i always get nostalgic at the end of a year and can't help but feel a little emotional at how quickly time passes. i tried to make a list of some of my favorite moments of 2012, but i got overwhelmed because there were so many. i started reading through some of my old posts and i was just overcome with thankfulness for all that we've been blessed with this year. while reminiscing, i realized that even though there are plenty of "top moments" and "favorite pictures" there are also recurring themes within those snapshots that i think best describe my 2012.
grace. 2012 has been a year of grace. through the grace of God alone were we able to survive some days. i was reminded again and again that "He gives more grace..." (James 4:6) and i'm not sure i can ever express how grateful i am for that.
faithfulness. 2012 has been a year that has tested my faithfulness, but at the same time it has solidified the faithfulness of the Lord. i am beyond thankful that when i am weak, He is strong.
goodness. 2012 has shown me that there are still good people in this world. we have been touched by acts of kindness, gracious friends, and the generosity of others. when it's easy to get caught up in the sorrows of this world, i will choose to remember the goodness that still exists.
laughter. i do believe that i have laughed more in 2012 than any other year of my life. jeffrey makes me laugh every day, libbi is a constant hoot, and if i'm being honest, i laugh at myself quite a bit, too. ;) the laughter of our girls fills our home daily and there is no sweeter sound on this earth.
love. it goes without saying that the best moments of my life are the ones i've spent with those i love. it's an amazing, amazing thing to be surrounded by family and friends that love us and love our children. we are beyond blessed.
provision. 2012 proved to me again and again that the Lord is truly Jehova Jireh - The Lord Will Provide. His timing is always perfect and He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. i'm praying that 2013 will bring more faithfulness on my part, because He's proved over and over that He will not let us down.
2012 was full of life, love, heartache, loss, celebrating, and so much in between. through it all, the Lord has been so good to our family. we are blessed beyond what we could ever deserve. i'm praying that 2013 is full of opportunities to love each other, love others, and share the love of the Lord. Happy New Year, friends!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
christmas 2012....
i took an unintentional hiatus from blogging this past week. we were so busy with all of our christmas festivities (grandparents x 4, church, shopping, etc.) that i really didn't have time to blog. then libbi accidentally knocked the mac off onto the floor. it happened christmas morning (i guess she was a little too excited) and to be honest, i never even picked it up until then next evening. and when i did, i noticed this....
ugh. not a good sign. i'm making an appointment at apple to have it looked at, but for now, i'm just using the "left side only" of the computer - ha! i've still been checking in (kind of) from my phone, but i'm a horrible typer on my phone, so i tend to just read aka stalk while i'm on it. i rarely comment or type anything. now you know my secret. :)
anyway, i have LOTS to catch up on, so the next few days will be full of our end of christmas posts and all the memories that i want to preserve for posterity.
starting with our annual tradition of visiting santa and riding the pink pig!
we had originally planned to go a few weeks ago, but both jeffrey and libbi ended up sick (another reason blogging has taken a back seat....seems like i've been the only one in our family *knock on wood* that hasn't caught the nasty viruses going around). so we rescheduled our visit and jeffrey took the day off work so we could all make the trek downtown together.
i have to say, i was VERY uncertain how it would go. libbi has done fairly well with santa in years past. she wasn't exactly thrilled, but she appeased us and sat on his lap. as you can see from her past pictures, she has the blue steel look down to an art. libbi is very independent, but is also very cautious. she likes to assess the situation and make sure she is fully aware of what's going on before she decides if she wants to participate. she's not one to take kindly to being "placed" on a strange man's lap. :)
about a week out from seeing santa, she started saying things like, "i don't want to go." "i'm not going to say 'hi' to him." and "i don't think i want to see santa this year." so it's safe to say i was a little worried. and we all know that laney runs screaming at the sight of her own shadow, so i was pretty sure she'd have to be pried off of me, have a screaming picture made, and then fed cookies the rest of the day to make up for the injustice of it all.
but, lo and behold, the night before our big visit, libbi decided she did, in fact, want to see santa and she was ready to go! she helped write a list to give him and she was genuinely excited about seeing him the next day. when we arrived at the mall, we walked right up and libbi was able to give santa her list. she was a little tentative at first, but she did great! we were so proud. she even gave him a little hug (which is HUGE for her. she is not a hugger at all. she'd much rather high five - ha!) the entire time libbi was visiting santa, laney was clinging to me like a baby monkey. she had her arms wrapper tightly around my neck and her legs around my waist. i was prepared for the worst.
but again, i was totally (and pleasantly!) surprised when she actually let me place her on his lap. she had a brief moment where she looked like she might lose it, but she quickly regained her composure and sat on his knee like a champ.
