Oh my gosh, 5 years later and I had to come back to view this blog! So in love with these memories that are put down in writing! I just re read the memory of Jenna pouring the glass of water on me! That is so stinking funny! That kid seriously cracks me up.  The McCann Family is strong in the Lord and makes us strong as a family!

Jenna is now 6 almost 7 and is my little heart.  With her sweet face and funny spirit she just has my heart!  She is in first grade this year and is thriving!  She is a total star at gymnastics and is outstanding in it! I'd like to find an even better program for her to enhance those skills even more.  She is taking off reading! She just got an invitation for Quest class so i think she's right on path to a great future in school success.  She calls her teacher cupcake and Miss Fortune calls her cupcake too. Jenna just lost her front tooth. She asked the tooth fairy for $20.00.... the tooth fairy gave her $3.00.  Her other tooth is needing/ wanting to come out and it now at a bizarre angle where i feel the need to pull it out.  Jenna is currently in my bed nursing a cold.  I thank God my girls are healthy 99% of the time.  I pray Jenna's congestion does not lead to croup tonight.  She has had 2 bouts of that since we've been in Sumter.  Jenna loves our dog Charlotte and will ask to sleep with Charlotte almost overnight.  I'm not a big proponent of dogs sleeping in our beds, but I will let Jenna sleep with her as i'm just so busy and don't have the time to pay Charlotte the attention she needs.  Dog mom guilt!!

Deanna is in the 2nd grade.  She is beyond a sweetheart and is so articulate! Tonight i got her happy meal and a hot fudge sundae.  She was over the moon and several times expressed her gratitude.  It was just a sweet and refreshing moment in these days of motherhood especially 2018 as i'm the lone ranger.  Deanna is flourishing in school and doing a fabulous job learning.  She is well advanced for her grade.  We are starting her on multiplication/ division and fractions!  It's crazy! She is most certainly going to beat me in math.  Deanna is in tap and jazz and doing awesome!  She's finding her coordination  a bit better these days, and works on her moves in the kitchen.  She's just a delight.  She has a love for reading.  Most nights I tuck her into bed when she's got a stack of books and flashlight. She loves mystery books and often times will finish them in a day or two.  I got a note from her teacher about Deanna singing the lyrics to a church song in class and sharing her faith with her classmates.  Her teacher just loves Deanna!  Both girls are doing an amazing job with girl scout cookies!  600+ boxes each.  Praise God Girl Scout cookies are almost done!

I am doing good!I miss my mom terribly and wish I could pick up the phone and call her and ask her questions, especially questions of faith she'd so easily answer. She'd have the perfect advice, wisdom and reference to my questions.  I often wonder about her in heaven.  I am thinking she's probably enjoying her rest up in heaven.  Now that i've experienced death on a personal level it's just so final.  I hate that I can't take anything back.  I hate that I can't ask her how she's doing, what she's doing, what her opinion is, her past history and etc.  I can only treasure the memories I have with her and that is exactly what I do.  Praise the Lord God above that my mom was believer in Christ Jesus.  Having this assurance really gives me peace knowing she is in heaven hugging on Jesus and sitting at his feet.   I am continuing on in my faith walk, day by day by day!  I love the new wisdom I glean each year and the beautiful souls that I have met along my way that have enhanced my Christian walk! Here's some names so I can check in another 5 years and recall them by name, Megan Pitts, Deborah Park, Debbi Trosper, and Dalana Barnett and Helen Hafich, Meredith Mateer.  I am doing a few different parenting studies these recent days. Spiritual parenting by Michelle Anthony, 6 truths of parenthood by Karen Stubbs, and Intentional parenting by Doug Fields.  I am enjoying my time at CCC and thankful i made the change to be more involved community wise.  I loved Bethesda and the truth it spoke into the season of time that we needed it, but grateful for the change of pace.  In these 6 lonely months (2 months down) I am doing the Alexia Clark workout program.  It's seriously the BEST workout program i've done to date. I was just told my a friend that my backside is literally half the size it was when I met her... which is crazy as I've always felt I was thin, but looking back I was a bit round!  i don't intend to quit this program any time soon so praying for endurance and health on this new fitness plan.  I would like to tighten up my food a bit :)  i know what number of macros to conquer each day, but i have not take the time to track and plan...  One day!!  My banner business is going great.  It's a little bit at a turtle pace which actually is ok with me as i'm feeling so busy it's hard to fit it in all the time.  Some days I can't even fit in my time with Jesus , so how the heck will i fit in a banner?  The $$ motivates me but my spirit is always looking out for that motivation putting my priorities out of place.  I am serving on PWOC board currently.  I am the VP of programs this year. I love this role as it lets my serve the ladies using my gifs and talents. I am tired and thank God for scripture that reminds us to run the race and to be encouraged!

