Suggestions.....PLEASE!

OK...so our sweet little Gabs has a serious issue with any type of restraint. I love her crazy spirit but she is beginning to test my patience. I consider Matt and myself pretty flexible, patient people. Gabby seems to have inherited neither of our personalities...which is ok, but sometimes makes it hard for us to know what is best for her in certain situations. 

Our major issue right now is that she HATES being restrained...

Strollers (walks are pretty much out of the question)

High Chair (at home or even worse out to eat)

Bath seat (yes I know she is getting a little old for this but it is hard to bathe two kids under 3)

Grocery carts (disastrous)

Car Seat (by far the worst...which makes going anywhere dreadful)

I realize that she is getting older and probably sees what Naomi does, and wants to copy her. I have let her sit in the bottom part of the grocery cart with Naomi, and sometimes she does ok.....I try and get the car grocery carts that both kids sit in the top of...and Gabby still hates to get in them. The bath seat... like I said I know she is getting a little big for it....but even against by wishes I have tried to put her in the bath with Naomi and she refuses to sit down. The stroller isn't even worth the effort....We tried to put her in a booster seat but she most of the time won't stay seated....

The car seat is by far the worst...which Naomi has the exact same car seat right next to her. She throws her legs out straight and stiffens up her back and then throws her head back...it seriously takes all of strength to push in at her stomach to get in the car. Then she screams and cries for like 15 minutes until she finally gets over it. The grocery cart is the same scene except once I have her in it she flails around hitting her head on the back of the metal seat part, screaming at the top of her lungs.....you get the point with the high chair, stroller, and so on.

Ok my disclaimer...I do about half of the time end up giving her some type of food at the grocery just to get her to calm down so I can get my shopping done. I know I am kind of giving in. Secondly, in the car we have a pull down tv that plays dvd's. Once Gabby is the car she will point to this, if I turn in on, complete silence fills my car. Let me say that seriously up until this whole issue started we hardly ever used the car dvd player...only on trips longer than an hour...also Gabby wants NOTHING to do with tv at home, she will hardly sit still for 5 seconds let along any amount of time watching tv. 

So I guess my questions are:

What should I do?

Should I just continually give in to the crackers/cookies and tv for sanity purposes?

Should I not give in at all, but allow my child to get bruised in the process either from my pushing her in something or her hitting her head/body on metal objects?

Why is it that everything you planned to do as a parent changes once you actually are a parent?

What can I do to make her not so upset during times she has to be restrained?

Should I just never leave my house and let my kids run around to eat and never bath them...so she is never "restrained" again? 

I know there is probably not an answer...and that really it is just taking time to daily submit to God's authority in my life. I know He entrusted these two precious girls into Matt and I's care, but sometimes....I just wonder if we are doing it right?

Thanksgiving Pictures

My grandparents with all the grandchildren (mom's side). Matt would not get in the picture and the girls were napping! 

My cousins...they really did not want to take pictures so what better reason to put them on my blog....From left: Kelley 19, Eli 17, Olivia 14
The fam...the girls were not very cooperative:(

I am thankful for...

Sorry I did not have a truth post on Tuesday. I just didn't have time and I figured this week would be a little different since it is Thanksgiving. Happy Turkey Day! 

I am thankful for:

1. Jesus...He rocks! 

2. My husband-I love this man more and more everyday.

3. Naomi Reese-My beautiful, loving, tender, reserved, compassionate almost 3 year old.

4. Gabrielle Harman-My beautiful, spirited (and I don't mean bad), courageous, active, funny one and a half year old. 

5. My parents-I am eternally grateful for the wonderful selfless people that I am honored to call mom and dad. 

6. My in-laws- I live in the minority of people who would not trade their in-laws for anything. I love them so much and am also grateful for the amazing man that they raised:)

7.  My siblings and extended family-My sister Tracey (incredibly smart and passionate), my sister in law Stephanie and my brother in law Dillan (who are wonderful parents to their two little boys.)

8. My nephews...seriously cute and funny kids. Logan is 3 and Noah is 2 (well almost..Dec 1st)

9. My friends... Jenn, Katie, Jill, my bible study girls...and the list could go on and on...I have the best of friends.

10. My house- What a great privilege and responsibility it is to own our first home. 

11. Matt's job security- There are numerous things about the military life that I could complain about but we seriously are counting our blessings knowing even in economic crisis our pay checks are steady. 

