Our Sunday

It was a rough week around here with some re-emerging biting incidents (help me Lord... I don't want to go back to that phase!)  Trying to help Sierra work through her feelings of frustration, anger, jealousy, etc.  We spent some time Saturday just the two of us as an early birthday celebration.  We went out for a lunch date and then later to see the Muppets (thanks Jaquelle and Julie!)  This morning we got off to a bit of a better start... with the exception of I think 3, yes 3 tantrums before arriving at mass!  Thank the Lord the rest of the day took a different course.

Sierra had Sunday school after mass so Weston and I got some grocery shopping done and filled the van up with gas.  After Sunday school I picked up a different child... despite the fact that they had just frosted and consumed multiple sugar cookies!  She looked quite darling today as well... and my little man was looking cute too (although he slept most of the morning so hardly anyone saw how adorable he looked!)

After lunch we headed out for some sunshine while we have some decent weather.  We started off taking a walk around the block with Weston riding like a big boy in the stroller without the car seat for the first time.  We ran into Dash and his owner, Ms. Judy while we were out.  Dash in the neighborhood baset hound that Sierra loves... although I don't think the feeling is mutual, ha ha!  Just after we were passing the house of another friendly neighbor and Sierra asked where Al and Leo were.  I said I didn't know and she wanted to go knock and say hi.  I let her go up to the door... and I think she rang the doorbell about 3 times before i could stop her.  She was ready to walk off  the porch when Al came out.  Then she became shy and came running back to me.  After a minute she asked where "al'n'leo" was?!  At this point I realized that she thought that was just the dogs name!!!  Much like she refers to A and D ointment as "Andy!"  Silly goose!

Then Sierra wanted to ride her bike and get some more exercise!  Hooray for fresh air!  Look Daddy... she's practicing so she can show you when you get home for your visit.  (I think we may need to raise her seat though... she's grown another inch some time lately!)

After coming back inside we made some muffins together for her birthday snack at school this week, spent some time cuddling, started putting labels on the envelopes for our post-Christmas letter this year, and reviewed the list of things she wants to do with her daddy when he gets home!  It's growing...

So far she wants to:

Wrestle

Cuddle

Go Bowling

Go Fishing

Go Camping

Feed the Ducks

Go for a date... either to Buffalo Wild Wings or Chuck E Cheese

today she threw out... go in a boat?! 

Oh, and while making the muffins she told me she needed to fill the muffin cups because I was hideous!  (A word I've used to describe the paint job on the house across the street!)  I said, well thanks!  You think mommy's hideous... that I'm ugly?  She said, well your gray hairs are hideous.  Gotta love the things that come out of her mind and mouth.  First the gray hairs made me "really old" and now hideous.  Guess I'd better watch my descriptive words!!! 

And here's one more smiling picture to go of the two of them.  Just thought I'd share some of the fun of our day and a few new photos.  Gonna have a crazy busy week and then celebrate Sierra's official birthday before embarking on my first air flight journey with two!

Funny Little Things

Well, I'm super behind around here with blogging... but wanted to take a couple of minutes to share some of the funny little things that have been going on/being said/done by the kiddos.

~Sierra loves to make milk shakes and such in the bath... tonight she made me a turtle snake and bubble gum milk shake... yummy! 

~As we were saying prayers and she was getting ready for bed Sierra said that she wanted to rename her monkey (Curious George) Jesus and then she wanted to pretend to be Mary.

~Weston has discovered his reflection.  As I was burping him in the bathroom while Sierra was bathing I caught him smiling and cooing at himself!

~When Weston is concentrating/pooping his nostrils turn white (like his Papa Steve!)

~Sierra wanted to try ballet again.   Today she was doing some free lance dancing... spun around and fell down!  Meanwhile the other little girl gracefully and artfully pranced around. 

I know there have been several other little things over the last few weeks and I will try to post more when I remember! 

SNOW!!!

We had snow again today... and Weston fell asleep for his nap so Sierra and I bundled up and headed out for some sledding. 

 Sierra even tried some snow surfing =)

 Chasing Bongo...

 Bongo having a blast with us outside.

