We have made pasta pictures with fun shaped motorcycle, train, car, and airplane shaped pasta from the World Market. We have done water colors when we have felt good enough. We have laid on the couch and floor and watched shows for 2 days (at least....time all runs together after awhile for me) since kids were sick. This is a difficult thing for me to let kids watch TV for longer than a half an hour.......but when your action packed 4 and 6 year olds are laying lifeless on the couch that is pretty much what those times call for........books and shows. So I checked out 40 items from our local library of which 4 were DVDs. We will see what late fines we will receive since we always misplace books, but at least I know how many books I am suppose to return.
So today seems more like a normal day, we baked cakes this morning and the boys helped me decide the type of layers for the cakes and which pans I should use. Maggie Beth, Hezekiah, and Eli all helped in mixing the two cake batters and no egg shells ended up in our batter. It is feeling more like summer these days. We are looking forward to Fee Avenue pool and some free movies over the summer too. Summertime, I am happy you are here. I enjoy sleeping in and waking up with no planned schedule. Except to eat breakfast and read our Bible. Hmmmm.........I think I could get use to you summertime.
This is a Fantasy flower that I made tonight out of fondant and gum paste. It is edible! I thought it turned out so adorable. I get to create a cake of my choice for next week and make flowers of my choice. My cake may consist of these! Wouldn't it be beautiful?
I also created Daisies and a Carnation. I think the Carnation was the most difficult. We made leaves too. It is so fun and therapeutic.
Happy Birthday my sweet Magpie.
You are so beautiful!
I cannot believe you are 2!
I love you!
So do your brothers and daddy!
Your Elmo party was absolutely fun. Thanks friends for coming! We love you!
Black icing does wonders for your teeth!
Today was Eli's preschool program. The kids do their end of the year program by singing the songs they have learned throughout the year.
This is Eli with his teacher Mrs. Wallace and his buddy Garrett.
Eli loves Mrs. Wallace. She is an incredible teacher and genuinely loves her students. Can't you tell Eli loves her too? Every morning when I have dropped off Eli she greets him and has such a lovely smile. I am so thankful Eli had Mrs. Wallace this year. I honestly think she is WONDERFUL and I praise God for such an amazing teacher.
Here is Eli receiving his certificate for completing his class.
Maggie Beth, Eli and Garrett enjoyed snacks afterward.
Then Mrs. Wallace popped up behind Eli and Garrett and Eli did not know she was there. I think it scared him a bit.
He sure makes some silly faces. Congrats my little love snuggle bug! You are just too adorable.
So for 3 weeks now I have been on a battle against unwanted adipose tissue aka fat tissue. I have been measuring my foods/portions and allowing only one sugary drink/day. I am trying to stay under 1500 calories per day. I have been fixated on the verse Matthew 4:4, Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
It is a battle for me because goodness I really do like peanut butter M&M's, seriously I like them a lot. But I only allot a serving -- which is 1/4 a cup which equals 240 calories. I wish I was kidding. And to waste my "calories" 240 on M&M's probably is not a good idea anyhow when I could have something better, like fruit huh?
The battle is difficult at times. Probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. When I was in high school one summer my swim coach told us how much sugar was in a can of soda, that really half the can was sugar and told us to stay away from sugary drinks. So I did for the longest time. I would only drink tea and water. Somewhere along the way I started drinking Coca-Cola again and well that one is not as bad to give up. But really some things just taste better with Coca-Cola! Don't you agree?
I honestly think exercising is easier than trying to watch what you eat. I love swimming it is super easy for me to swim miles. I have been running the past couple weeks and I really do not like running, but I ran a mile last week and this past week, and I am getting in the groove of it. On Tuesdays I walk 4-5 miles, 2 in the morning and then usually 2-3 in the afternoon. I really want to do the Health First Triathalon this year by myself as compared to doing it with a team last year. So my battle is on.....
I am looking for more verses to assist me. I think like most things the battle is in the mind. If you have any that you would like to share. I will memorize them and write them and post them on my wall.
But belonging to groups probably is not my thing. Something that I think I have identified with for all my life is that I do not belong to groups, groups of friends, groups of interests, etc. I have always had friends of different sorts, not all of one "species" if you might say. I usually identify with people maybe not so much like me, but then again some like me but they definitely do not all have to look the same, act the same, or have my same set of beliefs. Maybe that is why I am not a groupie nor belong to one. Is that a good thing? Yes, sometimes it is, but honestly other times it is disheartening and the enemy tries to make me feel less than what God has created me to be. It makes me sad to not even be invited, but then I think maybe that is a good thing, because if I was identified as a groupie then that may inhibit me from reaching out to others. Who knows? It might be because I am opinionated too? But that is part of my being and how God created me whether you love me or hate me for it.
So to be a groupie or not to be? Not really a question for me. I know what I am apart of and I am apart of God's family, I am a member of the Phelps' family, and I love my life despite not being in a group -- whatever that group may consist of. But if it does consist of a group for Peanut butter M&M's fans -- I might reconsider.
Are you a groupie or not?
Before the rain came this afternoon this is what we were doing. This happens to be one of my favorite past times with my kids. I have always loved water and playing in the water. Spent many summer days swimming at Forest Hills in Middletown, Ohio.
Here in Melbourne, Florida we swim in our backyard. We also enjoy swimming at Fee Avenue Pool. You will find us there a lot this summer when that pool opens.
Ahhh, so relaxing until..........
Ha ha ha!!!
Another reason I enjoy this past time is it gets someone to release some excess energy. Not to mention any names, I am sure you can guess who it is by the above pictures. It certainly is not the little boy lounging on the edge of the pool.
Can you guess?
