The Magician's Nephew

Seeing Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe last week got us revved up to continue our Chronicles reading. We'd gotten busy and sick at the end of the year and took a reading break but we started up again today. I love being in the middle of a novel with the kids, especially when there are happy moans at the end of our allotted time, meaning that they can't wait to find out what happens next. I think our togetherness reading time will be a fond memory someday!

Scotland, here we come!

My Mom & I bought our plane tickets! We are officially going to Scotland to see Megan and Jason! WOO HOO!

Medication

I'm not one of those people who hates to take medicine. If I have a headache or I cut a finger or something, bring on the Tylenol. Ongoing medication, though . . . that scares me. Imagine my dismay, then, when Caris's allergist recommended that she go on Claritin full-time. Whaaat? I'm going to put my two-year-old on a medication every day, indefinitely? I'm so not comfortable with this, so I haven't done it. I also haven't researched the long-term effects of Claritin. Sigh. Fast-forward a few months, and my poor baby girl is so miserably allergic that I now am in the position of actually needing to put her on the medication. Her symptoms are every day now, as opposed to occasional flare-ups. It's affecting her skin, her moods, her sleep. Please pray for my baby, and for me to have wisdom when I'm doing my research!

Caravanting

I just called my Mom & Rod's apartment, and asked if my Mom was there or was she out caravanting. Rod said, "I think that would be when several people are out galavanting together." I am still laughing!! Sometimes I think I truly have lost my mind!!

Shape Up

Ten plus years ago I took this great class at the local community college called Shape Up. At the time, I was IN great shape but it was a great way to get 3 extra units and also to exercise right there at school, since I was there anyway for my other classes. I took the class again right when I started working full time, and I think I might have dropped it due to some major asthma flare-up I was having. Anyway, fast-forward numerous years and I'm taking the same class now, as a full-fledged grown-up! It starts at 6am. IT STARTS AT 6 AM. OMGosh! I've gone 3 times now (the first time I went though, it was a holiday and so there was no class)! One whole week! HA HA! I am proud of myself!

Warning: TMI

Caris pooped just now, and then called me to come help her. We flushed and she said, "Bye bye poops! Mommy, where the poop lives?" I told her it lives in the sewer and she said, "Can I go in there? Noooo . . . I get all dirty in there; I have to take a baff."

Awww!

Malachi's in his room playing his guitar vigorously and singing along, and Graham just said, "I hear Malachi worshiping." :*)

Waxing Philosophical

Alright, just groan now 'cuz this is about to be the most groan-worthy analogy ever, but I guess God knows when it's late and I'm tired but not quite ready to sleep yet. So today at 2:30 p.m. I went in and got waxed. I planned on full legs and underarms, but chickened out on the removal of pants issue and just did half legs and underarms. This girl who does my waxing is simply wonderful. She's funny and real and possibly most importantly, quick. She spreads that warm wax on, gently but firmly rubs on the cloth, and rrrrip! In just a moment there's a beautifully bare area . . . oh yeah, and it hurts. Now my legs maybe are conditioned to this, because they really feel fine at this point, less than 12 hours after the wax. Actually, they felt fine immediately. My underarms though, they are sore. They're really tender. It's not to the point of being painful, really, but definitely there's the feeling that something happened in there today. So I sat down and read a few posts on a message board, then just sat quietly stroking my very smooth underarm. It's soft and wonderful and totally hair-free, but not in that shaving kind of way. You know how your tummy has tiny blonde hairs that no one ever notices because they're so soft and fine and light? Yeah, those are the ones that are left. Then the groan-ish analogy came over me: letting God do His work in me is a lot like waxing! I think about it, pray about it even, plan for it, take action, and . . . OW! Some things God rrrips out of my life and I don't even miss 'em two seconds later. Other things though, they sting. Even thinking about plucking certain things from my life makes me cringe. Let's take sugar just for example. I know that I need to cut back on my sugar intake. There's just no question, it's as ugly as my lower legs were at 2:25 p.m. today. Big difference, though: my sugar intake affects my whole family. It makes me irritable and slothful and definitely not energetic and fun! I love it, though! I don't want to cut back on sugar! I just know it's going to sting, and I just know how I will feel that rrrip feeling every afternoon when I'm just about ready to go to bed, and bedtime is a long way off. Then my hand brushes my so-smooth legs, and I know how worth it that sacrifice will be. Yeah, it'll sting; there's just no getting around that. But when we take a big step, make a giant leap even, that end product is something really amazing.

Snowman S'mores

The kids & I went to Target today to pick up a few things. On our way out I spotted these funny pajamas in the girls' section, and pointed them out to the kids. I said, "Look you guys! It's a snowman made out of marshmallows, and he's standing on top of a graham cracker and a piece of chocolate. He's a s'more!" Caris looked at it, laughed and said, "He's like, 'aaaaaa! Get me out of this s'more!'" I laughed so hard! She is so perceptive!

Photo Blog

I just set up a photo blog! http://paynephotos.blogspot.com/

How cute!

Caris was the first one up this morning. She woke me up from a dead sleep when she got in bed with me to nurse. I was having a funny dream that she and her friend Meadow were misbehaving at a soccer game and I was feeling embarrassed until Meadow's Mom Laura joined in their toddler fun. LOL! Anyway, I was checking my message boards just now and looked over and saw that the dining room table has guests! At the head of the table is Grandpa Maroney's dalmation puppy. Then closest to me, Bitty Baby occupies one chair and Graham's little light brown beanie baby-type pony is on the chair opposite Bitty Baby. How cute, picturing Caris coming through here early with her arms full, giving them each a spot at the table! :*)