 Sierra scoring two with a snowball

 Bongo taking a break ... ate some snow shortly after this shot

What a fun morning =)

Halloween Festivities

Here is a photo opp blog for daddy, the grandparents, and anyone else that wants to see our munchkins for Halloween!  The last two days have been full of fun.  We went to the Trunk or Treat at the chapel yesterday... Sierra was very patient in a huge line... then off to Boo at the Zoo with some friends last night, today we parent helped in her classroom (don't have many pictures from that has I  was busy with helping duties and Weston), and then trick or treating in the neighborhood tonight!  Enjoy the photos =)

"Curly"

Hello,

I would like to introduce you to the newest member of the Pinheiro family.  Meet Curly!

 Curly began as the round, smooth pumpkin that daddy had request Sierra find at the pumpkin patch.  She took this job very seriously.  When it came time to choose which pumpkin to carve, daddy's pumpkin was the largest... and so we began.

 Sierra enjoyed getting her hands in there and getting out all the slimy cold (frozen from the snow) guts!

 Then came time to carve... she wanted to polka dot eyes (round), a nose that was like hers... kind of a triangle but round, and a smiley mouth with teeth.  But once that was done she had to get both hands back inside to get out more seeds and guts!

 Next came the puzzle... putting the top back on.

Next she wanted legs and had the brilliant idea to use the cut outs from the eyes....  Then she wanted hair (thus the name curly).  We curled the pipe cleaners around her large side walk chalk... then some around pencils. 

 Here she is putting on the pumpkins "grey" hairs!  The smaller curled yellow hairs!

 Admiring her creation...

 Proud to show Curly off as a jack-o-lantern (before deciding that Curly needed to be reading a book... Three little pigs to be exact!)

 Hope you like her creation for you daddy =)

Strong Enough...

I have often been told how strong I am to have had two babies in two deployments... and I don't think of it as being strong and often wonder why God has chosen that timing for us. Once again I was finding myself wondering why?

This last week was a life breaking, soul changing, time of renewal for me.  Long story short I was struggling to make it day by day.  There were a number of things that had seemed to accumulate on top of me and I was emotionally feeling buried and overwhelmed.  Everything from having had Weston with Cole gone, finding out that we won't see Cole now until April, giving my all for weeks determined for breastfeeding to work this time... and then it didn't.  Not to mention the daily things, lack of sleep... not having slept longer than 3-4 hours (if that) in months... and then the demand for patience and time management with an almost four year old and an infant.  Needless to say I was letting it get the better of me as I strived to do it all on my own. 

About a week and a half ago the walls I had built came tumbling down as I found myself in the mall... searching for much needed new undergarments and had Weston leak out his diaper all over me.  Once that was taken care of and I went to feed him only to find that my milk supply was completely gone (hormones kicking in in multiple ways) and then topped that off with a missed conversation opportunity with Cole.  Needless to say the flood gates opened... and then I didn't know how to make them stop and how to rebuild my walls.  I found myself wondering how on earth would I make it to April!?

And that was just it... as and earthly being... I wasn't going to make it... not on my own.  I then heard a song I've heard numerous times before but hadn't really "heard" or listened to it.  I found myself in tears by the end and in prayer.  Prayer out loud in front of Sierra... causing questions... and then quiet.  That was the start of a whole new week for us.  A week full of laughter, less chaos, more compassion, contentment, and love.  Then the opportunity to go spend a night in worship at a Chris Tomlin concert.  I have really grown in my understanding and participation in the mass and get far more out of it than ever before, however I do so deeply miss to worship whole heartily with my hands held high and song after song.  I had a dear friend volunteer to watch the kids (a blessing about bottles) and spent the night in song and prayer.  Then even after an awful night's sleep God helped us to get up and going and make it to MOPS where I was once again filled by the speaker.  He spoke about parenting and different temperaments and how to bring peace and joy into your home with parenting.  I'm now trying to work time in each day to delve into his book and become a better mommy for Sierra  now and Weston in the future.  What a wonderful last week it has been.  Looking forward to the coming week, the lessons it brings, and the blessings God has for us. 

And for those of you that have never heard it here is the song that started it all off... "Strong Enough" by Matthew West.  I encourage you to take a moment to listen to and read the song on this youtube video... what a great reminder it is =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8JsRxVczmQ

I am NOT strong enough... but with God He is strong enough for the both of us!!!!  I can do all things through Christ.... thank you Lord for knocking on my heart...

Fall Fun

Lately we have been enjoying all the wonderful things that fall brings with it... leaves, cool air, pumpkins, scarecrows, and festivities.  Here is a little recap in pictures of what we have been up to!