Yummy Goodness!

I made a very yummy dessert tonight. I got the idea from another blog. I tweaked her recipe a little. Check out her blog she's pretty awesome like me :) http://creativelyfrugallife.blogspot.com/

So here's what I did.....

Here's what you need:

9x13 dish
graham cracker crust (you can find good recipes online)
1 bag of big marshmellows
hershey candy bars (amount depends on how chocolatey you want it)

prepeare the graham craker crust and pack it in to the bottom of the cake pan

then put a layer of chocolate candy bars (the amount is up to you)

then add a layer of big marshmellows. I used the whole bag.

Then bake at 350` for about 5-8 minutes (or until the marshmellows puff up but before they brown)
After the marshmellows have puffed up, take the pan out of the oven and turn on the broiler. Put pan back in and bake for a tiny bit longer.....*keep a close eye on it! the marshmellows will burn very quickly if you leave them in too long. I had mine in for literally 30 seconds.
Then it's finished!

Now, I will let you in on my secret ingredient....but don't tell anyone!!!!!!!

GREAT HELPERS!

Slow down!

It doesn't seem like it's been nearly 6 months since Miss Bella came into this world. For a while I started to worry that she was not hitting milestones as fast as the rest of my kids did. She wasn't gaining weight, rolling over, eating as much, bearing weight on her legs like the older kids did when they were babies. It's just recently that I made the decision not to worry about these things (unless the dr showed concern). I know she is my last baby so I became ok with her staying a baby as long as possible. I didn't want to rush anything! But since that decision it seems like she's hitting milestones left and right!

I kept her in her bassinet (in our room) longer than any of the others.

I remember when she needed support when sitting in her swing and now she's twisting and turning in it.

I've been a little protective over her. I always say she's so "fragile". Or "she's sensitive". I think that has a lot to do with all the issues she's had. I'm ready for her to outgrow these problems that the dr says she will soon outgrow. But I still can't help but not want to let go and let her try new things. She was my only child who has had to stay in the hospital and I think that made me more protective over her.

She's had so many milestones so far.....

                                                          Like her first church service:

Her first pedicure:

 Her first crush (The Bachelor. She loved watching him!)

Her first Grey's Anatomy night!



Her first pigtails: 

Her first tea party:

Her first New Years Eve party (and first New Years Eve date)



Her first best friend along with her first kiss :)

And we can't forget her first smile! (and many others to follow)

Now I would say it's been at least the past 2 weeks (maybe 3) that she's been going crazy! She has started eating baby food (that took a while to get her to cooperate with that)

She is starting to use her legs more (a little)

She has started rolling over!

She is trying to sit up on her own!



She's holding her own bottle already! (I still hold it most of the time that's how I get my cuddle time with her)

And the most recent....EARRINGS!





So now I'm left wondering how to get her to SLOW DOWN! I need a little more time. Just a little :)

Child of Mine

I have the best kids. I love them all the same amount but for different reasons. They all have their own personalities (that a lot of times don't mesh together well). They all have their own strengths and weaknesses. Some need constant attention, some are fine with little attention, some wait and wait and wait for attention until they need it so bad that they can't stand it.

My oldest daughter, Lilly is probably the best kid I could ask for. I mean she has her moments but all kids do. She is so incredibly smart. She's such a great student. She was "student of the month" last month. All her teachers have nothing but good things to say about her. She is always so willing to help out at home. I hardly ever hear her complain when I ask her to get me something (even if its the 50th time I've asked her). She is so good to her sisters. She loves her brother even when he's so mean to her. She's always wanting to take care of the baby to "give me a break". She's hardly ever in trouble (except for her smart mouth lately).

I've been thinking lately though that she isn't getting the attention she needs. I'm always so busy with the baby or different issues with the other kids. She never complains but I can always tell when she needs some special time. She can't wait til dinner time cause that's our time together. She helps me with dinner every night. And she never lets me forget. But I do see her asking her dad to play with her a lot. She is constantly "begging" for his attention. And he always finds something to do with her but it's like she can't get enough from him. I think they need more special time together. I always try to find time when just me and her can go to the store or the mall or out to eat. I think I may need to stop hogging her and share her with her dad :)

I just hope that she doesn't grow up and feel like she has to try and be perfect all the time. I want her to know it's ok to make mistakes and do things wrong sometimes. But I also worry that my other kids will hear me talk about what a great kid she is and feel like they are less loved. That's a hard balance to keep. Making sure all 4 kids feel just as loved and as important as the others. I mean I know they are all equally loved and all important. But I know how kids can take things wrong sometimes. Lilly has always been a fast learner. My oldest has always struggled with areas in school. He's very smart, he just has a hard time focusing. I am constantly trying to make sure I praise Lilly for all her great work but at the same time making sure I don't make my son feel like he isn't good enough. It's a lot harder than it sounds.

I'm not sure where I was going with all this. Maybe I just wanted to tell how great my kids are :)
Or maybe it came out of the events this morning....

Lilly wanted sponge curlers in her hair last night. She's never really had her hair curled. She has had her hair "crimped" and she hated it!!!

So anyway she loved having the curlers in last night

But this morning after I took the curlers out and fixed her hair she hated it. Right as I finished her hair it was time to leave for school. I had to push her out the door. I didn't get a picture but it was cute. She put her hood up and with tears rolling down her face she got in the van and headed to school. Now I'm going to worry about her all day. I should have just pulled it all up into a ponytail but I didn't have time :(
I hope she makes it all day :)

The Power of a Praying Wife

I have started reading The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Ormartian (again). I've started this book many times before. But I guess I wasn't ready to "listen" those times. I never got through the first chapter which talks about changing yourself. Now granted, I still haven't gotten past the first chapter but I did finish it last night and I can't wait to continue reading. I tried so hard to stay awake last night to read more but I just couldn't keep my eyes open. Anyway, I can already tell I'm going to be recommending this book.

The book is about a wife praying for her husband (believer or not). And reading it last night I know I'm ready to try what it suggests. But that's not what I want to write about.

I was driving to the city tonight to take my girls shopping for their Easter dresses. While driving I started to think about this book and how I tried so hard to "follow" it today while out shopping with my husband. But my thoughts started drifting to my mom for some reason. Probably because when I take my girls shopping I always think it would be a great idea to ask my mom to join. I have asked before but I don't anymore. Mostly because there's always drama and crap that I have to listen to. We can't just go have fun with the kids. The conversation always turns to her "problems". Another reason is because I got tired of being rejected. She never had time or she was never "feeling well".

So I started thinking about what this book was saying about praying for my husband. I wondered "who prays for my mom?". I know I have people who pray for me. People in my family, my friends, people from church. But my mom doesn't attend a church. She doesn't have the kind of friends who pray. She isn't really close to anyone in the family (because of her choices). Who prays for this woman?! I mean it's sad to say that I can't even remember anytime recently that I've even prayed for her. What must it feel like to not have anyone praying for you? Now maybe she does have someone praying for her. But I can't think of anyone who prays for her daily. That's sad. How awful would it be to get to heaven and my mom not be there because I didn't take the time to pray with or for her. I can only imagine what it would be like....I mean in heaven there is no disease or mental illness. She would be "normal". She will never be the mom that I want while she is here on earth but if she makes it to heaven what an awesome relationship we would have. And when my kids got there they would be able to see their Oma in a whole new way.

So I've decided to start praying for my husband as well as for my mom. I know God will do what he does and try to get into their hearts. The real test will be whether or not they are willing. I'm not going into this expecting either of them to change. That's not why I'm doing it. But I know it's what God wants me to do and I will know they have someone praying for them daily.

~Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.~
Ephesians 4:32