My Loving, Chaotic Life

Where did the school year go?

2011-06-11T08:11:00.000-05:00

My goodness! How did we already get to the end of the school year? I know it has been awhile since I've posted, but it has been pretty busy during the spring. Hopefully, the summer break will allow me to post more regularly.

At the end of the school year, the teachers give each elementary student a Christian Character Award. It is a very sweet moment to hear about your child through a teacher's eyes. Jack received the Loving Award. His verse was "Unselfishly meeting the needs of others" John 15:12. I can't tell you what it feels like to have someone who has spent 8 hours a day for the past 31 weeks tell you that your child is unselfish and meets the needs of others. It was almost too overwhelming.

Then, Mrs. Pearle used the letters in his name to describe Jack. J is for Jovial, A is for Appreciative. C is for Capable and K is for Kind. She said he ALWAYS said "Yes ma'am" to her and did whatever she said. I am so proud of him!

Jack is my very tenderhearted kid. He cried when the class was over because he knew that it was Mrs. Pearle's last day as she had surgery the following day. I snapped this picture of the two of them after the award ceremony:

He wasn't excited about moving up to 3rd grade, but he did say it was possible he may love his 3rd grade teacher more than Mrs. Pearle. I'll be honest. I don't know if that is possible. I'm not sure our family can love any teacher more than Mrs. Pearle.

Luke received the Fruit of the Spirit award for Joyfulness. Well, isn't that the truth! I don't know another kid who moves around as much as he does humming a song and laughing at everything that is going on. He is definitely a free spirit which is one of the things I love most about him. He dresses up in silly costumes. Yesterday, he was a skeleton pirate:

Below are a few pictures from his Pre-K class:

Luke being silly with one of his best buds, Matthew

Mrs. Nantz with Luke

"Joyful" Luke

Christmas Card 2010

2010-12-24T23:55:00.002-06:00

Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T21:42:00.000-05:00

Tonight was a fun night for the boys considering it was a Sunday night Halloween. We spent a good part of the evening at our church's Trunk or Treat event. This was the first year in quite a while that Aaron and I didn't have a trunk. Ironically enough, I ended up helping put it together and ran the cupcake walk while Aaron ran the putting green and bowling. We were both pretty tired by the end of it.

Aaron ended up taking the boys down the street right by our church while I finished cleaning up. The boys were so excited to go through a "home"made haunted house. I was surprised it didn't scare them, but they really loved it. So much they had to call both sets of grandparents to tell them all about it. Luke's words were "it was so awesome!!"

Luke as "bones" AKA a skeleton

Pretty sure the best picture ever taken of Luke...and he is in a Halloween costume.

My slice of pizza and bones

Silly picture time

Birthday Party Fun cont. 2

2010-08-02T01:11:00.000-05:00

Birthday Party Fun cont.

2010-08-02T01:10:00.000-05:00

Birthday Party Fun

2010-08-02T01:07:00.001-05:00

Blog...Constantly Interrupted

2010-07-12T09:08:00.006-05:00

**The photos should be working now. I was having internet difficulties yesterday.**

Every time I come to update my blog, something comes up which takes me away from it. It may be the boys, work, cleaning, laundry, etc. It seems as though I am constantly being interrupted from completing a blog entry.

As for an update for the last two months...

- Jack was on the All A honor roll at school, and he received the "Star Clubber of the Month" for Sparks at AWANA at our church. It is pretty impressive for the Star Clubber since only four were picked from his entire Spark club. Yay Jack!

Jack receiving his award from Mrs. Marsh

Jack's favorite 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Marsh

- Luke received his character award from Mrs. Smalley. It was "Contentment". His certificate says "Christian Character Award is proudly presented to Luke Sims for showing CONTENTMENT 'Being happy with what I have'" I'm really proud of Luke.

Luke receiving his award from Mrs. Smalley (or Mrs. Molly as he pronounced it)

Mrs. King and Luke

Luke's favorite Pre-K teacher, Mrs. Smalley

This wasn't an easy year for him transitioning from stay-at-home with mommy kid to full-time Pre-K kid. He is going to attend Pre-K for one more year before he dominates Kindergarten. Look out world!

- I'm the new JV volleyball coach at TCA for the 2010-2011 school year. This is really exciting for me as I've always wanted to coach at the high school level, but I wasn't able to since I've been a stay-at-home mom for 6 years. I never thought I'd get this opportunity. I love how God works! Who would have thought a "secondary secretary" would be a JV volleyball coach, too? I had a good laugh when some of the upcoming high school girls asked if I even knew how to play volleyball. Um...yeah. I do know. I also know how to make girls run until they feel like puking. I'm good like that.

- Aaron and I celebrated our 10th anniversary on June 17. 10 years?!? In all honestly, the time has flown by almost too quickly. I still remember us playing the Nintendo 64 in our small apartment in Lubbock on Friday nights and eating Panburger Partners (the generic brand of Hamburger Helper) because we had no money to do anything. It is amazing to look at where we began and to see how far we've come. I wanted to go on a romantic vacation with Aaron. Aaron wanted a boat. Guess who won?

Ok, I have to admit that his purchase (albeit more expensive) was a better choice than a vacation. As much as I love vacations, we are not a family that does it. We add up the costs and decide to just go to the lake, go camping or visit family. Maybe someday I'll get that romantic vacation. Until then, woohoo for the boat!

- VBS has come and gone. A great post about this year's VBS can be found at Shelley's blog. No reason to duplicate the best explanation of this year's craziness. Although, I will say that rain + small church = ChAoS for finalizing a VBS schedule. I chalk it up to God bending me into being a more flexible person.

- Our trip to my parents' house for July 4th and the following week was a lot of fun. We played dominoes, ate A TON, swam, swam, and swam some more! We had an all-day birthday party for the boys on Thursday, July 8. We went to the museum and swam at an indoor water park. I won't lie. I'm not one for public pools. I think it is ok until I get there. Then, I just envision all those children peeing in that water. Yuck. Let me go back to my parents' pool. At least I know those kids who are peeing in that pool. :)

Tepee Dog Pile

Trash Can Lid Sundae

Everyone preparing to devour (except Jack who ordered a plain vanilla ice cream cup)

Yum!

This week will bring us fun with Emma who came with us home to spend a few days with her cousins before my sister and Ellie come down. We are going to Hurricane Harbor, Six Flags, Fossil Rim, Art Camp and going to PK for some boating fun. Whew. Too bad I can't rest next week. I'm coaching at a volleyball camp all day from Monday through Friday. Whew. Good thing I get one full week before work starts again.

Soccer Champs

2010-05-08T07:48:00.011-05:00

10 Things I Learned Coaching Soccer...

2010-05-01T19:10:00.004-05:00

1. Lightening is the only true way for an organization to call a game.

2. While a 3 year old is cute to watch running on the field, he is not as cute when he gets the ball taken away from the opposing team and have a full-fledged temper tantrum on the field.

