The Little Things

I don't think that there is anything more precious and simple than the joy family brings to little ones. More often than not, the little things are what capture their hearts. From cardboard boxes, to snuggling, to just playing with them. The things that are priceless yet free. Well, sorta if you don't count the cost of plane tickets from Oregon to Texas ;-)

 Mias still a little young to understand the ins and outs of a calender countdown but shes been telling me on a weekly basis since a month ago that she was going to show Nana and Grandpa her booboo finger that she almost cut off completely in the dust collector 6 months ago. Boy, do they have a memory! I wonder if she'll always remember things that happened to her while she was under 2 years old.

 Mr. Benton aka pouter. He's been waiting for this day for over a month now, carefully and excitingly crossing out each and every day that goes by on his countdown calender. He's not much of an adventurer. He hates heights, he hates anything thats dangerous. All of which is moms fault. Must be first child while dads on deployment syndrome.

 I don't take selfies but if toddlers took selfies, it would be effortless. Somehow they always look amazingly cute without having to pose. :-)

 Mia, milking attention from grandpa. Its just too easy!

 Apparently, mom and dad do not give enough back scratches according to Benton.

 Sometimes I forget Mias a little girl because all she does is play with cars and act like a monster. Then she just gets so absorbed into picking flowers that she doesn't realize everyone's a mile ahead.

 Because when there are monster truck tires, they must be stacked. Or because when men get together, they want to try and break their backs.

Yup

Miss Mia has no fear. Mom has fear enough for both of them. 

 Benton, not so sure about this

Cuties

Finding Joy

Ah Spring break. Why do they call it that? It's not a break for anyone! Not for mothers nor their children. I'm a person of routine. I thrive on it and that does not work very well with the real world. It gives me anxiety because my day is not as I had planned when they are sick, or something comes up where in I have to change what I had planned. Not that I plan anything special but I hate the inconvenience of having to reschedule things. Several verses come to mind regarding both my anxiety and rejoicing in our circumstances.

• Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say; rejoice!
• Philippians 4:6: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
• I'm a pessimist which is something I have to work on everyday. I really shouldn't be because I have the Lord and He's blessed me beyond measure, but I am human (no excuse I know) and sinful and this world is just FULL of sin. It dampens my joy, it hurts me to the point that sometimes I can't sleep at night. 
• But these verses in particular reminds me that yes this world is terrible but it is not my permanent home. I have to actively think when something brings me down, 'what joy can I see within this circumstance?' and 'Just let God know whats on your heart right now, specifically and I will just sense that peace!' So simple but SO very hard to do. 
• With Springbreak and the ripping apart of my normal boring schedule, I've learned to relax. I've learned to sleep in. I don't have to get up two hours before the kids. I've been laying in bed until they climb in with me around 730am. Bliss. I've overcome another anxiety this week as well. Taking two toddlers who can't sit or stand still to the aquarium ...on...Spring break. And they loved it. Mia got kisses from a stingray and Benton was willing to wait an entire 45 minutes to see the dolphins perform. And that I rejoice! and give Him thanks! :-)

Another thing to be thankful for! Brandons been getting a few purchases from his etsy store!!Adams Elemental Design He's got an order to fulfill this weekend so that is exciting and I sent out a spice rack yesterday for him.

We said goodbye (except for at night) to the diaper bum. I'll miss that puffy bottom for sure but it's SO nice to not constantly have to change diapers. On the downside, she might get diabetes from all the candy she's getting for peeing in the potty. 

Magic growing dust!

One of their favorite parts of the week? Friday afternoons when they get to talk to their yeema/aunty Tiff! They instantly yell "Yeema!" when the skype bell rings. It's incredible the things they pick up and look forward to on a weekly basis. Some days they ask daily to talk to yeema or popo or Grandpa and nana. It's most amazing to me, that they have founded such a close relationship with tiff and aaron just over once weekly skype sessions. Their little hearts are so willing, if YOU are willing. They are so incredible at this age. :-) Makes my heart skip a few beats to know how much love they have.

They are growing too fast for me. Mias 2 1/2 in a couple of days. Bentons' batman sweatpants he got in January for his birthday are 2 inches too short. His legs are all together too long for his protruding burger stuffed belly. 

 In the past couple of months, hes taken to coloring and drawing. He's probably gonna buy out all the sidewalk chalk at Walmart here pretty soon. They're really into drawing around each others bodies and then coloring it in and decorating it to the characters on Toy Story. Buzz is their number 1 sidewalk chalk character. 

 Mia can sing her ABC's and count to 12. She's smart and remembers her friends from both school and sunday school and bible study and the gym. Its so intriguing to me how much their little brains absorb, while I forget where my keys are at on a daily basis. :-) They're ascending, we're descending. The beauty of life and the miracles God created for us. Which is something I need to remember more of, to bring my focus back to God and remembering to be thankful for the ups and downs in my life because He strengthens me through it all and never leaves my side. I know lent is a Catholic thing but giving up facebook for 40 days is a good reminder for me to focus on God, and less on the things that suck my life away. It allows me also to look into my childs faces more intently than just to discipline them every minute. 

 Spring break is upon us next week and I feel it's time to get this gal into big girl underwear! Perhaps my week off with them will provide that needed time to help her focus a little on peeing in the potty. I dread it SO much. But I'm sick of paying $80 per month on diapers and wipes. So have a cup of coffee or two for me next week cause this mamas gonna need it BIG time. 

 As they grow, they loose their innocence and I've had anxiety over this. I don't want them to be exposed to the terrible things of this world and their own personal sense of right. There's still one thing that strikes the beauty of their innocence. That van. Aih. That huge white van. They think it's the greatest thing in the world because it's a castle to them. They can see out the windows when we drive it. They are funny. And I prefer my Mazda.

 "Weben"

How is it March already? And how is school out in less than 3 months? Nooooooooooooooo..........