"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall - think of it, always."

-Mahatma Gandhi

I am a woman of strength and I hope my strength will one day inspire my girls to know that they are worthy of love and respect.

"If you love it let it go. If it returns to you cherish it, if not it was never truly yours."

Proverb

Fourth of July!

I'm going to try something new...make my post short, sweet and to the point like my BFF Heather does. Not easy for a wordy girl like me. ;)

On July 4th, my mom, kids and I went to Heather's Aunt's land. We ate entirely too much and had lots of fun. Isabella swam all day, while Ava sang the Barney song all day. Ended the night watching a truck load of firecracker get shot off. Isabella was a little scared, while Ava was squealing, clapping and reaching out to touch them. Those are my completely opposite girls!

It's a pillow...It's a pet...It's a Pillow Pet!

Isabella has been begging me to buy these for her and her sister...I mean BEGGING ME! Basically any infomercial Isabella sees, she wants. Note on the last post we have the Perfect Brownie Pan. We also have a Bendaroos, Touch Brush, Heeltastic and other random things I can't think of at the moment. Back to Pillow Pets....I had every intention of ordering them on-line but kept putting it off. Well, during my theraputic shopping experience today we were leaving the mall and there is a kiosk full of what....you guessed it! Pillow Pets! Isabella wanted a piggy and she wanted to get Ava the ladybug. Well what I didn't know from the website was they have large ones and small ones too! The small one was the perfect size for Ava (it was also cheaper and considering how much I had just spent on my little shopping spree, that was definitely a plus!). BUT they did not have a small ladybug. :( So we ended up with a cute little pinky rabbit. So cute (both the kids and the pillows)! They couldn't wait until they got home...they had to have them in the car. ;)

Summer Time

Well, we are well into summer and Texas gets HOT! Unfortunately, we don't have a pool...but that doesn't mean we can't play in the water! With the help of a kiddie splash pool and Six Flags Octopus Spray thingy, I have turned my backyard into a splash ground! And really I am killing two birds with one stone...notice the dead, brown grass in the background because our sprinkler system is not working. Well now my grass is turning green again! The crape myrtles are starting to bloom...all I need to do now is plant some flowers in the pots and there might be a little hope of bringing my backyard a little life.

Along with pools and splashing what would summer be without brownies! After eating a dinner of hot dogs, baked beans, then splashing around in the pool the night ends perfectly with finally busting out and using our Perfect Brownie Pan (that we got for Christmas)! It was Isabella's idea to add the M&Ms and if I do say so myself they turned out "perfect!"

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July, so the summer time fun will continue...so until then! ;)

Goofy Girls

Monday and Wednesday nights are girls nights. My mom, Isabella, Ava and I head out to the YMCA so that mom and I can enjoy the Zumba class and the girls like to play in the Child Watch. And let me just say that the gal that runs the Child Watch is AWESOME! Anyone that can eventually win over Ava gets double points in my book! Her own kids are often there and Isabella enjoys seeing them every week and loves her new friends.

Well it has become our ritual to go to YogurtVille after Zumba. For whatever reason this has become almost like our bonding time. It doesn't matter what kind of crap (and yes I say crap, because that is just the only word that explains the stuff happening in my life these days) has transpired earlier in the day or week, none of it seems to matter on Monday or Wednesday after 7:20 p.m. It is wonderful and amazing.

Soooo, this past Monday we had to make a quick stop at Kroger before YogurtVille. My mom jumped out while the girls and I stayed in the car and well...just got a little goofy. ;)



(this little pose stems from one that Isabella did a couple of years ago -below)

(She always used to make a goofy face and an L shape with her hand and that was her funny pose..too cute!)

The Psalm of the Storm

Caught between two worlds

All of my thoughts are in a whirl.

A mind blowing tornado between what is real and what is fantasy

The dust needs to settle so it will be easier to see.

Hopeful rays of light need to shine thru the turmoil

Because if they don't I will surely emboil.

Thunder will crash and rain will pour

That is how he will know that I will take no more.

After the storm there is always the calm

And that is when I will find peace in the 23rd psalm.

"The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever." (Psalms 23:1-6 NKJV)

-Cynthia Marie Danos 5/13/2010

Untitled

Be quiet and listen to the silence

Go into your mind, you can escape the violence.

The violence of the words that stab your heart

From someone who is trying to tear you apart.

Shield yourself from the one implanting the fears

Telling you lies you don't want to hear.

Be quiet and don't listen to the lies

Go into your mind and escape the demise.

Ignore the violence and bring back the silence

Ignore the violence and bring back the silence...

Say it again and again and don't let it in

Shield yourself from those around you that sin.

Open your eyes and you will see the peace

When you find the inner peace the violent voices will cease.

-Cynthia Marie Danos 4/26/10

My Midnight Sky

I wrote this one originally for my mother in-law, but my mother loved it as well. She shared it with her grief share support group. It was very emotional for them.

My Midnight Sky

---

When I look up into the midnight sky

I see the sparkle of the stars that used to be in your eyes.

The darkness of night is now wrapped around me

Instead of the warmth of your arms as it should be.

The breeze at night takes my breath away

And I wonder to God why you did not stay.

I long to hear your voice, feel your touch, see your smile

For that chance I would walk the earth and every mile.

But then I look up into the midnight sky

And I know I should not cry

For our love will always live and never die.

You are always with me in my heart and soul

And my midnight sky will be with me wherever I go.

-Cynthia Marie Danos 4/21/10

Angel

Time is precious with the ones we love

Before we go with the one above.

I see an angel down here with me

He is my angel but he does not see.

My guardian angel protects and serves

But he thought I was more than he deserves.

So he gets lost and he can't see

That he was sent just for me.

I will wait for my angel to find his way

Because without him I wonder how to live each day.

In the end he will help me through my darkest hour

He is the only one that would have that power.

The love for my angel has grown so strong

So in my heart he could do no wrong.

As I sit here quietly each day and pray

I know my angel will find his way.

He will come back to me and then he will see

That my heart and my soul is where he should always be.

Cynthia Marie Danos 4/20/10

Walking Ava!!!!

About 10 minutes ago, Ava walked for the very first time! Crazy girl decides to walk for the first time with one shoe on and one shoe off...that's my Ava! She beat Isabella by 1 month...Isabella started walking at 11 month, and Ava is 10 months. I did her a favor and took off the other shoe to make it easier and shot this video. I think my hoop-hollering distracted her, but I got a little bit on video. ;) Nothing can put a bigger smile on my face than watching my girls grow before my eyes!

Open House

Tonight was Open House at Isabella's school! First, she had a performance and Isabella was front and center, movin and groovin! She forgets to smile sometimes, so we need to work on that a little. ;) After the performance, we went to the class room, checked out her work and got a full tour. Then we went on a "scavenger hunt" to find the different areas of the school. There was a book fair...which we went crazy book buying in. The had a silent auction and raffle too!

Hello again!!!

I've beeen sooooo bad about updating this thing. I'm going to try to do better, because I used to enjoy telling the world my random thoughts and showing off my kiddos. So sit back and relax as take you back to 2009 and play catch up since I last posted in August.

Halloween - The Princess and the Pea!

I didn't really get any good pictures worth posting during Thanksgiving, so moving on to Christmas (pics taken with the Christmas gift to me from the hubby!).

Phew! We made it to 2010...hang in there with me! ;)
Didn't get pic from New Years...I know, I'm slacking all around!

February 6th at Thunderbird Roller Rink...kickin it old school!

Ok, I'm tired now. I'll post the big snow day tomorrow...or the next day. ;)