New Tricks

Here's my little peanut, doing her new tricks - clapping and standing.

Clapping

Annelise Standing Up

War Games

Matt and I have been youth leaders for almost a year now.  I must say that my loyalty to the task had been waning.  With a baby around, I was overwhelmed with the task of motherhood, let alone the discipleship of 50 + kids in the youth group.  But, our youth activity last night helped to spur on an excitement and love for youth that I haven't always felt.  

WAR GAMES (with 120 kids - ages 13 - 18) - is our church's largest youth activity of the year! 

Two teams, GREEN and GOLD this year, face off on challenges like:

tug-o-war (with gelatin, corn syrup and spaghetti noodles in the middle)

american eagle

donut eating contest

manhunt

ultimate duck, duck goose

Me after losing the tug-o-war battle

The messiness is just too much fun!  

A local pastor gave a wonderful message of salvation at "half time" and many heard the gospel message that quite possibly had never heard it before.

Two of our awesome seniors - Keenan and Natalie (Gold team captains)

Matt was as crazy as ever!  

This is a "fly by" photo - he was hard to catch!

So...we are recovering today from a weekend full of youth and FUN.  There was a time when I didn't think those two words could go together.  But, I must say...

I love these kids!  God uses them to teach me so much about his sovereign grace.  In all of their awkwardness (which I remember all too well) I'm reminded that God's plan for us is not complete.  An added bonus: they genuinely love my daughter and minister grace and encouragement to me at times I would never expect it.

Teeth...When will you come?

Annelise is nearly 8 months old 

with not a sign of a tooth in her mouth.  

This week, she's been drooling, 

biting 

and experiencing high fevers.  

Every morning 

I anxiously check to see 

if a little while pearl has appeared..

and nothing.

So, here is a pathetic plea 

from a mommy who wants her happy little girl back.  

Teeth, please come!

And by the way...

don't you just love baby feet?

Bath-time Fun

 

Crawling...Kind Of

Army crawl?  Scoot?  Whatever you call it, she gets around.  I caught her up on her knees over the weekend, but it didn't amount to much.  How long do you think it'll take before she's full-blown crawling?

Saying Goodbye to Summer

Dear Summer,

Oh how we enjoyed your short visit.  Michigan wouldn't be such a wonderful place to live without you...even if it is for just a few short months.  We'll leave you with this photo.  Hopefully it'll be a sweet reminder of the fun we had.  Please come back soon!

Love,

The Neals

School starts tomorrow

It's hard to believe that we're entering our third year at Calvary Schools of Holland.  Matt and I spent most of the morning in his office at school, preparing for his first day tomorrow.  Lots of copying and coordinating curriculum.  

Realizing that he has limited time before the rat race begins, I found him in the nursery doing this...

I guess holding your baby girl is the best way to spend the last few hours of your summer break.

Carter's Warehouse Sale

The last time Carter's had their warehouse sale, I was a day late and a dollar short literally.  So, I made sure that when the sale started today, I was there!  I did arrive about 30 minutes after the doors opened and it was a mad house.  But, there were plenty of clothes to choose from.

I'm kind of at that stage where Annelise has grown out of all the new clothes people bought her when she was born.  And by looking at her almost bare closet, I began to realize this week that she is going to need clothes for the fall and fast!  What perfect timing! (To my husband's dismay.)

I got

9 long sleeved shirts

1 sleeper set (with hat, bib and slippers)

5 onesies

1 short sleeved romper

1 pair of cargo pants

1 long sleeved dress shirt

all for the low price of $49!

While I was standing in line, a woman kindly handed me a 20% off coupon.  That took my bill down by $14.  Then I got a $10 gift card for spending over $40.  You know, as much as we complain about not having enough money...God incredibly and graciously supplies all of our needs and even some of our wants...like cute outfits for my baby girl!

Saturday Morning Yumness

No matter how many poopy diapers I've changed throughout the week, the fits that I've had to grit my teeth through, the napless days...

It's all worth it come Saturday morning.  She is yum!

Playtime Woes

My playtime on Friday started out really fun...

I was excited to see my toys in all their glory...

 I played with them...

 They played back with me...

 Until my toy wasn't nice and I started to get cranky...

