Nice things

Here's a couple of things you may want to check out:

My friend Tory makes adorable lampshades. Check out her blog and shop around!

If you are in the market for a cute bag or bib for your kid, check out my friend Megan's website.

I think I'm going to make this for Easter!

Ode to Silas

My first born is 6! I can't believe it! Silas is such a smart boy. He always has been. He LOVES reading/being read to. He love building things and playing with things that can be put together. Already in his short life he's had so many adventures. Maybe that has fueled his wild imagination. We see him as a leader and we pray that God will develop those qualities in him as he grows. I never would have imagined 6 years ago that I could love a little boy so much!

The Survivor

Although Jody would love to be on CBS's Survivor, the real survivor in our family is Millie Grace. Seriously...she's amazing! Such a trooper.

Today we ran errands all morning. Millie fussed here and there a few times but I would just stick the pacifier back in her mouth. She stayed in the carseat for about 3 hours. When we got home I took her out of the carseat and there was POOP everywhere. POOR THING! Obviously she was trying to tell me and I wouldn't listen.

Luke dumped her out of a chair on the porch today when I wasn't looking. She fussed but got over it quickly and smiled at him when he apologized.

She's on a four hour feeding schedule (except at night). And even when its been over 4 hours she doesn't cry really. Not like Luke did when he was a baby...boy was he demanding!

I wish you all could hold her and see her. She's so cuddly and smiley. She loves to be warm and close.

If you are ordering a baby pray that s/he is like Millie Grace!

Bedtime Rules

We are pretty strict about bedtime here at our house. Jody and I decided early on in our parenting that getting enough sleep is not only important for our kids but also for the parents! Once the kids go to bed its mommy and daddy time uninterrupted.

I have a few funny things regarding recent bedtime happenings after I share our typical bedtime routine. I know that this routine isn't doable for everyone. I talked to another mom from Hattie's preschool class the other day. Her husband doesn't come home in the evenings until 8:30 or so. But it definitely works for us! Everything in our routine is subjectible...it depends on what we have been doing, like church activities, or something like that. So these times are give or take 15 minutes.

Jennings Bedtime Routine

6:45 Bath
7:00 Brush teeth, pj's on
7:15 Read books (usually everyone picks their own book and we read all together)
7:30 Each to their own bed, pray, lights out

Jennings Bedtime Rules

1. You are not allowed out of your bed for any reason. Permission can be given to use the bathroom.
2. Call backs are for emergencies. (Jody says this sounds like we are MEAN parents, but come one. You all know that stalling at bedtime can result in NUMEROUS call backs for random, unimportant things)

Recent Bedtime Happenings

Silas: He told me one day recently that he has the earliest bedtime of any one in his class. WHY?? I told him that he is also one of the smartest little boys I know and that is because people who sleep more learn better. He liked that answer. I also told him that Gage and Emma have the same bedtime he does. That really satisfied him.

Hattie: She "sleeps" with SO many odd things in her bed. We have had to make a new rule for her. She can't take any more books or toys (or shoes or purses...) to bed with her until the ones that are in the bed currently are put away.

Luke: He is the one who has challenged us the most on the staying in your bed rule. The other night, Hattie called me. I said, "this better be an emergency" as I walked in. Luke popped up out of Hattie's covers and said in a funny innocent voice, "I just wanted to snuggle!" I sent him back to his room and laughed my way back down the hall.

Millie Grace: Is starting to fit herself into this bedtime routine right along with everyone else! Yay!! She goes to sleep around 7pm or so, I wake her to feed her one last time before I go to bed around 10-11pm and have been waking her up in the mornings around 7. Hattie is happy to finally have a roommate!

Postpartum Hair-loss

I have had 4 pregnacies, 4 deliveries and 4 sweet babies.

I have pretty thick, straight hair. Under regular circumstances I loose hair a little. I clean out my hair brush (unlike SOME people...and you know who you are) every few days. But when I'm pregnant I don't loose any hair. I never clean out my hairbrush. Its like the baby causes my hair to stay in tight. For about 3 months or so postpartum its the same. Just thick hair holding on tight. But then SUDDENLY it all starts falling out. By the clumps, by the handfuls...everytime I think I'm going BALD!