to be honest, the most traumatic part of the entire santa experience was a toss up between having to wrestle laney back into the stroller and paying $30 for a CD of three (3!) pictures. ;-)
after our santa visit (and a cookie of course) we headed upstairs to ride the pink pig. this was libbi's third year to ride and laney's second. both girls were excited and it was fun to see them really enjoy it. laney waved the entire time and libbi was just thrilled to be there. she was not thrilled about leaving. or having her picture made. but that's just par for the course.
we had such a great time and it was a wonderful day - one for the memory books for sure! it's crazy to see how much the girls grow and change from year to year.... i'm sure next year when i look back on this, they will seem like such babies. i need time to slow down! :)
ugh. not a good sign. i'm making an appointment at apple to have it looked at, but for now, i'm just using the "left side only" of the computer - ha! i've still been checking in (kind of) from my phone, but i'm a horrible typer on my phone, so i tend to just read aka stalk while i'm on it. i rarely comment or type anything. now you know my secret. :)
anyway, i have LOTS to catch up on, so the next few days will be full of our end of christmas posts and all the memories that i want to preserve for posterity.
starting with our annual tradition of visiting santa and riding the pink pig!
 |
| (laney is wondering who in the world has the audacity to touch her....) ;-) |
i have to say, i was VERY uncertain how it would go. libbi has done fairly well with santa in years past. she wasn't exactly thrilled, but she appeased us and sat on his lap. as you can see from her past pictures, she has the blue steel look down to an art. libbi is very independent, but is also very cautious. she likes to assess the situation and make sure she is fully aware of what's going on before she decides if she wants to participate. she's not one to take kindly to being "placed" on a strange man's lap. :)
about a week out from seeing santa, she started saying things like, "i don't want to go." "i'm not going to say 'hi' to him." and "i don't think i want to see santa this year." so it's safe to say i was a little worried. and we all know that laney runs screaming at the sight of her own shadow, so i was pretty sure she'd have to be pried off of me, have a screaming picture made, and then fed cookies the rest of the day to make up for the injustice of it all.
but, lo and behold, the night before our big visit, libbi decided she did, in fact, want to see santa and she was ready to go! she helped write a list to give him and she was genuinely excited about seeing him the next day. when we arrived at the mall, we walked right up and libbi was able to give santa her list. she was a little tentative at first, but she did great! we were so proud. she even gave him a little hug (which is HUGE for her. she is not a hugger at all. she'd much rather high five - ha!) the entire time libbi was visiting santa, laney was clinging to me like a baby monkey. she had her arms wrapper tightly around my neck and her legs around my waist. i was prepared for the worst.
but again, i was totally (and pleasantly!) surprised when she actually let me place her on his lap. she had a brief moment where she looked like she might lose it, but she quickly regained her composure and sat on his knee like a champ.
 |
| reading her list... |
to be honest, the most traumatic part of the entire santa experience was a toss up between having to wrestle laney back into the stroller and paying $30 for a CD of three (3!) pictures. ;-)
after our santa visit (and a cookie of course) we headed upstairs to ride the pink pig. this was libbi's third year to ride and laney's second. both girls were excited and it was fun to see them really enjoy it. laney waved the entire time and libbi was just thrilled to be there. she was not thrilled about leaving. or having her picture made. but that's just par for the course.
we had such a great time and it was a wonderful day - one for the memory books for sure! it's crazy to see how much the girls grow and change from year to year.... i'm sure next year when i look back on this, they will seem like such babies. i need time to slow down! :)
 |
| (can you tell that libbi clasps her hands together when she's nervous?) ;-) |
Friday, December 21, 2012
christmas card 2012....
i'm linking up with my sweet friends, kelly and faith to share our 2012 christmas card. i finally got them all sent out, so it's time share it on the blog.
thank you to everyone that has sent us cards this year! it just thrills my soul (and my girls'!) to see all of these sweet faces each day!
if you didn't receive one from us, i promise it's not because you were "cut" from the list. it was because i totally underestimated how many i needed and didn't order near enough. next year i'll plan better! :)
the photos on our card were taken by our wonderful photographer and friend, justin of 375photography. the cards were ordered from shutterfly.
here is the 2012 tippins family christmas card:
{front}
{back}
funny story about the back of our card....
we didn't set out to take pictures with our sunglasses on. we're not that cool. :)
when libbi heard we were going to have our pictures made, she came downstairs in her sunglasses, tiara, and a purse and said, "I'M READDDDDY!" ha!
she had packed her entire purse full of sunglasses (about 5-6 pair) and she insisted on bringing them with her. we were able to talk her out of the tiara, but the sunglasses were a bit trickier. since jeffrey and i had our own pairs because it was so sunny outside, we decided to let laney borrow a pair of libbi's and go for the sunglasses family photo. and of course, out of all the pictures we took, these were some of the only ones were everyone {appears to be} looking at the camera. go figure! :)
to see our christmas cards of the past, click on the links below:
Merry Christmas!!
