Make a Joyful noise…

The most beautiful thing happened the other day when Ranita and I were coming home with the babies.  It was past time for them to eat, so they were a little fussy.  I have learned that when they are bored, fussy, or just about anytime they love for me to sing.  I am not surprised.  We sang to them in the womb, in the NICU, and basically all the time.  So this particular day, D was hungry and getting fussy.  Not really crying, but “telling” us that he was not happy with our decision to leave grandmommy and granddaddies house without feeding them first.  Let me just add, he tries to talk all day long.  He will get so tickled at whatever he is saying that he will start laughing out loud.  If only I knew what he was talking about. But back to our car ride home. We tried to reason with him why it was better to go home first, but it just wasn’t working.  So, I began to sing.  An then that moment came when his fussiness changed over to it sounding as if he was trying to sing along.  It was beautiful.  Ranita and I listened in awe because it really sounded as if he was trying to sing along with me.  We decided that it probably just sounded that way and that wasn’t really it.  Then that night, D has some stomach cramps which made him get up off and on all night long.  He would sleep about 30 minutes at a time.  Ranita and I took turns getting up with him.   I was holding him, rubbing is belly and singing to him.  He was screaming in pain during this  episodes.  I so wished I could change places with him, because it was breaking my heart.  But then it happened again.  He stopped screaming, gave me a little smile and started singing along with me.  It was amazing.   I was so thankful for that special moment with my son.  I just held him and sang a little longer than I had planned.  Then I went to bed.  30 minutes later it started all over so….…I pushed Ranita out of the bed and told him it was his turn to experience one of the most beautiful moments I have ever had.  I didn’t want him to miss out after all.   

So as most of you know, I had pretty much quit cooking when I got pregnant and then the babies were here, and then….. (insert any excuse and it will work.)  Well last night, I decided to stop that trend.  I have been working on our budget and eating out is just not in it.  I have been thinking of ways to cut our budget, and I started thinking about coupons.  See, we love the $5 off Similac coupons.  When we are buying 2 different kinds and use two coupons that saves $10 at a time.  Then we starting using pampers coupons.  Sometimes it doesn’t sound like much…but when you add it up over a month, it saves a lot.  I will never become a crazy coupon lady.  I don’t have the time or patience.  I barely can get shopping in at one store much less going to all different stores.  So, I am ok with the fact that I don’t save as much as I could, but I save when I can.  I decided to find out what was on sale at the grocery store, and plan my menu around that.  I have mostly new recipes for this week (low fat/low carb), but I made my husband take part in the decision.  So we planned our menu for 2 weeks.  We made our grocery list.  And I guess I do shop at two stores, because we found that the veggies (i.e..tomatillos, jalapeños, onions, etc.) are much cheaper at the Mexican grocery store.  So we made our two list and headed off to the stores.  I made a menu, and put it on the fridge.  I have it  listed by days, but I have informed my husband that the day doesn’t really matter, just mark off the meal as it has been made.  I also put all the recipes in the drawer by the fridge, so if I am not going to make it home in time, my husband can start the meal and we will stay on track.  He agreed to this plan.    So back to the cooking…last night I was going to make Chicken and Sausage Gumbo.  I had gotten the crock pot out, and started cooking the chicken.  Then it happened…..I dropped a bowl and broke the crock pot.  So no worries, I got out the smaller crock pot.  Started again….after several items being dropped,  my husband came into the kitchen and advised he wanted to introduce me to gravity.  I told him he better watch it or he would be cooking. J  I finished the meal, and my husband advised it was a keeper.  I am not so sure that we saved money on this cooked at home meal by the time I replace the broken crock pot and other various dropped items.  But it was a start.  And for all of you out there…yes , it is possible to break a crock pot.  Here is my proof. J

Time flies when you are having fun

These past few weeks have been crazy.  We celebrated Dia de los Reyes.  Victoria and David couldn't stay awake for the Rosca de Reyes.  But they did get their shoes put out by the tree before they went to sleep.  The next morning they found what the kings had left them.

Rosca de Reyes

After we celebrated, we headed off to camp at Cheaha State Park.  We went for walks, made smores over the fire and celebrated Ranita's birthday.

We got back in time to watch the game with friends.  All we can say is "Roll Tide Roll!!"

 



 We then headed off to the beach for the weekend to camp.  The babies loved the sand and they love to travel.  They are just like their parents. :)  We were thankful that my parents were camping.  We had a nice warm place for the babies to sleep.  They love to spend time with their grandparents.  But they are a little spoiled when they get home.

Cooking breakfast for us

We were trying to decide about sleeping arrangements for the babies while camping.  My mom brought this basket.  It was perfect for Victoria.  She loved her bed.  She would just lay there and play with her toys and smile.  David tried it out some, too.  He didn't always want to give it back to his sister.  It also doubled as a swing.  Ranita was a great motor for the swing. :)

"We wore these outfits just for your grandaddy!"



