Tweenagers Part 2

Well, we're home & I'm tuckered out, but wanted to post this before I lose my momentum... I'm a little short on words, so I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves- (if you're interested in actually seeing any of them, simply click any photo to enlarge)

Here we are getting ready for the day:


(The dresses were a bargain find we discovered last week... but they were a little huge. As we headed to the store, K was fussing about how uncomfortable she was in the car. 'We are 12 minutes away, K... can you deal with it or not?' Her answer had me in stitches...'Are you kidding? I've been waiting to go to the American Girl Place forever! I could deal with it if i were sitting on ROCKS!')

And here we are waiting for the store to open:



Exploring the first floor:


The Wonder of the Second Story:


Being spoiled in the Cafe:


Fantastic Food:


Birthday Dessert:


So hard to choose:


Finally! A choice! Hooray for Kit! The newest member of our family!

I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9:2

Tweenagers Part 1

Greetings from Los Angeles!

My girls and I are on our first mother-daughter vacation... we used Priceline's name your own price feature to book a 4 star hotel (the only way to marry my taste for luxury with a my real life budget) near the American Girl Doll store... for which the girls have been saving for a year to visit. We're celebrating the twin's entry into tweenhood with a birthday to remember. The girls decided to forgo a party or gifts so that we could do this trip in style- so, that's what we did!

I picked them up from school with the radio blasting Hannah Montana (because the boys in our house do not appreciate such practices, we were now free to sing 'Hoedown Throwdown' at the top of our lungs) and off we went, braving the LA freeways on our way to adventure!

We decided that we were born for this lifestyle as soon as a team of 3 valets came to our car, opened our doors and unloaded our luggage onto a fancy brass cart. Once to the room, they hung the girls' dresses in the closet, and put the rest of our suitcases in place. 'You ladies here for a few days?' they asked. 'Just one night' we giggled, knowing they wouldn't understand why we had packed so much for such a short trip.

After a fancy dinner, we set to our beauty regimen. We did facials, curled the girls' hair, and painted our nails while watching the Kit Kitridge movie (so cute).



Once we were all done getting beautified, we ordered milk and cookies via room service. They were delicious and worth every penny of the four million dollars they cost. Then, we snuggled up in our giant fancy bed and caught some zzzzzzzzs.

We woke up waaay too early this morning... so excited about the day ahead. We've watched Man vs Wild and Dirty Jobs on the hotel television so far, and are waiting for our breakfast to arrive.

As soon as we're done with breakfast, ONE of us will put on some much-needed makeup, and all of us will pack up and head out to our American Girl Adventure....

I'm loving this time with my growing up little girls who are so much fun! I can't get over how fast time is flying, and am determined to enjoy every moment, starting with turning this computer off and waking up the girl's Bitty Twins and dressing them for the day. Yes, it's a bit silly, but I'm getting the distinct impression that the days of dolls and giggles are limited- so I'm going with it...

Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
Psalm 127.3

More to come...........

guest posting

I've been even more remiss at posting lately because the project I've been working on (the one I mentioned here) has hit an INTENSE patch, and I'm all rolled up in it. Besides that, we have a nasty flu passing around our family. It's by no means the worst of times, but there are no extra moments for blogging.

The gap isn't just over here at my blog, but also at home. This week, my husband offered to actually do the menu plan, grocery list, and grocery shop. Can you believe it? My very own IRL guest poster! The man is amazing... wait 'til you see what he posted on the fridge this week:

Daddy’s Menu Madness

Wednesday
-Sammitches Turkey, pastrami, cheese, salt and pepper chips (or Pringles in a can) and alfalfa sprouts

Thursday
-Pork choppers, Masher motatoes, asparamahoosee (*translation- this is him being 'funny' and saying pork chops, mashed potatoes and asparagus*)

Friday
-Meatloaf sorry girls, but you should try it you may like it you can have rice, and green beans and some other stuff too

Saturday
-Chicken enchiladas. Some with red sauce, but mostly all with green sauce Bonus: Some cheese that I got to put on top that I had to talk to the nice Hispanic lady at the grocery store to find out what is the best kind to use. Girls, we will also have something you will like too

Sunday
-Steaks, potatoes and veggies of some sort that may be in the freezer. This meal speaks for itself

Monday
-Pesto chicken, pasta and not really sure what veggie goes with this. Apparently I did not think this menu out very well

Tuesday
-Fish, of the tilapia variety, cous cous and a veggie from the freezer again

I love that I married this funny, quirky man who makes menus with commentary and notes to my picky eater girls and takes the time to care for me when I am in over my head. I am just so blessed.

