"Acorn" and Tinkerbell

Here is Allison decided that she is pretty much through with having her picture taken for the night! Well, after decided that pulling off the "Gabriella look" for Halloween on a three year old would be more challenging than originally thought, I was able to talk Allison into being something else. She chose an "acorn" costume as she calls it, though I'm not really sure why, and thankfully my mom was able to make it for her in record time. Of course I am partial, but I think she is the cutest little candy corn ever. And Juliet made a gorgeous Tinkerbell. The girls ended up having a great time that night!

Tinkerbell and Gabriella?

Okay, so it's that time of year again-time to figure out what the kids want to be for "Hallelujah Night"! This is a huge event we at our church on Halloween night as an alternative to the traditional Halloween, which for obvious reasons we don't really celebrate. So instead they hold a celebration at the church with different game stations where the kids can win small prizes and then at the end of the night they go home with a bag of candy. They also rent two huge bouncy things which they put in the sanctuary, then of course they have cookie decorating, face painting, so on and so fourth.

Well, so far Juliet thinks she wants to be either Hannah Montana or Tinkerbell, though she is leaning toward the latter, and Allison will be either Belle or "Gabriella", from High School Musical. Problem is, she's got it in her head that her dear old dad will be willing to stand in as "Troy Bolton"! This child is in love with High School Musical. It is a riot, especially for her being so little. She has the dolls that sing which she got for her birthday and now has a "Troy Bolton ipod."

Last year Juliet was a pirate and Allie was the cutest little Raggedy Ann ever. It'll be interesting to see what they decide, and even more interested to see how I'll pull off turning Allison into Gabriella!

Flower Girl...Sort of

I just came across some photos of Allison that I just had to share. As many of you know, Allison was supposed to be the cutest little flower girl there ever was in her Uncle's wedding the beginning of last month. She decided however, about an hour before the wedding that she wanted to remain completely naked rather than wear her beautiful flower girl dress that she originally loved so much in the store that it was hard to get off her. Well, after much coaxing, a sore bum, you name it, Allison still refused to get her dress on and now 5 minutes before the wedding was to start my shirt is what she ended up wearing for the entire day! At the reception I found her curled up in a ball looking like a homeless orphan. She never did walk down the isle but she still looked adorable that day in a way that only Allie could pull off! Now, for the next two weeks Allie continued to defy us in every way possible but I would like to report that, praise God, Allie is doing much, much better! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all your prayers for Allison! God is so good! And who knows, now maybe Allie will be a big sister some day after all!

My Baptism

It was over a year ago now that I was baptized and I had drafted this whole post awhile back but somehow it never got posted. Even though it's well after, I'd still like to share....

I decided to share my baptism experience on my blog because while it is very personal I decided to share it because God did not ask it to be a "private" confession - it is supposed to be a public confession! I was so blessed that night I got baptized, from start to finish.

While I was waiting in the wings for the baptisimal portion of the service to begin, I was able to pray with a woman I met that night who was also getting baptized and had unsaved family come watch, including her mother and daughter. We prayed that God would use her testimony to reach them and the holy spirit was so strong while we prayed we were both overcome. I believe that God will use that experience and prayer somehow.My baptismal experience was one of the most profound spiritual experiences I've ever had. It was long overdue, but I keep putting it off because I was afraid of being so accountable to God. How ridiculous is that?! But the whole thing was amazing! Too bad you can only do it once!This is the testimony I wrote and was read aloud to the congergation just before the dunking. Be blessed!

Bethany Groves-Telling My Story
I was raised in a Christian home and received Christ at the age of five. I remember even at such a young age that I wanted and needed Jesus in my life. Then as I hit adolescence, my family became very broken. I started making bad decisions and rebelling. I started drinking and partying to dull the pain. At the age of eighteen I became pregnant and fell into severe depression. The depression overwhelmed me. I began drinking more heavily and isolated myself; going out in the daytime was next to impossible for me. I began to injury myself and became very suicidal. I saw no way out of my self-destructive lifestyle. I felt abandonment, betrayal, hopelessness, and I no longer saw any reason to be alive. I was so frustrated that no medication, counselors, or even psychiatrists seemed to be able to help me. It even felt like God himself had forgotten and abandoned me.Then when I was at the end of my rope, God, with his perfect timing, showed me that he had never left me. He was just waiting for me to call upon Him. He showed me that my life had a purpose and that I was “fearfully and wonderfully” made by Him. God’s healing power and grace became so real to me at such a desperate time. Through it all God had a perfect plan for my life and I am now so blessed with my loving, godly husband and two beautiful girls. God has blessed me with more than I ever could have thought for myself. God continues to help me through some of my past issues and hurts, but I know my life has been forever changed by his mercy and grace. He is so faithful.

