A Good Choice

Last weekend Ellie went along withme to run some errands when I was finishing the girls' rooms. She knew we were going to Target and she had $1.00 and asked if she could bring it along to buy something. Knowing Target has a dollar section, I said yes, that would be fine. She was all excited to go buy something, but when we got to Target, she didn't want to look at the dollar section, she wanted to go to the toy section. Well, I let her look and she oohed and ahhed over several things, asked how much they were and I would tell her $15.00 or $20.00. She was discouraged to learn that her $1.00 bill would not buy her a great Barbie or Polly Pocket set. I finally told her she could probably buy a pack of gum or a coloring book with her dollar and she thought about it for a few minutes.(yes, minutes, while we stand in the middle of Target). She finally turned to me and said,"Momma, I am going to save my dollar until I get more dollars. Then I can buy a toy."
"yes, Ellie, you can buy something you really want if you wait and save up more dollars"
She said, "That is a good choice"

I was so proud of her for making such a good decision at such a young age. That doesn't mean she won't blow the next dollar she gets, but at least some of the time she is thinking through her options and she was so darn cute telling me that she made a good choice!

Going Green

I enjoy doing my part to reduce trash, use less plastic and try to find ways to reuse many items in our lives. I faithfully take my reusable bags to the grocery store even if I don't always remember to take them IN the store!!! Sometimes I get frustrated with myself for not remembering the bags that I just tell the cashier to load the items back into my cart without any bags and I bag them myself when I get them to the car. I like to reuse what I can, our spare change jar was a pickle jar, an egg carton holds pepper seedlings waiting to grow , plastic grocery bags to pick up the dog's droppings etc. I guess that's why I enjoy yard sales too. An item I find at a yard sale gets a second chance to be used instead of being thrown away.
Every other Wed. at our house is recyling pick up and Felicia and Brooke (the girl I watch before school) are always so excited when I tell them it's recycle day because they like to take it all down to the end of the driveway. We always have so much that it overflows from the two bins we currently have. Our county has decided that they may cut back recycling pick up from every two weeks to once every 4 weeks!!! I can't imagine that I have enough space to keep that amount of recyclables for that amount of time and hopefully they will decide against that. Bethany even made a wallet out of bubble gum wrappers and it is really neat! She's been using it for a few months now. What a creative girl!

2 Rooms Done!

In November the kids all switched bedrooms in our house. Yes, all 4 of them and yes, right before the holidays. So, needless to say, it took a while to find time to be able to start decorating the rooms. I've been working on them for the past two weeks and I'm glad to say that Bethany and Felicia's rooms are about 90% finished. They each need a lamp yet and Bethany wants a bed frame for her bad now. (She didn't when we initially switched rooms and has had her mattress/boxspring on the floor).
We were able to surprise Felicia because she had been away for the weekend with a church trip. Bethany's theme is pink,black and white with zebra bedding and accents. (you can't tell in the photo too well, but she has zebra printed window treatments).
Felcia's favorite color is blue so her room was painted aqua blue with other shades of blue, lime green and white accents.

Running

I have a true hate/love relationship with running. I do it because it helps me maintain my weight and I get a good workout in half the time it would take to walk and burn the same amount of calories, but let's face it--if I didn't need to do it, I wouldn't. I do enjoy how good I feel at the END of the run, how empowered I feel for reaching each mile goal. I am glad I am doing something good for my health, but really I'd enjoy just walking a lot more. Well, I'll never have what I truly want---a great physically fit attractive body without doing any exercise and esting whatever and however much i want.Soooo, I'll do what I can to take care of the body that God gave me, appreciate all the good things about it and praise having the ability to either walk OR run whenever I choose.
My favorite time to run? early morning
Plugged in or not? Usually I go IPOD-free
same route or change it up? I go a different route almost every time if I am by myself so I never get bored
remember to stretch afterwards? About half the time
Ever experience that infamous runner's high? NEVER yet!!

Hollister's Haircut

Well, when we got our dog, Hollister 4 weeks ago, he was already in need of a grooming, but I had to wait until I had aquired his vaccination record and his previous owners were out of town. When I finally got the records, then made the appointment, Hollister's fur was very long and had gotten matted because we (the new dog owners) were not combing his fur properly. Well, you learn something new everyday!
On Wednesday, we went to see the groomer who kept Hollister for 4 hours, bathed him, clipped his nails, gave him a haircut. When I went back to pick him up, I hardly recognized my own dog!!! At present moment, he is as shorn as a sheep. But that little face is still adorable!!!
The picure with Felicia is taken to show how Hollister likes to be held like a baby and he holds on!!!

She keeps growing!!

Ellie and I have this little game we play where i always ask her if she'll stay little and not grow anymore and she always giggles and says NO! Sometimes,though, she appeases me ,like yesterday, and says she'll stay little. I went to put a deposit the other day on her 5th birthday party at a child's salon here in Richmond called Divas and Dudes. Ellie is going to have a Princess Birthday Party where her guests will enjoy getting their hair and nails done, dressing up and playing on their stage under disco lights. Every little girls fantasy. I'm still amazed at the fact she'll be FIVE!!! She is super excited about her birthday and asks a few times a week, when will her birthday be? A lot of her friends in her class have already turned this milestone age and she's been to all sorts of fun parties, but she is just so excited about her own!!!! My milestone birthday comes only a few months after hers, but i can tell you I won't be quite as excited as she is!!!

RE:Signs of Spring

Remember my previous post about the tulips still being here after two weeks?
I woke up this morning and they are gone. Well, I'm glad I took the picture!

