Help Me Decide? Please?!?!

Found a deal online for a free canvas (just pay s/h) and I can't decide which picture to blow up? Your opinion is very very welcome!

Option 1: Would hang in girls room... 11x 14 size or 16x20 size
Old Western Look

Black and White

Option 2: Would hang above our coat hooks in "entrance"... 11x14 size

Option 3: Would hang above our coat hooks in "entrance"... 11x14 size


Maybe none of them are quite what I'm looking for... I dunno! If you've "canvased" pics before... what is your deciding factor on a picture? What made you decide on THE ONE?

Take this picture for example... I like a number of things about it (straight out of the camera) but it's not "blow up worthy" to me.


Does a picture need to tell a story to be a focal point on the wall? Should it be of family or a "thing"? I'm not the greatest at making decisions... as you may have noticed!! So to you "more experienced ones"... I'm all ears, if you're willing to share!!

Here's the free canvas deal, by the way = http://gooddealmama.com/2010/09/16/free-8x10-photo-canvas-just-pay-shipping/

Mini Me

Alia has been wanting to wear my clothes, copy the things I say, put on my make up, blow dry her hair... things that she sees me doing. And yes, it's cute... but I would SO much rather she copy her daddy!

In more ways than I can even begin to list!

Wow... Talk About Hand Me Downs

So, I was looking back at pictures of when Alia was crawling and realized that the girls were wearing the same pants and purple combo in their crawling pics!


Sorry girls... I'll try not to make it SO obvious that you're sharing clothes next time!

Where Does She Come Up with This Stuff?

Seriously?

I turned around to Alia calling "Mama, Mama... yook!"

She was ON her riding giraffe, trying to go up the stairs.
Thankfully she couldn't figure out how to get him to the 2nd step.
But still... who looks at this...

... and thinks it's a good idea to go UP on a riding toy?!!?

Jon's daughter... that's who!!! :)

Crawling Queen

Larren is off and crawling, like it's nobody's business. She's ditched the reverse only method and is has mastered the art of motion. She's determined. She's focused. And she's quick... she has a big sister to keep up with, after all!

If there's something she wants... she gets it, much to Alia's dismay at times!

Look at her go...



She's like a little puppy who runs to the door to greet daddy when he gets home!


... or a sad little puppy when she doesn't get picked up, right away.

Look at that face... it makes me want to pout a little, too!

But she's come up with a new game plan... if at first she doesn't succeed, BANG on the dresser until someone comes to rescue her!

Yup... now she's really stuck!

This is not going quite as planned!

And this is the "MOM, stop taking pictures and please just get me out from under this crazy thing" look.

I'll be right back!

We've Been Seeing A Lot of THIS Lately...

and it's awfully cute!!

Stop The Watch

I have said that, in some ways, I look forward to Larren's one year birthday. The guessing game isn't as much of a losing battle... she is able to communicate a bit better... she's more interactive... her schedule will (hopefully) be figured out... etc. etc.

BUT, I think I take that back... we've been having way too much fun lately.

It's amazing what a little sleep can do for both mommy and baby!

Ephesians 4:25

says "So put away all falsehood (we say "stop telling lies") and tell your neighbor the truth...". That is the verse that Alia has heard quite often here as of late.

It breaks my heart that she has told us a fib or two. It's always in response to something she's done to her sister. Whenever she is rough with her, or does something unkind she says "but there was a fly on her." I don't know where she got that, but it is SO frustrating.

Yesterday she didn't get her usual grocery store treat (they give out cookies at one store and bologna at another) because she lied about throwing a toy at Larren in the vehicle. Today I decided it's time to start making this no lying thing really stick.

So... she got a little squirt of vinegar in her mouth.

I explained that lies are "yucky" coming out of our mouths, and vinegar tastes "yucky" in our mouth. She didn't like it, of course... but I'm hoping the message sticks.

"Continue to give us wisdom in raising our children, Lord."

Baby Food, Baby Food, Baby Food

It's that time... mashing, pureeing, blending, and freezing. Larren's at the baby food stage!

Our blender has, once again, proved that it's worth taking up valuable cupboard space!


Carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, peaches, peas, green beans, avocados, apples, mixed berries, pears, bananas, potatoes, plums... we're making a list and checking it twice.