3. If a child has to go to the bathroom during practice, then don't make him wait. He will pull down his pants and pee on anyone near him.

4. Staying in the entire 8 minute quarter is relative.

5. Playing goalie is something everyone but the actual goalie wants to do during game time.

6. The coach runs more than all other players on the field...combined.

7. Making "hi-ya!" noises while being goalie does improve the effectiveness of the position.

8. Telling a child 15 times that the goal is "that way" will not mean he or she will remember the 16th time he or she has the ball.

9. The trophy is not made of real gold.

10. Watching your child run down the field kicking the ball and giggling like crazy while everyone chases him is the most awesome thing ever.

Camping Bliss

2010-04-11T19:41:00.012-05:00

I must admit that I never thought I would have those two words together in the title of a post. However, it was camping bliss this weekend.

We went to Isle du Bois at Ray Roberts Lake State Park for the Cub Scout Family Camp Out. We had so much fun fishing, hiking, roasting marshmallows and bike riding.

Friday Night:

Some go fishing...

Others go rock throwing...

Saturday:

So proud of Jack on his bike!

Look at him go!

Jack is being presented with his badges and belt loops.

Luke climbing his favorite tree

How did he get so high?

Being silly

Can you see the rocks in the air that Luke just threw?

The end of a pretty perfect day

Spring Break

2010-03-22T06:22:00.002-05:00

It amazes me how fast time can move. Last week was Spring Break, and we had a really great time relaxing and sleeping in for a couple of days. The boys went to Grandma and Pappy's house last Saturday and had a lot of fun going into Lubbock to visit The Science Spectrum, eating cheese sticks at Spanky's, and riding 4-wheelers at the ranch. In fact, they had such a good time that the only time Jack wanted to talk to me was when he had a question about his Nintendo DS. Yep, I feel loved.

On Wednesday, we went into Amarillo and spent some time with my parents and my sister's family. On Thursday, we started the day at Western Bowl which the boys loved. Then, a hearty lunch at Beef 'O' Brady's and shopping with Papa's credit card. :)

On Friday, the boys and I visited my grandparents in the morning and hung out with my sister, brother-in-law and nieces in the afternoon. The kids had a fantastic time doing art projects and playing outside in freezing weather. The big kids (aka adults) enjoyed sitting around and chatting while drinking some coffee.

Much to our disbelief, it began snowing Friday night, and I'm pretty sure we got around 3" on the ground. Luckily, it began melting by Saturday afternoon so I could drive us home on Sunday.

As sad as I am that Spring Break is over, I'm also glad because it means we are closer to summer. I am so looking forward to those relaxing days. Jack is already talking about his plans for the summer. It sounds like camping, Six Flags and going to the beach are on his menu. Sounds good to me!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

2010-02-19T22:15:00.003-06:00

I actually won something! I love looking at the beautiful glass pendants that Rachel makes on her Two Dog Pond blog. I've purchased a necklace from her in the past, and I just love it.

She has a weekly contest where you come up with a phrase, saying, quote, etc. to use with the photo that she posts. If your saying is picked, then you win the pendant on a chain. Well, I won this week's contest. Here is my new pendant:

The photo is so cool, and I love the font for the phrase "We are family". I love funky jewelry!

...and Christmas, too

2010-01-16T09:26:00.010-06:00

Here are pictures from our Christmas at my parents' house:

My mom typed "ugly boots" on the computer to find a picture to put with the money they gave Aaron because he already bought his boots. Very funny!

I'm with my boys and nieces. I love this pic! All I need is baby Ellie to complete the photo.

Reading the Christmas Story (Luke 2)

Opening their "big gift" from Neena and Papa.

Woohoo! Way to score, Aaron...uhh...I mean Jack and Luke!

Luke playing with Emma and Ellie.

When in doubt, ask mom to help you put together the Marble Madness kit.

Awww!

Pictures from Thanksgiving...

2010-01-16T08:50:00.007-06:00

Ok, I know it is bad that I'm just NOW getting pictures up from Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, I didn't take any pictures at the events. I have my dad (also known as Paparazzi) and my sister who takes pictures all.the.time.too. So, I just received in the mail my dad's cd of photos and wanted to share the fun with all three of you who still check out my blog. You know who you are. :)

Thanksgiving 2009
My hubby and me going on 9+ years of marriage:

The kids enjoying the Thanksgiving feast:

My nieces enjoying some quality time with Neena and her new Kindle:

Luke going into a turkey coma:

The ladies about to play spoons:

My mom, Jack and me after Thanksgiving:

As 2010 approaches...

2009-12-31T23:08:00.003-06:00

All I can think is wow. This has been the year of change. It started with a new TV because our big screen TV went out on New Year's Day. We ended up buying a LCD TV which was pretty awesome. Our laptop crashed and the dryer shortly after. While the upgrades are nice, I could have done without the extra expense. :)

I went for being a children's director for Community Bible Study and staying home to working full-time in a secondary office. In January 2009, Jack was going to school for 4 hours everyday, and Luke was going twice a week for 5 1/2 hours. Now, both of my boys are in school all day. They are flourishing in a way I never imagined. Luke can see me throughout the day, give me a big hug, and go along his way with the rest of the class. He went from crying every single time I left him somewhere to being completely happy being left in his Pre-K class.

Jack has amazed me this year. He went from a shy little boy who couldn't read very well to an outgoing young man who loves to read The Hardy Boys and The Wimpy Kid Diary which are good size novels. He loves Math and Science. The only thing that hasn't changed is his favorite thing at school is P.E.

Aaron has changed jobs. He was driving to West 820 until he moved his job to north Dallas. What a haul! Although, it is pretty cool that he knows his way around up there. It made it really nice when we went to Medieval Times last week. We both get up way too early in the morning, but he can be home by 6 and have Fridays off every week. We love it!

Probably the saddest change for me is watching my babies become boys. I see the little bellies and baby talk disappearing right in front of me. I love that they are growing up, but it hurts my heart at the same time.

Amidst all the change, we have had a lot of fun especially doing family activities. Some of my favorites this year were Six Flags,Nashville with Uncle B, Vonnie and Ellie,camping,and Medieval Times.

I pray that 2010 brings my family peace and happiness. I pray that my boys continue their love for school and find friends who love God and want to do good. I pray that Aaron continues to enjoy his working environment and always sees the progress he is making at his job. I pray that when I open my mouth it is used as a tool to lift others instead of being negative. I pray that as Aaron and I approach our 10th anniversary that we love each other more everyday and find laughter in everything. I pray that myself, family and friends will find a peace that will last them a lifetime.

