i <3 these faces!!

my first born is 9!

i can't believe my first born is 9!! where has the time gone? we affectionately call him "e." at the moment he wants to either be a video game designer or a veterinarian. he is very bright and loves learning new things. he is a leader and likes taking charge. he is really good at puzzles and likes doing word searches and seek and find books. he enjoys going to the library and getting books to read for pleasure. he is loving legos right now and any type of video game you can play. he continues to be social and makes friends very easily. he is very committed to things and has reflective/sentimental moments already at 9. he loves looking at old pictures and reminiscing. he has a great memory which comes in handy a lot! he loves riding his bike, going for hikes and playing outside. he is a very kind, compassionate, and loving young man.... no longer a "little" boy! =) he loves the Lord and continues to be sensitive towards the things of the Lord. my prayer for him is that he continues to grow in his relationship with the Lord and develops a love for God so deep that he can't help but tell others about Him. i pray that God will use "e" in a special way to further things for His kingdom.
we can't imagine life without him and thank God every day that he has blessed us with someone so special.

cl turns 2

i can NOT believe my baby is 2! she has grown so much w/in the last year. she brings so much life to our family! she is a sweet little thing who randomly tells you she loves you! she also loves to crawl up onto your lap and snuggle. she has a mind of her own and is very independent. she isn't afraid of much and keeps up with her three older siblings quite well. she loves playing with her baby dolls and enjoys the outdoors. we were struggling with her sleeping through the night for a short stint but have had it under control for the last few weeks.... and are hoping it stays that way long term. =) she just had her first sleep over at some friends, and didn't do all that well. she was up for an hr. through the night. i didn't have my hopes too high that it would go well, but figured we could try and see how she did, now we know. =) she is quite the picky eater but we are hoping as she grows she'll be willing to expand on the foods that she eats. she is non stop from the time she wakes up until the time she goes to bed.... she has lots and lots of energy. i am so thankful that God blessed me with this sweet little girl! we love you so much c bear and can't imagine what our family would be like w/o you!
here are a few of her 2 yr. pics:






hard to believe last years pics we were in dallas on vacation. she was able to have a sundress and sandals on. such is life when you live in the north...

sledding!

we haven't had a lot of snow this winter--and i'm not complaining--but the kids wanted to go sledding. we got just enough recently to cover the ground. that paired with a decent sized hill = sledding!
they all had a blast!! this was s's first year and she squealed all the way down the hill. at first i thought it was because she was scared, but it turned out she was LOVING it.





i'm sure this will not be the last time this year that we hit the hill and have a ball!

christmas sibling photo shoot

over christmas i took some pictures of my mom and her siblings. i had a lot of fun getting some fun shots of this group!

out in the country

we went to aunt debbies for a few days and had so much fun! the kids enjoyed hanging with their older cousins! we met grandma for breakfast for her bday one a.m., made and iced LOTS of sugar cookies, chatted/hung out, and the boys got quite a few rides on the four wheeler. s enjoyed having some make up and nail polish time with lauren. all in all the kids did very well for being away from home. we appreciate aunt d inviting us over for a few days.

it's that time of year again! =)

family pics

last year for christmas we had family pictures taken by a local professional. i've been messing around with my camera this year so i decided to do my own family pics, so i could update the ones that i had given my mom last year. my friend sarah was kind enough to take the picture of all of us together though, so i have to give her props! =) now that we have family that lives out of the area, pictures are appreciated. =) here are some of my favorites!





i am so thankful for my little family!! i'm also thankful that they comply with getting their picture taken. =)

my little trick or treaters!

we got to go trick or treating 3 different times this year! =) needless to say, we have more candy than what we know what to do with! boy did we have fun! the three older ones would let me get a picture of them in their costumes... the youngest one, not so much....

beautiful view

i am loving our hikes and am loving being able to have my kids realize that all we see was made by our Creator! nature truly does declare God's glory!

hiking spree

we have been embarking on a fall hiking spree that our local county is hosting. if you hike 8 trails between sept. 1 - nov. 30th you earn yourself a hiking stick and a pin. after your first year of earning the hiking stick and pin, you earn a pin thereafter. we have been letting the kids pick the trails and they are having a blast being explorers! we have seen lots of creeks, different kinds of trees, bugs, and little vermin. it is absolutely beautiful with the tress starting to change colors. i'm loving the family time and time outdoors... it's a bonus bc the kids are exerting energy and having fun doing it.











