Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Zoo Trip with the Torres Clan
My friend Stephanie and I took the kiddos to the zoo several weeks ago. We didn't even see a quarter of the zoo because we took the kids to the children's zoo area and they had too much fun playing in the water. Thankfully, I went prepared! Despite telling Ashlyn that she could just put her feet in the water and walk around, she decided to do a belly flop down in the water like a little fish. She definitely didn't set a great example for Ashton, because he quickly followed suit and we had some very wet kiddos! We did manage to see the Giants of the Savanna exhibit beforehand, and the kids enjoyed the elephants, cheetahs and throwing lettuce at the giraffes. Ashlyn and Ashton loved pulling the wagons for us, but that made for a lot of in and out and switching around of mine and Stephanie's wagon. We've decided another trip to the zoo is in our near future.
Grass Maize with Friends
About a month ago, Ashlyn and I went to the grass maize in Allen with Tera, Trent, and Malorie. Ashlyn and Trent had fun building towers in the caboose, taking a quick trip through the maize, and playing in the little buildings they have there for the kids. The weather was pretty warm, so after about an hour of playing, we headed back to our house so Ashlyn and Trent could play some more. I think Ashlyn was most excited about her opportunity to hold baby Malorie!
Monday, September 20, 2010
New Bible Excitement
It's been about a month ago since Aaron came home with a new bible for Makenzie. Since then, the girls have loved reading different stories from the Old and New Testaments. This is the first book Ashlyn picks up almost every morning she goes into Makenzie's room. I love how excited the girls are to read from it every night. I have to share some things that Makenzie has said lately that have made me smile and at the same time, feel a since of excitement that she is really paying attention to the stories she is hearing.
#1) There is a house we pass on our way to the library that has many (at least 30, if not more) statues in the front yard. I have explained to Makenzie that the people who live there worship those statues and not the God we worship. We were in the car one day (and not even driving by this house), when out of the blue, she asked, "Mom, are you going to tell those people that there is only one God?" Hmm, not sure how to respond (because the possibility of stopping in to tell these strangers is very unlikely), I tell her I don't think so. More questions follow and she finally stops asking. Fast forward to about a week later when we actually do pass the house and Makenzie says, "Mom, aren't you going to stop and tell those people there is only ONE GOD?" The passion she has to get her message across amazes me. Part of me thinks she just might go up to the front door if I stopped and allowed her to do so.
#2) We were eating at the mall a couple of weeks ago when Makenzie gets up from her seat and proceeds to grab a handful of wood chips surrounding the base of a tree. When I ask her what she is doing, she says matter of factly, "Mom, I am Jesus feeding my disciples!"
#3) Ashlyn and I were outside playing yesterday when I went in to look for Makenzie. She was not answering my calls so I go toward her room and see that her door is shut and the lights are on. I proceed to open her door and she stops me and says, " I am having prayer time." I am sure I had a little bit of shock on my face, so I allow her to shut the door on me and walk away. She comes out a few minutes later to inform me of all the people she was praying for. My heart was FULL!!! This happened again, today, at about the same time. This time, I asked her if she could add someone to her prayer list, and she happily agreed.
I pray for my girls daily. I hope they come to know their Lord and Savior at a much earlier age than I did. Here's praying that the questions keep coming and I will be able to answer them in a way that she (and Ashlyn) can understand.
#1) There is a house we pass on our way to the library that has many (at least 30, if not more) statues in the front yard. I have explained to Makenzie that the people who live there worship those statues and not the God we worship. We were in the car one day (and not even driving by this house), when out of the blue, she asked, "Mom, are you going to tell those people that there is only one God?" Hmm, not sure how to respond (because the possibility of stopping in to tell these strangers is very unlikely), I tell her I don't think so. More questions follow and she finally stops asking. Fast forward to about a week later when we actually do pass the house and Makenzie says, "Mom, aren't you going to stop and tell those people there is only ONE GOD?" The passion she has to get her message across amazes me. Part of me thinks she just might go up to the front door if I stopped and allowed her to do so.
#2) We were eating at the mall a couple of weeks ago when Makenzie gets up from her seat and proceeds to grab a handful of wood chips surrounding the base of a tree. When I ask her what she is doing, she says matter of factly, "Mom, I am Jesus feeding my disciples!"