We decided it was time to try out their Christmas present from Grandmommy and Granddaddy.  They loved the strollers.  It was a little windy and cool, so we didn't stay out long.  

We decided it was such a nice day that we stopped for a rest area picnic.  We fed the babies and gave them time to stretch and play before we got back on the road. 

David has started a little food.  Victoria isn't ready yet.  We started with Prunes.  David's doctor was trying to help him feel a little better.  He loved his prunes.  He would smile everytime the spoon was coming towards his mouth.  A few days later, we tried some carrots.  He loves his carrots, too.  A few days later we tried some peas.  He didn't care for the peas much, but last night we did get a few peas down.  This is one of my favorite times with David.  He is so happy to be in his high chair and eat.  Victoria sits in hers and watches.  She is getting ready as well.  Not too much longer before it will be her turn. 

After so much traveling and going, we decided to have a family movie night.  We all piled up on the bed to watch a movie.  Victoria and David were so happy to be in our room. They kept looking around and smiling.  And we got some good smiles snuggling, too.

Merry Christmas

It is here...Christmas week.  Here is a picture of my first present....

 

Things to be thankful for on this day...everyone was ok.  Boy that hit me had insurance.  And now, I have a van that is unique to me.  No one else has one like it. :)  I felt like we were in slow motion when it happened.  I was sitting at a red light in a turn lane.  He was leaving the BP station.  He didn't see me, but I saw him coming.  There was no where that I could go and I saw him coming straight for David.  I was blowing my horn.  There for a second I thought he missed us, and then I felt that I was wrong.  Victoria slept thru it, David not so much.  But David was awake before it happened, and I am sure the sight of this big Tahoo's lights coming right at you had to be scary.  He had a little mark from the seat belts, and Ranita and I were a little sore, but all was well.  What was I most upset about? We missed our dinner that Stacey cooked for us.  I was really looking forward to it.

We had a photo session at grandmommy and granddaddy's house to get some fun first Christmas pictures. Here are a few.

This one brought back memories when they were too close before they were born.

She liked to sleep in the sleigh.

For Christmas eve we went to the candlelight service at my brother's church and then we all went back to mom and dad's. 

This wasn't Christmas Eve, but she did love to nap under the tree.

Mom and Dad

My twin nieces..too busy for a picture

My nieces shared their present full of dress up clothes

My brother got to play, too.

All this opening of gifts was too much for David

My nephew being a good big brother

Bama

Granddaddy time

I somehow didn't get a picture of Nancy at Christmas, so here is one from Cason's birthday

For Christmas morning, mom and dad come to get their stocking left from Santa.  This year, we had two extra stockings.  We had breakfast and then we opened our stockings.  David and Victoria, slept at different times, so we had Christmas with them at different times.  Victoria didn't even know that anything was going on.  David, when he saw his Santa pile, made a funny face and he kept his eyes wide open the whole time.  Then we played some Phase 10 and bowled on the wii for a little while.  We ended the night with Ranita putting together one of his puzzles from Santa.  And the babies spent time playing with their new gifts from Laura and Abby.

Santa left a little of his last cookie.

Santa knew just what daddy wanted.

David and Victoria had a special gift for dad.
A coffee mug with their photo

Victoria's side

David's side

Santa knew what kind of "candy" David likes in his stocking this year.

One last thought for Christmas week.  I was really sad to see one of my piano's go.  See Ranita knew how much I loved to play the piano, so one day he surprised me with a piano.  Then several years later, my brother was getting rid of our childhood piano.  I couldn't let it go.  So I had a small house with 2 piano's.  I knew that I should get rid of one, but I loved how pretty the piano Ranita got me was.  But I finally let it go.  It was taking up too much of D and V's playroom.   I was very sad to see it go, but I remembered something Alex told me.  See Alex was a little boy that used to spend all of his time with me and Ranita from the time he was about 9 years old.  We took him on trips with us, and he was with us every weekend.  Well, he graduated from high school a few years ago.  He asked us to come to his Senior art exhibit.  He is an amazing artist.  I was so impressed.  His comment to me was that I am the one that started his love for art.  I didn't understand. He said one of the first presents I gave him was an art set, and that is what got him started.  It is amazing how God can use us without us even knowing.  So I started thinking about the piano.  The man that we gave it to said that he has two daughters, and they are starting to get interested in music.  He hopes the piano will inspire them.  I hope so, too.  I may never know how God will use that piano with those girls.  I realize that sometimes we may not even realize how special a gift can be to someone.  I don't even remember buying that art set, but Alex remembers.  Be open to let God use you and your gifts.  You may never know the impact it had.