Up and Beyond

I am in the process of teaching my children the importance of giving 110% in everything they do. Lately, it seems, the girls have been doing just the minimum, and it is beginning to get tiring. So, they have received a few "mommy talks" about the importance of going "above and beyond" when asked to do something. If asked to make bed, pick up toys too. When asked to clear their dishes, clean off the entire table. If asked to write two sentences, write three interesting ones.

I believe my talk got through to Kylia, when the next day, after being asked to put the pillows back on the couch, she replied, "Mommy, I am going to go 'up and beyond' for you today!" She then folded a blanket, took mine and Seth's Bibles and journals to our bedrooms, made our bed :), and did a handful of other tasks. Adalie then caught the spirit and ran upstairs to clean saying, "I'm going to go 'up and beyond' too!"

I love to see a child who has a heart to go 'up and beyond' in everything they do! So, we will continue teaching, continue loving, and continue guiding our children toward that goal.

(Kylia didn't clean toilets that day, but these were the only cleaning pictures I had, so I stuck them in. She loves to swish toilets, so these pictures had to go in somewhere! :)

Zoie's Ultimate Story!

"I am going to read you a story", Zoie declared as she sat down with Bible in hand. She opened the Bible and began, "This is a story about Jonah and the Big Fish".

It went something like this, "In the beginning there was a big fish. The big fish swallowed a little fish. Then Sleeping Beauty became friends with the fish. There was a giant, but he died. And Daniel was with the lions. And a meatball fell from the sky. Then Golden Eagle saved Megan who was screaming. Then Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus were in a big storm and it was really cold." The story continued like this for a while. In it was every story she has ever heard. Some of them Biblical, some from movies and another from a story daddy tells at night. None of the stories complete, some mixed-up, but all told, completely adorable. She then closed the Bible, said, "The End", and headed to bed.

Literally Speaking

The weather was beautiful! The sun was shining! Our family was antsy. So, to the beach we headed. We hiked 2 1/2 miles through dense trees, muddy trails, and broken bridges and had a blast! As we neared the end of our hike, Zoie was beginning to run out of energy. As I was stepping all over her, I told her to "pick up the pace". She stopped, turned around, looked at the ground, looked all around and said with shoulders shrugged, "What's pace?" It was adorable! She was looking around trying to find 'pace' so she could pick it up. All I can say is, she is an obedient child!

Daddy and His Girls

I love this!Twirl!
Spin!
Dip!
Dancing with daddy is the best!

A First

What does a three-year-old . . .and a pair of scissors have to do with each other?
Look closely.
That's right! Bangs!
Do you think she knows she's in trouble?

(Sorry Grandma Sherri, she beat you to it :)