family day

Our last birthday party yesterday put us near Little Rock around the time of our church's Saturday night service. We were in need of some family time since Chip was out of town three nights this week and volunteered for 4 hours Saturday morning for baseball sign-ups. So, we figured going to church on Saturday night would offer us a relaxing Sunday. And that it did. It was nice to be able to worship last night and really rest and restore today. Here is a picture of Nate and Chip cuddled up reading a book after breakfast.

mermaid

We went to two birthday parties yesterday. Two jumping birthday parties. It was a lot of fun and the kids passed out at bedtime! The 2nd birthday party was a "Pirate Party". When our friends invited us, the 5 year old informed Ella that she could be a mermaid instead of a pirate. So, I began thinking of how I could pull that off. I found an iron-on applique from ebay and a plain white shirt at Target. And isn't it so cute!!! I am a little addicted. Nate's birthday is in a month and it is a cowboy theme. I spent quite a while on Friday looking at cowboy related appliques. It is just a really cute and cheap way to spruce up a shirt. Back to Ella, she wore a tutu that our friend Jillian had gotten her for her birthday. She felt so cute. And she even threw on the necklace to match.

Nate's noggin

Because sissy had her picture taken this morning, little man had to as well. I am actually glad I took this picture

because after I dropped Ella at preschool and Streed at his co-op, I took Nate to get a haircut. He loves getting his hair cut. Come to find out, its because he gets a sucker afterwards. But, I must say he does really well in the chair. This boys hair grows really fast so he has had quite a few hair cuts in his almost 3 years! Actually he and Streed just had theirs cut right before Christmas. Poor baby has a large noggin and really thick hair, so we have to keep it trimmed or he looks really scraggly. Here he is afterwards...with his balloon!

sissy in school

I started Ella in preschool a few weeks ago. She needed some socialization. Going to Sunday School and my Tuesday mom's group had become very difficult because she was not wanting to detach. That is a major understatement. We are talking screaming, kicking the doors and walls, trying to rip the door handles off etc. So, thankfully a preschool here that was recommended had an opening in their MWF half day class! This is Ella today heading to school. This week's focus is the letter "M". They were taking a field trip to "McDonalds" where they had to use their "manners" in ordering and pay with "money".

so i lied

natural light got the best of me today so i had to post a few pictures.

just tired

currently blogging (or the thought of it) makes me tired. so, i will return at some point. right now i am going to attempt to put the little buddy down for a nap and do some more homeschooling. i have been trying to keep pictures updated on facebook.

forecast

Prepare for some major changes late weekend! For today though, we will see sunny skies with temps heading into lower 60's. Tonight will be clear and cold, temps will fal off intot he lower 30's. Tomorrow the cold air arrives and will lower the temps into the 40's for highs. Sunday will bring even colder air, highs will be in the 30's. By late in the day a weather system will come in from the SW, it will bring us a mix of rain and snow, then mainly snow through Monday morning. We could see 2-4 inches in the Metro Area!

cousins come to the country

if a picture is worth a thousand words...














we had a blast. visited some belgian draft horses. shot fireworks and roasted marshmallows by the fire on new years eve. played lots of play-doh and dress-up. threw the football and jumped on the trampoline. loved on smiley baby caroline. ate some good food. took lots of pictures.

light=life

We went to Christmas lights display last night with some new friends. The lights were so intriguing to me. This is why...

In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was a true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. --John 1:4-9

since last post

We were supposed to wake up last Thursday and head to Mobile for a few days to celebrate Christmas. Instead we woke up at 4 and stripped sheets because the virus finally spread from Streed on Sat night to Ella on Monday night to Nate on Wed. So, we knew immediately that we would not be making the 8+ hour trip that day. I was bumbed. The kids had been talking about it all week. They miss their family so much, especially their cousin Taylor. They love baby Caroline but are not as attached to her yet since we have only SEEN HER ONCE! I had to have something for them to do to take their minds off of it. They kept asking Nate if he was feeling better and then would ask me if we could leave on Friday. Chip had to work this week so a weekend trip with a 16 hour drive round trip is just out of the question. We decided it would be best to leave closer to Christmas and see both sides of the family since Chip's parents are only 3 hours from Mobile. It is hard trying to please 3 kids plus ourselves while trying not to disappoint numerous adults and make it all work. So, we climbed up in the attic and gathered up some previously bought Christmas presents, took them back and put the money towards A TRAMPOLINE! One of my friends encouraged me to do it because it would make not only those few days of disappointment better but also most all of my days. I am home with all the kids all the time and they have NO outside toys. They have bikes but I am not always able to go out there with them when they want to...plus they are still building a house in our cul-de-sac so there are construction trucks everywhere...and its cold and I don't want to go sit outside for an hour. The truth comes out. They love it. Love it. Love it. Everything they could have done in the past without it, like wrestling, throwing a ball, laying in sleeping bags is all done on the trampoline. Our yard is not huge. Most of the play area is one one side. So that's where we put it. I can see them from my room, the den and the kitchen as well as the back porch obviously. I felt a little (a lot) bad putting it there because...
...it is right behind our neighbors back porch! And as you can see their property is higher than ours so they see right into our back yard. And we have not met them. But we have met their daughter (who is grown and married). She told us that she was an only child and that they did not really mean to have her. So, I am sure they are loving my 3 kids screaming on their eyesore of a trampoline! But ya know what, they don't have to entertain my 3 kids either. I do. And this makes them happy.