Monday, December 17, 2012
maybe....
maybe....
maybe it's because i was a kindergarten teacher. for five years of my life i was the one responsible for 20+ little lives 180 days out of the year. that's more than 100 children. i remember every first and last name. every face. every personality. and i remember how they came into school each day with wide-eyed wonder and absolute faith that they were in a safe place. we didn't just teach academics - letters, sounds, numbers, shapes -but also character traits and how to behave appropriately in different social settings. we taught the importance of kindness and generosity. of standing up for what you believe in and standing up for others. and daily we discussed the different ways to prevent bullying and how to react if you or one of your friends was the victim of a "bully." in kindergarten a bully is the one who calls you names, who won't let you play in "free centers" with them. the one who pushes you on the playground or scribbles on your paper. never did we have to discuss the possibility of evil entering into our presence. maybe it's because i remember how sad we all felt when one of our "friends" would move away without a moments notice. one day they were there, the next they were not. we were sad we didn't get to say goodbye, hug their neck, or have any sense of closure. but the sadness would pass, because we knew they had simply moved to another school/home/area and we would hope that they would soon meet other friends and start anew. maybe it's because i honestly can't fathom having to tell such innocent, young children that their friend has not just "moved away" or that there is evil in this world far greater than the "bullies" that they've encountered.
maybe it's because i have a sister who suffers from mental illness. i've been on the receiving end of violent and aggressive outbursts. i've also been on the receiving end of emotional "i'm so sorry's" and "i didn't mean to's." and i know that she is. and she didn't. maybe it's because i know what it's like to live with someone that could be sent over the edge at any given moment for any given reason. someone who can be violent but who can also be loving. someone who wants to do what's right, but honest to goodness just cannot control herself at times. maybe it's because i've seen my parents advocate for her every day of her life. and love her unconditionally through it all. i've seen their hearts break for what was, and for what will never be. but i've also seen them rejoice for all that she is and how far she's come. maybe it's because i know that mental illness is real. it's hard for everyone involved. and it must be addressed.
maybe it's because i'm a mother. i know what it's like to love someone with every ounce of my being. i know what it feels like to want to protect them from harm and to shelter them from hurt. even in my wildest nightmares i could never imagine danger entering into a place that i thought was secure. maybe it's because something happening to one of my children is one of my greatest fears in life. i would rather suffer 1000 times over than have them feel any ounce of hurt. maybe it's because i send my child off to school three times a week and never once thought that something could happen to her there. maybe it's because i know the feeling in the pit of my stomach when i see the school's number on my caller ID. my heart hurts just a little to hear her teacher tell me, "she's sick." and then she asks, "can you come get her?" and yet. i'm reminded that there are parents that did not hear "can you come get her?" when they heard the news.
and maybe it's just because i'm human. when things like this happen we can't help but feel changed. and to want to make a change. maybe it's because our sense of security is shaken and our vulnerability feels a little too raw. this just hits too close to home. and it's hard. it's hard because i believe we serve a good and loving God, but i know that we live in an evil world. and sometimes it's hard to reconcile the two. but my God is the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow. i believe with my whole heart that He doesn't want us to live in fear. He wants us to live with heaven in mind. knowing that this world is not our home. that one day we will meet Him-just as those precious children have-and when that day comes there will be no sadness, no tears, no death, and no sickness. there will simply be the everlasting glory of God. He promises that every wrong will be made right....there's no "maybe" about it.
"They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them."
Psalm 112:7
Revelation 21:4-7
maybe it's because i was a kindergarten teacher. for five years of my life i was the one responsible for 20+ little lives 180 days out of the year. that's more than 100 children. i remember every first and last name. every face. every personality. and i remember how they came into school each day with wide-eyed wonder and absolute faith that they were in a safe place. we didn't just teach academics - letters, sounds, numbers, shapes -but also character traits and how to behave appropriately in different social settings. we taught the importance of kindness and generosity. of standing up for what you believe in and standing up for others. and daily we discussed the different ways to prevent bullying and how to react if you or one of your friends was the victim of a "bully." in kindergarten a bully is the one who calls you names, who won't let you play in "free centers" with them. the one who pushes you on the playground or scribbles on your paper. never did we have to discuss the possibility of evil entering into our presence. maybe it's because i remember how sad we all felt when one of our "friends" would move away without a moments notice. one day they were there, the next they were not. we were sad we didn't get to say goodbye, hug their neck, or have any sense of closure. but the sadness would pass, because we knew they had simply moved to another school/home/area and we would hope that they would soon meet other friends and start anew. maybe it's because i honestly can't fathom having to tell such innocent, young children that their friend has not just "moved away" or that there is evil in this world far greater than the "bullies" that they've encountered.
