Lake Herrington

We were invited this weekend to go spend some time at Lake Herrington with our good friends, The Daniel's.

They have a little girl that fits right in the middle of our girl's age, so it has been so nice to get together.

I was a bit nervous about going though, due in large part to Scott and I not being very good swimmers. Scott taught himself to swim only five years ago, and I've never been proficient.

Thanks to noodles and life vests we were safe as can be!

While Maggie is usually pretty skittish, she was eager to jump right in.

Ellie on the other hand, wasn't interested.

She eventually worked up the courage, and joined me in the water.

Though she had a great time playing in the kiddie pool as well.

Despite the cloudy coverage we were able to get out for a short boat ride. It was Ellie's first official boat ride and all the girls were so excited. The cloud coverage offered a comfortable temperature, and then later a a huge rain storm.

It was an adventure and I had a great time, but I imagine the captain of our fair vessel was a bit miserable when the pebble like rain drops were smacking him in the face.

After a few hours inside, enjoying a yummy lunch and a companionable game of Hand and Foot (Which the girls won) we were able to take another longer trip out on the boat to look at the beautiful lake. Meanwhile I began day dreaming of having my own lake house some day.

It was an awesome day, with great friends.

The Dreaded Dentist

I've been dreading this appointment for more than two years.

May 26, 2012 (or close to it at least) our pediatrician told us that they recommend children begin seeing a dentist about age 2.

Let me set this up by mentioning that until the age of three Maggie LOST it every doctor's appointment we had.

Screaming.
Crying.
Fits.

And that was just to get on the scale, don't even ask about shots!
So the idea of having my girl lay in a dentist chair, with her mouth wide open while a stranger poked around on her teeth was a bit unrealistic at that time.

Fast forward two years and I knew that I had better get the dentist relationship started.

We prepared the girls as best we could. We talked about what would happen so they wouldn't be surprised. We read several books on "Going to the Dentist." Maggie even took a trip with my mom when she visited the dentist.

Well, last week the day had come.

I'd like to tell you that all of our hard work paid off. That my girls were a champ and marched into the office, sat quietly in their chair mouth agape. But alas, I can not tell a lie. Only half of them were brave.

The tears began when we entered and were putting on the bib. They gave the girls a chance to pick out a princess toothbrush. Ellie picked quickly, Maggie had to dry her tears long enough to see the options.

When we walked back to the space where the chairs were set up, the waterworks began anew.

I reasoned, I encouraged, I begged, I pleaded, I threatened.

And still Maggie freaked. I remembered then about the second child I had brought and turned to find Ellie.

Ellie did AMAZING!!! She just hopped up into the chair, chose her toothpaste and opened wide. 

And then there was Maggie.

They were not able to use any of their dentistry tools. They brushed her teeth like I had that morning. I even tried to do the flossing myself, but she wouldn't calm down enough for us to have a conversation about anything. 

Ellie got a bit upset when they dentist came in to check things out, probably because she was worried about getting shots. (Maggie had gotten three for her 4 year old well check up the week before.) But a little tickle session had her calmed down and able to follow the dentist's instructions. 

Thankfully, there was no trouble for Ellie's teeth and Maggie gets a chance to do it again in six months. 

She will go with both her Daddy and I to see us handle it between now and then. We will also have lots of conversations leading up to the appointment. I'm hoping that Ellie doing so well will influence Maggie a bit. Beyond that, the hysterical freak out session is why she lost her prize for the visit. Still trying to figure out how to let her be emotional, in an appropriate amount. 

Ravens Run Nature Park

We Lusks have had a very busy summer so far.

Between play dates, game nights, library visits, birthdays, doctor appointments, Father's Day, VBS and family visits we have just been busy. A good busy though.

Last Saturday, we woke with two jumpy girls in our bed and realized we didn't have anything planned until the late afternoon. With the forecast calling for gorgeous weather we decided a hike would be a great thing.

We went to Ravens Run Nature Preserve and attempted our first family hike.

We weren't sure how the girls would do. We've taken several walks through our hilly neighborhood, but we haven't really been in real life nature. That coupled with my girls terrible fear of bugs of all kinds, including ants and flies, we were going to just try our best.

We chose the green path, which was marked as the easiest. But because of our terrible sense of direction we ended up on the red, or moderate path, for a bit. 

We passed by a family, or rather they passed us, and each of the kids had walking sticks. It wasn't the first time my girls had picked up a stick during a walk, but they usually call them their Moses sticks. 

Maggie was excited to be out in the "jungle", until she learned that we probably wouldn't see any "amimals". 

We were on the look out the entire trip, but only came across a few butterflies. Ellie however found a bumblebee.

She crouched watching it for several minutes. Then this conversation began. 

Ellie: (Reaching out to touch the bumblebee) I want to touch it.

Me: No, it will sting you. We don't touch bumblebees. 

She pulled her arm back and kept watching. 

She then turned to me, smiled and said, "I touch it."

Then quickly reached out and touched the bumblebee. 

She can be so fearless...though that night at dinner she went hysterical when a fly was flying around her plate. 

I wanted to get a family picture while on our adventure. I set up the camera and set the timer.

And failed.

And failed. 

And failed again. 

Then a couple of sweet girls came upon us and got one for us. 

