Flight 23

When I was getting to fly to Houston earlier this week, I mentioned to Chris that my flight number was 23. I hadn't really thought about it until he made me google flight 23. And yep, United flight 23 was one involved in 9/11. I guess I knew that, but it hadn't registered to me.

Why do any airlines still use this number? Just skip it! Now, I wasn't too uncomfortable about this but it did make me briefly uneasy about my upcoming flight. So I propose that airlines quit using this number. It didn't stop my flight from being full, but I bet there were others on that flight that thought about the number too. Maybe some people even didn't choose the flight because of the number. Who knows. But just in case, please pick a different number. :)


-Stephanie

Potty Humor

I'm at a conference this week and am having trouble with all kinds of potties that I run across.

The ones in the hotel that are automatic. That flush before I even sit down! I thought I was the only one this was happening to until I asked a lady that I know. Turns out its not just me.

Black toilets. I am pretty deathly afraid of these. I know the white, normal ones are just as germy, but I'm really icked out by the black ones. Is this just me? I'm really not sure what my deal is, but they completely gross me out! Ok, so the biggest thing is that you can't tell what's in the bowl. Could be clear. Could not be. You just don't know. And that's weird and yucky in my book.

There's a restaurant that Chris and I like to go to that has black potties. And I now avoid that restroom at all costs. It has to be an extreme emergency for me to go in there. I'm very scared!

And the other day here in Houston, I ran across one of these and was immediately nervous. But I'm happy to say that I survived and live to tell about it! :)


-Stephanie

Star Wars Day

Its fun to celebrate! So, just for the fun of it, I decorated the house up for Star Wars Day! I can't wait for Chris and Caleb to come home and see it!

The front door


Fun banner I made


Pictures hanging in the kitchen


Caleb's room


-Stephanie

Cool girl

-Stephanie

Word wall

We've had words on the door for awhile but I've been wanting to organize them better.

So, here's the new word wall:



-Stephanie

Wait! There's more!

We finally got the super hero pictures all hung in the toy room!



And we made an art area for Caleb in the kitchen to hang some of his cool masterpieces! Someday I'll paint the kitchen and it will look much better.


-Stephanie

Crafty weekend

I had a few projects I wanted to get done this weekend. I am very happy how they all turned out and that they were all really cheap!!

Getting decorations ready for the babies' party this next weekend. ($3)



Nameplates for the kids' rooms ($6)



A Valentine's decoration ($4.75)



It was a fun weekend!

-Stephanie

New words

Sadie girl is going to be a talker! Her new words over the last few weeks are "uh-oh" and "yay"! So fun!!


-Stephanie

Thankful

I had a million things to do yesterday.

Finish reading my book club book (with tons of pages left)

Get the kids to take a nap (not an easy or fast process with two babies in the house)

Go buy a book for a book exchange

Finish some presents

Wrap presents

Look for my next book choice

Get ready for the party

Etc.

I was really nervous about getting it all done.

Chris was supposed to go to a guys event that he looks forward to all year. And it only happens once a year.

But because he knew how crazy my afternoon was going to be, and because he knew there was no way I was going to get everything done without his help in watching the kids...he stayed home!

I can't tell you how thankful I am for his help and for his selflessness to put aside what he really, really wanted to do to help me out and make things easier for me!


-Stephanie

Hats

-Stephanie

The Power of a Note

I love people. And I appreciate so many things about people. Over the years, my heart has been full week after week from seeing dear people at church. (I am in a unique position in working for the church to see all the great things people do!) And I always thought I should write them a note to let them know they were appreciated, thought about and loved.

But I very rarely actually did it.

Then a few months ago, I finally decided I was going to do it! So I gave myself a rule that I would write 5 notes to people each week. I have now written 30 notes so far, and the results have been amazing!!

I have heard back from the VAST majority of people saying it was appreciated. People have even made special trips and phone calls to the church office to let me know this.

A number of people have let me know that they were having a really rough week or day, but when they got my note it helped them and they felt better.

Even though I wasn't expecting anything in return, I have been blessed by hearing that my notes meant a lot to people. And I've gotten notes, emails, phone calls and visits from people because of it also.

The weird thing was that the first week, after I put notes in people's boxes, I felt weird. And even embarrassed. "What are these people going to think about this?". I was very self conscious about it. But on the very first day that people started getting notes, I knew it was worth it because i immediately started hearing from these people. And I'm not self conscious about it anymore. Really it all makes me want to write even more!

I say this not to brag about myself but to throw out there:

I know we are all busy, but it only takes a few minutes to write a note, but I can attest to the fact that it does mean a lot to people when they receive one. What if we all let each other know how much we appreciate and love each other like we should?

-Stephanie

Cute outfits

It's a rule. As soon as you put cute outfits on babies, they have a blow out or spit up all over the cute outfit. Luke didn't make it through the first hour of school in his this morning. :)


-Stephanie

Morning time

Since Caleb has to be at school so early, I have to wake up all three kids each morning. I dread doing this. I hate that I have to wake them up. I wish I could just let them keep sleeping. So, I stand in the babies' room each morning trying to decide which one I am going to wake up first. Which one might look like they aren't asleep the hardest. Then I try to gently wake them up. I'm looking forward to this long weekend so we can all sleep as long as we want!


-Stephanie

Still going strong

The babies will be 7 months old tomorrow, and we still haven't had to buy diapers for them. In fact, it really looks like we may never have to buy diapers for them. That's how many people have given us. It is such a huge blessing!!!


-Stephanie

Today

Caleb boy is loving school! Last night he said that he wanted to go back right then!

The last two mornings, I walked him to school. Yesterday it was just to make me feel good that he actually knew how to get to his classroom. Today I dropped him off in the van at the front door. When we were still a ways away from the front door, he said "I can just go ahead and get out here." So, he did. And he looked so tiny walking in the building all by himself strutting along because he thinks he's big stuff now!

I love it!!!


-Stephanie

Wondering

Ok, so I'm still sitting at the dr's office. Which made me wonder. How much pee do they need for the pee test? Always wondered that. :)


-Stephanie

Time

I'm sitting here waiting forever to get into the doctor. I'm ready to get home and see my family, eat dinner, and hear about everyone's days. Kind of frustrated.

But then I just realized I don't get much time away by myself. Even though this is not how I would choose to spend it, I should enjoy it.


-Stephanie

Having a Kindergartener

I always thought it was kind of silly that some parents were sad when their kids started school.

Not anymore.

I have to admit I have been a little teary a few times over the last week. Mainly when thinking about how he's not going to be with me at church all the time. But most of me is really excited for him. For all he will learn. Friends he will make. Etc, etc.

I can't wait to hear all about his first day!!!

-Stephanie

Communication

Here's the next wave of church communication!



Yep, that's right! Brochures in the bathroom stalls as reading material!

-Stephanie

Meeting the teacher

We went and met Caleb's Kindergarten teacher last night. Her name is Mrs. Garner.

When she came by to meet us I introduced myself, Chris and Caleb (the babies stayed home with the grandparents). After I introduced Caleb, here's what happened:

Mrs. G: Hi Caleb
C: I'm astro boy!
Mrs. G: what is it that you would like me to call you?
C: you can call me astro boy!

Meanwhile Chris and I are trying to let her know he is kidding and trying to find a rock to crawl under from embarrassment!

First impressions aren't everything, right? :)

After Mrs. G walked off, we immediately had a discussion with Caleb that she doesn't know him yet and that he needs to try not to joke around too much until she gets to know him better.

We're looking forward to what Monday brings!!


-Stephanie