Go McKaela, It's Her Birthday!

Today, to celebrate McKaela's birthday, we went to the zoo and then the mall so that the girls could pick out some new earrings. And since it was Memorial Day Mark was off work! It was such a fun time! I know that I have said it before but I love family fun days! And to top it off with McKaela's birthday?? Perfect! 

My baby is 3!!!

Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day, a day for long weekends, beer, and BBQ. Right? Yes and no. Long weekends, beer, and BBQ, is alway fun but let's not forget WHY we have Memorial Day. If you really think about it, it doesn't really seem like a time to party. At the same time, however, these men and women gave and give their lives so that we CAN have these long weekends with friends and family and I am pretty sure that they wouldn't want us to sit around mourning all weekend. After all, if we do that than we have let those who are against us win and these men and women have given their lives in vain. So go out this weekend and have a great, SAFE, holiday but let us never forget the real reason for Memorial Day. You may not "agree" with war and feel that these men and women "deserve what they got" but they are the reasons that you have the freedom you have to feel that way that you feel. 

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

After spending all day in the truck heading back to VA from FL all I want to do is fall into bed and sleep. HOWEVER, first things first, I would like to wish my daddy a very happy birthday! I'm sorry that we left on your birthday. That wasn't a very good birthday present, huh? Nonetheless, I hope that you had a wonderful birthday!!!

Happy Birthday, McKaela!

Even though her birthday isn't until the 27th, we went ahead and had a birthday party for McKaela with grandparents and all while we are in FL. I asked McKaela what she wanted for her birthday dinner and she said, without hesitation, "LIMA BEANS!!" This girl LOVES lima beans and I love that she loves them!! So we had lima beans for dinner and then she wanted a Hello Kitty cake so this is what I pulled off…

Hey, it may not be perfect but for my first time decorating a character cake I don't think I did too bad of a job. :)

Where has the time gone for McKaela to be 3-years-old already??

Mommy - 1, Road Trip - 0

I must say, I'm a pro at cleaning up vomit at gas station these days. Last time, I believe I told y'all about it, was McKaela and she started throwing up about 30 minutes into the drive from VA to FL. This time it was McKenna. We had stopped at McDonald's for breakfast and McKenna got a sausage biscuit. Not too much after that, maybe 45 minutes, if that, she starts throwing up. I don't know that it was the biscuit but she insists that it was. haha Anyway, I stopped at a rest area and got her cleaned up, new clothes, we had to go inside to get something for her to sit on since I didn't have boxes of clothes and towels this time, and we were back on the road. She didn't throw up again but she was very cautious about what she ate and all. We stopped at KFC for dinner later on and she said she only wanted it if it was healthy so she ate the cheese stick and I think it came with carrots. 

Nonetheless, we made it back to FL safe and sound and everyone is feeling better now. I'm just hoping that this doesn't wind up being something that happens on every road trip. How exhausting!

The Big Day

Today was ultrasound day!!! Ultrasounds are always exciting but the first one is always incredible. So without further ado, Baby Harris #4!

A Word for Mothers

I read a blog post on Today.com yesterday talking about the stresses of mother's and who really stresses us out the most. The result? We do! We as mother's are so worried about being the "perfect" mother who has the "perfect" children that we inadvertently place the weight of the world on our shoulders. It was a very thought provoking piece that I think every mother should read (http://www.today.com/moms/moms-who-stresses-you-out-most-look-mirror-survey-finds-6C9800707) but it was missing one important aspect...God made us! We are so quick to compare ourselves to other mothers and our children to other children that we get lost and forget that God made us the mothers' that we are and He made our children who they are. We all, children included, have different talents, strengths, and weaknesses but as long as we are the best that we can be we are JUST who God made us to be. Sure, we all need to ask for help sometimes (I am the worst at that, I admit) but more than that we need to accept that we aren't perfect, we can't be perfect, and that is ok because God knew that when He made us. Sure, He could have made us perfect but how would that help our relationship with Him? We wouldn't need Him, we wouldn't rely on Him, and, in turn, we wouldn't grow in Him. Remember, we are all fearfully and wonderfully made in His image. 

So, I challenge you, dear mother's, embrace your talents, your strengths AND your weaknesses, let the stress of "perfection" go, and trust in God to prune you to be the perfect mother for YOUR child(ren) and in His eyes, not the perfect mother in the eyes of the world.

Happy Star Wars Day!!

What a great day this was. Mark and I took the girls to the Children's Festival in Newport News and oh my goodness, they had a blast. The theme was reading so there were characters there and it was wonderful. I'm not sure who had more fun, the girls or myself. haha The highlight of the day, however, was when McKenna and McKaela got to meet Strawberry Shortcake. I introduced them to the show on Netflix and they are almost obsessed now so when I told them that she was going to be there they were SO excited! We were getting ready to leave after a few hours when we made one last walkthrough Storybook Land and there she was. The looks on my girls' faces made it just that much more exciting. They were in awe. I must say, I love family fun days!

(I don't know that she will ever see this but I give a huge huge shout out to my friend Marie for letting me know about the festival!!!)

Busch Gardens

Today Mark and I took the girls to Busch Gardens and, let me tell you, it was a perfect day!!! The weather was perfect and we all had a great time! McKenna even went on her first real roller coaster!!! It was Splash Mountain and she had a blast. Mark was just as excited as her. haha
Once in the children's area, McKenna and McKaela took off. They were big enough to both ride by themselves and they definitely took advantage of that. As soon as they got off one ride they ran to the next. It was so much fun watching them take off and do it all by themselves. They were so proud..which in turn made me proud. :)
We did have one "incident", however. In Sesame Street McKaela and McKenna wanted to right Oscar's Wormy Ride. It is kind of like the adult ride the ship that swings side to side and goes higher and higher except that it is on sliders as opposed to going up into the air….and it turns and spins. Yeah, McKaela didn't realize that when we got on so when it started going a bit faster and then spinning she let out this terrified scream. LOL It was so sad but funny at the same time. Good thing Mark was right there with her or I don't know what she would have done. haha
Needless to say, bedtime was awesome tonight and I am sure that we will all be getting a good nights' sleep tonight.
Ciao!

She was so excited!

 And then she wasn't. haha

It's May, Already?!

Where is this year going?? Goodness, it is flying by.

Nothing really went on today but I just can't believe that it is already May!!!

Lunch today was squid dogs, Clementines, and a cheese wheel. :)

My sweet baby girl all zonked out.