Doggie has surgery!

I think every mom has been there... when the favorite toy/stuffy/blanket gets lost or broken. What do you do? In my case it was Mia's stuffed dog "Doggie." This is her beloved build-a-bear dog that she's had now since Christmas time. She loves it and treats it with real affection! 

So, you can imagine my dilemma when we found a hole in it's neck seam. We were finding little bunches of stuffing around the house and finally found out why! Mia was un-stuffing her doggie!

I wasn't sure what to do with the dog... first of all, I don't sew and if I did it wouldn't look pretty! And second, I didn't want her to wait too long before it could be fixed at the store. So... we called Nanny!

Nanny, my mom, was happy to come to the rescue, but she didn't just sew it up, she made it into a fun time for the girls too! Just take a peek and see...

She laid the dog on the table and got our her pretend doctor's kit! She let the girls play doctor and took very good care of Doggie! Mia wore the stethoscope and kept a close eye on Nanny the whole time!

First my mom asked Mia to give Doggie a shot so he wouldn't feel the pain!

Then they checked out the boo boo and Mia was starting to look concerned. 

They took the Doggie's blood pressure and gave it lots of kisses before starting "surgery!"

Bailee was in charge of checking the pill container to see if there was any medicine for the Doggie. There wasn't anything in it, so I grabbed some smarties and let the girls each have some "medicine!"

After the sewing was done Mia was very affectionate and gave Doggie many kisses and pats on the head. It was so genuine and sincere... she's so sweet!

Each of the girls had the chance to give Doggie some medicine so he would feel better really soon!

The end result wasn't just a fixed toy, but one happy little girl! She hasn't put him down since he's been repaired! Thank goodness we have a plastic surgeon in the family! :0) 

(Thanks Mom!)

Wordless Wednesday

This is one of my favorite photos of my husband and his mom, Venise. She was a wonderful Godly woman that passed away from ovarian cancer 4 years ago. She is dearly missed but this photo brings back such good memories!

Don't they look a lot alike! :0)

Lollipop, lollipop, ooo la la lollipop, LOLLIPOP!!!

Oh to be a kid again... they sure do love their lollipops! 

And this next photo is just a bonus! ;-) Isn't he the sweetest? (Way sweeter than any lollipop!)

Happy Birthday Mia!!!

 2 years ago today I was in intense labor with my beautiful little Mia!!! She has brought so much joy and love to our family and I cannot believe it has been 2 years already! Here are a few photos of her from about a year ago... could she get any sweeter?

Tonight we are giving her a Dora-themed birthday party with our family. I hope she enjoys herself and I'll post pictures for you all tomorrow! 

Happy Birthday to my Dad!

Today is my Dad's 49th birthday... his last year before the BIG 50! :0) My Dad is an awesome example of how to love your wife unconditionally, how to serve faithfully, how to give unselfishly and how to work hard (even if no one notices)! He truly loves the Lord and loves his family! For that I will be forever grateful! 

I found the following poem online and wanted to share it... I wish it was written by me, but I feel the same way! I love you Dad... thanks for being you and living your life for the Lord! 

Life Lessons, By Joanna Fuchs

You may have thought I didn't see,

Or that I hadn't heard

Life lessons that you taught to me,

But I got every word.

Perhaps you thought I missed it all,

And that we'd grow apart,

But Dad, I picked up everything,

It's written on my heart.

Without you, Dad, I wouldn't be

The woman I am today;

You built a strong foundation

No one can take away.

I've grown up with your values,

And I'm very glad I did;

So here's to you, dear father,

From your forever grateful kid.

Dear Venise,

For those of you who have a mother-in-law that loves you and is around to support and encourage you, don't take that for granted! My sweet mother-in-law, Venise, passed away 4 years ago from ovarian cancer and I miss her dearly. I was only married to Tom for about a year when she died, so I didn't have much time to get to know her really well. I will always regret not taking more time with her when I had the chance!

