The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree

If you know me, you know I'm a tad germophobic and a tad obsessive-compulsive. Just a tad ;) I don't like messes, dirt or germs. I would probably consider living in a bubble if it was at all possible. Well, it seems the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...


Last week, Alaina & I visited the Chick-fil-A indoor playground. Alaina flat out LOVES to "pay" (play) at the CFA playground. This time around, it was a win-win situation as we both got fulfillment out of our "pay" time. I payed and delighted myself in a chocolate shake while Alaina "payed" like a big girl in the play area.


At first, she was the only kid in the place. Then came and went a couple of rowdy boys. Oh bother. Alaina pretty much feared for her life as they "owned" the 10x10 space! Then came a second round of boys. Double trouble. The younger of the boys was about 3 yrs old I guess. He was a cutie! Immediately, Alaina flocked to him. And he gravitated toward her as well. They exchanged a couple of friendly "Hi"'s and hand waves. She turned on the charm :)


Then................................................it happened..................................................

I got a better look at the little boy's face, and this kid had snot running all down his nose. As Alaina neared him, I about panicked! What if she touches it? Ewwwwwwwww!!!!!!

Sidenote: I was the only (brave) parent in the kidzone, and I did not know how to politely handle the situation. Thankfully, Alaina stepped up to the plate. She had her eye ON this guy!


Once she spotted the snot, without hesitation she shouted, "Nose!" The kid just looked at her. Alaina got closer, then started pointing to his nose, again saying, "Nose!" Still no explanation from the boy. Then Alaina turned it up a notch and said, "Nose! Uh huh!" while nodding yes. She knows (and agrees) that a runny nose needs to be properly and promptly wiped away.


Then this kid did the unthinkable...He LICKED his snot!!!!!!!! Oh no he di'nt!!!!!!


That was the final straw. This action called for a quick resolution, and my little sprout was up for the challenge. Good thing Alaina spotted a *used* napkin on the floor at just the right time. She ran to the napkin, picked it up (ewww!) and ran it over to the kid before I could even pick my jaw up from the floor! She held the napkin right in his face and said, "Nose!"

This was the same moment I literally bolted from my seat, jumping to rescue my child from germ central. I'm not sure which was worse - the nasty snot or the wadded up napkin that who knows who used and when and how. Oh my, the endless possibilities of the story of that filthy, used napkin :(


Once we got to safety (the car), this tree was mighty proud of her little apple. My little apple - in her mind and in her heart - just wanted to help this other child as he was clearly in need of assistance. My little apple doesn't like runny noses or messes or dirt either, much like her mommy tree. It looks like some little apple has been looking up to her mommy tree lately :)

Christmas in Blairsville...in January!

I have yet to mention our most recent trip to Blairsville...

Occasion - Christmas
Date - January 30, 2011

Yep, Christmas in very late January. But better late than never! Every year, my mom's side of the family gathers in Blairsville for Christmas. Usually, we can never align all of our busy schedules to meet on Christmas day. Almost impossible these days. But last Christmas, the impossible was somehow made possible! All 14 of us had plans to spend Christmas evening in Blairsville at Babelle & Pa's house. Wouldn't you know that Mother Nature would decide to snow our perfect plans right out the window. Although the spectacular snow made me happy, the thought of not spending Christmas with my family made me a little sad :(

But alas, a month (and then some) later, we were finally able to gather together in Blairsville. Everyone made it except for our beloved Haley & her husband Austin. Boo!!! Thanks to Skype, we got to visit with Haley for a short while. I don't know who was more WOW-ed by this technological concept...Pa or Alaina!


Here are a few pics of our gathering. Most are of Alaina (shocker!). I guess we were all so out of the loop that we forgot to do our traditional photo lineups. Double boo!! Christmas in January just isn't the same.

Alaina & Pops

Super cute bag! Nice looking out, Haley :)

Discovery: This bag is loaded with gifts! Score!!!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar...sounds like an interesting read!