Softball Season

Felicia loves to play softball and her team started practicing the first week of March. Last night they played their first game and won! Her team has good fielding skills and they seem to get that ball where it needs to go pretty quickly. Felicia did a great job on first base and she ran in the last run of the game last night.
I love watching her play!

Kindergarten Registration

Ellie was so excited to go to "the big school" yesterday for Kindergarten registration. She can't wait to ride on the bus and be at the same school as "Sissy" (Felicia). The teacher that tested her said she was very nervous so she missed answering some things that she knew, but she still did a great job and had a great time. She didn't want to leave! They had set up a play area in the gym while you were waiting for your name to be called, so she was having fun with coloring and playing with toys, making new friends. The principal saw us enter the gym and asked, "Is this the last Lukitsch?" It made me laugh, but I also had a tear in my eye knowing that my baby is going to be in Kindergarten!!!

Signs of Spring

These tulips are growing in our yard, about 10 flowers total after planting about 75 bulbs two years ago!! At least it's better than no flowers and I'm so excited that the deer have not eaten them yet!! Last year the flowers lasted only two days before the deer got them, this year we've already been enjoying them for two weeks!!!
Two flowers got trampled by the egg hunt on Sunday.
Although I don't have a photo , the other sure sign of Spring around here is all the RAIN, RAIN, RAIN!!!! Today is our first sunny day after three straight days of clouds and rain. I know it's good for the grass, but my spirit requires more sunshine. It's also a pain to have the dog go out and have him come back in the house all wet. Yuck!

Happy Easter!

We had such a fun filled Easter Day,and the weather was beautiful, although a bit chilly in the morning. The kids got up and found out that the Easter Bunny had hidden their baskets this year with no clues!!! They really had to hunt them down. They were pleased with their treats and the Easter Bunny brought each child a fun, outdoor toy. Sam got a new scooter, Bethany a new tennis racket,Felicia a tetherball set, and Ellie, a foam pink bat and ball. We went to church and then came home for lunch and to try out our new toys. Afterwards, we drove to Monument Avenue in Richmond for the annual Easter on Parade they hold where thousands of people turn out to stroll down the Avenue which is closed off for about 6 blocks. Everyone brings theri pets and some dress up theri animals. there is also a crazy Easter Bonnet contest and some people are so creative with their hats!! There is music, food, entertainments etc... We got to take Hollister with us and he had such a great time!!! There is not a person or animal our doggie does not like!!
When we got home, we waited for the arrival of our good friends who were coming to have Easter Dinner with us. We had a huge egg hunt for the kids and enjoyed a wonderful dinner of ham, mashed potatoes,green beans,corn casserole,french bread and strawberry pie for dessert!!!
At the end of the evening, after our guests had left, we had a family movie time and watched a new movie Grandma and Poppy had sent us, "Bedtime Stories". We really liked this movie.

Spring Break

This week is Spring Break for my kids. We have had a "staycation" instead of a vacation, but we have been so busy I'm more tired than if we'd gone somewhere!
In the past week we have have had numerous playdates and sleepovers with friends we don't get to see very often, we held a big Egg Hunt for the neighborhod kids, we've gone to play miniature golf and bounced at an indoor inflatable playplace and we are going to the movies today. The girls are eager to see the new Hannah Montana movie and the boys (Sam and two friends) will see Escape From Witch Mountain.
Yesterday our new dog Hollister got to play with Rosie, our friends' dog in their fenced in back yard. They had the best time!!!!

Palm Sunday

What a beautiful day we had here in VA! We started our day at church doing an Easter Walk. We traveled to different stations hearing the Easter story and completing activities at each station. It helped the kids really understand the message of the Easter Story better.
After we arrived home, we spent the rest of the day busy with outdoor activities, washing the cars, walking with friends, the kids playing in the neighborhood.
We ended the day with a great big egg hunt at a neighbor's house for all the kids.

Is there a doctor in the house?

Ellie brought her doctor kit downstairs the other morning and informed Sam that he needed a checkup. She made him lie down in the hallway and began administering treatment. There were lots of giggles as she checked his heart,blood pressure,reflexes and gave him a shot.

Our new Addition!!!

One more member has joined the Lukitsch Family!! He's a Bichon Frise-Poodle Mix given to us by a family whose first dog couldn't cope with a younger dog in the house. He comes to us already trained, with all of his shots and neutered and a very sweet and loving temperament. The kids were super excited and have already introduced him to everyone in our cul de sac. His name is Hollister, given to him by his first family. It is undecided whether we'll change his name or not. They have been waiting and waiting for a pet and now Sam says "I finally have a brother!"

4th grade Field Trip

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go on a field trip with Felicia and her class to Pamplin Park in Petersburg, VA. It was the site of one of the last battles in the Civil War, fought just one week before Lee's surrender at Appamatox. We had a great time and learned a lot. The tour guides were entertaining and had very interactive presentations for the kids. The worst part was the bus ride---one hour long in the very back seat surrounded by 6 girls squealing over a boy in their class. Yes, already at age 9!!!

Hidden Gifts

We all have hidden talents and gifts given by God, some of which we haven't even discovered yet. This chair represents one of Steve's talents. He built this last weekend using scrap wood from a pallet and no plans. It turned out pretty good, I think! Now we have a nice relaxing chair for the backyard this Spring and Summer.
Sometimes we are always trying to seek out our talents but maybe we are just supposed to wait for them to emerge.....