I must go to bed! I will write on this more often as I love seeing these memories!

Prayers

As i sit to write this I am filled with a heart of gratitude and hoy.  I am so thankful and overwhelmed about the love our God has for us.  The more I learn, the more astounding his love truly is.  What is incredible to me is how many people stray from his love! His love is fresh nectar off a tree that is sweet to our spirits and soul.  I am guilty of straying from love and letting the flesh take over.  I pray to have peace in my relationship with my husband that tends to be lacking these past few weeks.  I ask that I clearly communicate and not let thoughts fester of dwell within me. I pray that i can mother loving even though I am getting climbed on, kicked, and distracted while I am trying to check the computer.  Let me remember that the things that are truly important are the ones I am letting "bother" me.  I pray to have a more open heart to their needs.  I ask that relationships that I want t o see grow, grow.  Please give me more that just a Hi, bye type of relationship.  I pray that i stay consistent with my goals. Keep me on a healthy path of exercise and eating habits.  Pray for heath among our family.  I ask that you heal my girls and their nasty coughs that they have had forever.  I ask that i remain healthy instead of feeling sick every 2 weeks.  I pray that i find my new role in PWOC a good experience and one that does not separate me and my husband. I also pray that I am in line with You, the Father.  Keep me in your word and let me know how to best learn more about you.  Let the distractions that keep me away be put aside and know that I am in your spirit.  Let the Holy Spirit reside and work within me to spread your good news.  In your name  I pray, Amen!

Memory tracker: Deanna has learned that it's funny to name names such as pee pee head and poo poo head, etc, etc... To me it funny, but it really is not funny.  I pray that this phase is not a lasting one. I lvoe when Deanna smiles and her little nose scrunches up.  It's so cute! XO.  Just love her so much.

Jenna is a hoot right now.  She has lately learned what she wants! She will lead us by the hand and say 'c'mon! She will lead us right to what she needs -- which lately seems to be candy or "cup" that sounds like pup... she's funny! I had to bring Jenna to bed with me last night -- seems to be that I never get the bed to myself anymore. Her sweet little voice just woke up and clearly said, "hi!" So cute!!

God is Good all the time!

Memory Tracker -- March 2013

OK~  Here's my renewed sense of writing things down so i remember the funny things about my sweet little girls and Don --

Here's some sweet memories lately:

We go visit our Friends Lucia and Christian who were in the hospital waiting for their baby to be born -- we complete our visit, get all the way down to the parking lot and Deanna shouts "Oh shoot! I forgot to tell them Merry Christmas!" It was so funny esp since Christmas had already been long gone. 

Deanna loves to put on classical music on my phone and she will start doing ballet here in the living room.  She is so cute and very "dramatic" in her dancing.

Deanna likes to talk about her fashion show.  Do we want to come to her fashion show, can we be in her fashion show,,, etc etc! 

Birthday parties are all the rage right now and the kids adore them! It's very funny watching them surround the birthday boy/ girl while they open gifts -- it's a mob!

Jenna is too funny and starts taking off her pants... you look and next thing you know she has no pants on. 