maybe it's because i have a sister who suffers from mental illness. i've been on the receiving end of violent and aggressive outbursts. i've also been on the receiving end of emotional "i'm so sorry's" and "i didn't mean to's." and i know that she is. and she didn't. maybe it's because i know what it's like to live with someone that could be sent over the edge at any given moment for any given reason. someone who can be violent but who can also be loving. someone who wants to do what's right, but honest to goodness just cannot control herself at times. maybe it's because i've seen my parents advocate for her every day of her life. and love her unconditionally through it all. i've seen their hearts break for what was, and for what will never be. but i've also seen them rejoice for all that she is and how far she's come. maybe it's because i know that mental illness is real. it's hard for everyone involved. and it must be addressed.
maybe it's because i'm a mother. i know what it's like to love someone with every ounce of my being. i know what it feels like to want to protect them from harm and to shelter them from hurt. even in my wildest nightmares i could never imagine danger entering into a place that i thought was secure. maybe it's because something happening to one of my children is one of my greatest fears in life. i would rather suffer 1000 times over than have them feel any ounce of hurt. maybe it's because i send my child off to school three times a week and never once thought that something could happen to her there. maybe it's because i know the feeling in the pit of my stomach when i see the school's number on my caller ID. my heart hurts just a little to hear her teacher tell me, "she's sick." and then she asks, "can you come get her?" and yet. i'm reminded that there are parents that did not hear "can you come get her?" when they heard the news.
and maybe it's just because i'm human. when things like this happen we can't help but feel changed. and to want to make a change. maybe it's because our sense of security is shaken and our vulnerability feels a little too raw. this just hits too close to home. and it's hard. it's hard because i believe we serve a good and loving God, but i know that we live in an evil world. and sometimes it's hard to reconcile the two. but my God is the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow. i believe with my whole heart that He doesn't want us to live in fear. He wants us to live with heaven in mind. knowing that this world is not our home. that one day we will meet Him-just as those precious children have-and when that day comes there will be no sadness, no tears, no death, and no sickness. there will simply be the everlasting glory of God. He promises that every wrong will be made right....there's no "maybe" about it.
"They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them."
Psalm 112:7
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.
And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children."Revelation 21:4-7
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
no sew christmas bunting...
i'm linking up (a day late...oops) with my friend sarah for "the proof is in the pin"
basically, it's a chance to actually try all of those things that i pin.... or at least one. ;-)
this week, i decided our playroom needed a little christma-fying so i set out to accomplish one of the cute buntings that i've seen on pinterest. i searched for "no-sew bunting" but most of them included bias tape, stitching, or some sort of heat and bond. all of that is well and good, but seeing as how we've been quarantined with the sickies, i needed to use what (limited) supplies i had on hand.
i had pinned this post and this post but i knew i needed to tweak it just a little to fit my supplies and my skillz. ;)
so, using those pins as inspiration, here is my version of the pinterest no-sew burlap bunting:
i just folded a piece of construction paper into the shape i wanted and used chalk to trace it onto the burlap.
apparently, i'm not trusted to work alone...
notice the "man" is totally disinterested in our crafting. typical. :)
make sure not to cut along the fold, so you end up with a shape that you can "open"
just make sure to stay on top of the freezer paper!
peel away the freezer paper and make any touch-ups necessary.
i just laid out the letters in the order i wanted then opened them all up. i put a line of hot glue down the "seam" in the middle and laid the yarn on top of it, folded it over, and sealed it up! some of the posts i pinned used twine, ribbon, even lace, but like i said - i just had to use what i had on hand, so yarn it was!
i happened to have some burlap ribbon in my craft closet (or "crap closet" - whichever you prefer) so i made a few bows to attach to the end. everything looks better with bows, right? :)
and judging from the wonky lighting in most of these pictures, i now need to begin pinning all of those "how to use your camera" pins. maybe that will be my project for next month's link up :)
basically, it's a chance to actually try all of those things that i pin.... or at least one. ;-)
this week, i decided our playroom needed a little christma-fying so i set out to accomplish one of the cute buntings that i've seen on pinterest. i searched for "no-sew bunting" but most of them included bias tape, stitching, or some sort of heat and bond. all of that is well and good, but seeing as how we've been quarantined with the sickies, i needed to use what (limited) supplies i had on hand.
