tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-106445722024-03-07T12:40:17.869-06:00Rejoicing Always. . .Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-53141943993888867432012-09-20T01:18:00.002-05:002012-09-20T01:18:59.281-05:00Jack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGLGEB00GICai8euWfVDVkLnLz8_kxGSK0wIw-QtrPVQwRwjy_zOnmI3XcSyu_cDvWT8GH717ilGoT-6fnZ7DlYBah3yGaI6zi9hBqfiejVKuw5JDzEysPm_jvqESOCIqD0TV/s1600/IMG_0572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGLGEB00GICai8euWfVDVkLnLz8_kxGSK0wIw-QtrPVQwRwjy_zOnmI3XcSyu_cDvWT8GH717ilGoT-6fnZ7DlYBah3yGaI6zi9hBqfiejVKuw5JDzEysPm_jvqESOCIqD0TV/s320/IMG_0572.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I need to put more pictures on this computer since it is the only one I use lately. This is a really old picture but captures my sweet boy pretty well! It's so late and I really should be sleeping, but I had to jot down a few things about my second-born and my one and only BOY! He is now 6 1/2. He LOVES transformers. (understatement) He has lost 2 bottom teeth and one on top (but it was pulled out by the dentist over a year ago). He was MADE for sisters. He loves them. He is a HOMEBODY. It takes a lot to get him excited to go anywhere...he's so content and happy just to be at home. He is in 1st grade this year and homeschooling and doing so well. I'm so very proud of him. His best friend is his cousin Scout and 2nd best is is cousin Ryder. It makes my heart happy to see those boys adore each other like they do. He has always been my laid-back, chilled out kid. Still is---although he can be a drama king every now and then. He is fiercely competitive to a fault. It's hilarious and frightening all at the same time. He loves the Lord with his whole heart. He is a worshipper. He is an evangelist. I have heard him more than once ask kids in chick-fil-a or McDonald's play areas if they know God. He hates wet and throw up. In that order. Don't dare touch him with a semi-wet hand from washing dishes or you'll get some of that "drama" I mentioned earlier. He's an entertainer. He LOVES to be crazy and crack us up. And I love to be crazy and crack HIM up. : ) <br />
<br />
One of my favorite Jack stories is this past April he was climbing a tree in our front yard and got his leg stuck--and I mean it was STUCK--between the two trunks that made up the tree. I was BIG pregnant and Tra was not home. I could NOT get his leg out. I started to panic. I said in a not so nice voice, "Don't EVER climb a tree in this yard again!!" And he responds as he bursts into tears, "Well WHY DID GOD MAKE THEM THEN????" (We got his leg unstuck after several minutes and I took back my comment.)<br />
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He is so sweet, but he is also, ummmm, needing some training on how to express himself more gracefully when it comes to talking to women. For example, since I had Sydney (baby #6) in July, he says several times a week, "There's that BIG OLE TUMMY again."<br />
And I'll close with tonight's comments at bedtime in order:<br />
While reading a book to him before bed, "Ewww. I do NOT like the smell of your breath. What did you EAT??" (garlic bread at dinner)<br />
After kissing him goodnight, "Hey mom---I think you need to go to that class again that helps you learn how to be a better mommy. (referring to the Sally Clarkson conference I attended last Feb--which I LOVED and it changed my life for real) Because remember this morning when you were like, "YOU PUT TOO MUCH WATER IN YOUR OATMEAL!!!!!" (after having Sydney we have taken some short-cuts with breakfast and I taught them how to make their own instant oatmeal in the microwave) I believe it is now time to go back to oatmeal on the stove that I make so there are no more explosions. : ) <br />
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I WILL be signing up for the Sally Clarkson conference again this year. And I just signed up for Weight Watchers tonight. : ) So so thankful for my precious, fun, tenderhearted, imperfect, yet perfect JACK.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-22671302413631449492012-03-27T23:26:00.004-05:002012-03-27T23:56:52.912-05:00Hayley BrookeI want to have a record of these things for myself and this is really the quickest outlet for me to put it all down. <div><br /></div><div>Hayley is 7 1/2. She is turning into such a beautiful inside and out young lady. She is a HUGE help to me especially with Avery. She loves getting her out of bed in the mornings. (and so does everyone else---the rest of them just get in her bed with her and play for a bit and then Hayley comes in to take her out) She is very concerned about everyone's safety at all times. It's quite humorous. For example, when I push the button on my keys to close the trunk of our car, she pretty much panics every time and says, "GUYS! MOVE!! WATCH YOUR HEADS!!!" And then she'll say, "Mom, next time maybe you should let us know when you're closing it. Someone could really get hurt!" She is NOT shy at all around family or close friends, but she is VERY shy in situations with adults or kids she does not know very well...until she warms up a little. She gets nervous about funny things. Like today I turned on a video of one of the new Gateway Kids cd songs and it started playing and she looked at Jack and said with a giggle, "Are you nervous? I'm so nervous! Why am I so nervous??" She's a crack up. She says out loud whatever is going on in her mind---all the time. Which I love, really. I can get tired head from it occasionally but I love hearing what is going on in that precious head of hers. She went on a trip with Tra by herself to Georgia to this Daddy/Daughter conference last weekend. They had a ball and she was pretty depressed when she got home because she wasn't ready to be home yet. She LOVES her daddy. They were gone Friday morning-Sunday night. She shocks me with her healthy food choices. She is SO responsible. On school mornings at home, she gets upstairs right after breakfast and plows through her workbooks and gets her stuff done most of the time before I even get upstairs with everyone else. She gets up on Wednesday mornings on her "school" days (she does a supplemental school in Fort Worth those days), takes a shower, gets dressed, fixes her hair, makes her lunch, gets all of her school stuff together and is ready to go on time every week. She is really one amazing kid. She loves American Girl dolls and she has developed a love for reading this year. She is very afraid of tornadoes. Like a bizarre unhealthy fear. She dreads the spring because it's tornado season. : ) She gets books on tornadoes and reads them because she feels like it will help her not be afraid of them if she can learn as much as she can about them. I love that still has such a child-like innocence about her. I love that she chooses to watch Curious George or Wild Kratts when she wants to watch a show. She puts her whole heart in everything she does. She has become a really good little dancer. This is her second year doing tap/ballet/jazz and I love watching her practice and perfect her dances. She LOVES performing on stage and she can't wait for her recital in just a couple more months. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jack is next...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-42083558091491166322012-01-29T22:14:00.002-06:002012-01-29T22:24:01.283-06:00UpdateI ran into a friend at Chick Fil A the other day who said she kept checking in to see if I posted a new blog and that I haven't in FOREVER. I really would love to do better and keep some kind of a "normal" blogging schedule. But the words "normal" and "schedule" totally do not describe my life in this season. At all. : ) <div>So just a quick little update for anyone else who is coming by to check on us every now and then..</div><div><br /></div><div>Life is fast, full, crazy at times (ok--most of the time), and never ever dull. We are all very excited about little #6 who will be joining us in July and adding to our "organized chaos" as one of my friends calls it. We can't WAIT to find out if it's a brother or a sister in just a little over a week!! Jack especially can't wait. : ) We are enjoying another year of homeschooling. Pretty sure we'll be doing it next year too. I LOVE it. And that's an understatement. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll throw some pictures in soon---hopefully that doesn't mean a year from now. : ) </div><div>Thanks, Alexis for the encouragement to get off my rear end and BLOG! : ) </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-49448157972016273032011-02-13T00:58:00.002-06:002011-02-13T01:31:33.426-06:00A Big Night...It is almost 1am on February 13 and I have been having contractions 5 minutes apart for 2 hours now. My due date with our sweet Avery Jayne is not until March 3. I feel like this most likely will not be it...that the contractions will subside and we'll have another couple of weeks with her in tact...or will we? I'm sad that I haven't blogged this entire pregnancy. I am in shock that it is almost over...like over tonight! We are all so so excited to meet this new little sister. The kids are getting so anxious to meet her and I love seeing their excitement and hearing their questions. I was gone most of the day today, and when I walked in this evening, Riley asked, "Is Avery still in there?" I am overwhelmed as I think about the Lord choosing to bless us with another little girl. Overwhelmed with joy and such love. It is so exciting to think about another little person running around and interacting with the other 4. And I am ready to spend the next several months holding this baby girl as much as I can, because I will blink and she will be 6. Hayley said to me tonight, "It feels like just yesterday that I was a little baby!" You have NO idea how true that is, sweet Hayley! <div><br /></div><div>Just in case this IS it, and since I can't sleep, here is a little note to my newest daughter:</div><div><br /></div><div>Precious Avery (supernaturally wise) Jayne (God is gracious),</div><div>We have been anticipating your arrival now for 9 months! I want you to know how over the top excited we are to have you join our family!! Every single one of us! You are baby #5--and that is SO special. Not every family gets to have a #5. After we had Mallory in the hospital just 2 years ago, daddy and I sat in that hospital room holding your sister and we both said, "I feel like God has another one for us!" Ohhh how we looked forward to you even then! We have known God had you just for us. And He saved you for this time on purpose. He has great and wonderful plans for you. And as much as we already love you, HE loves you sooooo much more. Your sisters and brother are all so excited to meet you and hold you and play with you! Tonight they were all gathered around my tummy saying hi to you and "patting" you and talking to you. They will walk up to me and give you hugs and say they can't wait to see you! We are going to have LOTS of fun. You are going to be so LOVED you will not believe it! Not only do you have the 6 of us who are so ready for you to be here, you have great grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins and a TON of friends who are just as excited to get to meet you and love on you. You are blessed, sweet one. While I am content with you "cooking" a little longer if I do not get to see you later today, a bigger part of me REALLY hopes that this time tomorrow night I am snuggling with you in my arms! You are already such a source of joy in our family. We all love you so very much...</div><div>love,</div><div>Mom</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-15387789765090888182010-04-25T13:46:00.009-05:002010-04-25T18:14:30.007-05:00March/April Favorites<div style="text-align: center;">Thought I would do a little catching up with pictures from the last 2 months. They actually go backwards, from April to March. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijg40PNNbo45uT4aknRqjkNHqWOeFI3eSPsA4doIQPpq_lStV47-agfDEK_RxfXgdfvj4jdrxghm8Yv1agvq3qb_wPhIN_GNfLWUgXu7rXAwLqi-mqy97HwdpCIBbNG_OoicT/s1600/DSC_0270.