Amy J. Bennett

Extraordinary Faith for Everyday Life

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Christmas Recap

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We had a lovely Christmas weekend.  Scott had to work Friday and Sunday but we fit in a trip to each of our parents’ Friday night and Saturday.  Sunday was spent at home trying to figure out where to put everything AND playing in the SNOW.  I think it was the first white Christmas in Charlotte in 60 years or something.  In true Carolina fashion, the sun was out as soon as it was done and is quickly melting it today.

I have a few favorite memories I hope to keep with me from this year.

I created a “package station” where the girls had their presents in stacks, labeled with handmade paper snowflakes above it. 

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Making the snowflakes brought back great memories of doing them in school.

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But seeing the girls see something new and fun that I actually managed to hand make was WAY better.

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We still have the snowflakes up and really I have no desire to take them down.

Mom and Dad bought Lexi a police officer outfit.  Cutest thing ever. Lexi has Emma in handcuffs as I type this and Scott is telling “security” to “take her away please” as he sits at their new Barbie cash register at the “mall”.

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Lexi was quite animated opening presents.  This particular score was over new earrings.

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Emma was just as excited but reserved in her reaction.  Her best reaction was over a Taylor Swift CD.  I loved reading the lyrics in the jacket cover as she played it on her new CD player my aunt got her.  I haven’t done that since 1997.

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It’s not that she hated her unicorn pillow pet as I assumed when she busted out crying after opening it.  It was her last gift in her pile, none of which included the American Girl doll she was desperate to have.  I thought I’d be clever and put all but their big presents out and at the end say, “I have one more present for you." and then bring it out with much fanfare.  Christmas FAIL.  She calmed down when I explained it but wow, she really wanted that doll.

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Which makes this pictures of the girls with their American Girl dolls oh so wonderful.

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Love this impromptu family picture.  We had all piled in the chair in preparation for opening presents at Scott’s parents Saturday.

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And finally, Emma and Lexi cackling over something at the snow man yesterday.  Not much better site than that.

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I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Checklist Love

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I love a good checklist. Apparently Emma got that gene. She made a list last night of things she wants to do on the American Girl web site. *love*

 

Christmas Weekend

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…and we’re back.  Again.  We spent a long weekend back in Maryland/Pennsylvania visiting family for Christmas.  It was a whirlwind of Christmas parties.  Friday night we had dinner/presents with my mom’s dad.  Saturday we had lunch/presents with my dad’s family.  Sunday was spent with the rest of my mom’s family.  My favorite moments:

  1. The kids playing Twister Friday night.  My cousin was twisted up and looked like a pretzel on the board.
  2. The kids playing Hedbanz and everyone getting a good laugh when I got the “I am a pig” card.
  3. Having a wonderful breakfast made from our hosts so I didn’t have to worry about it.
  4. Our hosts having special Christmas presents for the girls.
  5. Getting to meet my cousin’s new little baby and remembering what it feels like to hold a sleeping baby while you eat and telling your birth story ad nauseum.
  6. Realizing we have two new husbands and one new baby since last Christmas.  No boyfriends this year at Christmas!
  7. Having my grandmother healthy and happy after getting cleared from breast cancer this year.
  8. Eating a steak sub from D’Atri’s. 
  9. Having Lexi pick up a napkin and try to wipe my hands clean from the messiness of the steak sub.
  10. Seeing my cousin’s little toddler toddle around and remember what it’s like to have to follow them around every single second. 
  11. And then remember what it’s like for your kids to still have nap time.
  12. Seeing the kids presents all in stacks, just like we used to.
  13. Getting a set of my great-grandmother’s dishes from my aunt with homemade cookies on them.
  14. Playing with my uncle’s iPad.  And loving it but still being ok that I don’t have one.
  15. SNOW TUBING with my family, parents, sister and uncle’s family.  The best fun in a really long time.  Please see videos below!
  16. A really, really quiet ride home.

It was a really fantastic weekend.

So this snow tubing…you’ve gotta do it!  It takes absolutely no skill whatsoever, it’s fast and fun!

This is me and Emma going down the hill:

 

It looks slow until you’re on it! Here is Scott and Emma going down:

It’s a must, must do!

Hope your Christmas weeks are going well!

Works for Me Wednesday

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OF COURSE I would come up with something for a WFMW post when everyone is taking off for Thanksgiving but I’m going to share anyway!  I can’t take credit for this one actually.  And I don’t know if this is something everyone does and I’ve just been missing out but here we go, brace yourselves…

Put your apple on a fork to eat it. 

Let me let Lexi demonstrate:

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So the story, according to Emma, is that back at Halloween the girls were eating some leftover candied apples from the Fall Festival at my in-law’s house.  There was only one left and Emma had it.  Lexi wanted to eat hers on a stick too so they used a fork instead.  I know there is no caramel that is keeping her from touching the plain apple directly but this just makes it easier for her to eat and carry around.  And if you ask me, keeps at least a few germs off her food.

It works for me!