I have heard so many different women complain about their MIL's and it breaks my heart. Many of those relationships are not healthy and need lots of work, but I would give anything to have Venise back in our lives! If I had the chance to talk with her today this is what I would say...

Dear Venise,

You are truly missed by many, but especially me. I often feel like I am missing something in my life by not having a MIL around. I feel like I wasn't given the chance to get to know you like I wanted to. I hear MANY things from people around us that talk of your wonderful cooking, sewing, singing, craftiness, etc... but I want to hear it from you! I want to watch you cook Thanksgiving for our family and ask you why you always make sweet potato pie. I want to hear you singing sweet hymns while you make blankets and baby clothes. I want to ask you about your best cleaning tips. I want you to teach me how to knit some homemade slippers.

But more than that I want to hear your sweet voice again. I want to hear you call me Nicki (even though I hated being called that) and I want to see my kids run into your arms screaming, "Memere!" I want to see your HUGE smile as you meet them for the first time! I can't even imagine your reaction to our kids... wait, yes I can! You wouldn't be able to contain your joy and tears! I'm sure you would spoil them rotten with cookies and kisses, and teach them all the amazing things that God has shared with you.

You would be an awesome Memere! I don't say that lightly. I really do think that you would be one of the best grandparents a child could ever ask for. Not because you would buy them things or even take them places, but because you would share your heart with them and love them with an unconditional love!

We talk about you a lot and show the kids your picture, but they always think it's Aunt Lara! ;-) They don't understand where heaven is or why you're gone, but they do know that you were one cool lady! We talk about you every time we see a deer or see snow falling for the first time... just a few of your favorite things! I want to instill in my kids the extreme excitement you had for God's creation and simple things in life that we often take for granted!

I wish we had just a few more afternoons together to have tea and chat about your life. I would give anything to sit on your couch for just a few hours and ask you all about Tom's life as a child and what he was like when he was little. I think our kids have some of his qualities, but I want to know details of his childhood. I want to ask you all about how you raised four wonderful kids without losing your mind and how you did it on a teacher's salary. I want to call you on the phone to chat. I want you to call me to chat. I want you to tell me I'm a good mom and that you're proud of us for being Godly parents. I want you to be there when I make a Christmas turkey and tell me that it was too dry. I want you to take our kids for walks so I can have an afternoon alone. I want our kids to sing Happy Birthday to you. I want them to pick flowers out of your garden while you teach them a Bible verse. I want them to see you singing in the church choir. I want them to know you. I want you to know them.

This list seems selfish and it's full of "I wants" but it's the hole I feel because you're not here. I long for that mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship that I know would be so amazing. I want our kids to have that special bond with you that only a Memere and her grandkids could experience. I know not every day would have its "hallmark moments" but I wish we had the chance to make a few more memories together!

I know you're in heaven and wouldn't trade your home there for the world, but we miss you here! We can't wait to see you again!

Love, Nicole

p.s. Your grandchildren are adorable!! :0)

Three years ago...

 Three years ago I enjoyed my first fall as a mom! I couldn't wait to show my sweet little girl the first fun signs of fall. I took her for walks to look at the leaves, I took her apple picking and we put her in a pumpkin!

"What? You put her IN a pumpkin?" you ask!

Yup, I did! My mom and I got together one afternoon and put Bailee in a hollowed out pumpkin for some fun photos! I came across them the other day and couldn't help but share them with you! I can't believe it's been three years already since these were taken! She now carries the pumpkin... gone are the days when she will fit inside of one! :0)

Wordless Wednesday

We took these 3 photos of each of our kids in a bubble bath when they were all babies... I'm going to frame them and put them up in our bathroom! :0) See if you can guess who is who! The results are at the end... no peeking! 