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijg40PNNbo45uT4aknRqjkNHqWOeFI3eSPsA4doIQPpq_lStV47-agfDEK_RxfXgdfvj4jdrxghm8Yv1agvq3qb_wPhIN_GNfLWUgXu7rXAwLqi-mqy97HwdpCIBbNG_OoicT/s320/DSC_0270.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464153338403428578" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Jack's new "look"</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACq0q7YoSZhO5SXyq2WlLrM04oNxGIOEXOuZ04JcG132Ef2Dl7hcUk8y-ThKiUVizWlwW9GwyP4xyVbkm4iS_yhIOJK60V0yyw5PPl2AO2GThA7PChggdLUKuXeIW5Gkm9ao2/s1600/DSC_0269.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACq0q7YoSZhO5SXyq2WlLrM04oNxGIOEXOuZ04JcG132Ef2Dl7hcUk8y-ThKiUVizWlwW9GwyP4xyVbkm4iS_yhIOJK60V0yyw5PPl2AO2GThA7PChggdLUKuXeIW5Gkm9ao2/s320/DSC_0269.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464153334912693426" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My baby is growing up! </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eQvY3DeSg5CZc4Gwqd5w1Oi9ESsGf_GpS4JxL9JMFHc9OY9kQs8veyYMnZK1txCEmPFXNmJcYVdm675ZeZ-shoKyJdvDEB4hyphenhyphenJYk0rqO8JSqrwFPovsLP0JOLkA6dd9DGQGu/s1600/DSC_0268.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eQvY3DeSg5CZc4Gwqd5w1Oi9ESsGf_GpS4JxL9JMFHc9OY9kQs8veyYMnZK1txCEmPFXNmJcYVdm675ZeZ-shoKyJdvDEB4hyphenhyphenJYk0rqO8JSqrwFPovsLP0JOLkA6dd9DGQGu/s320/DSC_0268.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464153329355653922" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">All dressed up for a "black tie" wedding---fun!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLrzgNoetiVepxMSmAwl9r5YjzHxC3UeAIVCM_9R-DLxBeq3DRb_Wz_l2hszLlwU2grYKQKpUiCWMZOiDNiJ6vp-1KuZoRXo8bxm8UI8MI_Ia51BC9bnnhHL0bfgzDxGkmOmW/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLrzgNoetiVepxMSmAwl9r5YjzHxC3UeAIVCM_9R-DLxBeq3DRb_Wz_l2hszLlwU2grYKQKpUiCWMZOiDNiJ6vp-1KuZoRXo8bxm8UI8MI_Ia51BC9bnnhHL0bfgzDxGkmOmW/s320/DSC_0267.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464152925866305218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Mallory Grace---always smilin'</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80PEKL_w6iMK9zKAolLFfncsp04tPi7YRC7qfN7LjgcAUU5xulrsV2-jV44ur3r_jVAgFPnU6AU9p7NLpliZLtZID_pWaj1cdObXcnA_I0hCCKd4RdwtjefIgTsBCyvjERXeX/s1600/DSC_0264.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80PEKL_w6iMK9zKAolLFfncsp04tPi7YRC7qfN7LjgcAUU5xulrsV2-jV44ur3r_jVAgFPnU6AU9p7NLpliZLtZID_pWaj1cdObXcnA_I0hCCKd4RdwtjefIgTsBCyvjERXeX/s320/DSC_0264.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464152915717932354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Feeding the turtles--or--themselves : )</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrHEV7_Lza7ygpx_ZBRgIKdalcSSbhSoVizbrlnqdkA2VWkXftdtTxJQ849K7XOpk_wSXG7a9ZBIxX8OAZLC5qifxsbaIGJHX4RpJY5e38pK3nmtbN7kBk4QxgMLgQK-rvU-_/s1600/DSC_0263.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrHEV7_Lza7ygpx_ZBRgIKdalcSSbhSoVizbrlnqdkA2VWkXftdtTxJQ849K7XOpk_wSXG7a9ZBIxX8OAZLC5qifxsbaIGJHX4RpJY5e38pK3nmtbN7kBk4QxgMLgQK-rvU-_/s320/DSC_0263.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464152908701484194" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Jack got to "borrow" the fireman outfit from Mimi's Treasure Chest one day... the best day EVER.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrvgnF4LoXWILKbO13W89ptw5oF8qEaxBnSlcDBUkIcs-cAPdfnAD3fTnyAuYM1PG0_wo1B-vTwGBXzm930jr1zG354XBsv5dW3IyORWaHXLAOv-Fb7fdM4QviuovvRAfR-Yd/s1600/DSC_0221.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrvgnF4LoXWILKbO13W89ptw5oF8qEaxBnSlcDBUkIcs-cAPdfnAD3fTnyAuYM1PG0_wo1B-vTwGBXzm930jr1zG354XBsv5dW3IyORWaHXLAOv-Fb7fdM4QviuovvRAfR-Yd/s320/DSC_0221.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464152902874487330" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Riding rides at a carnival at Northwood Church---so much fun!!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZZ6Br-M3SCuhd9IHJw3rbjGP1we_X8hhYJkni30avoaZAjU52R5v3vCAY_EtlmYYDcSfOmMu-Gc9DdRuWT_kHC8f7Z1RB3ABZaWjvYSQRx9vI3SqwJ57KY3agnqkrhaGokvW/s1600/DSC_0255.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZZ6Br-M3SCuhd9IHJw3rbjGP1we_X8hhYJkni30avoaZAjU52R5v3vCAY_EtlmYYDcSfOmMu-Gc9DdRuWT_kHC8f7Z1RB3ABZaWjvYSQRx9vI3SqwJ57KY3agnqkrhaGokvW/s320/DSC_0255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464152895001899586" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Braving the ferris wheel---</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvW7qHIH2V6ncJPg1_IQrF7cMfxRuBOiF9N64N5c3S9v9SfO7FZyn9O6GUNxjbGrhHkn17-6kcO-BUYYBEZO6IYfDE0EiQl3OejmHy59GaaFpxMlSt6o_Et_TElLopGbJfAgoI/s1600/DSC_0225.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvW7qHIH2V6ncJPg1_IQrF7cMfxRuBOiF9N64N5c3S9v9SfO7FZyn9O6GUNxjbGrhHkn17-6kcO-BUYYBEZO6IYfDE0EiQl3OejmHy59GaaFpxMlSt6o_Et_TElLopGbJfAgoI/s320/DSC_0225.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464152026332989698" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Watching Riley was worth the price of admission...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh698Qsls5G0qnzlikCpHCsbMOKi8didSMliknA5RYSyubFhFWxzjBxT1tsPsXrOZ2N-dVjpeYs0BwzwfSCrEWv8wZC5Q2qr9MqDvOgd2fB9wOY1lO7Ianr8MEUsRiyZGjPUXc4/s1600/DSC_0217.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh698Qsls5G0qnzlikCpHCsbMOKi8didSMliknA5RYSyubFhFWxzjBxT1tsPsXrOZ2N-dVjpeYs0BwzwfSCrEWv8wZC5Q2qr9MqDvOgd2fB9wOY1lO7Ianr8MEUsRiyZGjPUXc4/s320/DSC_0217.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464152024484505186" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Sisters..</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNDK0IYKpBpEYIt8IAJuThYyaCtJKKII42YLvf1VBasmAkwDKYGZQhDutNh94xHRP6hFlqx677H_J8F7iDSwyqKqRaDlv1oQ02ClhYqZETjpy8nFVJt8TETYbbHLZ_QeTQCXD/s1600/DSC_0184.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNDK0IYKpBpEYIt8IAJuThYyaCtJKKII42YLvf1VBasmAkwDKYGZQhDutNh94xHRP6hFlqx677H_J8F7iDSwyqKqRaDlv1oQ02ClhYqZETjpy8nFVJt8TETYbbHLZ_QeTQCXD/s320/DSC_0184.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464152015265091826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">These 2 both won a game--the only game they were allowed to play. They were HAPPY campers.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxQaIKC2BuiUKnXfNl8TOvTlRlwhQfjjopnUck2T9KIjiwV0wMTtZI4mCVPK3qCyIAHy26IiXvlW2Z_4vMcCdC6bbATHcVEZMVnsuMpsIRLjtdZiTjZYk-4rTml3_UARka8Ol/s1600/DSC_0172.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxQaIKC2BuiUKnXfNl8TOvTlRlwhQfjjopnUck2T9KIjiwV0wMTtZI4mCVPK3qCyIAHy26IiXvlW2Z_4vMcCdC6bbATHcVEZMVnsuMpsIRLjtdZiTjZYk-4rTml3_UARka8Ol/s320/DSC_0172.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464152005964274866" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I have pictures of my sister and me looking through fence holes at the puppy in my grandparents "alley" in Lamesa. This was an unstaged, sweet little moment for me...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWH8b1wXaOV4MJfE0k2IFSN4szz7UaqY88zBXDTrmMzOVQux7s3Xpfz0IfZKn09w2tZybiPZXlY_M6cFd8Bg3arcnEwxeLKj-7Fgc4HjXIGGTpFM4CKU0uzLAq-pFWeYDqtM2E/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWH8b1wXaOV4MJfE0k2IFSN4szz7UaqY88zBXDTrmMzOVQux7s3Xpfz0IfZKn09w2tZybiPZXlY_M6cFd8Bg3arcnEwxeLKj-7Fgc4HjXIGGTpFM4CKU0uzLAq-pFWeYDqtM2E/s320/DSC_0169.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464152001625446834" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Riley Kate LOVES her daddy. He is eating dinner here and she can't get close enough to him. : ) She kept saying, "My daddy, my daddy!"</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7Iqx1LooIjGR0VE8YSl2CvrQDAh5k0R6nVYA_fpJqiGqhIvSh-p9Gu7Nw4mkbprxSsDCQnNjPRzI4T9GTCXMnRmBAIevfT_HwUifOUPQ9Nw-OoGDk_UlMc5Dk4XHzDMbZs1p/s1600/DSC_0167.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7Iqx1LooIjGR0VE8YSl2CvrQDAh5k0R6nVYA_fpJqiGqhIvSh-p9Gu7Nw4mkbprxSsDCQnNjPRzI4T9GTCXMnRmBAIevfT_HwUifOUPQ9Nw-OoGDk_UlMc5Dk4XHzDMbZs1p/s320/DSC_0167.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464151063343500610" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This is Easter morning... I had our church service on the computer as we were about to leave for Tra's parents' house for the day. Love modern technology and love these 2 little hearts. This was unstaged too. I love how they love each other.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KUoHxiFgOVFYT1DOrympuCH0kyQNcU5r6kqDZGF7YecQBW-DRR9-QZzngDq1Du76Heo3wqaeYfeclQIjPh75FdrLv8syJp-zYG3t4xMjW9SBxY5OXNfatwl2Z9JwNIsiBe0Q/s1600/DSC_0165.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KUoHxiFgOVFYT1DOrympuCH0kyQNcU5r6kqDZGF7YecQBW-DRR9-QZzngDq1Du76Heo3wqaeYfeclQIjPh75FdrLv8syJp-zYG3t4xMjW9SBxY5OXNfatwl2Z9JwNIsiBe0Q/s320/DSC_0165.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464151054627753202" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Hayley loves praising the Lord!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDag94o7p8nbf-jGOT55pFQH9qNCrJA91m2REgnZcIw0KBInjfrJbulUPf8k-hhqSo5nblhhXoe0r-ADgn-3rWGn9WdRM2iEv2F7npDa6gMrSNRbaoxq3FLqGqk-lnyEa0moV/s1600/DSC_0162.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDag94o7p8nbf-jGOT55pFQH9qNCrJA91m2REgnZcIw0KBInjfrJbulUPf8k-hhqSo5nblhhXoe0r-ADgn-3rWGn9WdRM2iEv2F7npDa6gMrSNRbaoxq3FLqGqk-lnyEa0moV/s320/DSC_0162.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464151051229733970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Easter Eggs!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_a-B-HctCDy84A5-YC_r40uOa7Eb6jq8jRyzQxFpfXbFMQyLU5XCcXJ1iIrCfIQggT3MNuDvqCk52xzpe-z_bLRnUb7tXx6oFsthFcNGkdH-5SJZ5AGkfSBFWkWWIqqtAkkO/s1600/DSC_0161.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_a-B-HctCDy84A5-YC_r40uOa7Eb6jq8jRyzQxFpfXbFMQyLU5XCcXJ1iIrCfIQggT3MNuDvqCk52xzpe-z_bLRnUb7tXx6oFsthFcNGkdH-5SJZ5AGkfSBFWkWWIqqtAkkO/s320/DSC_0161.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464151041548300434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The stickers were a hit this year.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aZGf3MYSFqDw6n7umI5O__54C5sQ3Cn21A5_9uar8SQfcYlQ1AMu80rkNTKHLwGEQnKC9QOvhyphenhyphenJLVRJ6D8nY_BTJq6Xkgt2y6ma1A5z1_X1Gmq-jNu10vEGUN5H1CGYQtxo-/s1600/DSC_0143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aZGf3MYSFqDw6n7umI5O__54C5sQ3Cn21A5_9uar8SQfcYlQ1AMu80rkNTKHLwGEQnKC9QOvhyphenhyphenJLVRJ6D8nY_BTJq6Xkgt2y6ma1A5z1_X1Gmq-jNu10vEGUN5H1CGYQtxo-/s320/DSC_0143.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464151034479123218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The biggest strawberry ever...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlhhkMJh3Phe7UZZnIAbidp3tScbGqWLMa2C4rpaCSPRc044OUVxYB5rkWQQ6xWFNClmjbPgwLywRamCXU9tBikHDTF0XSSQARD-cd11nMowSpufZAd9ngfUpzTGgmVJ4uXoY/s1600/DSC_0140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlhhkMJh3Phe7UZZnIAbidp3tScbGqWLMa2C4rpaCSPRc044OUVxYB5rkWQQ6xWFNClmjbPgwLywRamCXU9tBikHDTF0XSSQARD-cd11nMowSpufZAd9ngfUpzTGgmVJ4uXoY/s320/DSC_0140.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464150288991966450" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Tra doing one of the things he does best...being DADDY!!! </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SdkcJxg5Xb30JBmRe-VbKGquYAd1R6wBRouKDspVoMeUO_UFDq4u3SX-XFWem-Dmwn5qq46uGFVE0j_92h3wFSS-qZfKNi-dyAKjVONM9OkMGm3n1SxZE3DuCcdq7Yz0B17r/s1600/DSC_0137.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SdkcJxg5Xb30JBmRe-VbKGquYAd1R6wBRouKDspVoMeUO_UFDq4u3SX-XFWem-Dmwn5qq46uGFVE0j_92h3wFSS-qZfKNi-dyAKjVONM9OkMGm3n1SxZE3DuCcdq7Yz0B17r/s320/DSC_0137.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464150285156577090" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I think one of my favorite things about these pictures is that he has Jack's Diego sunglasses on. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYARxdhtzqyLj_1hbWcSho9XVV4VQpcvXAVPSLoqI-1t9THz2mBnxXZAgug5smVocw7x-MUlVuL9K1oJSH4mXMyyeR0LsoONKxp9O0tZNOiyVe9qT_YGC41VjjcGW7qikFEK7r/s1600/DSC_0107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYARxdhtzqyLj_1hbWcSho9XVV4VQpcvXAVPSLoqI-1t9THz2mBnxXZAgug5smVocw7x-MUlVuL9K1oJSH4mXMyyeR0LsoONKxp9O0tZNOiyVe9qT_YGC41VjjcGW7qikFEK7r/s320/DSC_0107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464150274798163906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I looked out the back door one morning and saw this sweet little sight. Although they were probably scheming the next crazy mess Riley could make and making their plan on how Mallory would distract me from her...