I want anyone and everyone who reads this to realize that true peace is ONLY obtained through Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. No matter the circumstances He will always be there to stand beside you and comfort you in a way no human can. His love is everlasting, and He wants you to part of His forever family. When you claim Him as the Son of God who while sinless himself died on the cross for our sins and rose three days later, then a peace so pure will rest upon you.

This is one of my top three verses from the Bible:

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

Let 2010 be the year you give up control and let God be in true control of your life. What better opportunity than the start of a new decade to give your life to the One who loves you so much He had His Son die on a cross for you so you could be with Him for eternity. I don't know many people who would sacrifice their own child for someone else. God bless and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

A Knight to Remember

2009-12-26T13:41:00.003-06:00

On December 23, we took the boys to Medieval Times for something fun to do during the Christmas Break. It was fantastic! The boys are at the perfect age to enjoy the atmosphere and actually want to eat the food.

I will say that the show was probably 30 minutes too long for Luke. He was ready to go during one of the biggest fight scenes. Luckily, he was entertained enough going back and forth from my lap to his chair and drinking his Pepsi.

We cheered on the Yellow Knight and booed the Green Knight. Apparently, I cheered quite well for the Yellow Knight as he threw a flower at me. All I can say is I know how to rock the yellow streamer.

As usual, I have an excellent 4:35 minute montage of our experience. If you want to watch, then check out the last 30 seconds of the video. All I can say is Luke is NOT one to dance, but he really let loose when that song came on. I'm going to have to get it for my iPod just to watch him boogie again.

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-24T18:37:00.004-06:00

Brr.........

Christmas Countdown

2009-12-15T06:13:00.003-06:00

It amazes me that we are 10 days away from Christmas. I keep asking myself where did 2009 go?? As usual, the weeks before Christmas prove to be very busy. It seems like every night there is a party or activity to attend. If we aren't going somewhere, then we are busy getting stuff together for Christmas.

Sunday night, Aaron and I wrapped gifts for the family. We actually ran out of wrapping paper. I can't believe it! It isn't that we had many gifts. It is the fact that I haven't bought paper in years because I had so much left over year after year. I had to go buy wrapping paper yesterday AT FULL PRICE. You don't know how this pains me knowing the same wrapping paper will be 50% off in 11 days.

I've also been busy helping with the classroom parties for the boys. I love the fact that this year I can be more a part of the classroom as a homeroom helper. I find it ironic that it took a full time job for me to be able to do more with my boys when they are at school. Granted, my job is right there with them, so I guess it shouldn't be that shocking!

Yesterday, I was reminded of how sweet a spirit Jack has. He had to show his class a tradition that our family has at Christmas. He wanted to read Luke 2:1-14 from the Bible. We read it every Christmas morning. In fact, this tradition has been going on since I was a little girl.

So, he read Luke 2 (and did a fantastic job at pronouncing some of those tough words), and his teacher asked him if he had anymore to add. Below is what he said:

"Jesus was born on a Friday. Actually, he was born on Christmas Eve. He grew up and died on a cross. He died on the cross for my sins. He was THE child of God. He is my Savior. And that's all I have to say."

Can it get any better?

Through the hustle and bustle of the season, I pray that one things be the center point of the festivities. A baby was born many years ago. He was and is the Son of God. He died on a cross so that our sins could be covered in His redeeming blood. For me, the picture that captures this season's meaning is not one of a baby in a manger. It is a picture that show the destiny of that baby in the manger.

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!

2009-12-13T14:00:00.000-06:00

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For Shelley

2009-12-06T10:10:00.000-06:00

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Deck the Halls

2009-12-03T06:35:00.004-06:00

The boys had a great time last weekend decorating the Christmas tree. Compared to last year, they did a great job of placing the ornaments throughout the tree instead of the bottom front of the tree. I have to say I truly love this time of year. The weather has been unseasonably cold. So far, we've had snow and temperatures in the upper 30s. For real!

As usual, any family event begins peacefully, but it always ends in chaos. My boys decided that just decorating the tree wasn't enough fun. They had to have a tickle war to see who could laugh the loudest. I got a ton of pictures and even shot the photo for our Christmas cards. Yay! Granted, Luke is wearing a long sleeve tee and shorts, and Jack has on his cut-up pirate pants I made him with a FBC tee. However, it doesn't matter. I used to be so irritated when stuff didn't turn out perfect. Now, I'm just happy to get a picture. As Lukey says, "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit!"

Below is a preview is of all the fun we had on November 28 decorating the Christmas Tree:

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

2009-12-02T07:59:00.005-06:00

Fall Fun 2009 Movie

2009-11-04T10:36:00.001-06:00

A Halloween Preview

2009-11-01T08:20:00.002-06:00

I am several weeks behind on posting photos and other fun stuff that we did during October. I will catch up over the next few days.

Since I have a minute before I need to finish getting ready for church, I wanted to leave my family that didn't get to see the boys last night a little photo of their costumes. Let's just say...Mama mia! Dis is a good costume!

All Quiet on the Western Front

2009-10-09T06:20:00.003-05:00

Often, I feel like this title (All Quiet on the Western Front) early in the morning. Everyone is still sleeping, and I'm sitting here enjoying my coffee. I soak up the silence because the rest of my day is filled with chaos, talking, laughter, etc. I do enjoy those times of the day, too. It is just at this time I can truly reflect on what is going on in my life and the lives of the ones I love.

There is a novel known by title of this post, too. I read it in my high school AP English class. It was pretty gruesome because it dealt with World War I and the loss of innocence of a young soldier. When I thought of this title, I instantly remembered that novel and found some similarities to my mornings.

I go through the day and am shocked at the cruelty in the world. I watch people hurt each other. I see loved ones pass away and watch families grieve. I find what little innocence I had left is simply slipping away as I sit and think during my quiet mornings.

Then, my boys wake up. Instantly, my innocence is renewed through them. I can view the world through their eyes. They see no bad. Well, the only bad they see is if they get their games taken away because they disobeyed. They believe that everyone is nice and good. It is refreshing.

I personally think that God gives us children so we can reclaim that innocence. He wants us to have that child-like faith. The world can harden us and force us to build walls around ourselves so no one can break through and hurt us again. A child has no walls because he wants to run free.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

A Campin' We Will Go...

2009-09-27T19:49:00.014-05:00

And a campin' we went! We decided to take the boys to Lake Mineral Wells State Park for the weekend. The boys were so excited! Jack loves to camp. He enjoys fishing, hiking and building a campfire. I think I learned this weekend that Luke just like saying the word "camping". He pretty much would rather hangout in the tent and play Nintendo DS. It is nice to see that one of my children takes after my enthusiasm for camping. :)

On Friday, Aaron cooked out hamburgers and hotdogs, and the boys did a little fishing. I enjoyed reading a bit and building the fire. Yep, my fire skills have grown considerably from last winter.

