Easter Fun- picture version

Enter to win a free photoshoot!

Don't we all love free stuff? I sure do. Although any contest I enter I never win. So I figure I'll make someone else's day by offering something free instead, how 'bout that? (Although I did win a Clifford the dog toy in third grade... that was pretty awesome.)

What's the contest?

The prize is a free photo shoot with yours truly in honor of my neewwww camera coming in a few weeks! I will then give you a CD of the edited pictures for you to use however you please at no cost!

This photo shoot can be for a family, senior portraits, maternity portraits... the possibilities are endless!

Obviously this contest is open only to my Baku friends since I will not be in America until this fall. Stay tuned later this summer as I will open up a similar contest for my American friends for our visit home!

How to enter?

Comment below with a funny story of your children or a funny story about yourself when you were a child. If you can't figure out how to comment on my blog, you can comment on my facebook. Easy as pie! All entries must be completed by the end of the day on Easter - that gives you three days :)

If you need some inspiration, here are some funny pics of my little princess today. While I was folding the laundry she decided to put on three pairs of underwear. I guess that's equal to one diaper? :)

And here she is wearing my lipstick. Poor girl, she wants to wear makeup so badly. We've found her crouched in the corner of the living room twice this past week with my summer pink lipstick plastered on her face. She climbs onto my dresser and finds it in my makeup bag. Crazy kid! Don't worry honey, before you know it you'll be grown up wearing makeup wishing you could go back to being a little girl without a care in the world. Don't grow up too fast my sweet darling :)

And this was taken by SuperDan the other day...

Alright my dear Baku friends- let the contest begin!

Some fashion ideas for ya'll

I don't know about you gals, but sometimes I just need some fashion inspiration. I don't necessarily want a play-by-play instruction manual on how to put together a fabulous wardrobe... I merely need to see a few pictures of different outfit ideas and then I find inspiration.

So I took pictures of some of my outfits the past few weeks - hopefully from my meager fashion attempts you can find some ideas for yourself. Enjoy!

Now that hot guy in the background? He's only my accessory- sorry 'bout that. You'll have to find your own hubby to complete your wardrobe ;)

Dear Grandpa

Dear Grandpa,

I know you read my blog, so that's why I'm writing you a letter here for all the world to see. I want everyone to know how amazing you are and how much you mean to me.

The earliest memory of my life I can pull out of my brain is of my dad. But my second earliest memory is of you. We were at some kind of carnival or fun event outside and you were holding me. Pretty crazy that my two earliest memories involve the most important male figures in a little girl's life- a father and grandfather. Of course my mother and grandmothers were just as important in my life growing up, but there's something unique and special about the bond with daughters and fathers.

You were always involved in my life growing up. So many of my memories involve you and Grandma taking us to get ice cream, going 4-wheeling, crawling through the "forest" behind your house, eating fruit and swinging on the bench on the porch, going for drives in the canyon, playing cards, and of course, watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!

I always knew you cared about me, and you were always interested in my activities and hobbies. Even though for most of my life we've never lived near one another, we still talked on the phone at least every couple weeks. If something happened in my life, I couldn't wait to tell you about it. Even in college! It was just like second nature, call Mom and Dad then call Grandpa and Grandma. You were my cheerleaders. Always proud of my accomplishments and making me feel special and loved.

You bought me my first car when I turned 16. That old Buick Regal was faithful to the end! I never took it for granted and knew how blessed I was every single day I drove it around. I proudly proclaimed to the world that I owed my car to my Grandpa and Grandma- they didn't have to buy it for me but they did. What an honor and a privilege.

Most people don't know this Grandpa, but you and Grandma were the first relatives I told about my interest in my husband when we were "just friends" (even before my parents!) I told you about how he fixed my car for free and how I didn't know what to give back in return. Grandma told me to bake him cookies and bring them to his work. So I did it! Then my car broke again that same week (I promise I didn't have anything to do with it!) and when he fixed it for free that time, you told me to buy him a gift certificate to a fancy restaurant. Grandpa- you are a genius. Pure genius. I mean, he basically chased me down until I agreed to marry him after that, so I guess our plan worked, didn't it? :)

I can't imagine what life would have been like without you growing up. You are like second parents to me. You've been there for me through thick and thin, through the good times and the bad. You've seen me cry and you've seen me laugh. You've been a shoulder to cry on and a smile to lift my spirits. I can't believe I was so blessed to grow up with grandparents like you.