12. Our health and our kids health-I am sooo grateful for decent genes and a healthy family.

13. Sunshine- I do feel somewhat spoiled that somedays in November get close or over 70 degrees.

14. Free healthcare-Military healthcare definitely has its kinks...but seriously, it is free!

15. Freedom

16. Education-I hope someday when my kids are in school, that I can put my college education to use.

17. Babies-I love me some babies!

18. Dogs-Marty and Cheyenne sometimes drive me crazy but what would I do without them.

19. Clean house- makes me more sane!

20. Exercise crazy friends- I am grateful for this because I know without them, I might be a bum! 

Others: Chocolate, Coffee, Vacations, Fisher Price Nature Wonder Swing (life saver), Epidural's, Diet Dr. Pepper, Chick-Fil-a, mini-van's, military discounts, Kentucky and Kentucky sports, Target, Apple computers, Canon camera's, other mommy's....and much more! 

Seriously...smart kid!

Out of the blue...Naomi started spouting off the Pledge of Allegiance! 

*I did not realize how messy Naomi's hair was when video taped her saying this...she really does have pretty hair most of the time:)

*NOTE: Apparently the time on my posts are off by like 4 hours....NO I did not put this up originally at 5:41 am! That would be crazy!

Dishwashing FUN!

I really hate UNLOADING the dishwasher. I really don't mind any other part of the process, but unloading...yuck! So I have discovered that it is not near as horrible if I let the girls be involved. The process now goes...Naomi is the distributer (don't mess with her dishes or she will get mad). She has to get each plate (bowls, cups..etc) out and put them all in their individual piles and then hands them one at a time to Gabby. Gabby is the transporter. She takes the dishes from Naomi and brings them to mommy. Mommy is the deliver. I put the dishes where they need to go. It is a great system and makes the dreaded unloading of the dishwasher..somewhat FUN!

Naomi was at school during this video...so Gabby got to do both.

PS. Dad, I promise there were no knives! 

Truth for Tuesday

This has nothing to do with my post but I always have to throw in a picture of our girls! They are enjoying a after nap "picnic snack" on the back porch! Long Love

I lugged the kids out the house a few weeks ago for a dreaded trip to the post office. I dislike doing the “fast errands” with both the girls, because what of what should be a 5 minute trip turns into a 45 minute nightmare. After putting both girls in my giant double stroller, I walk up to the door, to a little old man who is holding the door open for us. I can’t help but be polite and graciously thank him, apparently giving him the go to pour out his entire life story to the girls and I, as we are still standing in the doorway. He tells me about his wife Elizabeth Grace, who he was married to for 60 years before she died of a heart attack, of their life together, about their son who lives in San Diego, his time in the Navy, and back to his wife. He told me that she was the most beautiful woman in the world, and that she had jet-black curly hair. He told me to hold on a minute and he ran to his car and brought in this frame that was about 20 x 20 with 4-5 pictures of his wife and few of him and his son. We probably spent 15-20 minutes of our post office time talking or listening to this man. After I finally got my package sent out I piled the girls back in the car and headed home. I couldn’t help but think about all the years that this little old man spent in love with his wife. It makes me a little sad to think about how love after the newness fades loses its luster in our world. We only get excited about the beginnings when it’s the all the time in the middle, and the endings that really matter. The longevity of a life given to someone else is what makes it beautiful.

So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

Genesis 29:20

*Sorry this post is a little late, I finally got my hands on "The Shack" and could not get it out of my hands:)

Play Date at the Park!

A few weeks ago we had our play date at the park in down town Saint Marys. Our town is kinda lame in a lot of aspects, but the waterfront park, is very pretty and quaint. The weather here also has been awesome. 

Naomi going down the slide...over and over again!

Amy, baby Walter (who is not so much of a baby anymore...tear) and Gabby in the background.

Gabby with a really dirty face. She thinks sand tastes good. Wait...she thinks everything tastes good!
Ryker (Lori's little boy) in the tunnel.
Naomi in the tunnel
PS. Gabby went to the doctor yesterday and has a double ear infection. Poor baby:(

Truth for Tuesday

I have been tagged again:) 

I have to tell you six things that make my happy and then tag six people to say six things that make them happy. I don't normally feel obligated to do these, but since it is Tuesday....here it goes.

First off I think I must make a disclaimer. Only listing six things that make me happy is like saying I only like six deserts...which is crazy. With that being said, I feel compelled to make my six things, really important, since so many things make me happy.

1. My husband-I know this is a gimme, but seriously I fall more in love with Matt everyday. Matt used to tell me I was way out his league. Over the past five 1/2 years I have learned the opposite is true. I sometimes feel so undeserving of the self-sacrificing, loyal, honest, patient, and loving man that I go to sleep next to every night. (Well at least the nights that he is not in the middle of the ocean.)

