Playing Chase and Hide -and- Go Seek With a Two Year Old

Have you ever played chase or hide and go seek with a two year old ? I never thought I would argue with a two -year-old over how to play a game. These games are simple, right ? WRONG !!! Not unless the rules change so that the two year old has the advantage.

Abby has truly begun to take more ownership in taking charge of certain situations.( It really depends on the day, and whether or not she had a good nap)

The other day we decided to play chase in the living room. I thought, no problem. I always thought the rule was that, if you got caught, then it was now the your turn to be "IT". However, it is much more exciting to be the chasee than the chaser, if that makes any sense. So, when it was my turn to be chased, I would take off running (very excited) and wait for her to come and tag me.. " Abby, Come chase Mommy !!! Come get me ! " To my disappointment, Abby had a different idea. It was boring to chase Mommy ( so she thought) . No -- I'll just stick to mommy chasing me. Needless to say, I gave in , and spent about 10 min. chasing her round and round the couch. I thought to myself, " Since when was this game all about her anyways :) ? "

So, I decided to end the game and play a little " Hide-and- Seek ". Boy, was I a sucker again. "O.K. mommy, you count , and I'll hide ! " What's the deal here ? Sound familiar ? " O.K. Abby, 1..2..3...4...10.. Ready or Not here I come !" Very excited, I opened my eyes and began looking for Abby. As you probably guessed it, she was already in front of my face shouting and jumping , " YOU found ME !!! You found Me !!! " I thought to myself , " You didn't even give me a chance TO find you (LOL) "
It was then supposed to be my turn to be found. And, of course -- " I really didn't get much of a turn." Before I could say anything, it was her turn to hide again. Oh well.

Trying not to let my irritation show, I decided that it was best just to lie in the floor and play "Airplane" . You can't go wrong with "Airplane" . I like it best since I get to lie down in the floor and rest.

The one thing I love about two year olds is that it doesn't take much to entertain them. They really do make life interesting. I love you, Abby :)

Family Vacation

I made the mistake of telling Abby on Tuesday that we needed to get ready to leave for Florida ( She did not realize that we would be leaving on Thursday instead of right after her bath on Tuesday-- she thought I meant get ready to leave right then ). So, of course, she cried for a good 30 min. screaming, "I want to go to Flowida, I want to go to Flowida ". I learned that you never tell a toddler anything ahead of time. She asked me the whole way there if we were in Florida, yet.

I thought we would never make it to Florida-- 10 1/2 hours and we were there !!! Praise God for the mini-van (Can I get an Amen from the mini-van moms ). Surprisingly, the girls did great. We spent most of the time singing songs, telling stories, and playing "head-knocker , eye-winker" with Aleah about 27 times :0. (Poor Gifford)

The weather was so beautiful the first day we arrived. I always love going to Destin. Thebeaches are pure white and the water is literally crystal clear.

The first day we were surprised to find out that there were a lot of jelly fish, though. One of the surfer guys blamed it on global warming. Mark and Lance spent a lot of time catching jellyfish--not me-- I stayed on the float. Sweet Kylee girl, who is 6 now, got stung pretty bad, but she toughed it out, and got back in the next day. Gifford, my dad, Marla, and I played frisbee ; Well, I guess you could call it that. Marla and I almost took a few people out. It was the wind ; Otherwise, it would have gone where we wanted it to go.

Kylee and Mia had a blast riding the waves; They are truly the best of friends . They were so cute to watch-- They would giggle and giggle everytime time a wave would come and splash them in. Big Daddy would take them out and let them ride the waves back in. Abigail and Tara loved building sand castles in the sand as well as splashing around in the kiddie pool . (Abby kept calling it the kitty cat pool -- imagine that ) Aleah preferred viewing the ocean from the condo patio -- She didn't much like the sticky air.

My mom and sisters and I spent time relaxing, sun-bathing, swimming and talking with one another when we weren't busy playing or helping with the girls.

My mom is probably the most selfless, giving women I know. She helped all three of us girls with our children and cooked most of the meals for everyone. Not to mention, she always takes the time to listen to her three daughters when we just need to talk or get something off our chest. She is always very encouraging and responds with, " Well, You know I am praying for you "

We all love Granda and Big Daddy so much-- Daddy helps keep everyone happy and plays with the girls until they are climbing all over him !!!