Need help? Hannah to the rescue! Love this dress, Hannah :)

Goody, "choot" (cute) pants too :)

Ahhh, a pillow pet. Thanks, Aunt "Bet-ty" (Becky)!

Hi & Bye!

MOMMY MELTDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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THERE, OUT OF MY SYSTEM!!!

I hope I don't regret posting a blog during a full-blown MOMMY MELTDOWN!!! I have closed the guest room door and am seriously hiding in the dark. From...


Dear Lord, what on earth has happened to my sweet child?

Since turning 19 months last week, Alaina has made a drastic turn for the worst. Perhaps this is just a phase. Please, Lord, let this be a (short) phase! Or better yet, maybe it's just due to teething. Or even better, let it be from post-sickness. She was sick with a virus last Sunday night-Tuesday. Then a viral rash (Roseola) appeared Thursday. Apparently, once the rash appears, the child is no longer contagious. And she is wanting to sleep quite a bit. But she has never been like this before. I mean, I've heard of the terrible 2's...and the more recent terrible 3's...but terrible 1's??? Seriously?

I don't know what the deal is, but I have HAD IT! Adam has HAD IT! Even Alaina has HAD IT! Poor thing, she is getting into trouble all day long. She pitches fits. I mean kicking, screaming fits - for little to no reason at all. She throws things. She cries. She whines. Did I mention she screams? LOUD? She throws a tantrum when we have to change her diaper. She pitches a fit when it's time to get her dressed. And God forbid we run out of strawberries! Really, if ANYTHING doesn't go her way lately, she makes it crystal clear that she is NOT happy. :(

We have been punishing her for her bad behavior because we are certain she is aware of the way she's acting. She's been popped, lectured and put in time out...in her crib! Today Adam put her in "crib time out," and she literally screamed so loud I bet all our neighbors could hear. Eventually, she screamed herself to sleep. Finally, peace & quiet! However, as soon as we heard her get up, fear set in...fear of another inevitable meltdown! And just as we suspected, hardly any time passed before she was at it again.

Ok, I just had to vent. I can't stay in hiding forever. I must leave my safe "woman cave" and face the inevitable...

Midnight Train to Georgia

Ok, maybe not a train, but rather a plane. Maybe not at midnight either. BUT the point is - Last week, Adam's Aunt Amy traveled down to Georgia from her home in Maryland. She brought the kiddos - precious Ashlyn and baby Evan - and left the hubby behind. We typically only see the Maclean's every other year at Christmas, so it was a real treat when we were able to visit with them 2 days in a row!

(Amy, somehow this is the only picture I have of you...an action shot of you clipping on Alaina's hairbow!)

Last Friday, we arranged a play date at our house. Alaina & Ashlyn played so well together. I've noticed that Alaina really takes to older girls, particularly to girls a couple-few years older than her. This age gap works well, I assume because there is no competition. The older one teaches the younger one, and the younger one learns from the older one. A brilliant match!




Going in for a hug :)


Crowning ceremony...


Burger King Royalty!


I got to hold baby Evan :) :) :)


As did Adam.


And SHOCKER - Alaina wasn't the least bit jealous!


Alaina noticed baby Evan every now and then. She would check on him from time to time.



So far (at 2 months), Evan seems to be one laid back dude :)

Then on Saturday, we got together with some more extended family for a family photo. PaPaw wanted a picture with his grandkids/greatgrandkid. Location: downtown Woodstock.


(I love how Adam's legs got in this one)



(Adorable of the girls! But again, Alaina's "bodyguard" really needs to take a hike ;)

Saturday afternoon, Alaina & I headed to Acworth to attend a tea in honor of Baby Evan. This is the only picture I snapped from this special event. Guess my hands were full!


I only wish the Maclean's would find themselves on that midnight train (or plane) more often!

Sick Baby :(

My poor, poor, sick baby :(

Alaina has been feeling under the weather for the last 24 hours, and she is quite pitiful. She's had a high fever, she's been sluggish and her appetite just hasn't been the same. Bless her heart, she is trying her best to be cheerful.