On Saturday, we had a pretty busy day fishing. Now, when I say "we", then I mean Aaron and Jack. Luke spent two minutes holding a fishing pole before he decided that he "no like holding fish pole". So, Luke and I hiked back to the camp site. At that point, Luke decided that he wanted to get naked. I don't know if it is a guy thing to be completely "free" in nature, but I let him get naked (well, he did wear his undies) in our tent. We spent the rest of the morning playing Nintendo DS in our tent.

After lunch, Luke and I hung out at the camp while Jack and Aaron went fishing again. Luke was sweating bullets in the tent (he was clothed this time). When he came out, he said he was ready to go home. Hallaluah! Um...I mean...so soon, Lukey?

I called Aaron and said we're packing up and outta there. Aaron wasn't that surprised. I can't imagine why. We did have a fun time. It was fun spending time with the family outdoors, and I did enjoy sleeping in the tent. Granted, I enjoyed sleeping at home more, but I can't always have it my way, right? :)

My Tiger Cub Scout

2009-09-09T10:49:00.002-05:00

Last night, I began a journey that I do not understand. It is a world that has been mainly for boys and their fathers. It is the world of Boy Scouts.

Now, I will say that this world is one that wants the whole family involved at this age. There are several family events including campouts. Yes, family campouts. I'm not sure if I'm excited about that or not. I do like camping out with my family, but I'm definitely not some super campout mom. Perhaps this is where I become that awesome mom that really enjoys camping out all the time. Yeah, I'm thinking not.

However, Jack is SO excited about being a Tiger Cub. He loves his uniform and had to buy the hat. He wanted the special pants and belt, but I had to draw a line...for now. I'm sure we'll be back at the Boy Scout Store to purchase more items.

Jack can't wait to go camping, too. He keeps asking if he can take his sleeping bag to the meetings. I have a feeling all the first graders are asking that question. Luckily, he will get to have his first "official" campout at the beginning of October. In fact, the WHOLE family is invited to come. I've already booked us to go camping the weekend before because I didn't know there was a campout so soon. Hmm...two weekends of camping? I'll have to think that over.

The Princess and Her Pirates

2009-09-04T06:25:00.006-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, our church had its first ever "Princesses and Pirates Party". The boys and I had a lot of fun coming up with our costumes. We went online to pick out the right skull and crossbones picture for their shirts. We cut up sweatpants to take on a more authentic pirate look. We even picked out a girly skull and crossbones for my hot pink shirt and added jewels.

I know it was a lot of work for everyone involved in this party at church, but it was so worth it for the kids. I truly appreciate everything that Katrina, Shelley, Chris and Karen did to make the Princesses and Pirates Party a success!

The boys started the party by painting boats and other piraty things. Then, they received their tattoos from Princess Pirate Shelley who told them it was ok to scream, but it had to be a manly "argh!" and not something whimpy. At this point, Luke just looked at her like she was nuts.

Next, the boys received their pizza as they watched a VeggieTale flick and heard a Bible story. Dessert was "Worms in the Dirt". I'm thinking the princesses got a better deal in their room with the fancy cake. Last, the boys went outside to walk the plank and smash open a pinata. Needless to say, being a pirate is tough work. They were worn out and ready to go home.

First Day of School

2009-08-19T21:53:00.003-05:00

It has finally happened. Both of my boys are going to the same school for the same length of time. Yikes! Where did the time go? I feel like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant with Luke, and Jack was starting to walk and talk. Now, I have a Pre-K and 1st grader.

Both of the boys had a great first day. I do believe highlights of their day (and mine) included seeing their mommy in the secondary office as they walked to and from the playground. Jack even came by the office this afternoon to let me check out the ingredients on a special snack to make sure it didn't contain any peanuts. Could I have a more awesome job? I think not.

Luke did pretty well for being so stinkin' independent. The one time I peaked in on him was when his teacher was reading a story. His head popped up in the door window because the aide was bringing him outside to explain to him that he cannot hide under the table while Mrs. Smalley read the story. Needless to say, he needed a hug from me, and I told him if he didn't listen to his teachers that he wouldn't get to play on the playground. Those words seemed to help his listening skills the rest of the day. :)

As always, I've added some pictures from the day:

My cool cats:

My boys in their adorable uniforms with me:

The boys with their daddy:

Jack putting up his backpack and lunch:

Jack with his 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Marsh:

I sneaked this picture of Luke in the office:

Luke with his Pre-K teacher, Mrs. Smalley:

Aaron was being silly by taking a ton of pictures, and we were all laughing because of the camera flashes. I'm pretty sure that was the most pictures I've ever had taken of me in a short amount of time.

Nashville Fun

2009-08-09T23:03:00.004-05:00

Our favorite things to do in Nashville:

Get tickled...

Play with toys...

Play other people's games...

Eat...A LOT!

Pout...

Suck a thumb while gnawing on a shirt...ok, maybe that was just Ellie.

Looking cool in sunglasses...

Having too much fun!

Thanks Uncle B, Vonnie and Ellie for making Nashville a ton of fun!

Decision Making - From Jack's POV

2009-07-15T21:04:00.003-05:00

Today, we went to Best Buy to pick up the second season of Alias (**Alias!**) and Gold's Gym Cardio Workout for the Wii. As we walk into one of the greatest stores in America, I am memorized by the flat screen televisions. See, one of those beauties would look fantastic in my den. Plus, the prices are dropping. All in all, this is a great idea from my standpoint.

On the other hand, Aaron thought it was a better idea to spend said money on a sprinkler system. That he is installing by himself. For the past 2 weeks. And I'm pretty sure it has cost twice as much as the tv. But I digress.

So, the salesman is telling us how awesome this 47" tv is. I'm like "No need to tell me, Mr. Salesman, 'cause I already know. I just need to talk it over with my husband." The salesman says "No problem" and is willing to answer any questions I may have down the line. End of conversation. Or so I thought.

Jack pipes up and throws in his two cents:

Jack: I really want that tv. Plus, I'd like one in my room, too.
Me: Well, we need to talk to daddy first.
Jack: But why do we need to talk to daddy?
Me: Because he is the head of the household, and he needs to make the final decision on whether or not we spend the money for a new tv.
Jack: Hmm...that doesn't seem fair.
Me: Why not? **begins to think about what a valuable opportunity this is to tell him about the Biblical model of what a Christian household should look like**
Jack: Because you are older than him and you should be able to make all the decisions.

Hot dog! The kid makes a valid point. He sees it at school and at church. In his world, the person who is the boss is always older than him. Plus, he hears from his daddy non-stop about how old mommy is compared to daddy.

Needless to say, I was laughing too hard to really turn this into one of those great teachable moments. Instead, I just bought the tv.