2. Watching my children learn God's truths- Naomi knows 4 Bible verses by heart now. She says them every morning and night. We read a chapter of Psalms out loud almost every morning.  Matt took her to Lowes the other night and she saw a Nativity scene (never seen one that I can remember) and said "look daddy it is baby Jesus and God." Seriously precious. Gabby loves her little pink Bible, she carries it around with her all the time.

3. The inner skinny version of me- I know that there is a skinny 120 lb Allie dying to get out. The hopes of one day meeting her makes me very happy.

4. Accomplishment- I love at the end of the day when you know that you have lived worthy of God's calling on our lives. I remember in my one 8 month RN job when I worked in the ER. Every day there was exhausting, but at the end of usually 14 hours, I felt like I had done something. That makes me smile.

5. Old people. I seriously love old people. I think I must have it written all over me because every where I go, they flock to talk to me. I seriously think I spent at least 30 minutes last week in conversation out random places with total "old" strangers.

6. Kentucky. In every aspect. My family is there, the weather, the scenery, the people, and of course the sports. Although sometimes like last Saturday, just the opposite of happiness happens. Boo Georgia.

Well thats it. I promise to have a more thought provoking Truth next week. I tag Jenn, Sarah, Stephanie, Omar, Katie, and that is all for now. I know it is only 5. I am sure a few of these people won't do this, but oh well. 

Gabby reading her Bible:)

One of my favorite "old" peoples.  My papaw. 

Flower girl Pros

The first two are from my cousin Trevor's wedding (the one where Naomi threw up 10 min before the wedding.)

The last two are from Marni's wedding on Honeymoon Island. It was the first beach and Jewish wedding I have ever been to. We had a lot of fun. Gabby kept taking her diaper off:)

Sweetness

Butter Crunch Toffee

I am not sure what has come over me, but lately I have had the urge to start trying some new things in the kitchen. I should have started with something a little less "involved" than candy making. After about an hour and 1/2 of work, and around 14 hours of waiting...here is the result!

For my first attempt....I am quite proud! It actually tastes good too!

The Recipe:

2 cups (8 ounces) toasted almonds or hazelnuts, chopped between 'fine' and 'coarse'
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup (1 stick) salted or unsalted butter, cut into pieces (use real butter)
a nice, big pinch of salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar 
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped, or 1 cup chocolate chips

optional: Ground cocoa nibs and fleur de seln (did not know what this was, so I did not use it)

1. Lightly oil a baking sheet with an unflavored vegetable oil.
2. Sprinkle half the nuts into a rectangle about 8' x 10" on the baking sheet.
3. In a medium heavy-duty saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer, heat the water, butter, salt, and both sugars. Cook, stirring as little as possible, until the thermometer reads 300 F degrees. Have the vanilla and baking soda handy. Keep an eye on it especially after it reaches about 280 degrees. You don't want the mixture to scorch. 
4. Immediately remove from heat and stir in the baking soda and vanilla.
5. Quickly pour the mixture over the nuts on the baking sheet. Try to pour the mixture so it forms a relatively even layer. (If necessary, gently but quickly spread with a spatula, but don't overwork it.)
5. Strew the chocolate pieces over the top and let stand 2 minutes, then spread in an even layer. Let it sit ( I just put in the oven overnight) for up to 24 hours, until the candy/chocolate hardens. Enjoy!

A few tips....It doesn't always work out the way you plan, candy can be quite fickle (from what I read.) Use a heavy duty sauce pan, and use a wooden spoon when you stir it. The mixture sticks too much to a metal spoon. If you don't have a candy thermometer I bought one from Walmart for like $3. Just make sure to test the accuracy of it before you use it for candy. To test, bring water to a steady boil,  it should read 212 degrees. It not, note the difference and make sure to add that into your temperature for the candy. 

Just for fun! 

Truth for Tuesday (on Monday!)

One more day…
I find it comical how politics only exists in extremes. People either “don’t want to talk about it” or want to yell, scream, and kick to get their point across. Why can we not just have a rational, normal, conversation, using indoor voices? I sent in my absentee ballot last week. I voted for McCain. I truthfully do not idolize the Republican party. I sincerely believe both parties fall extremely short of the true heart of God. I feel I have to go where my faith leads me. I end up in the same place every time. Below are my 4 “biblically based” non negotiable priorities when it comes to my vote.