Deanna likes her Asilo but lately says she does not want to go and asks me if today i pick her up at lunch -- which we do Tuesday and THursday because of Ballet. Teacher conference the teacher said how well Deanna is doing.  She also said her drawing of people is great and a step ahead of kids her grade.  

Deanna refuses to wear any of her pants in her wardrobe.  She would rather wear dresses with short sleeves per her request and tights, but they must be tights with feet -- lately she has been wearing these shoes I have set aside b/c they are too small -- she wears them even though they are too tight. 

Jenna has these cheeks that are just so cute! 

Candy is their new favorite and upon retrieval they act like you have just saved their lives. They both recall that the candy is on top of the fridge in the pretty boxes we made them for Valentines. 

Deanna and Jenna both love to go to church and all of the church events.  

Little Jenna!

It was a rough nights sleep last night, therefore Jenna and I were sleeping on the couch... (after I finally got back to sleep) I awake to Jenna kicking me in the ribs and finally letting herself off the couch. I cracked my eyes open enough to see her walking out of the living room -- i figured if I'd hear her -- anyway, she walks back to our bedroom, takes Don's full glass (real glass) of water, walks back the couch, AND POURS IT ON ME!!!! Good Morning!!! She's lucky she's loved :)

She's a cutie!!

Other than that, we are enjoying the Christmas season and preparing for Baby Jesus! This year has been so great being plugged into my church community.  I am especially excited this Christmas because it has been renewed within me the true reason for Christmas.  Thank you Jesus for coming to this earth and reconciling our sins.  You are amazing and I, we are unworthy of your love. Thank you Jesus! The kids will be in a Christmas Pageant at church. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing Deanna singing and participating.  Fun times ahead! :) 

Christmas Time is here!!

Love me some Christmas!!

My true hearts intent is to remember the most true important reason of the season and that is celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ! Thank you Jesus so much for coming to live, experience, and know the human experience.  Thank you for dying on the cross and promising to return.  I feel baptized in your love knowing you are coming again.

With Deanna and Jenna Christmas is so fun! Don and I are looking forward to setting traditions that our children will cherish for their lives.  One tradition that i really want them to know is the Nativity.  With us living in Italy, we are fortunate to visit the creche scenes that Italian villages will set up.  In our town at the big church, the Nativity scene is massive! Cookie baking, Christmas movies, daily doses of Christmas music, crafts, play dates, Christmas Pageant at church, and Gingerbread house construction are all on the menu this season. Deanna cracks me up~! She keeps saying, "Santa will be here in a minute!" She has a month to wait.

The Tree is up and shining in it's gold glory.  I was so happy to find a tutorial online to help me create the ribbon look for the tree that I was envisioning but no idea as to how to actually execute. I love success!

We have the Elf on Shelf, but i keep forgetting to move the darn thing.  Thankfully Deanna is not totally yet remembering the Elf...i bet next year she will be! Eiy! I see all those crazy ideas for the Elf around the internet.  I truly ask myself if I am one who can manage the Elf and all his antics :)

I do love this year because I can be crafty.  I truly love my Silhouette machine.  I was bummed that 3 months after i got my SD machine they came out with the cameo.  This season they are hosting a "Dear Santa" letter project. The grand prize looks AH-MAZING! Please choose me please!  I have been using the machine to make awesome Merry Christmas banners.  I need to make a better one for myself.... the options are endless with this machine! Thank you for this machine! I wish to be so with it one day that I can make an online etsy shop selling my stuff.  That is the plan, just need to find the time and specialize in certain projects and become just a tad more knowledgeable in computer/ web design.

All for now but I will keep posting... probably not on any regular type of basis, but that's me ;)

Tuckered out on the car and singing your praises

As we drove home from church the sweet little girlies fell asleep in the car. As they sleep in the car to avoid the transition of going in the house, I plug my iPhone into the player of the car and listen to my worship music . Thank you God for all the blessings you have given me in my life. I love you and praise you. Please put the worlds troubles at rest.