Nah...just kidding! :)

Luke's Favorite Part of VBS

2009-07-03T13:23:00.001-05:00

L.S. on FBCWPVBS @ Yahoo! Video

Just Wanna Have Fun

2009-07-01T14:11:00.002-05:00

This week has been a variety of words: fun, thrilling, chaotic, exhausting, fast and furious!

My sister and her two girls came down on Saturday to visit. We were so excited that they decided to come because VBS started this week, and they were going to get to join in the fun.

We went to church on Sunday morning and began VBS on Sunday night. We ran into town on Monday to pick up some extra VBS supplies, had some fun at Jumping Party, and ate a yummy lunch at Jason's Deli. Tuesday, we went to Six Flags (yes, I have "sucker" stamped across my forehead...but, in my defense, it was the prefect day to go since it was cloudy and a high at 88*). Of course, our evenings are filled with VBS fun.

I don't have any VBS pictures to share yet *hint hint Shelley*, but I have one picture that I feel like describes this week.

15,272 Steps

2009-06-24T20:45:00.003-05:00

Exhausted. Weak. Blessed.

Kinda of an odd combination of words, eh?

Today was our VBS Decorating Day, and it was beyond amazing. We had so many people come to help out. There is really no other word for it besides amazing.

Exhausted: I walked over 7 miles throughout our church today. Holy moly. My knees were crying by mile 4 when I walked up the stairs one more time to see if there were more fish (thanks Shelley!). They were extremely angry at me at mile 6 when I had to have the cross on the stage and that included bringing the extremely heavy crate to prop the cross up on. Right now, my knees aren't speaking to me.

Weak: I had doubts. How were we going to finish this all? What if only a few people show up? How are we going to get a giant cross from the attic to the stage? All of these things were accomplished plus some.

There was a huge chunk of undecorated wall that needed to be painted. It is done. We had more youth and adults than I could imagine. Everything fell in place just as God had planned it.

Blessed: For me, VBS is more than just a fun theme and a nightly break for some parents. It isn't childcare. It is life changing. Kids come to have fun with their friends and end up part of a forever family. Some people see VBS as another activity. I see it as planting seeds that will forever change a child's life. Because someone cared enough to plan a VBS for me to attend when I was a child, I was saved. I am blessed to be a part of this chaos. So blessed.

To The Man I Married...

2009-06-21T18:59:00.005-05:00

To the man I married...
How little did I know
That when I saw you hold our first child
Oh how my heart would grow.

To love you so much fuller
Beyond my wildest dreams.
Then, I witnessed something greater
My love grew even more it seems

I thank God for the blessing
You are in my life.
We are so lucky to call you Daddy,
And how grateful I am to be your wife.

I love you more than the stars and moon in the sky...

Mom vs. Mom

2009-06-16T10:35:00.003-05:00

When I became a mom, I was unaware at how often each and every choice made would profoundly affect my child...or does it? It seems that there is a debate for almost every parenting aspect out there: breastfed/bottlefed, stay at home mom/work out of the home mom, vax/non-vax, circ/non-circ, etc.

However, these debates tend to do only one thing: bring a mother down. I know there are some very distinct opinions on the topics I listed earlier, but I want to focus on only one in this blog. It pertains to this news article that I read today:

Breast-feeding Linked To High Grades, College

Really? I was intrigued at this article because I've never seen a statistic that has proof that breastfed babies are more likely to have higher grades and go to college than the bottlefed babies.

Then, I took a closer look at the article. I found these quotes very interesting.

Professors Joseph Sabia from the American University and Daniel Rees from the University of Colorado Denver based their research on 126 children from 59 families, comparing siblings who were breast-fed as infants to others who were not.

and...

The study, published in the Journal of Human Capital, found that an additional month of breast-feeding was associated with an increase in high school grade point averages of 0.019 points and an increase in the probability of college attendance of 0.014.

Out of 126 children, the study found that each month of breastfeeding caused an increase of .019 GPA and .014 probability of college attendance.

Um...ok.

I'm sorry, but I feel like this is another one of those "bad mommy" articles. It is an article that headline causes any mother who either chose to not breastfed or couldn't breastfed to question their bottlefed child's ability to receive higher grades and attend college.

However, the actual article doesn't even have enough meat in it to argue an effective point. Out of 126 children, the breastfed child has a hundredth point higher GPA and probable college attendance per additional month of breastfeeding. Seriously.

Mothers have so much going against them in society. There are these ridiculous standards that no mom can truly ever meet. The sad thing is we (as moms) can blame articles as pitting one mommy group against another, but it really comes down to realizing that every mom is doing the best job that she can. She is making the best decision for her child, and we should support those decisions instead of tearing apart the mom.

When the hubby is away...

2009-06-11T18:44:00.005-05:00

The wifey will play..and boy did she ever!

So...I had this great idea to buy some paint for the den. The den was still the startling flat white paint that originally came with the house. We have lived here for over 2 years, and it was time to do something to the room. I picked out Behr's Classic Taupe that would just give the room a bit of character.

The room began as the ultimate playroom with my couch from college (yes college) that belonged to my cousins when they went to college 10 years earlier. Yep, it has been around awhile.

The train set that took up half the den - note the curtains: Aaron couldn't STAND those curtains!

You can see the boys' chairs in the background. You can also see my classy 20+ year old couch...very retro.

As the boys got older, they began to play more and more in their bedrooms. I really wanted the den to be a relaxing room. Somewhere to sit and play on the computer, watch movies and just hang out. I wanted there to be enough sitting for our whole family. I had the whole week to get the house back together which was a good thing because once I get started it is hard for me to stop.

The final cost of the den was under $150. Granted, the couch I originally bought for the den is now in the living room. :)

I brought in the end table, couch, chair and ottoman from the living room. I bought a new computer desk (thank you Office Max for your clearance sale) because the old one broke when I was moving it to paint. The faux wood blinds were something we purchased a few months ago. Love those! The lamp behind the chair is new (thanks again Office Max).

The painting on the wall is very special to Aaron. His grandfather painted it a couple of years ago for Aaron. It is a picture of Aaron's family ranch in west Texas. It goes perfectly with the decor of the room. I added the stars and crosses because the chocolate brown paint in the living room made it difficult to see those wall hangings.

Whew! My back and knees are paying for all this, but I am thrilled with how it turned out. Now, I just need to talk Aaron into getting rid of the armoire so we can get a flat screen tv. I think he may be going on another business trip in a few months...

Possibly Too Much Fun?

2009-06-08T22:36:00.003-05:00

Luke at the end of the day...

Perhaps running errands all morning and swimming all afternoon just tuckered out the poor kiddo? He slept for 2 hours in his daddy's broken recliner. I didn't have the heart to move him because I was afraid he would get upset going back down.

Lots o' fun = ability to sleep anywhere

My boys-isms

2009-06-07T21:54:00.003-05:00

A glimpse into the vocabulary of Jack:

"Can I have cold, fresh water?"

