4th at the Creek

Happy Birthday America!



We celebrated by being sick and trying to keep our germs to ourselves. But we had already promised a parade. And one big girl has a memory like no other when it comes to candy. There would be candy at this parade and that big girl would not be denied getting as much sugar as she could, I mean, celebrating freedom by any germs.





Quick study. Oh they throw stuff we get it and can eat it? I'm all over that.






Friends who love us despite the germs!

Thank you to those who fight and fought for our freedom

It is for Freedom that Christ has set you free.
Galatians 5:1


!

It happened this morning before 9 o'clock...

Now, I'm going to tell you a story. This is a real story. A true story. One that could happen to anyone, but unfortunately happened to me.
So it's t minus 3 days until the big switch for two little girls from diapers to potties is about to happen. (I guess then it's really p minus 3 days!)
E and C are all about the potty. Interested in it. Fascinated with it. And in general I have to do it this week because Elizabeth has formed the nasty habit of taking off her diaper whenever she feels like it. Thus the effectiveness of the diaper is lost and there is no knowledge of using the potty or it's delicate details is not known. You know where I'm going with this story yet?
Thats right- she took it off. Then pooed on the rug in the bathroom and some other places in the hall. You see I could not immediately rescue this situation because I was, ah, ahem, occupied. So I took care of it and resumed our morning activities- laundry.
My morning chores now involved yet another load of laundry, because Elizabeth had taken her diaper off last night. Y'all when I get committed to the funny farm all I ask is that you pay them real well so I don't get stuck on laundry detail. I've changed 4 sets of sheets for 3 little girls in less than 48 hours. That my friends is. a. Lot. Of. Laundry.
Oh yeah, we are dog sitting my in laws dog and she pooed on the carpet in the playroom MINUTES after she came in from outside. arrrrrrggggggg!
Gianna was sweet to come and inform me. She must have known it was a hard morning for me because, bless her heart, she said, "Heidi pooped in the playroom and I cleaned it up but I couldn't do it all the way."
Ah she tried. My dish rag is now on it's way to the landfill and I got to use the new can of carpet cleaner.
And hahaha. Irony of ironys. Blessed be your name was playing on the radio as this was all unfolding.
"...When there's pain in the offering. Still I will say blessed be your name." I stopped for a moment of worship. Because that song was a song I clung too when we were going through infertility."My heart will choose to say- blessed be your name." I chose to laugh, I chose to smile, I chose to be glad I have 3 more days until potty training.
So I worshiped as I went to get my hazmat suit.

One little, two little, three little

...Techies. You can't see Gianna using the iPhone on the couch. We love it when Daddy comes home from work, then we don't have to share mommies electronic devices. One for every girl!
I'm sure they are developing some kind of something that is invented to give me guilt for letting my child interact with an electronic device, but goodness it's a mommy lifesaver at the end of some long hot days!

Camp Aunt Kiki

Each summer my nieces get to come visit for a bit. Some of it is to give my sis in law a break. But really, it gives me time with them to enjoy them and see the beautiful ladies they are growing into, and of course loving all the time they spend taking care of the babies!




Showing us the ropes of the new Barbie Jeep


Petting the baby goats at the Jersey Barnyard. This place is home to the cows that you see on the Blue Bell commercials. I has the most friendly animals of any farm I've been to. Highly recommend a trip. And as a bonus- you can get Blue Bell ice cream in the gift shop!!!!


Feeding the calf with cousin Grace's help.


Milking a cow.


Hand in hand- Sweet cousins!!!

Taking a ride

So the cousins came for a visit last week and brought us a VERY cool toy that they had outgrown:


The Barbie Jeep!!!!


Make it stop. Why do babies have to grow up???


Glad it's Coco talking and E driving. No texting and driving ladies!



Seriously, I look a these pictures and just smile. I really do try to enjoy the moments of their smallness and not rush to want them to be able to do____ by themselves. But nothing gives you a glimpse of the future like watching your two year olds cruise around the cul de sac in a Barbie Jeep.
Got to go now, I need to color my hair from all the gray that these ladies gave me in just 5 minutes flat.

Oh to be inspired...

It's time for true confessions here on Highs and Ludlows... Here goes.. I've done some journaling, some true confessions, and some humorous stories, but sometimes it's just plain easier to let the pictures speak for themselves. I feel like something is missing and it is because I don't always want to share the not so funny or hard stuff.
Sometimes it's hard to be open and honest and say, I'm having a hard time right now trusting in God. Or I'm experiencing burnout raising my twin two year olds who scream the word "no," as if their very life depended on the volume and number of times it is chanted- TIMES TWO!! Or to say, I wish I was just able to talk face to face to some of my friends who read this blog instead of keeping up electronically. Or I'm really struggling with insecurity and putting a happy face on my blog makes me feel like I'm good enough...
So if I've not run over half my audience away by now... I'm going to TRY to add some more personal reflection and insight and open honesty. Cause it's an area I really do want to grow in and not be struggling with it at the nursing home.

Here are some thoughts from Sports Camp-

This week I've been volunteering at Sports Camp for church. That's right me in sports. Well not quite- I'm actually a snack lady for the junior camp and deliver apple and goldfish to 60 four and five year olds. I get the privilege of watching and helping out where needed and get to be in air conditioning! Yesterday, I listened in as the kids heard about the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 from five loves and two fish, and heard the gospel presented. And later, as I was refilling lemonade I was almost in tears as I smiled and poured lemonade. I felt as if I was truly being Jesus to these little ones. I am a bit emotional and I know this about myself, but being on a room where so many little ones get to hear how Jesus loves them really makes my heart happy. Then I in turn felt so loved and so cared for by Jesus. It was as if he held me and gave me a hug that reminded me that I'm His little girl that he loves and will always love and that he cares for all of my needs all the time.
May you be Jesus today in someone's life, and be reminded that you too are his little child who likes hugs and lemonade and he LOVES to give them to you!

Not an ordinary trip to check out some books...

We enjoyed a day at the Library checking out some Big Rigs. The highlight was definitely the front loader where Gianna got to take a turn on the controls. Well, that was her highlight, I think E and C just enjoyed the popsicles.