I'm going to frame these ones with their names on them and in black and white! So? Did you get the right? :0)

10 Fun Fall Toddler Activities!

Here are a few activities that I've thought of recently that I want to do with my girls (and Jack too) this fall... let me know if you try any of them and how they work for you! :0)

1. Pick apples at a local apple orchard and make applesauce together! (We go to a place with free tractor rides and home-made donuts too- that's a bonus!)

2. Collect acorns and play with them! It's simple, but kids love it! We might attempt to make these!

3. Find a monarch caterpillar and watch it hatch into a butterfly! We've already looked and haven't found one yet, but I'm hoping to!

4. Go on a nature walk to find brightly colored leaves that have fallen off the trees!

5. Make leaf rubbing pictures with those leaves we collected!

6. Find a pumpkin patch to explore and let them choose their own to bring home!

7. Carve them, of coarse! But more fun than that... let them play in the pumpkin guts!

8. Bake the pumpkin seeds and eat them! yum yum!

9. Let the girls help me "cook" this new fun recipe I found...

NO BAKE PUMPKIN PIE

Small custard-sized ready to eat--pie crusts 

2 tablespoons canned pumpkin 

1 tablespoon marshmallow creme 

1 tablespoon prepared whipped topping 

Sprinkle of cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together and pour into the crust. 

The recipe is then ready to eat; it may be refrigerated or frozen.

10. Visit our local apple orchard that has a fun corn maze and let them get lost find their way out (with help of coarse!) 

Let the fun fall time activities begin! :0)

Apple Picking Adventures

Yesterday we went to Wallingford's Apple Orchard in Auburn for our annual apple picking adventure. It was so fun and Grandpa Van Tassel and Aunt Lara were able to tag along for an extra special time! Here are some photos to walk you through our afternoon!

Here is everyone (minus me.. I'm always the one taking the pictures!) on our tractor/wagon ride to the apple orchard. I think this was Bailee's favorite part of the day! Mia wasn't so sure about the bumpy ride but Grandpa held onto her tight!

This was Bailee's expression while riding in the wagon! She kept saying "Weeeee! Yeah! This is fun!" and she was giggling the whole time! We got lots of comments about how fun and cute she was. It was a moment of pure joy for her! 

Here is Mia with Grandpa. (I love that photo of them together on the left!) 

The picture of Mia on the right was her collecting rocks. She had more fun filling her bag with rocks than she did with apples. Grandpa made sure to take them all out before paying for the apples per pound! :0)

Walking through the orchard to find "just the right tree!"

Here is Bailee choosing big apples for her bag. 

Jack was in the backpack for the first time. He spent the whole time in it and he loved it. He loves tagging along with Daddy.  

The girls couldn't wait to eat one! They kept asking so when they finally chose the one they wanted to eat they were thrilled! They thoroughly enjoyed them and ended up with sticky apple juice all over themselves! :-) 

Before leaving I asked Grandpa to snap a family photo of us all... it's a rare thing to have all of us together in one picture!  

Here are my 3 kiddos in the "family apple tree!" We tried our hardest to get all 3 faces in the holes. I took about 15 pictures of the same thing and this was the best one of them all! :) 

Overall the day was perfect! I just wish we would have had more time to play, but we had to get home for other activities... maybe another day! 

My 2 Men!

There is something special about having a son after having two daughters. I love my girls to pieces but Jack is my little man! I have been blessed also by an amazing husband that is supportive and loving in so many ways! As I watch Jack grow a little more every day I can't help but hope he ends up being just like his Dad!

Tom is an excellent father and I think watching him with his son is such a privilege! Jack has a lot to live up to and Tom has a lot to offer and teach him! If Jack is half the father and husband that Tom is then there is one lucky little lady out there!!

Already I see similarities between my hubby and my son... here are a few! 

~ They both love to snuggle with me, and I with them!

~ They both have bright blue eyes that melt my heart!

~ They are both extremely easy going and laid back!

~ They both smile when they see me enter the room!

~ They both grunt while working!

~They are both very determined to get what they want!