- Has there been anytime that I have given him hot, slightly dirty water?

"My bad."

- He has said this no less than 10 times in the last two days. This has been the most recent "Jess-ism" that he has picked up.

"Sniff. Sniff"

- This one isn't a word but a sniffling noise he makes constantly. He claims he HAS to do it. I didn't believe him until I went to his Kindergarten class to sub one day and noticed that most of the boys make this same noise. Either there is some strange initiation for the boys going into to 1st grade or boys are just weird. I'm thinking it is the latter.

A glimpse into Luke's vocabulary:

"Jackson"

- The only person aside from an angry parent to call his brother by his full name. We aren't quite sure why he calls him Jackson. My guess is there was a little boy in Luke's preschool class named Jackson, and Luke decided to call Jack by his full name instead.

"Hold you."

- Ah, still one of my favorites. He can say this and pretty much know he will get exactly what he wants.

"I don't like it."

- It isn't original, but he says it about 5 times a day. He will claim this phrase on anything from ketchup to Bolt. He technically doesn't mean he doesn't like it. He doesn't like the fact that it isn't his original idea and will dispute it with his catch phrase.

"You leave alone me."

- Typically, this phrase is spoken when anyone walks by an open bathroom door while Luke is in there. Maybe there will be a day when he realizes that he can just close the door and not have to say this. I'm thinking not.

The Oasis

2009-06-01T09:50:00.003-05:00

I am absolutely thrilled with how it turned out! A few weeks ago, Aaron designed the oasis and did all the wood and metal work. Also, he designed and built the water feature and for the area.

This weekend, we finish adding the rock and planting everything. I cleaned off the patio which involved removing all the leftover firewood from winter and scrubbing it down. The overall finish: Wonderful!!!

Before picture from a year ago:

Today:

The boys enjoying their view:

My spot for the next 2 months:

Life it soooooo good!

My Graduate

2009-05-28T22:14:00.002-05:00

*sigh*

Seriously? How can the year already be over? It seems like yesterday when I left Jack for his first day in his Kindergarten class and went to the "Boo-hoo Breakfast".

My baby is growing up too fast, and I'm ok with that. I'm not sad. Just a little in shock that the time is going so fast.

My Kindergarten Graduate

Jack with Neena & Papa

Prepping...

We're ready!

2009-05-18T06:11:00.001-05:00

Six Flags Fun

2009-05-04T10:50:00.003-05:00

I don't think I've ever seen the boys so excited as this weekend! I took the boys to Six Flags Over Texas, and they loved it. LOVED it. Apparently, I have two adventure-seeking boys because they wanted to ride everything even if they weren't tall enough.

Jack told me at one point that he didn't care if the ride scared him because he was going to ride it anyway. Seriously? Jack?? I mean, I expect to hear those words out of Luke's mouth, but not Jack.

I remembered when I hit the west side of Fort Worth that I forgot my camera back at home. Therefore, I photographed our entire trip via cell phone. Woohoo!

We started the adventure at ELMER FUDD’S "America the Beautiful" Railway.

Next, we rode all the rides in Looney Tunes USA. It was a good start for the boys to work their way up to the bigger rides. Plus, it helped me get used to letting Jack ride by himself on some stuff while Luke and I were seated behind him. One of the first ride they rode by themselves was BUGS BUNNY’S Spirit of St. Louie.

We went on to the greatest ride for any child who loves cars: Chaparral Antique Cars

Ok, I have to admit that it brought back memories watching the boys drive the antique cars. It was a fun favorite ride when I was around Jack's age because I loved being behind the wheel.

Next, the mine cars. I'll admit that I really didn't want the boys to ride any rollercoaster type rides because I was afraid they would freak out and not want to ever come back. We started on the Mini Mine Train which they loved. LOVED. They wanted to go on it again until they saw The Runaway Mine Train.

Now, this was one of my favorite rides as a child. I remember Aunt Teri and I always going on this ride. It was fast, a bit jerky and had a cool drop into a tunnel that looked like you were plunging into water. My "mommy meter" said to wait. However, the boys wanted to do it, so we did...three times.

Now, we couldn't let this be the pinnacle. Jack cried because he couldn't go on any big rollercoasters because he was too short. Until we got to Judge Roy Scream. *sigh* Even Luke was tall enough for this coaster. *double sigh*

Sure about this, mom?

Again! Again!!

We would have gone again if the ride didn't break down right as we were entering the gate and caused us to be stuck for over 15 minutes.

As the day was wrapping up, we jumped on two more rides. The Texas Chute Out which the boys rode together. Yes, I stayed on the ground and watched a ride take my boys 200 feet in the air. The alternative was me going up with each boy and that didn't fly with me (pardon the pun).

Seriously, I cannot I let them do that twice. Then, we did the YOSEMITE SAM’S GOLD RIVER ADVENTURE™ two more times. Jack loved this ride, but Luke could definitely do without it. It was too loud for him.

What a day! The boys had a blast and were out as soon as they got buckled in the car. I wish I could have fallen asleep, too. It was exhausting having so much fun!

The "goody-goody"

2009-04-30T12:51:00.008-05:00

Growing up, I was constantly seen as a "goody-goody". I did what I was told to do. I didn't make waves with anyone. I have always been the reliable one. I'm the person that is given the responsibility because everyone knows I will get the job done.

These are fantastic qualities when done for the right reasons. What do I mean? I feel that what inspires me to be this kind of person is my desire to have everyone like me. I know that my underlying reasoning for being a "goody-goody" is so others will look at me and think favorably about me. I am so concerned with what others think that I'm willing to alter my personality to be perceived as something I'm not.

I've found in my 30 years of life that no matter hard I try I can't make everyone happy. Some people will talk about me in a negative way no matter what I do. I can be the best wife, mother, director, or writer that gives everything, and it won't matter to some people.

This bugged me at first. A lot. Like "anger with a few tears" bugged. Yes, actually tears. I know...shocking.

Then, I had this amazing revelation during my quiet time this week with a verse from Hebrews.

"For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come." Hebrews 13:14

It amazes me how God can use one verse that short to change my outlook on things. My focus of this world had totally put me out of focus with what God sees in me. This worldly need of having everyone like me was absolutely ridiculous. God sees me for who I am. The kicker: He loves me just as I am.

He goes in and looks at my heart. He sees the good, the bad and the ugly. Yet, He still loves me and will always love me.

Will I still be a "goody-goody"? More than likely. However, it will be because that is what God desires me to be. From this moment, I am refusing to live my life to the standards of what others feel I should. My heart's desire is to do what God wants me to do. My focus is on His kingdom and not this temporary world.

Will people still talk negatively about me? Probably. Am I cool with that? Yep. Wanna know why? I've got God in my corner.

