Sproost

I am definitely stealing this idea from Whittaker.
I went and had a great time picking out what i liked and then they def. pegged me! Mountain Lodge style with a little bit of Wine Country
Sproost Try it out!
Here are my results!

He is sitting up

Valentine's Week

I decided I would celebrate with the kids everyday leading up to Valentine's Day. I found little mailboxes at Target and lots of goodies at Hobby Lobby that made this an inexpensive fun time. The Sunday before, the ladies from House church got together, as we talked I assembled everything I was going to do. Each morning I set it up the table for the kids to enjoy. I was given a great book for Christmas helping to incorporate Jesus in each Holiday and Valentine's Day was the first one. She suggested giving cards each day that had Love verses on them from the Bible. I chose a pack of Disney Heroes for Evan and Princess valentines for Katherine. I also gave them candy hearts with the little cards.
The first day we made these fun snacks that I saw in my parents magazine.

Larry gave me this board from Creative Memories for Christmas and we used it for the first time.

Each Morning I gave them something new. There were hearts that they could write on and tell me what they loved, hidden hearts that gave them a task for the day like, "Kind Words", "Hug someone you love" and "Kind actions". In addition, they had love plates and napkins to eat off of each day.
My favorite was the bath crayons I found on clearance at the grocery. They have never had these before. I think they took there baths at 7am this particular morning. Katherine really enjoyed it and here is her thank you heart.

Daddy topped off the week with balloons, cards and chocolates on Valentine's morning.
Chocolate in her mouth.
I am pretty sure this is right after Daddy took the chocolate so we could eat breakfast and Evan is not happy!

I made Larry's favorite-Banana Nut Muffins

I made this card for Larry. On the inside it sais "Bee My Honey?". Katherine read it and said "ahh that's funny mom cause bees like honey and you call Daddy honey sometimes. I smiled!

Best Gift EVER!

This morning at 6:30Am my son woke up and came to my side of the bed. He said "Unt Tell ooh somefin Ma" I said in my groggy state "What buddy?" He then preceded to turn my head over so that he could talk into my ear and whispered "I Wuv ooh". At this point I am fully awake with pure joy and I scoop him up and snuggle with him. All on his own he wanted to communicate his love for me. I have to say that after cleaning up his mess all week, it was a great gift!

Bath Fun

Sometimes all you can do on a cold winter day is have fun playing in the bath. We spend a long time playing, bathing and laughing in the tub.


Look at his rolls. I have got myself a chunk a monk.
He is fascinated with his feet right now. They entertain him for long periods of time. Especially when he has his socks off...ooohh toes!!

Writers block

Such a hard time putting into words the thoughts, feelings and emotions I have been going through the last two weeks. Kids being sick, offenses that need to be forgiven, weight that isn't coming off and major changes in our church have me spinning. I have spent some time in the word but I find myself falling asleep. It is in moments like these that I am thankful that scripture has been read to me, sung to me and prophesied over me since I was a little girl. It is in these times that the living water rises up within me and I am revived. Stephanie caused me to recognize this when she wrote this post today.

Scriptures like "All things work together for good of those who love him and are called according to His purposes" "His plans are to prosper you and not harm you to give you hope and a future" " He loves me with an everlasting love" "Perfect love casts out all fear" "Cling to the Rock that is higher then I" I find that the scriptures that touch the very issues of my heart rise up and give me the strength to do what I need to do.

My kids are all well now.
The offense has been forgiven
The Church, His people, are looking to the Head, Jesus, to lead us in His way.
My husband thought I looked like a very beautiful actress today and told me so before he left for work.
Weather like we are having has warmed me all the way through to my soul and I feel encouraged.

Play-doh

This is Katherine's fruit and vegetable basket

When the kids get sick

Just wondering...why when your kids get the stomach bug does it always end up everywhere but the trashcan or the toilet. We had a trash can with us all the way through the Home Depot. It wasn't until we were in the van and she was in the back seat did it come up. WHY? I was in the front seat and had to basically leap over to get to her but it was too late. An hour later She is clean, the van is sanitized and airing out and the carseat cover is in the washer. About this time the hubs feels sick and I am thankful that he can at least take care of himself. Needless to say today we will be staying home and praying that the boys and myself do not get sick.

A night with the kids

Tonight I stayed home while Larry went out and I had a great time with the kiddos.
We rented The Incredibles, put out the picnic blanket, and ate mac n' chz and nuggets. It felt good not doing one chore, I just sat and relaxed with them. Sometimes we all just need downtime with each other with no training just being!
I hope I do this again soon it was good for my soul.

