I just simply adore flowers....

....And getting them from my husband is like icing on the cake. Sunday was our fourth anniversary, and Kent had to be out of town. Though this was sad, Kent made sure to make the day very special for me. He mailed a card to me while he was away. It arrived a few days early, and I had the suspense of  having to wait to open it:) He also had twelve beautiful red roses delivered to me Saturday night. I was so surprised and excited to receive them. It is so fun to be blessed with a husband who likes to do such sweet things for his wife:)

Our lil' girl is growing up!

Wow! Time sure flies by. It is so hard to believe that our lil' girl is already two. 

She fills our days with so much joy and fun!

God was so good to allow us the privilege of enjoying such a fun bundle of energy.

Khloe adored these balloons! Her cousins thought they looked like Easter eggs.

Well, at least they were a hit!

My attempt at giving Khloe a Strawberry Shortcake theme for her birthday:)

I decided to try to save a little "moola" and try to make some of the decor.

 Definitely not perfect, but it was fun!

 Khloe thought the whole birthday cake ritual was pretty neat.

She really got into the "Happy Birthday" song:)

She waved her arms about, and clapped very enthusiastically at the end of the song!

It sure is hard work blowing out that candle though, but Daddy came to her rescue.

Enjoying her gifts....

A Ladies Tea

My nieces recently came over to my house while their mom and dad went on a date. It was one of those cool rainy days when there just isn't much to do. And to make matters more dismal, Kent, the fun uncle, was also away. So what to do with our time? Well, that same fun uncle suggested that I should put on a tea and the girls should dress up and be fancy ladies. I am not sure who had the most fun, me or the girls:)

Spring has Sprung!

There are signs of spring everywhere in beautiful rural PA.

 From the flip-flops at the back door...

...to the rainbow of colors appearing on the trees, spring is very evident.

...and even those pretty little weeds that spring up in the lawn:)

 I love to listen to the lively chatter of the robins, and see all the new sprigs of life bursting forth. It reminds me that Khloe, born in the spring, has a very relavant meaning to her name -  "little sprout." 

And most definitely she is sprouting with new life! She just loves running about outdoors taking in all the wonders of springtime!

The Moment

            The sun is peaking in the blinds, and a fresh day has arrived. I hear a plaintive, “Mumma!” from the other room, and I know that my twenty-three month old daughter, Khloe, is awake….well, that is ‘kinda. Khloe is what you would call an extreme cuddle bug. She is not really ready to get up, she is just letting me know that she is now ready to “snuggle” with mumma.

            I am a young mother, with many dreams, big goals, and high ideals. How many times over the last almost two years have I had to stop myself and remember the moment. It would be so easy for me, the idealist, to build huge air castles and then try to force Khloe into living in this ethereal environment, forgetting that she is merely a human dolly, and not a story book angel.

            It is those moments that I remember to stop and enjoy what I know will follow me through the years, from rocking chair to rocking chair, you might say. I will not remember all my high ideals. I will remember those moments….

            ……The moments when I spent enjoying my child. That moment when….I snuggled in bed with my golden haired toddler, though I knew that I had a whole list of things waiting for me to get up and accomplish that day….that moment when I just sat down and rocked her weary body into slumber land, though I really could have been doing some laundry or cleaning….that moment that I scheduled each day to pray with her, though I really could have been finishing up that project….that moment when I just sat down and smiled as I enjoyed a new development either mentally or physically, though there were all those dirty dishes and floors to be cleaned yet that day….that moment when I listened and responded to her not-stop jabber, though she had already told me that exact same thing ten other times….that moment when I sat down and read yet another story book, though I really needed to update that financial ledger….that moment when I just put everything aside and focused on her, enjoying each stage, though everything within me wanted to wish that she was fully mature, completely developed, and filled with great depths of wisdom….the moment that I learned not to cry for the past stage, not to wish for the next stage, but to just enjoy this moment with my child as precious and beautiful.

            My world has been filled with so much joy and fun since Khloe arrived on March 19, 2010. No, I did not forget that she also brought a ton of work, dirty diapers, spills, scrapes, bruises, tears, frustration, and the whole nine yards, but those things just seem to melt away when I am in one of those many moments with my daughter; those moments of such joy, fun, laughter, and fulfillment.

            Now you understand why I LOVE being a Mom!