I was more laze fare with Alia... but after Larren's allergy issues I'm feeling a little gun shy! We are definitely taking it extra slow with baby #2!

Riding the Boat and Reading the Bible

Alia's imagination has really taken off. Every day, it seems, we're going on some sort of adventure! Yesterday we went boating, tubing, swimming in the lake, and sun tanning... all in the girl's bedroom!

Our boat (a white sheet layed on the floor) has become quite a hot spot here lately. Today Alia added a bonus to our boating trip... she brought her Bible along.




She was quite concerned that Jonah was in the water... being on a boat makes you think of such things I guess!

Soaking up some sun...


I've said it before, and I'll say it again... I LOVE THIS AGE!

Alia Just Said

"I yike Daddy... he's zuch a vun duy!!!"

I couldn't agree more, my little love!

Women Living Well

Women Living Well is a newly found blog (for me, that is!) that I just LOVE. The writer of this encouraging blog is a born again believer with a passion for helping women be the best, most godly, moms and wives we can be! Every time I take a glance at her blog I walk away challenged with something to think on, and more importantly, to try to put into practice! I am so blessed by her, and her insight.

Today she shared a fun little video from comedian Anita Renfroe - it made me smile, laugh, and want to shout out an occasional quiet "amen" (the kiddos were sleeping after all!), so I thought I would share it with you too! Enjoy!

"Secret" Recipe

Okay... you just HAVE TO try this recipe.

It's gluten free and has a "secret ingredient" that will leave your guests (or kids or husband) stunned!

It's super moist, super yummy, and easy to make! Add some creamy vanilla ice cream and ooey gooey hot fudge or chocolate frosting... and you're in business!!

Without further ado...

Black Bean Cake
1 can (19 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
3 eggs
1/3 c. oil
2 Tbsp. vanilla
1/2 c. cocoa powder
1 1/4 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a blender mix beans, eggs, oil, and vanilla until smooth. Mix dry ingredients together. Pour bean mixture over dry ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour batter into a greased 9" square pan. Bake for approximately 35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
(Recipe courtesy of Tamara from our new church cookbook!)

Just trust me on this one...

Finally...

... my last minute, just-in-case-I-don't-have-time-to-take-anything-better-pictures of Larren at 6 months!


Here's to hoping the rain stops, and the sunshine comes out... thus giving me a few extra days to click, click away!

My Little Family...

...that makes me smile!

"Let's Get This For Alia"...

...they said, excitedly.

"For Alia, eh?"


Uh huh. :)

Should a 2 Year Old Be Riding a Motorcycle?

That's a very good question... my gut reaction is absolutely positively NOT!

And when I saw this...

... I almost peed my pants. My husband thinks otherwise!

Alia totally trusts her Daddy, can ya tell?!?! She has no idea how horrible this could go... which is exactly what a mother thinks when she sees something like this!


Jon took Alia up and down the road (thankfully my parents have a very paved, very straight, very low traffic road) and after a few minutes I started to relax.

Until I saw this...


"Dook Mama... I stand UP!"

Seriously... if this is what it's like with girls... I really don't think I can handle boys.

** As a young girl I too enjoyed riding, jumping, and racing motorcycles. I had lots of fun, had my fair share of wrecks and wounds, and learned a number of things about speed, brakes, and the feel of the wind in my hair... so I come to a point in life, like a number of other mothers do, of deciding what is necessary protection and what is over protection. And let's just say that I'm really, really, REALLY glad my God hears and answers prayer! **

At least every 2 hours...

... I'm asked "Whe'd Undle Dosh an Auntie Ewin doe?"


They are in Ohio. "In o-HI-o?" Yes... in Ohio.

You'll see them at Christmas time. "At Qwismas time?" (Thinks about that for a few seconds...)

"Whe'd Gwamma Wadmun an Gwampa Wadmun doe?"

And let me tell you... it's absolutely amazing how many people she remembers from Ohio... goodness!

We Made It

Sorry I've been a little quiet around here! Wanted to mention that yes... we did make it back to MB! The trip didn't go as well as the trip to Ohio, but what can I say - we're back!
We've been unpacking and enjoying Jon's family over the last few days! We had a day to put things away and get our house in order (somewhat!) before Jon's parents and sister (and family!) arrived. We've been having a wonderful visit... and I'll be back at blogging in a few days!