Good days

Today I am blessed. It is a smooth day where I have had delightful moments with all three of my children. He is faithful to give me these days to remind me how much I love my life. These children truly are a blessing from the Lord. They give me the opportunity to see my God in ways I never would, had they not come into the world.
I am off to study and take a nap because all three are down and asleep!

Challenging Day

It is rough being a Mom.

I have only been at this for about 4 1/2 years now and the challenges that have come since bearing children have, at times, overwhelmed me. I guess the Lord let us know ahead of time that it would be tough. I mean let's get real we had to carry them through much pain and suffering for 40 weeks before they ever arrived, not to mention the labor and birth. I have prayed many times for the love of God to be in my children and now I find myself today saying, Please Lord let your love be in me. It is a time when nothing specific is being done to me it is a combination of things going on with all three of them that has put me in a funk. I have cried, I have prayed, I have talked with other Mom's. So far the release has not happened so I am hanging on to the verse "He will not give you more then you can bear". Does that include the bear that I have become???? Maybe I need to start there. ME, what is happening inside of me that is causing such a roar? Have I been pressing into Him? Am I spending time resting in His love for me and meditating on the eternal perspective? Why does what other people want from me in regards to being a mom coming before what He has said to me? I am searching and I am depending on My Lord and Savior to take this broken woman and show me the way to Peace. Show me the way to wholeness. Show me the way to be consistent with time with Him. The truth is in me and I want to let it make me free!
As I write the kids are refusing to take naps. they are singing laughing and talking to each other through their walls. It is just one of those days.

This is how we roll

I found this shirt at the Life is good store. They had a minivan, a grocery cart and a jogging stroller. Since I have three kids and I hate going to the grocery store with all three kids I decided to get the mini van shirt. Which I must say, I proudly drive my 13 yo car that is paid off and only has 120,000 miles on it. Praise the Lord for His blessings that allow me to stay home with my kids and not worry about a car payment and the insurance every month. Having this used van fro two years has been great and holds a lot of wonderful memories. Beach trips, Visits to Nana & Papa's, Sugar Mtn. reunions, Countless trips to the park but most of all the little singing voices that have been driving with me!

Sean-four months

ABDC

ABDC-Americas Best Dance Crew
A show created by Randy Jackson and LOVED by anyone who has to tap there toe to the beat of a good song. I lUV to dance and wish that I had a little bit more rhythm. If you know me well you know my secret loves and this show gives me a treat every Thursday night. If you don't know me that well, one day over coffee or a good Denzel Washington movie you will find out ;)
Anyway, I watch in awe of what the human body can do and the beauty that can flow out. We were created to bring glory to God and to me dancing is one way we do that. Hey, If King David could dance naked in the streets and they say he was a man after God's own heart then I think if we tap our toe or express ourselves to Him in worship we are bringing a smile to His face.

Just to clarify I wouldn't dance all of these moves to bring Glory to the Lord, I am just sayin' it does this heart good to see talented dancers give it all and it finds me holding my breath because it is that good.

Wedding Fun

Daddy walked hand in hand with Katherine form the car to the house. She was skipping and humming to herself the whole way. To say she was excited would be an understatement!
Momma and her girl. Or to be more honest my mini-me!

Katherine took this photo of us, I think she really wanted some of that cake. It is taking up more of the picture then we are.

My Mom looked amazing! She got that dress for a super great deal and rocked it the whole night.
Daddy and his girl. This is THE dress that she picked out with us for the wedding. It was a dramatic experience as we looked around Kohl's but when I lifted up this dress she exclaimed "That is the One I have been wanting Mom!" Keep in mind she is 4.

My family Ret, Christine, Larry, ME, Katherine, Mom, Dad, Katie, Chad. We are all grown up now.

It felt weird to have a family photo without the boys. It was good to have a night with Katherine all to ourselves and I will treasure this photo.

Katherine LOVED the flowers. She went all around the reception looking for any that were left behind. At one point she discovered a bouquet on the cake table. I could tell in her eyes she was on a mission. Before I knew it she was asking who this bouquet belonged to and then found her way to her Aunt Kathy. She, as politely as she knew how, convinced her to let her have the flowers and then took a great picture with her Aunt Kathy displaying her find.

These little flowers wouldn't do.
Here she is with her Aunt Kathy and the beloved bouquet

Aunt Carol came to see her in the Princess Party room. There was chicken nuggets, castles, markers, apple juice, candy...4yo HEAVEN!

We had a great time and all of the photos I took of the Bride and Groom didn't come out very well.