It hurts me so much to see you sick. I wish I could bring you a magic pill that would cure all your ailments and make everything better. But we don't get to pick and choose these sorts of things in life. But what we can chose is our attitude and our outlook on it all. I pray that you can look to our Heavenly Father to be your faithful shoulder to lean on, after all these years you've been that shoulder for so many other people. May you trust in Him and the gift of eternal life He has promised for all those who accept His Son as their Savior. Thank goodness we can't earn eternal life on our own! Thank goodness it's not about our own good works. Because of the sacrifice He paid for our sins with His death and resurrection, we can spend eternity with Him! And that is the hope we have for those who believe in His Son- the hope that someday we will all be together again! This life is just a glimpse of the life to come. Heaven is a place He has prepared for all His children- this earth is not our home.

I love you Grandpa. May you know how deeply I adore you and Grandma. Thank you for all you've done in my life. I'll be calling you soon, just like always :)

With all my love,
Casey

Hair tutorial- Heidi Braids

This post shows you how to make "Heidi Braids" in your hair! Some may think it's cheesy and little-kidish, but I loooove braids. Plus I dig a hairdo that doesn't involve heat or product. I braided my hair about 10 minutes after the shower, so it was a piece of cake. (Plus, when I take the braids out tomorrow I'll have great natural waves for the day!)

Visit this blog for the pic by pic tutorial: click here

I parted my hair on the side and started a french braid. She did regular braids. Either works fine, it's just a matter of personal preference :)

I also put a flower clip on the side because, well, flowers are basically my permanent accessory these days. Can't go without ;) (Well I can, I just chose not to.)

Rub a dub dub, tea in the tub

Bath time. She loves it.

Would you like a spot of tea? With a hint of bubbles? Delish.

#2 on a stick- literally

Oh dear. Are you ready for another toddler potty-training story? You bet you are.

The other morning I woke up to Sitora exclaiming, "I went pee-pee in the potty mommy!" She handed me the little detachable seat that disconnects from the potty chair. I looked, and sure enough, it was in there. "Great job honey!" I said while I stumbled into the kitchen to reward her with a piece of candy. Yes, in the morning. (Don't judge- it works.) I could barely open my eyes as I meandered through the house with the morning light streaming through the windows. You see, when Sitora wakes up every morning she proceeds to take off her own pajamas and diaper and goes potty all by herself. It's great. And yet sometimes a teensy bit... scary.

One particular time this week I caught our little princess being a little mischievous in the potty department.

#2. on. a. stick. I'm not even kidding you.

Sitora had gone #2 and she was a little curious about it this time. She didn't wake me up to clean it up. She wanted to investigate. She managed to find one of her "dancing ribbon wands" we use to dance to worship music together. She took the dancing ribbon wand and stuck it in her #2. Then she picked it up and waved it in the air. Over and over. And that's when I caught her.

The toddler years. They're killin' me smalls. Someone please save me?

I can't stop holding you

Orphanage day. Need I say more?

I almost didn't go today. Almost. A yucky tummy bug has been going around our circle of friends, and I'm pretty sure I caught it this week. Oddly enough, I didn't throw up like everyone else. My stomach just hurt like crazy- like a little gnome man was living inside my belly ripping it to shreds with his garden shovel (yes, that's how it felt.) Not to mention extreme exhaustion with a side order of inability to focus. I set my alarm last night and said to SuperDan, "I don't think I can go tomorrow. This is horrible." I bolted awake this morning at the sound the alarm and said to myself, "There's no way I can stay away from my precious angels. It's just a stomach ache. I can handle it."

Yes my stomach hurt all day anyway. But yet, so did my heart. Even more so in fact.

There were different workers in charge of the baby room today, so I thought maybe I could try holding the babies a bit more without them urging me to put them down. I talked with the workers for a bit, asking them questions about their lives and answering their questions about mine. I always enjoy getting to know each worker, letting them know I acknowledge their existence and value them in general!

#1. They are always shocked that I am a mother. They think I'm a teenager.
#2. They are always shocked that I have a 2 year old at home and take time to come to the orphanage.
#3. They are shocked beyond belief when I tell them my husband watches my daughter while I help with  babies there. Husbands don't do that kind of stuff here. (I probably should have also mentioned to them that  SuperDan cooked three times this week and did all the dishes as well, mostly due to my 2 "just for fun" coffee dates with friends and several other ministry appointments. Well, I don't want to make anyone jealous or anything...)

So after I established a warmness between the workers and myself, I dove right in to baby lovin'. I helped break up some "he took it from me!" fights, picked up some "oops I fell down and can't get back up" bloopers, and organized the toys across the room so that there was an even distribution amongst the little munchkins (more space, less fights). One of my friends who helps volunteer took some of the walking toddlers outside to play in the fresh air. So I nominated myself "mother bear" of the troops while she was gone, took a peek at the "on break" workers sipping their tea and chatting, then grabbed my one and only chance. I plopped Baby K on one leg and another sweet baby boy on my other leg, and I cuddled my life away. I seriously did not remove them from my embrace for what seemed like an hour. At first they were happily playing with blocks and books in my lap together and considering stealing each others' toys, but after a while they slowly entered in a relaxed state. They both reclined in my arms and hardly moved a muscle. When I turned a bit to grab another toy or help another child who bonked their head, they would both immediately start wailing. So I would hold them tightly in my embrace and assure them that I wasn't putting them down. I kissed their sweet little cheeks and started singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Are You Sleeping Brother John. It was then that I realized they were soaking in their "cuddle time" knowing it was a rare occurrence. The workers don't have time to cuddle the children- the have to feed, wash, change, console, and clean up after 15 babies day after day. Even if they did have the time, it's still not going to happen, sadly.