In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.
Ephesians 5:28

B.O.

Here's a good line to start the first post I've written in nearly a week...

So yesterday, I had B.O.

like, the serious kind. ew.

In the morning, I rushed off without putting on my traditional swipe of antiperspirant/deodorant under each pit.

am I really confessing this to the whole world? did I just type "pit" on my blog? apparently.

I'm not sure how I did it. It's one of those things I've done pretty much every day since I was like, 10. I just forgot. About 6pm I raised my right hand and about died of mortification. (or maybe it was the ungodly stench)

And before yesterday, if you were to ask me if I even need deodorant, I'd probably tell you that I am really not a very naturally sweaty person and that I don't think I have a problem with odor.

unless there's something you've been meaning to tell me?

But now... well, I have discovered I am still a stinky, sweaty person under all these layers of fat cute clothes. It's not me that keeps the stink away, it's the deodorant. Huh! Not a great discovery, but good to have discovered this before someone had to have a big ol' "truth in love" talk with me. ("Amber, I love you, girl... but you stink)

I find there are lots of things in my life I think I can do without. I think I can choose whether or not to take my vitamins, put on deodorant, go grocery shopping, do the laundry, etc, and life will continue on just the same. It's not long before I'm sick, stinky, hungry, and wearing my 'last resort' underwear. (you have some too, don't judge)

Same is true for me spiritually. Sometimes I think I can choose whether or not to have a morning devotion time. I skip over my prayer and Bible reading for a couple of days in a row every so often and find myself being a stinky rotten crankypants by the end of the day.

yes, I did just compare reading the Bible with using deodorant.

And it's not until I realize the stench is unlivable and then spend some real time in the Word that I discover it's not my good nature that's keeping me from being a shrew, it's the grace of God. What a wonderful gift God's mercy and gifts of self control, patience, kindness, love, and goodness are! I just can't even live without a daily dose. I stink up too fast.

Feeling less than fragrant lately? Let me encourage you to find out how you can prevent the funk... seek Him daily.... and for heaven's sake don't forget to use deodorant.

I know, nobody else forgets to wear deodorant, humor me.

Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.
2 Corinthians 2:15

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is
Psalm 63:1

Scaredy Cat (twitter style)

My daughter's cat Sparkle
in the vet's office~
So terrified she's shedding hair all over my shirt
hiding her face in the crook of my arm

I've been at a loss for posts lately... seems there are a lot of little things to say, but nothing of any importance or substance. I like Twitter because it's the perfect forum for that kind of thing. In case you're not familiar, Twitter is a social network, where you can post mini-blogs that are 140 letters or less. Today's blog post would have looked like this on Twitter:

• Have nothing of any value to say on blog. Trying 2 do it twitter-style, 140 characters or less. Wonder if this will b boring or interesting?
  

• talked 2 the vet assistant 2day~said cat ds not hv infection. has crystals in her urine, and has 2 have some super expensive cat food. yay.

• This is my 396th post. considering some sort of an extravaganza for post 400. feeling stuck...I'll keep you posted on what I come up with.

• HOT. 111 today. Struggling w/not whining. losing. terribly. send ice. whatever happened to that machine that froze port charles? need one.

• Seeing Julie & Julia w/Lisa. Can't wait. Intend to get popcorn AND candy. W/a diet coke, naturally. Then will chat all night in the driveway

• realizing this is kind of a dumb idea for posting. boo.

• Need to stop putting off making dinner by making fake Tweets.

• Trying a new scripture embedding feature on Biblegateway:

• For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, New King James Version)

• That's all I got for today.
  

Sound like fun? No? Come join me anyway: HisGirlAmber on Twitter