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73apnOepWTb7F9ja15DmFy7XPWvFebGYHVfXX_O6jUNwUE_aRBLXv0r0ur93nXoHvsLI4j0FGU1PMA0U0YIab43i1WqE-fCcR4Qad2phDLpK6y-6-g0vNvufJj3ZOJYT1cbf4/s1600/DSC_0071.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73apnOepWTb7F9ja15DmFy7XPWvFebGYHVfXX_O6jUNwUE_aRBLXv0r0ur93nXoHvsLI4j0FGU1PMA0U0YIab43i1WqE-fCcR4Qad2phDLpK6y-6-g0vNvufJj3ZOJYT1cbf4/s320/DSC_0071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464150265297689666" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday to Daddy!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPnI4d1QzYdPefztWx9GR6KcFCm1GewSkiX8aldX-aj31b4mzL29aUCB67Ozmu1HP7DUa7si4ShboyDJo-DKhHitT22OEvAY7haXFnnRkqmzzO1RGyMc5lTT4VzTsciTX7Dd_/s1600/DSC_0096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPnI4d1QzYdPefztWx9GR6KcFCm1GewSkiX8aldX-aj31b4mzL29aUCB67Ozmu1HP7DUa7si4ShboyDJo-DKhHitT22OEvAY7haXFnnRkqmzzO1RGyMc5lTT4VzTsciTX7Dd_/s320/DSC_0096.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464150257347748642" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This may have been the mess they were scheming... got into a trash bag full of ashes from our grill. Mmmmm, soooo fun.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUb6zveWRMOPYkTsG6OaC8Fw5nSLAmcEjGxQzZyeoUPF3qM83yvAXgVwUNZSn4606Q-5ZIR56PhbFOm3qG1VxLoxiDgYWt9avKjAa6MSohrGIwZ2a3-zwwhY3VVdE_uKjeKWd/s1600/DSC_0069.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUb6zveWRMOPYkTsG6OaC8Fw5nSLAmcEjGxQzZyeoUPF3qM83yvAXgVwUNZSn4606Q-5ZIR56PhbFOm3qG1VxLoxiDgYWt9avKjAa6MSohrGIwZ2a3-zwwhY3VVdE_uKjeKWd/s320/DSC_0069.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464149272975976418" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Pulling a blanket off of heads really fast=static electricity=HILARIOUS.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZNVyvoO2KDcbWtXgiy-6UThuHcPrErqP6gJ3e2mcrk1JDYXFwqqKcHiuTeD8yM0Jr_0NTzIt_v-jCiZN_DYiC0xdjQO0cXvD6LaF4SSDtr0Dk3b_tiv0sKRGnDV8QFTTcteW/s1600/DSC_0068.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZNVyvoO2KDcbWtXgiy-6UThuHcPrErqP6gJ3e2mcrk1JDYXFwqqKcHiuTeD8yM0Jr_0NTzIt_v-jCiZN_DYiC0xdjQO0cXvD6LaF4SSDtr0Dk3b_tiv0sKRGnDV8QFTTcteW/s320/DSC_0068.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464149264361591394" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Especially this one...doesn't she look like Alfalfa without the little curl? hahaha!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgayaTJZdcUQVjZHaf5JPaJCACRRy95yungJUkeS_0DSdzt-D_wQ1wszdP3bC9VLmWfRWvaYILMxtDntdSIqJ2ZEHcWMFLrv-wBbbw90mGDxnHRKLh7shBf8D4DdaeqTwa4jl/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgayaTJZdcUQVjZHaf5JPaJCACRRy95yungJUkeS_0DSdzt-D_wQ1wszdP3bC9VLmWfRWvaYILMxtDntdSIqJ2ZEHcWMFLrv-wBbbw90mGDxnHRKLh7shBf8D4DdaeqTwa4jl/s320/DSC_0087.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464149261900363298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The moment I realized, "Maybe I should cut her hair.." A theme in our family..</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSS_vQ5ykwH3Lvvsh77mP4yjpe42JLOIiEdti87HDAIqFgnlB-wVo3tjhdL9_gioEiADX1d_DnZskC_Fak8CTCOpT2j8Rpoxtlj5NCIfZGBBJwRBz_nesBHfPjsM70KF41d-ya/s1600/DSC_0116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSS_vQ5ykwH3Lvvsh77mP4yjpe42JLOIiEdti87HDAIqFgnlB-wVo3tjhdL9_gioEiADX1d_DnZskC_Fak8CTCOpT2j8Rpoxtlj5NCIfZGBBJwRBz_nesBHfPjsM70KF41d-ya/s320/DSC_0116.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464149252488994178" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Mallory helping out her sister...</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVghyDBulzdkKpfuYG2bMgvBBymYjsO1o3_lLHS6kEJH4gi0b_iePfZU5DjZEajOfImNSk-NhcUFPJKqLC0MTbB5MRDblOo4E9WtM_hp2VrcqRgItVoR15WsjeR6bG-zvvnrnm/s1600/DSC_0059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVghyDBulzdkKpfuYG2bMgvBBymYjsO1o3_lLHS6kEJH4gi0b_iePfZU5DjZEajOfImNSk-NhcUFPJKqLC0MTbB5MRDblOo4E9WtM_hp2VrcqRgItVoR15WsjeR6bG-zvvnrnm/s320/DSC_0059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464149245217972930" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">She sat like this for about 5 minutes one night. Such a cutie!!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-85096007303175795372010-04-16T21:45:00.002-05:002010-04-16T22:21:32.706-05:00Bedtime TalksI should start recording some of our bedtime conversations with Hayley. Tonight was something like this...<div>Hayley: Why do you have all those hairs in your nose?</div><div>Me: That's how God made me (sweet voice with a forced smile) It keeps out the dirt (my mom always gave me that answer) </div><div>Hayley: Ohh, so it's kind of like a GATE? </div><div>Me: Ummm, yes, kind of. Mommy's REALLY tired, so I'm going to go to bed---I love you!</div><div>Hayley: Can we go somewhere to eat tomorrow? Like Taco Bueno? I love Taco Bueno. They don't have a play place, just all those pictures. That way Riley and Mallory don't get lost and you won't be like, "Hayley, where is Riley? Where is Mallory?" </div><div>Me: (with a chuckle) Do I ask that question too often?</div><div>Hayley: YES. It drives me crazy. I'm like, "Ok mom, please stop asking that question..."</div><div>Me: I'm sorry---I'm not sure if we'll go out to eat tomorrow or not. I love you! (get up and walk to door)</div><div>Hayley: Ok. I just can't WAIT to see what God's skin looks like. If it will be dark brown, brown or white? I think it will be one of those? </div><div>Me: I know--I can't wait either! Maybe it will be rainbow?</div><div>Hayley: LOL. I don't think it would be pink or blue...</div><div>Me: Me either (closing door) Love you!</div><div>Hayley: I think Jesus is the best man I ever saw. Well, I didn't really SEE him, just in the movies. </div><div>Me: I know---he IS the best man. I'm so glad you love him so much. I love you! Goodnight! (try to close door again)</div><div>Hayley: I just cannot WAIT to ask God how in the world he got to heaven all by himself first?! I just don't know how that happened!</div><div>Me: I know--we have LOTS of questions for Him don't we? I love you! Mommy is VERY tired so I'm going to go to sleep now. I love you guys!</div><div>Hayley: (smile) Ok. Love you too..</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, Jack is facing the opposite direction almost completely out. I wonder how many words he hears from Hayley every day? The girl can TALK! And I LOVE it!! As exhausting as it is, I treasure these bedtime chats with my girl. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here is Riley's evening routine:</div><div>Me: I love you, Riley! Night night!</div><div>Riley: I want my water!</div><div>Me: Ok--I'll get your water... (refill cup with water) Here ya go! Night night!</div><div>Riley: I want mommy's shadow!</div><div>Me: Ok... (stand over her night-light and look up and wave hands while shadow of mommy is on ceiling) Night night Riley! (waving on ceiling)</div><div>Riley: I want Jesus died on the cross...</div><div>Me: (Make a cross shadow with fingers on ceiling)</div><div>Riley: (Giggling) There it is! There's Jesus died on the cross!</div><div>Me: Thank you, Jesus...</div><div>Riley: ...died on the cross, take away sid (sin), together (so we can all live together), forever (in heaven forever). </div><div>Me: I love you---night night! (as I lean over her crib)</div><div>Riley: (with a giggle) That's like Em-ee (Emily---cousin/babysitter) That's like Bet-ee (Bethany--babysitter) </div><div>Me: Do they lean over your crib like this too? : )</div><div>Riley: Yea. (giggle)</div><div>Me: I love you---(walk to door) goodnight!</div><div>Riley: I love you too! I love you too! I love you too!</div><div>Me: I love you too--night night! (start closing door)</div><div>Riley: I love you too! I love you too...</div><div>Me: I love you too---go to sleep! : ) (close door)</div><div>Riley: I LOVE YOU TOO!! MOOOMMMMMYYYY!! I LOVE YOU TOOOOO!</div><div>Me: (open door) I love you too, baby! Night night. : ) (close door and hope for silence, all the while eating it up that she wants to keep the conversation going as long as possible. Some nights drag out longer than others with the I love you too's. So cute.)</div><div><br /></div><div>I LOVE my kids. What a GIFT each one is to me... thank you LORD for the privilege of being mommy to these 4 treasures...Forgive me for EVER having anything but a grateful heart for them!! Thank you for the glimpse I have into how you LOVE YOUR CHILDREN!! To think that your love for me is greater than my love for my kids completely overwhelms me. I rest in that tonight...</div><div><br /></div><div>ps. I get tickled thinking about my bedtime talks with Tra each night. And me asking after a long ramble about something most likely very important about my day like an update on a friend's blog or facebook status, "Are you awake?" Silence. Long pause. He groggily answers, "Barely." Ha ha! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.... : ) We girls just get chatty at bedtime! Those boys are OUT seconds after their head hits the pillow! So funny...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-75008140521943142542010-03-12T08:00:00.006-06:002010-04-06T15:24:46.787-05:00Catching upWe have had lots going on around here over the past few months. Here's an attempt to do a little catching up!<div><br /><div>--Jack turned FOUR in January. We had fun celebrating with his Mimi and Poppy, cousins (Scout and Ryder) and sisters (minus Mallory who was much happier at home taking a nap) at Incredible Pizza. The highlight for me was watching Poppy and Scout race daddy and Jack in the race cars. Not sure which generation enjoyed it more! : ) They also had a lot of fun bowling and riding rides and shooting basketball hoops. I love that boy more than I can put into words. </div><div><br /></div><div>--We took the older 3 to the Rodeo and had fun watching them at the petting zoo especially. My kids all LOVE animals. Tra took Hayley and Jack last year one night right after I had Mallory, so I had fun getting to go with them this year! Riley experienced cotton candy for the first time. That was worth the price of admission! </div><div><br /></div><div>--Tra and I got to go to Washington DC for a couple of days in February...by ourselves!! My mom braved it and watched all 4 of our kiddos for us. She's a superstar. Everything went great and everyone slept all night every night, thankfully! We got to attend the National Prayer Breakfast and it was a really neat experience. It was very strange to sit just a few rows back from the President and Michelle, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton (the main speaker). I felt like I was in an episode of 24 watching the secret service guys scanning the room. We spent the rest of the day sightseeing and I LOVED every second. It was my first trip to DC and I can't wait to go back! We spent a couple of hours at the Holocaust Museum and could have spent an entire day there. It was extremely impactful. We sat with a congressman from North Carolina at breakfast and he had us come to his office and one of his staff members gave us a tour of the Capitol. That is the way to do it, people. We went on the speed-walking tour and it was a perfect speed for us. (Anyone can call your congressman/woman and ask if you can have a tour if you ever want a "private tour" which I think a lot of people already know, but I had no idea.) Being there made me want to be more involved in my community and made me realize that I'm not as insignificant as I feel like I am when it comes to governmental decisions, etc. I have a voice and I can choose whether or not to use it. I came home wanting to read some American history books! I haven't... yet. : ) The day we left to come home was the day the huge blizzard hit the east coast. The airport shut down 3 hours after our plane took off. Can we say close call? </div><div><br /></div><div>--We had a surprise 60th birthday brunch for my mom the weekend we got home. She has several "friends for a lifetime" friends that live in the D/FW area, along with lots of family and it was so much fun celebrating HER! </div><div><br /></div><div>--The day we got home was the day after Jenny Bizaillion went into the hospital. I spent the rest of the month, like many of you, praying more fervantly for her and her family and friends than I have ever prayed for any situation in my life. I knew Jenny in college but haven't talked to her since. I don't really even know how to put into words what that whole situation did to my spirit, but it changed me. My faith was strengthened---as we prayed for certain aspects of her health, they were answered. I know in my head that prayer is powerful, but this made it take more root in my heart. I think about Jenny's family and friends every day and continue praying for the Lord's peace to comfort them as they grieve her earthly loss for the rest of their lives. Especially her precious daughter. </div><div><br /></div><div>--The day Jenny died was the day we buried Tra's sweet granddaddy. We all know our grandparents won't live forever, but man it is hard to let them go. It was a sweet day of remembering a wonderful, godly man who I had the privilege of calling "Granddaddy" for 9 short years. I will miss his dry wit and the way he always made me feel like I had always belonged to him, and just hearing his cheery voice. I don't know that I've had another day in my life that I was more aware of my own mortality. It made me think---really think. What am I DOING here? It's all going to be over one day. It made me want to re-think why I do what I do in every area of my life. More than ever, I want to live my life more purposefully and literally seek first the Kingdom of God. It is ALL that matters! Relationships with my family and friends----they are the only thing going with me! It also makes me long for Jesus to return---QUICKLY!!! </div><div><br /></div><div>--Hayley has lost her 2 bottom teeth and learned to tie her shoes. She makes her own breakfast some mornings and makes her own bed. She has really taken off with reading. She told me last night that she loves Jesus and she is going to teach a lot of people about him. I told her I believe she will too!</div><div><br /></div><div>--At night when I put Riley to bed, lately she points up to a corner in her room and says, "There's a angel!" Tra and I were in there last night and I asked her if she saw the angel and she said, "No, I find him.." and proceeded to look behind her curtains and said she couldn't find him. After prayers and reading her favorite Bible story about the shepherds (Jesus' birth)she looked up at the corner and said, "Oh! There's the angel! There he is!" Ohhh, to see what these little ones see. </div><div><br /></div><div>--Hayley and Jack have totally gotten into Little House on the Prairie. I can't tell you what this does for my heart. : ) Angie and I watched this show every day for years and rarely missed an episode. To see them love it as much as we did is so much fun! The musical is coming to Bass Hall this summer---we can't WAIT! </div><div><br /></div><div>--I'll end with my favorite event of 2010 so far. On Tra's birthday (Mar. 20) Hayley told us that night that she asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior. She was at church listening to the Bible story that night of Jesus dying on the cross and she said she asked Him "quietly" during the Bible story. I asked her how she felt when she asked him and she said, "Ready." There is nothing sweeter than seeing the Holy Spirit getting a hold of my babies' hearts. In some ways 5 1/2 seems so early to really understand what she is doing, but I have to remind myself that we in no way pushed her to do this. HE, the Creator of the Universe, has been drawing her to Himself from the moment she was a little life in my womb. She is HIS! Just as they all are. As many crazy, hard days as there are with little ones it is moments like these that make every little (and big) mess and sleepless nights WORTH IT ALL!! </div><div><br /></div><div>Pictures soon to follow..</div><div><br /></div><div>**I just realized I started this entry on March 12, but finished it and finally published it today, April 6. Not that anyone but me would probably pay much attention to that. : )</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-16411828193409562552010-01-13T22:28:00.003-06:002010-01-13T22:59:51.513-06:00The first of many. . .<div>. . . blog entries for 2010, that is. I've SO become a blog slacker and it makes me sad. I'm hoping to become a better time manager this year with the ole blog.<div><br /></div><div>So today is my baby girl's FIRST birthday! How HOW is that possible? She is such a little doll. We had a fun day celebrating little Mallory Grace today. Pancakes for breakfast, lunch at the mall and playtime in the play area (no wonder Hayley was sick all the time as a toddler---we hung out there at least once a week! I have turned into a germ-a-phobe and I was NOT one when she was little--yuck), naptime, lasagna for dinner and of course CAKE! : ) That's what Riley Kate said when I told her first thing this morning that it was Mallory's birthday today... "CAKE!!" Love my Riley Kate.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mallory has been a huge fan of mommy this past year. And I've been a big fan of hers too---but I'm so happy for her that she is discovering that my legs are not the most exciting thing to be next to all day long. : ) She has become so much more independent over the past couple of months. She loves opening cabinets and pulling things out (oldest sister might have taught her that trick), she likes to mess with her Daddy's type A personality and pull EVERY book off the bookshelf in the playroom, every dvd case out of the drawer, and every cup/plate/bowl out of the kids drawers in the kitchen. Ha! She is taking a couple of steps and SO proud of herself. She LOVES and ADORES her big sisters and big brother. And they adore her too. I can't get over how fast this year has gone and how quickly she is growing up. I made a HUGE effort to just enjoy my LONG nights with her (she didn't sleep through the night until she was almost 11 months old) and I'm so glad I did. Lots of snuggling with that baby took place in her rocking chair in her room in the wee hours of the night. And now, that baby just wants to get in her bed and skip the rocking chair. : ( Here are some birthday pictures of our ONE YEAR OLD!</div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb-ACDFV8cS7iSNEFX6b8-8iWAjtOPE2Vsq4uFIFtg4ewOr9qll_nOSRxaf4BIsmgC9AvlhZCjNM5Ox3wTxzs5iuDXmag8eQAnT6Fhh0MozDwipoxyOTIXVXK92yHfc6tP6da/s1600-h/DSC_0231.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb-ACDFV8cS7iSNEFX6b8-8iWAjtOPE2Vsq4uFIFtg4ewOr9qll_nOSRxaf4BIsmgC9AvlhZCjNM5Ox3wTxzs5iuDXmag8eQAnT6Fhh0MozDwipoxyOTIXVXK92yHfc6tP6da/s320/DSC_0231.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426454758023274914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiZi4t6z3pJsWobCxAKTlsF_LzrMftyrDTlztJdY3MxL0rMxYl6vAuvq087yrhJ1MwxbDvYWd1bP6Jm8NIW6tjOsvdKLXm4Hf49t4ZCjZx8DbhOU6dwKIo_6xNF29UyGFe8wE/s1600-h/DSC_0131.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiZi4t6z3pJsWobCxAKTlsF_LzrMftyrDTlztJdY3MxL0rMxYl6vAuvq087yrhJ1MwxbDvYWd1bP6Jm8NIW6tjOsvdKLXm4Hf49t4ZCjZx8DbhOU6dwKIo_6xNF29UyGFe8wE/s320/DSC_0131.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426454752387368754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lxSjVd7It5mviciLLNBl21gSxtTA4RNdGvic85Uskx_dgW3HDTCk3fQg2KczQsOJFnLnT5YuRS5ho90sNjJ2oE28fiytQB7Co81eU7msuvOaCFOYMAlXXg5FukIas08IhZRo/s1600-h/DSC_0155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lxSjVd7It5mviciLLNBl21gSxtTA4RNdGvic85Uskx_dgW3HDTCk3fQg2KczQsOJFnLnT5YuRS5ho90sNjJ2oE28fiytQB7Co81eU7msuvOaCFOYMAlXXg5FukIas08IhZRo/s320/DSC_0155.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426454745809036114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw45ObiJeEe0K5wNWtzxdtm47uYzo7sZm3LXqAxCOrJu4rl5xtxuqmgCcLrOP2wMBF2hdsYGbmrByzWRl_qjbzp8wr5_2FiRfHgBhcoh3QAVefwQcEuqcAXumpmIDk6rBzLixW/s1600-h/DSC_0176.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw45ObiJeEe0K5wNWtzxdtm47uYzo7sZm3LXqAxCOrJu4rl5xtxuqmgCcLrOP2wMBF2hdsYGbmrByzWRl_qjbzp8wr5_2FiRfHgBhcoh3QAVefwQcEuqcAXumpmIDk6rBzLixW/s320/DSC_0176.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426454739591487186" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-446335684499006542009-09-01T20:51:00.003-05:002009-09-01T20:53:12.766-05:00Out. Of. Control.<div style="text-align: center;">A load of laundry a day keeps the "mounds" away. . .</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRadD5NeOIM8xCcVxhBvFx-Vf2ww1A4g7F3i4ydtzQ4Qyet77Z7PpHP_PlOW6SZpOVEwvQ49YfTsNHopsBdUvoYT9Vez70vrCNg2yHbXMKLNjzvgNh0_p4PoQF5OvMqgaNmtp/s1600-h/IMG_1903.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRadD5NeOIM8xCcVxhBvFx-Vf2ww1A4g7F3i4ydtzQ4Qyet77Z7PpHP_PlOW6SZpOVEwvQ49YfTsNHopsBdUvoYT9Vez70vrCNg2yHbXMKLNjzvgNh0_p4PoQF5OvMqgaNmtp/s320/IMG_1903.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376681988936595906" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-85871706216966749252009-08-27T22:43:00.003-05:002009-08-27T23:30:54.624-05:00First Day of School<div style="text-align: center;">I love being a follower of Christ. He makes life exciting. He leads me down paths I would NEVER choose on my own. One of these paths lately is the decision we have made to follow His leading to homeschool our kids this year. Hayley is in Kindergarten and Jack and Riley are pre-school. Mallory is in on the fun too. See pictures below. : )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I have people all the time say, "Oh, well it will be easy for you to homeschool---you were a teacher!" True. I was a teacher. I taught math to 6th graders for 5 years in Euless. I have a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and I'm "certified" to teach grades 1-8. But there is a BIG difference in teaching a room full of 11-12 year olds who have been in school for at least 6 years and in teaching a room full of an infant, a toddler, a preschooler and a kindergartner. I think I was more nervous on the first day this week than I ever was on my own first days of school as a student or a teacher. Not to mention the fact that it is MY OWN children. If they miss something, I'M the one to blame! That's some serious pressure! But the Lord keeps reminding me that He equips the called. He's not going to call me to this new way of life and leave me high and dry. He is so faithful too. This week has been a lot of fun and I can't even believe how much I LOVE teaching my children!! We live next to an elementary school and every morning when I look out the window and see everyone heading to school at 7:45 and we are all in the kitchen getting ready for breakfast, I thank GOD for knowing how very much I needed the slower pace. No scurrying, no arguing, no making lunches, etc. We finish with breakfast by 8:30 or so and my eager beaver (Hayley) is ready to start school. The girl comes down at 7:30 or so every morning completely dressed with a smile on her face and tells me she has her bed made and room cleaned. She does this just because she wants to. Jack on the other hand occasionally sleeps in his clothes so that he doesn't have to "get dressed" the next morning. One night he had on jeans and a tshirt after his bath. JEANS. And getting him to make his bed is a major challenge. His favorite quote to use is, "I'm stuck in the mud." Lots </div><div>of character training to do in this house! : ) Anyway---we have praise and worship time with all of us upstairs and then Bible Time, Calendar time, and then Handwriting. Riley and Mallory do a lot of playing during that time and Riley enjoys the Bible stories. I also use that time for character training. It's about an hour and then we move down to put M down for a nap and have snack time (usually coordinates with color of week or letter of week) and storytime. The rest of the day consists of an art project of some sort, some bookwork, and lots of playtime and of course NAPTIME. Another time of day that I am thankful to be either resting or working on some of my stuff when I see the line of cars at the elementary school. : ) I'm sure I'll add in things here and there as the year goes on, but for now it is working out wonderfully. At times I have a hard time believing I am really doing this. I LOVED school growing up. Loved my teachers, my friends, everything about it. I loved teaching school---my co-workers (who I really miss a lot!) my students, etc. I'm not 100% sure why God has us on this path. Maybe I'll never know. But for now--although it has just been one week--I am so thankful to be on this journey with my most favorite little people in the world! I know there will be days of weariness and frustration but so far it has done nothing but bless me! </div><div><br /></div><div>Here are a few pictures of our first day:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Clothes are optional at our school : ) And you have permission to wear navy socks with your undies in the 100 degree heat in the afternoons. (Daddy disagrees with this.) : )</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0guF25O3CDpORjZ1hU9BsrIEd-D4uyC6T4eW9xcbK44kIjwo4vrMqKRDD1PDl0Zz9pIrx2jiNMAsw5xlII4_QjlXx3AWg8EPXsPpaGzZePbuK4pmgbtzjr4mwjqeRu29-AW7/s320/DSC_0177.