[B]ecause God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" Hebrews 13:5b-6

Random Ramblings

2009-04-25T00:11:00.002-05:00

* It is 12:10 am, and I'm still awake.

* Everyone else in my house is sleeping.

* I went to a meeting last night, and no one showed up. I don't know if this means I'm just really on top of things or I missed an email stating we weren't having a meeting. I'll go with my first thought.

* I love taking millions of pictures then rarely post said pictures. I'm sure it is some lazy gene I have. I'm not sure where I got it from since everyone in my family is so stinkin' active. How did I get so lazy?

* I secretly love it when my boys run to me and specifically want me. There is nothing like hearing Luke say, "I want mommy. Hold you!"

* My perfect day would include my family, friends, a cookout, Rock Band, reading, laughing hysterically at silly stuff and a mani/pedi.

* I am so ready for summer. I can't wait to spend hours outside in the sun and taking the boys swimming. I'm also looking forward to going on several mini-trips.

* I love where I live. We have the coolest neighbors who are always wanting to be outside and hang out.

* I am super-social. I used to be a recluse, but I've been brought out of my shell and don't want to go back in.

* The boys are taking swim lessons with one of our favorite baby-sitters, and I know they are going to have a blast!

* Jack is going to a camp called "Lego Mania" this summer. He is totally freakin'. He can't wait.

* Luke is going to be jealous he doesn't get to go to the Lego camp until he realizes going to camp means no mommy. Then, he will be happy Jack is going so he can come home and play video games without anyone bossing him around.

* My favorite color is yellow even though I look hideous in yellow.

* I'm really sensitive to medicine. If I take one Tylenol PM, then I will be out for a good 8 hours.

* I have a passion for children's ministries. I love sharing God's Word with children and watching them grow closer to God.

* I have a tough exterior, but my heart breaks easily.

* I love listening to rock and alternative music really loud in Aaron's car.

* You can pretty much tell my mood by what is most popular on my...umm...Aaron's iPod.

* My oldest child actually exclaimed to me the second he walked into the house that he couldn't believe how clean the house looked. Hmm...perhaps I should start picking up more often?

* I don't like people who judge. Then, I remember there are times that I judge when I shouldn't, and we are all sinners who fall short. God has given us grace through His Son. Therefore, I should find that same kind of grace for others. It's hard, but I'm trying.

* I love my husband more than air. Although we can drive each other crazy and sometimes seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum, God reminds us exactly how perfect we are for each other.

* I love hearing songs that remind me of fun times...(Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world. She took the midnight train goin' anywhere)...

* I wish people could see my heart. I guess that would require me to bring down my defenses and soften up a bit. I would have to stop cracking jokes when I feel like crying. It would be hard to stop cracking jokes. It is my ultimate defense mechanism.

* I'm wondering how many more random ramblings I can have before 1 am.

* This is the funnest post ever. I recommend everyone do one. It is pretty relaxing to just type whatever pops up in your head. God bless stream of consciousness.

* Stream of consciousness writing aims to provide a textual equivalent to the stream of a fictional character’s consciousness. It creates the impression that the reader is eavesdropping on the flow of conscious experience in the character’s mind, gaining intimate access to their private “thoughts”. Thank you Literary Encyclopedia for that description.

* See? Not only is my blog fun but educational. You should use stream of consciousness sometime this week.

* And indubitably. Another good word of the day.

* One of my all-time favorite series, The Southern Vampire series, aka Sookie Stackhouse series (aka Sookie Sookie) actually reference a word of the day calendar in it. I wish I had one because I would so use it. If I could pronounce the word correctly. If not, then I would call up Shelley and ask her how to pronounce it. She may laugh at me, but she would totally help me out.

* Even though I wanted a little girl more than anything, I can't imagine my life without my two little boys. I am definitely a boys' momma through and through.

* Jack is so smart when it comes to figuring stuff out. He can figure out just about any video game, and his mind works in a way that is way beyond his years. Perhaps, he has "the knack".

* It frightens me how much Jack is like Aaron.

* Luke is brilliant in a completely different way than Jack. He knows how to work the system. He uses his body language and words to get exactly what he wants. This works with several people. Unfortunate for him, his mommy and daddy are in on his game.

* It frightens me how much Luke is like me.

Pushing Prayer Boundries

2009-04-15T05:55:00.003-05:00

I love when it is time for the boys to go to bed, and we sit down together for our nightly prayers. Luke is still in the early stages of praying, so he doesn't really get beyond "Tanku for my food. Amen. Amen. Amen."

Jack is really broadening his horizons when it comes to prayer. We finally got him to understand that God is listening to his prayers, and he can say more than his "favorite song" (Thank you God, thank you God, for our food...) at bedtime. Last night's prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for my day. Thank you for my school. Thank you for the earth. Thank you for my Uncle B. Thank you for mommy and daddy. Thank you for Grandma and Pappy. Thank you for Neena and Papa. Thank you for me and Luke. Thank you for the toilet. Thank you for my friends. Thank you for the lights.

Amen.

I can say that I honestly have never thought about thanking God for the toilet in all my adult life, but the kid makes a really excellent point. How often do we forget to be thankful for the small things? Can you imagine life without a toilet? *shudders*

As you go about your day, remember to thank God for something that you don't normally think about. How about the person who invented the drive-thru or the in-car dvd player? All of these conveniences of life that we take for granted were originally an idea that God whispered into someone's ear.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T15:26:00.003-05:00

Luke not wanting to sit and take a picture...

Everybody is happy now!

Can you tell they're brothers?

Dad & Jack

Being silly

I love these boys!

Luke & me

Jack's Extremely Artistic Photography

Another's Eyes

2009-04-10T07:49:00.003-05:00

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." John 19:25-27

When I was 7 years old, I made my personal confession of faith to my pastor during VBS week at our church. I remember sitting in the fellowship hall and listening to this story about a man who gave up His life for me so I could spend an eternity in heaven. I understood that I was a sinner, and I believed that Jesus died on the cross for my sins.

I was baptized a few weeks later with some of my best church friends. There was an excitement about answering the pastor's questions and being dipped into the water. When I came up, I remember looking out on the congregation and seeing so many smiles. The word that really hit me was "family". This was my "family" now.

Even though I was young, I got the basics. I knew the Holy Spirit was with me. However, I was so young in my faith that I didn't get everything. Honestly, I don't think we will ever "get" everything. I think that is what makes the Bible such an amazing book. We can read a story over and over and still pull new stuff from it.

I'll be completely honest with you. I've read about the crucifixion at least 100 times. It wasn't until a few years ago that I read it again right before the Easter season that I saw something different.

I've viewed the crucifixion through another's eyes: Mary, the mother of Jesus. When I read the gospels, I saw a baby being held in a mother's arms. I saw a man leave his mother's home to complete his father's work. I saw the tears of a mother so desperate to save her son. However, she knew, perhaps not grasping everything, her son had to complete this final step at the cross.

Suddenly, the pain is real. I've seen my boys get hurt, and I feel their pain. Mary felt everything He was going through as she looked up at her son on the cross. I understand my willingness to sacrifice anything for my children to keep them from harm. As a mother, I know Mary would have taken the cross herself if that is what God had wanted.

Literally, my heart hurts when I view the scene through her eyes. To grasp an event or a concept in a much deeper way, we have to look through it in others' eyes. It is the only way we can stretch our faith and allow it to grow beyond a newbie Christian faith.

My prayer for this Good Friday is for all to take time to really dig into the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament) and experience the crucifixion through another's eyes. Perhaps Peter who denied Christ 3 times as predicted? Or Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross of our bloodied and beaten Savior?

If you aren't much of a visual reader, then watch the video below called "The Bridge". I feel it is a beautiful telling of how God may have seen the crucifixion. Perhaps through His eyes you can see how God loved us so much that He gave up His Son so that we could live...

The Bridge

Celebrate

2009-04-06T10:34:00.003-05:00

"Life should not be lived, it should be celebrated." Sandra Magsamen

I found a key chain at Wal-Mart with this quote, and it stopped me in my tracks. It isn't particularly profound, but it made me re-evaluate my life for a moment. I thought to all the times I've "just lived". I remember so many times waking up in the morning thinking that all I have to do is make it through the day so I can go back to sleep.

I've been on survival mode the past couple of years. I get up, work, take care of kids, clean house and go to sleep. It was about a month ago that I told Aaron that I can't remember who I was anymore. I felt like I was just going through the motions of life. I have several titles, but I longed to remember who I was.

Last week, I got a chance to celebrate and be me. Granted, this was a version of me that is rarely shown in public. It is the completely fun and wild-child Jessica. Not the tame and responsible Mother Jessica. Going to Vegas with my bestie will always be one of the most memorable times in my life. Not as memorable as getting married, being pregnant or birthing two children. It is memorable in the sense that I found something I lost: celebrating life.

Now, I know Vegas is known as "Sin City", and I'm not in any way encouraging everybody to go to Vegas to find yourself. That isn't what this post is about at all. I didn't "find myself" in Vegas. What I did discover was how to look at life as more than something to get through. I found that life can be done in two ways: Lived or Celebrated. I chose to celebrate.

I love Ecclesiastes 3 because it makes me aware that there are times we will just live...be on survival mode...and it is ok. God is still walking with us even if we feel like we are alone.

However, we are never alone. During all the times, emotions and experiences, God is with us. Even in Vegas, God was with me. He may had shook His head a time or two, but He was with me. :)

"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Happy Birthday Emma!

2009-03-26T13:10:00.003-05:00

My niece, Emma, turned 5 years old yesterday.

I remember the day that Steph called me to tell me she was pregnant. The conversation occurred on the phone about 18 hours after I had Jack. It went like this:

Steph: Hey...how's it going?
Me: Pretty good. I keep throwing up and labor was super painful. How are you?
Steph: Um...so how pink does the line have to be to mean you're pregnant?
Me: $@#( ()&%$ @$%%#@?!
Steph: So, you're saying that two lines is all you need?
Me: *passes out*
Steph: Hello?
Me: *still out*
Steph: Um...I'll call back later. *click*

Ok, I may have exaggerated a little, but it was definitely unexpected to hear Steph ask me that question! Especially since she had only been married 3 months and still had 2 years left in college.

However, I also remember another phone call very vividly:

Me: Hello? *hears beeping noises in background*
Steph: Hey Jess. Guess where I am?
Me: You better not be in the hospital. We had a plan. Don't you remember?
Steph: Yeah...Emma doesn't want to cooperate with that plan. I'm having the baby today!
Me: *drops phone*
Steph: Hello?
Me: *starts car*
Steph: Are you there?
Me: *gets out of car and grabs Jack from inside the house...goes back to car and leaves*
Steph: Ok. I'll talk to you later. *click*

I got there in record time and saw Emma as soon as she was born. It was such an awesome day! I got to hold her a couple hours later.

The first time I held Emma

Asleep

On Christmas Day (oh, how I loved those outfits!)

*sigh*

Where does the time go? She is such a big girl, and I find it so hard to believe it was five years ago that I rushed to see her big arrival.

To my sweet Emma...happy birthday! We love you! Uncle Aaron, Aunt Jessie, Jack & Luke

A Boys' Weekend

2009-03-22T17:44:00.003-05:00

There is nothing better for a boy than playing in dirt and drawing on the sidewalk with chalk. Needless to say, this was definitely a boys' weekend in our household. Aaron decided to take Friday off to work around the house.

The project: Our flowerbeds

We spent an hour at Lowe's buying mulch, dirt, an irrigation system, fertilizer and bug poison. Then, we went to two garden centers to look at flowers and trees. Holy moly! I've always loved flowers and wish I knew more about horticulture. I just never realized how many different flowers and trees there were for this region. Goodness! I just wanted something pretty. LOL

We finally picked some flowers and pony tails grass and began the project. We (very loosely used since my allergies got so bad that I took a Benadryl Severe Allergy pill and ended up only working for about an hour. I did take a three hour nap, though.) dug out all the weeds and removed the mulch. We added dirt, and Aaron put in the new irrigation system for the flowerbed. After two days and a combined total of 5 hours napping, we now have this:

I would take more pictures, but we ran out of mulch (totally my fault), and I didn't want to show you the "almost done" side of the flowerbed. We still need to spray off the sidewalk, but I'll do that tomorrow.

Next, the chalk. Jack drew a map of Texas. It hit his most favorite locations: Our house, Beth's house (his friend from school), Neena & Papa's house, Grandma & Pappy's house, and Uncle Dempy's house.

Jack waving at me. He's in Weatherford. I'm in Amarillo. :)

Now, Luke. Sweet, sweet Luke. He follows directions so well. As you can see in the previous picture, he was also drawing. Well, he was really coloring in. He decided to color in the shirt that Jack drew on one of his men.

Then, Luke decided to color all of the man in to make him a monster. There was a 2-minute argument on who created the drawing, then I took pictures. I asked Luke to sit by his drawing so I can take a picture of him with it. This is what I got:

Me: Um...Luke. You got something on your hiney.
Luke: Huh?

Link To The Old

2009-03-20T07:48:00.001-05:00

I'm ready for a change. It is spring, and I'm ready to freshen up my blog. Plus, I'm tired of every time I try to use a theme on Wordpress it messes up. Therefore, time for a new blog site! I'll eventually get everything moved over here, but it will take awhile (hey...I've been blogging for 1 1/2 years).

The old:
http://thisfamilyofmine.wordpress.com/

Welcome to the new!