But it's hard to be a sick baby.


On the bright side, being sick does have its perks. Pajama day is officially declared.


Snacks (even Pringles) are allowed IN bed. (Sorry, Adam, for the bed crumbs :)


TV limits are totally ignored.


And all eyes...and ears...and arms...and hands...and lips...are on YOU! You get this mama's FULL attention (as if you don't already ;)


Alaina Brooke, I hope and pray you feel better soon, baby!

The True Shepherd

Have you ever heard the story surrounding this photo? The one of Jesus carrying a lamb around His neck? The story goes like this...

When a rebellious lamb would wander from its shepherd, the shepherd would go after the disobedient lamb, break its legs and carry it around his neck until its legs were healed. By the time the lamb's legs healed, the lamb had become so dependent on the shepherd that it would never wander off again. This painful process taught the lamb to fully trust and rely on the shepherd - for everything.

I find it interesting that the shepherd would go after just one lamb, and a rebellious one at that. Jesus, being the true Shepherd, cares for ALL his sheep. Not even one goes unnoticed or uncared for. How awesome!!!

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish. ~Matthew 18:12-14

The Snake & The Rainbow

Last year, a friend of mine shared something with me that challenged me to learn more about God, Who He really is. The simple challenge is to ask God to show you something awesome each day. Just as my friend was not disappointed with her discoveries, neither was I. This challenge forced me to stop and listen, carefully watching and waiting to see what God would show me in my everyday, ordinary life.

Last summer, God spoke to me primarily through pure nature. I marveled at extremely powerful thunderstorms, for example. Obviously everyone knows what a thunderstorm is like, so you may be wondering what the big deal is. But if you witness a powerful storm and realize Who is controlling all the forces of nature, then I bet you'll have a different perspective.

I remember standing on my front porch during the start of a storm, maybe one of the most powerful ones I remember. The wind seemed to almost blow me away! The trees bent way too far for comfort. The sky was remarkable, stunning yet terrifying at the same time. At one point, I wondered if a tornado or wind gust would blow my house clear into Oz. I was powerless, helpless and so small considering what was before me.

Why is it that sometimes we are deceived into believing that the Mighty God of the Universe is too small to handle our everyday problems? Why do we not instinctively trust that everything is in HIS control (not ours)?

"He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; He suspends the earth over nothing. He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at His rebuke. By His power He churned up the sea.... By His breath the skies become fair.... And these are but the outer fringe of His works; how faint the whisper we hear of Him! How then can we understand the thunder of His power?" ~Job 26:7-9, 11-14

Another day last summer I asked God to show me something amazing, and once again, He did not disappoint. This is the coolest story to me. I call it "The Snake & The Rainbow."

One regular summer day, Alaina & I were playing in her room. I peered out the window and noticed a snake right in front of our mailbox. I freaked at first, and Alaina & I were carefully watching the snake for a long time, seeing if it would move. Time went on, and no movement. We went outside and looked at it from afar. It was the bluest thing I've ever seen. Literally, the snake was blue. Later on, I learned that a snake turns from green to blue once it dies. I regret not taking a picture of this snake! It looked something like this...


What are the odds that a snake would croak in front of OUR mailbox? Not really in the street either. More like on the sidewalk. So it was not hit by a car or anything. It just died, probably from the heat.

So the story goes, when Adam got home he confirmed that the snake was indeed dead. At that point, he scooped it up with a garden tool and tossed it into the brush across the street. Gone, gone, gone it was! Then low and behold, later that evening, this rainbow appeared directly over the exact place where Adam hurled the dead snake.


A rainbow is a sign of God's promises. Immediately, I was reminded of what God has promised in His Word. The END of the book!

"The great dragon was hurled down - that ancient serpent called the devil/Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."~Revelation 12:9

"Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: "Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever!"~Revelation 5:13

I challenge you to start asking God to show you something awesome in your daily life. Carefully watch and listen, and you will not be disappointed!

~Sarah