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374863792958132434" /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">The letter of the week is "A" so we made some applesauce. And we ate some too. . . </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBt9dUdk5sLoDI-1tXmTC4u7-2xCcP8eNOmP7SjGMwBnQdIvYe5mu7pcIFQ4GVZO1DR73hdmSRZYZJ8vhVC054mk9zGTlMy1eELUxBJlBQF5HX5AoTYs9B-oXL2O4CG2W5eyM/s320/DSC_0173.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374863784647073938" /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Riley letting Mallory in on the applesauce---so cute! Mallory LOVED it!</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZV0b0sIumiHzeGjwDNCwIDE_4vppWptuw5j2YB3V8TJaVpMP5-MkQwOzYSCta2iwQfYD93eBRiwF-XmrYhSF5rDDrbeXwdVCkMn-oGNZMt2PYL1CGCz0rJFPzoFKgGIR50RNr/s320/DSC_0161.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374863775319888050" /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">YUMMY!! (apparently the "Woody" costume got a little toasty---hence the undies and socks)</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0FlmtfeT34uLHp8nsZidMF6FH9Pz_agejjMr4ECSZxg3kTnDrMPlFQqgl70iS5kFPUbUKm_FHH4dZtp8iMIhk7UfVYceneLobiRXQUKdYnV8dm9rv5HqFZC8PkpRnmKvo5eW/s320/DSC_0156.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374863765958413810" /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Ouch, Jack! Such a rough look! : ) Riley got in on the finger painting too. She tried eating it, but discovered the applesauce tasted a little better. </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLh-WrlCxUpsSGocpvVzjGtleEVHPNcUBFCpiqU4sKG7RVzZNrUV2bi1hkkPEhfLKgWdxqOuWNIgEtNu7tBQQ58Fuj_JRei8cHWXN8pqd9NHcJJaF5i9u2N5C-zHifjkg3e7aQ/s320/DSC_0151.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374863754566742322" /><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-28357316226899685112009-07-21T14:53:00.005-05:002009-07-21T15:17:52.683-05:00A Few Pictures. . .<div style="text-align: center;">Little princesses! Fun times with cousins on a Sunday afternoon. Notice Jack's sullen face because "Adalyn has my necklace!" You'll see later, it's not just his "necklace" she has on . . . </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsag9y8iIqoAUQkrYJQrNGjnDIH4cih6FLEclDpdrG0GOduWFIrVO0DO6qaLshb4Nmf27pomrESPbD8nrx4dcazT9u5GKFeq5HWK_liymtgkNOLW3U3y8I1LQGE5oDjs1j8tc9/s1600-h/DSC_0037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsag9y8iIqoAUQkrYJQrNGjnDIH4cih6FLEclDpdrG0GOduWFIrVO0DO6qaLshb4Nmf27pomrESPbD8nrx4dcazT9u5GKFeq5HWK_liymtgkNOLW3U3y8I1LQGE5oDjs1j8tc9/s320/DSC_0037.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361008861848534274" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Just went face down in big sister's oatmeal. This captures our Riley Kate. A Happy Mess!!</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwnqO7nGBmpvioldm3E1yxbf2KGu59SoOfoWNFuszbLxqVorSSkksyiA1xZxTPHyz5XfFRvFzRgrCuc4LUE-l9TxnFtpg6LVYmeZFwZVqd2YkAISrFFGwafIixewLrm11bMg1/s320/DSC_0182.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361006327507676578" /><div style="text-align: center;">Squeezing in the Jumparoo with little sissy---Sorry Mal!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZGuiQqdOzc66UZERXA3-1-NVCxwG0AGdGhSE57HC-AkFhrq3iZUa5mjxiJeJhZQTE-bOCDv6PFrYb_9Vs9skXzlU93X0e4MIZHyHzzj-i3CndGkLsO-FTnqeFq5vGbXzJvJn/s1600-h/DSC_0181.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZGuiQqdOzc66UZERXA3-1-NVCxwG0AGdGhSE57HC-AkFhrq3iZUa5mjxiJeJhZQTE-bOCDv6PFrYb_9Vs9skXzlU93X0e4MIZHyHzzj-i3CndGkLsO-FTnqeFq5vGbXzJvJn/s320/DSC_0181.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361006319730241298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ummm, maybe we need some boy dress up clothes around here. . . FAST! (He is not going to appreciate this picture on his wedding slideshow.) I couldn't resist snapping this picture. . .</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQB2_TUDiknCafNvWo_GUhNNl9uccWl_4tFO2V9CndNGXMVgy6xzNWQw8pzlOsZ-_ZoOxxI-TUEgf5BZIjw6F8bPxEAyHCWLeVdbDjka63BkE8TtpXQsVdbmR56MAe63vCWF4/s1600-h/DSC_0173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQB2_TUDiknCafNvWo_GUhNNl9uccWl_4tFO2V9CndNGXMVgy6xzNWQw8pzlOsZ-_ZoOxxI-TUEgf5BZIjw6F8bPxEAyHCWLeVdbDjka63BkE8TtpXQsVdbmR56MAe63vCWF4/s320/DSC_0173.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361006315477697794" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Look who is sitting up! I said "SITTING" not "SPITTING" (although we've still got a little of that going on too).</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LrfipDPXdY_fxaaiE_xygGjVCw7IQhx-Sm2ftodfs0s6kLrbYgXhlRXXme5Z5KtfT74_3aYJcSV9etK6riFl9MyKvDFecbmGQuoMTDPhXaqPUL0QSVwv_JHiok2hCXmybfUW/s1600-h/DSC_0170.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LrfipDPXdY_fxaaiE_xygGjVCw7IQhx-Sm2ftodfs0s6kLrbYgXhlRXXme5Z5KtfT74_3aYJcSV9etK6riFl9MyKvDFecbmGQuoMTDPhXaqPUL0QSVwv_JHiok2hCXmybfUW/s320/DSC_0170.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361006313857253282" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Love this little girl! Already 6 months old---where is the time going?</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8H4566pgYdAGfFzQg6HAVprjn6lXxhK1RoQ_emXbQvBP35cOgiwg03lqM6MSHtwwd907bJfFa26XkvBDLAur2JdkdEDuPXmQCBJH-pOeUywXICjc260LwPOJzQlOBr42vDX7/s1600-h/DSC_0159.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8H4566pgYdAGfFzQg6HAVprjn6lXxhK1RoQ_emXbQvBP35cOgiwg03lqM6MSHtwwd907bJfFa26XkvBDLAur2JdkdEDuPXmQCBJH-pOeUywXICjc260LwPOJzQlOBr42vDX7/s320/DSC_0159.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361006303212502514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Happy 4th of July! We had a FUN day with both of our families!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Fi7WaVNjluv6aln2bAp5IRMsPfSBr7_wY7pOZUCnMA7NA2n3pIb1z1WTFVgcOyCEW07KQxxjLnvvNHZsIwZjkimDlxT4aESsASK_tPXK9Ty6ncyPVlRZM47svX9JCnfiU5rf/s1600-h/DSC_0082.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Fi7WaVNjluv6aln2bAp5IRMsPfSBr7_wY7pOZUCnMA7NA2n3pIb1z1WTFVgcOyCEW07KQxxjLnvvNHZsIwZjkimDlxT4aESsASK_tPXK9Ty6ncyPVlRZM47svX9JCnfiU5rf/s320/DSC_0082.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361005400562910754" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Sisters. . .</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJpxTvncLpOxe6l9JtPFQYhlQID_8FdLrqQeMJqoT_SSJwhqi0WQMXa6rpGayE2hzQs94GVlBhtz5lg4-fTMB1u778HclQ1F1_3KNNqK7X-yiXokOlKUBaZng4Xq3WgWW-Vur/s1600-h/DSC_0048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJpxTvncLpOxe6l9JtPFQYhlQID_8FdLrqQeMJqoT_SSJwhqi0WQMXa6rpGayE2hzQs94GVlBhtz5lg4-fTMB1u778HclQ1F1_3KNNqK7X-yiXokOlKUBaZng4Xq3WgWW-Vur/s320/DSC_0048.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361005398123193906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Before the first haircut---I think I waited a few weeks too long? : )</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29vXc4knixDgaG94V4EiQS59PSdLxabv9uUqf1I3EWcURIMQw1cOvxj3BUmYmWWLtUOYZgmigAM9J2nK8BD7yTPwkhhK4jkSccMdzTGxOiipn8fFYrf0pVcO3pHxHad3BZxZm/s1600-h/DSC_0012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29vXc4knixDgaG94V4EiQS59PSdLxabv9uUqf1I3EWcURIMQw1cOvxj3BUmYmWWLtUOYZgmigAM9J2nK8BD7yTPwkhhK4jkSccMdzTGxOiipn8fFYrf0pVcO3pHxHad3BZxZm/s320/DSC_0012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361005392684203378" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Front view of "The Hawk" </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDgiOag5fT10RPMIZsDJKIaTMMQmVi9z28dGbq3lLbNmaNA7HlTV7vzQ2Wzt_ibNCwJqyTtexTMKsivcqok3EY_61WqimseCzAU4c7cJnNpveRyR3hdQUHXjZtK8rgArOpoRg/s1600-h/DSC_0009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDgiOag5fT10RPMIZsDJKIaTMMQmVi9z28dGbq3lLbNmaNA7HlTV7vzQ2Wzt_ibNCwJqyTtexTMKsivcqok3EY_61WqimseCzAU4c7cJnNpveRyR3hdQUHXjZtK8rgArOpoRg/s320/DSC_0009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361005389446558594" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Cousins. . . I love these boys!! </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2W9trRvbxjS3pzUnM9EkxouM99_drviun23Iz1WfW-k7eHhPHLDammfTtL8gqmZVXf32jARhHuNUAH7bs9rHoX0uLpBxxt8sTGeGuw1hxkr06RXmz1gp4tTT3iKL45r1a598/s1600-h/DSC_0179.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2W9trRvbxjS3pzUnM9EkxouM99_drviun23Iz1WfW-k7eHhPHLDammfTtL8gqmZVXf32jARhHuNUAH7bs9rHoX0uLpBxxt8sTGeGuw1hxkr06RXmz1gp4tTT3iKL45r1a598/s320/DSC_0179.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361005382646973106" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-64377569108205320822009-06-03T15:47:00.000-05:002009-06-03T16:52:56.247-05:00Catching up. . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfCvP831VsVhB29ly0uP3PCWlVqWiVJIHYkRTrqJRM0ouaQcDGaJCmVlPHJxnHUWeeeUQEWlFGQLqvQg2zEbMoRgUdLHw2gr0tx-gPE_JM3Iq_SQ5V3C80HRwqx_GcWzVLcEc/s1600-h/DSC_0042.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfCvP831VsVhB29ly0uP3PCWlVqWiVJIHYkRTrqJRM0ouaQcDGaJCmVlPHJxnHUWeeeUQEWlFGQLqvQg2zEbMoRgUdLHw2gr0tx-gPE_JM3Iq_SQ5V3C80HRwqx_GcWzVLcEc/s320/DSC_0042.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343216439649061074" /></a><br />Ok--I knew I would have less time for me when Mallory arrived, but wow. I rarely get more than 30 minutes in the afternoon during nap/quiet time and then not again until 9:00 or so when the last little chicky goes to bed. And I have no "juice" left by then. So there's the reason for the blog slackin. Even now I need to go work on dinner before I have a baby in my arms. (I managed to slice and peel the skin off of an apple the other day one-handed while holding Mallory---I was pretty amazed at myself.) : ) But wanted to update with a few pictures before we celebrate Mallory's first birthday. Ha! By the way---can you tell my teeth are gritted in the Easter family portrait? I was saying, "JACK--LOOK AT THE CAMERA!!" Yes, it was even more chaotic than it looks! And notice the trend with Riley and family pictures. Love it.<div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxdh1aakdNJbuaLOLiiAhAHQc3WRciGus2ByhOdi2ChyFkC74WWWolaJj4fAwHisgdEY46enWE2cgvDDS-3nzx-2wnIjoXmN5tjEhyb0gR3JR100hP1623AgSBGvuYJT9mQVf/s320/DSC_0091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343217217966036962" /></div><div>Mallory will be 5 months</div><div> old next week. She is such a little sweet pea. She loves LOVES attention from anyone and LOVES to have her hands held. It is so sweet. She started rolling over la</div><div>st week from her back to her front and then to her back again and now there's no stopping her! If you put her down, she's rollin. She is sometimes sleeping from about 9-7 but that's pretty sporatic. I'm wishing we could</div><div> figure out what makes her do that so we could get it every night! </div><div>We all love Mallory---even when she has fussy days her brother and sisters love on her. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg9q3ak1PJa7H5_xT3JOrZmPyQ3YDnHjLvRp3Zw2VZRE7U4qoChJdYXK2mVNuxQ2bJkY3Ph98HL3eFH-3G_D8NrkU8EifattG-z2jaslZT_CQy7b8h34ewzffTpHvVy0kEo0m/s320/DSC_0055.