little happenings

Just some thoughts of what's been happening with the girls and I since we moved to CA. I'll put some new pictures of soon too.

Our apartment complex has a workout room so I've started getting up at six and going to workout. It's quite the 'exercise' in discipline for me. After getting ready for the day and having my quiet time with the Lord, I can actually function with the girls who wake up around 7. :) (Actually Maddie wakes up before then usually but plays quietly in her room until we go and get her.)
Another new thing I trying to implement is menu-planning. This is my second week to attempt this and it's actually working out quite well. I wasn't sure I'd be able to stick with the plan for all 3 meals for 7 days...but I discovered it's really nice to not have to think about what's for dinner.

Maddie is singing and talking all day long. It starts in the morning with her asking if Ella is awake yet. Since the answer to that is usually no, the next question naturally follows, "Can I wake her up?". After discouraging that idea, it's on to, "What's for breakfast?" and "May I please have a big yougurt with strawberries?" Keeps Mommy hopping. Oh, her other cute thing is her politness. We rarely have to remind her to say thank you now and the other day after I gave her breakfast she said, "thank you hon!" I guess Daddy has said that a time or two and somebody was listening.

We have been so blessed by her growing awareness of spiritual things. She now wants to pray for anybody thats hurt (just say ouch - that qualifies you) or anybody that is crying (sister gets lots of prayer). When we pray at bedtime and Maddie prays for Ella is always, "God, please help Ellie be kind and love God, In Jesus name, Amen"...so sweet. She is learning Eph 6:1, 4:32 and is learning a Psalm with Mommy this week (well mommy's learning the psalm and she is learning the first verse!). She attends Sunday School at our new church after attending the adult sunday school class with us. We caught her the other morning singing Deep and Wide and after asking each other "did you teach her that?" figured out she learned it in sunday school.

Potty training (or whatever you want to call it!) is going well. We are doing a rewards chart and she is very inspired to get those marshmallows. Although, I must say, she doesn't fully understand the rewards concept yet. :) We're working on it and hopefully soon we'll have it down!

Ellie rolled over for the first time a few nights ago! We put her on her tummy to sleep and when we checked on her she was on her back. She hasn't done it again but we're watching for it! She coos and laughs and big sister is the funniest. We haven't started her on any 'real' food yet, but will probably start thinking about it in the next few weeks. I think it'll help her take longer naps during the day.

Here's a picture of Madelyn reading Bible stories to Ellie. Quite the storyteller according to Ella's expression and concentration!