck by several things in the moment.  One was that God is still preforming miracles before our eyes!  There were so many instances of healings that only God could have done. There were marriages and broken hearts that only God could get the glory for reconciling.

On the flip side of that, I saw many people walk across the stage with their signs that were still actively in their hurt.  So many people who are still suffering in their circumstance, people who have been suffering for years.  

Yet, when they turned their sign around all that was there was a statement of rejoicing because the theme that weaved through all those different signs and situations is that their joy and their all is found in Him.  Regardless of whether or not God chooses to change their situations, their portion will always remain in Him.

I was in awe of their faith and their contentment.  Faith that God can do all, and contentment that if he chooses not to change their present situation, then that doesn't make Him any less God or any less their Savior.

The following song I feel like captures the prayer I have for myself, my family and our church.  

Desert Song (Hillsong)

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame

I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am conqueror and co- heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

All of my life in every season
You are still God,
I have a reason to sing,
I have a reason to worship

I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I received I will sow

happy new year!

For New Years Jason and I actually got a chance to get out.  After the girls went to bed at my grandparent's house, we had reservations at the Melting Pot for a late dinner.

After getting over the initial heart attack of the price, we had the best time.  The food was so good.  How much better could it get when you get to dine for 2 hours?  Yummy!

I would have included the complementary picture we received from the Melting Pot, but I am not sure it was our finest.  We had that look of what in the world are we doing out so late.  Also could have been the shock of dining alone together without children.  I mean I did not even have to tell Jason to get off the top of the table or stop throwing food at the table beside ours (even though thye were kind of obnoxiously drunk and the girl was attempting somewhat of a strip for us with her dress falling down off of her shoulder).

The girls had fun with the party favors we brought home.  I guess that was the Melting Pot's way of saying, "Thank you for spending your whole eating out budget for the month with us."

Play that horn soul sista...

The hat kept falling over Ava's eyes and she never would fix it.  She ran into the kitchen cabinet 4 times in a row.  And yes, we are the mean parents who let her keep doing it so we could get the camera and take a picture of it.

christmas at grammy and pop-pop's house

Our last and final Christmas celebration was at Grammy and Pop-Pop's house with Jason's family.  This present exchange took us over the top!  Jason could barely see out of his rearview mirror on the way back to Tupelo. 

 Emma's favorite saying when she wants something and we tell her no is, "That's okay I'll ask Grammy if she will get it for me."  Grammy is known as the gift giver.  

Oh, that and Chuck E. Cheese.  Every time we pass by a Chuck E. Cheese, Emma also says, "I'm going to ask Grammy to take me there.

The cousins helping each other open presents.

Cousin Ella

The cousins were pretty tired after opening the extensive amount of presents.  They decided to take a rest on Grammy's bed and watch a movie.

christmas night

Christmas afternoon we headed to Memphis to celebrate with my side of the family.  It is so nice to be close to family again instead of traveling 8 hours!

All the way to Nana and Papa's house, Emma kept talking about how excited she was to open up more presents.  Joking with Emma, Jason said that he thinks that all Mimi got Emma this year was green beans (her least favorite food).  So this is what we gave Emma to open up first.

Not very happy that her worst fear came true:)

When Ava gets super excited she sticks out her tongue and smiles.

I think I have seen this movie about 20 times since she got it.  It was a great present from Aunt Nanie.

The girls are fighting over the joint presents...

Ava loved the littlest pet shop that Mimi got her.  She has already spent countless hours playing with it.

Ava's favorite pastime, talking on the phone.

Jason brought his Christmas present with us, his Wii.  This is Papa and Jason boxing each other.

Jason and Mimi go some rounds.

christmas morning

Christmas morning got off to a slow start.  We stayed up way too late the night before so the girls decided to sleep in until almost 9.  Who are we to argue when our kids want to sleep late?

The girls ran downstairs to find out that Santa had visited while they had been sleeping.  Every day since Thanksgiving, Emma has been consistent in her answer to the question of  "What do you want Santa to bring you?"  Every time she has answered, "a dollhouse".    We took them to see Santa and Emma was not shy when he asked the famous question.  She shouted out "a dollhouse" once more.  So of course Santa did not disappoint.

The girls are standing back in awe of the dollhouse.  It really is cute.  It is 3 stories high and comes complete with a flushing toilet and piano that plays.  What will they think of next?

Ava took her time opening presents.  She was more interested in the presents that Emma had already opened than her own.

Ava's big present from Santa this year was a baby with a wooden cradle.  Ava loves babies!

Ava is so excited about her new baby's cradle.

Both of the girls received a the doll Fancy Nancy book and doll.  They were a hit.

The new Stockdale tradition, sticky buns.