i had pinned this post and this post but i knew i needed to tweak it just a little to fit my supplies and my skillz. ;)
so, using those pins as inspiration, here is my version of the pinterest no-sew burlap bunting:
i used my silhouette to cut out the letters, but you could trace them, print them, anything! the freezer paper is awesome, because when you iron it down, it adheres to the burlap so you can literally paint right on top of it without worrying about your template shifting and moving.
a few things i would add/change.... if i made another one, i would definitely add a backing of some sort-either colored cardstock or even felt - but only if i was going to hang it in front of a window. when the sun shines through, the burlap can be sort of transparent and it's not as bold as i would like it to be. if it were hanging on a wall or any other surface not in contact with direct sunlight, i don't think it would be as noticeable.
Monday, December 10, 2012
sponsor love...
i'm so thrilled to welcome all my wonderful sponsors back for another month!
if you're like me, you still have a little bit of christmas shopping left to do - and many of these shops are THE places to do it! check out what's going on with some of my favorite places around the www:
Goat & Lulu: i am LOVING all of the christmas goodies from goat & lulu. here are some of my favorites....
how cute are these personalized shirts?! (and these are just some of the cute "girly" ones...check out goat & lulu for darling boy shirts, too!)
i am IN LOVE with these stockings!!!
wouldn't these personalized ornaments make perfect teacher gifts?! or even precious gift tags on those extra special presents!
these hand towels would make perfect teacher gifts, too! and if you're child's school is like mine - she has two teachers. since these come in a set of three, you can give two as gifts and keep one for yourself - win-win! :)
the last day to order for guaranteed delivery before christmas is FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14th. so hurry on over to goat & lulu and place your order TODAY! make sure to "like" goat & lulu on facebook for all the latest specials and to see even more cuteness!
Polkadot Posies: it just doesn't get any cuter than the bows at polkadot posies! and it doesn't get any better than their prices, either! seriously...every bow is $4 and under!!! as a bow lover and momma of two bow wearing girls, i've seen some of the prices of bows out there - outrageous! polkadot posies is not only reasonably priced, but they are GREAT quality and ship within days! here are a few of our personal favorites....
these mesh headbands are AWESOME for babies (or, ahem - toddlers without much hair *cough*Laney*cough*) ;-)
we love the christmas bows, too.
i know a few little girls that are getting some bows in their stockings this year! if you ask me, bows make EXCELLENT stocking stuffers!
if you're like me, you still have a little bit of christmas shopping left to do - and many of these shops are THE places to do it! check out what's going on with some of my favorite places around the www:
Goat & Lulu: i am LOVING all of the christmas goodies from goat & lulu. here are some of my favorites....
how cute are these personalized shirts?! (and these are just some of the cute "girly" ones...check out goat & lulu for darling boy shirts, too!)
i am IN LOVE with these stockings!!!
wouldn't these personalized ornaments make perfect teacher gifts?! or even precious gift tags on those extra special presents!
these hand towels would make perfect teacher gifts, too! and if you're child's school is like mine - she has two teachers. since these come in a set of three, you can give two as gifts and keep one for yourself - win-win! :)
the last day to order for guaranteed delivery before christmas is FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14th. so hurry on over to goat & lulu and place your order TODAY! make sure to "like" goat & lulu on facebook for all the latest specials and to see even more cuteness!
Polkadot Posies: it just doesn't get any cuter than the bows at polkadot posies! and it doesn't get any better than their prices, either! seriously...every bow is $4 and under!!! as a bow lover and momma of two bow wearing girls, i've seen some of the prices of bows out there - outrageous! polkadot posies is not only reasonably priced, but they are GREAT quality and ship within days! here are a few of our personal favorites....
these mesh headbands are AWESOME for babies (or, ahem - toddlers without much hair *cough*Laney*cough*) ;-)
MyMemories Software: MyMemories software is quickly becoming one of my favorite programs to use! it is a digital scrapbooking software, but the possibilities are endless and definitely go way beyond "just" scrapbooking! i have made everything from letters to santa templates to printable gift tags. make sure to use the code: STMMMS42656 to receive $10 off the purchase of your software!
and finally, if you're not yet using ebates to do your online shopping...RUN! don't walk to hurry and sign up. you can get CASH BACK just for shopping online as you normally would. i've made $ just by shopping through ebates when i've ordered christmas presents off amazon, walmart, zulily, and so many more places!! i wrote a post with all the details HERE if you'd like more info. but, basically, you MAKE $$ just for shopping - easy, right?! :)
and one more thing...for what's a product post without a shameless plug? :)
don't forget to order your personalized christmas placemats! click HERE for all the details or click on the link in the sidebar. feel free to email me with any questions!
thanks again to all the fabulous sponsors...happy shopping, friends!