The trail was really nice and very shaded. It had rained a few days before our adventure, so some of the trail was a bit moist. The ground was perfect for capturing tracks. We found several deer track and a couple of dog tracks too. 

We went for about an hour at a very leisurely pace and then stopped for a water break. 

We ended up going for just over two hours and the girls completed 3.5 miles. We weren't sure how long or how far the girls were going to last, but they did an incredible job. Ellie only had about 10 minutes riding her personal chauffeur. 

 We plan on making this a recurring family outing.

My 4 Year Old Princess

Despite how hard I tried to convince her to just turn 3 again today, Maggie is now my big 4 year old! She told me she had to turn four because she had been three for such a long time.

So proud of this kiddo.

She is growing into such a sweet girl. She loves her sissy, and shares pretty well most of the time. She is a huge helper, making her bed, sorting silverware, picking up her room and playroom, puts her laundry away.

Maggie loves reading books and playing with princesses.

She sings "Let it go" no less than three times a day.

Maggie loves to eat and play outside. She loves to go to the gym and church and can not wait to start preschool in the fall!

She is gentle and sweet with babies, but is afraid of new things.

She is warming up to animals and strangers slowly.

She needs to be warned about changes being made and enjoys knowing our schedule ahead of time.

Maggie recognizes all of her letters upper and lower case and knows 3/4 of their sounds and numbers to 10, though she can count to at least 30 she gets bored and quits at that point.
(though she usually skips the number 15).

She loves watching shows and dancing to any music that is on. She is an excellent booty shaker.

Maggie has an awesome sense of humor and keeps us laughing often.

Enjoy 20 questions she answered today, as a four year old.

• What is your favorite color? 
• Purple and pink and orange and yellow
• What is your favorite food? 
• Cereal and Oatmeal and Pancakes
• Who is your best friend? 
• Elizabeth and Noah
• What do you like to do with your family? 
• Vacuum
• What is your favorite toy? 
• Sugar (a baby doll) and Minnie Mouse
• What do you want to be when you grow up? 
• A doctor and a restaurant girl
• What makes you happy? 
• Morty (our puppy)
• What makes you sad? 
• When I am alone
• What is your favorite show?
•  Princesses and Frozen
• Where do you like to go? 
• The North Mountain (Thanks Frozen!)
• What is your favorite animal?
•  A hippopotamus and that thing with a round tail (Still not sure what this is)
• What do you do best? 
• Play with Morty and GG and Poppy and Charlotte and Brea and Ellie
• The coolest perosn on earth is Jesus and Rachel and Bubby.
• What did you do when your were little?
•  Burp and drink my bottle
• What is your favorite season?
•  Snow
• What is a food you don't like? 
• Lettuce and tomatoes
• What is your favorite song? 
• Let it Go
• What is your favorite game? 
• The Tangled game that Elizabeth has
• What do you want on your birthday cake?
•  Princesses
• What is your favorite candy
• ? Chocolate and suckers and lolly pops. 

Love this kid and so thankful for the last four years! Cant't wait to sit back and watch God grow her more.

 

My Hairbowed Dream

I have always wanted to be a mom.

Literally.

When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, "A mom" is what I would say.

So, it wouldn't come as a big shock that only two months after being married I started in on my husband to start a family.

The following is a true story.

December 2008.

Setting: Cottage Hill Baptist Church Mobile, AL  Balcony

Plot: Forty or so small children arranged in nice neat rows on stage dressed in their Christmas best. Khakis, sweater vests, button down shirts and bow ties for the boys. Ruffled dresses, panty hose, shiny black shoes and big hair bows for the girls. They were singing some song about baby Jesus, but I couldn't quit looking at the hair bows.

I leaned over to Scott and told him how cute they were. Wouldn't it be so fun to have your own little hairbowed girl on the stage? Singing about baby Jesus? We could dress her up and take pictures?

He wasn't convinced and made me wait another eight months before deciding we could try to start our family.

Fast forward to today. Sitting on the front row at church that memory vividly returned.

Waiting on the front row, waiting for service to start and waiting for our hairbowed little girl to take the stage...minus the hairbow (do headbands still count? I'm going to say yes.)

Fifth from the Right with her white and blue dress

We didn't know they were singing until the Wednesday before and had no idea what they were singing. Maggie just kept telling us the song was Hosanna. I ran through all the Hosanna songs I knew and never came up with the right one.

We gave her a pep talk this morning:

Have fun!

Sing pretty!

Watch your teacher!

Be still!

Smile!

We encouraged her. We instructed her. We praised her. She was ready.

Then the first service started and hilarity for our families row ensued.
(Forgive the fuzzy camera phone...we'll take whatever pics we could get.)



She yawned.

Several times.

She scratched.

Her knee. Her head. Her elbow.

She played with her hair. Pulled it, twirled it, spun it.

She even took her shoe off at one point and nearly brought her neighbor and herself down.

She looked like a deer in the head lights and marginally sang the words at the appropriate times.

Hand motions? No way!

And I loved every single minute of it!

We blamed the first service on nerves and the unknown.

Because by the second service she nailed it! Unfortunately, we had videotaped the first service debacle so much we didn't have much space to get the great participation from the second service. Oh well.

I'm so proud of our girl! I'm so thankful she is mine. God reminds me in the smallest things how incredibly blessed I am. I'm thankful for the reminders, and for the dreams that come true.