#3) Ashlyn and I were outside playing yesterday when I went in to look for Makenzie. She was not answering my calls so I go toward her room and see that her door is shut and the lights are on. I proceed to open her door and she stops me and says, " I am having prayer time." I am sure I had a little bit of shock on my face, so I allow her to shut the door on me and walk away. She comes out a few minutes later to inform me of all the people she was praying for. My heart was FULL!!! This happened again, today, at about the same time. This time, I asked her if she could add someone to her prayer list, and she happily agreed.
I pray for my girls daily. I hope they come to know their Lord and Savior at a much earlier age than I did. Here's praying that the questions keep coming and I will be able to answer them in a way that she (and Ashlyn) can understand.
Trip to the Country
It's been a while since I last updated. This seems to be the case as of late. Now that Makenzie is rarely napping, I find that my only free time is at night after the girls are in bed, and by that time, I find myself reading a book and falling asleep. Maybe one of these days, I will find more energy to stay up late.
We took a trip the first weekend of September to my parents' ranch to celebrate my dad's birthday. The girls had a great time playing with their cousin Madelyn, and enjoyed some swimming and riding the mule. Other than Aaron doing some dove hunting with my brother-in-law, we really just hung out as a family. I always enjoy our trip because it seems like things move at such a slower pace. It is just so nice to get out of the city sometimes!
I guess the highlight of our trip came during the evening when we were getting the girls ready for bed. I was giving Ashlyn a shower when Makenzie runs into the bathroom to inform us of the bug her daddy killed. Once Ashlyn is dried off, we head into the other room to find a dead scorpion. Yeah, imagine how well I slept that night?! Guess that's what you get in the country.
We survived the night, and like always, the girls are asking to go back already.
We took a trip the first weekend of September to my parents' ranch to celebrate my dad's birthday. The girls had a great time playing with their cousin Madelyn, and enjoyed some swimming and riding the mule. Other than Aaron doing some dove hunting with my brother-in-law, we really just hung out as a family. I always enjoy our trip because it seems like things move at such a slower pace. It is just so nice to get out of the city sometimes!
I guess the highlight of our trip came during the evening when we were getting the girls ready for bed. I was giving Ashlyn a shower when Makenzie runs into the bathroom to inform us of the bug her daddy killed. Once Ashlyn is dried off, we head into the other room to find a dead scorpion. Yeah, imagine how well I slept that night?! Guess that's what you get in the country.
We survived the night, and like always, the girls are asking to go back already.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Bucked Teeth
So, most of you reading this blog know that I have two thumb-suckers. It was great when the girls were babies, b/c once they found their thumbs, they were better sleepers (and so were we). Looking back, I probably would have tried harder with the pacifier since you can physically remove it and say goodbye-not such the case with an attached thumb!! Fast forward from baby to a four and two-year old who continue to suck their thumbs every day. What do you get? Two upper teeth that buck out a little. That in turn leads to some not-so-fun encounters with the pavement and hard floor, if you lose your footing that is. ......
Early last week, Makenzie hit the curb chin first when she was playing outside with her sister and daddy. I am glad I wasn't out there when it happened b/c Aaron said you could hear her chin hit the pavement. Once we got her calmed down, I was able to take a look in her mouth to see the damage to her teeth. She already has a front tooth chipped from a year and a half ago when we think she hit her mouth on a table at Sunday School. That tooth by the way, has also darkened due to that trauma. Well, that tooth was re-injured last week and is now a little loose.
Now to Ashlyn, whose front teeth buck out more than her sisters. On Monday, she was excited for me to follow her into the living room to work on a puzzle. She was several feet in front of me (b/c she is jogging) when all of the sudden, she does a face plant on the wood floor. I knew from behind that it wasn't going to be pretty. Of course, mouth injuries always seem to produce more blood, and my first thought was the blood was coming from her upper lip--WRONG! I don't know how much time elapsed before I got her calmed down enough to determine that the blood was actually from her teeth (which were now loose)! After turning her head back to take a good look, her gums were very purple....not a good sign. This leads to what the nice receptionist at the dentist office refers to as an "emergency visit." Otherwise, they wouldn't have seen us until September. After consulting with the dentist and looking at Ashlyn's x-rays, we have been told that the ligaments should return to their original shape which would result in her front teeth tightening back up. Due to the trauma, however, her teeth could change colors and even blacken over a period of time (we just have to wait and see). We go back in for a follow-up visit in three weeks to see how the ligaments are doing.