First Day of First Grade

This is Juliet's first day of first grade. And what picture that is supposed to be a special one taken of just you reaching a milestone event in your life would be complete without your pesky little sister managing to get into the background?

There were so many other things going on right up until J's first day of school (Juliet was in a wedding the day before) that I didn't even have time to get Juliet a "back to school" outfit. So the morning of I'm frantically digging in her drawer to find something that resembles a purposeful outfit. I didn't do so good but thankfully poor Juliet was too tired to notice.

So far J is doing OK with school but she desperately wishes she could be home schooled so she can be with me all the time. She been going through a lot of separation anxiety with me lately. She's even got it all figured out - "Mom, for art class we could do a craft and for gym we could just go outside and play on the swing set." But unless God shows me otherwise, I have no interest or desire in home schooling. Sorry kid!

New York City

This was on a billboard in Times Square. We saw it and both thought of Allie immediately! I thought I left her at home....?

Juliet and I in front of "Ripley's Believe It or Not" museum. The bearded wax, fat lady and dude were singing Black Eyed Peas "My Humps." J and I thought it was hilarious!

In front of our hotel on some Irish Hunger Memorial thing.

Ok, so apparenly there are a few people left in this world who have not given up on me completely and still have hopes that I will someday update my blog (come on people, it's been like 7 months!) Nonetheless your unfaltering faith in me has restored something within me so here goes nothing. I'll start my amazing comeback with NYC because it rocks, of course, and then as usual I'll post by jumping all over the place in no real particular order.

Chris had orientation with his new job in NYC for a couple days so I thought it would be fun for Juliet and I to tag along. We had an absolute blast. We had an awesome hotel in the financial district with a view of the Hudson river and Statue of Liberty, right in front of Battery park and next to Ground Zero The first day we walked along 5th Ave. and hung out around Union Square and the following day we hit Times Square of course. Who can ever tire of Times Square?! We went to M&M world, which smelled wonderful and had everything M&M from underwear to playing cards and checked out Hershey's world too. The whole time though I was so proud of Juliet who wasn't so much as fazed by the crowds and scurrying to get on and off the subway. She was like a regular little New Yorker!

Juliet Turns Six!

Juliet turned six on January 24th. She requested a "snow" party so we had snowman cupcakes instead of cake, homemade snowflake garland, pin-the-nose-on-the-snowman, "cold snowflake" instead of "hot potato" game, and pillow stuffing everywhere for snow. She only wanted her three closest girlfriends at her party and her cousins, of course. Her best friend from school is Victoria, far left, then from left to right is Julia, sissy Allison, cousin Madison, Madigan, and birthday girl Juliet. We all had such a blast. How is it possible she's already six?!

Return of the Smurf

Hmm, so this is non-toxic and yet is says "keep away from children"? Interesting.... perhaps I am not the first mom with a mischievous child to have this happen to. Darn Canadians. Just kidding - love you, honey!

I left this child playing very nicely with Polly Pockets when I went to take a shower and THIS is what I returned to! What was she thinking? And how does she find this stuff to paint her body with?! Well, it is day 2 and she still is looking very blue. We get looks and giggles everywhere we go. Yes, it's hilarious I suppose-If you're not the mom of this child!

Let it Snow!

In light of the fact that it is now the middle of January, in New England, and there has still been no snow, I have now resorted to making paper snowflakes just so I can pretend that all this stinkin cold is okay because at least the "snow" is pretty. Lame and childish I know, but I found a cool website that will have anyone loving it - snow covered and snowless people alike - http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com

Cruising in 2006

Enjoying the beach in Cozumel

Chris and I went on a cruise with another couple, Andrew and another Bethany (as if one isn't enough!) shortly before Christmas. We sailed out of New Orleans (which was freezing!) and stopped in Grand Cayman island, Costa Maya, and Cozumel. In Costa Maya we rented wave runners, relaxed on the beach and also had a nice, 10 mile walk back to the ship on a crummy old highway. Long, stupid story. Our best day was Cozumel where we rented dune buggies and relaxed on a private beach and had an authentic Mexican lunch. We got a little wet on the way back to the ship (look at those storm clouds!) but it didn't matter.