As I entered my epiphany, I started pondering it even farther. "These sweet angels didn't even know that this is what they needed, until they got it." You know that feeling? You don't even realize how hungry or thirsty you really are until you start guzzling it down? These children are craving touch. They need it so desperately. So desperately in fact, that they started bawling the minute I even flinched a muscle. So what did I do? I cuddled, and I cuddled some more. I tried to read them books and teach them their colors in their language. But they weren't interested. Their eyes became glazed over with peacefulness and they rested their little heads on my chest and just soaked it all in. And me? Ha- I was in heaven.

The day finished as usual, preparing the food, getting the children situated for lunch, putting their bibs on, consoling the ones still waiting for their turn while watching the others eat, cleaning up the mess, picking up the toys, taking off their outer layers of clothing and getting them ready for nap time.

But today was special. I wasn't told to put my little babies down. So. I. never. stopped.

And somehow, in my mind, I'm still holding them. Or rather, I know Father is. Oh how he loves them.

The minute I came home I hugged my feisty two year old, snuggled with her, and held her until she fell asleep. Funny how the more I hold babies, the more I want to hold them, again and again and again. Honestly my daughter is my built-in therapy when I come home from the orphanage. I am all disheveled and teary-eyed when I enter our doorstep, but the minute I hold her and look into her big blue eyes I feel a warmness rushing back through my frigid blood. I can't really explain it. It's difficult to put into words. All I know is that the only thing I can do to calm myself down after the baby house is to embrace my own daughter. I wish all those babies had a mamma to call their own. Oh how I wish.

"Hide under your pillow" kind of day

Today was not so great. You know, one of those days when you wake up in the morning and just wish you could hide under your pillow and ignore the world. It's weird how some days start like that. And I can't use the expression that I "woke up on the wrong side of the bed" because there's literally no way for that to be possible - Sitora sneaks in our bed in the wee hours of the night and after that I have about 2 inches of breathing space. (So basically that was a joke. Pretty bad if I have to explain it, eh?)

*sigh* I guess I started off my day with the hope that it would get better. It did for a little bit (mostly because of the caramel macchiato I picked up on my way to go grocery shopping- mind you by foot and bus). But then it just mostly went downhill from there.

It's hard when you give so much of yourself to something, and its either under-appreciated or not acknowledged at all. This is where the rubber meets the road folks- am I doing what I do to please others, or Father? It's tough. It's really really tough.

I was really emotional tonight explaining to my husband what angered me so much today. I think I need a few days to sort out my thoughts and pray, and then after some time I'll decide whether or not to bring it up. It's always best to wait a few days after anger is at it's peak, in order to avoid saying something you might regret. When I was listening to the Daily Audio Bible this week one of the Proverbs talked about how a fool is quick to spill his guts but a wise man holds his tongue. I want to be wise, and I want to hold my tongue. But I'm practically biting it to keep it inside!

Oh this holiness business sure does get hard. I want to be like Jsus so deeply. It's my number one obsession in this life. But He sure does take me seriously when I ask Him to refine me. Does the fire have to be this hot? Ouch.

He who has understanding spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Proverbs 17:27

Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace. Proverbs 17:28

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But he who restrains his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19

He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. Proverbs 13:3

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23

The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. Proverbs 15:28

A fool's mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his soul. Proverbs 18:7

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression. Proverbs 19:11

A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back. Proverbs 29:11

Do you see a man hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 29:20

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they
will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your
words you will be justified, and by your words you will be
condemned. Matthew 12:36-37

Our family photoshooot

I love our little family. We are like three peas in a pod. (Are you allowed to say that, since it's usually two? Well I just did!)

The thing I love about custom photography is it captures you as you truly are. No fake smiles and cheesy poses- just plain ol' fun! Of course I've had to force a smile out of my husband a time or two in our family photoshoot history... not every picture is completely candid :) But you get my gist.

I wish I could capture every breathtakingly beautiful moment in our lives and keep it tucked away safely in a bottle forever.  And I guess in a way, that's what a picture does. I will never forget these moments, these smiles, these giggles, thanks to my dear friend Leslie. Thank you Les for taking the time to make our photos exceptional! You can check out her website here. She's basically amazing.

I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do.

 

This picture is dripping with romance, is it not? :)