 I escalated my crankiness into a "smushy-face whine..."

 When that didn't work, I resorted to a full blown scream...

And that's when playtime ended for the morning.

I Give Up

I'm a bed-maker.  Self-proclaimed.  And, as most bed-makers are, I'm also a tucker.  You know, I like my sheets and blanket tucked tightly in around all sides.  It makes me feel, well...tucked.  After four years of marriage, I have decided to give up my tucking - not my bed-making - just my tucking.  Matt is a self-proclaimed bed-messer and untucker.  Every day, I make the bed tightly and when we get into it at night, I do my best to sleep soundly in one position, so as not to disturb the nice tight tuck I've created.  Yet, in the morning, I wake up and our sheet and blanket have been yanked out (very deliberately), with cold feet hanging out the bottom.  So, today, I've decided to stop my griping, loathing, and inward bitterness toward the bed-messer untucker that resides in my home...in MY BED.  I give up...

I am now a self-proclaimed, bed-making untucker.

Finished

Our bathrooms are finally finished, minus a few touch-ups on the trim and ceilings!  I feel like a new woman...at least a clean one. 

Master Bathroom

Half Bathroom

New Bathroom

For the last week and a half, we have been living like nomads.  Camping, sleeping at my parents' house...you name it and we probably slept on it (almost).  Our bathrooms have been getting remodeled and we are almost finished.  Do you remember what the "old" bathroom looks like?

Here's a sneak peak at the new master bathroom....

Changes we made: added ceramic tile flooring, replaced entire bath surround, tore all the old "ketchup and mustard" tile out, added wainscoting, painted the walls a nice khaki color, added a new vanity and light.

And I'd like to say a big "THANK YOU" to the United States government and the hefty economic stimulus check we received, without which this would not be possible.

Yummy!

 

Boys will be Boys

My sister is babysitting this week and the little boy she is watching is absolutely hilarious. Conversation we had today:

Little Boy:  (Sits on stool and a little noise comes out)  Oops, I tooted.

Me:  (Laughing hysterically under my breath) Say excuse me, little mister.

Little Boy:  I usually say "scoosyme" when I tootsies at home.

Me: (Still laughing hysterically) Well that's good.

Moments pass...

Me: (Disgusted) Did you toot AGAIN?!

Little Boy:  (Pregnant pause).... (Large Smile)..... Um, maybe it was just some bubbles from before.

Toledo Zoo

My sister and I made the 3-hour trek to Toledo, Ohio on Sunday to visit the zoo.  Boy was it worth it!  We met up with my Aunt Sue, Cousin Angie and her two boys: Ty and Wyatt.  Wyatt was born on Annelise's due date and it was so fun to see them interact.  We stayed at the Holiday Inn with a Waterpark.  It was awesome!  Then, we went to the zoo on Monday.  Here are some pictures of the fun.

Anne and mommy splashing in the water!

Cousins Wyatt and Ty enjoying the pool

Annelise and Wyatt eating ice cream at Applebee's

At the zoo ready to go

Ty loves elephants!

 

Bedtime Nightmare

Ok all of you Babywise moms...I need some help!  Annelise is 6 months old and for her entire life, she has been a dream sleeper and napper.  She first slept through the night at 10 weeks old.  She has never wanted to sleep with Matt and I and has rarely needed help going to sleep.  Until now...

The past few weeks have been a nightmare.  She screams in her bed for what seems like hours.  I have used the Babywise method - waiting 10 minutes, going in to comfort, and letting her cry. The last few times, I've had to pick her up and she immediately stops and goes to sleep in my arms.

What should I do?

I've also noticed that she is extremely "clingy" to me right now.  I know this is a phase that most kids go through at this age.  But, the sleeping thing has got to stop!  I work, so she often has to take naps at my mom's house.  My mom is really good about not rocking her to sleep.  But, sometimes its a toss up - rock her to sleep or no nap.  Help!

Picnik

I want to highly recommend to you the site www.picnik.com.  Its the best online photo editing tool I have used in a long time!  I have Adobe Photoshop for work - a $600 program - and would say that this is the best amateur software I've seen that compares.  In fact, within 5 minutes today, I uploaded and designed this photo of Annelise.  Try it out!

Pool Day