Bittersweet Changes

Today was an awfully bittersweet day. I'm very excited to have finished up another school year and hugged my kids good bye for the summer, but that also means my time at TLCA is over. 

Casey and I accepted job offers in Big Spring for the fall and are very much looking forward to what God has in store for us there. It's been a whirlwind the last month making some very big prayerful decisions, but God has shown many times over that He's directing this move. 

So, summer joy is on my doorstep, but soon we'll be bidding Angelo good bye... And it's hard to say good bye to the best place you've ever called "home". 

So I ask for your prayers as we continue through this change. Specifically that we are able to close on our house in the timeline we have with the realtor, that Naomi gets moved off the waiting list so she can attend the same preschool as her sister starting in August, and that Casey is able to pass his content exam and turn is probationary teaching certification into a full fledge certification. Also, for our time left in Angelo to be amplified with the friends around us. 

Go Steers! 

(Oh, and Casey will be teaching high school English, and I'll be a 5th grade science teacher. In case you were wondering) 

Snapshots

catching up on sleep that doesn't happen at night

Mali wanted to help bathe her sister (notice the toy she gave her)

Mali reading from her Bible before bed

Planting a Garden

Two weeks ago Mali had a first time experience- Planting flowers. :)

We had spent part of the morning at the Home Depot Kids' Workshop making a bird feeder. Seriously, the Kids' Workshop is so much fun. They host it the first Saturday morning of each month. We started taking Mali last summer and it has been a blast to watch her develop in her interest and abilities to swing a hammer (with dad's help) and paint her projects. You should check it out. For reals.

After Mali made her bird feeder, we checked out the garden area and decided to pick up some inexpensive annuals and a clay pot and garden with Mali. (It was a gorgeous day and this turned out to be a $5 awesome outside activity) She loved it and has taken a huge liking to checking on and watering her flowers everyday when she gets home from school or the sitter's. Using a watering can has been a huge learning curve....many soaked shoes in the past two weeks.... :)

I promise I was happy here. :)

Hanging up her newly made feeder outside her window

re-hanging mom and dad's feeder after repairing it

In Honor of Earth Day...

Happy Great Cloth Diaper Change Day!

Mali is wearing a BumGenius Elemental diaper and Naomi is in a small Workhorse Fitted under a Thirsties size small cover. :) Just in case you were wondering. 

The Great Cloth Diaper Change is an annual event where cloth families gather and change a cloth diaper simultaneously around the world. The event made the Guiness World Records for their efforts last year. Unfortunately, we were close to 100 miles away from one of the official change locations, but we still participate by changing cloth all day long today! :)

More info can be found here: http://greatclothdiaperchange.com/

Naomi: One Month Old

I cannot believe it. One whole month old. It seems like just yesterday, I was marking off days on my calendar until she was born. This is going be way too fast. Waaaay too fast.

At one month old Naomi....

-Sleeps in three hour blocks

-Is cloth diapered

-Is a major snuggle bug, and could sleep all day long on Mom or Dad's chest

-Is totally and completely loved by her big sister

-Is focusing her eyes on Mom and Dad when they talk to her

-Is still wearing mostly newborn size clothes, but is starting to fit 0-3 month onesies

-Is a big fan of her baby carrier (its warm and snuggly on Mom's chest, what's not to love?)

-Breastfeeds like a champ!

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And here's a little side-by-side comparison of my two girls. It blows my mind how much alike they look. Seriously amazing.

Mali on left and Naomi on right, both at one month old: