Please call me...

I found this on a blog Stacey did and I thought it was interesting!

Hmmm, I wonder how it comes up with your title? Does it fit me? :)

Let me know what you should be called! :)

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Imperial Majesty Tina the Extemporaneous of Hardy St Thomas Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

The liging room and other cute things

All kids have funny things that they say or do...here are a few of my kids favorites...

Kolby: When we put him to bed he wants us to scratch his back...and his tummy...and his legs...and his cheeks...nose...chin...neck...and he won't go to sleep until we do it. Weird! :)
Last year for about 6 months he changed his identity to Elmo! When asked what his name was he would tell you ELMO. When he saw ELMO on TV or at the store he would run to it and say, 'That is Me!" :) Now he has NO memory of ever being Elmo and looks at us like we the weird ones when we mention it! :)

Sarah: She likes to go to the "LIGING ROOM" (living room).
She will NOT drink water...so we give her 3/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of milk...every time! That way she is getting water and milk. Does she know we do this? You betcha...she remnds us to put water in the cup if we forget! Weird! :)

Kaleb: He once had an imaginary family that lived in Dallas. He had names for all of them, would tell me what they had for dinner the night before and even what the weather was like!
This went on for about 5 months. One day he was in trouble from me and said, "Well, my mom in Dallas says...". That was where I drew the line to his imagination...there is just no way I can compete with an imaginary mom! :)

Andrew: My favorite for him still has to be wanting to organize my fridge! WHY?!
Also, one time I went away for a weekend when we was 2. When I came back he had my pillowcase (Jon gave it to him because he missed me)...he still has it today. It no longer goes places with us, but it is always with him in bed or if he gets hurt.

Sometimes I can get so frustrated with my children...but then I think about all the fun crazy things that they say and do and I realize how truly blessed our family is to have each one of them! :)

Who needs Pajama's?

My daughter continues to amaze us!
Last night I had a meeting at church. My husband stayed home to put the kids to bed and stuff and seal Christmas Cards/Pictures ( I had already signed all 430 of them!).
I walked in the front door and see Sarah's bedding all on the floor in front of the washer and my first questions was did she get sick?
My husband starts laughing and tells me this story...

He put the kids to bed...they all went to sleep pretty fast...even Sarah (who is known to talk for up to 2 hours before going to sleep...not cry, just talk and play on her bed!)...OR SO HE THOUGHT! About an hour or so after they were all "asleep" he heard something crinkling. He looked around but couldn't figure out what it was. He heard it again a few minutes later. He got up, looked down the hall and there stood Sarah...a handul of wet wipes (okay like half the container acutally)...COMPLETLEY NAKED! She had undressed herself, diaper and all and somehow gotten her bed all wet (do I need to expound on that at all?), decided to get into the wetwipes to clean it up. So, the cards went on hold while he got Sarah dressed...the bed dried off and changed...the wet wipes put away...and a little girl who was WIDE awake...back in bed!

Wow! I don't think our boys ever did that one...there are surprises at every corner! :)
At least she was trying to clean it up...

Does a Cat have 9 lives?

This morning before I left to take the kids to school I started the van to get it warmed up (after all it is a FREEZING 40 something outside...maybe even 30 something...FREEZING). The first time I went out I heard what I thought were kids yelling, and figured mine were probably in the house doing it...nothing too new, right?

The second time I came out with my daughter (whom I woke up, grabbed her milk cup and put her in the van with her eyes barely open and a warm blanket...because did I mention it is COLD here?!) I heard the sound again. This time it sounded more like a cat. I looked around...there it was...headed for my front door that was WIDE open! I ran at the cat yelling at the boys inside the house to shut the door and not let the cat in! I made it to the door before the cat and I thought it would run away...it didn't. It just stood there meowing at me!

I told the kids get in the van, but don't let the cat in the house or the van...
"Why mom? It could be cold..." JUST DON"T!!!

#1 and #3 got in the van (oh, i had to carry #3 to the van because he couldn't find his shoes and it was too cold to walk on our FREEZING cement!) #2 didn't come out...I ran in to ask him what he was doing and we was literally CRAMMING the rest of his waffle in his mouth (I know, it should have been gone already but we were running late and the remainder of breakfast was suppose to be eaten in the car). I told him to hurry and get out the door, he started freaking out because the cat would smell his food and get him! (By this time the cat had wandered away from our front door...not very far, but at least we could open the door!). I calmly told him the cat will leave him alone, but that he will be LATE for school if he doesn't GET. IN. THE. VAN!

Finally, we are all in...I make sure the cat is not behind me when I back up and off we go. Last we saw of the cat it was on its way to our neighbors yard!

Okay, fast forward 15 minutes...home from school...

A truck pulls up on in front of our house as I am turning on our street...hmmm, what for I wonder?
I watch him get out and go over to the side of our busy road...and see him pick up a tail! I think, Yuck. Then, as I get the kids out of the van I seen him Pick this tail up and it is attached to that CAT!!!!

I tell my two younger kids what happened...that the cat got run over.
Kolby says to me with a big smile, " So, now we don't have to worry about him coming in our house, do we?" I say, "Right Kolby...right."

Once we got inside he came to me and said, "That cat doesn't really have 9 lives does it mom? It won't come back to life, right? It can only die once, right mom?"

"Yes, Kolby, you are safe from the cat."

13 Adventures before lunch time

Thirteen Things about my adventures just TODAY!1. My two oldest boys are BOTH home sick from school2. That means I have 4 kids at home.3. # 3 kid feels GREAT4. #4 kid is on an anitbiotic for an ear infection so a little cranky but not too bad5. #1kid had a fever yesterday so can't go to school today6. and #2 kid...you sure wouldn't know he spent the whole night over the toilet! 7. Needless to say no one is really sick anymore...just too sick to go to school... and they are BORED! 8. #2 kid has had on my roller blades (a million sizes to big for him)...in the house...and ran into the time out chair and fell flat on his bottom...with a smile! 9. I found them outside in the sandbox...with the hose...ON...building tunnels! (After serious discussion...I was trying not to laugh...I found out it was #1's idea but #2 did the foot work!)10. When #1 kid has been lying on the floor watching TV #3 thinks it is fun to run and jump on him becuase today he has the advantage...so why not?!11. Then there is yelling...screaming...12. Whoever said it is girls that scream? Mine Scream and it drives me crazy!13. I think I need a sick day tomorrow...or at least nap time today... Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

SURPRISE!!!

A few weeks ago a friend of mine asked if I would like to go to a new place opening called Dinner My Way. It is one of those places where they have eveything set out for you to make a main dish. All the ingredients are there, you mix it all together, put it in a bag, and take it home to freeze it until you are ready to eat it! She had a coupon to go try it for free and so I thought, why not...it would be fun! It was for this last Thursday when my mom was also in town so I asked if she wanted to go...it would be a fun "girls night out"! :)

On Wednesday my friend called with the idea that since we already have our husbands watching our kids, maybe we should go out after for ice cream or Starbuck's or something to celebrate my birthday. I thought it sounded like fun, so long as my mom wanted to.

Okay, Thursday (OCT 19) arrived. My parents were on their way here from about 4 hours away...my mom had been really sick the whole week and I wasn't sure she would really want to go to a place we would be making food. It is one thing to have my kids throw up somewhere public...but the thought of my mom doing it was too much for me to imagine! :)
She was adament that she would be just fine and she could go...I thought how great of her to want to spend time with me and my friend! :)
So at 6:30 off we went.

The place was really fun...we made a main course in literally 10 minutes.
Which left us alot of time to go out for my birthday (which was really on Sat, the 21st). My friend (Connie) is currently on weight watchers (and doing AMAZINGLY WELL I might add), so I figured we would go somewhere like Starbucks or something where she could still get something. So, when she mentioned The Cheesecake Factory I was somewhat surprised. She assured me there was a low fat something or other that she could eat (which, why would you go there if you aren't going to have something totally fattening...hence, why she is doing good on her diet, and I, well...you get the idea). I thought...okay, that is fun, lets go.

My mom and I drove seperate from Connie..she got there a minute before us and I saw her go in. I thought...hmmm, she probably has to go to the bathroom (I mean what else could it be!). She came back out to meet us as we were walking in. We got up to the hostess where she asked us to hold on.
Here is how the conversation went from there...(Are you ready for this???)

Hostess: "Do you know where they are sitting?"
Connie: (With uncertainty in her voice) "WHO?
Hostess: "You are here for the surprise party, right???
Connie: "Oh...(turns to look at me)...SURPRISE?!

Yes, until this moment...I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WAS A SURPRISE FOR ME!
They almost pulled it off! I think that hostess felt bad...especially when Connie had gone in there (nor for the bathroom like I thought) to tell them I was there and could they just seat us with the rest of the group when we came in.

Anyway...we went out onto the patio where my sister-in-law had planned a surprise party for my birthday with all of my dear friends! There were a dozen red roses (my favorite), a scrap book with pages from each of them (which some of you still need to get done by the way...), diet coke (which is more important that the cheesecake), and CHEESECAKE! It was wonderful to see all my friends and know how much they love me and were willing to get together. We laughed so much (you wouldn't belive some of the things we talked about! Let me put it this way...some bodily fluids/functions, etc were mentioned...it is good we were on the patio away from everyone else!!).

Thank you to each of you who came and made my birthday so special...to my sisters who wish they could have been here, and to Stacey for arrainging the whole thing for me. That was so sweet and something I will never forget and always be thankful for. Especailly as this was my last birthday for a VERY LONG TIME in the states around family and friends. Turning 28 really wasn't such a bad thing...it was really fun, thanks to all of you!

Here are some pictures that were taken during that "SURPRISE". :)

Okay... I cannot get the pictures to post, i will try it on a seperate post!

Update: Tried to post the pictures...still can't get it to work. So just imagine all of us having so much fun...laughing, eating cheesecake (well all but one of us who had strawberries...that actually I will possibly order next time because they came with DARK chocolate to dip them in!), and laughing some more! It really was a great time (have I mentioned that before...?)

UPDATE #2: Check out Stacey's blog...she has pictures! :)

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about FALL BREAK 1. It is nice to let the kids sleep in past 6:30 (and for the first time ever they really are! Before they started school they were always up by 6, now they think it is great to sleep in!) 2. We get to spend extra time reading. 3. Bedtimes don't matter quite so much! 4. Special plans with familyand friends during the days. 5. It is only ONE WEEK LONG (YEA!)!! 6. Playing outside in our 80 degree weather 7. More time to be together and subsequently more time to argue (my kids...not me) 8. Not having to leave the house at 7:15 every morning (often having to wake my daughter up to go)... 9. ...or wake up the little ones from naps to pick them up at 2! 10. Makes me remember what it was like to have 4 kids at home every day all day long... 11. I LOVE having my kids at home (that is why I am a stay at home mom), but it is amazing how much more I can get done with just 2 of them! 12. My oldest two are here to help entertain my younger two! 13. All the laughter and silliness that comes with 4 kids home all day! Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

A Four Word Meme

I was tagged by Stacey to do another meme (what does meme mean exactly anyway...?)

She gave me four words and I am suppose to write about the first thing that comes to mind.
Here goes...

Pizza - I used to like it before I got pregnant with my first son and was always ready to eat it. During all 4 of my pregnancies I very much DISLIKED it. Now, pizza is okay sometimes, but I could easily go for something else! My husband and kids really hate that my like for it never came back!

Friendship - Wow, I think of alot of my friendships I have had over the years since I was in Kindergarten (I know a long time ago, but I remember them!) with different people. Some not so good, most of them wonderful! Each of them have taught me something. I am so thankful that the Lord created friendship and for the wonderful friends he has given me. I have friends to laugh with, cry with, be silly with, share my kid woes with, even go to the movies or out to coffee with...thank you to all my dear friends!

Daisy - My wedding...I had red roses and daises. I carried 3 red roses in my bouquet (my husband and I have a special message...123 means I love you).
My girls carried 1 yellow rose with daisies in their hair and my sister (maid of honor) carried yellow roses and daisies! Ahhhhhh...... :)

Grace - Of course I first think of the Amazing Grace that God shows us.
But I also think of my Great Grandma Grace. She lived with us for awhile when I was growing up. She was born in 1906 and at one point played the piano for Dwight L Moody and his revivals! She died on my 16th birthday. :(

Well, there we go. If you would like to participate in this meme, please feel free to do so! It was fun! :)

Andrew & Kaleb questionare

Answers given by Andrew, age 6 1/2

1. Something I do well: Riding bikes, art

2. Something I'd like to improve on: swimming

3. My favorite food: macaroni & cheese and hotdogs...together

4. Three words that best describe me: I like soccer, happy, helper

5. My happiest moment: playing army on bikes with big kids...it was lots of fun

6. The most important thing in my life now: friends (especially Isaac)

7. Then to the moms - Is there anything that surprised you?
I was surprised at #2, swimming...I thought he hated swimming! Last summer when we had him and his brother in swimming lessons the first week they cried (screamed is more like it) EVERY day! So, that was good to hear! :)

Answers given by Kaleb, age 5

1. Something I do well: riding bikes, basketball (I don't think he has ever played basketball!)

2. Something I'd like to improve on: drawing, my numbers at school

3. My favorite food: man, there are so many...here are some...
chicken, rice, and that is all. (I thought there would be alot more!)

4. Three words that best describe me: funny (as he laughs), happy, goofy (do we see a pattern here?)

5. My happiest moment: GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!!!

6. The most important thing in my life now: my teacher is important, Mrs. Even!

7. Then to the moms - Is there anything that surprised you?
#3 did...he loves all foods and he eats it all like crazy...chicken and rice? I thought it was lettuce and carrots! :) Also, he has had kind of a rough start at school this year, so it was good to hear him say #7!

This was fun to hear them come up with their answers...Andrew thought this was great and wanted more questions, Kaleb couldn't believe the questions kept coming and wanted to know when we would be DONE!

I don't know who else to tag, but check out my my sister-in-law and nephew
Stacey and Josh at Just Me and My Guys.

Where are your eyes?

Don't all moms have eyes in the back of their head?
I remember looking for my mom's when I was little...I mean staring at the back of her head trying to figure out where those eyes were that always knew what I was doing when she wasn't looking!
Now I know where those eyes are...they are mommy eyes...

I didn't realize my kids believed me until a few weeks ago when this happened...

I was sitting on the floor writting some thank you notes and #1 kid was on the couch behind me. All of a sudden I felt this blowing sensation on the back of my head!
I couldn't figure out what it was...I kind of shook my head and didn't think about it. Until, it happened again a few minutes later. I realized Andrew was BLOWING on the BACK OF MY HEAD! I asked him to stop, and he did...for a few seconds and then he would start up again.
Finally I asked him what he was doing and he told me he was looking for the eyes in the back of my head...just where were they he wanted to know...

And when this happened...

I was fixing dinner the last week and there was an open pack of powdered donuts on the counter. I had just finished telling #2 kid he could not have any more grapes before supper...but I guess he didn't think that would apply to donuts. So, while my back was turned he grabbed one and ran off to eat it.
My dad happend to be here visiting and saw him do it...let me know and I called him back into the kitchen.
I made him spit it out, rinse his mouth out, no donuts the next morning...the whole consequence thing.
A few minutes later he came back into the kitchen and said, "Wow mom, you really do have eyes in the back of your head, don't you?".

They ask me if they will ever have eyes in the back of their heads...and I tell them no, only mommies have them...and sometimes grandmas and aunts.
Hey, if it keeps them on their toes and prevents them from doing something they probably shouldn't because I might "see" them, it works for me!! :)

Fish, Mice, and other Yucky Things

I am not a bug person...never have been, don't really ever see myself becoming one...even with 3 boys!
I have a history in my family of being afraid of bugs...especially the big ones that are really ugly, generally live in the sewer, and CRUNCH when stepped on! Instead of killing them, I get one of those red plastic cups and put it over it for my husband to take care of when he gets home!
I know, silly, but hey...I HATE the CRUNCH! I have even gone as far as taping the red cups to the floor in case the roach was strong enough to move the cup!!

Okay, that said, now we all know my HATE of roaches.
Well, we have discovered some new types of things in our house...all to do with animals...all in places I never would have expected them! They also are interesting stories...

We returned home the end of June from a 5 month trip. Right after we left our home in February a couple came and stayed in our house for 1 week. We were happy to let them use our house and let it get some use while we were away. Well, use our house they did...including the oven.
The night we came home my sister-in-law and her family came over to welcome us home and brought dinner. We turned the oven on to cook some delicious looking enchilada's. Upon opening the oven we discovered this...

Upon closer inspection with our eyes and noses, we discovered it was FISH!!!! 5 months before, when the couple stayed at our house, they had cooked fish and forgot it in our oven! Needless to say the whole pan went in the trash...outside (oh, and we went out to eat)!! :) YUCK!

Next animal... Our dryer has not been drying clothes very quickly lately (meaning it was taking like 90 minutes to dry one small load...since I need to do a minimum of 1 load if not 2 a day and can only do it at night from 9pm to 9am, this was a problem! Oh, I can do it at that time because we are on some plan that makes it cheaper that way.) Anyway, last week my husband decided to take the dryer apart to see if he could fix it...being an airplane mechanic I had the utmost confidence he could take care of the problem. As he was taking it apart he came to a point where he had to stop. He made me come look at it (as if I would know the problem!). I didn't see a shorted wire or anything mechanical, instead I saw something with a tail and whiskers! Once again, upon further inspection we discovered this...

You got it...A MOUSE!! It somehow crawled up the back almost to the top and basically got fried! A MOUSE!! IN MY HOUSE!! (Now I sound like one of those beginner books my 1st grader is reading...) YUCK!

Okay, so we have a majorly decayed fish, a fried mouse, crunchy roaches...I think God is preparing me for the mission field! Just give me a whole case of red SOLO cups and some Duct tape and I think I might survive...

First Haircut

Sarah got her first hair cut today.
Really, it was just a trim and to even it up.
It is amazing how much older my little girl looks!
Here are some pics...

Before: aren't those always the prettiest pictures?

She was so good during it...she just sat there! (Could it be the goldfish and milk I bribed her with...?)

"I am going to look beautiful!"

"The pain you must go through to look good..."

The finished product...what a cutie pie...so grown up!

Organized Fridge?

The kitchen...it is my kitchen. The dishes are in the cupboard I want them in, the silverwear in the drawer I want, etc. After all, if I am the one in there cooking and doing all the work, why would it be any different?

Well, my 6-year-old son thinks I need help!

We have a rotating schedule for seats at our dinner table (that way all the kids get to sit by mom and dad and also have to take a turn just sitting by sibblings...yuck!). Whoever sits by me (which is twice a week) it is there turn to set the table, clear the table, etc.

Last night was my oldest's turn. I had him put all the things from the refrigerator away...most of the items went on the door. He tried to talk me into letting him put it on the shelf and I told him, 'No, things are where I want them, put it ALL on the door". Then I left the kitchen.

A few minutes later he comes to me and says...
"Mom, I think I could help you. If you will let me I could really get your fridge organized for you and make more room...really! I just need a few minutes, well, maybe a little more, but I can do it."

I told him no, I like the fridge the way it is, but thank you for offereing. He replied, " Mom, I really think you should let me organize it, I can make more room for you and it will be better. You will like it, I know! I can just have the door open for a little bit and I will take care of it!"

After a few more minutes of him trying every which way to talk me into organizing the fridge, and me trying hard not to laugh at his seriousness...we finally agreed that we could talk about it later!

WHEW! I better make sure that I warn his wife someday that she is getting someone who will want to be involved in the organizing of the refridgerator!
As long as he does the cooking...

Sarah's Meme

Hey everyone, it's me Sarah. My sweet friend (and cousin) Seth tagged me for this meme. Hope you enjoy!!

3 Things that scare me:
~ New people
~ Big dogs (up close)
~ Bath time...I love the thought of the bath, just not the bath itself!

3 People who make me laugh:
~ My brothers, Andrew, Kaleb, and especially Kolby
~ My mommy
~ Anyone who will tickle my tummy!

3 Things I Love:
~ Sef (aka, my cousin Seth)
~ The camera
~ Dolls

3 Things I Hate:
~ Getting my hands dirty (mom says I am such a girl!)
~ Bedtime (I love night, I am so happy, why do they make me go to bed?)
~ Drinking water

3 Things I don't Understand:
~ Why mommy won't hold me all the time
~ Why I can't eat Peanut Butter and Jelly for every meal
~ Why I have to brush my teeth!

3 Things on my Floor:
~ Play dishes
~ Dolls
~ Blankets ( I know it is summer...)

3 Things I'm doing right now:
~ Crying...

~ because I had to go...

~ to bed!

3 Things I want to do before I die:
~ Ask Jesus into my heart
~ Get married

~ be a mommy

3 Things I can do:
~Sit still while mommy french braids my hair

~TALK

~Climb on top of my dresser and go to sleep (story about that here)

3 Ways to describe my personality:
~ cute (and I know it!)

~ shy (until you get to know me, then watch out!)

~ a PRINCESS! :)

3 Things I Think you should listen to:
~ My brothers and I when we all start laughing

~ Me singing (I have just started...)

~ Music...any music, it is fun to dance to! :)

3 Things I Don't think you should listen to:
~ My brothers arguing

~ When mommy and daddy say it is bedtime...:)

~ Hmmm...

3 Favorite Foods:
~ Peanut butter and Jelly sandwhiches

~Macaroni and cheese

~ DORITOS!

3 Beverages I drink regularly:
~ Milk
~ Milk
~ and Milk (okay, so my mom does this thing where she mixes my milk...it is 3/4 water and 1/4 milk. I know she does it, but this way my mom is happy because she thinks I am getting water and I am happy because I am still getting milk!)

3 Shows I watch:
~ Little Einsteins
~ Clifford
~ pretty much whatever my brothers are watching!

A Baby I Want to Tag is: If you have a baby and want to do this, I tag YOU! (Let me know in comments so that I can add you as a link!)

Bed vs. Dresser

Have you ever had one of those heart stopping moments as a mom?

I had one of those moments last night!
My daughter (who will be 2 on Saturday) has just started sleeping in her "big girl bed"...which for now is a matress on the floor.
She has done GREAT...no problems putting her down, doesn't come out of her room, etc.

Last night she did something I haven't even seen one of my boys do yet!
We put her to bed...she cried and cried and cried...much longer than normal for her.
I went in to check on her and she was standing on top of her toy chest by her dresser (this is not the scary part!)
I think she got up there and couldn't get down...so I got her up, calmed her down, cuddled...everything was all good after that.
About 30 minutes later my husband put her back down to bed. She cried for about 1 minute (which is normal) and then stopped...we figured she was one tired girl!

We had my sister-in-law and her family over visiting last night, and when they went home they were missing my nephew's flip flops. My husband checked in Sarah's room.
He didn't find the flip flops...he found this...

...where my heart did a little flip flop when I saw her!

She had climbed up on her toy chest, up onto her dresser and FALLEN ASLEEP!!! It looked like she was lying there with God's hands holding her. It was a very precious picture, but a heart stopping one also! How easily should could have fallen, but she didn't! God holds little ones in his hands!

However, the toy chest was moved last night before we went to bed! :)

For some more cute pictures of her check out my sister in law's blog here.

What is that?

The other day I opened my new tub of butter...supposedly never used before.

What I found, instead of the nice smooth top I am accustomed to with new tubs, was this...
















It doesn't look so new to me!

Upon further inspection I realized they were fingerprints! One of my kids (who will remain nameless but has given us countless stories to tell so far) was hungry for butter?!

When we asked him why he ate the butter...WITH HIS FINGERS...he replied, he wanted to see what it tasted like...over and over and over. :)

Crazy Kid! Butter is good on popcorn, potatoes, toast, but on FINGERS?

Happy Birthday to Joy!

It has been so long since I blogged, I almost couldn't remember how...but it is all coming back now... :)

Today is my sister's birthday. Joy is 24! Wow! She is the baby of our family, and I love her to pieces! Her and her husband and their little girl Arika (the cutest neice ever!), live in Canada right now while they do some missionary training. Phoenix and Canada are not very close to each other, so we don't get to see them very often. :(

But on our trip home from North Carolina (when we traveled 3921 miles with 4 small kids in the car over 11 days...that is another whole blog in itself...or two or three...!) we were able to meet them on the border of Michgan and Canada to spend the day with them. It was so great to see her and her family!

Joy, I miss talking to you my dear, I love you and am so proud of you for what you are doing! You are such a good mom and I am so thankful for your friendship and love!
Hope your day was wonderful...at least you have running water for it, right?? :)
Happy Birthday Joy! :)

Packing like crazy!

We made it! Jon has been home since Friday...we were all SO happy to see him!

Now we are busy getting ready to leave...or move. That is what it feels like!
We have been here in North Carolina for only 4 months, yet it has been long enough to settle in and have much more stuff now then when we came here the end of February...which means much more stuff to pack and go through...

Anyway, so I am now busy getting things packed, some to be shipped (we won't see it for about 6 - 8 weeks), some to be packed in our car carrier (once that carrier closes on Saturday, it will not be opened until we arrive home on the 29th of June!), and the rest to go in the back of the van (hopefully just the necessities so that we can still see out the back window and not get to closterphobic!).

I have a feeling when we pack in about 5 -6 months to head to Southeast Asia I will look back at this and think how easy it was to just pack an apartment with 4 months worth of stuff, verses a house with YEARS of stuff! It is all in your perspective I guess.

So, now, if I can just keep my kids from finding new things to bring in the house, or keep them occupied so that I can acutally get some stuff done (like blogging...it is very important...), we will make it! Only 5 days until we leave, then it is an 11 day trip up through Ohio, Michigan, Colorado, and then HOME! :)

8 down...3 to go

Isaiah 41:13: "For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you!"

This verse has come to mean a lot to me in the last 8 days. My husband is gone for 11 days total.
While there has been less laundry and I haven't had to cook if I don't feel like it (my kids would eat PB & J for every meal if I let them), it is so much harder without the second part of my team!

It has been everything from my #2 kid getting cars sick on the way to church on Sunday morning, to constant fighting between themselves, to a BIG bike crash (it happened to #1 and he tends to be very dramatic...), it taking double the normal time to get them to bed because there is only one of me to do showeres/baths, brush teeth, pray, scratch backs...to the extra hugs and tears because they miss their daddy.

It has been challenging, but when I think about that verse, and can visualize the Lord not only being there with me, but actually taking my hand and helping me...WOW!
We serve such a great God...He won't leave us alone when we need him.

Happy Birthday Jodi!

Today is my sister's 26th birthday!
Happy Birthday to my dear sister and forever friend!

I love you so much Jodi and I am very proud of you and all you have done.
You have come a long way since making fun of me for wearing a diaper (inside story...not able to share in public...).

Jodi, I love that we are so close, but I hate we live so far away! I am thanful for you and the HUGE part you have played in my life. Thank you for your love for the Lord and others. Thank you for your true servants heart and your listening ear!

I love you so much my sister and hope you have the BEST Birthday Ever today!