Spaghetti, Daycare, and Lip Gloss

Well, it is official. I got a job. I'll be working for a non-profit organization in their school based mental health program. It was a HARD decision, but I really feel at peace about it. Of course I wish I could stay at home right now... but this is the next best thing. Riley will only have to be at daycare from about 8:15 - 4... 4 of those hrs will be napping. Haha. The girls likes herself some sleep! I'll have (most) school holidays and breaks (except for summer) off and that will be FANTASTIC! God is clearly working in the situation... I start on Tuesday, so I go w/o a break in between babysitting and starting (that's good for the finances), it's an organization I've been watching for a while, it's an ideal job (hard, but I like a challenge), pay is actually better than I expected, great hrs, great daycare option. I'm still sad to leave Riley though...

Next... spaghetti. My child LOVES spaghetti! Here are some pictures and videos of it!

Lip gloss. She loooooooooooves lip gloss. This afternoon, she ripped everything off of the book shelf, found the lip gloss, and then went to play. Of course, she took it with her to play... Such a girly girl already. God help me.

Other than that... nothing huge going on. haha. Monday is a holiday, woo hoo! My parents are coming down tomorrow afternoon - Monday morning. I'm so excited! It'll be a nice end to the summer.

Some new things

First... below is a link to a mega give away that I'm participating in. Go enter... there's TONS of great stuff!

Now... I got ambitious and did my first solo rag quilt this weekend! It was so much fun! I can't wait to do another one. I put it in my etsy shop (along with some Halloween bow sets. Hint hint.)

hello!

Oh for crying out loud. You'd think I'd learn my lesson by now! I have erased another post!

Anyways... last week and last weekend were great! Had lots of fun! Saturday consisted of going to watch the boys play badminton and hanging out with friends. Sunday Ryan helped our friends pack up their moving van and Riley and I relaxed at home. She had a ROUGH time sleeping and only napped about 45 minutes ALL day on Sunday. So, the Rooster and I didn't make it to church yesterday evening and battled for over an hr to get her to go to sleep. She finally passed out around 7:45 w/o eating before bed. I got her to feed her at 9:30 and then we snuggled for a bit. She NEVER lets me snuggle with her anymore, so I took advantage of the opportunity!

It looks as if I'll be joining the ranks of working moms. I'm REALLY disappointed about this. But it really is the best option for our family right now. Riley deserves a mom and dad who aren't stressed about money. Plus... I'd rather work now, while she won't remember it, and be set in the near future. It's a temporary - but necessary - situation. I can do ANYTHING if it is temporary.

Chewing on her Clifford book from the drClimbed on up in the dishwasher.

Hanging out at Smith Mtn Lake

Watching the boys play badminton... like that sunblock mohawk?

You should see the smile on her face when I push that thing around!

Totally not Riley related!

As a lot of you know, I've been making hair bows and have an etsy shop.

I decided to take it one step further for right now! I'm so excited! The Purple, Pink, and Orange blog is doing a MEGA GIVEAWAY! I have decided to be a sponsor!

So... go to this link and enter to win one of the MANY prizes! I am personally entering 3 sets of bows in it!

finally some time to relax!

For today and tomorrow, it is just me and Riley during the day! WOOOOO HOOOOO! I miss spending time with just her and I! Plus... it's been a LONG week and I was MORE than ready for a little bit of a break! A lot going on here at our house lately!

Right now she is leaning in her toy box just throwing toys everywhere. Whatever... I'll clean up when she takes a nap! Hopefully todays naps are better than yesterdays! I think that her teeth might be bugging her again. She finally cut 2 and now it feels like she is trying to cut the top 2. The girl is also LOVING to get on the computer! As soon as you put her down, she heads straight for it! www.kneebouncers.com has been our new best friend! She can bang away on the keyboard and it will play music for her. It's terrific!

We're having a bitter sweet momend this weekend... I think I am going to go through some of her little baby things and get them put away. The Fisher Price Infant to Toddler Rocker (blue & red one) is GREAT, but she isn't old enough (or big enough) to really use it for a little chair yet. Her bumbo - well she's WAY too mobile for that thing! The boppy... don't really use it anymore. Since our place isn't huge, it's time to start retiring things and putting more "big girl" toys out. Before we know it, we'll be packing up the exersaucer and jumperoo. ..::sigh::..