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343217714811540146" /><div>Riley Kate is 18 months tomorrow. Where has the time gone?? Her vocabulary has exploded this</div><div>week--she has been more interested in</div><div> listening to everyone else talk than to talk herself until now. Some favorites of mine are hearing her say, "DADDY!!!!! DADDY!!" over and over when he walks in the door from work. SO precious. Today when I put her down for her nap she said, "I wuv oo" back to me. Melt my heart. And this morning she was singing along with the Doxology (we keep music going around here pretty much all day) and it was so sweet to hear her belting out, "PAISE GOD!! PAISE GOD!! PAISE GOD (who) SAY (my) SO!! PAISE GOD (to whom all) SESSINGS SO!! So sweet!! She loves water and </div><div>MUD. We're not sure if she likes the taste or the texture, but she likes to put it in her mouth. YUCK! She is becom</div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstCA-1hgy2jL4aRT-yUCh0nGdzJ9hIrlW-Mtgb_cYYLnv28Nx7EL8ec2QQ6h0BV8GctPQ6Tq3VYOO8m13vb_7lb5Kl54JKiTSdlN1lEzPTIAe7yWHt8aJLkFizCb-DkgRMkNu/s320/DSC_0061.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343218064199604130" /><div>ing very independent and I find her places like halfway up the pantry shelves (scaling them), sitting in the pantry with a box of crackers and eating them the other day (she climbed up to get them first), she climbs up the ramp on their swingset and came flying down the slide face first yesterday and did a face plant in the mud---all in her mouth, teeth---but she likes it so she didn't mind! We adore this girl!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>JACK! </div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWfqM_Wo0QabQS-6Lx8cvJYp8_u5KEvTYYeZgPMKdcgF_lMg1zngdSLIkflyFfDE_1NXYPrtI0h0CjfCjtIfmah4saMMTQbjW5FmYFWbi4GSxNSzjjnaSeQsOqVMrxEhO_yTq/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343218382861498754" /><div>He is 3 and is a STITCH. He loves "playing" his guitar and plays it multiple times a day. If he isn't playing it, he is playing his air guitar or he's strumming the logos of the guitars on his shirts. We really believe he is going to be a praise/worship leader or musician one day. Music is in this boy's soul. He</div><div>has grown up a lot over the last several months---wanting to do everything just like his older sister. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Hayley is turning 5 in 2 more months! So hard to believe. She </div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDSNsRCWtwJsx00K7YrhATdZ9S9hLnf9yjrFgLLlQYK2rU3LA4dg6jFrmA48NKSVFRVGKOcTLe_FP-q5ZH1sjbgQBmr99Zbxry9dl9V-aDdn3Xn9ejdhyDec_aMDYGNseoqo1/s320/DSC_0081.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343219034386156370" /><div>has been planning her 5th birthday since last August. She is so much fun to hang out with. I'm amazed at all she picks up on these days. She is becoming more and more helpful around here. She would run the place 24/7 if I let her. She has learned how to write most of her letters this year and loves reading books on her own (the short early reader ones). It's so fun to watch her sound words out and really read them! Some of my favorite things she has said lately is, "J is for Jerusalem." (not the word I would have picked, but hey, it works!) We told her we were going swimming last weekend and that the water would probably be pretty cold and she goes, "Oh, well, that's okay! I'll just roll with it!" </div><div><br /></div><div>So many more that I want to remember and this is the only place I write them down! I never want to sound "braggy" or anything about my kids ---I just want to remember all of the sweet things. I don't really want to remember the sassiness, disrespectful tones, arguing b/t siblings, screaming at the top of her lungs from Riley (instead of talking), and the clinginess that tends to totally beat me down by about 3:00 from Mallory. : ) We've got PLENTY of normal day to day hard stuff around here too. As I was walking M around this afternoon and going to the place of "another day without a moment to myself again" the Holy Spirit reminded me to just let it go and be thankful for this sweet time to hold my baby in my arms. It's a season---- a very SHORT season. So I held her until she fell asleep and enjoyed it! Kitchen a wreck, dinner not cooked, weights not lifted, elliptical not run on, toys not picked up, the bulk of M's birth announcements STILL not sent out, and the list goes on. It's so hard to keep a positive spin on life when you feel so unproductive, but it's a lie from the enemy that I am "unproductive" and to all you moms out there who are also taking care of your babies. I'm choosing not to believe it and to work on enjoying these short months of feeding, changing, holding, rocking, bouncing, etc. these babies! Hope someone was encouraged by this today! And hoping to post more soon!</div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-48706930851329428692009-03-31T13:12:00.000-05:002009-03-31T13:25:36.082-05:00The Wedding!<div style="text-align: center;">Ryan and Abby Dunagan!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU5jtUV66xeH3xzDF3hYAePKU4l4b32NpiWXQOXrLB_gHcRHmqOSzuMII3BOq9M5p3kFUHaFagRfxQoxU9LeyPZgG3ewUtjE4TDrPEwuUn00upWHlKTI7OopKxdQmKDgpN_kL/s1600-h/DSC_0094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU5jtUV66xeH3xzDF3hYAePKU4l4b32NpiWXQOXrLB_gHcRHmqOSzuMII3BOq9M5p3kFUHaFagRfxQoxU9LeyPZgG3ewUtjE4TDrPEwuUn00upWHlKTI7OopKxdQmKDgpN_kL/s320/DSC_0094.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319418443473597234" /></a><br />I am LONG overdue for a blog post. I only have a few minutes and wanted to post a couple of pictures of Abby's (one of my 3 favorite sister-in-laws!) and Ryan's wedding! It was so beautiful and so much fun! Abby was breathtakingly gorgeous. What an honor to stand next to her as a matron of honor! I'm so excited for them and the adventure they have ahead of them. I'm hoping to get back to posting more "regularly" soon! <div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Tra and Hayley having fun in the photo booth! <br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOv7z3aGxQXGdAtxr0W-zAevAH_vTiEvY6UEm-i_pRhNG6uLK8zDZ2MdCQOtohFajNHA5FxL3KoaLuVzUZeoXihoC_lSyPB3fTtZKJem65PuZ5iFDpbz5GSEi0dql28MunGwdb/s320/DSC_0136.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319418448002156994" />The best family picture we got the whole weekend. Really? I guess getting all 4 to look at the camera with joyful expressions and no fingers in their noses is out of the question for at least a few more years? :)<br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAV_6qRwRwF_DEbMPIb7HNH7aBbdyDShZYO94uyrU-CsmCO-sXjz87s0hnKz-l-bKWAoPX0KlhR1rv-jrfPKzxRu4CRQSt4-Q757vbdbIqbTC-OtwfMChcog29sbVxb5bmS0_/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319418437940463426" /><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-28633056548912366932009-01-17T18:56:00.000-06:002009-01-17T19:03:42.361-06:00Mallory Grace<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOP4qGMGlbfAtG0GEg7AuWXGU_zVNO2Yho0ZBzrL9kdwBvN0VEmBGt46Ttp0g2XDRmMXmjwZka-Dq_jj9m3_Sq2BakZsloyFFQ3TxhcZLomilzjlISuWVQNLbUD-8AwBwfXTc/s320/IMG_0100.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292432157147902354" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkN0pggELc7QnW-h9q_h5bO_qGebDbJzFC4eTsmSWobgjnMt6NuyY7bkbxk7A_hcZeVD1iUcQ39UZWvzOdGbDG4QQY2eH8S67U6JbHycTrBXfY3lDaIffG2YapJ6aJCh94GkO/s1600-h/IMG_0082.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkN0pggELc7QnW-h9q_h5bO_qGebDbJzFC4eTsmSWobgjnMt6NuyY7bkbxk7A_hcZeVD1iUcQ39UZWvzOdGbDG4QQY2eH8S67U6JbHycTrBXfY3lDaIffG2YapJ6aJCh94GkO/s320/IMG_0082.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292432170312053410" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs14TmwUvmDK6e1A0VRH6yYiExwQrcQxIJUa4_qTSrW-dsa2N43i_cqlrItO-IFPnGbYded4CKV4gEEjENrTrrHg8ZalIhz8LNd7z4gm5jPrSgr6MFkpHq9Bzky3GPD_jKrWNC/s1600-h/IMG_0075.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs14TmwUvmDK6e1A0VRH6yYiExwQrcQxIJUa4_qTSrW-dsa2N43i_cqlrItO-IFPnGbYded4CKV4gEEjENrTrrHg8ZalIhz8LNd7z4gm5jPrSgr6MFkpHq9Bzky3GPD_jKrWNC/s320/IMG_0075.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292432165649377442" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvA2mEWJ6_d5ipcmjLni0Zx5mrvkLyK8QQ0DeuM8I8sjz76LPUbZYiQ9PyuH_p59sLS3ofjPgWOdVkgEI6skT33ywekdPpS9GJHe1Vef_bkOc2xa2y9_9ECamhBw_ZbaRd1my/s1600-h/IMG_0059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvA2mEWJ6_d5ipcmjLni0Zx5mrvkLyK8QQ0DeuM8I8sjz76LPUbZYiQ9PyuH_p59sLS3ofjPgWOdVkgEI6skT33ywekdPpS9GJHe1Vef_bkOc2xa2y9_9ECamhBw_ZbaRd1my/s320/IMG_0059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292432162621779250" /></a><br /><br />So much for downloading a picture on Tuesday! Our sweet little Mallory was born on January 13 at 1:35pm. She was 7 lbs. 14 oz. and 19 3/4 in. We were VERY surprised to have a baby under 8 pounds!! She is such a good little baby. She is jaundice and under a light going on day #2, but she gets to be at home! We are so happy she is here! <div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-7170067968703862132009-01-13T06:27:00.000-06:002009-01-13T07:05:10.204-06:00Mallory's Birthday!It is 6:30am and I'm sitting in my hospital bed all hooked up to an IV and being pumped with pitocin and strangely feeling a bit like I'm on vacation at the moment. Tra and I had some sweet time praying blessings over our sweet baby girl who we will hopefully be holding in our arms in a matter of hours! He has gone to get some breakfast and I am watching the news and blogging. No breakfast to make, diapers to change, dishes to wash, clothes to fold, noses to wipe, etc. At this point I'm not in any pain. They've turned up my pitocin 3 times and I'm still not in a regular contraction pattern. So I'm enjoying the next few moments of feeling good and preparing to call for an epidural as soon as these contractions start picking up. I came in at a 2 and 60% effaced and after an hour of pitocin my dr. just came to check me again and I have had no change. His words were, "You've got a long way to go." Love it. My last 2 labors took 7-8 hours. So I'm hoping by 1:00 that this baby will be here!<br /><br />I wanted to write a little note to Mallory before her birth and I'm running out of time, so here we go!<br /><br />Mallory Grace,<br />I am so excited to finally get to see you face to face today! I can't wait to hold you and look at your little fingers and toes, and see your pretty hair (I'm certain you'll have a pretty good amount!), and every part of you that God has so meticulously knitted together over the past 9 months as you have grown inside of me. Your daddy and I (and many others) have prayed for you since before we knew you were even on the way! When we found out that God had blessed us with you 9 months ago we were filled with so many different emotions! We were so surprised because Riley Kate was only 4 months old! When I told daddy that you were growing in my tummy we both just laughed and laughed and thanked God for the sweet, wonderful blessing of you! We knew God gave you to our family for a very special purpose and we are excited to see those purposes for your life unfold. God has great plans for you. He needed you here at this time and has blessed you with 3 older siblings who are beside themselves excited about your arrival. Hayley was talking to you last night as I was putting her to bed. She likes to push on my tummy to "find you" and feel you move and kick. Jack can't wait to hold you! When I say, "Are you excited to see Mallory?" He answers, "Yes, I want to hold her." Riley is pretty clueless about having a new sister, but you 2 are going to be two peas in a pod for the rest of your lives. You are going to have so much fun growing up together being SO close in age! You will not know life without each other. We are all so excited to have you in this family. You are a blessing and we love you so much already!<br />I love you!<br />Mommy<br /><br />**I hope to post a picture or 2 later on today when she is here!