Dora Birthday Party

I had so much fun planning Deanna's 3rd Birthday!.
Pinterest was my friend a few months ago putting some ideas togehter. I thought I'd post the pics and ideas from her birthday bash in case any other mama's out there are planning their cuties big day too....

Here is the link to my pinterest board...
http://pinterest.com/bethannmccann/dora-birthday/
Tons of my inspiration and ideas came from items tagged in pinterest

 The goodies in the favor bags

Bandaids, silly bands, toothbrush

tattoos

We used paper bags and cut up Dora scrapbook paper to decorate them up a bit

 For the Dora cake I used my pampered chef batter bowl... turned out pretty cute

Dora tummy ticklers for the drinks as well as another giveaway

Binoculars out of tp rolls... put stickers and crayons on table too but didn't get much use out of those

What's a party without a bounce house? 

52" Dora Balloon ... cute but when filling the arm had a hole... boo on you party city

I'm the map! Love my silhouette machine that helped me make the face -- 

The silhoutte machine totally rocks and helped me make the map... so easy!! 

Parachute Paradise... first stop on the map

Giraffe Pond... 2nd stop... we used water balloons and had them pop it

Rainbow tree --- 3rd and final stop on the map...

Nacho bar... simple, easy and great!

Our birthday girl!
 Dress from http://www.etsy.com/shop/BabyThreadsByLiz

Lessons learned:

• The tattoos in the goodie bags went unnoticed and could have done without...
• Have your husband know where his phone is when he is doing the ice run so lines of communication are left open
• Always give yourself even more setup time than you think you need... no matter how organized you are...
• LOVE the silhouette machine! Get one! I could have done so much more but sometimes it's hard for me to start projects when the house is messy...

Fun times! 

Potty training

We are in the thick of it with Deanna :) She is  totally ready but now for her to remember and get used to going in the potty will be an adventure for sure! Jenna is now a crawler and is so cute! She loves the marble floors this house has b/c she can easily slide around.  She is starting to prop herself up on things too and balance on just her knees.  I have a feeling she will walk faster than Deanna did.  Too cute!  Ilove my girls, i love my husband and i love my life.  Thank you God for loving me so much and giving me all the blessing I have in my life.  You are such a loving father.  There is no one like you.

Growing on up!

Deanna is talking like crazy! Her fascination with "Daddy blue car" is still in full mode! Too funny :) She makes us laugh each and every day. We moved Deanna into her "big girl room!" She loves it and has done really well with the transition.  I made curtains for her room which turned out pretty cute! I am excited for her to move into her own room because that means we were able to move little miss Jenna into her own room! She is doing great in her own room and in the crib.  In fact last night she slept the whole night through with no feeding in the middle of the night! Victory is mine! It's not like I got a good nights sleep though b/c last night Deanna happened to wake up ~ Boo!

Jenna is now sitting up on her own.  She is getting big and so cute! Today we go the dermatologist to see what's going on with the birthmark on her face.  I am ready to put a name to it and know what it is and to see if there is anything we can do about it.

Don is awesome right now at the laundry mat doing all of family laundry! Love him!!

Update!

I am so not consistent when it comes to updating here but for my memory down the road, i will persevere and update here. These memories are just too precious to let them pass us by...

Deanna's vocab is taking off like crazy! She still has her fascination with daddy blue car -- bye bye. She does a great job with her colors... although she doesn't say Yellow ... she always says black for yellow... it's funny how she says purple.... that r in the middle is kind of butchered. I love the way she says papertowel... sounds like pee pee towel... cute!  She is kind of getting interested in the potty but not enough for me to take that project on... it will come in time and when i feel she is totally ready, I will be ready.

