Catching up....

So.....spring cleaning, a few nice days of weather, my new morning work out time (5:45am), and our regular crazy busy schedule has put me a little behind on blogging....

So...here is a quick recap of our past few weeks...

St. Patrick's Day and Parade
The day started off with the crazy leprechaun turning our house upside down...
Then off to the parade.

Garyn was in his FIRST parade.  He rode on a ladder truck with his PapPaw and waved to everyone watching...He looked great and afterwards asked us if we ever got cramps in our hands from waving....cause, he did!!  The weather was great and Gigi LOVED collecting all of the candy...but I think her favorite part of the parade was the "princess'."  She ran out in the parade route to hug a beautiful princess....

It was a great day with great weather...The weather was so great, we didn't come inside the house until 7:15pm!!!  What an awesome preview of spring and summer!!!

Gigi's Birthday at home...We had a great party planned for Gigi, but unfortunately she came down with the flu bug and we had to cancel the party...so instead, we waited a few days and celebrated ourselves....just the 4 of us....she was spoiled and enjoyed her Strawberry Shortcake Cake...

Journaling for Baby 'Opia.  The kiddos are keeping a journal for the baby.  They draw pictures of their friends, their house, their beds, their toys....

Here is Garyn and Gigi hard at work...

We are getting ready for spring break around here...but you would never know considering that it was SNOWING today...

I can not wait to have my kiddos home and NO where to go....You never know what we will get in to...but I am know one thing... it will be fun!!!

Touched by an Angel

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight

live coiled in shells of loneliness

until love leaves its high holy temple

and comes into sight

to liberate us into life.

Love arrives

and in its train come ecstasies

old memories of pleasure

ancient histories of pain.

Yet if we are bold,

love strikes away the chains of fear

from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity

In the flush of love's light

we dare be brave

And suddenly we see

that love costs all we are

and will ever be.

Yet it is only love

which sets us free. 

Maya Angelou 

Tuesday's Snapshots....

 Gigi smiling big at Mommy and Me night at preschool...

Spring cleaning in FULL effect....re-did the basement for the kids and they LOVE it!

(just one reason why I am a little behind on blogging....)

HE DID IT!!!

Garyn earned a NEW belt....a green stripe!

He now knows how to count to 10 in Koren, can say Thank you and Uniform, and knows several kicks/punches and is now starting some routines....

He loves it!!

So proud of you Garyn!!!!!

WAY TO GO!!

Gigi turns 3!!

A little late...

But,

Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl!

It is so hard to believe that you are turning 3....

It seems like yesterday I was holding you tight, 

nursing you,

waking up with you in ALL hours of the night...

And, while the many sleepless nights may have tested my patience then....

I would do anything to have one of those nights back,

to smell you close to me,

to feel your skin next to mine,

to have your tiny fingers wrap around mine (that is how you always would love to eat...)

Yet, here we are...time flying by...

You are 3...

Gigi, you are such a sweet, loving, precious little girl.

You have a strong desire to be independent, yet, are very fragile.

You do not like to be far from me, and are very sensitive if you do wrong...

Your eyes speak everything....

Thank you for loving me so tender, 

you make me laugh,

you make me prove my patience,

my heart smiles bigger,

beats louder,

and

wants more....

ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!

Mommy loves you more than you will EVER know....

Gigi is 1!

Turning 2 was so much fun!

Here I am....I am 3!!!!!

I can't wait to spend another year with you....I am so excited to watch you grow, Gigi!!

And...now for what your Daddy has to say....

(we had to write about you for Baby 'Opia, and this is what Daddy had to say about you....

"Gianna is a free spirit.  She talks a mile a minute and has a hard time sitting still.  She has phenomenal fine motor skills, but is a major klutz at the same time.  Her favorite thing to do is eat, followed by playing dress-up, reading books, and pretending like she is a "mommy".  She loves to draw.  She adores her brother.  She loves babies.  She loves to play outside, and isn't afraid to get dirty.  She is very independent, but really very well behaved.  Things seem to come very easy for her, it is clear she is very smart.  She is very affectionate.  Her feelings are hurt easily.  She is going to be a great older sister.

Gigi... You have your Daddy wrapped around his finger...he LOVES having YOU as his little girl...

This song is for you Gigi.....We love you!

to my gigi....

I have not forgotten about you and your special birthday blog.....

tomorrow will be the day.....

i promise!

PLEASE READ

PLEASE, I URGE YOU TO READ THIS AND FORWARD IT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!!!!

http://betheanswerforchildren.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/dr-aronson-letter.pdf

Conversations- By: Garyn Sanford

"Mom, how can God be Jesus' father when they are the same person?"  What an awesome question, beautiful that he is even thinking about this....and well, let's just say I failed terribly at my response....so fellow readers, if you have any suggestions, I am all ears.  

"Dad, look all of my Dinosaurs are extinct.  Hey, how did we "get" here?"  Oh boy...the story of creation.

His mind is racing miles a minute...

Tonight the conversation centered around the differences between city, country, and continent.


But, today's BEST highlights are:
teaching Garyn how to slow dance
watching Garyn earn another tip on his belt
watching how Garyn's handwriting is improving DRAMATICALLY!
feeding the ducks bread (in our backyard) with Garyn and Gigi

I will end today's blog with Garyn's joke of the day:

Let me set the stage- we were standing by the window watching the ducks eat the bread we fed them, we couldn't find the "mommy" duck..
Garyn spotted her on our neighbor's roof...
His joke:
Momma, I hope she is not laying her eggs on Michelle's roof.
Me: Why Garyn...?
Garyn laughing replies, because Mom, they would be scrambled eggs...
HA HA HA HA!!!

Love my kiddos!!!!!!

Informative Blog...

