How Mom Used To Do Dishes...

As I was cleaning up the kitchen after supper this evening I was in the process of leaving some of the dishes and one large pan in the sink since the dishwasher was already full and running - I figured I'd just put them in the dishwasher in the morning with the breakfast dishes. Anyway, I got to thinking about all the dishes I used to wash growing up in a family of 9 and how I didn't have a dishwasher after I got married either. The dishwasher I have now is actually the first one I've had - we got it when we built and moved into this house - and, boy, do I appreciate it! It made me think how my kids have never really known life without a dishwasher so I decided it would be a good idea for Rylee and Reeva to help me wash the dishes...so I filled up one sink with suds for washing and the other with water for rinsing and told the girls they could help me do the dishes and explained the whole "walked five miles to school..." bit to them (you know how us mothers do ;) I told them that they never knew - they may go to college one day and not have a dishwasher so it would be a good idea to know how to get their dishes clean - "Good point." was Reeva's thoughtful comment to this scenerio. :) So, they took turns washing and rinsing while I dried. I almost laughed when Reece had come into the kitchen and the girls hollered over to him, "Hey look Reece, this is how mom used to do dishes!" And when I had him come over to help put the dishes away he looked at it like, "Is it clean?" - like the only way dishes get clean are in a dishwasher. Oh my...

They actually had a lot of fun and thought it wouldn't be so bad to wash dishes like this more often....wonder how long that would last?! :)

Of course, I couldn't resist snapping a few photos to share....

Well, I promised the kids we would go for a walk this evening so I'd better get going. I really need to get back soon. Last week was Rylee and Reeva's first year to be in 4-H at the fair so I've got lots to share about it. ;)

Double Digits

It's hard to believe that Rylee and Reeva turned 10 years old today. As I look at this photo of them, I am truly at a loss for words. It seems like just yesterday that I was struggling with two of everything and wondering how in the world I could ever do it all. The truth is that they were amazing babies and we fell into a routine quite well. Even at ten years old they rarely give me a bit of trouble...I tell people that I could probably count on one hand the number of times I've seen them argue and I'm telling the truth. They say that they have their moments but I have not seen many of them. Their dad and I have always told them what a special thing it is to be a twin - it doesn't mean that they are the same person because they most definitely are not! - but what a neat thing to have another person that you came into this world with. They still like to dress alike some of the time but in the past year they have began to each find a little of their own personal style and are dressing alike less and less.

On this day, they wanted to eat at Chuck E Cheese with their brother and sister so dad took the day off and, after their traditional pancake birthday breakfast and opening of gifts, we all loaded up for a trip to Eville...by the time we got there it was time for lunch so first stop was Chuck E Cheese for pizza and games. Next stop was the mall where Rylee and Reeva got their ears pierced for their 10th Bday. :) Reeva went first and then it was Rylee's turn. Good thing there were two girls at the store and they did both ears at the same time - otherwise, I think Rylee would have come home with only one ear pierced! The whole way into the mall she kept saying to herself, "I hope I don't chicken out..." But it wasn't long before they were ready to pose in their new sunglasses to show off their new bling. :) We finished off the day with Shyler's and a trip to Barnes and Noble where we spent at least two hours and then still had trouble getting the kids to leave!

This past year for...

Rylee...has included

• An amazing year in third grade - especially her reading - almost 400 AR points!
• New glasses
• Lost her last baby tooth
• A Spring Break trip to Disney World!
• Made sugar cookies by herself along with other baking adventures - loves helping me in the kitchen - has even made a few dinners for everyone :)
• Basketball - played AAU, can dribble two balls at one time (she's awesome at this!), working on her jump shot, has great shooting form
• Softball - got her first hit (and loved it!) - after that she was never afraid to swing and has a good eye for the pitches coming in, switched to third base toward end of season - played an awesome trny game at third base - starting to figure out third base rules, caught a pop fly during last game! woo, hoo!!

Reeva...has included...

• Braces for a year - got them off in February...but will most likely have to have them again when she gets a little older
• Got glasses
• 300+ AR points in school!
• A Spring Break trip to Disney World!
• Basketball - played AAU, scored her first basket in one game and then scored six points in the game after that!
• Softball - Played first base this year (did an awesome job!), made quite a few plays at first, caught several pop flies!

Ten years ago today the life Randy and I had known as a married couple was dramatically altered when our sweet girls entered this world and made us a family. Weighing in at 4 lbs 10 oz and 4 lbs 8 oz, Rylee Carlin and Reeva Mae changed our lives in more ways than I could have ever imagined. When I was a little girl I always wished I had a twin and am so thankful that God chose to bless me with these two amazing girls. I look at them and am so very proud of the beautiful young ladies they are becoming. Happy Birthday, my sweet girls....xoxo ~ mom

Summer Time

Me Again (!)

Another busy day has come and is almost gone...lots of running around today getting some errands done, sneaking in a movie (The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds - loved it!) with mom and dad, and then watching Rylee and Reeva's ballgame. The girls had a great game. Randy is finally in the fields again so he wasn't able to go but Reece and I and Aunt Libb, Uncle Shaun and family were there to cheer the girls on. Reegan decided to stay in the air-conditioning at Aunt Nikki's and play with Caleb. :) Reeva played first base and did a great job - she has been improving with every game and got several girls out at first tonight. Rylee has been playing right field and helping back Reeva up but got moved to second base tonight. I think she was a little nervous about the move but she did a great job at second. They both got two at-bats. Reeva is batting second in the line-up and got a single and a walk. She also had her first slide into home tonight and looked like a pro...I was so proud of her! She would have been out if she hadn't of slid. It was great! Rylee got bumped up to third batter at the last game! She has improved so much this year in her batting...she wants to hit that ball rather than hope to walk. I love watching her bat, she is so good at reading the pitches. Tonight she struggled a little and struck out the first time but got a hit the second time. :) I was so glad to see her go up to bat the second time determined to get a hit.

CJ - if you happen to read this - Bethany did a great job pitching tonight and then hit a grand slam to finish the game! It was great. :) I'm so glad she stayed with our team this year...the girls have really needed her and she is helping them so much.

Ball Games

So, I keep telling myself that I am going to get back in the habit of journaling some of our everyday moments now that I am finished with school and the kids are home for the summer but it seems we are constantly on the go and, before I know it, a day passes and then another and another...how does time pass by so quickly? I'm just going to have to make myself take a little time to remember right now...so I figure I had better get started. We had ball games tonight - Reegan's last for the season - Reece still has tourneys - and the girls play every night this week and then tourneys in another week or so. I feel bad that I haven't gotten many pictures of them this year, but I guess it is not entirely my fault...there is has been so much rain that a lot of their games were rained out. Not to mention the fact that my 18-135 mm lens got broken when it dropped out of the camera bag that someone (Randy - not that I'm naming names or anything ;) left unzipped (how could he?!?!) so I have been w/o my camera for weeks now...sniff, sniff...the good news is that the store called today and said that it was covered under the warranty so it is getting fixed and I will hopefully have it in the next couple of weeks - keep your fingers crossed for me! So, for tonight I took Rylee and Reeva's camera with me to try to get a couple of snapshots from this year so I thought I would share them.

Here is Reegan after her first hit. This girl loves to play ball! She is usually covered with dirt and dust at the end of every game but she loves her purple helmet and pink socks - she insisted on wearing these socks this year because she noticed the girls and Reece all wearing the long baseball socks. I told her they didn't make her size and she informed me that she already had a pair. I had forgotten about these socks that Aunt Becca had given her for her bday but they worked out perfectly and she wore them for every game. :) I wish I had a picture from her first practice because she was so excited to go and went to get dressed herself and came out with a black shirt and tights with a pink tu-tu and her cleats. She's so funny...she loves the girly stuff but isn't afraid to get dirty either. I didn't get to watch all of her game because I had to go back to Rylee and Reeva's game (they were at the same time and Randy was in the fields) so that I could bring them back to this park for Reece's game after Reegan's. (It was a crazy night!) but when I got back Reegan came running up to me and was so excited to tell me that her coach had pitched to her on her last bat and she had hit the ball! She said, "I missed the first one, Mommy, but then he threw it again and I hit it!"

Here is Reece warming up before his pitching machine game. He was lead-off batter tonight and got a triple on his first bat! I was so proud of him. :) He has been working so hard to hit off the machine and he has really started to get the hang of it the last couple of games. He got a single off his second hit and did well in the outfield too. It has been so fun watching him improve over this summer and I'm looking forward to his tourney games this weekend. :)

And, of course, I had to have them all pose for one picture. The only one of them together this season :( and they are a mess...dirt everywhere after hard played games...blue mouths from after game Ring Pops...but that is ok....I love 'em this way and want to always remember moments just like this.

My Plate May Be Full But My Cup Runneth Over

I saw this quote the other day in my Guideposts magazine. It was submitted by another reader and just wanted to share it. Sometimes I think I focus so much on what all I have to do...the places I need to be...at home...at school...the list is never-ending...and I forget to take the time to focus on the many blessings I have in my life. I've just been thinking about those words the last couple of days and remembering it when it feels like I have so much to do. My plate may be full right now but, honestly, I am also very fulfilled and, at the end of each day, I have no doubt that 'my cup runneth over.'

Remember Me?

Wow, I can't believe it has been so long since my last post! I keep telling myself that I need to be better about keeping up but there just never seem to be enough hours in the day. I have FINALLY began student teaching!! And actually have 8 weeks out of the way...8 more to go and I will graduate. Boy, this has been a loooong time coming. :) But, student teaching is definitely taking its toll on me. Not so much the work involved, but juggling the rest of my life with it...the kids, the house, basketball and everything else...it has been something. I don't like having to leave Reegan every day. I just keep telling myself it is 16 weeks and then I'll be able to spend next year with her before she starts kindergarten.

Ok, enough about me and school! Everyone else is doing good...Randy and I finished coaching the 6th grade girls a couple of weeks ago and are now coaching Rylee and Reeva's IBA basketball team. This is pretty much their first experience and they are sooo little out there! They played in a tourney last weekend and did ok. Their team placed 2nd. They are on the fourth grade team since there is a third grade team so they don't get to play a lot but they did improve with each game. They are working hard at practice and seem to be having a pretty good time.

Well, I hope any of you that read this (Cj, Lacy, Jamie) and have been wondering where I've been are doing ok. I miss seeing you girls this semester and hope your student teaching is going good. Libb said you are going to be at the CPR recertification next week so I guess I will see you then!

Hopefully, my next entry will be fairly soon...but, seriously, who knows.....