Friday, December 7, 2012
trip to the dentist x 2....
i took the girls to the dentist last week and i have to ask forgiveness for the great amount of lying i did beforehand. well, lying sounds a little harsh. let's just say i was greatly exaggerating for their benefit. i have an intense fear of the dentist. like crazy, over the top, would rather have my toenails pulled off one by one than have my teeth cleaned, fear of the dentist. but i definitely don't want to pass along this dental anxiety to my girls, so i have to "pretend" like going to the dentist is like going on a mini vacation. "it's going to be so much fun!" "you'll love having your teeth cleaned!" and "you'll love it!" are all little fiblets that passed through my lips leading up to the appointment. but, i couldn't very well tell them "it will be a nightmare" now could i? i think not. so in this case, little white lies aka fiblets were the way to go. :)
i have to say that laney was my main concern. she's got a bit of an independent streak in her. these days it comes out more often than not. and she has yet to master the art of an "inside voice" so there is really never any doubt as to how she's feeling about a particular situation. i had visions of screaming, thrashing, and gnashing of teeth. i was a nervous wreck before the appointment ever began.
i don't know why i get so stressed about these kinds of things (wait, yes i do. been there. done that.) because usually (and i stress usually - definitely not always) i end up pleasantly surprised at how well my girls handle themselves. this just so happened to be one of those times. libbi did everything they asked of her and behaved like a dream. laney ran wild (as expected) during libbi's turn, but thankfully our pediatric dentist is VERY kid friendly (as they should be, right?!) and had plenty of toys for laney to play with in every room we went in to. she colored, cooked, raced cars, and kissed baby dolls all while libbi was getting her teeth cleaned. she even stopped to take a peek at big sister. very impressive! :)
when it was finally laney's turn, we did what they call a "lap exam" meaning i held her facing me and laid her head back into the dentist's lap while he checked her teeth. she didn't have a cleaning, just a quick checkup to make sure all of her teeth were coming in as they should and that there were no major concerns. he scraped a little plaque off, applied a bit of fluoride to her teeth, and we were done! and laney didn't make a peep the entire time. apparently diaper changes by her mother are much more traumatic to her than having her teeth cleaned by a total stranger. go figure.
while laney was having her exam, libbi got to color an ornament for the christmas tree in the waiting room. she was so proud to hang it up when we left! and she was even prouder of the prize that she chose from the treasure box.
she referred to it as a "toot cushion." how she even knew what a whoopee cushion was is completely beyond me. and i'm embarrassed to say that her "toot cushion" has been put to good use. if she brushed her teeth with half as much gusto as she sits on that cushion, she'd having a sparkling smile 24/7. i have never been prouder. ;-)
i'm just really hoping that six months from now when we return for our next cleaning, they'll have a different selection of prizes - ha!
i have to say that laney was my main concern. she's got a bit of an independent streak in her. these days it comes out more often than not. and she has yet to master the art of an "inside voice" so there is really never any doubt as to how she's feeling about a particular situation. i had visions of screaming, thrashing, and gnashing of teeth. i was a nervous wreck before the appointment ever began.
i don't know why i get so stressed about these kinds of things (wait, yes i do. been there. done that.) because usually (and i stress usually - definitely not always) i end up pleasantly surprised at how well my girls handle themselves. this just so happened to be one of those times. libbi did everything they asked of her and behaved like a dream. laney ran wild (as expected) during libbi's turn, but thankfully our pediatric dentist is VERY kid friendly (as they should be, right?!) and had plenty of toys for laney to play with in every room we went in to. she colored, cooked, raced cars, and kissed baby dolls all while libbi was getting her teeth cleaned. she even stopped to take a peek at big sister. very impressive! :)
when it was finally laney's turn, we did what they call a "lap exam" meaning i held her facing me and laid her head back into the dentist's lap while he checked her teeth. she didn't have a cleaning, just a quick checkup to make sure all of her teeth were coming in as they should and that there were no major concerns. he scraped a little plaque off, applied a bit of fluoride to her teeth, and we were done! and laney didn't make a peep the entire time. apparently diaper changes by her mother are much more traumatic to her than having her teeth cleaned by a total stranger. go figure.