Now Riley would like to tell you her thoughts on the situation...
assxeiu9b6llkknu yh4d4edtdh n nfnbngbtikmlo,gfr jjhuythhgt4cv j t iy h tvv 7hgtcjjvbvbbt6jmmh t bv hmnnh n bn nb ffc v bn c cfh4tcgg b vd vdchvjbn ,
xaax`XZXFFFFFFFx1

Ok... not sure what she said, but that last part in caps must've been pretty serious! I only type in caps when I'm yelling at someone via the computer! She's a real chatterbox lately. She'll talk to anything... just like her daddy.

God is blessing us a ton lately. He's providing things in miraculous ways. I love it! Keep praying for us in some decisions that we will hopefully be having to make soon!

Picture update of the Rooster!

Yay for swings at Noni and Paw Paw's!a little bit blurry... but check out that smile!

she was CRACKING UP

watching a movie with Daddy in the Love Sac at Andy's

I see you mommy!

Sometimes the laughter in mothering is the recognition of the ironies and absurdities. Sometime, though, it's just pure, unthinking delight. Barbara Schapiro

Character - What's it to ya?

Before I start... this isn't a picture and update post. So, I'm just giving you the heads up!

Today I encountered a situation that really impacted me. It hit me pretty hard and has left me thinking. Why is it that when someone calls you "dishonest" "untrustworthy", uses the phrase "the likes of you" (in a negative context)... when they question every word that comes out of your mouth... why does it sting so bad? I thought it was because someone said something mean or untrue... but I don't think it was just that.

I think it hurts so bad when things like that are said because it's not something you can change... someone is questioning your character. That is freaking serious. You try so hard to build your character and become a responsible member of society and one person with a few small words can make that come crashing down. Character isn't something you can change over night.

On that same note... I think the reaction of OTHERS in the situation is important. If your character is questioned and nobody stands up for you, I'd start wondering. But if it is questioned and people are bothered (or outraged) by what was said... I think it is safe to say that you have not been knocked down, but others have built you up. You have either taken a fall or you've "proven" yourself. Either way, I'd rather people tell me they trust me than have a situation where I have to prove myself.

So I think the point of this was for me to get my thoughts out and to ask this... what is character to you? Is it just something that people talk about? Is it something that is very important to you? Is it something that you just kind of write off... who cares if someone questions your character, you know the truth!

I'm going to *try* to start a new trend by putting an applicable quote at the bottom of my posts. Due to todays circumstances... I think this one is PERFECT. (tomorrow there will be pictures)

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable. Brennan Manning

ladida

It's been a while again, hasn't it? Watching the boys has kept me BUSY this summer! By the time Riley and I finally get home in the evening, it's time for dinner, a bath, and bed. But the summer is winding down, so hopefully I'll be able to update much more often!

Pray for us... we have a few BIG decisions coming up. I am excited and nervous about what the future holds for us. We'll see where God takes us over the next few months.

Update... not too much is new around here. Riley is doing great. She FINALLY cut those bottom 2 teeth! Hallelujah! Now I think she is working on the top 2. Teething SUCKS. It ruins lots of sleep! Other than that... she's crawling around EVERYWHERE and FAST! It's getting hard to keep up with her! We are about to do a re-vamp to her schedule because she has started waking up around 3:30 a.m. wanting to play. Um NO. Not gonna work kiddo! But she is taking close to 5 hrs in naps during the day still... so that can be cut down a bit! haha. She is still pulling up and can *usually* get herself down... when she feels like it. Last Wednesday the Rooster stood on her own! I think it was an accident and she hasn't done it again. But oh my, it hit that walking is not too far away! EEK! Watch out world... here she comes!

Update on Ryan and I. Well not much really. Trying to get things squared away so that Ryan can hopefully do his internship this fall. let me tell you... when I never have to deal with Liberty's student center again, I will rejoice! We have some decisions we're having to make right now that could change our immediate plans. I'll share more about that when we know a little better about what's going on.

I'll post some pics right now... and then some more later or tomorrow. I have a lot of pictures to update!

Hooray for being 9 months old!

She sneezed right as I was about to put the spoon in her mouth... it landed on her eye.Riley with her new friends Maddie and Koen

Let me see if I can make a bracelet out of this stuff...

at CRBC with Alyssa... we miss you, Alyssa!