~ When I hold their hands my heart skips a beat!

~ They both have affectionate and loving personalities!

It will be fun to watch Jack grow up to become the man God intended him to be and I hope he pays attention to his Dad because Tom is one awesome example!!!

I used to think that God made a mistake when He gave me a son (I didn't know what I was going to do with a little boy!) but I now know that He knew EXACTLY what He was doing!

A brilliant new reality tv show idea!

I've come up with a new idea for a very entertaining reality tv show...

10 adult contestants are chosen from the general population... a good mix of old, young, females, males, parents, business people, educated, uneducated, etc...

Each adult is given 2 children chosen from the general population... a good mix of newborns, crawlers, walkers, runners, teethers, hungry, tired, happy, high-strung, easy-going, etc... (Notice I only chose 2 kids, that was going easy on them!) :0)

They are then allowed to choose the grocery cart of their choice. They must choose wisely because some don't work well, some push hard, some are covered in sticky chocolate, some squeak loudly, and some are covered in flu germs!

Once the adult/children matches have been assigned and every one is situated with their grocery cart, they are then given a list of essential items to seek and find at WalMart before lunch and nap time arrive! They also have to buy all of these items within a set budget and cannot go over their money limit or they'll be charged an overdraft fee! Ready, Set, GO!!!

Here is the list of things needed... 

~ An appropriate sized package of diapers for every child in your presence.

~ Formula for a child with a soy allergy.

~ Ketchup.

~ A new pair of sneakers for yourself. (good luck trying them on if you're wearing a child in a sling or backpack!)

~ An appropriate toy for the 8 year old boy's birthday party you have to attend this week. (have fun in the toy section buying ONLY this one toy and not everything your kids want!)

~ A teething ring that can be refrigerated!

~ Vitamins for children. (you must choose between chewables, liquid, gummies, with iron, with extra vitamin c, etc...)

~ 3 dozen eggs (cannot be broken!)

Okay, they have their carts, they have their children and they have their list... now the fun begins! They must successfully race through the store dodging obstacles such as old ladies in electric wheel chairs, teenagers on skateboards, and various distractions the kids might be attracted to. These may or may not include water fountains to play in, free cookies from the deli, sweet old ladies that want to talk for 30 minutes, and toy displays that seem to scream "play with me!"

They are also provided with one diaper bag. Inside the store during their shopping experience they must change a diaper, keep all pacifiers from hitting the floor and administer a snack carefully. Contestants must chose wisely when to reveal the snack items. If given out too soon then they have no back-up when the child is having a melt down, and if given out too late then the child may be unconsolable and may receive many dirty looks from other contestants and fellow shoppers. Each dirty look is a strike. 3 strikes and you're out!

The key to winning this reality show is successfully getting through the check out line. (Every parent knows that this time is the most trying in any shopping outing.) They must wait in line for unidentified period of time, pay for all items within budget limits and return to parking lot without losing their minds! If contestants exit the store with both children still smiling and all items are safely packed in bags in the shopping cart then you win.

What do you win? A nap, because they will need one! :0)

It's a good day for dress up!

All morning the girls have entertained themselves with dress up stuff! It has been nice that they have been happily playing together and enjoying each other's company. I have been able to get a lot done, but I had to stop for a few minutes and snap some pictures because there will come a day (very soon I'm sure) that they will be too big and too cool to dress up like princesses! :-(

In this picture they were checking themselves out in their vanity mirror and telling each other that they were beautiful princesses! Their dress up clothes were thrown all over the floor... a typical scene in our house! 

I asked if I could take their picture and they were so excited! They ran into the kitchen and stood in front of the stove... I'm not sure why, but that's where they wanted to have their pictures taken! In this photo Bailee was doing last minute wardrobe adjustments on Mia and putting the final touches on their outfits! :0) I was giggling!

They were finally ready to say "cheese" and I was glad I stopped to capture the moment!