Please read this informative blog....

please read

Words by Josh Wilson

Sometimes I,
I just want to close my eyes
And act like everyone’s alright
When I know they’re not.
This world needs God
But it’s easier to stand and watch.
I could pray a prayer and just move on
Like nothing’s wrong.

But I refuse.

‘Cause I don’t want to live like I don’t care.
I don’t want to say another empty prayer.
Oh, I refuse to
Sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself.
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse.

I can hear the least of these
Crying out so desperately,
And I know we are the hands and feet
Of you, oh God.
So, if you say move,
Then it’s time for me to follow through,
And do what I was made to do.
Show them who you are.

‘Cause I don’t want to live like I don’t care.
I don’t want to say another empty prayer.
Oh, I refuse to
Sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself.
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse.


To stand and watch
The weary and lost
Cry out for help.
I refuse
To turn my back
And try and act like all is well.
I refuse
To stay unchanged,
To wait another day,
To die to myself.
I refuse
To make one more excuse.

‘Cause I don’t want to live like I don’t care.
I don’t want to say another empty prayer.
Oh, I refuse to
Sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself.
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse.

No Words Yet...

I am still sorting through all of my emotions....trying to put them together to make sense...
I am working on it....
But until then...
Here is a song!
Third Day, Love Song

please sign

http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43714.html

Today's prayer....

The Serenity Prayer goes like this --
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next. Amen.

A little something about each of them....

I continuously try to stop them, 

yet they still keep on....

GROWING!

Hard to believe my little guy is 5,

and

my little girl is turning 3...

Here is something little about each of them I want to remember....

Garyn:

Still loves cars (his collection is growing EVERYDAY)

His vocabulary and language is strong (thanks to Miss Tara.)  

Some of my favorite things he says right now,

"Mom, reeeally?" when questioning something.

"You kidding me?"

He is very loving, caring and has a strong grasp of other people's feelings.

He really enjoys school.  Mrs. Wantuck and Mrs. Brual are his teachers.

He loves to sleep at night with his sister (even though sometimes throughout the day they are enemies.)

He still uses his Blue Blanket, White Blanket and Little Bear is still his best friend.

He is excelling at Tae Kwon Do and thinks very highly of his Masters. (Kim, Sueng, Yoo)

He loves to play with his friends.

(Caden-from home, Caden-from school, Keaton,)

His favorite recess game at school is "good guy, bad guy."  I think this is pretty much a run around like crazy, try to catch me game.

His favorite book is anything Dr. Seuss.

And

Everyday he tells me he is ready for spring....

Gianna:

She is loves princesses (her favorite is Snow White) and Strawberry Shortcake....but plays mostly with Garyn's cars.

Her vocabulary and language is strong too.  

Her best one-liners is:

"Gar-win, I am not gonna be your friend anymore." 

Yet, Gar-win is definitely her best bud.  She doesn't like being without him for very long.

Gigi is very loving.  She gives many random hugs and say I love You a lot 

(which I hope NEVER stops.)

She loves school.  Her teachers Mrs. Ogawa and Mrs. Sachs really enjoy having her in class too.

Her best friends are Sophia from school and her cousin Ashlyn (she told us this last night.)

She loves ballet and practices her "Good Ship Lollipop" dance all of the time.  Miss Ashley would be very proud.

She still loves her Pink and White blankets and Dolly, of course...

The blankets must be just like Garyn's...one by her head, one to cover with.....and she loves to sleep with him!

Her favorite book is Global Babies.

These are my babes in a snapshot....I know I am forgetting some of the best highlights of our days... but this is what sticks out this morning....

People...

Sometimes.

people.

people, you do not know.

never met.

can make your day better.

this is what made my day better.

Injera and Chocolate Gravy

Just....Us.....The Sanford's!

Trying to stay hopeful....

SOMEWHERE OUT THERE (James Ingram and Linda Ronstadt)

Somewhere out there,
Beneath the pale blue night,
Someone's thinking of me,
And loving me tonight.
Somewhere out there,
Someone's saying a prayer,
Then we'll find one another,
In that big somewhere out there.

And even though I know how very far apart we are,
It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star,
And when the night will start to sing
A lonesome lullaby,
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the
Same big sky.

Somewhere out there,
If love can see us through,
Then, we'll be together,
Somewhere out there, out where dreams, come true.

APRIL 5th....will you be shoeless?

remembering patience....

A PRAYER FOR PATIENCE Dear Heavenly Father, Praise be given to Your Holy name for Your forbearance and mercy.  You have dealt gently with Your children in love.  You have been patient with me in my humanness and stubbornness. Lord, through the work of Your Spirit, prompt me to be more jubilant in hope,  more patient in times of trouble, and more consistent in my prayer life.  Teach me, Lord, to wait with faith and expectancy,  and may my trials be seen as times for growth in grace.  Through Christ our Lord, I pray.  Amen. Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

FULL CIRCLE....

one of my favorite things growing up was going to work with my dad....

for those of you who do not know,

my father is a judge.

growing up i would go to the courthouse with him, 

listen to cases, 

go out to lunch,

visit the jail 

(probably why i am so obsessed with locked up on msnbc)

anyways....

today,

it came full circle,

garyn went to work with my dad!!!

he was so very excited, 

we packed him a snack, a lunch, and a few toys to keep him busy,

and....

when he returned,

this is what he had to say....
he played in the courtroom,
"Order in the Court,"
was the office mailman,
met the County Sheriff,
look inside the holding cells (there were no prisoners)
walked to lunch with pappap and the rest of the Judges,
and most importantly,
earned $1.50 for his hard work....
he had a blast!
it reminded me of the fun I had as a child with my daddy...

HI HO, HI HO, IT'S OFF TO WORK WE GO....

Song of the day...

Thinking of you today Baby 'Opia.....
Mommy loves you already......