This is what I get for spanking!

A couple of weeks ago, if someone would have asked me if Tennyson was obedient, compliant, and respectful, I would have answered with a resounding, "Yes."

Now... not so much.

During the last two weeks, she has learned (and is continuing to perfect) how to express her independence. I guess Mom needed to be reminded that she, even with her dowdy lips and big blue eyes, also has a very intact sinful nature!

Today, on the way home from the store, she took the straw out of her cup, proceeded to tip her cup upside down and pour apple juice all over her pants and car seat. I told her to stop; however, I did not take the cup away. I wanted to give her a chance to obey me.

Not five seconds later, she was at it again. By the time I looked back, she was soaked. We were about three minutes from home, and I told her she would get a spanking right when we got home. The anticipation of this event sent her into a good cry.

When we got home, I instructed her to go inside, take off her clothes, and wait for me on the couch. I unloaded the groceries from the car, and walked over to her. I gave her two swats on her bare little bottom (she took her underwear off along with her pants). I picked her up, reminded her of Ephesians 6:1, and she snuggled in.

Through the tears and hysteria, she proceeded to pee all down the front of me. I guess she wanted me, too, to know how much fun it is to be drenched... with clothes on.

Late Easter Pics!

We had a wonderful Easter!

It started off great with Amaya receiving her own set of Resurrection Eggs on Palm Sunday in Sunday School. Every morning the following week, we opened two of the eggs, and read about the significance of what treasure was hiding in those specific eggs (a donkey, a stone, a crown of thorns, the cross, etc). They served to be a great tool for teaching her the more intricate details of the story. Thanks, Jenne!

On Thursday, we took off for the beach with my parents, and Stefan and Julia. Stefan was a German exchange student who lived in out house for a year during my junior year in high school. He has become like a brother, visiting at least once a year, and this time bringing his girlfriend Julia. Em and I had the privilege of visiting his home in Germany about 9 years ago.

On Sunday morning, both the girls participated in a little program at church. What a joy to see Tennyson up there doing the motions to 'He's Alive' and chiming in about every 5th word of the Lord's Prayer.

Tennyson, Easter morning


Amaya, Easter morning

Our deformed breakfast bunny. The girls didn't seemed to mind...

Coloring eggs on Saturday night. Funny to see the girls' personalities shine through in their egg-coloring. Amaya just wanted to do four (because there's four of us in our family), and spent a lot of time on each egg, perfecting the shade, and making sure Tennyson's hands were far away!

Tennyson, on the other hand, colored over 24 eggs in about 10 minutes... and then was done.

Coloring eggs with Stefan and Julia at the beach

Little lovebirds...

Catching up!

Ahh... to be back blogging. I realized that for me, blogging is not something I do unless everything else on my list is done... and when does that ever happen! When I actually sit down to blog, though, I totally enjoy it!

Thinking back, we actually have done a lot of fun things the last couple of months: Great Wolf Lodge (thanks, Nathan and Heidi), a kids Valentines party, having my sister's family here, going to the beach with Grammy for a couple of days, making bread... successfully, planting our first seedlings for a garden, and celebrating Tennyson's half-birthday.

Everyday, I have learned, can have pockets of joy, no matter where we are or what the circumstances. We are in Christ, we are a new creation, the old is gone, and the new has come!

Tennyson and Kyler

Amaya and Kyler

The girls have always loved being in my parents' hot tub. It was extra fun to share this time with Jagger and Uncle Josh. All the pictures with them in the hot tub, however, also included Amaya... nude! Yes, mom forgot her suit.

Again.

I thought Blogger might just step in and slap my hand for posting those, so here's a safe one of T.

Tractor rides with Poppy... another hit at Poppy and Grammy's house.

Out of about 12 pics, this was the best one, and didn't even have the boys in it! Ugh...

During the clothes sale, Grammy was in charge of all 5 girls. And she thought it would be fun to make flubber...

"I wanna stir."

"No, I want tooo!".

Grammy gave in. They all got to... at once.

St. Pattys Day attire from Nana

Amaya's Sunflower Program at school! You can fit a lot of songs into a 10 minute preschool program! She did great.

Thanks, Grammy, for treating us to a great couple of days at the beach during Spring Break. We had so much fun playing in the sand, picking songs on the juke box, dancing in the basement, eating out. Next time, though, I'll plan the menu. :)

I got the idea to celebrate half birthdays from a friend of mine. Amaya has loved the tradition. Tennyson probably would not have known the difference this go around, but Amaya was counting down the days for her. Tennyson turned 2 1/2 on March 28th. She got to pick her dinner... mac-n-cheese, chicken nuggets, cantaloupe, blueberries, and apple juice.
Amaya told her little sister, "Happy Half Birthday, Sis" over 30 times that day.
At dinner, we actually had to scold them for hugging and kissing each other so much. I warmed their food up twice. This won't ever end, will it?
Amaya picked out a little gift and wrapped it herself. It was a fun day!