3 down, 5 more to go! =)

FINALLY!!

i have been trying to get a picture of all four of my kids for a while now, and finally succeeded yesterday! i was so happy i was practically giddy! =) my youngest is at the stage where she doesn't want to sit still..... ever. she also doesn't really like looking at the camera for some reason. i know it's bc she knows it's a way to push my buttons. =) makes me look like a fool trying to get her picture to then not look at me.... ever! =) last night was different though. she sat there with her siblings and actually was smiling. she made her mama so happy! i.love.these.faces!!

...capturing moments with my girls....

i took the girls out sat. and wanted to get some pictures of just them. our last born is pretty difficult to photograph right now, since she won't sit still long enough, but i was able to get a few of her. these are some of my favorites!




these little faces melt my heart!!

a rough week...

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." —Ephesians 4:29

i had a really convicting quiet time yesterday and am still meditating on it. growing up i always associated these verses with complaining, cursing, coarse jokes, etc. yesterday i realized it even entails how i interact with my children. let me just say i was not at my finest this past week as far as mood. i feel like the funk has lifted but in reading these verses it convicted me. what type of tone am i using when i interact with them? am i using my words to encourage them or bring them down? i'm finding, as a mom, that it is so easy to take my circumstances out on whoever is standing closest to me... and 99% of the time it is my little ones....
why is this the case most of the time? as a mom aren't i wanting to be a godly example to them? why is my tongue so hard to tame? in james it talks about the tongue and how it is hard to tame... is spouting off at my kids, or anyone for that matter what i should be doing? .. no, but boy is it easier than showing self control, love, patience, goodness, gentleness. it's easier to show anger than to have self control. i know that anger doesn't bring the righteousness i want. my whole goal as a Christ follower is to emulate the Holy Spirit and grow in my relationship with Christ. a.k.a-- be more Christ-like. this anger thing, the taming of the tongue-- has been difficult for me lately. but you know what? i've realized i'm trying to get a hold of this issue on my own accord.... and it's really getting me anywhere. i feel i should be able to handle this little thing-- my tongue, but am finding out that the outcome isn't coming anywhere close to where i want to be. i need the Holy Spirit to fill me and take control. I am releasing the reigns... i no longer want to be in control bc it is not giving me the outcome i desire.
Lord, fill me. help me to display the fruits of the spirit in my life... love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and faithfulness... help me to not be easily angered. help me to tame this tongue of mine and be an encouragement to those around me. help my words and actions be pleasing to you.
*i'm hoping that in blogging this, those that are reading will hold me accountable. and that in jotting it down, it will remind me of person i am wanting to be... not who i am being right now.*

artistic phase

the three oldest kids have been spending a lot of time at the dining room table coloring and or drawing. the front of the fridge has been decorated to the max lately, so i decided to post about their "master pieces." =) i am a mom that believes that less time in front of the tv or game system is better, so i will never tell them no when it comes to them using their imaginations.


c's interpretation of his own angry birds level


e's mario and luigi



picture randomness!! love it!

birthday celebration

last night we celebrated our new 6 year old and 4 year olds birthdays. we have been having a TON of fun with family in from texas and they all were able to be here to help celebrate! along with some of our other favorite ppl... tam, her kiddos, yaya and her nephew. i really don't know where the time has gone....
our 6 yr. old is very compassionate, tender hearted, loving, caring, kind and helpful. he loves bugs and using his hands to make and build things. he is very excited to start kindergarten this year, as he is very eager to learn new things. we don't know what this family would be like without him and are so blessed to have him as a part of our family.
our 4 year old is a sweet and sassy little thing. one minute she is playing with her dolls and nurturing them and the next she is running and yelling with her brothers in the backyard playing kings and vikings--she being the viking.=) she loves anything pink and loves make-up! she is very kind, loving, affectionate, nurturing, and helpful. she is going through a shy phase right now but i would venture to say it will be short lived. =) again, we can't imagine what our little family would be like w/o her and are so blessed to have her as well!!
happy birthday you two! we love you so much!!

how lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news. who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation.... isa. 52:7

pool time

i feel like it has just started being "hot" this summer. we went to our local retail stores looking for a pool. much to my surprise they are already phasing summer stuff out. *retail is ridiculous in my opinion, when it comes to jumping to the next season* so we went to 3 different stores and finally found a pool that is big enough to actually play in. it was the second to last one. score, we found one! the kids are LOVING it!! they played in it probably 4 hrs yesterday. i had no idea it would keep them occupied that long. =) they were doing cannon balls, swimming under water, splashing... all the fun things that come along with having a decent sized pool! one of the best splurges we've done this summer, by far, in my opinion!! why did i wait so long?? =)