handsful

She brought her “computer” and book box up to the table, sat herself in my chair, looked at me and signed “Lainey work”. Grin.

5th grade and preschool, all at the same table. Grand idea, don’t you think?

** Potty-training update: She’s been dry ALL day, and tonight at dinner actually stopped eating, told me she had to potty, and she went! I must confess, I’m using a combo of pull ups and big girl pants. This week is crazy with appointments (Payton gets braces on Wednesday, we have a consult with L’s plastic surgeon, skit practice, etc.) so there’s not a single day where we’re home all day. It’s worth it right now to use a few pull ups (only one today!) and go full-force next week – spring break.

…decided she wanted to wear big girl pants today? Yep. For months now, Lainey has been using the potty everyday. I take her at certain times of the day and she almost always goes. This week, we switched to pull ups and emphasized keeping them dry, and I ramped up the number of times I take her to the potty. She knew where her new “unders” were kept in her room, and today she insisted on wearing them. (Funny…I had several kinds with flowers and puppies on them, but she chose the plain white). So far so good, she’s high and dry! The key will be when she consistently TELLS me she has to go – she’s only done this once or twice. Wish us luck…

Little help? Hey, quit playing basketball and help me with this!

She SO wants this bag to be a backpack!

Time for lunch and playtime!

So, where is Lainey wearing mittens??

She had to watch while her siblings ice skated with our homeschool group…maybe next time, Lainey (when dad is here to help!)

She said/signed that she wanted “brown pudding”.

That time of year again…EJ’s 8th season since being in FL.

Any predictions, Lainey?

So, why the title “speed blogging”?? Like I’ve said, the posting on our blog isn’t working properly because we didn’t upload the upgrade to WordPress when we should have (at least that’s what we think the problem is), and this had made posting really difficult – all the pictures/text have to go in html code and they go in backwards. The first picture/text I put in actually shows up as the last items…makes putting things in order down right difficult! And, since I’m hopelessly hooked on blogging our little ‘ole lives here, it’s been maddening that I can’t do it like I want. Randy is working really hard on it, it’s just not cooperating as of yet. All that to say, I squeezed a lot of our current goings-on into one post. So there. I hope to be back in full form soon :)

Burnt waffles anyone?

Before leaving our house in NC 4 years ago, I brought a little bit of it with me. Randy and I loved that house, and always say that was “home” and we just “live” here. Some houses just feel more like home.

There was a section in the backyard, where clover grew wild, and I just loved it. I dug up a bit of it, potted it, and it’s been growing ever since. It ebbs and flows…sometimes it’s full of blooms and sometimes there’s barely a leaf, but it always comes back big and bright. I’ve been meaning to plant it somewhere in the yard, but haven’t managed to do that yet. Anyway, I thought I’d share it on this St. Patty’s Day :)

I’ve always enjoyed being “crafty”, but as life has gotten busier I’ve had less and less time to do those things. Years ago I made a few bows for Abbey and Marley, and now I’m at it again for Miss L. It’s fun, you get quick results, and voila…a brand new clippie to wear :)

We’re still having issues with multi-photo posting, and Randy promises to work on it this weekend. In his spare time. Spare time…makes me laugh everytime I type it.

Carrie is a gal I’ve never met, but hope to one day. She has 3 bio children and traveled to China in March of last year for her new 7 year old daughter, MJ. Tragically, 7 months later MJ would pass away from complications of a head injury.

Prior to MJ’s passing, Carrie’s family had already begun the adoption of another little girl in China that they would name Anna Grace. Due to the unexpected costs of MJ’s medical treatment and other related costs, they have found themselves short of the finances to bring 2 year old Anna Grace home. You can help :) Go to their site listed in my sidebar under the “CCAI-WC” category and the link “Carrie-Anna Grace” to read their story. There is also a “Chip In” box at the top left where you can safely and securly donate to their adoption of Anna Grace. Even the smallest amount will help them. Thank you.