1. Human Life- I will always vote for the candidate who will protect life or will do the most to protect it. In this category I include everything from abortion and war, to crime and anything else that threatens human life. I can and would never vote for abortion to be legal. I believe from conception life exists and actually the whole issue is just an issue of selfishness in my mind. If you make a decision, then the own the outcome, whether or not you like it. With that said, I am not naive enough to think that abortion is the only issue that affects human life. EVERY person on this earth is made in the image of God, which means all life “good” or “bad” should be seen with value. I think war is a horrible tragedy that undoubtedly will exist in world full of sin. Do I think all war is of God? No. And I do believe that God will hold those accountable for “holiness” done in His name, that is no where near holy. With that said, I do believe that as we see, from the beginning of time, sometimes lives will be lost, for the sake of peace. Even if we were not at war with the middle east, lives would still be lost, maybe at a much higher rate. God breathed life into us, into ALL of humanity…not just Americans, not just the unborn, or the Democrats, or Republicans, not just the educated, not just one race….All of us.
2. Less Government—I think from the Romans, to the Pharisees, to Hitler, or to Castro…too much of something, never seems to work. Constitutionally, government was never meant to be SO BIG, to impinge on our freedoms, like how we spend our own money. What ever happened to the simple life, of getting up and going to work? Seriously. When my parents got married, they had $20. That’s it, they were poor…very poor. My dad’s car did not have a floor board…like a Flintstone car. They had to push it to start it. They have worked their entire lives to get to where they are now. They now own a small business. Raising taxes puts a huge burden on their company, on my parents, but it ripples down onto the employees that depend on them to put food on their tables. Why is my parents 30+ years of extremely hard work paying for “crappy heathcare”, college tuition, and really expensive advertisements. That is also something that I don’t understand. The country is an economic crisis, a child dies every 5 minutes of starvation…and we are spending millions of dollars for campaigns. Fabulous.
3. Sanctity of Marriage/Families- I believe that marriage/family is the fundamental foundation to what makes a country work. From the beginning of Genesis God ordains the relationship between a husband and a wife. Marriage should exist between a man and a woman. I really believe that we have allowed ourselves to become so diluted that we don’t even bat an eye to the extreme mockery of God, that goes on everyday. If you want to take God out of the picture, anatomically it only works between man and woman. Without reproduction, we would be extinct.
4. Poverty- My heart bleeds for the unfortunate, for the poor, and the hungry. I remember when I was about 10, my mom, me and my sister lived in New York City for a summer. My sister and I were obsessed with giving stuff to the poor, to the people living on the streets. As a child, I felt so helpless and so grieved that someone did not have a bed to go home to. I remember once we went to McDonald's and bought like 50 cheeseburgers and handed them out to everyone we saw. I know what God’s word says about the poor. Biblically speaking, God’s word talks about the poor a whole lot more than it does about homosexuality or abortion. Most Christians would say, but yes, they are talking to the church. They are talking to the church, but a lot of us our not listening. This forces the government to step in. Then the cycle begins…what works, what doesn’t, what enables people to work, what makes them lazier…so many questions. In the end I still think both sides help and hurt the poor…

These are my truths, when it comes to my political opinions. I don’t talk politics very often, but I figure I better get my two cents in before the BIG DAY. I am pretty sure I know the outcome, but you never know. GO AND VOTE.


PS. Please do not get all defensive, eye rolling, huffy and puffy, or anything else about what I believe...seriously I do not hate you, or even dislike you if you don't believe the same thing as me...I can deal with respected differences.....

HAPPPY BIRTHDAY KAITLYN!

We miss you so much. We hope you had a FABULOUS 3rd birthday.
Love, Naomi, Gabby, Allie, and Matt

PS. Kaitlyn, you still are my best friend. I love you. Love, NaNa

Number 2 and 3....

Gabby...."with my mind on my candy...

...and candy on my mind"
Our little kitty cat. Naomi asked for like a week to be a cat. I had originally told her no, since I already had her princess costume....but since she had to have her bladder test last week, I gave in.
Little ladybug and kitty cat (the kitty was starting to get sad, because she was ready to go and mommy made her wait.)
Naomi at her school Halloween party. They had a little "candy parade" at the end of school. 

The First (of Three) Halloween's

On Wednesdy night, we went to a fall festival at one of the Methodist churches in town. They had trunk or treat, where you go to each car and get candy. Naomi went last year, so she was a pro (until she saw the big scary bear...it was not scary but lately she is terrified of any "mascot" like outfit, where you can not see a face.) It was funny. This was Gabby's first experience trick or treating and she thought is super cool that people were putting candy in her bucket.

Our little princesses... Gabby thinking....someone just put candy in my pumpkin...I wonder if mommy knows what is going on?
Gabby off to the next car...Naomi dragging behind;)

Can I eat some now?

Pumpkins!

Matt had never carved a pumpkin before...crazy! The girls were a little unsure of the pumpkin cleaning. Naomi really liked it once we lit the candle inside. I will try to upload some more Halloween pictures later.