while laney was having her exam, libbi got to color an ornament for the christmas tree in the waiting room. she was so proud to hang it up when we left! and she was even prouder of the prize that she chose from the treasure box.
she referred to it as a "toot cushion." how she even knew what a whoopee cushion was is completely beyond me. and i'm embarrassed to say that her "toot cushion" has been put to good use. if she brushed her teeth with half as much gusto as she sits on that cushion, she'd having a sparkling smile 24/7. i have never been prouder. ;-)
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| laney is admiring the tree, libbi is blowing up the whoopee cushion. |
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| trying to convince sister to sit on it. |
i'm just really hoping that six months from now when we return for our next cleaning, they'll have a different selection of prizes - ha!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
25 days of christmas kindness
it's been a few days since i've blogged....i guess i was too heartbroken over our big loss last weekend :(
but life goes on! and christmas is still coming - unless i want to channel michael scott and cancel it - ha! ;-)
i know a lot of people are into the "elf on the shelf" tradition and every time i log onto facebook or instagram or any other social media site, i see TONS of pictures of all the little mischievous elves and their shenanigans. it's fun to see all the different ways that families incorporate the elf into their own lives and make the tradition personal for them.
we have an elf, but don't really get into the whole "stirring up trouble while you sleep" trend. it's a really creative and fun thing to do, but for our family it's just not something we get in to. we do "santa" and all the "magic" that comes along with him, but really we just want to keep things simple. don't get me wrong - i love cute and cheesy things just as much as the next girl, BUT...i'm not really a fan of the whole, "you better behave because santa's watching... and he won't bring you any presents if you're not good." Or "the elf is watching you and will report back to santa if you misbehave... and then you won't get any presents." i really want my girls to behave because it's the right thing to do, not because they expect to get stuff if they do.
of course, i believe in rewarding good behavior, but i don't want my girls to make good choices because of what they'll get in return. i want them to make good choices because they know that it's the right thing to do....even if no one is watching! i think that's teaching integrity and strong character - doing the right things, making good choices, even when no one is watching!
i know that each family has their own beliefs and values that work for them and if that includes the elf on the shelf traditions and experience - that's great! i don't think that those that partake in those things are teaching their children anything wrong or anything besides the true meaning of christmas - i'm just sharing what works for our family and what we believe. :)
our church always encourages acts of kindness during the month of december and i started thinking that it would be a great thing to get the girls involved in, too. just because they're young doesn't mean they can't learn the importance of kindness. their acts of kindness may look a little different than mine or yours, but everyone has to start somewhere, right? i tried to come up with as many things as i could that i thought libbi and laney would be able to participate in. some are really basic acts of kindness - like making eye contact and telling a waitress "Thank you" when they bring you an item you've ordered. it may seem trivial to some, but i really believe that these are the kinds of things that must be taught and practiced.
to help encourage our acts of kindness, i came up with "25 days of christmas kindness" and involved our little elf (named "sophia the first" by libbi...and yes, you must call her "sophia the first" - not just "sophia" or you will be corrected). sophia the first arrived in our home on december 1st. she brought with her a note explaining her role in the 25 days of christmas kindness and a calendar for the girls to countdown to christmas. libbi likes to play with sophia the first and i completely forgot that some families encourage the magic of the elf and not to touch him/her....until we went to kroger and libbi brought sophia the first out with her. people are intense about that elf y'all. i learned my lesson and sophia now waits in the car for us while we run errands. :)
on day three of the 25 days of christmas kindness, sophia the first brought libbi and laney cute little books to read. (i actually got these in the dollar section at target last year, but forgot to give them to the girls. sophia the first was lucky i held onto them for a year.)
again today, they were encouraged to show kindness to another family member.
on day four - sophia the first showed up with a christmas craft! the girls painted a sheet of paper green and once it dried, i cut it out into a tree shape. they used stars and garage sale dot stickers to decorate their own trees. they liked this one! :)
sophia the first encouraged them again to show kindness to another family member.
today, day 5 of the 25 days of christmas kindness, sophia the first brought the girls new christmas shirts and prompted them to draw a picture for daddy to hang in his office.
like i said, many of our acts of kindness are very basic. the first full week includes showing kindness to family members. the second week includes some acts of service for others, but i tried really hard to come up with projects and crafts that BOTH girls can participate in. i bought a few (inexpensive) things to use along the way, but most of the items/supplies are things we have around the house or can make/find easily. my hope for the girls (especially libbi this year) is that they will begin to realize that just as they get excited and enjoy when someone gifts them when something or does something thoughtful for them, they have the opportunity to make someone else feel that way, too!
i'm excited to continue our 25 days of christmas kindness and share them with y'all, too. and i'm really excited to see the girls begin to learn that they can be a blessing to someone else -no matter if you're 18months, 3 and a half, or even 30 years old. :)
**all poems/printables were made by me and designed using the MyMemories software. check out the discount code on my sidebar if you're interested in ordering it!