They Don’t Make Barbies Like They Used To

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With their birthday money, the girls have gotten several toys the past few weeks.  One of which we need to discuss.  This Barbie.  Not an actual Barbie per se but, really, a Barbie.  Actually, a pregnant Barbie.

 

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Cool.  Pregnant Barbie.  We have had several pregnant ladies around us lately.  No wonder Emma was interested in getting this.  Actually Lexi too.  Yes, we have two of these.  Because I know you’re interested, this is what she looks like under her shirt.

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I feel a little awkward pulling a lady’s shirt up and showing her pregnant belly.  I mean, some women are ok with that and then others aren’t.

But then again, this Barbie’s huge belly magically disappears so out of sheer jealousy, I will not feel bad for showing you her belly.

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See?  Flat belly, happy baby.

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Oh, but I’m hiding a little from you.  It’s NOT JUST A PRETEND PREGNANT BELLY.

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The flat belly spins around and creates a magical hole for the baby to fit in.  And look, head down.  Barbie must be ready to deliver!

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Barbie, you better get your bags, time to go to the hospital!  And deliver.  AGAIN.

Look, I can’t help it, it’s just weird.  Then again, I’m just happy the baby comes out c-section style (ish).

Have you ever seen such??

Weekend Recap

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Whew, so Emma turned eight and we all survived.  I have to admit, there IS something different.  She really seems older and I think there was a little shift in my perception of her.  All in a good way but yeah, 8 is different.  So we had a busy weekend, here’s the rundown:

  • Friday evening we attended a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese’s.   I don’t abhor that place and actually, now that the girls are old enough to run around without me following their every move it was kind of enjoyable to see them have a blast with their friends and I got to play Words with Friends and eat pizza and root beer for a few hours.  Score!
  • The girls spent the night with Scott’s mom Friday night but no sleeping in for me because I was up and in the kitchen by 9.  Emma really wanted chicken pot pie for dinner but she also wanted to go to Dad’s race and the Concord Christmas parade which did NOT leave enough time before dinner to actually make dinner for the family coming over.  So I stayed in the kitchen making dinner and then lunch.
  • About lunch we headed towards Concord for the race.  Most of that time was spent waiting on the race where I strengthened my opinion that sugar completely turns my kids into uncontrollable, incoherent banshees.  Or something like that.  It’s not good.
  • Dad PR’d in the 5K (woot!) and we were able to catch about 45 minutes of the parade before we had to leave.  Apparently the floats are judged and the parade televised.  You could tell everyone had brought out their best.  We had to skedaddle though because…
  • We had the family over for Emma’s birthday.  The pot pie did something weird but it was edible.
  • Today after church and lunch I took Emma to get her nails done.  She has begged ALL YEAR to get hers done and I always tell her she’ll have to wait for something special like her birthday to go.  So there was no more putting it off.

Does this not look like an 8 year old?  She’s wearing hair bands as bracelets just like her friends at school and has lime green polish.  I love it!  But look…her baby hands are all gone.  Can I go back to crying?  Wahhhh…

And you know I just didn’t have the heart to leave little sissy out.  I love her baby hands with that blue glitter polish!

  • This evening we took the girls to the mall and Toys R Us to use up some gift cards and birthday money as well as do some Christmas shopping.  And now, as with many weekends, I need a weekend from my weekend!!

Eight Eve

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Tomorrow Emma turns 8.  I don’t know what it is about 8 but 8 in my mind is the quintessential little girl age.  All birthdays up until 8 are simply a build-up to 8.  All birthdays after 8 are an upward (downward?) spiral to 13.  Things start changing at 8 I think.  You understand more about the world you’re in.  You start having drama with your friends.  You start paying attention to boys around you.  You learn cursive.  I don’t know, it seems like a big year.

Maybe because that’s the year we moved, I met my best friend Melissa and had my first boyfriend.  For me, it was a big year.  So 8 is just looming.  I really don’t want Emma to turn 8.  This is the part where I want time to slow down.  Actually, just stop.  The past 6 months or so as Emma and Lexi finish out 5 and 7 and make the turn towards 6 and 8 have been fantastic.  I feel like we’ve left behind a lot of the mayhem of toddler and preschool-ville and we’re really settling in.  This year I’ve hit my stride in the home and I know this is normal for a mom with elementary school kids.  It’s the most freeing time of motherhood, if the Internets and books are to be believed.  The next few years after this get yucky and tricky with training bras and boyfriends and “talks” that it’s just making me dig my heels into the ground and try to stop this little girl train we’re on.  Pull the cord.  Punch the brakes.  Sound the alarm.  Make it stop NOW.

I’m celebrating 8 because I’m so proud of her and I love this season she’s in but it’s just I think I remember way too much about 8 and how could I possibly have an 8 year old?  How could Emma be 8?  Wasn’t she just taking her first step in an apartment in Columbia?

Unfortunately there are no brakes and no alarms except the ones in my head.  So I’m just hanging on for dear life and trying to enjoy each day as it comes.  I suppose that’s all any of us can do.