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-54973760696332504182008-12-15T21:18:00.000-06:002008-12-15T21:52:15.584-06:00Dry SpellI have been a blog slacker lately! So much has gone on in our lives since I last posted. My sister-in-law Abby got engaged on a family trip to Aspen! It was so much fun to get to be a part of their special night! I'm so excited to have Ryan join the family. He is such a wonderful guy and we are all big fans. My baby girl turned ONE on December 4. It's so hard to believe that a whole year has gone by since her birth. She is such a little joy. She has the sweetest smile and is a little ball of energy. She's not really into sitting still. Her trademark is that she puts everything she gets her hands on into her mouth. It is frustrating, hilarious and disgusting. : ) I think the most disgusting was a dead bug at Tra's parents' house one day. She also loves to play in toilets. Neither of my other 2 did either of these things. It amazes me at how different these 3 already are in such a short time. She loves music and singing. We have made up a song with her name in it and we all sing it to her multiple times a day and she eats it up. (pardon the pun!) She is very tall (95th percentile) and how can I say this nicely to where it will not hurt her feelings one day---very "healthy" (90th percentile). She and Jack have been in the same size diapers for awhile now and he is almost THREE. Impressive. She can wear his jeans from last year that he wore when he was 2. Ha ha! I love it!! It is going to be fun to watch her in the role of big sister. She is a tough little cookie---Hayley and Jack love playing with her. I should keep track of how many times a day, "Please be gentle," comes out of my mouth.<br /><br />Since her birthday, we've been in Christmas mode over here. My family gets to come this weekend (we're so excited!!) and we are doing "Christmas" with them. Then next week we get to spend with Tra's family---and we're so excited about that too!! I LOVE having two familes that are just fun to be with! We're doing a little party for Jack the week of New Year's for his b-day (which is actually the 23rd) but I would rather get that done before sweet Mallory arrives. She is due the 15th of January. We'll see if I make it that far. Of course I hope I don't because I think she is close to 7 pounds already and there's just nothing fun about recovering from a 9 pounder. : ) Not to mention I'm ready to hurdle all the safety gates around here with a little more grace/ease. And to sleep normally---without sitting up, having to take Tums before going to sleep, etc, etc. Not that I'm complaining---what a BLESSING to be carrying this little gift around. We are beyond thankful for our sweet babies and are looking forward to having little Mallory join us in just a few more weeks! I hope to do better on posts, but if I don't. . . Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-10336782939268558422008-11-04T22:07:00.000-06:002008-11-05T08:11:06.658-06:00Sneak Peek!<div>I had the kids' pictures taken last week. I love my <a href="http://www.kristincookphotography.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">new photographer</span></a>! She has been in the area almost a year and I am SO glad I found her! Here are a few reasons why. . . <br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXyhuAiMCQUuomt0kUGKT_DwxBdCcD1-8bY2gGSTZd2D6_1399-mYjODqrfPvAqL3prNECNcvMTeF_xgyHTRQ2svnqvxD56dWnZcIktTeXELpN_IRHoP2jcgDDT_DoJned4zd/s1600-h/a221+blog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXyhuAiMCQUuomt0kUGKT_DwxBdCcD1-8bY2gGSTZd2D6_1399-mYjODqrfPvAqL3prNECNcvMTeF_xgyHTRQ2svnqvxD56dWnZcIktTeXELpN_IRHoP2jcgDDT_DoJned4zd/s320/a221+blog.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265021756310915250" /></a>The many faces of Riley Kate. . . she is 11 months old today!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fTlBz0voQUGB_ARgtlATtIGDQt0IHBNwpbVDxm230XPyHjBzi0888si15QXu9BhzjEFHcKSyYup6lOwx4xr3V0Hb07uUivr1SLC5OldzIArpxYiND-AEIB7QBuSzBYXU8Pw3/s1600-h/a193+blog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fTlBz0voQUGB_ARgtlATtIGDQt0IHBNwpbVDxm230XPyHjBzi0888si15QXu9BhzjEFHcKSyYup6lOwx4xr3V0Hb07uUivr1SLC5OldzIArpxYiND-AEIB7QBuSzBYXU8Pw3/s320/a193+blog.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265021753682431602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1m1ySDNP6KC01wHprfK7iRlS49YZqvGPKv7m8He6xUPi8eLi4ca66dX8iE51c1FL_YUDvpXP3PklRL9DsywkzQ7fSe_XWF00Q5kKRDMU7KkCoqH0fVTlQuBGqq_9H8tJZwHi/s1600-h/a125+blog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1m1ySDNP6KC01wHprfK7iRlS49YZqvGPKv7m8He6xUPi8eLi4ca66dX8iE51c1FL_YUDvpXP3PklRL9DsywkzQ7fSe_XWF00Q5kKRDMU7KkCoqH0fVTlQuBGqq_9H8tJZwHi/s320/a125+blog.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265021592399875090" /></a>Love that Jack!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsY2EXi-c9LLhgmgfDg8vj3WJJXqGaptt3pzXi_Scyxz-u2Lw-Z6yhKkv5BAZCPVydZpBRU4UwNS6PoPYJuP6kuI6HYk8u8PCe4lNR0XQhs2BMUjzTpgJFlv4a2PGFQS4Bja1R/s1600-h/a119+bblog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsY2EXi-c9LLhgmgfDg8vj3WJJXqGaptt3pzXi_Scyxz-u2Lw-Z6yhKkv5BAZCPVydZpBRU4UwNS6PoPYJuP6kuI6HYk8u8PCe4lNR0XQhs2BMUjzTpgJFlv4a2PGFQS4Bja1R/s320/a119+bblog.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265021593850177826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjI9khQiCP37jk6q_h3Es7fhI1u3L7rumtzT_jHS4xrkNriXfwm4-7WXlTI90kYiyf6CEWtI2QMTmzzZ_jqUagv07sVd00YTtkpgwtbJFNkM5oRV4gZk41FrbnZPz8NY_LAPs2/s1600-h/a98+blog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjI9khQiCP37jk6q_h3Es7fhI1u3L7rumtzT_jHS4xrkNriXfwm4-7WXlTI90kYiyf6CEWtI2QMTmzzZ_jqUagv07sVd00YTtkpgwtbJFNkM5oRV4gZk41FrbnZPz8NY_LAPs2/s320/a98+blog.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265021588053926626" /></a>Hayley Brooke. . . such a joy!<br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWR-gpcN6HkCRPvrO05WCDorDxjypjiIfPYxndi1hoBvsHMcyuIujN3aa7qCwj_VHuUXio6Oz2KTC7fLxVrRMfVAeVV9h649qNz5n6x9gWW_-3XFPnkLxcqgWnXl_rNW06QD89/s320/a62+blog.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265021584830955362" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5N61Ow02MI7mbl2f2t-BUcNAusi_8y6j-dgOtNgpDNhN003pgcFKE2nR9eTyFkOOoYHIBXP2q0Xy1LECuj3RifGmtC0MzXS2igts0OfoajBTXCH_jOLsdTzlBUQkHUOYaZV0X/s320/a93+blog-3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265021583218393362" />My 3 little sweeties!<br /><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-16544172762239804582008-10-31T12:58:00.001-05:002008-11-01T11:19:28.989-05:00The Way I See It #198I love the quotes on my cups of coffee from Starbucks. This one was especially impactful to me:<div><br /><div>"You can shower a child with presents or money, but what do they really mean, compared to the most valuable gift of all--your time? Vacations and special events are nice, but so often the best moments are the spontaneous ones. Being there. Every moment you spend with your child could be the one that really matters." --Tim Russert (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Host of NBC's </span>Meet the Press<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> and author of</span> Wisdom of Our Fathers.)</div><div><br /></div><div>I know his son is especially grateful for the time his dad spent with him---as a child and an adult! It is definitely something I always want to have plenty of to give to my children. I have a GREAT example and have some BIG shoes to fill!! (not literally---although they are pretty big---sorry mom!!) : )</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w1vS7b3ayW9OKHHLdVG5Ks8_svtU744zx_woPywPZI40vUoMXFhiqwJv0t-7_NIv7KM-wd4xklS6vXeSCAiM_p_Bh3rC4B6_Uvkatz2jhE2cMnc8w-pLTrPZ0HxFtJsUb9No/s320/DSC_0093.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263381397344166514" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52x8YEl4TmU6VCFLIMIISTYhdYUKIuSj29DWclyk_ugRq93auVbc4c8VUDuFfA6J0H1SpmIOHAThjw_l4Fz7M5RmTtbTHE1pf24bfU2dIK5x1JSoquNisdXCXvKyLX8D7Cf-k/s320/DSC_0109.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263381379070203362" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8ZNjV8gAVOMAOrHFUtaYPgXopWHyKOmuMvXmBVVev-BInKt9tHtiNW8PCa_-tKOqE3WyVrEJfjJM3Hc3VEgyk31UIlEXp8R7bMTB115WrFVn41Y2sx348S4VczusZvUGFWbz/s320/DSC_0086.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263381362582482754" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-69989423689189947482008-10-15T15:42:00.000-05:002008-10-15T15:54:46.615-05:00Happy Fall Y'all!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9a7Iem_j8Jd3YOL3WcmBYU3epuHKxP2M9Ao-p-LNX3bPQyZ0TBYP5dowjyZ1GnexYfIdzZ1eCXQegh9Q7tIOMNYpeN9P9GjAoQ-tVVf9Cc9puvyGngfnMOVS89ElPlxaa0rf/s1600-h/DSC_0105.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9a7Iem_j8Jd3YOL3WcmBYU3epuHKxP2M9Ao-p-LNX3bPQyZ0TBYP5dowjyZ1GnexYfIdzZ1eCXQegh9Q7tIOMNYpeN9P9GjAoQ-tVVf9Cc9puvyGngfnMOVS89ElPlxaa0rf/s320/DSC_0105.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257486744995556594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_m_Pogg2dwo3k97BHdC-uX3kZ8F505tBwq7m8JeNYS6jVwHt-ul8jrpAu_WNjdRpoVE_WWCWdo6E88wzWsMNNedVmnbbzZDKwTlXWkVhCZZMmSFRGhp-iGI7Jak9cAFOvaPcV/s1600-h/DSC_0102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_m_Pogg2dwo3k97BHdC-uX3kZ8F505tBwq7m8JeNYS6jVwHt-ul8jrpAu_WNjdRpoVE_WWCWdo6E88wzWsMNNedVmnbbzZDKwTlXWkVhCZZMmSFRGhp-iGI7Jak9cAFOvaPcV/s320/DSC_0102.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257486747985222690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7u3VJA6tWcsBJQxzGSYddyaJcrp6pdvI_9Vq3CJAVhBaUEAPgr2BtpuKQ0Y2s8b_88md_SVng5v7JyRMgPomRxKjj9wZHlVS8605UHSZk_kZ8gQDb5aCD178_AxcTlule8hH/s1600-h/DSC_0116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7u3VJA6tWcsBJQxzGSYddyaJcrp6pdvI_9Vq3CJAVhBaUEAPgr2BtpuKQ0Y2s8b_88md_SVng5v7JyRMgPomRxKjj9wZHlVS8605UHSZk_kZ8gQDb5aCD178_AxcTlule8hH/s320/DSC_0116.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257486751498703730" /></a><br />Here are a few pictures I got at the pumpkin patch last week. It was a CRAZY trip and definitely a blog-worthy post. The bottom line: me (keep in mind I'm pregnant and look more pregnant than I actually am), THREE kids, one wagon, a million other people/kids, and LOTS OF BEES!!! Hayley got stung recently at home and broke out in hives and stuff, so we were all a little more freaked out than usual about them. I was meeting one of my roommates from college and her kids and I don't think we had a conversation the whole time. It was nuts. At one point H and J had gone through a bounce house and I couldn't FIND THEM for about 5 minutes. (seemed like 50) <div>After we sat down to unpack our lunches and Jack was grabbing his ears screaming and running away from the table, Hayley was screaming, bees getting on our food and in the wagon with Riley, I made the impulsive decision to load up the car and go back home. (Sorry, R, for the craziness!!) I was holding Jack, pulling the wagon and RUNNING back to our car to escape the bees. Hilarious. You'd never know from these pictures how crazy it was!</div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-23515552643587904182008-09-24T09:15:00.000-05:002008-09-24T10:06:58.241-05:00Deeper thoughts. . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwFOn4TQ6ofU8HRj8j77b0tHKBqY04YiRJ837n0e3mpQDOFQa1Ycarn6x1XByWuBKJ5I8qhPByiVK18AH6rbOHHgKSd9jv8SOcEUI4qm8SPfVDFjRRyjuYA4VY-QZKBPb_bFh/s1600-h/DSC_0117.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwFOn4TQ6ofU8HRj8j77b0tHKBqY04YiRJ837n0e3mpQDOFQa1Ycarn6x1XByWuBKJ5I8qhPByiVK18AH6rbOHHgKSd9jv8SOcEUI4qm8SPfVDFjRRyjuYA4VY-QZKBPb_bFh/s320/DSC_0117.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249604303022980162" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Last night we were hanging out in the backyard and Hayley brought out a paper plate of some "snacks" which consisted of crasins and one cheeze-it for all of us to share. So thoughtful! She ran back inside to grab her drink and while she was gone a gust of wind blew the plate of snacks off the table and all into the yard. When she came back out, she looked in disbelief at what had happened and with sadness in her voice asked me, "Mom, why did God let that happen?" I proceeded to explain to her how God gave us brains and he wants us to learn to use them really well and that next time maybe we'll think about putting something heavy on top of the plate so it doesn't blow away. And I started thinking about the recent times I've asked God that very question---friends with illnesses, sick babies, loss of babies, just the hard stuff in life. Why, God?? Why do you let these things happen? Although Hayley's scenario was much more simple than the ones in my list, was it really? It was a good reminder to just have faith and trust Him in ALL things and to remember that His ultimate plan is to ". . .prosper us, not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future." (Jer. 29:11) </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">And one more deeper thought to share that I've been wanting to jot down for awhile. . .