Blessings17-20

Blessing 17 {Big Girl Bed}

We wanted to get Maelee into a twin bed before Charles was born with enough time to spare for her to get used to it. She was ecstatic about the idea. When we got her room ready to put it together she was literally right by Frank's side while he screwed in the nuts and bolts to the bed frame. And if anyone asks her Daddy literally made her bed. She could hardly stand the anticipation and jumped right on the bare mattress and gave it a good lay and stretch for effect. It's been a month and so far she has been so stinking excited to lay on her bed with her pillows, "covers," and animals that she hasn't gotten into mischief. We do our routine at night and bedtime and she stays right there in her bed talking and singing to herself until she falls asleep just like in her crib. It has even helped her to hold still a little better for prayers at night because she can kneel next to her bed now like a "big girl." Because folks like it or not our Maelee is a "big girl" and practically off to college.

Blessing 18 {2 Mato's}

Maelee has been helping me water the two tomato plants we obtained this season for several weeks now. She loved standing on the stoop they sit on and helping me hold the water can to give them a drink. The fruits of our labor paid off and we picked two "matos" last week. These lovelies made it into an anti pasta salad and were eaten in their entirety.

{Blessing #19 Fancy Drink Store}

I would be remiss if I didn't count the "fancy drink store" aka Quick Trip as one of our blessing of 2009. Maelee and I first stopped there to get Frank a fountain drink before our first lunch adventure and ever since just mentioning the "fancy drink store" to Maelee brings to her great joy. We have gone a few times since with Frank and Maelee loves it. An endless supply of cups and lids, pushing reachable buttons that make liquid come out - it really is a magical place. Plus I give her an extra high five while we are there because she still thinks soda is poison (carbonation really is what she isn't in to) and prefers a Gatorade on the rocks.

{Blessing #20 Buzz & Woody}

If you can't tell by the picture, Maelee is currently obsessed with Toy Story. Woody came with us to IKEA recently where Maelee insisted that she hold one of Woody's hands while her Dad held the other. Buzz kneels for prayers with us in the morning. Woody can fold his arms, but has a harder time kneeling. We draw Buzz and Woody on the chalk board in her room. She says good morning and good night to the chalk board drawings and goes to bed with chalk lips. We found the Toy Story 2 soundtrack online for 99 cents and "Woody Tunes" can usually be heard a least once a day in our home. Maelee wants both Frank and I to take turns singing the songs - Dad is best at "You've Got A Friend In Me" and I can hold my own on "When Somebody Loves Me." So as parents are we feeding the obsession you ask? Uh yeah - why not?