**don't forget to place your placemat orders before christmas! :) click HERE or check out the link on the sidebar for more info.
but life goes on! and christmas is still coming - unless i want to channel michael scott and cancel it - ha! ;-)
we have an elf, but don't really get into the whole "stirring up trouble while you sleep" trend. it's a really creative and fun thing to do, but for our family it's just not something we get in to. we do "santa" and all the "magic" that comes along with him, but really we just want to keep things simple. don't get me wrong - i love cute and cheesy things just as much as the next girl, BUT...i'm not really a fan of the whole, "you better behave because santa's watching... and he won't bring you any presents if you're not good." Or "the elf is watching you and will report back to santa if you misbehave... and then you won't get any presents." i really want my girls to behave because it's the right thing to do, not because they expect to get stuff if they do.
of course, i believe in rewarding good behavior, but i don't want my girls to make good choices because of what they'll get in return. i want them to make good choices because they know that it's the right thing to do....even if no one is watching! i think that's teaching integrity and strong character - doing the right things, making good choices, even when no one is watching!
i know that each family has their own beliefs and values that work for them and if that includes the elf on the shelf traditions and experience - that's great! i don't think that those that partake in those things are teaching their children anything wrong or anything besides the true meaning of christmas - i'm just sharing what works for our family and what we believe. :)
our church always encourages acts of kindness during the month of december and i started thinking that it would be a great thing to get the girls involved in, too. just because they're young doesn't mean they can't learn the importance of kindness. their acts of kindness may look a little different than mine or yours, but everyone has to start somewhere, right? i tried to come up with as many things as i could that i thought libbi and laney would be able to participate in. some are really basic acts of kindness - like making eye contact and telling a waitress "Thank you" when they bring you an item you've ordered. it may seem trivial to some, but i really believe that these are the kinds of things that must be taught and practiced.
to help encourage our acts of kindness, i came up with "25 days of christmas kindness" and involved our little elf (named "sophia the first" by libbi...and yes, you must call her "sophia the first" - not just "sophia" or you will be corrected). sophia the first arrived in our home on december 1st. she brought with her a note explaining her role in the 25 days of christmas kindness and a calendar for the girls to countdown to christmas. libbi likes to play with sophia the first and i completely forgot that some families encourage the magic of the elf and not to touch him/her....until we went to kroger and libbi brought sophia the first out with her. people are intense about that elf y'all. i learned my lesson and sophia now waits in the car for us while we run errands. :)
on day two, sophia the first arrived with her first act of kindness for the girls to perform. who better to show kindness to than our family members? she also brought a felt christmas tree to play with. funny enough, the SAME tree made an appearance at the tippins house last year. i know two little girls that enjoyed playing with it last year, too. and those same little girls were just as surprised over it this year - ha! what can i say? sophia the first is a frugal little gal. ;-)
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| 2012 |
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| 2012 |
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| 2011 |
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| 2011 |
again today, they were encouraged to show kindness to another family member.
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| dictated to me and i wrote it down. :) |
on day four - sophia the first showed up with a christmas craft! the girls painted a sheet of paper green and once it dried, i cut it out into a tree shape. they used stars and garage sale dot stickers to decorate their own trees. they liked this one! :)
sophia the first encouraged them again to show kindness to another family member.
today, day 5 of the 25 days of christmas kindness, sophia the first brought the girls new christmas shirts and prompted them to draw a picture for daddy to hang in his office.
like i said, many of our acts of kindness are very basic. the first full week includes showing kindness to family members. the second week includes some acts of service for others, but i tried really hard to come up with projects and crafts that BOTH girls can participate in. i bought a few (inexpensive) things to use along the way, but most of the items/supplies are things we have around the house or can make/find easily. my hope for the girls (especially libbi this year) is that they will begin to realize that just as they get excited and enjoy when someone gifts them when something or does something thoughtful for them, they have the opportunity to make someone else feel that way, too!
i'm excited to continue our 25 days of christmas kindness and share them with y'all, too. and i'm really excited to see the girls begin to learn that they can be a blessing to someone else -no matter if you're 18months, 3 and a half, or even 30 years old. :)
**all poems/printables were made by me and designed using the MyMemories software. check out the discount code on my sidebar if you're interested in ordering it!
**don't forget to place your placemat orders before christmas! :) click HERE or check out the link on the sidebar for more info.
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