</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">I've been asking God for guidance and direction in some specific areas of our lives over the past several months. I read this verse one day in a rare moment of "quietness"---"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." Psalm 32:8 (NKJV) I thought that wording was so interesting, ". . .guide you with My eye." I started thinking, "How do you guide someone with your eye?" Why did He choose His eye to guide us and not His "word" or His "voice" or His "hand"? How does an eye guide? So I imagined trying to guide someone across a room with obstacles only using my eye---that person would have to keep their eyes on MY EYES, not the obstacles in front of them. They would have to stay VERY focused on MY eyes and trust me as they walked. More than likely, they would run into an occasional obstacle b/c it is not easy to guide with your eyes and distractions are EVERYWHERE. But after standing back up, they would again look into my eyes and keep on moving forward. How sweet is that picture with us and God? It just makes my heart happy and at peace to know that #1 He IS instructing me in the way I should go and I have Him as my guide through life and #2 He chose His eye to guide me--He wants me more than anything to seek His face and stay focused on it day after day as I "walk". #3 when I stumble or fall, His eyes stay on me and He actually helps me up and hopes that I choose to "lock in" on His eyes as I move forward. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">And I'll wrap it up with one more verse---Psalm 32:10 "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him." I LOVE the Amplified version that says, "Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on the Lord shall be compassed about with mercy and with loving-kindness. Prasing the Lord today for being our Teacher and our Guide and for His mercy and loving-kindness!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-67877582179548322812008-09-05T16:07:00.000-05:002008-09-05T16:25:18.434-05:00It's a . . .<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">GIRL!!! We found out this morning that we are having another little sister and couldn't be more thrilled! We're still working on a middle name but her first name is Mallory. It's SO much fun knowing who will be joining us in just a few more months. How did I NOT find out with Riley?? I love knowing ahead of time. We're telling the kids tonight when Tra gets home, but they've called it from the very beginning. Every time we ask them what they think it is they both say it's a girl! When I got home from my appointment Hayley said, "Are you going to tell me it's a girl??!!" Sooo fun. Can't wait to break the news to the brother and sisters tonight. Praising God for daughter #3 and that she looks healthy!! Now the long wait for mid-January to get here! Although I'm thinking it won't feel that long---days move FAST around here! : )</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-10317539800721176192008-08-13T11:32:00.000-05:002008-08-13T11:44:21.792-05:00And how did you spend YOUR Wednesday evening?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImMIUMhLweW5gPZaWYowsl4rShk73knKPXGoMulbkac04n-5SsV-UeNd7L9TbYfIGeUQi-YwGHLbVCMGLta-2Id2UE6YNazHGllhs5UxlaDigf6bQomhJdBP3wT3a7CIOHN5u/s1600-h/DSC_0021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImMIUMhLweW5gPZaWYowsl4rShk73knKPXGoMulbkac04n-5SsV-UeNd7L9TbYfIGeUQi-YwGHLbVCMGLta-2Id2UE6YNazHGllhs5UxlaDigf6bQomhJdBP3wT3a7CIOHN5u/s320/DSC_0021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234041998344454898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoHVuRHadTyBgopeEzxqN11AE7D_uKsuTB35b6PmdzPlmD96AIZRdL7pUOUhucXn_Ibs21-2WlWvwo2XWiKb_Bw9_JavGkA37Fy6sYP5qTkVLi8zZRmWX0YBMyBAZFnazRH2u/s1600-h/DSC_0023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoHVuRHadTyBgopeEzxqN11AE7D_uKsuTB35b6PmdzPlmD96AIZRdL7pUOUhucXn_Ibs21-2WlWvwo2XWiKb_Bw9_JavGkA37Fy6sYP5qTkVLi8zZRmWX0YBMyBAZFnazRH2u/s320/DSC_0023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234042003842700050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfXt0u1_exyugAdXSzZ2hh61RnSH_o_MKOnSyBkWS3xZjjGw6gr8NcPyWc-4z3cQayb4ToOd5brRQ2tyzAOClE2YXVSnCYbG7wYPm0VqMaanc_PjHYl2CjtcBoBzhtu-MUHYC/s1600-h/DSC_0024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfXt0u1_exyugAdXSzZ2hh61RnSH_o_MKOnSyBkWS3xZjjGw6gr8NcPyWc-4z3cQayb4ToOd5brRQ2tyzAOClE2YXVSnCYbG7wYPm0VqMaanc_PjHYl2CjtcBoBzhtu-MUHYC/s320/DSC_0024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234042005823234242" /></a>These pictures don't really do the mess justice. Our 2 oldest were playing upstairs having such fun---no fighting or fussing while Tra and I finished up dinner and actually got to have some uninterrupted conversation (we should have known something was up). Hayley asked us to come upstairs and see a surprise and that she did something really bad with our games. I wish I would have had my video camera on. It was one of those moments where it was SO bad you just had to laugh! There were 5 games, 4 of them with cards in them, one with dominoes, that were emptied out and scattered all over the gameroom. It was amazing. We had worked 30 minutes and hardly made a dent! H and J had some practice sorting and stacking colors while helping me pick up Cranium. Ugh. (Tra wasn't as upset as he looks in the picture---I just thought it was hilarious because I KNOW he was feeling that way inside.) It did make us want to play some of those games though! Game night, anyone??Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-87876922966974198432008-07-30T09:08:00.000-05:002008-07-30T09:13:23.530-05:00Things that make you go "Hmmmm."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">My 7 month old and my 2 1/2 year old can wear the same size diaper.</span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIpgi-BiJpv6kC7fcwJlUnwTM6bL6j3wLiL5-0d30D1SA-SYGV2aMivGqQ4zrzL_WwsZVfGoXqvmo0KS3NnNIziv8WvZ6knvzcT0QgVrS3ODkj1rR7FfdJjPo4Gr1fYE-6bcC/s320/DSC_0051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228809694229433474" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-25349102892599796362008-07-13T22:29:00.000-05:002008-07-13T22:48:46.371-05:00Question. . .<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">I am 13 weeks pregnant and I look a little more like 23. I accept that and I know it better than anyone because I have to see myself every day. : ) I cut myself LOTS of slack because not only is this one my 4th child, my 3rd child was a mere 4 months old when we conceived this one. Obviously my body had not gotten back to its pre-pregnancy condition in that short amount of time. I know there are women out there who either work their tails off and get their baby weight off in a matter of weeks, and there are the ones who don't work at it and still get it off in weeks--I am neither of those. : ) So here is my question---what is it with the women out there who have HAD CHILDREN themselves and been in this vulnerable state and feel it is okay to say things like, "How far along are you? (jaw drops when I respond "12 weeks" and they continue) "Whoa! You're going to have a BIG baby!!" I smile and politely say, "Yes, I do actually tend to have bigger babies (my largest was 9 pounds, smallest was 8), but what you are seeing is a lot of leftover fat from my previous pregnancy." Still smiling. Fighting urge to confront her and say, "How do you think that makes me feel?" Didn't confront her. . . just went to my car and finished off Jack's donut holes he didn't eat that morning. : ) I mean, really?? Do you not remember that at 12 weeks your baby is the size of a lime?? The bigness is not from my 3 inch child growing inside of me. It's just not polite and I sincerely apologize if I have EVER made a tacky comment to another mother out there like that. I feel like I make a big effort to try to make people feel good about themselves---and it isn't really that hard! </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">No cute pictures to share today, just a little venting. We get to find out the first week of September if we're having a girl or a boy! Makes being a little on the chunky side SO worth it! Have a great week!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10644572.post-12986790772831048372008-07-02T14:12:00.000-05:002008-07-02T22:02:31.893-05:00Living in a fog. . .<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">I can't believe it is July! I can't believe I let June go by without one post. Between our family vacation the first week of June, a trip to see my parents, and being in the thick of 1st trimester ickiness and my 3 little ones, I've been grabbing sleep every chance I get and by the end of the day I'm completely spent. I will be 12 weeks tomorrow and I am feeling a little bit of my energy returning---slowly but surely. I really do feel like I have spent the past several weeks living in a fog. Meals get made (or ordered) : ), laundry gets done (with lots of help from my WONDERFUL husband---he is amazing with all the help he provides around the house), the daily routine has continued but I find myself tucking my babies in at night wondering where the day went. I'm looking forward to getting my energy level back up again so that I will be able to enjoy more of my days instead of just "drifting" through them. Hayley and Jack are little buddies, now more than ever, and they have so much fun playing together. They are at such fun ages right now---most of the time. : ) Riley is growing up way too fast. She is a "do-it-yourself-er" and will sit and play by herself for extended periods of time. She doesn't ever have much time to herself with her older brother and sister wanting to entertain her most of the day, so she takes advantage of her "quiet times." </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">My parents have been in town since yesterday and it has been wonderful. We treasure the times we get to spend with them---it's not often enough! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">Counting our blessings. . . </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">Everyone have a happy 4th! I hope to post again before August. : )</span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_ltJf9_um3jGe2qcnK2jHp98xk2dMmUdPxzv-atG1aqj3hEjcSuKl6bJ-A6da_yR2ZFh9K_9dRdzfpQq8bTFYUMIJOk2dEWxgOpUeNDK6w4U1gP6Z2c-CYSTNYhmmfk_pWyw/s320/DSC_0093.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218614466945523842" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRbP2oOcS5Bwr89Vk3v3ETU4kVQZhVy72gAyoElK2ofRf_rzbiMW2ih7PTeyCKdlZSn39ETZlKDvecvcN9bQ6lax8QlSlHolBw49Ev4fRaaRXUS5QD9qxcq5wVYNhuqDKtQOE/s320/DSC_0012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218614473652522610" /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZ4HXlKy7hLfeV6kXdgfuJ5LmzLmvInN-PK9pPUvsGjasU6SUJPGvpNaU5fyFjtfLcXezYUeH0jcxs50NVu_JpyNulsYwlCo8x5qL0gc-M7m9Rofy-cbzF1TgS5wD6yIFfDOl/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218614477519070802" /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggy8jKINPUIg0S9n6sxEsJKkzsg-e6NVM_bxsLn_D7PI1J_d-csSMuLW-OEtdmsVC1Z69GrTcjuy9jTgE5lnc7iOSdySG50h9PF03WDVhYR2H7Nc7NgWajuvi4KMDT5_U9B_5j/s320/DSC_0076.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218614480719208946" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">See what I mean about Riley rarely having a moment to herself?? : )</span><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1ty2Z7vACLiNNaQADh2aP3B7_ITmwN5vnI8uX0IXcdv-WNXcajWXL5HI6UVMxQyKIzIhFDGnO9Y06Yt77IcUOhfVnRrn5oFZRauWgR-OqJmB76AGdvOr-4PbM-FEOvyyp-gY/s320/DSC_0135.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218614487588830514" /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0