The guys spent the last day tackling the waves as they rode them in and tried not to get swept away by the current. They waves were pretty strong, considering the red flag was up all day (green represents calm conditions ) Guys love some adventure , though. They didn't mind being tossed around a little bit.

The evenings were spent relaxing. We would walk along the beach hunting crabs or playing at the playground with the girls. When it got too dark, we would all venture inside for some chocolate chip cookies that Monica made and watch the Olympics. We were all pretty pumped up about Michael Phelps.

It was a good thing we left the day that we did because you could not even see the ocean from our condo it was raining so hard. It looked like hurricane conditions. ( I am probably exaggerating, but it looked scary to me ). It is always so much fun spending time with the family. Even though we are all so different, we love each other beyond words.

I live for little moments like this...

As the rain was pouring down today, I got to thinkin' (sometimes I think I think too much ) . I started thinking about the other day...

It was a couple of days ago; Abby and I were playing in the living room and she couldn't help but notice that mommy had a worried look on her face (children often understand us sometimes better than we think they do ). At that point, she stopped talking to her animals and came up to me with her cute little pigtails and said, " Mommy, are you sad ? Are you sad , mommy ? " To which I then replied, " No punkin'; Mommy's just thinkin' about life.. " It was then that she decided mommy needed some cheering up so she quietly stated, " I cheer you up " and then she began singing , at the top her lungs, one of the most beautiful songs I'll ever hear --- "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so ... " I wrapped my arms around her and replied back to her, "Yes he does, Abby; Yes, he sure does. "

I think God gives us children a lot of times so that we can learn from them. I was reminded in that moment that I often get caught up worrying about what's going to happen in the next year , next month, or even tomorrow that I forget to cherish the moments God gives us in each new day. It's little moments like "When your daughter sings Jesus loves Me to you, " that bring so much Joy. I believe that God's mercies are new every morning, and He is faithful to us in the little moments. We will miss out on so much of His plan for our lives if we are always caught up in thinking about tomorrow . (Thank you , Abby, for reminding me of this )


These are some of the little moments that have made life so enjoyable:

Watching my baby girls sleep
Listening to Abby read , "The Three Little Bears " (In her papa bear voice )
Watching Aleah grin from ear to ear
A good thunderstorm approaching when it has been 100 degrees outside
Rlaxing in the backyard after the yard has been mowed
Playing the piano while singing my favorite hymns
Going for a walk with Gifford
Talking to my parents on the phone
Being able to bring comfort to someone that's in need
Laughing with my sisters, Monica and Marla, over the silliest things
Visiting my best friend , kari

Dancing with Gifford even though he is not very good (I'm just kiddin' )

Listening to my dad tell stories
Catching up with old friends that I haven't seen in a while
Vacations with the family

Going to Corpus Christi for some rest and relaxation with the in-laws (POETS, SNOOPY'S, The Condo's , Sitting on the couch doin' absolutely nothing)

Staying at my parents house in the country during the busiest time of year while my mom and dad cook some of the best meals (it actually feels like I'm on vacation when I am there )

Watching a good movie with Gifford
Sunday afternoon naps (Can I get an Amen !!! )
Playing chase with Abby
Holding Aleah while she is still so tiny
Meeting Cas and Gina for dinner on the weekends
Watching a new believer get baptized ( I get chills every time )
Chocolate Chip cookies
An ice cold drink on a Sunday afternoon
Beating Kari at a game (Ha! Ha! Ha ! )
Cooking (Even if it turns out bad )
Praying with Abby
Listening to a good sermon
Playing with my nieces at Granda's house (They all say the cutest things , and are all very different )

A hug from all of my grandmother's
Reading a good fiction novel on a cold, rainy day or at the beach
Christmas with family
Watching, "The Deadliest Catch " with Gifford after the girls have gone to bed . ( I never thought I would watch that show )

A good cry with my mom and sisters (They seem to understand )
Getting to do a fun lab with my students at school (Learning the moon phases with oreos )
Hopefully, making an impact on my student's lives
Just knowing that God loves me and will be faithful no matter what comes my way


I think I could go on... God has really blessed me with a wonderful life !!! I am thankful :)

My First Blog

I am sitting here at my sister-in-laws house and I'm excited to say that she has officially helped me to enter blog world! This is so cool!