Aaron seems to think our kids are the only ones that are always hitting their mouths, which does seem to be the case more often than not. My response is "what do you expect when we have two thumb suckers with already bucked-teeth?"
Our next investment....probably thumb guards for both girls so we can attempt to get their thumbs out of their mouths!!! Should be fun!!
Early last week, Makenzie hit the curb chin first when she was playing outside with her sister and daddy. I am glad I wasn't out there when it happened b/c Aaron said you could hear her chin hit the pavement. Once we got her calmed down, I was able to take a look in her mouth to see the damage to her teeth. She already has a front tooth chipped from a year and a half ago when we think she hit her mouth on a table at Sunday School. That tooth by the way, has also darkened due to that trauma. Well, that tooth was re-injured last week and is now a little loose.
Now to Ashlyn, whose front teeth buck out more than her sisters. On Monday, she was excited for me to follow her into the living room to work on a puzzle. She was several feet in front of me (b/c she is jogging) when all of the sudden, she does a face plant on the wood floor. I knew from behind that it wasn't going to be pretty. Of course, mouth injuries always seem to produce more blood, and my first thought was the blood was coming from her upper lip--WRONG! I don't know how much time elapsed before I got her calmed down enough to determine that the blood was actually from her teeth (which were now loose)! After turning her head back to take a good look, her gums were very purple....not a good sign. This leads to what the nice receptionist at the dentist office refers to as an "emergency visit." Otherwise, they wouldn't have seen us until September. After consulting with the dentist and looking at Ashlyn's x-rays, we have been told that the ligaments should return to their original shape which would result in her front teeth tightening back up. Due to the trauma, however, her teeth could change colors and even blacken over a period of time (we just have to wait and see). We go back in for a follow-up visit in three weeks to see how the ligaments are doing.
Aaron seems to think our kids are the only ones that are always hitting their mouths, which does seem to be the case more often than not. My response is "what do you expect when we have two thumb suckers with already bucked-teeth?"
Our next investment....probably thumb guards for both girls so we can attempt to get their thumbs out of their mouths!!! Should be fun!!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Swim Time? Tea Time? Craft Time? Nap Time!!!
Last week, the girls and I picked up Makenzie's good friend Kylie and headed to our neighborhood pool. After about an hour of swimming, we grabbed a pizza and headed back to our house for lunch. The girls then decided they wanted to have a tea party, so I pulled out Makenzie's ceramic tea set and filled the kettle with pink gatorade for the girls to drink. The girls had fun pouring "tea" for each other. Ashlyn went down for her nap shortly afterward, so Makenzie and Kylie made their cards I picked out for them the week before at Target. I felt like I hit the jackpot at the dollar spot! The girls had a blast creating their cards and I still can't believe I only paid a buck for the entire package. Craft time was followed by a little bit of down time so I could get my kitchen cleaned up. After watching a princess mini-movie, the girls were re-energized to a second round of swimming. This time, however, it was at our house. The girls and I had so much fun, but I will honestly say that I was ready for a nap (bed rather) by 6:00pm!
Ashlyn & Ashton
As always, I am trying to play catch-up. A couple of weeks ago, Makenzie attended a science camp with the City if Murphy. She had tons of fun and had a lot to talk about each day I picked her up. She learned about dinosaurs, tornadoes, light, and atoms. She also came home with a model of something her teacher talked about during the day. I have to say that I was very pleased with the amount of material covered in a short period of time. On top of that, I think Makenzie's teacher did a great job making the learning fun!
I was able to keep once of Ashlyn's friends while Makenzie was at camp. Ashton spent the morning with us since his older brother Zach was also at camp. Ashlyn had fun showing off her new big girl bed. Since we hadn't moved the guest bed out of her room yet, both kids enjoyed jumping and giggling. I have to post a few pics because Ashlyn and Ashton were too cute playing together. Next time, I will be sure to take pictures of Makenzie and her work.
I was able to keep once of Ashlyn's friends while Makenzie was at camp. Ashton spent the morning with us since his older brother Zach was also at camp. Ashlyn had fun showing off her new big girl bed. Since we hadn't moved the guest bed out of her room yet, both kids enjoyed jumping and giggling. I have to post a few pics because Ashlyn and Ashton were too cute playing together. Next time, I will be sure to take pictures of Makenzie and her work.
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