Jenna is getting so big, SO fast! It's unreal to me that she is already 6, almost 7 months now.  We have started the rice cereal and introducing one food at a time... so far, squash and butternut squash have been on her menu.  She's doing really well.  She is rolling around like crazy -- she does a plank when she is on the ground and within the last few days has found her knees and has been rocking  back and forth.  She will be taking off crawling any day now. Makes me think to kid proof the wires and cords a little better... italy doesn't make that very easy.  We are scheduled to go to the dermatologist on Dec. 28th ! finally! I have been trying to get in since October to figure out what Jenna's birthmark is on her face.  At the 6 moth appt the doctor mentioned it might be something called Nevus sebacous... i sure hope not after reading b/c i'm not too sure we can do anything about it... poor little one... iguess it could be a lot worse though,,, but anything to keep my girls from feeling any self conciousness down the road...

Christmas is coming! I am trying to get the traditions in place :) fun times ahead!

numbers, colors and teeth!

Deanna is getting really good with her colors. She says them all but orange :) She is counting too! She always skips one, goes right to 2 and is now introducing 3, 6, 8 and ten... the others she lets Don and I say :) Little Jenna has a tooth coming in the bottom. She is getting so big, so fast. I really don't remember time flying so fast with Deanna.

Tonight is Halloween. We will go to the OSS event and trick or treat. Deanna has become well aware of what a party is! She tells me she wants to go to the party. Works for me!

We are getting ready to fly stateside... can't wait!

That's dosss

She really means gross, yet it comes out as dos~ makes us laugh. The lesson i have learned lately is to not attend a scentsy party with an undr napped two year old. I was so exasperated at her behavior, i felt i had no other option than to pack it up and head home...at least at home i have peace and the situation can be better handled by me. I am praying for patiece, peace and thanksgiving along this road of motherhood with two little ones... I have been getting stiff necks ~ ouchhee! makes the days long when in pain. On a sidenote, i got my hair done at this kickass salon just down the street.  I will  return for sure.

Jenna my little love is already wearing 6 mos clothes and weighs 14lbs! Her smile is the best!

Pics of the last 10 days or so :)

September 11

We will never forget... 10 years later and I am just as sad as that day.... I have been in a funk all day long.  DOn keeps asking what's wrong and I just feel a bit depressed today.  The walk outside sure felt great.  It's funny how getting outside can brighten one's mood and disposition.

Deanna made me laugh today at church... i look back at her and she had all the Mr. Potato head pieces in her face... his ears in hear ears, his mouth in her mouth and etc.  Made me laugh.  Jenna lynn is as cute as ever and is staring at me intensely as I write this post.  She is 14 weeks today! Too cute! She is also wearing an outfit that is 6-9 months! Chunker! I am still trying to figure out what that thing is on her cheek.  I keep feeling the urge to mess with it but  i don't want to do any damage to her face.  I'm hoping the thing will start going away on it's own...

That's all for now! Pics to be posted soon :)

Fun times!!

My sister has been here visiting and OMG what a fun time! It has been a whirlwind of fun and good times! Lot's of food, coffee, gelato, driving! Jenna Lynn has decided she hates the car and has decided to cry most of the time we drive.  Here's a run down of our adventures for the last few days:

9.3 ~ Deanna's "banana" birthday party then we took an overnight trip down to Venice!
Venice was fun, yet crowded!

Monday 9.5 ~ Deanna's real birthday! We had fun just relaxing! We went to the base during the day and walked around ans exercised.  Don gave us a tour of the tower and we enjoyed lunch at the golf course ~ that place is perfect for the kids b/c they can run around on the putting green.  Later that day we decorated the table and had Deanna open all of her gifts from her birthday party, as well as some others. Her most favorites are the tea set, the bday cake, the Mr. Potato head, the baby and stroller ~ We have a total surplus in toys right now! Haaa! It was so cool being able to skype with all the grandparents as we wished her happy birthday.