One time I seriously thought I was going bald. I ask Jody if he would still like me if I was bald. He assured me he would but that I was not balding. He was right. (Did you read that, Jody?? You were right)

But seriously, its strange. I've never seen so much hair when I wash it coming out...well, that's not true. Its happened several times now, but none the less, it shocks me everytime. Can anyone relate?

The Haircut

This post is going to make some thrilled (Stacy, Roman) and others cry (my mother-in-law). Just a fair warning.

Silas decided he wanted a buzz. He has gorgeous, thick hair. We've never gone short short...until now. And he LOVES it!!! I didn't even recognize him when he was standing right next to me at Chickfila and I was yelling for him to come down from the slide. Doesn't he look so different??

Before






After




This is Millie Grace watching the haircut.

A few more pix from the Tea Party

Suddenly, when we were getting ready to fix plates, I realized I forgot CANDLES! Aaaah! (big shocker, I know! I have become VERY forgetful lately). Renee Wooten, our youth pastor's wife, came up with a suggestion. Roll some paper towels up and light the top of them. My mom said, "Spoken like a youth pastor's wife!!" Then, as if a light bulb turned on, my mom remembered she happened to have some birthday candles in her purse...AND MATCHES! Ha! (I get the forgetfulness thing honest, it seems!) So DD saved the party with her magic purse!

This was our attempt at getting the whole gang together.

This is my other nephew, Captian Elijah. How do you like his costume for the tea party??

And one more of the cupcakes. Mmmmmmmm!

Tea Party

The Big (not really) 4 yr old

Playing Hot Potato

"These cupcakes are FABULOUS!"

Live music and all! DD (my mom) played for musical chairs and Happy Birthday!!

This is all Aunt Joy (my sister) wanted to do...hold Millie!

My sweet nephew, Graham.



Is anyone else having a hard time loading pictures on blogger? On my composition I can't see the pictures, just a bunch of codes. HELP! ****Addendum: Thank you Rita. You are a gem among the blogosphere!****

I can't put a captions on each because I can't see where one starts and another begins. But these are pix from Hattie's birthday tea party. It was SO fun! Check out the AMAZING cupcakes I DID NOT make!

Working Woman

Its official...I'm a working woman. I have become a Creative Memories independent consultant. I've tossed this around since before I was married. I've gone back and forth on the pros and cons and finally just bit the bullet. I decided to give it a go...a good one.

I know what you may be thinking. You have 4 kids, how do you find the time? But wouldn't you agree that we find time for what we want to? Also, I feel that preserving my family's memories is crucial and I want to share it with everyone.

I LOVE creative memories products, always have. Now with the digital software, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity. I personally think everyone should invest in their photos. You don't have to be creative at all, just willing to do something!

Did you know that back before we all went to digital cameras, we processed 80% of our pictures. Now we all just store them on the computer and only 20% are printed! Granted I know I take tons more now that I can. But still, what do you do with yours? What kind of program do you use to store them?

I'd LOVE to share my products with you. Check out my website here.

Lazy Blogger

I know...what has happened to me??? I don't know! Business without a good explanation I guess. I've been a lazy blogger.

Hattie's tea party on Saturday was so great. So fun. So cute. I have pictures but they are still on the camera.

We had a little snow storm. It was pretty funny after living in Bismarck. But it was serious here. Lots of people without power. No school Monday and Tuesday and a 2-hour delay today. Jody was off Monday, so that was fun.

I didn't even take any pictures because Jody took Silas, Hattie and Luke out to play in the snow and I stayed in to clean.

Tuesday we had lots of company throughout the day.

Today, Hattie had a cavity filled. She did AMAZING! It was as if...nothing. The dentist said she was the best patient all day long. I was so proud of her.

Anyway. Maybe tomorrow I'll do a better post.