Tuesday 9.6 ~ We went to the mom and tots class and got our fitness on. Afterwards we walked to the Aviano market and looked around and bought some cute clothes.  I love the dress I got from there, the shirt, not so much! Later, we came back to the house and waited for Don to get off work.  We drove up to Barcis and toured around and drank some wine at a nice spot.  We then drove back down and ate dinner the Casa Bianco.  It was a yummy dinner.  We then got ice cream at the Gray mall.  Fun night! We got home late and Deanna was plum tuckered! I was beyond full! I think cones make you more full than getting a cup :)

Wednesday 9.7 ~ Beach day!!! We packed our overnight bags and left the house for Jesolo beach.  Too bad I got lost on the A4 driving down there! Once we passed the Venice aeroporto I realized we had gone too far.  We eventually found it and enjoyed our day on the beach.  We were looking forward to spending the night there but it seemed more fun that how it was rolling out o be.  Deanna was so TIRED and was just falling apart... plus our hotel was gross and I was just longing for my bed. When MA came back up to the room I told her how i felt and we were in the car outta hotel Grief! haa! Funny name of the hotel :) It was so nice getting home to a nice shower, a great dinner in Roveredo with MA -- we ordered incorrectly and the guy brought us SO MUCH FOOD! The bolognese, our first course, was SO yummy, yet so filling ~ we had already ordered 2 other courses! Eiy! Don had leftovers :) Poor Don did not get to indulge in his solo man night.  He was so much help when we got back! Love him! ♥

Thursday 9.8 ~ Woke up and went to the corner coffee/ pastry shop on the corner.  Got a yummy cappuccino and enjoyed watching Deanna play with an Italian girl in the store.  Too cute! We walked the market and again bought some goodies (clothes!).  I love the clothes at the market.  I think they are super cute and cheap! Later on in the day, we went to base and picked up groceries and MA did some laundry.  Don had put a yummy roast in the crock pot for us so we indulged in the most yummy dinner.  Anya came over and did dinner with us.  The gelato this night was super delicious!!! ❋

Friday 9.9 ~ We drove to NOVE! Carla was amazing and offered to watch Deanna during the day ! What a treat that was going to visit Nove! The cool VBC shop had so many items that it was fun getting some cool stuff for the house.  I got a cake stand with dessert plates, a Santa cookie dish, a creamer and sugar bowl, a tea pot and a butter dish... i did good! When it came time to pay, MA decided to pay for it all! OMG ~ so generous! Thanks!! Long day of driving ~ it was worth it once we got there, but my goodness! There has got to be a better way to get there.  I can't wait to go as a passenger next time.

We will see what the weekend will bring us :) Fun times!!!

Deanna Banana Birthday Party!

Today is the day that has been swiriling in my head for a few months now... since we call Deanna "banana" we thought the theme had to be Bananas! We have some fun things going on ~

I made her and her sister a dress out of banana fabric!
Bean bags have been made to throw through the monkey belly that Don drew out and we painted
The favor bags are ADORABLE! They are muslin with a banana applique out of the banana fabric of course!
We made frozen banana treats... i made some frozen banana ice cream but it wasn't setting so I hope it's working out this morning as it's had time to freeze overnight...

I will add some pictures on here when the time comes to me uploading some from the big day :) Yay!!! Having Maryann here is so much fun~!

Deanna is doing ok after her fall from my bed! Ugh! Can't believe that happened... she does complain about her neck area ~  I think she got whiplash... yikes!

We go to Venice after the party so today is a FULL day!

oh no!

Deanna fell off our bed last night!so scary ~ she seems ok today but is complaining her head hurts ~ i feel awful!!!

Buzz Lightyear

Both Don and I are in love with the way Deanna says Buzz... the zzz's at the end are said with her teeth clenched together ~ too cute! It's kind of fun too that just the mention of Buzz can distract her away from what she's not supposed to be doing ~ win win!

Jenna is starting to suck her thumb~

~ Purpose ~

This online blog is to keep track of all the funny things that happen in our house/ life while we experience our time here on this lovely earth.  I don't want to forget these lovely memories/ moments, especially while the girls are so little.  Enjoy our little piece of happiness :)